Africa

May 26, 2018 (KAMPALA) – Police in Uganda have arrested nine South Sudanese refugees for leading riots and damaging equipment of a humanitarian agency in the West Nile district of Arua.

South Sudanese refugees carrying Core Relief Items walk down a road in Bidibidi refugee settlement, Yumbe District, Northern Region, Uganda. (UNHCR/David Azia)

An alleged delay in the supply of food rations caused the riots.

The West Nile regional police spokesperson, Josephine Angucia was quoted saying the South Sudanese refugees broke into the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) stores, stealing food items, wheel barrows, hoes, slashers, three computers, tarpaulin and spray cans.

"When police swung into action, the riots were stopped. Nine suspects were arrested and detained at Yoro base camp police station pending transfer to Arua CPS [Central Police Station]," she told Xinhua.

According to the police, 11 wheelbarrows, 11 hoes, 9 slashes, some electric items and computer accessories have been recovered.

"Refugees are advised to use proper channels of sharing their grievances through their leaders to the concerned authorities instead of taking the law into their hands," said Angucia.

"When some continue to misbehave and not abide by our laws and procedures, they will be arrested and prosecuted according to Ugandan laws," she added.

Last year, WFP announced a food aid cut by 50% to hundreds of thousands of refugees living in Uganda, citing financial constraints.

(ST)

May 26, 2018 (JUBA) - China has handed over 2,048 tonnes of rice to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to assist millions of people affected by the conflict in war-torn South Sudan.

People in conflict-affected areas of South Sudan collect food from WFP (WFP/eter Testuzza Photo)

The donation is reportedly part of 8,800 tonnes of rice Beijing pledged to the young nation in 2017 to fight severe food shortage.

South Sudan is in the midst of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis driven by three years of brutal civil war. More than 7 million people are currently food insecure in South Sudan and China's recent food aid would rescue thousands of hungry people from starving.

According to WFP officials, the Chinese donation would help provide emergency food aid to some 136,000 people for a one month period.

He Xiangdong, Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, said the contribution is part of China's efforts to support the world's youngest country to overcome the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The chairperson of South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), Manase Lomole said cooperation between Juba and Beijing have been fruitful and should be strengthened to benefit the people of both countries.

(ST)

May 26, 2018 (ADDIS ABABA) - Ethiopian security forces seized over hundred guns and ammunition smuggled from neighbouring Sudan.

According to the Ethiopian News Agency, the security forces in Amhara regional state in northern Ethiopia captured 116 guns and thousands of bullets smuggled from Sudan.

The three-day operation involved the region's security forces and the Ethiopian army said the Chief of West Metema locality police, Aberaraw Yehuala.

The police official said three lorry drivers have been arrested in connection with the weapon trafficking operation.

In reaction to this development, the security authorities enhanced the security measures at the checkpoints on the border with Sudan.

The two country have a security cooperation agreement.

The official agency didn't provide further details on the destination of the lorries loaded with the sized weapons.

(ST)

May 26, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Saturday has called on all political parties to participate in the 2020 elections.

An official closes a ballot box following the end of elections in Khartoum on 16 April 2015 (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

During a meeting with his party's student sector, NCP political secretary Abdel-Rahman al-Khidir said the main objective of the 2020 elections is to make the ballot boxes the only means for the peaceful transfer of power.

He expressed his party's readiness to run for the presidential and parliamentary elections, saying the 2020 elections must be held on its scheduled timeframe.

Al-Khidir praised the political parties who decided to participate in the elections.

Last month, a coalition of some opposition left parties, the National Consensus Forces (NCF), announced the boycott of the 2020 elections, saying it won't meet with the ruling party to discuss these elections.

On the other hand, several opposition groups that are part of the opposition Sudan Call forces consider participating in the next general presidential elections in 2020 if the regime of President Omer al-Bashir provides needed guarantees for a fair election and ensures freedoms.

(ST)

May 26, 2018 (WASHINGTON) - United Nations Security Council is expected to impose sanctions on South Sudanese government officials including Defence Minister and Minister of Cabinet Affairs who chairs the government delegation to the peace revitalization forum.

The 15-member body on 31 May will adopt a resolution renewing the measures related to targeted sanctions in order to support the search for an inclusive and sustainable peace in South Sudan.

