Africa

August 28, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Russia's Ambassador to Khartoum, Vladimir Zheltov, said the joint economic committee between Sudan and Russia would hold its 6th meeting in Moscow next month.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) ha quoted Zheltov as saying the meeting would discuss a number of economic and political issues particularly on the domain of minerals.

He pointed out that the Russian embassy and the Sudanese government are currently working to determine the agenda of the meeting.

Zheltov added the Russian side would be headed by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment while the Sudanese side is headed by the Minister of Minerals.

Politically, Russia is seen as a major ally of the government of al-Bashir that faces isolation from the West. However, economic cooperation between the two countries has remained very low, with a trade balance that does not exceed $400 million.

In December 2015, Sudan and Russia signed 14 cooperation agreements in different domains, including oil, minerals and banks.

The agreements also include a concession contract between Sudan and the Russian Rus Geology to prospect for oil in Sudan's Bloc E57 and another accord for the geological mapping of the Jebel Moya area, North Kordofan State.

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August 28, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said it has arrested twenty-eight illegal migrants the on border triangle among Libya, Sudan and Egypt on Monday.

Following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's 40-year-rule in 2011, Libya has slid into chaos and has become the most important transit country for illegal migrants to Europe.

In press statements on Tuesday, Director of Guidance and Services Department at the RSF Murtada Osman Abu al-Gasim said the 28 illegal migrants are Sudanese nationals, pointing out that they were heading towards the Libyan territory.

He added human trafficking gangs attempted to sneak the 28 illegal migrants into Libya, saying these are the same gangs that had recently kidnapped Egyptian troops.

Last month, Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) freed five Egyptian troops abducted by Libyan gunmen on the border triangle between Libya, Sudan and Egypt.

Abu al-Gasim also said the RSF continued to carry out its duties in protecting the national borders, stressing their keenness to maintain border security and stability.

He further said the RSF have been deployed on Sudan's various borders to fight against negative phenomena including arms and illegal drugs smuggling and human trafficking.

In June 2016, hundreds of RSF elements have been deployed in the remote desert of the Northern State shortly after a complaint by the governor of drug and human trafficking by the criminal networks.

The RSF militia, which is widely known as the Janjaweed militias, were originally mobilised by the Sudanese government to quell the insurgency that broke out in Sudan's western region of Darfur in 2003.

The militia was activated and restructured again in August 2013 under the command of the NISS to fight rebel groups in Darfur region, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states following joint attacks by Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebels in North and South Kordofan in April 2013.

Last year, the Sudanese parliament passed the RSF Act which integrates the
notorious militia in the Sudanese army and provides that its commander
is appointed by the President of the Republic.

Sudan is considered as a country of origin and transit for the illegal migration and human trafficking. Thousands of people from Eritrea and Ethiopia are monthly crossing the border into the Sudanese territories on their way to Europe through Libya or Egypt.

In January 2014, the Sudanese parliament approved an anti-human trafficking law which punishes those involved with human trafficking with up to 20 years imprisonment.

Also, in 2014, Khartoum hosted a conference on human trafficking in the Horn of Africa, organised by the African Union (AU), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Sudanese government.

The East African nation has also forged a strategic partnership with several European countries and the EU to combat illegal migration and human trafficking.

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As the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) gears up for the upcoming academic year – with some 250 schools in Ebola-affected health zones – the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is scaling up education; health and water; sanitation; and hygiene programmes to assist children and their teachers.

August 28, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar has accepted to initial the final document of the revitalized peace agreement, announced the Sudanese foreign ministry in a statement released on Tuesday evening.

After intensive negotiations held with the Sudanese foreign minister and chief negotiator El-Dirdeiry Ahmed Machar has agreed to initial the final document on Thursday 30 August, said the statement.

"In return, the Sudanese mediation pledged to fill the points that Dr Riek Machar requested to examine it to the IGAD Summit for a mandate to be discussed," stressed the short statement.

On Tuesday morning, Machar's group refused to initial the final document asking to review the quorum for the cabinet meeting or the legislative assembly etc.. has not been changed after the increase of the cabinet members to 55 ministers. So he demanded to review this point.

Further, In a joint statement with the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), his group has reiterated it that the permanent constitution-making process should be through the National Constitutional Assembly not the government-controlled National Constitutional Review Commission.

The Sudanese chief mediator in a previous statement on Tuesday said the issues raised by the SPLM-IO are not part of the mandate of Khartoum Round of talks, stressing that they cannot open a discussion on these topics unless all the parties agree.

Juba refused to discuss the matter.

