Africa

March 20, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sovereign Council, Commander in Chief of the Sudanese Army reiterated on Sunday that all the armed groups will merge with the reformed national army at the end of the transition.

In his speech to the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) officers of the Khartoum North Military Region, al-Burhan spoke at length about reforming the armed forces and the need to rebuilding it on new foundations without favouring any component of the Sudanese people.

He said that these forces are the backbone around which all other political and social forces are organized and grow in Sudan.

"These forces are the safety valve of national unity," and they must represent all components of the country on an equal basis, he said.

He further said that by the end of the transitional period, all the armed forces will be merged in line with the DDR process. So, some will reintegrate into the army, while others will join the other regular and security forces.

"We are seriously striving to complete this matter before the end of the transitional period and the formation of the unified Sudanese armed forces," he stressed.

Al-Burhan underscored that a large part of the forces of the peace signatory groups will be absorbed according to the organizational requirements of the armed forces.

Also, he underlined that the DDR process would be based on the number of the population of every region based on the last population census of Sudan.

In addition, he said the continuation in the armed forces will be determined by the competence of the new recruits.

According to the Juba Peace Agreement in Sudan, all the forces of the armed movements will be integrated into the army and other security forces.

The absorbed officers from the armed groups will be formed at the military college before joining the regular army.

This process will include the controversial Rapid Support Forces.

Al-Burhan said the army must be dedicated to defending the country and the army must be deployed on the border areas.

He added that they have already started this process in order to end the military presence in the towns.

Al-Burhan called on the political forces to complete the formation of the transitional institutions pointing to the parliament and the constitutional court.

It is important to build up these institutions to show our seriousness to achieve the democratic transition in Sudan, he advocated.

(ST)

March 20, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Saudi Arabia and Sudan kicked off on Sunday biannual joint naval exercises dubbed "Falak 4".

The Sudanese Naval Forces units participating in the maritime drills arrived at King Faisal Naval Base in Jeddah Governorate on Friday.

In a statement issued by the Sudanese military media, the commander of the participating Sudanese naval forces, Brigadier General Alaa al-Din Abdallah, stated that the exercise is a good opportunity for the exchange of experiences and training on joint work.

For his part, the commander of the exercise from the Saudi side, Brigadier General Hazza Al-Mutairi, stated that the Falak 4 exercises aim to unify concepts and exchange experiences between the two armies to ensure freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea.

The Marines, Special Maritime Security Units, Naval Aviation Group, Support Vessels Group, and a group of boats of the Western Fleet participate in these maritime exercises.

This joint exercise will last for six days until next Thursday.

The Saudi Navy and its Sudanese counterpart conducted the first joint exercise in 2013 entitled "the Falak 1" in Port Sudan.

Saudi Arabia recently announced its desire to develop bilateral cooperation with Sudan on the Red Sea, expressing fear that growing international presence in the Red Sea basin represents a direct threat to its national security.

(ST)

Let us Honour and Celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on its 55th Anniversary on SUNDAY, March the 21st 2021

By Mahmoud A. Suleiman

Do we know that March 21 is the International Convention/Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)? On this day in 1960, police opened fire on a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against "apartheid laws," killing 69 people. In 1966, on the occasion of the proclamation of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble efforts and eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

The intention of this initiative is to take a lead in coming up with long-awaited information that the world's population, especially the people of countries called developing countries such as Sudan in a dire need to know, honour, support and literally apply it. One has thought it a topic of utmost importance, especially for peoples who have been afflicted by the fires of colonialism under oppression, humiliation, injustice, racism and impoverishment and worst of all being marginalized in their own native country even after the so-called Independence from the Colonialism of the Former Masters who entrusted their previous power to their obedient submissive followers who, from day one, turned into new masters persecuting their own countrymen and women with unprecedented racism and exaltedness, and the result is the marginalization of the majority. We the citizens in the developing countries at times felt as if we were still under the era of a new notorious metamorphosed Apartheid!

