Africa

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

June 4, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The United Nations has honoured Ethiopia for its significant contributions to UN's vast Peacekeeping operations, the Ethiopian ministry of foreign affairs said on Friday.

Ethiopian peacekeepers patrol the outskirts of the disputed Abyei town that straddles the border between Sudan and South Sudan on 16 September 2013 (Photo: Reuters/Andreea Campeanu)

At a ceremony held at UN headquarters in New York to mark International Day of UN Peacekeepers, the United Nations has awarded Ethiopia a medal in honour of its peacekeepers, who sacrificed their lives during line of duty in different peace keeping missions.

Ambassador Tekeda Alemu, Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nation, received the medal awarded to Ethiopia.

The Ministry said Ethiopia has been actively participating in UN peacekeeping operations based on its firm conviction on the principle of collective security enshrined in the UN Charter since the establishment of the United Nations.

Ethiopia, with nearly 8,000 peacekeepers currently serving in UN Peacekeeping Missions around the world is Africa's top contributing nation.

The horn of Africa's nation is also world's fourth largest contributor in terms of the number of its peacekeepers deployed under the United Nations umbrella

Currently Ethiopian Peacekeepers are serving in various UN peacekeeping missions including in Abyei, Darfur and South Sudan.

In addition, more than 4 thousand Ethiopian peacekeepers are deployed in Somalia as part of the AU peace support operation in that country.

The country has for years played significant role in the success of UN peacekeeping and its participation is the most tangible contribution to restoring international peace and security.

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The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced today that the next round of Libyan political dialogue sessions in Skhirat, Morocco, will commence on Monday, 8 June.

The human rights situation in Boko Haram-held areas of northern Nigeria is one of “absolute terror” and “grave” violations, the top United Nations human rights official said today amid a wider call for Nigerian authorities to thoroughly investigate reports of abuses committed by the country’s armed forces.

June 4, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan's opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by the former vice-president, Riek Machar, has dismissed report that its forces were receiving weapons from Sudan.

A photo included in CAR's report showing small calibre ammunition in hessian bag pictured in Malakal on 11 December 2014

In a report published this week, Conflict Armament Research (CAR) unveiled what it said were findings pointing to evidences that Khartoum was supplying the rebels based on weapons and ammunition captured by pro-government forces from opposition forces in Jonglei state late last year.

Some of the weapons examined by the CAR's investigation team at South Sudan army headquarters in Upper Nile reportedly provided important details in the sources of arms supplied to the armed opposition forces.

The document pointed to new weapons manufactured in Sudan or from China in the possession of the rebels while some appeared damaged which suggested they were airdropped to the rebels.

But opposition officials refuted the claims made by the London-based entity, saying South Sudan's government had been buying weapons from Sudan many of which the rebels also captured in several military encounters against president Salva Kiir's government.

“For those who may not know it, South Sudan government buys weapons from Sudan. They also buy others from China as revealed last year when a consignment of $38 million worth of weaponry were shipped through Port Mombassa of Kenya destined for South Sudan,” Machar's spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

“Since we have been capturing sizable quantities of weapons from the government, seeing a Sudanese or Chinese manufactured weapon shouldn't be a surprise. It shouldn't also be alleged as evidence of receiving weapons from Khartoum,” he said.

Dak explained that even if the descriptions indicating sources of the weapons were to be true, this did not necessarily mean the weapons were delivered directly to the rebel forces.

He also said when the crisis erupted in December 2013 in South Sudan, the army began to split right from the national capital, Juba. In some areas as the fighting spread to states, he said, forces that joined the opposition also managed to take weapons and ammunition with them.

He said many of the weapons used by pro-government forces were purchased from Sudan and ended up in the hands of the different opposition forces in the country over the years.

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June 3, 2015 (RUMBEK) - Lakes state authorities have acknowledged that local communities were not in their control or cooperating, saying the public refused to share information with security agents of the government in ending the crisis in the South Sudan's central state.

