Africa

April 18, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said his country wouldn't accept any proposal to hold a referendum or allow joint administration for the disputed Halayeb triangle.

Speaking to the lawmakers on Wednesday, the Sudanese top diplomat renewed his country's non-negotiable right to full sovereignty over the region, saying the dispute should be settled either through negotiations or international arbitration.

He pointed out that Sudan recalled its ambassador to Cairo in response to the escalatory moves taken by Egyptian authorities to blur the Sudanese identity of the disputed region.

Ghandour stressed that Halayeb is an integral part of Sudan and that it remains a priority of the foreign policy, stressing their keenness to exercise a policy of restraint and non-escalation in order to preserve the eternal relations between the two countries and peoples.

He expressed hope the bilateral talks during presidential meetings or within the higher, quadripartite and political consultations committees would lead to an agreement on the issue.

The border triangle area of Halayeb, Abu Ramad and Shalateen, which is a 20,580 km area on the Red Sea, has been a contentious issue between Egypt and Sudan since 1958, shortly after Sudan gained its independence from the British-Egyptian rule in January 1956.

The area has been under Cairo's full military control since the mid-1990's following a Sudanese-backed attempt to kill the former Egyptian President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt continued to reject Sudan's repeated calls for referring the dispute to international arbitration.

In April 2016, Cairo refused a demand by the Sudanese government to hold direct talks on Halayeb and Shalateen or to accept the referral of the dispute to the International Court of Arbitration.

The international law provides that the agreement of the two parties is needed to arbitrate a dispute with the tribunal.

In July last year, Sudan filed a notice with the UN, claiming that Egypt is occupying the triangle, and refusing to claim any rights for a third party.

In the same month, Cairo announced it would start oil and gas exploration in the Red Sea province, including the Halayeb triangle.

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April 18, 2018 (WASHINGTON) - In Phase II of the ongoing engagement with Sudan to normalize of relations, The United States will focus on the need for more progress in human rights and religious freedom in the east African country, said the State Department.

Last March a bipartisan group of 57 U.S. Congressmen wrote to John Sullivan Deputy Secretary of State who is tasked with the Sudanese file urging not to remove Sudan from the list of states supporting terrorism and normalize relations before to end the war, restore freedoms and human rights.

In a letter dated 16 April 2018, seen by Sudan Tribune, the State Department Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Mary Waters reassured the congressmen telling them the U.S. administration shares their goal.

"We agree that more progress is needed and are working now to design a "Phase 11" framework for our engagement. The Administration is considering including specific requirements along the lines of what you suggested in your letter, especially with regard to human rights, including religious freedom," wrote Waters.

In October 2017, Washington announced the end of the 20-year embargo on Sudan in line with the "Five Track Engagement Plan", in which Khartoum agreed to a cessation of hostilities with the armed groups, opened unfettered humanitarian access in the conflict-affected areas, agreed to support efforts for peace in South Sudan and developed cooperation with the U.S. to counter terrorism in the region.

The two countries said they would soon resume discussions on the normalization process, as Khartoum, from its side, feels the limited benefit of the lift of economic sanctions without its removal from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.

Waters told the Congressmen that in the upcoming phase of the normalization process Washington intends to use "the United States' unique leverage" to bring the Sudanese government to adopt and implement "meaningful reforms" but also to "mark progress" in order to end the armed conflicts in Darfur and the Two Area.

"This engagement also ensures, in line with the Administration's priorities, that Sudan abstains from ties with North Korea, and assists with the United States' counterterrorism efforts," stressed the letter.

The State Department senior official further said they are prepared to address any regression by the Sudanese government on the agreed issues.

"We have been clear with Sudan that we expect no backsliding in progress to date," she said.

The diplomat didn't specify if they plan to remove Sudan from the U.S. terror list as Khartoum requests.

The next round of bilateral talks will be held in Washington as Sullivan was in Khartoum last November 2017 after the lift of sanctions.

(ST)
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April 17, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan on Tuesday vowed not accept the overhaul of its security and governance sector, contrary to demands made by opposition parties ahead of the upcoming talks.