"We fear that the world will reach delicate and critical moments in the fight against the demons of hate," said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In the face of an alarming increase in xenophobia, racism and intolerance, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights launched its campaign https://www.un.org/ar/observances/end-racism-day

This article comes against the backdrop of the fact that in 1960, police opened fire on a peaceful demonstration in Sharpville, South Africa against "apartheid laws", killing 69 people. South Africans mark 55 years since one of the worst apartheid-era mass killings, but other atrocities are still forgotten. But racial discrimination in one form or another is still remaining rife in the world today in our World. One can mention a few for example. The famous slogan of “Black Lives Matter that spread Worldwide following what happened to the 46-year old American Blackman George Floyd on May 25 when Minneapolis police officers arrested him and the Security footage, witness videos and official documents show how a series of actions by officers turned fatal and the event went viral showing Mr Floyd was shouting – saying I cannot breathe while the policeman did not remove his knee from Mr Floyd's neck till he lost consciousness, a living reminder. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/george-floyd-investigation.html

On Sunday March 20 2021, we the people of the World will come together united against racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism and fascism. Moreover, they'll stand in solidarity with refugees and migrants to send a powerful message to those in power that racism will be defeated. Moreover, this article also comes as a preemptive attempt coinciding with this important anniversary that might come and pass without many people realising the anniversary. As well, it represents a reminder to the various communities that might be targeted.

The UN General Assembly resolution 2142 (XXI)(link is external), adopted on 26 October 1966, proclaimed 21 March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to be commemorated annually. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws". Proclaiming the Day in 1966 which signifies the struggle to end the policy of apartheid in South Africa, the General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/nodiscriminationday/2020

Over the years, UNESCO has celebrated International Day by organizing events in Headquarters and its field offices, as well as in cooperation with the member cities of the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities – ICCAR (formerly the International Coalition of Cities against Racism). https://en.unesco.org/themes/fostering-rights-inclusion/iccar

The struggle against racial discrimination is a central element of UNESCO's work to build peace in the minds of men and women, through education for tolerance, the rejection of racist stereotypes that may persist in culture or in the media. https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/nodiscriminationday/2020

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination adopted and opened for signature and ratification by General Assembly resolution 2106 (XX) of 21 December 1965 entry into force 4 January 1969, in accordance with Article 19.

https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/cerd.aspx
Let's Fight Racism!
Racism, xenophobia and intolerance are problems prevalent in all societies. But every day, each and every one of us can stand up against racial prejudice and intolerant attitudes. Be a human rights champion, #fightracism and #Standup4humanrights

Dr Martin Luther King, in this quote from his Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, expresses his belief that people will one day leave racial injustice behind. He aligns racism with war, and peace with brotherhood. In line with his adherence to nonviolent protests and civil disobedience, he states that truth and love will ultimately win; he added saying: “I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word”. – Dr Martin Luther King Jr. https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1964/king/26142-martin-luther-king-jr-acceptance-speech-1964/

In this quote from his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Dr King expresses his belief that people will one day leave racial injustice behind. He aligns racism with war, and peace with brotherhood. In line with his adherence to nonviolent protests and civil disobedience, he states that truth and love will ultimately win. https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/quotes-on-racial-injustice/

Dr. Mahmoud A. Suleiman is an author, columnist and blogger. His blog is http://thussudan.wordpress.com/

Telling the truth get you in trouble and lying set you free, this is the tragedy of South Sudan

By Lul Gatkuoth Gatluak

Telling the truth in South Sudan is a row to unforgivable punishment. On Sunday evening, a good number of informants in Juba had indicated, the Ex-Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs who is currently serving as a Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk is facing an arrest warrant in the capital Juba. According to the informants, a huge fleet loaded with Security Forces arrived at his compound wanted to arrest him indefinitely.