Map detail of South Sudan showing Lakes state in red

Top state officials pessimistically confirmed that insecurity had further worsened in the state and effort to restore trust in the rural communities was becoming more difficult.

Lakes state security advisor, Marial Amuom Malek, an outspoken politician who also serves as member of state parliament representing Yirol West county, said communities had continued to turn their back on the government as inter-communal fighting escalates coupled with threats from rebels allied to former vice president, Riek Machar, under the command of General Abdel Latif, who hails from the state.

Amuom was reacting to current complex clashes that left 13 people dead on Monday. Two rival communities of Gony and Thuyic have 11 dead from both sides and two policemen were also killed in Abeer in a separate clash on Monday.

“It has been very difficult for the security apparatus to address this situation. We have tried all the levels that we have but still this situation will never give us a chance to rest,” he lamented.

He said the situation had been exacerbated by proliferation of arms in the hands of the civil populations, making it difficult for the security forces to control the heavily armed Dinka youth who had been turning against each other.

He also added that another challenge was those who intended to go for revenge attacks usually avoided areas where the police and army were being deployed.

“They go to the bush somewhere far from where we deployed our forces and they begin killing whoever they come across. This is a major challenge,” Amoum further explained.

He called on the government to carry out disarmament of the youth throughout the state as the best option in order to arrest the situation.

Activists and traditional leaders also criticized Lakes state government for allegedly having failed to stem violence, accusing the state administration of using violent approach that allowed pastoralist youth to become more hostile. The activist also said disarmament is not the best solution because of rebellion threats in the country.

Moses Ater, a Lakes state activist however suggested that disarmament by relatives and friends within the families would be the best model to disarm the hostile youth in the state. He also said intermarriage between the Dinka rival sections should be encouraged while justice is served without favouritism.

Lakes state has been embroiled in cycles of revenge attacks with many citizens blaming government for allegedly failing to curb insecurity. Hundreds of citizens have been killed over the last few years due to inter-sectional fighting.

The situation recently worsened when a joint force of the police and military withdrew from all hotspots in the state, claiming they had no way to collect information due to communities' failure to cooperate with the state authorities.

Data from the state's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reported an increase in crime-related incidences within the volatile region. Youth activists and traditional authorities have repeatedly called for the removal of the military caretaker governor Matur Dhuol amid claims he had failed to stem the violence. President Salva Kiir has however overlooked these calls.

Dhuol was appointed in 2013 after president Kiir sacked elected governor Chol Tong Mayay.

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June 4, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The director of the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Mohamed Atta al-Moula met on Thursday with leader of the Darfurian Mahameed clan Musa Hilal at his residence in Khartoum before he was due to leave back to his hometown of Misteriyah in North Darfur.

Director of the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Mohamed Atta al-Moula (R) meeting with leader of the Darfurian Mahameed clan Musa Hilal in Khartoum June 4, 2015 (SMC)

The Sudanese Media Center (SMC) with close links to the NISS disclosed that Hilal returned to Khartoum over the weekend on a chartered plane provided by the security apparatus.

It was Hilal's first time in Khartoum since two years ago and for the purpose of attending president Omer Hassan al-Bashir swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday.

SMC said the meeting between Hilal and al-Moula tackled public issues.

Hilal had announced on Wednesday that he intends to discuss with government officials what he called "four pivotal issues" including the registration of his militia as political party, security arrangements, social reconciliation and political reforms.

He denied that he is part of the opposition, stressing that he would not rebel against the government.

But his recent history says otherwise.

He left Khartoum in mid-2013 and turned his militiamen against the governor of North Darfur state, Osman Kibir accusing him of feeding tribal conflicts in the state.

The notorious Janjaweed leader then started making statements critical of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), of which he is a member, and calling for deep reforms.

Also, Hilal's troops seized control of western localities in North Darfur state including Saraf Omra, Kutum, Kabkabiya, Al-Siraif, and El-Waha.