The United States which is the penholder on South Sudan circulated a draft resolution on 25 May at an informal meeting. The adoption requires nine Yes votes out of the 15 total votes.

The draft resolution seen by Sudan Tribune provides to renew until 31 May 2019 the targeted sanctions including ban travel and asset freeze, to extend until 30 June 2019 the mandate of the Panel of Experts and to impose sanctions on five officials from the government and one from the rebel side.

According to the draft resolution the list includes SPLM-IO Governor of Bieh State Koang Rambang Chol, Kuol Manyang Juuk South Sudan Defence Minister, Malek Reuben Riak Rengu, Deputy Chief of Defence for Logistics in South Sudan's army, Martin Elia Lomuro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Michael Makuei Lueth Minister of Information and Gen Paul Malong Awan Former SPLA Chief of Staff sacked by Kiir in May 2017.

Awan, Lueth and Rengu are already blacklisted by the U.S. administration for their roles in destabilizing South Sudan.

For the rebel commander, Chol is sanctioned for ordering to restrict the movement of humanitarian workers. "He was responsible for the detention of two (Kenyan) pilots delivering aid, obstructing their humanitarian activities" last February.

The resolution said the head of the government negotiating team Lomuro "threatened members of the press, obstructed humanitarian missions, and threatened to eliminate the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM). Lomuro also obstructed the activities of UNMISS".

Regarding the defence minister, the draft resolution says under his command the army violated the ceasefire of December 2017 by attacking civilians. But also the SPLA expanded or extended the conflict through offensives in Pagak.

The resolution further says the South Sudanese defence minister supplied the Sudanese rebel of the SPLM-N with military equipment in violation of the 2015 peace agreement.

LOBBYING SECURITY COUNCIL

The Deputy head of the South Sudan mission to the United Nations told Juba in a note dated on 25 May the Security Council would likely adopt the resolution.

"From the way some members of Security Council spoke during the Panel of Experts report, the draft will likely pass as the penholder only requires 9 yes votes out of the 15 total votes," said the south Sudanese diplomat in its note seen by Sudan Tribune.

The diplomat advised to reach out China and Russia asking them to use their veto vote.

She further recommended that Juba lobbies the Council members in a way to prevent the penholder, the United States from getting the nine votes required to pass the resolution.

So, the note recommended to particularly contact two African non-permanent members of the Council- Cote d'Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea - to request them to abstain during the vote. The two countries reportedly are in favour of the targeted sanctions.

Also, it considered good to reach the other non-permanent countries including Bolivia, Ethiopia; Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Peru, Poland and Sweden to convince them to not support the draft resolution.

In a recent interview with the VOA, Brian Shukan, director of the office of the U.S. Special Envoy for South Sudan said they want to impose sanctions on individuals seen to be blocking the peace process.

"We have taken an approach using sanctions where we want to apply pressure and also to hold people accountable," said Shukan.

Also, UK special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Christopher Trott approved the approach.

"We are in the process of looking [for] ways in which we can introduce sanctions on individuals, both for corrupt practices and for obstructing the peace process," he told VOA.

(ST)

Zimbabwe's Axcil Jefferies hopes to be the first African racing driver on the F1 grid for 25 years.

May 26, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has prevented a rights activist from travelling to Nairobi and confiscated her passport without giving reasons.

Intisar al-Agly

In a short statement issued on Saturday, Intisar Al-Agaly said the NISS agents at Khartoum Airport prevented her from boarding the plane.

“After I completed the procedures and received my boarding pass I waited for a long time upon the request of a security agent and then I was informed that I'm banned from travelling” read the statement

She added the NISS agents confiscated her passport and cancelled her ticket reservation, describing the move as a constitutional violation.

Al-Agaly vowed to take the necessary legal procedures against the NISS, saying the denial of her right to travel without due cause has caused her material and moral losses.

Last week, the NISS banned the secretary-general of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP), Sara Nugdallah, from travelling to Egypt to see her doctor.

Also, the NISS on Tuesday prevented 4 journalists from travelling to Saudi Arabia without stating reasons.

(ST)

May 26, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has approved the continued participation of Sudanese troops in the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

?Speaking to the state-run Radio Omdurman on Saturday, NCP political secretary Abdel-Rahman al-Khidir said his party has reached its decision after making a comprehensive and objective assessment for the various aspects of Sudan's participation in the Saudi-led coalition.