South Sudan's vice-president, James Wani Igga (Photo: Larco Lomayat)

Addressing reporters in the capital, Juba on Tuesday, South Sudan's Vice President, James Wani Igga said the opposition's demand to dissolve the army and police is likely to destabilize the country.

"They want as soon as they have signed the agreement, institutions like the army must be dissolved, but if we dissolve the army right from that day then any wolf from any part of the world will just enter South Sudan to create anarchy," Igga said.

"Our intention as in the former agreement is to carry out institutional reforms where we will have the rebel army integrated into the system on the basis of regional inclusivity and balancing," he said.

The opposition, on Friday, said they wanted the country's 32 new states dissolved and the war-torn nation to be run on the old system.

Igga, however, said returning to the former states would breed public discontent and force some disgruntled people to rebel.

The senior official opposed calls by the various opposition groups for South Sudan President Salva Kiir to resign upon, insisting the latter was directly elected by the South Sudanese people in March 2010.

He instead appealed to the international community and the various opposition groups to consider plans for conducting fresh elections at the end of the interim period so enable smooth transfer of power.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013, after political dispute between President Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to fighting mostly between Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.

The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital, Juba, forcing Machar to flee.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than three million.

(ST)

April 17, 2018 (JUBA) - 207 child soldiers are to be released in South Sudan, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

Child soldiers sit with their rifles at a ceremony held on 10 February 2015 as part of a disarmament campaign overseen by UNICEF and partners in Pibor (AFP)

“The released children will be reunified with their families and will be given months' worth of food assistance and psychosocial support, along with the opportunity to go to school,” the agency noted.

Since a civil war broke out in South Sudan, over 19,000 children may have been recruited by all sides of the nation's conflict, UNICEF said.

According to UNICEF, 19,000 children were recruited into armed conflict by the warring sides since the start of war in 2013, 2,342 were killed or maimed, 3,090 abducted, and 1,130 sexually assaulted.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013, after political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to fighting mostly between Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.

The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital, Juba, forcing Machar to flee.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions that have sought refuge in neighboring countries.

(ST)

April 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) said more than 260 aid groups are currently operating in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan States.

Children fetch clean water from ICRC water points in Muglad, Southern Kordofan State (ICRCJ. Guitter/file Photo)

In press statements on Tuesday, HAC acting commissioner Ahmed Mohamed Osman said they visited the IDPs areas in South Kordofan and provided them with the necessary aid.

He pointed out that Sudan is open to receive assistance for the needy population, saying there are 160 aid groups in South Kordofan and more than 100 groups in the Blue Nile.

According to the acting commissioner, these aid groups transfer and distribute assistance to the affected in a sustainable manner.

He added the government is delivering the assistance via the airports and seaports according to the agreed upon humanitarian tracks.

Immediately after the first arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sudan's president Omer al-Bashir in March 2009, Sudan expelled 13 foreign aid groups from Darfur accusing it of collaborating with the war crime courts.

Since then, the activities of foreign aid group in Darfur are strictly controlled and more organizations were evicted through the years.

Sudan refuses to allow new aid groups to work in the region.

The government also banned the access of foreign groups to the rebel-held areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states as well as the establishment of camps for the displaced civilians, stressing the experience of Darfur camps should not be repeated in the two states.

(ST)

April 17, 2018 (JUBA) - The spokesperson of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Tuesday has dismissed as "fake" reports claiming he has been suspended from his assignment.

South Sudan's presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny (AFP)

Ateny Wek Ateny said the social media reports were a creation of “rumour mongers to create disharmony at the South Sudanese presidency.

While Ateny denies social media reports, sources at the presidency told Sudan Tribune that there is a feeling within the presidential palace that Ateny should be replaced with someone with technical knowledge of the job.

The sources confirmed that Ateny Wek is still officially occupying the job and he has not been suspended or sacked from his duties.

However, "there has been a general feeling from among senior officials here at the presidency that the work which comrade Ateny Wek is doing requires someone with technical knowledge of the job," said a high ranking official who spoke on conditions of anonymity.

The sources further stressed that Ateny "was picked from activism for a political reason" no more.

