Africa

Campaigners say it is important that Kenyan men join the battle to end female genital mutilation.

Zimbabwean musician Jah Prayzah maintains his passion for traditional music despite being an Afrobeats star.

How a start-up in Kenya is changing the way people cook.

New tactics are being used in the fight against jihadists as Chad and France reduce their military roles.

How Ntando Mahlangu's prosthetic blades changed his life and led him to two golds at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Macoumba Toure Sarr has been using handcycling to rebuild his life following a devastating accident.

Africa could miss the goal of vaccinating the most vulnerable 10 per cent of its population against COVID-19 before the month ends, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

The aid crisis in Ethiopia's Tigray region is worsening, the UN said on Thursday, with stocks of relief aid, cash and fuel “running very low or depleted”. 

September 1, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The UN official who chairs the Permanent Ceasefire Commission arrived in Khartoum on Wednesday ahead of the launch of the implementation process of the security arrangements for Darfur armed groups.

The Juba Peace Agreement signed between the government and the Revolutionary Front groups on October 3, 2020, provides that the permanent ceasefire commission would be chaired by a United Nations representative and includes five officers from each party besides two representatives of South Sudan and Chad.

“The head of the ceasefire commission arrived in Sudan. He is a member of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Higher Military Committee, Suleiman Sandal, told the Sudan Tribune, on Wednesday.

Sandal said the Permanent Ceasefire Commission should move to its headquarters in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

He further underlined the need to activate the implementation mechanisms and to take concrete financial and administrative procedures in this respect; particularly the Joint Military High Committee for Security Arrangements approved it.

On 30 August, the Joint Military High Committee held a meeting in Khartoum chaired by al-Burhan with the participation of the army officers and the representatives of the armed groups to discuss the security arrangements enforcement.

The meeting agreed to expedite the implementation of the security arrangements and the need to determine the gathering site for remaining combatants.

Sandal said that the meeting discussed administrative issues and who will oversee the implementation of different tasks.

In addition, he disclosed that the parties to the implementation process would hold technical consultations meetings on September 5 and 6, to finalize the preparations before its effective launch, which would be very soon.

In a related development, Sudan's Sovereign Council on Wednesday announced the beginning of the implementation process in the Blue Nile.

The statement said Malik Agar, the Council's member and chairman of the SPLM-N and the defence minister attended the inauguration of the process.

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September 1, 2021 (JUBA) - South Sudanese authorities have fined small scale traders for shutting down shops in the wake of the botched protests organised by civil society activists last week.

Traders display clothes for sale in Bor town (File photo)

Multiple traders in Konyokonyo market, Juba town, Jebel and Muniki area told Sudan Tribune Wednesday that officials, collaborating with security officers, police and military personnel from the Juba City Council have been threatening to arrest them for failing to open their shops on August 30, 2021.

These officials accompanied by security personnel, military, and police, according to multiple traders, imposed financial fines ranging between 150,000 SSP ($375) to 50,000 SSP ($125) each.

“We were not allowed to talk. They just asked for the money and when you ask, they say they are fines for failing to open and operate your shop on Monday”, a trader told Sudan Tribune Wednesday.

A police source privy to what transpired told Sudan Tribune separately the collection was to cover expenses incurred on the forces deployed on Monday.

“You know the government is broke to the core. Even finding a fuel to put into an official car for official purpose require a strategy to get funds for it. Soldiers too had to eat, and this was not budgeted. So, the money must be found somewhere and collecting them from traders was one of the strategies to pay for these expenses and the Juba city council was given the responsibility to do that. And because of the envisioned resistance from traders, the soldiers were deployed for that purpose”, he explained.

Traders argued that they could not open their shops because they were unsure of the nature of protest, citing previous incidents in which shops were ransacked without government intervention.

Rights groups said security forces have arrested several people, including activists and a bishop, ahead of a botched mass protest.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman denied the arrests, but later explained that the deployment was to protect lives and properties.

The government was reacting to activities of a coalition of leaders of the civil society organisations calling on President Salva Kiir and the First Vice-President Riek Machar to step down.

The activists had planned nationwide protests, which the country's authorities quickly subdued.

Tensions were high and government officials, including Kiir and members of his administration were worried about the mass protests and heavily deployed security forces.

Observers say citizens easily accepted calls for mass protests because soldiers are underpaid and overlooked in promotions. Other reasons include political and economic stagnation, rampant corruption, growing nepotism in government and armed forces, insecurity and lack of empathy.