If the rest warrant going to be successful, Mr Kuol will be dragged to the Blue House, a torturing facility where political detainees are kept and torture.

The motive behind Mr Kuol arrest is said to have been driven and ignited by a comment he made during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed State government officials on Friday in Bor. In his speech, Kuol confessed the SPLM-led South Sudanese government in which he is a part, has failed to deliver services to the people and added, the government has done nothing among the things that made them take up arms against Khartoum regimes. Although Mr Kuol statement is a naked truth, Salva Kiir's notorious security agent s rushed to detent him.

In reality, the South Sudan government has done nothing to change the flight of South Sudanese people started in 2005 when the country has gained its self-rule and later became independent ten years ago. Since the government of South Sudan was formed, the government didn't build schools, it didn't build roads, it didn't build houses for people, and it didn't build hospitals. Salva Kiir's administration did not have a clear agenda to jumpstart much-needed development.

As we speak, most of the essential government institutions are not carrying out their duties. The government of South Sudan is still in a stage of its evolution and has not matured enough in its daily operations. There are still numerous gaps within public institutions to coordinate projects with their branches. The lack of coordination among the government institutions is caused by the absent of modern technology and Salva Kiir does not bother to supply much needed technological equipment. In this regard, there is no efficient way to handle the job professionally or in a professional manner.

Due to this inefficiency, South Sudan's development has a long way to go in order to reach its desired destination. Development is a long-term process that requires an appropriate approach and genuine business with joint and synchronized efforts from various angles. It is true that the divergent growth cannot be achieved within one decade; however, main public institutions such as hospitals that are urgently needed would have been built and should be in place by now started in 2005 and present. Gen. Kuol could not be arrested for pinpointing all these facts.

In any nation. Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public government official. It is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else. Telling the truth means that, we want to do the right things and lying could not give us the chance to fix our problems. In that regard, people could not be arrested and punished for telling the truth. It is much better, to tell the truth, and make someone cry than telling a lie to make someone laugh. Mr Kuol has not done anything wrong. He doesn't deserve to be punished.

Nawal El Saadawi, who has died at 89, drew outrage and admiration in her conservative home country.

The head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for increased international support for peace and stability in Sudan, highlighting that investing in the country’s youth and women, is investing in the nation’s future. 

March 20, 2021 (NYALA) - The Coordinator of Darfur Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees accused the Governor of South Darfur of forming and financing tribal militias to dismantle IDPs camps.

“Why the (transitional) government does not keep an eye on the South Darfur Governor, and hold him accountable for his criminal acts and the formation of tribal militias to dismantle the (IDPs) camps,” said Yaqoub Mohamed Abdallah Fury, the general coordinator, in a statement extended to the Sudan Tribune, Saturday.

Fury accused the governor of instructing the state apparatus to arm what he called "Dr Saleh's group" with various heavy and light weapons in order to create chaos in the Kalma camp and pave the way for its dismantling.

He claimed that the governor also allocated a headquarters for this group and provided them with three cars and funds to recruit militia.

The Sudan Tribune was not able to reach the governor of South Darfur for comment on these allegations.

The statement called on Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok to remove the governor of South Darfur from his position, stressing he "must leave immediately before a disaster strikes the state and Sudan."

The coordinator denounced the statements of the governor, last week, in which the latter said that "The Kalma camp has become a state within the state."

The camp which was described as the largest camp for IDPs in Darfur is known for its support to the holdout Sudan Liberation Movement of Abdel Wahid al-Nur.

Its residents clashed in the past several times with the security authorities. The rebel group also had been accused of hiding weapons inside the camp.

On March 18, UNAMID handed over its team site to the government of South Darfur in the Kalma area, after delaying its handover for a week at the request of the Sudanese government.

UNAMID said the delay was aimed at giving the government more time to reach out to local communities and create favourable conditions for the handover.

