Africa

April 7, 2018 (KAMPALA) - The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has urged Uganda to protect refugees after a two-year-old South Sudanese child was killed in the northern part of the country.

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

In brief statement issued on Saturday, UNHCR said law enforcement authorities must ensure protection of refugees in refugee settlements.

The child was killed in Palabek refugee settlement in the northern Ugandan district of Lamwo, but motive of the killing remains unclear.

"This is a terrible tragedy and there is no justification for such a senseless act of barbarism," Joel Boutroue, the UNHCR representative in Uganda said in the statement.

The number of South Sudanese refugees currently living in Uganda has exceeded one million, according to the UN refugee agency.

The conflict in South Sudan, now in its fifth year, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than two million civilians.

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April 6, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan rebels allied to the country's former First Vice- President Riek Machar claimed that the South Sudanese government was planning to kidnap and track down refugees in Ugandan resettlement camps and Kampala town.

Lam Paul Gabriel

Lam Paul Gabriel SPLA-IO deputy spokesperson told Sudan Tribune they got intelligence that the South Sudanese security service in the West Nile region of Uganda plans to abduct South Sudanese opponents in Ugandan.

He further provided the name of an intelligence officer saying he was assigned in Arua district to coordinate with the South Sudan embassy in Kampala for activities in relation to kidnapping.

“The group is sent with much money for bribing (Ugandan) officers to facilitate their evil plan of abduction and deportation. Two wounded soldiers, two officers of the SPLA-IO and an ambulance driver have been arrested and detained in Koboko,” he said.

Koboko is a town in the northern region of Uganda.

He said the crackdown exercise is extended to South Sudan refugees along the border towns and some areas in Kampala, on the basis that they are supporters and sympathizers of the SPLM/A-IO.

“The SPLA-IO condemns such dubious activities of the regime in Juba and calls upon the Uganda government to prevent the spill-over of the insecurity from South Sudan by cracking down those elements sent to carry out operational activities that violate Uganda's territorial integrity,” he added.

The rebel deputy spokesperson has urged the government of Uganda to maintain its previous honest policy aiming to secure the border and prevent cross-border violence.

NEW CLASHES IN RAJA

Meanwhile, Col. Lam has accused the Sudanese rebel groups, allegedly fighting alongside the government forces, of attacking their base in Raja of Lol State.

“On 05/04/2018 at about 1:32 pm, the ethnic regime in Juba combined with JEM militias attacked the SPLM/A-IO positions in Uyu-juku (Diem Ziber) and Sabo areas of Raja. The forces were supported with 5 Land Cruisers mounted with 12.7mm during the attack,” he said.

However, he said their forces have defeated and repulsed the assailants with heavy losses.

“Our forces captured 23 Ak-47, 4 RBG, 3 PKM in good condition, and destroyed one land cruiser pickup.25 enemy's dead bodies counted and several injured as blood trails could be seen,” he said.

The rebel official renewed calls to the CTSAMM a body mandate to document all violations in the country to investigate recent fighting and report it to the relevant authority.

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April 7, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Governor of East Darfur State Anas Omer and the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Head-of-Office Sector East, Landing Badjie, on Saturday discussed ways to provide humanitarian assistance in the state.

East Darfur governor Anas Omer (Photo Ashorooq TV)

During the meeting which was also attended by the humanitarian aid partners and the UN agencies, Omer said the development projects in the state aim to provide the basic services and ensure equity in order to maintain security.

He stressed the need to coordinate with the UNAMID maintain security and promote peaceful coexistence among the various tribes in the state.

The governor demanded the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to provide educational services according to the plan of the Ministry of Education besides coordinating and cooperating with other agencies.

He also pointed to the need for coordination between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health to provide health services including the building of laboratories, detection of contamination in drinking water as well as addressing epidemics.

For his part, the acting humanitarian commissioner in East Darfur Mohamed Ahmed said the meeting discussed issues pertaining to the performance of aid groups operating in the state.

He demanded the aid groups to focus on the provision of development aid instead of humanitarian assistance.

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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April 7, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB ) will provide up to $63.3 million of funding for development and services projects in South Darfur state, announced Sudanese finance minister Mohamed Osman al-Rikabi on Thursday.

The grant agreement was signed in Tunis by al-Rikabi and the IsBD head Bandar Hajjar on the sidelines of the 43rd annual meeting of the bank which was held this year in Tunis.