The tribal chief went further to announce the establishment of administrations in these localities, naming his forces the Sudanese Revolutionary Awakening Council (SRAC).

Last February, he threatened to prevent poll workers from entering his areas for the general elections held in April.

Hilal, became notorious as Janjaweed leader, after eruption of simmering conflicts in Darfur. He stands accused by many human rights groups of leading a terror campaign against the African tribes in Darfur.

But he has denied any wrongdoing and told Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a videotaped interview in 2005, that he only recruited militias on behalf of Sudan's central government.

The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when an ethnic minority rose up against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum.

In April 2006 the UN Security Council imposed financial and travel ban against Hilal for obstructing peace in Darfur. The then US president George Bush issued an executive order enforcing similar sanctions on them.

In January 2008, Bashir appointed Hilal as a special advisor for the Ministry of Federal Affairs in Sudan. He was also an MP in the previous parliament.

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June 5, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in Sudan postponed the announcement of the new government after its leadership bureau failed to reach consensus on the proposed names.

President Omer Hassan al-Bashir speaks at the fourth convention of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in Khartoum on 23 October 2014 (Photo: Ashorooq TV)

The NCP's five-hours meeting, which was chaired by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir, was wrapped up in the early hours of Friday morning.

The deputy chairman of the NCP Ibrahim Ghandour emerged from the meeting to tell reporters that the cabinet reshuffle and the names of governors will be announced within the next 48 hours.

"If all goes as planned, the oath [ceremony for ministers and governors] could take place on Sunday," Ghandour said.

The NCP official said that the leadership bureau discussed the proposed new cabinet and “made observations” about the ministerial formation finalized by Bashir.

"We discussed all the names given and approved a large number of them, and there are two parties that did not submit their candidates' names for the [government] portfolios," he said.

The NCP leadership bureau consists of 45 figures, 30 of whom are elected and the remaining are appointed by Bashir.

Ghandour said they will convene again later today to continue discussions and noted that 30-35% of government posts will be allocated to non-NCP parties.

The Sudanese leader said earlier this year that only parties which contested in April's general elections will be offered posts in the government.

Bashir issued a decree on Tuesday night dissolving the government and relieving his aides. Earlier that day he was sworn to a new term.

The Federal Truth party (FTP) has been excluded from the new cabinet while the United Umma Party (UUP) rejected the NCP offer for ministerial posts on the grounds that it is not compatible with their political stature.

Last week, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) led by Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani announced that it will not join the government for the same reasons spelled out by the UUP.

But the NCP swiftly denied the DUP declaration stressing that consultations between the two sides are ongoing.

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The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has welcomed the latest military operation by the country’s armed forces against members of an independent militia group following the collapse of political negotiations.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) has launched an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against an underage person involving one of its personnel, it was announced today.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon remains concerned about the potential for escalating violence in Burundi and has reiterated his call for calm and restraint amid the African country’s simmering political tensions.

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June 3, 2015 (KHARTOUM) The Chinese president Xi Jinping has invited his Sudanese counterpart Omer al-Bashir to visit Beijing, announced the Chinese environment minister, Chen Jining.

Sudan's President Omer Hassan al-Bashir reviews the Chinese military honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Wednesday, June 29, 2011. (AP)

Minister Jining who led the Chinese delegation to the inauguration of president Bashir met with the latter on Wednesday evening.

After the meeting the Chinese minister told reporters that the extended an invitation from president Jining to Bashir to visit China.

The minister said they discussed a number of issues of common interest in all fields and ways to develop relations between the two countries. He further expressed his confidence that bilateral ties would continue to progress during the new term of president Bashir.

Bashir's last visit to China was in June 2011, where he reached Beijing after a delay of 24 hours due to last-minute change of his flight itinerary.

The Sudanese president has an outstanding arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and genocide he allegedly masterminded in Sudan's region of Darfur.