Also, the South Sudanese negotiating delegation refused a compromise providing to ask South Sudanese to choose between the 32 or the 10 states. The mediators thought this can be a solution to settle the disagreement on the number of states and boundaries but they had to withdraw it after Juba veto.

The SSOA and the SPLM-IO deplored the position of the mediation in this respect saying it "will not reflect well on the impartiality of the Mediators and will throw doubts into the whole process".

But the Sudanese foreign ministry said this issue will be referred to the IGAD heads of state and government who decided to include the 32 states to the Khartoum Round.

The final document was initialled by the South Sudanese government, the SPLM-FDs, Other Political Parties (OPP) and the civil society representatives.

It is not clear if the SSOA will reconsider its position on the document, but the group leader Gabriel Chang Changson in his joint statement with the SPLM-IO they "shall remain on the negotiating table".

The final document has to be approved by the IGAD leaders before to be formally signed by the parties.

The parties have to discuss the implementation matrix until from the Wednesday 29 August to 2 September.

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August 28, 2018 (KHARTOUM) -The Sudanese foreign minister and IGAD chief mediator Tuesday said the SPLM-IO of Riek Machar and the South Sudan Opposition Alliance have refused to initial the final document of the revitalized peace agreement.

“The main opposition party, led by Machar, as well as another group, refused to sign, demanding guarantees over their reservations” El-Dirdeiry Ahmed.

The two groups have underscored their concerns on two different issues.

The SPLM-IO objected to the constitution-making process saying the permanent constitution have to elaborate through the National Constitutional Conference and not by the government-controlled National Constitutional Review Commission as provided in the draft agreement.

For the opposition alliance, their concerns were mainly focused on the referendum which is set by the mediation as the default solution to fix the disagreement over the number of the 32 states unilaterally established President Kiir. So, they call to re-establish the old 10 states as the default option.

On Monday evening, El-Dirdeiry and South Sudan information minister already announced the rejection to sign the deal by one of the two parties, adding that the other failed to meet the deadline and said the signing will be on Tuesday morning.

For the issue of the states, the mediators maintained the referendum as the default option but added two new elements. The first is to review the current boundaries of states and to ensure their conformity to the 1.1.1956 tribal border. The second that people would be asked if they want the 10 states system or the 32 states regime.

For the concern of the SPLM-IO, it is unclear what the mediators have proposed to the main opposition group.

The call for democratic reforms and was the reason that led to the eruption of the five-year civil war in South Sudan.

The Sudanese mediators are expected to reach the two parties to break the deadlock.

President Salva Kiir has already arrived in Beijing where he will meet Chinese leaders ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is scheduled for 3-4 September.

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August 27, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - A group of Sudanese activists has called to protest against the rising food prices in the country and accused the government of failing the address the economic crisis.

Since January 2018, bread prices have doubled and recently country experienced fuel and bread crises.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Sudan Revolution Command Initiative has called on the Sudanese to take to the street in Khartoum to overthrow the regime of President Omer al-Bashir.

The activists said they have already started the protests in different parts of the capital saying they can no more patience and "time has come to remove this tyranny".

Small groups were seen during the evening in Khartoum chanting anti-government slogans since few days.

The group further called on the Sudanese people to support the protests and to form the "leadership of the revolution" in order to continue this popular uprising by peaceful means until the collapse of the regime.

For its part, the U.S. embassy in Khartoum issued a demonstration alert advising the American nationals to avoid Khartoum neighbourhood of Al Sajjana and Al Hilla Al Jadida.

The embassy said demonstrations would begin on Tuesday at 6:00 am, adding that "Protestors plan to block major roads".

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August 27, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The head of the Sudanese intelligence and security services Salah Gosh is visiting Mogadishu for talks with his Somali counterpart

Salah Gosh, former chief of Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), smiles at his home after his release, in Khartoum July 10, 2013 (REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

Different Somali media reported Gosh's arrival in the Somali capital on Monday in a short visit for the horn of Africa country.

In Khartoum, the Sudanese authorities or official media didn't announce the visit.

The different Somali media outlets that reported the visit said the Sudanese official would discuss the Qatari funded training of Somali security and intelligence agents.

The Somali government was formed after a long UN-backed process to end the war, reunify and rebuild the centralized authority which had collapsed in 1991.

The Somali government is also fighting the Islamic extremist rebels Al-Shabaab who continue to carry out attacks across the country in a bid to weaken the state regular forces.

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August 27, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The initialling of the final document of revitalized South Sudan peace agreement has been adjourned to Tuesday as some parties failed to hand over their observation or simply rejected it.