In a statement released after his return to Khartoum, the minister said the grant would fund services facilities projects in Al-Malam areas of South Darfur state.

The Sudanese government has called for an international support to recovery and rehabilitation and development strategy including water, health and education services projects estimated at 8 billion in 2013.

Al-Rikabi said that $ 55.7 million of the $63.3 grant is a contribution from the IsDB's "Goodwill program" while Sudan will repay the $7.6.

The IsDB is a Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) that promotes comprehensive development in its 57 member states but also among Muslim communities in non-member countries.

The Jeddah based bank receives strong support from its member countries mainly Saudi Arabia, which appoints its general director, and other Gulf countries.

(ST)

The battle for influence between the rival powers in the Gulf crisis could tear apart Somalia and its neighbours in the Horn of Africa, writes the BBC's Mary Harper.

April 7, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Kenya's Vice-President William Ruto would arrive in Khartoum on Monday on a three-day official visit to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Kenyan Vice-President would meet with President Omer al-Bashir and the First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Salih besides the Speaker of the National Assembly Ibrahim Ahmed Omer and the Presidential Assistant Faisal Hassan Ibrahim.

He would also visit a number of corporations and development schemes.

In August 2016, President al-Bashir skipped the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Nairobi and instead dispatched First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Salih.

Kenya is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which in 2009 and 2010 issued two arrest warrants for al-Bashir on ten counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide he allegedly committed in Sudan's western region of Darfur.

Despite the country's legal obligation under the ICC's statute, it chose to receive al-Bashir in August 2010 without arresting him, prompting the ICJ to move the issue to the High Court

In October 2016, Sudan and Kenya signed a number of oil and minerals agreements in Khartoum, in the presence of Presidents Omer al-Bashir and Uhuru Kenyatta.

(ST)

By Mahmoud Suleiman

Dear honourable readers this article begins in an unconventional way with a story that shows origins of a popular proverb about a person who cannot abandon bad habits despite hard efforts to get away from them. And the purpose here is to compare the ever recurring acts of the Sudanese President Marshall Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir for an analogy between him that character. Thus begins and goes the story referred to in the popular adage: (Halima returned to her old bad habits):

A story was told in the old en times that there was a man famous for generosity towards the guests and his name was Hatim al - Taie and his wife called Halima who was very stingy contrary to her husband. One day Hatim said to her that generosity prolongs a person life. She began to become over generous to attain longevity. However, when one of her close relatives died, she became extremely saddened and wished to be dead. Moreover, she became very stingy and meager again believing that would help hastening her demise. At that point, people started saying: “Halima is back to her Old Bad Habits”! Thus, that narrative has become the beginning of the Popular Proverb/adage - Halima returned to her Old Bad Habits. Arabic ???? ????? ???????? ???????

It is customary that Proverbs usually Stem from Life Experiences and the wisdom follows. Proverbs remind us of the past experiences and the different circumstances of the people and they represent as our treasures of Knowledge. The nature of human life is characterized by the diversity and differences that enrich life and that results into one population of people benefiting from another one through harnessing each other. It is about the people who are wise in their deeds and words. It is the wisdom that expresses their personal experience and their plethora of knowledge. Thus, those experiences have been passed from one generation to another and that made people to know the famous types of smart wisdoms.