In statement to the official news agency SUNA, the spokesperson of the Sudanese presidency Mohamed Hatim Suleiman said president Bashir has accepted the invitation to visit China, adding that the later attaches special attention to the historical relations between the two countries.

Suleiman further said the president praised the strong bilateral relations and expressed his appreciation to China for its participation in the swearing-in ceremony and its support for Sudan in different forums.

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June 3, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The South Sudanese armed opposition faction of the ruling (SPLM) party has welcomed the decision to revoke the “unconstitutional” dismissal of their leader, Riek Machar, and his colleagues from the ruling party, saying the move was an “overdue” good gesture in complementing the Addis Ababa peace process.

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar speaks during an interview with Reuters in Addis Ababa on July 9, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)

President Salva Kiir's SPLM faction on Wednesday announced their leadership had revoked dismissal of opposition leader Riek Machar and others and that he was reinstated to his previous position as first deputy chairperson of the ruling party. They also said the frozen assets or bank accounts for members of the former detainees and armed opposition faction were unfrozen in the country and they could access them.

The rebels commended the decision as correct one but added that this was not the end of the story as many other processes and decisions were still pending in order to end the crisis in the country.

“Well, we welcome the good gesture. It does not come out of the blue. Actually it is overdue because it is a provision in the roadmap agreement on SPLM reunification process signed in Arusha several months ago,” Machar's spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday evening when contacted for comment.

“President Kiir who was responsible for this unconstitutional dismissal of senior party leaders was directed by the roadmap agreement to unconditionally revoke his decision,” he added.

Dak pointed out that the revocation of the dismissal decree was meant to smoothen further steps in the tripartite intraparty dialogue in order to further negotiate within the party and reach an agreement on reforms in structural, organizational and future party leadership matters.

He blamed president Kiir's group for aborting internal party transformation processes which sparked the violence and had now developed into a national crisis beyond the party.

Even from the onset of the crisis in December 2013, he recalled that the opposition leader Machar immediately composed a team of SPLM leaders from his side in January 2014 to meet with president Kiir's SPLM team in Addis Ababa so that the crisis would have been arrested at the party level, adding Machar's idea was rejected and the “conflict has now developed into a national crisis.”

He however said the particular decision to revoke dismissal would be complementary to the Addis Ababa peace process led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), particularly on the executive power-sharing for government during a transitional period.

“Let us wait and see how this reinstatement to previous party leadership positions will reflect on the government's position in regard to leadership structure and executive power-sharing in a transitional government of national unity,” he further added.

He challenged that the government was opposed to IGAD proposed executive power-sharing which would see the rebel leader, Riek Machar, become either a prime minister or first vice president with shared executive powers.

The rebel leader's spokesman however said the intraparty dialogue did not confirm president Kiir to continue as the party chairman, stressing that there were pending processes on mechanisms within the dialogue that would address party leadership in the course of reunification.

He said this would be like restarting from square one from where we left in December 2013 when president Kiir violently interrupted the processes of party transformation, reforms and leadership contest.

On government leadership, he also said president Kiir has become illegitimate president either through expiry of his term limit or by his deeds which caused the war and administered massacre of thousands of civilians in the capital, Juba.

“These are some of the issues the warring parties shall be tackling in the two complementary processes in Arusha or in Addis Ababa,” he said.

He however commended partial implementation of the Arusha roadmap agreement in order to help expedite the Addis Ababa process, but ruled out possibility that the rebel leader would return to Juba as first deputy chairman of the SPLM per party agreement without a comprehensive peace agreement in Addis Ababa.

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June 3, 2015 (RUMBEK) – The road connecting Wulu county in South Sudan's Lakes state to the capital, Rumbek has finally been re-opened after three days of closure.

The incident occurred after trainees attending a course in the area rioted when food was not delivered to them, affecting traffic between Wulu and Rumbek Central county.