In line with the agenda of the talks, the parties to the negotiations had to initial the final document after concluding the three-day discussions on bracketed issues before to discuss the implementation matrix.

The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) rejects the referendum as a default solution to settle the disagreement over the number of states, while the SPLM-IO expressed strong reservation to the constitution-making process proposed by the mediation.

Sudanese Foreign Minister and Chief Mediator El- Dirdeiry Ahmed and South Sudan Information Minister Michael Makuei on Monday evening told reporters about the adjournment of the signing saying some failed to give their observations and other others reject the text.

Minister El Dirdeiri announced that the signing was delayed to Tuesday morning.

For his part, Makuei explained that the parties finished the text on Monday morning and were given the semi-final draft at about 05:00 pm, adding they handed it back to the mediation at 07:00 pm

He regretted that the rejection of the document by those who were party to the formulation and discussion of this same text.

Further, he went to claim that some of "these groups which are obstructing today" rejected the document because "there are some hidden hands some hidden groups behind all those".

He called on the opposition groups to join them and co-sign the document on Tuesday morning at 8:30 am.

"So that we take peace to our people in South Sudan, he stressed.

El-Dirdeiry stressed that the signing will take place on Tuesday pointing out that some are still preparing their observations.

"The document is accepted by all the parties and I do not think that there is a reason for any party to not sign it," he said.

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For more details please read
IGAD mediators propose to ask South Sudanese to choose between 32 or 10 states
SPLM-IO says drafting of permanent constitution should be "people-driven process

August 27, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on Monday seized copies of Al-Jareeda and Al-Saiha newspapers from the printing house without stating reasons.

A Sudanese man reads a newspaper as he waits to pay at a kiosk in the capital Khartoum (AFP)

Journalists working for the two newspapers told Sudan Tribune the confiscation comes in continuation of previous confiscations which began prior to Eid al-Adha holiday.

They pointed out that the NISS director Salah Gosh, in a recent meeting with Chief-Editors of the newspapers, has stated redlines that mustn't be crossed including the president of the republic.

Gosh also warned the Chief-Editors against covering news of the armed movements in Darfur, and the Two Areas.

It is noteworthy that Al-Saiha columnist Abdel-Bagi Al-Zafer has recently published 'the behind-the-scenes report' on the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) decision to amend its constitution to re-nominate al-Bashir for a third term in 2020 elections.

Also, reliable sources told Sudan Tribune that the NISS has targeted Al-Jareeda because of its continued reporting on the opposition alliance “Sudan Call” which includes armed groups from Darfur region, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

Al-Jareeda has been one of the most newspapers in Sudan subject to suspension and confiscation. In May 2016, the NISS confiscated copies of the newspaper four times during five days.

The Sudanese security usually issues verbal directives to the Chief-Editors banning them from publishing particular news especially those pertaining to the protests and armed movements or other issues which the security sees sensitive.

It routinely confiscates newspapers either to prevent circulation of certain stories or to punish them retroactively for breaching unwritten red lines inflicting financial and moral losses on these media houses.

On January 7, the NISS confiscated 6 newspapers for publishing reports about the popular protests against the harsh economic conditions.

Also, in February 2015, it seized entire print runs of 14 newspapers in one day without stating the reasons for its decision.

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August 27, 2018 (KHARTOUM/ELGENEINA) A delegation from the United States embassy in Khartoum on Monday visited West Darfur State to check on the security and humanitarian situation reported the official news agency SUNA

According to the news agency, the US embassy delegation led by the head of political and economic section Robert Wong met with West Darfur governor Hussein Yassen Hamad and the security committee.

“This visit comes within the framework of America's interest in developing bilateral relations between the two countries,” said Wong

During the meeting, the two sides discussed security and humanitarian situation as well as voluntary return programme of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees.

The meeting also discussed official efforts to clear unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other explosive remnants of war.

For his part, Hamad briefed the U.S. delegation on the situation in Darfur, stressing the war has ended and the region is now moving from humanitarian to development assistance.

He underlined the security and humanitarian situation is stable, pointing to the efforts of the regular forces besides the initiatives launched by the official and civil organs to maintain peace and stability.

He also pointed to the positive impact of the disarmament campaign as well as the implementation of the National Document and outcome of the national dialogue.

The governor further said West Darfur is witnessing a large voluntary return of refugees from eastern Chad and IDPs due to the stable security situation.

Last year, the UN Security Council decided to reduce the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID), admitting that the security situation has improved.

However, it decided to reinforce its presence in Jebel Marra because there is no cessation of hostilities as the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) led by Abdel-Wahid al-Nur refuses to declare it unilaterally or to engage in peace negotiations.