After that introduction and reference to the story of Halima we will enter into the core of the article that comes against the backdrop of the News recently surfaced that Marshall Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir has poised for declaring a brand new/Neo War against the components of the Sudanese political Opposition Forces who dare to associate themselves with the armed rebel groups of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Sudan Liberation Movement –Minni Minnawi (SLM-MN) and Sudan People's Liberation Army / North (SPLA/North in the Sudan Call Forces. Precisely, they include the National Umma Party (NUP) and rebel umbrella of Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) and the Civil Society Initiative (CSI) the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP), Sudanese Baath Party (SBP), Center Alliance Party (CAP), Sudanese National Party (SNP) and Sudanese National Alliance (SNA). The ruling regime of the National Congress Party (NCP), led by Omer al-Bashir, has repeatedly accused the Sudanese political opposition of eluding and implementing the foreign agenda. On the other hand, the Sudanese political opposition blames the ruling regime of the National Congress Party (NCP) of lagging behind and not fulfilling the promises and agreements it signed with the parties. This kind of sparring continues unabated during the past 28 lean years of the oppressive rule of National Islamic Front/ National Congress Party (NIF/NCP). According to statements by Sadiq al-Mahdi that Omar al-Bashir signed more than twenty agreements with the parties and did not abide by them. The ruling regime of the National Congress Party (NCP) has a long history of revoking the covenants and peace agreements it signed with the parties to the conflict. It might need not to say that Human relations are built only on trust. Furthermore, that is what the logic of things reiterates. Nevertheless, some believe that the danger lies in excessive trust so those who follow this belief base tend to say: “forgive your enemy, but do not trust him”! The lack of trust between the ruling regime of the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudanese political opposition, both civil and armed, tells lots of exciting tales through the ages unabatedly.
https://www.hurriyatsudan.com/?p=239346
• Bashir continued playing the sinister game of 'divide and rule'
• Bashir's Halima is back to her old bad habits
• In general, the proverb strikes those who get rid of a bad habit, improve their image and reputation among people, then suddenly relapse and return to their previous bad habits
• An analogy between the Habits of Bashir and those of Halima "
• Bashir hatched a plot through his usual intrigues
• Addiction to failure to learn from previous disastrous mistakes
• Bashir's Dodging of Peace Agreements
• This phenomenon is not strange when people Bear in mind that Marshall Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir is renowned for dodging with the peace agreements he has negotiated and signed with the Parties in the dispute. Peace agreements negotiated and signed and abrogated by al-Bashir and his regime have amounted to with a modest evaluation
• The National Dialogue, referred to satirically as the Wathba dialogue. The dialogue conducted by the (NCP) regime since the beginning of 2004 is basically not serious about reaching to a National Consensus but it has been invented by Omer al-Bashir to gain time by distracting the people from the issues that concern them after he felt the international isolation and economic collapse along with the multiplicity of fronts against his ailing regime.
• National Islamic Front (NIF)/ National Congress Party (NCP) regime regime came to power through a deceptive coup de état. Mahatma Gandhi has been quoted as saying what you achieved by force would require the use of force to maintain it. “Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary. “Mahatma Gandhi quote https://www.esotherapy.com/mahatma-gandhi-quotes
• Hundreds of Sudanese citizens have been arrested in Khartoum and other cities after protests over the price hikes of the 2018 budget and the increase in the prices of basic commodities, including bread. So far, dozens of detainees are still without charge or crime only for being accused of coming out to the streets and exercising their right guaranteed by the transitional constitution of Sudan Of 2005 and international human rights law, and chanted in a peaceful way, saying "No to the high prices and prices of essential goods"!
• The Sudanese people have witnessed three repressive military dictatorships since their Independence from the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium on Sunday the First of January 1956. They were the regime of General Ibrahim Abboud from 18th November 1958 to 21 October 1964, followed by Mohmed Jaffer al-Numeiri from 25th May 1969 to April 1985 and the worst of the three and without a competitor is the current (NCP) regime which is the offspring of the infamous National Islamic Front (NIF), the predecessor of which was the Islamic Charter Front (ICF), the ‘Muslim Brothers' syndicate, motivational at the onset, hypocritical on practice, though.
• Sadly, the ‘Muslim Brothers' syndicate made Sudan a gangsters land ruled by the former Janjaweed militias who have been cloned to become the infamous Rapid Support Force (RSF) thugs who is only loyal to Omer al-Bashir and receives orders directly from him.
• By doing the foregoing, Omer al-Bashir have founded the first model rogue state of the twenty first century in the former one million square mile sized country called Sudan. It is sad to say that Sudan became shrunk and atrophied by the forced secession of its Southern part which established itself into an independent country after the result of the January 2011 referendum; the United Nations (UN) on July 2011 welcomed the South Sudan as 193rd Member State in the United Nations (UN).
• Anyone who has left a habit and then returned to do it, the Proverb ‘Halima Returned to her Old Bad Habits' can be applied to him/her; obviously, Omer al-Bashir is the best example par excellence!
• Omer al-Bashir has a changing temperament in a way that cannot be predicted which is an integral part of his aggressive personality. Above all, Narcissism also plays a major role in most of his unthoughtful actions. Of course, it is not easy to ensure that such a person complies with any negotiated agreements