(ST)

South Sudanese refugees at Nyumanzi settlement camp in Adjumani (Getty Image)

March 20, 2021 (GENEVA) - The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and partners are appealing for $1.2 billion to provide vital humanitarian assistance for more than 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees living in five neighbouring countries in 2021.

South Sudan gained independence a decade ago, but millions of its population are still displaced inside or outside the country.

The crisis continues to be a children's one with more than 65 per cent of the refugee population under 18, including 66,000 children who have been separated from their parents or usual caregivers, according to aid agencies.

However, while some progress has been made in implementing the latest peace agreement, humanitarian and protection needs remain high for the largest refugee situation on the African continent.

The majority of South Sudanese refugees are hosted in relatively remote and under-developed areas. The COVID-19 pandemic combined with climate change-related challenges including severe flooding, droughts and desert locusts have compounded an already dire situation.

Funding, UNHCR said, is urgently needed to provide life-sustaining assistance, including shelter, access to safe drinking water, education and health services.

Food shortages are particularly acute with insufficient funding already leading to ration cuts impacting hundreds of thousands of refugees, it noted.

With the pandemic taking a toll on socio-economic conditions for both refugees and host communities, this year's response includes a renewed and increased focus on resilience and supporting livelihoods.

Humanitarian partners will also intensify gender-based violence prevention and response, and prioritize support to persons with specific needs, including strengthening child protection programmes and scaling up psychosocial and mental health support.

According to UNHCR, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda continue to generously host South Sudanese refugees and to take steps towards their inclusion in national systems – including health and education, in line with the Global Compact on Refugees.

"We are calling for renewed support from the international community to support their efforts," it stressed.

While some 350,000 refugees have independently made the decision to return to South Sudan since 2017, and efforts are being made to move the peace process forward and support these returns, conditions are not yet in place for large-scale returns and funds are needed now to help the refugees and the local communities that have welcomed them.

(ST)

March 20, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan Armed Forces, Saturday defended the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) saying they protect the revolution and democratic transition in Sudan.

Al-Burhan addressed on Saturday 3000 SRF militiamen who ended a training course in the military college before heading to Darfur to take part in the civilians' protection force the government decided to deploy in the region to replace the UNAMID force.

Since its inception, the RSF have worked for the benefit of the Sudanese people, the defence of the December Revolution, and the extension of security and stability, al-Burhan said.

Also, he praised the "great role" played by the SRF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo "Hemetti" in the revolution. He was alluding to his support to al-Burhan in his struggle against the Islamist military during the first months of the revolution.

"We renew our confidence in the Rapid Support Forces and appreciate what they are doing ... We will build a Sudan that we are dreaming about, and the Rapid Support will be part of the building process," he stressed.

The RSF have faced regular criticism campaigns in Khartoum since their participation in the bloody dispersal of the peaceful sit-in where they killed about 200 civilians on June 3, 2019.

Recently, Hemetti's brother Abdel-Rahim Daglo, RSF second commander, sparked a wave of anger in Khartoum after he supported the deployment of the armed movements' forces in Khartoum. He said that the deployment of the armed groups would not stop at Khartoum, but would also go to Meroe, the historic royal capital of Sudan old kingdoms.

In a bid to deal with the mounting criticism, his brother Hemetti participated on Saturday in a public event in the River Nile State flanked by the leaders of the former armed groups.

He spoke about the need for national cohesion, saying the Juba Peace Agreement aims to strengthen national unity before adding that northern Sudanese were accountable for the deeds al-Bashir regime.

For his part, Abd al-Rahim Daglo said that he did not intend to offend the people of Meroe, but rather to refer to a dear region of Sudan distinguished by development, civilization, stability and prosperity.

(ST)

Sudanese refugees in a refugees camp in Maban, South Sudan (WFP Photo)

March 20, 2021(NAIROBI) – Severe cuts to British aid budget to South Sudan will cost lives as the country teeters on the brink of famine, the Archbishop of Wales, Rev. John Davies warned.