Political opponents and journalists argue that lack of political space to freely assemble, arbitrary arrest and detention explains why the country's citizens have lost faith in the coalition government.

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September 1, 2021- (KHARTOUM) - One policeman and a number of gunmen were wounded during armed clashes on Wednesday in Khartoum's suburb of Soba between government forces and gunmen affiliated with a signatory group called Third Front - Tamazuj.

The Sudanese interior ministry said the former rebels refused to leave a building in the Rahaf neighbourhood of the Soba area of Khartoum and opened fire on the police force that requested them to render the keys of the accommodations.

The group members were supposed to stay in the police building for one month after their arrival in Khartoum in November 2020.

The Sudanese police said that the armed group refused to vacate the residence and opened fire on the police, following what they request the support of a joint force involving the police, the army and the Rapid Support Forces.

The controversial group did not take part in the negotiations but joined the agreement later. Its leadership claims they were part of the SPLM-North but the latter denies that.

Tamazuj had already clashed with the security forces on 18 March of this year.

The group spokesman Mohamed Musa Badi said the " unfortunate " incident occurred due to the lack of written or verbal notification with the group.

Also, in a state released late on Wednesday evening, the SPLM-N Darfur Sector led by Saeed Youssif Mahel said the security forces attacked its members and injured several members of the group.

"There is a systematic targeting of some armed struggle leaders," said the group and warned they would retaliate if the government does not hold accountable the perpetrators of the attack.

The U.S. Embassy which has its building in Soba advised its personnel "to avoid all areas south of its location until further notice.

Tamazuj groups have been accused of being fabricated by the military intelligence to weaken the Juba Peace Agreement signatory groups as it gathers people from the border areas with South Sudan from Kordofan and Darfur regions.

Several members of this alliance were involved in robbery and looting attacks in the past months increasing the insecurity in the capital.

Analysts and commentators had warned that the non-implementation of the security arrangements would lead to such incidents.

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September 1, 2021 (JUBA) - Forces allied to South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Machar are purportedly moving towards an area occupied by forces under the command and leadership of his former chief staff, Simon Gatwech Dual, a spokesman said.

Riek Machar South Sudan FVP (Reuters photo)

Brigadier General William Gatjiath Deng, who ally himself with forces Gen. Dual has issued a statement warning of imminent attack by forces loyal to Machar.

These forces loyal to Machar, according to the statement, are under the direct command of Machar's spy chief General Yieh Dak.

“We have information indicating that they are on their way to attack our position. But let me assure the public as a matter of fact, the mighty forces of SPLA (IO) under command of the interim Chairman and Commander in Chief (C-in-C), 1st Lt-Gen Simon Gatwech Dual, are fully aware of your imminent attacks on our bases but they will be taught a good lesson at both”, reads a statement obtained by Sudan Tribune.

He added, "The merciless forces loyal to the former Chairman, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, are now on their way coming to attack the SPLA (IO) at Kit-gwang GHQs, as already exposed by their warmonger Gen.Yiey Dak, the director of national security who was giving the farewell salutation to their forces".

Deng accused Dak of being the mastermind of the split, warning that their forces are on high alert and will respond with a huge force to the hostile forces. Attempts to reach Machar's spokesman on military affairs for comment could not be successful. His known telephone line could not connect at the time of going to the press.

Sources with direct knowledge of the situation told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday that the two sides are preparing for all-out hostilities with a view to claim monopoly and exert control to gain legitimacy and recognition from the public and over the forces and territories in which they operate.

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August 31, 20121 (KHARTOUM) - The Chief of Staff of the Sudanese Armed Forces is visiting Doha for talks on military cooperation with Qatar, said the Sudanese Military Media on Tuesday.

Lt-Gen Mohamed Osman al-Hussein held a meeting with Lt-Gen Ghanim bin Shaheen Al-Ghanim, Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces, said the military media.

“The meeting touched on ways to strengthen relations between the two brotherly armies,” reads the statement.

Osman who arrived on Monday is expected to meet other military officials.

The two armies conducted joint military exercises in December 2019 in Arkweit of the Red Sea State.

In November 2014, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on military cooperation between them in various fields.

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August 31, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The head of the Sovereign Council and European Union diplomats to Khartoum Tuesday discussed the security situation in Darfur and the border dispute with Ethiopia.

European diplomats in Sudan from France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the European Union met on Tuesday with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to discuss the ongoing democratic transition in the country.

Following the meeting, the Head of the EU Delegation in Sudan Robert van den Dool told reporters that they had a “friendly and constructive” discussion on the transition including Hamdok's initiative and reiterated their call to form the transitional parliament.