As the popular proverb goes, Halima returned to her old ways and bad tricks, and so did Omer al-Bashir in his response to the outcome of the meeting of the Sudanese Political Opposition formed by both Civil and Armed factions under of the Umbrella of the Sudan Call Forces (SCF). News media outlets reported quoting the National Congress Party (NCP) regime President Marshall Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir as said threatening with evil acts and destruction the opposition political parties allied with the rebel groups. Moreover, the Marshall al-Bashir warned that he would never allow combining the armed action against his state and the political action under any name. The threats of al-Bashir continued endlessly that his regime wouldn't allow the student organizations at the universities to become political arms for the armed movements and vowed that he will impose security within the universities by the force of law! http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article65083 Omer al-Bashir said this while the Sudanese Opposition parties in the Sudan Call Forces have denounced those threats and considered them unsuccessful and do not serve the negotiating position to reach a peaceful solution in the country. Among those who denounced al-Bashir's threatening statements is Sayed al-Sadig al-Mahdi who rejected those hostile remarks and he was reported to have vowed to return to Khartoum as soon as he finishes his political tasks abroad. http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article65083

The Flip-Flop of Omer al-Bashir remained incredible adding them to his wheeling and dealing with the Political Opposition Components in Sudan. According to Sudan Tribune Cyber Journal issue on April 3, 2018 that Sudan's state security prosecutor office has filed charges, some of which are punishable by death, against the leader of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) Sadiq al-Mahdi, accusing him of plotting with armed groups in the opposition umbrella of Sudan Call to overthrow the (NCP) regime of President Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir. The Security apparatus of the (NCP) regime indicated that they would file criminal charges under the Counter-Terrorism Act. http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article65090

Thus, the coup d'état – the Putschist killers in the National Congress Party (NCP) led by the genocidal criminal, the fugitive from the international Justice Omer al-Bashir direct the charge of undermining the ruling regime in Khartoum against National Umma Party (NUP) leader Sayed al-Sadiq al-Mahdi. http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article65090
The Sudanese news media continued giving details of the intentions of Omer al-Bashir to suppress any voices of criticizing his regime. According to the prosecutor, the criminal charges under articles 21,25,26,50,51,53,63 and 66 of the 1991 Criminal Code as well as articles 5 and 6 of the Counter-Terrorism Act s “were filed against the backdrop that al-Mahdi in his capacity as the chairman of the National Umma Party (NUP) signed with the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) and the armed movements a declaration of principles and issued a final communiqué stating joint coordination to overthrow the regime by force of arms beside inciting the residents through the social media to rebel against the state and to wreak havoc in the land. http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article65090

The charges included "undermining the constitutional order" and waging war against the "state", which carries the death penalty. https://www.hurriyatsudan.com/?p=239346

The foregoing position taken by al-Bashir is a gross contradiction to his assertive statements that he has extended the cease-fire for another three months as false and misleading the public opinion, both domestic and international, said by spokesperson of one of the Darfuri Armed movements. The rebel Movement added and said that the Government allied militias of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been continued killing unarmed civilian Sudanese citizens in a wide swaths in the localities of Jebel Marra and looting their property and forcing them to flee their villages. Furthermore, the cloned Janjaweed Militias the so-called Rapid Support Force (RSF) have continued their wreaking havoc on earth and same terrorizing the civilian populations, shedding innocent blood, looting properties and atrocious crimes continued taking place in the States of Central and Northern Darfur, the statement has said.

A New license from Omer al-Bashir to allow members of the Legislative to freely talk about corruption
With regards to the institutional Corruption epidemic, the Members of the National Congress Party (NCP) bloc in the Sudanese parliament acknowledged that they used feeling intimidated and frightened talking about corruption in forums, lectures and public places, arguing that it was difficult to go into corruption and put one accountable to God! However, things have recently changed “since the speech of the President al-Bashir before the legislature yesterday gave us the right to talk about corruption in the newspapers and in social networking sites," the head of the National Congress bloc, Abdul Rahman Mohammad Ali, said during the deliberations of deputies on Bashir's speech in today's session. https://www.alrakoba.net/

It is obvious from the above narrative that there is no such a thing as democracy or freedoms or human rights among even the Muslim Brothers syndicate's members of National Islamic Front (NIF)/National Congress Party (NCP) let alone for the disenfranchised Sudanese public members who have been languishing under oppressive rule for over twenty eight years.