He pointed out that the decision to participate in the alliance was based on a strategic, not emotional view, saying Sudan is part of a large coalition.

President Omer al-Bashir on Wednesday stated that the Sudanese troops would continue to fight Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen despite the tough economic situation his country is experiencing.

Earlier this month, State Defence Minister Ali Mohamed Salim said his ministry was evaluating pros and cons of the participation in the Yemen war in order to decide on it soon.

Al-Bashir has been under pressure to withdraw his troops from Yemen because Gulf countries particularly Saudi Arabia do not provide financial support to the country to overcome its economic crisis.

The Sudanese army has been participating in the Saudi-led military coalition since 2015 in a regional effort to back the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after he was ousted from the capital Sanaa by the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels.

(ST)

South African disability rights campaigner Eddie Ndopu says he is "a living manifestation of possibility".

May 25, 2018 (KHARTOUM) Ten Sudanese illegal migrants have been killed and eleven others injured in a car accident in Libya.

Head of a programme on reducing illegal migration and promoting the voluntary return of Sudanese community in Libya Malik Mohamed Salih said “a truck carrying 21 Sudanese illegal migrants crashed on the highway linking Jallo and Ajdabiya towns”.

He pointed out that 10 migrants have been killed and 11 others injured, some seriously, saying the injured were transferred to Benghazi Hospital.

Names of the dead include: Mohamed al-Ajab Ahmed al-Tahir from Jazeera, Abdel-Wahab Mohamed Dafaa Allah from East Jazeera, Mohamed Ibrahim Ali Mohamed from East Jazeera, Hassan Imad Hassab al-Rasoul from Wad El-Sid, Bushra Daw al-Beit Fadal Allah from El-Dibaibat, Dadr al-Tamam Hamad Balla Musa from Tamboul, Babikir Mohamed Ahmed from Kordofan, Ali Abdel-Jaleel Kenana from 24 Al-Qurashi, Saeed Abdo Kenana from 24 Qurashi and Ahmed from Kordofan.

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 May 2016, Khartoum proposed to establish a joint force to monitor the common borders between Sudan and Libya to curb the movement of Darfur rebels and fight against illegal migration and terror groups.

The UN migration agency (IOM) in April 2017 said it had received reports about the existence of slave markets in Libya where West African migrants are being bought and sold openly.

Also, the CNN which investigated the reports broadcasted footage of a live auction where black youths are sold to North African buyers. The reported filmed by the journalists of the international news channel showed that the migrants are sold for $400.

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.

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

(ST)

May 25, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Minister of Cabinet Affairs Ahmed Saad Omer said King Mohammed VI of Morocco would pay his first ever visit to Khartoum in October.

On Thursday, Omer met First Vice-President and Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Salih and briefed him on the outcome of his recent 3-day visit to Morocco.

In press statements following the meeting, Omer said he met with a number of Moroccan officials and ministers including the Prime Minister and the Minister of Immigration Affairs as well as the Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO).

He pointed out that the meeting discussed ways to promote bilateral relations besides the implementation of the agreements signed between the two countries.

The Cabinet Affairs Minister added he signed an agreement with the Moroccan side to benefit from their experience in attracting expatriates savings.

Sudan is among few countries that recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The two countries have a number of trade agreements and there are no visa restrictions.

(ST)

May 25, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan opposition People's Liberal Party (PLP) leader said he is seeking the position of third vice-president created by the IGAD mediation.

PLP chairman Peter Mayen Majongdit who is also the leader of the South Sudan Umbrella Coalition of Political Parties for Peace and Democratic Transformation, confirmed to Sudan Tribune Thursday that he seeks as leader of the opposition group to get the position of the Third Vice-President.

“As political parties, we are saying the position of the third vice president should be taken by non-armed groups and who are the non-armed group? This is our party, Peter told Sudan Tribune.

In its Bridging Proposal, the IGAD mediation team said the structure of the presidency should be composed of the President (TGoNU); the First Vice President (nominated by SPLM/A-IO),, the Vice President (TGoNU); and the Third Vice President (nominated by Other Parties & Entities (SSOA, FDs & OPP).

The opposition leader went further to say the position of second vice president should be given to the political parties or SPLM-FDs because the positions of the President and First Vice President are given to armed groups.