Last June, Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed Adam stated that the government has no plan to forcibly evicting the IDPs camps, but has set a number of options for IDPs, including resettlement in the area where they are, or in another area according to their desire.

Since the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur in July 2011, the government constructed several villages and vowed to support IDPs who return to their home areas.

However, IDPs representatives in several camps say they refuse to return to their areas before the disarmament of the armed militias and the evacuation of their land from the newcomers.

In a report released on 5 February, UNOCHA estimates there are about 386,000 returnees in Sudan conflict areas including Darfur and the Two Areas.

The Sudanese army has been fighting a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003. UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in the conflict, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

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August 27, 2018 (KHARTOUM/JUBA) - The IGAD mediation team has proposed to hold a referendum asking South Sudanese to choose between the 32,10 states or any other alternative set by the Independent Boundaries Commission (IBC).

The disagreement on the number of states remains one of the issues that the South Sudanese parties continue to discuss without reaching a deal on it.

On Sunday, the mediation handed over a proposition providing to make it clear from now that if the parties fail to reach a consensus on the number of states, the referendum, which is maintained as the default option, should give people the possibility to choose between different choices including the current number 32 or 10 states demanded by the opposition.

According to the text of the proposal seen by Sudan Tribune, the referendum commission (RCNBS) will ask the South Sudanese to choose between the following option:

"The IBC (Independent Boundaries Commission) proposal for rectifying the boundaries of the 32 states, the 32 states, the 21 states, the 10 states (or) any other number of states agreed by the IBC to be offered as an alternative".

The opposition alliance (SSOA) reject the "unilaterally imposed" 32 states and calls to keep the old 10 state as the default solution - not the referendum - if the parties fail to strike a deal within the framework of the IBC.

Aware that local communities in different states reject the 32-states system because it gives their land or a disputed land to another community, the mediation said the Technical Boundary Committee (TBC) will settle this issue first through drawing a map of "tribal boundaries of 1.1.1956 that were violated by the 32 states".

Once the mapping is done, the IBC will propose rectifications for the boundaries of the 32 states found as violating tribal boundaries of 1.1.1956.

Also, "the IBC shall agree by consensus, and on the basis of its already set guidelines, on number and boundaries of states (...)," further stressed the new proposal.

The South Sudanese parties had to conclude on Monday Morning the discussions of the bracketed issues and initial the final document in the afternoon.

But as late as Monday evening, the mediation did not make any statement about the progress made in the talks.

It worth mentioning that the SPLM-IO, also, expressed concern about the permanent constitution-making mechanism and objected that the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) be tasked with the drafting of the new constitution.

The organization of the National Constitutional Conference "should be handled as a people-driven process that reflects the aspirations and the will of the people of South Sudan, rather than be a government-driven process," said the SPLM-IO on Sunday.

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August 26, 2018 (JUBA) - The SPLM-IO Sunday rejected tasking the National Constitutional Review Commission (NCRC) with the drafting of the permanent constitution saying it is different a people-driven process.

The parameters and procedures of the Permanent Constitution-Making are one of the bracketed issues discussed currently in Khartoum before to initial a final document on Monday 27.

In a statement released on Sunday from the venue of the peace talks in Khartoum, Henry Odwar Deputy Chairman of SPLM (IO), and head of negotiating team said they disagree with the procedures proposed in the draft for the permanent constitution-making.

He disclosed that the draft proposed by the mediation mandates the NCRC to draft the text for the permanent constitution outside the forum of the National Constitutional Conference.

"The SPLM/A (IO) maintains that permanent constitution-making is a popular exercise in which the people of South Sudan must exercise their right to deliberate on matters of governing their country," he said.

He further stressed that the organization of the National Constitutional Conference "should be handled as a people-driven process that reflects the aspirations and the will of the people of South Sudan, rather than be a government-driven process".

The talks on the remaining bracketed issues have been dominated by the disagreement on the number of states and the mediation said it proposed a compromise for the parties but didn't disclose it.

With the difference now there are two issues that the mediators have to be settled before to engage in talks about the implementation matrix.

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August 26, 2018 (JUBA) - The relieved labour minister Sunday renewed his support and loyalty to President Salva Kiir and vowed to him in his efforts to achieve peace and stability in South Sudan.

Former Labour Minster Gathoth Gatkuoth Hothnyang (file photo)

General Gathoth Gatkuoth Hothnyang was dismissed from his position as labour minister on 24 August after calling the Nasir youth to support him in his conflict with the First Vice President Taban Deng Gai.

The two Nuer dignitaries are in an influence battle to win the support of their tribesmen in the Greater Upper Nile region and Latjor state particularly.