Some Political analysts and observers reiterate and say that if the gangster-led Muslim Brothers' syndicate continues ruling, that would inevitably result to the complete annihilation of the remaining population of the once prosperous, beautiful and promising country called Sudan everlastingly and forever. The Opposition Components went the miles in good faith to help arriving at a consensus for creating atmosphere conducive for sustainable peace in Sudan; they couldn't find the genuinely willing partner in the NCP regime. In the current miserable circumstances, there is no way out of the problems and tribulations of the people of Sudan under the rule of Marshall Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir, but to overthrow his regime and remove it permanently by all the available means to its demise. The Sudanese people deserve to carry out this mission as they had done before in the October 1964 and April 1985 popular revolutions and overthrown the regimes of General Ibrahim Abboud and Marshall Mohmed Jaffer Numeiri respectively.
Martin Luther King Jr. the American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1954 through 1968 has been quoted as said: 'A man can't ride your back unless it's bent'! https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Martin+Luther+King+Jr&oq=Martin+Luther+King+Jr&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.1111j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

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

April 6, 2018 (JUBA) - The United Kingdom will continue to provide humanitarian aid to relieve the suffering of civilians in South Sudan but the peace is the only solution for the four-year crisis, said a British official at the end of his two-day visit.

The Permanent Secretary of the UK's Department for International Development, Matthew Rycroft, Friday concluded a two-day trip to South Sudan where he met with South Sudanese officials including head and educations ministers.

The former UK ambassador to the United Nations who was appointed last January visited South Sudan for the first time on 5-6 April to inspect the humanitarian activities of the UKAid in the war-torn country.

During his meetings in Juba, Rycroft emphasized the need for the government to engage meaningfully in the peace process and underlined the need to ensure unhindered access for humanitarian workers.

"UKAid is saving lives in South Sudan. But it is the Government of South Sudan that has the responsibility to stop the suffering of its people," said the British official in a radio interview in Juba, according to a statement released at the end of the visit.

"They and other parties to the conflict must engage constructively with the next round of peace talks, which represent a crucial opportunity for peace, and end the appalling human rights abuses we have seen. They must also permit free and unhindered humanitarian access,” he further stressed.

In 2017, the UK provided food for over 500,000 war-affected South Sudanese, safe drinking water to over 300,000 people, and supported around 5 million health consultations to children under 5 years. Also, the UK is promoting girls' education and supporting 3,600 schools.

Rycroft also met with the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, David Shearer.

"Matthew welcomed the close relationship between the UK and UNMISS, and re-iterated the UK's full support for the UN Secretary-General's ‘zero tolerance' policy on sexual exploitation and abuse".

There are nearly 400 British peacekeepers deployed to provide vital engineering and medical assistance in South Sudan.

(ST)

April 6, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudanese presidential spokesperson Friday denied accusations by Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir that Juba continues to harbour and support armed groups that seek to overthrow his regime.

South Sudanese Presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny addresses journalists following renewed fighting in Juba July 11, 2016 (Reuters Photo)

"That is a nightmare. South Sudan has no reason completely to harbour rebels. We are looking forward to returning security to our country," said Ateny Wek Ateny President Salva Kiir's spokesperson.

The South Sudanese official further explained that the insecurity along the 2000 kilometre border between the two countries enables the Sudanese rebels to cross illegally into the troubled country.

"Insecurity has given insurgents chance to cross into South Sudan at their own will. We are gaining momentum as our forces are moving to address the issue," he added.

Al-Bashir made his accusations on Thursday when he was speaking in Kosti of the White Nile State, not far from the border. However, he stressed that his government would continue to support the regional efforts to end the civil war in South Sudan.

UN reports say armed groups from Darfur region have generally moved to Libya where they joined the eastern Libya based forces of Gen Khalifa Haftar but the SPLM-N rebels continue to use the South Sudanese territory for logistical supplies.

The presence of Sudanese armed groups in South Sudan was one the reasons that led to the deterioration of bilateral relations between Juba and Washington which was the major supporter of the young nation.

Khartoum and Juba are working to operationalize the border demilitarized zone agreed in September 2012 with the support of UN and African Union, but some South Sudanese local authorities are still resisting the process saying Sudan would take advantage and capture the disputed border areas.

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April 6, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - A high ranking delegation of the Libyan National Army (LNA), a military group led by Gen Khalifa Haftar, reportedly held talks with Sudanese officials during a secret visit to Khartoum.

General Khalifa Haftar attends a news conference at Benina air base in Benghazi on 24 May 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Esam Omran Al-Fetori)

According to the London based Asharq Al-Awsat, the visit was organised by the Egyptian and the United Arab Emirates which support Gen Haftar who is accused of using Darfur armed groups in a bid to reconcile between him and Khartoum.