The presidential spokesperson is blamed for not observing a number of guidelines when he deals with sensitive issues. Officials at the presidency say he does not understand that he speaks on behalf of the president.

He was also accused of interfering in the attribution of the information minister who is the government spokesperson.

Other officials at the presidential palace described all these issues as "professional jealousy" saying the president is satisfied with him and the audience understands that when he speaks he does not fully represent President Kiir's opinion.

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April 17, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan peace revitalization talks have been postponed sine die, announced the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) in a short statement released on Tuesday.

The opening session of the revitalization forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, December 18, 2017 (ST)

Last March, the IGAD Council of Ministers agreed to resume Phase II of the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) on 26 April. It was also decided that the Special Envoy had to hold consultations meetings with the process's parties and stakeholder to narrow the gaps on governance and security arrangements.

In a meeting held in Juba on Tuesday, IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan, Ismail Wais informed the JMEC of the postponement of the peace revitalization forum.

"The new dates will be communicated by the Office of the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers in due course," said the statement without further details.

For its part, the IGAD did not release a statement to announce the indefinite postponement.

Until Tuesday 17 April, nine days before the resumption of the forum, the IGAD special envoy met only with the civil society stakeholders to the HLRF. No other meeting was announced with the government or the opposition groups.

Further, several opposition parties formed the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) requested be consulted as one entity and blamed the mediation for ignoring their position paper in its last draft of propositions.

In reaction, Juba government threatened to hold general elections if no deal reached. While, the leader of the main armed opposition group, Riek Machar, wants to be authorized to take part in the forum and to be the region after the end of his confinement.

Different between the parties remain huge on the issue of governance especially composition and structure of the transitional government; number and size of states and composition of the Parliament.

On the security arrangements, the participants to the forum diverge on the timeframe for reintegration/unification of forces and approach to the formation of one national army; security for Juba during the Transition; demilitarization of civilian centres; cantonment of forces and Security sector reform or establishment of new security services.

(ST)

April 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday said it would engage in a deep dialogue with the opposition forces during the next period.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir has called on political parties to participate in national dialogue aimed at stimulating a reform plan announced earlier this year (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

In press statements on Tuesday, NCP deputy chairman of political sector Mohamed al-Mustafa said some holdout political parties have expressed desire to address national issues particularly ways to end the war and achieve peace.

He pointed out that the stated desire of the holdout parties would pave the way for holding an inclusive and deep dialogue that doesn't exclude anyone.

In October 2016, the political forces participating in the government-led national dialogue concluded the process by signing the National Document which includes the general features of a future constitution to be finalised by transitional institutions.

The National Consensus Government (NCG) was installed in May 2017 to implement the outcome of the dialogue conference.

The opposition groups boycotted the national dialogue because the government didn't agree to a humanitarian truce with the armed groups and due to its refusal to implement a number of confidence-building measures aiming to create a conducive environment in the country before to hold the inclusive dialogue.

(ST)

April 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The parties to Berlin talks on a pre-negotiation agreement for peace in Darfur have failed to strike a deal paving the way for a political process to end the 15-year conflict.

Minni Minnawi the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) told Sudan Tribune late on Tuesday that the two-day meeting wrapped up without an agreement on a declaration of principles that opens the door for a cessation of hostilities and the start of political talks.

He further pointed an accusing finger to the government delegation saying "they insisted on the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) as the only basis for negotiations".

Also, he said the government refused all the proposals and concessions they made in order to break the stalemate.

The head of the government delegation Amin Hassan Omer was not reachable for comment.

The parties are expected to release more statements explaining their positions on the talks.

Among the armed groups, the talks included the SLM-MM and the Justice and Equality Movement of Gibril Ibrahim.

JEM and SLM-MM refuse to negotiate a peace agreement on the basis of the DDPD instead they propose to open several issues already dealt in the framework text and to add the national matters like freedoms and human rights.

Ina addition to German officials, the meeting was attended by the head of UNAMID who is also the joint chief mediator, the African Union, the United Nations special envoy and the Troika countries including a four-member delegation from the Office of the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan.

(ST)