Lakes state local government and law enforcement minister, Jok Ayom Majak fully intervened and ensured that food was delivered to the trainees and the road re-opened.

Majak said the road closure badly hampered traffic flow between these two counties.

“The trainees closed off the Rumbek-Wulu road which links Rumbek Central to Juba on Saturday and continued till Tuesday,” the minister told Sudan Tribune by phone.

“As I speak to now, people are moving very freely. Trucks are moving freely,” he added.

Lakes state has been blighted by cattle raiding since South Sudan gained independence from the north in July 2011, and continues to be locked in a cycle of inter-clan clashes and revenge killings.

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June 3, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan's opposition forces led by former vice president, Riek Machar, said they inflicted heavy casualties on government troops loyal to president Salva Kiir on Wednesday after the latter allegedly carried out major offensive against the rebel positions north of the Unity state's capital, Bentiu.

Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) celebrate after recapturing Unity state capital Bentiu from rebel forces in January (Photo: Reuters)

Spokesperson for the opposition leader Riek Machar said they repulsed a massive coordinated attack by combined government forces from different army divisions who attempted to recapture their strategic positions in northern part of the state.

“SPLM/SPLA forces in Unity state have repulsed a massive coordinated offensive by forces loyal to president Salva Kiir on Wednesday morning at Rot Riak (Lalok) town, north of the state capital, Bentiu,” James Gatdet Dak said in a press statement to the media on Wednesday.

“The massive attack involved thousands of government soldiers from various army Divisions 4,3 and 5 including Tiger Division as well as pro-government militia forces of Matthew Puljang,” he said.

He said the attack occurred at 9am at Rot Riak area situated at the main road junction between Panakuach and Unity oilfields.

Their forces, he said, repulsed the attack with huge casualties inflicted on pro-government forces, adding that seven tanks in good condition were among the war equipment captured from the government.

“Juba forces were therefore dispersed and ran in disarray in the direction of Mayom or Warrap state,” he added.

Dak said the aim of the major offensive by forces loyal to the government was to try to recapture oilfields under the control of the opposition forces in the state.

He also said another pro-government force attempted to push towards Pariang area but were defeated and repulsed as well.

Other rebel sources told Sudan Tribune that their forces were matching towards the state capital, Bentiu, in retaliation of the government's offensive. They also said they were in full control of the Unity oilfields, north of Bentiu.

Dak accused the government of continuing with the “full scale war project” which he said was in violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement signed by the warring parties in South Sudan since 23 January 2014.

SOUTH SUDAN ARMY REPULSES WAU ATTACK

Meanwhile, officials in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state on Wednesday said government forces managed to repulse yet another attack by rebels in Wau county, about 50km away from the state capital.

Western Bahr el Ghazal state's minister for local government, Angelo Taban Baijio, told reporters in the capital, Wau, said fighting lasted for several hours on Wednesday when forces allied to the opposition faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar, attempted to take over Kpaile Payam near Wau.

According to the official, rebel forces experienced heavy losses in the fight over the control of the area, but could not say how many were killed from both sides. He said the offensive by the South Sudanese army (SPLA) was in response to Sunday's attack initiated by the rebel forces in the area.

“The SPLA forces have maximally defeated the rebels as a response to the last Sunday attack in Bazia Payam 50km south-west of the state capital,” said the minister.

He attributed the rising armed rebellion in the state to the administrative differences since 2012 in the state.

“What is now happening in Wau county is a continuation of the December 2012's violence of which the state capital has witnessed a serious protest over the allocation of the county's headquarter from Wau town to Bagari. These are the same people today supporting and joining the rebellion,” he said.

The minister warned that any civilian and those who were arrested and jailed for punishment sentence and released after their jail term ended seen supporting the rebellion would be dealt with.

State government officials have been accusing citizens in Wau county of collaborating with the rebels and not providing early warning information to the authorities about the movement of the rebel forces in the area.