“We also discussed the security situation in the country, the progress in the implementation of the security arrangements stipulated by the Juba Peace Agreement and the efforts by the government to maintain order, strengthen security, impose rule of law and combat crime,” Dool further said.

He said they underlined the need to protect displaced people and enforce the National Plan for the Protection of Civilians, pointing it was crucial for peacebuilding in the Darfur region.

The government has delayed the implementation of security measures in Darfur as uncontrolled combatants of former rebel groups participated in intercommunal clashes and some others are accused of robberies.

Also, the lack of funding prevents the launch of the implementation of measures aiming to compensate the displaced people or rehabilitating their areas of origin for their return.

In a letter to the UN Secretary-General in September 2019, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok requested that his country be declared eligible for the UN Peacebuilding Fund.

Hamdok asked that the funding be allocated to support his government plans for security, durable solutions, and peacebuilding at the community level in Darfur.

The EU representative In Sudan said that the meeting discussed the situation in eastern Sudan, in Ethiopia and South Sudan.

“Sudan's strategic location is key to the stability of the region and we believe that any military escalation will negatively reflect on the peace, security and progress in the countries of the region,” Dool said.

The EU diplomats also expressed their commitment to support the transitional process and back the government's efforts to rebuild the Sudanese economy.

“We confirmed to his Excellency that the European Union will continue to support Sudan's transition to a civilian-led democratic government,” he said.

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August 31, 2021 (KAMPALA) - Uganda and South Sudan have agreed to patrol the Nimule-Juba highway where drivers and travellers have been attacked in the recent past.

General view of Juba Nimule road leading to Nimule Park and neighbouring Uganda (Pinterest photo)

The agreement follows the killing of travellers, including two Catholic nuns, by unknown militia on the road.

Uganda's First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga tweeted on Monday that there would be police check points every 10km along the usually busy highway.

"Uganda has expressed its concerns at the continued assault, attacks and killings of Ugandan travellers on the Juba-Nimule sector. Agreement has been reached with South Sudan government to establish security patrols at every 10 kilometres mark protected by convoy escorts," she wrote.

Kadaga said chiefs of staffs from the two countries would hold a joint meeting next week.

"I have also drawn the attention of my counterparts to the common breach of the Common Market Protocal by South Sudan Govt," she added.

Last week, cross-border drivers from East African countries went on strike protesting against insecurity.

About 1,000 lorries from across East Africa have stopped at the main crossing point along the Nimule-Juba highway.

At least 30 traders and lorry drivers from across East Africa have been killed this year on the road.

Landlocked South Sudan heavily depends on its neighbours for essential supplies.

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Representatives of South Sudan government and SSOMA factions at a meeting mediated by the Sant'Egidio community in Rome, July 17, 2021 (courtesy photo)

August 31, 2021 (JUBA)- South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has halted his government's participation in the Rome talks with the South Sudanese Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA), dashing any prospects for peace in a country ruined by civil wars and rampant corruption.

“We have decided to pause the ongoing Sant'Egidio led Rome Peace initiative. Our pursuit of an inclusive peace should never be taken for weakness and used as a window to kill the innocent”, he said at the inauguration of the first session of parliament on Monday.

Kiir specifically singled out the National Salvation Front (NAS) headed by General Thomas Cirilo Swaka and set conditions for his government's resumption of the talks.

He held the hold-out group responsible for attacks on the Juba-Nimule highway on August 16, 2021 in which scores of people, including two catholic nuns, were killed.

None of the groups, however, claimed responsibility for the recent attacks.

"Talks with SSOMA will only resume after they cease killing the innocent people and show their commitment to documents they have signed in Rome. It is only when they meet these conditions that genuine dialogue will resume,” said Kiir.

The South Sudanese leader wondered why NAS continues to target civilians along the main roads, despite their commitment to the cessation of hostilities agreement.

“We have signed with Rome Declaration and Rome Resolutions with SSOMA and the re-commitment to Cessation of Hostilities in December 2017 and Declaration of Principles. The goal of signing these documents was to stop fighting and save innocent lives. These were our commitment to inclusivity”, he told legislators.

Kiir said documents signed by the group suspected to have carried out the attack with the government were also part of confidence-building aimed at achieving lasting peace in the country.

“Now that SSOMA is specifically the National Salvation Front elements continue to violate this commitment,” he stressed.

Government signed a peace deal with NAS and other holdout opposition groups in January 2020.