The visiting delegation comprised two senior generals of the Libyan National Army which controls the eastern part of Libya along the border with Egypt, one of them Gen Abdel Salam al-Hassi, the commander of the Karama Operations units tasked with the fight against the jihadist groups.

The news report which emanated from Cairo and attributed to a "reliable Libyan source" said the LNA delegation met with Sudanese security and military officials to discuss ways to improve bilateral relations and to resolve the "points of disagreement between the parties".

The Libyan generals among others met with Salah Gosh head of the National Intelligence and Security Services(NISS), the source said.

At least two United Nations reports on Libya and Darfur region pointed to the presence of Darfuri elements among the fighters of Haftar army which its origins go back to the National Front for the Salvation of Libya (NFSL), a U.S. supported opposition group established in June 1988.

Two Sudanese armed groups carried out a coordinated attack from Libya and South Sudan using armoured vehicles Egypt had provided to Haftar in May 2017. At the time, Sudan accused Egypt of backing Darfur groups.

However, Cairo and Khartoum formed security and military committees that held several meeting since last year to coordinate a joint action in the border areas to prevent cross-border attacks. Cairo has been supporting Haftar and mobilizing troops to fights Jihadists groups that carry out attacks in western Egypt.

(ST)

Late Friday night the United Nations Security Council condemned “in the strongest terms” an attack earlier in the day on a vehicle of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) that killed a Nigerien peacekeeper in Gao.

April 6, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The government of Central Darfur State has embarked on planning the villages of the voluntary return, said the state's Minister of Urban Planning Muddather Adam

He told the semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) that every village would be fully planned, saying the government has earmarked 2 billion Sudanese pounds to meet the needs of the voluntary return villages.

According to Adam, a higher committee chaired by the Central Darfur government has been set up to oversee the planning of the villages.

The minister further said his government is striving to allocate more funds to support the return of the IDP's and refugees, calling on the concerned bodies to provide additional support for his government's plans in this regard.

For several years, the government sought to dismantle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps that have been established in areas around the capitals of Darfur's five states after the eruption of the armed conflict in the region.

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, the return of displaced persons and refugees remains the main challenge for the Sudanese government. There are 2.7 million people living in protracted displacement camps since 2003 despite the relative improvement of the security situation.

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

(ST)

April 6, 2018 – (WAU) - Flights Operations have resumed normally at Wau
airport on Friday hours after its abrupt closure Thursday evening following a crash of a cargo plane belonging to Ultimate Aviation.

The cargo plane was travelling from Juba to Kwajok and Wau loaded with medical stocks belonging to UNICEF when it crashed at Wau airport after experiencing technical problems with its wheel.

The aircraft was carrying only a five-member crew who survived the accident safely.

Wau Airport Director John Akot told Sudan Tribune on Friday that the incident was caused by a wheel's failure due to lack of hydraulic.

The airport has resumed its normal activities as people have shown this morning, the Badr airlines and the Organization airlines have landed. Yesterday, it was just a small incident when the aircraft was coming from Kwajok to Wau and then it was carrying a kind of medication for UNICEF,” further said John Akot

“Finally with the cooperation of UNMISS, we were able to push it out of the runway and now the aircraft is safe. Also, the crew are safe and no one has been injured," he explained before to stress "The airport is now operating normally.

This is not the first time a plane crash at Wau airport. last year in March, a Russian Antonov AN-26 known as South Sudan Supreme carrying more than 40 passengers crashed at Wau airport. The accident was blamed on bad weather.

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April 6, 2018 (KHARTOUM) Several opposition forces have called on the Sudanese to get inspired by the 33rd anniversary of the 1985 popular uprising to overthrow the regime of President Omer al-Bashir.

In 6 April 1985, the Sudanese people managed to bring down the military regime of former President Gaafar Nimeiri through a popular uprising.

In a statement seen by Sudan Tribune on Friday, the Broad National Front (BNF) led by Ali Mahmoud Hassanien vowed to continue its resistance until toppling the regime.

It pointed out that the Sudanese look forward to restoring freedom, peace and social justice, calling for a peaceful uprising against the regime to achieve the desired goals.

The BNF urged the Sudanese to take to streets to protest against the dire situation that the country has witnessed in all walks of life, warning against engaging in any kind of dialogue with the regime.

Meanwhile, the leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement - Transitional Council (SLM-TC) al-Hadi Idriss Yahia called on the Sudanese to join the ranks of the resistance.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, Yahia said it is high time to form a unified resistance front to overthrow the regime, saying the country is witnessing an unprecedented deterioration in all walks of life.