Majongdit was alluding to the President Salva Kiir and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar.

However, the mediators intended to give the second vice-president position to the SPLM-IG including Taban Deng Gai.

The SPLM-IO led by Machar rejected the Bridging Proposal but the IGAD Special Envoy For South Sudan who plays the role of chief mediator asked the parties and stakeholders to think about the proposal.

The IGAD Council of Ministers is expected to meet next month to decide on the fate of the proposal and determine a new date for the resumption of the revitalization forum.

(ST)

Turkish journalist Hasan Söylemez is cycling across Africa asking people about their dreams.

May 25, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Friday called for observations by the Sudanese government and President Omer al-Bashir over the legal questions raised by Jordan over its case against the Sudanese leader.

The Hague-based court in December 2017 accused Jordan, which is a party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, of failing to arrest al-Bashir - when he was on Jordanian territory to participate in an Arab League summit on 29 March 2017 - in compliance with its obligations under the Rome Statute and decided to refer the case to the Security Council.

Last March, the ICC Appeals Chamber called on the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, the League of Arab States and the Organization of American States to submit observations by 16 July 2018 on the legal questions raised by Jordan in its appeal.

This time, the ICC Appeals Chamber "invited submissions, by 16 July 2018, from the competent authorities of the Republic of Sudan and Mr Omer Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir on the legal questions raised by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (“Jordan”) in its appeal pending before the Appeals Chamber," said the ICC in a statement on Friday 25 May.

Sudan since 2008 has rejected to cooperate with the ICC.

To justify its call for observations, Last March the ICC Appeals Chamber said it "noted that the legal matters raised by the appeal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan against Pre-Trial Chamber II's decision of 11 December 2017 in the Al Bashir case may have implications beyond that case".

In its appeal of March 2018, Jordan pointed out that the ICC did not take into account the immunity given to presidents. The kingdom added the Arab League charter stipulates that the host country invites all presidents.

The Appeals Chamber didn't say when it would make its decision. But it will be the first time that it considers a referral of a State Party's non-compliance to the Assembly of States Parties and the United Nations Security Council.

The ICC issued two arrest warrants against al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010 for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Darfur.

(ST)

May 25, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - A United Nations agency has called to integrate Sudanese refugees in Chad within the local community as a result to their refusal to regain Darfur region 15-year after the beginning of the conflict.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), there are 330 439 Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad.

Despite the signing in May 2017, of a tripartite agreement between Chad Sudan and UNHCR for the voluntary repatriation of refugees only "53 Sudanese refugees returned to Darfur; and other convoys are in progress".

"The prospects for return remain limited for the majority of Sudanese refugees," said OCHA in an overview of the humanitarian situation Eastern Chad released in the French language.

The report pointed to the drastic lack of funds from donors who are concerned by new humanitarian crises in other parts of the world, while Darfur is no longer one the headlines of the media, adding "In this context, it is necessary to strengthen their integration within local communities" OCHA concluded.

The integration of the Sudanese refugees means giving them the land to cultivate and to exercise economic activities, but also provides the settlement with the needed infrastructures and services.

It is also not clear if Chad and Sudan will accept such measure.

In January 2018, Sudan, Chad and the United Nations signed an agreement for the repatriation of 20,000 Sudanese refugees from Chad to Darfur region during this year.

However, on 16 April 16, the UNHCR and Sudan's Commissioner of Refugees Hamad El-Gizouli have welcomed in Tina, North Darfur, the return of 53 Sudanese refugees from Chad.

UN reports say the security situation in Darfur has largely improved but stress that the lack of infrastructures and services prevent the return of refugees and displaced persons to their areas of origin.

(ST)

Praising efforts by African countries to alleviate poverty and build more stable societies, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres pledged his on-going support for ending conflict and building peace across the continent.

The escape of three patients infected with the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from the hospital where they were being treated is “not unexpected”, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, underlining the need to step up efforts to explain the dangers of the deadly disease to affected communities.

River transport is common in DR Congo as there are few roads but the boats are often overloaded.

Despite its vast size and dilapidated health system, DR Congo says it can contain the deadly Ebola virus.

Despite its vast size and dilapidated health system, DR Congo says it can contain the deadly Ebola virus.