In a letter of appreciation sent to President Kiir on 26 August, Hothnyang and on behalf of "my community and people of Latjor state" thanked President Kiir for giving him the opportunity to serve under his leadership as the minister of labour.

"I would like to pledge my unwavering support to your leadership and the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) in ensuring your ideologies and vision of our beloved country are implemented to the latter," he wrote in his letter seen by Sudan Tribune.

First Vice President Taban Deng and former Minister Gathoth Gatkuoth Hothnyang were both parts of the rebel SPLM-IO led by Riek Machar but split separately and established their own groups.

Hothnyang broke away in July 2015 he broke away and formed his own group the Federal Democratic Party/ South Sudan Armed Forces (FDP/SSAF).

The sacked general stressed he would continue to mobilize his community of Latjor state to back Salva Kiir's "able leadership".

Kiir replaced Hothnyang by General James Hoth former SPLA chief of staff who is also a Nuer but remained loyal to Salva Kiir personally and didn't join the rebellion of December 2013.

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August 26, 2018 (JUBA) - The family of the imprisoned SPLM-IO leader spokesperson Sunday renewed calls for his release from jail saying he developed a variety of health problem.

Last Monday, the South Sudanese government announced the release of 21 political prisoners "as a sign of peace" but their identities were not disclosed. The move came after the signing of an agreement on the outstanding issues of governance in Khartoum on 5 August.

The government and opposition groups on 27 June 2018, signed the Khartoum Declaration of Agreement, where they committed themselves to a permanent ceasefire, including, the opening of humanitarian corridors, and release of prisoners of war and political detainees.

James Gatdet Dak's family said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune that he was not among the freed political prisoners and called on President Salva Kiir to release him.

"We appeal to the President to follow through his promise in releasing James and as good gesture for peace," said his wife Mary Nyahok Chuol in a statement she sent from a European country where she is in exile with their children.

"My husband needs serious medical attention as his health deteriorates by the day," Chuol further added.

on 12 February 2018, a special court in Juba sentenced James to death by hanging, but his lawyers described the verdict as a political decision.

Chuol said they had great hope that President Kiir orders his release soon especially as the parties are now finalizing the implementation matrix of the revitalized peace agreement.

"We have been waiting all this time hoping to see you taking practical steps for the release of James Gatdet Dak," she pointed out.

The spokesperson of the former first vice president was arrested in Nairobi and deported by the Kenyan authorities to Juba on 3 November 2016 because he praised a UN report blaming a Kenyan general who was the UNMISS former force commander for his failure to protect civilians in Juba during the bloody clashes of July 2016.

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August 26, 2018 (KHARTOUM) – The South Darfur state implored upon South Sudan government to provide support to sites hosting 50,000 refugees who fled the conflict in the war-torn nation.

South Sudanese refugees arrive to Sudan's white Nile state in January 2014 (Photo SUNA)

The acting governor Taha Abdallah told the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) that South Sudanese refugees who are distributed across the localities of al-Salam Baleel and Buram share with the citizens of his state all public services.

He disclosed that they raised the issue with the visiting South Sudan Human Rights Commission Chairperson Yasmine Luka and pressed for more support to these refugees through NGO's or the Humanitarian Aid Commission.

Luka had said that her visit is part of the investigation into the events that unfolded in South Sudan since 2013 and to talk with South Sudanese refugees in South Darfur.

Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have poured into neighbouring countries following the outbreak of armed conflict between government forces and the rebel faction of Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) led by Riek Machar in 2013.

Thousands of those refugees found safe havens in north, east and south Darfur states.

According to official sources in Khartoum, the number of South Sudanese refugees is currently at 1,300,000 out of 2 million refugees from different nationalities.

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August 26, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Meetings between Sudan and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would kick off on Monday in Khartoum to discuss Sudan's nuclear power programme, reported the official news agency SUNA.

According to the news agency, the meetings would discuss the report of the integrated review of Sudan's nuclear power programme infrastructure according to the IAEA standards.

Since several years, Sudan announced it had plans to build a four-reactor nuclear power plant to fill the gap in power generation by 2030.

Earlier this year, Sudan's Minister of Water Resources and Electricity Muataz Musa said his ministry is working to complete technical studies to build Sudan's nuclear power plant within eight years under supervision and follow-up of the IAEA.

In May 2016, Sudan and China signed a framework agreement to build a 600-megawatt atomic reactor.

Last December, the Russian State Corporation for Atomic Energy (Rosatom) said it signed an agreement to build the first nuclear power plant to produce electricity in Sudan.

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