He added the Sudanese youth must bear their responsibility by joining the resistance in order to topple the regime and save the country from further fragmentation.

Yahia stressed the building of the future begins by achieving the comprehensive change which in turn starts by changing the individuals and the institutions.

It is noteworthy that al-Bashir came to power in June 1989 when, as a brigadier in the Sudanese army, he led a group of Islamist officers in a military coup that ousted the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi.

April 6, 2018 (JUBA)- The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) demanded the IGAD mediation team to deal with them as one political entity in the peace revitalization forum which is expected to resume on 26 April.

The High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) at the African Union Hall, Addis Ababa (Getty)

The SSOA ()"is a united group and as stakeholders, we have had one common position throughout the last two rounds of talks (Phases I and II). Therefore, in the consultations the IGAD intends to carry out between now and the 26th of April, we would like to be consulted as one entity," said the opposition umbrella in a letter addressed to the IGAD chief mediator Ismail Wais on 27 March.

"In this regards, we request Your Excellency to make arrangements for the Leaders of the constituent parties to the SSOA to meet IGAD representatives in Addis Ababa for these consultations," further said the letter seen by Sudan Tribune.

The letter was signed by the SSOA leaders including Gabriel Changsong Chang, chriman of the Federal Democratic Party-South Sudan Armed Forces (FDP-SSAF) FDP/SSAF) the Former Detainees (FDs), led by Pagan Amum, the National Salvation Front (NAS), headed by Gen. Thomas Cirillo Swaka, Lam Akol, the chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) , Hakim Dario Moi, the People's Democratic Movement (PDM) chairman, Bapiny Monytuil, chairman of SSLM/A, Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro, chairman of National Movement for Change, Costello Garang Ring, leader of South Sudan Patriotic Movement, and Peter Gatdet Yak, chairman of South Sudan United Movement.

The opposition alliance underscored that the forum should not only be limited to the power sharing and the security arrangements saying such "approach is not inclusive enough".

They further regretted that the the proposal put forward by the Mediators ignored their a position paper their submitted during the plenary discussions and suggested that the consultations "should be broad enough to include our written position".

The letter also, included a demand shared by the SPLM In Opposition of Riek Machar that "the Juba government cannot be both a party to the conflict as well as part of the mediation".

The opposition alliance said the South Sudanese government should be "recused" because of the potential lack of impartiality " when IGAD Council of Ministers, or indeed any other IGAD institution, is acting as a mediator on the South Sudan conflict".

The peace talks, dubbed High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) have been scheduled for 26 – 30 of April 2018.

FDP leader Gabriel Changsong Chang said the need to resolve the root cause of the over four year conflict pushed them to come together around common issues

“ And to meet the challenge requiring us to move together in the direction of common issues, we have resolved to merge our parties under the banner of South Sudan Opposition Alliance, explained Changson.

He repeated that the alliance rejects participation of the government in meetings in which issues related to the affairs of the country, specifically how the conflict can be resolved.

"It gives (the government) advantage to posit its position in the talks before the Assembly in the absence of the other parties to the conflict".

(ST)

A Canadian diplomat tells of his close friendship with the South African anti-apartheid campaigner.

By: Bol Garang Bol

Salva Kiir Mayardit, the incumbent President of South Sudan joined SPLM/SPLA as a low ranking officer in 1983 and promoted to 4th in command by Dr John Garang who for so long dominated and controlled the political and military leadership of SPLM/SPLA. Salva Kiir Mayardit who came from Akon village of Awan-Chan rose to prominence in the guerrilla struggle against Khartoum government. During the struggle, Salva Kiir was the most trusted man by John Garang. He was given security roles as a Director of security and tasked with security coordination. After the death of Dr John in helicopter crashed, Salva Kiir as Deputy Chairman to John Garang and with the help of CDR Kuol Manyang Juuk, now South Sudan Defence Minister, outmanoeuvred his political rivals to become Sudan 1st Vice President and President of the autonomous government of South Sudan. Immediately after the death of Dr John Garang de Mabior, the people of South Sudan put their trust in General Salva Kiir Mayardit leadership. Many believed Salva Kiir had been with Dr Garang for a long time and he had never been a part of rebellion waged against SPLM/SPLA leadership. During the struggle, Salva Kiir had succeeded in the Deputy- Chairman position where two of his predecessors had failed. The rebellion of William Nyuon Bendy Machar and Kerubino Kuanyin Bol paved the way for the promotion of General Salva Kiir who was then fourth in command according to SPLM/SPLA structure and have had been seen closer to John Garang. This promotion of Salva Kiir by Dr John Garang to the position of Deputy Chairman put him in the South Sudan presidency. Apart from numerous reasons, people trusted Salva as the only leader to follow Dr John Garang's footsteps since those of Dr Lam and Dr Riek in connection with Nasir Declaration demonstrated that they had political differences with Dr John Garang. Salva Kiir was installed and was expected to execute SPLM vision of bringing Town to people and transformed the SPLM/SPLA from a military movement to a political party tasked with developing the country.