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August 31, 2021 (ZALINGEI) - One student was killed and 11 others wounded on Tuesday after police fired bullets to disperse protesters at the headquarters of the State Government and the University of Zalingei.

A group of university students organized a protest outside the University of Zalingei calling to develop student housing.

The police opened fire to disperse the protesters when they entered the university, eight students were wounded three of them are in critical condition.

To protest the use of bullets by the security forces at the university, the students went to the Central Darfur State Government buildings where the police opened fire again on the protesters killing one student and injured three others.

In a statement to the official news agency SUNA, Adeeb Abdel Rahman Youssif, the Governor of Central Darfur State, accused unnamed parties of "taking advantage of student demands to spread chaos and violence in the city".

He further announced that the State Security Committee had decided to impose a state of emergency and a curfew in the city.

The protesters attacked the government building inside the secretariat of the government of Central Darfur state and destroyed some vehicles.

A student group linked to the holdout Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) was accused by local officials of inciting and orchestrating the protest.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Musa Adam Ismail, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zalingei condemned the use of fire against the protesters and called to investigate the incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Also, the SLM-AW issued a statement to condemn the murder of the student and pointed an accusing finger to the security forces and the state security committee saying their bear the responsibility for the attack.

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South Africa's Pieter du Preez is overcome by emotion as he wins Paralympic gold in men's road cycling.

August 30, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) accused the military component of the Sovereign Council of seeking to prohibit the employment of its members in the civil service.

"The military component and those around it instigate an employment ban on the communists in civil service, especially in the ministries of finance and foreign affairs," SCP Spokesman Fathi Fadl told the Sudan Tribune.

He pointed out that about 100 to 120 of its members who work in the ministries of foreign affairs, finance, health and education are subjected to restrictions because of their political affiliation.

The matter was on the agenda of a meeting they held with Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok last Saturday.

In addition, they handed over a letter including the names of the harassed members who pledged to take the needful.

"Attempting to politicize the civil service and attacking the communist workers can turn into a sword directed at any unwanted servant who by the influential parties in power," he said.

Fadl said that the applicants for the foreign ministry were surprised that the civil service interviews included a direct question: "Are you a communist or not?"

The Sudanese Communist Party criticized the economic reforms implemented by the transitional government and is no longer part of the ruling coalition Forces for Freedom and Change.

However, Hamdok has engaged a political dialogue with the left party with the hope that they would change their mind and back his government again.

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August 30, 2021 (KHARTOUM) — The transitional government on Monday launched a new national action plan to combat human trafficking in Sudan which is the primary transit country of migrants to Europe from the Horn of Africa.

With the participation of Justice Minister Nasreldine Abdel Bari and European Union Ambassador to Sudan Robert van den Dool, the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking (NCCT) inaugurated the National Action Plan for Combating Human Trafficking 2021-2023 in Sudan.

Undersecretary Ministry of Justice and NCCT Head Siham Osman stated that the three-year plan aims to curb human trafficking through several programmes to reduce poverty and offer new options for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

Also, the plan will ensure better protection and shelter for the victims including the establishment of specialised prosecutor offices and courts, cross-border cooperation and access for victims of trafficking to legal aid to improve investigation and prosecution.

The EU-supported action plan met the four core aspects to combating human trafficking including "Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Coordination and Partnership," said Osman.

During the first six months of this year, 29122 illegal migrants reached Italian shores including 1,428 Eritreans, 1,309 Sudanese. The number of Ethiopians was insignificant.

From January 31 May 2021, Libyan authorities intercepted over two 2000 Sudanese seeking to cross the Mediterranean sea and reach Europe embarking on dangerous boats.

In his remarks, Abdel-Bari reiterated his government commitment that the plan to fight human trafficking would maintain "the human dignity; that we must respect and preserve, whether a person is living in his country, travels within or migrates to other countries."

According to the UNHCR data for the past seven months, migrants from Bangladesh tops the list of countries of illegal migration to Europe with 6951 migrants who cross the sea mainly from Libya.

The Trafficking in Persons Report 2021 by the U.S. Department of State said that the Sudanese authorities did not "fully meet the minimum standards" for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts" in this respect.

Accordingly, the State Department placed the east African country in its Tier 2 watchlist to encourage Sudanese efforts to meet the international standards.

For his part, the EU envoy said that Sudan had made efforts to combat human trafficking, including the investigation, prosecution of human traffickers, and protection of victims.

He further said that the three-year plan aims to enable Sudanese institutions with EU support to facilitate safe and legal migration, combating illegal migration, providing protection and creating livelihood opportunities.

(ST)