They cited the recent attack on Bazia town, 50km away from the capital and wondered how the opposition forces could reach the area without being detected by the citizens.

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June 3, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A visiting Russian official announced today his country's readiness to support Sudan technically as well as militarily to boost its defense capabilities to enable it to combat terrorism.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir meeting with Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Khartoum June 3, 2015 (SUNA)

Russia's deputy foreign minister and the presidential special envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov told Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir that Moscow does not mind training Sudanese officers and assist the country in counter terrorism.

Bogdanov said that there is a political will in the leadership of the two countries to strengthen the bonds of friendship and fruitful cooperation and achieve a true partnership in all fields, describing Sudan as the closest partner of Russia in African and Arab region.

Bashir on his end affirmed his country's keenness to develop relations with Russia in all fields and expressed gratitude to Russia's participation in his swearing-in ceremony and praised Russia's role in monitoring the April elections.

He also commended Moscow's support of Sudan in international forums.

In a related issue, Bashir received an official invitation from his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, to visit Beijing to promote bilateral relations between the two countries.

Jinping's special envoy, Cheng Jing, who visited Sudan for the inauguration ceremony underscored the strength of bilateral relations between the two countries and the need to enhance them in all fields.

The Chinese diplomat pointed to the strategic partnerships that combine both countries, and conveyed the congratulations of envoy Jinping on the occasion of his new presidential term and wished him and the people of Sudan, progress and prosperity.

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June 3, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The leader of the Darfurian clan of Mahameed, Musa Hilal, said Wednesday he intends to discuss with government officials what he called "four pivotal issues" including the registration of his militia as political party.

Former janjaweed leader and tribal chief, Musa Hilal welcomed by his supporters at Khartoum Airport on Saturday 30 May 2015 (Photo by Saleh Ajab Aldor)

Hilal, who was one of the main militia leaders that participated in the brutal counter-insurgency campaign during the first years of Darfur crisis returned to Khartoum on Saturday from his home town of Misteriya in North Darfur to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of president Omer al-Bashir
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He left Khartoum in mid-2013 and turned his militiamen against the governor of North Darfur state, Osman Kibir accusing him of feeding tribal conflicts in the state.

The notorious Janjaweed leader then started making statements critical of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), of which he is a member, and calling for deep reforms.

Also, last year Hilal's troops seized control of western localities in North Darfur state including Saraf Omra, Kutum, Kebkabiya, Al-Seraif, and El Waha.

The tribal chief went further to announce the establishment of administrations in these localities, naming his forces the Sudanese Revolutionary Awakening Council (SRAC).

On Wednesday, Hilal addressed a meeting of his supporters in the Sudanese capital saying he intends to discuss with the political leadership in Khartoum four issues including registration of SRAC as political party, the security arrangements, social reconciliation and the political reforms.

He also said the discussions would include the need for equal sharing of power and wealth besides the just development.

"We came to Khartoum to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of president Bashir and we will sit with decision makers in the coming days to discuss those issues clearly and we would achieve an agreement that will take us and the Sudan forward," he said.

The tribal leader denied that he is part of the opposition, stressing he would not rebel against the government.

He said that he went to Darfur to visit his people and discuss their concerns, adding the presidency is fully aware of his activities there.

"We are neither outlaws nor opponents as some people claim", he noted.

"If we were rebels, we would have held arms against the existing legitimate government and we won't hold arms against our government", the tribal leader added.

Hilal further said that differences of opinions don't constitute a crime and divergence of views is not a shame, expressing confidence that SRAC would reach an agreement with the country's top leadership.

The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when an ethnic minority rose up against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum, which then was accused of enlisting the Janjaweed militia group to help crush the rebellion.

In April 2006 the UN Security Council imposed financial and travel ban against Hilal for obstructing peace in Darfur. The then US president George Bush issued an executive order enforcing similar sanctions on them.

In January 2008, Bashir appointed Hilal as a special advisor for the Ministry of Federal Affairs in Sudan.

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