In a joint appeal with Christian Aid, the religious leader called on the British government to halt its proposed 59% cut in aid to South Sudan, arguing that it would “tip the country into deep crisis”.

“I understand the need for fiscal responsibility, but these are the wrong cuts, at the wrong time, for the wrong reasons. Be it carelessly or deliberately, these cuts will harm vulnerable people. We must not balance the books on the backs of the poorest in our world. In the name of all that is good, Prime Minister, please stop these cuts,” the appeal reads in part.

A joint letter from Christian Aid and 84 other charities, including Tearfund and Plan UK, urged Britain to rethink the cuts.

More than eight million people are reliant on humanitarian aid, and 60 per cent of South Sudan's population is reaching crisis levels of hunger, the UN has said. It says that it needs $1.7 billion (£1.2 billion) to help those most in need in the country, including the 1.2 million children and nearly 500,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women who are acutely malnourished.

“Approximately 7.2 million South Sudanese have been pushed into severe food insecurity due, again, to sporadic violence, extreme weather, and the economic impact of Covid-19,” World Food Programme spokesperson, Tomson Phiri said.

“This figure includes over 100,000 people who are in those hard-to-reach areas of six counties who are at risk of famine. They are literally one step away from famine, according to the Famine Review Committee report,” he added.

For his part, Tearfund's country director for South Sudan, Anthony Rama, said last season's crops had been washed away by floods, and there were fears that such floods could happen again.

“About half the population is in dire need of food assistance. We have endured years of intercommunal conflicts, and now Covid has disrupted trade and weakened our fragile health-system's ability to treat people,” said Rama.

He added, “There are severe food shortages in all of the areas in which we work.”

South Sudan has been struggling to recover from five years of war that killed almost 400,000 people, according to reports. A coalition government formed last year between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar is implementing a peace deal behind schedule, while deadly violence continues in parts of the country.

(ST)

March 19, 2021 (JUBA) - South Sudan on Friday moved to Juba a popular singer arrested and detained in the Western Bahr el Ghazal capital, Wau, despite public protests.

South Sudan singer Larson Angok (Facebook photo)

Family members told Sudan Tribune that Larson Angok was badly handled.

"The way they treated him today became a great concern to us as the family, but we appeal to members of the public to remain calm. We are following the case with the authorities", the singer's brother said in an interview.

The director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Wau told Sudan Tribune on Thursday that he acted on directives given by his superiors in Juba.

“I can tell you Larson Angok is in our custody. He is safe. There is no problem. Our work is to implement directives given from the headquarters. We have been asked to arrest and take him back to Juba. We are now waiting for transport. When we get transport, he will be taken to Juba and from there, anybody wanting to know the cause will go and hear," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"For us, we do not know. We acted on directed”, he added.

Family members and friends shared video clips showing him on a police vehicle, surrounded by police personnel and people in plain clothes.

Since the singer's arrest, no official statement has been released to explain the nature of crime committed and why there was no arrest warrant.

Angok's lawyers have also not been permitted to query the cause of his arrest.

However, several people have continued to speculate the cause of the singer's arrest, with some attributing to it a petition he wrote to President Salva Kirr in which he protested the way the national army was being treated and over a song he released, describing country's ruling party (SPLM) as a political organization which embraces political converts at the expense of cadres.

(ST)

Islamic militants operating in the north have been the cause of growing concern in the region.

For Burna Boy, there's never been a better time for African musicians to tell their own stories.

The journey from Africa to the Canary Islands is one of the deadliest migration routes in Europe.

A BBC team gets a glimpse of the human cost of the recent fighting in Tigray.

Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan steps up after the death of President John Magufuli.

Parts of Nigeria are seeing unprecedented mass school abductions that have left at least one student dead.

A selection of the week's best photos from across the continent.

Tanzania's President John Magufuli has died aged 61. Here are some of his views, in his own words.

His death will reenergise debate about whether the continent needs strong institutions or strongmen.