The SPLM main vision under Dr John Garang leadership was to fight for freedom, build school, hospitals and physical infrastructure. All these visions were documented in the SPLM MANIFESTO and it's the responsibility of the SPLM leader to carry forward their vision. After the death of Dr John Garang de Mabior, Dr Riek or Dr Lam was to become Chairman of the SPLM bypassing Salva Kiir who had little education compared to his colleagues in the movement but there was this red-eyed powerful man in the movement, General Kuol Manyang, Mama Rebecca, late Lual Ding Wuol, they worked harder to make sure higher education qualifications shouldn't be used as a requirement in electing Dr John Garang's successor. They deployed political tactics of seniority as the only qualifications workable in identifying Garang successor. The tactics were mainly to get rid of both Dr Riek Machar and Dr Lam Akol who were viewed as possible contenders not to succeed late Garang. The SPLM seniors leaders installed Salva Kiir as the SPLM leader not knowing that Salva Kiir will turn South Sudan as a Country where all political and military power is in the hands of the single individual (himself) whose decision is unregulated. South Sudan now under Salva Kiir leadership became a society without laws. Absolutism system, where rulers have unlimited control is in place. If those who elected General Salva Kiir Mayardit to succeed Dr John Garang, 13 years from now since the death of John Garang, ask themselves whether they had made a right decision in elected Salva Kiir to the top position? They will all say no. Their choice, President Mayardit worked away from SPLM vision and chose to rule the Country through strong arm-tactics, including extra-judicial detentions of critics, suppression of the press and the use of security agents to silence dissents even within his own community. In political alignments, President Salva Kiir Mayardit is not a conservative nor liberal. His political ideologies are not communist nor socialism. His political leaning is not toward Western world nor the Middle East.

For President Kiir to correct his records, he must,

1. Establish a peaceful resolution to bring an end to conflicts in South Sudan.
2. Initiated parliamentary democracy by creating conducive atmosphere without political intimidation in order to give room for peace revitalization.
3. Abolished his notorious security organs and established National Security with the general outlook, not the one comprising single community members.

After 2011 election, President Kiir cemented his grip on power assumed the roles of head of state, Chairman of the SPLM and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (SPLA). With all these massive of powers, President Salva Kiir still failed miserably in governing the country. In many speeches and interviews, he claimed to be a Democratically elected President, while condoning human rights violations, corruption, tribalism and ethnic cleansing under his orders. Kiir misused National Armed to fought tribalism wars, something unregulated in the SPLM constitution. A Democratic leader who knows Democratic values cannot directed his Army to burns towns into ashes killed patients in hospitals, murders civilians and oppressed his own people. History will highlight Salva Kiir's achievements but there was no single achievements I know he had achieved since he took over the power in 2005. Few people talked about 2011 referendum as his achievement. Referendum according to my understanding is popular rights, not individual's rights. The people of South Sudan came together and voted together to choose their destiny whether they want to remain part of Sudan or opted for their independent, South Sudan. The referendum is everybody achievements not for the single individual. You cannot claim majority rights as your achievement. Kiir's government murdered Nuer in 2013 and 2015 in Juba, Malakal, Bentiu and this is not counted as an achievements but genocide. President Salva kiir might claim he had won the war in those battles of 2013 and 2015 but his actions is what Raphael Lemkin called cultural genocide. Killings of civilians and destruction of cultural properties is not a military victory but cultural genocide. South Sudan would have been better with Dr. Lam or Dr. Riek as a leader than President Salva Kiir. Majority of my Dinka people will not agree with me but facts must be said. Unless something happened by miracles, president Salva is not a solution to South Sudan problems.

The author can be reached at nicetobeme05@yahoo.com

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