Africa

June 5, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in Sudan postponed the announcement of the new government after its leadership bureau failed to reach consensus on the proposed names.

President Omer Hassan al-Bashir speaks at the fourth convention of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in Khartoum on 23 October 2014 (Photo: Ashorooq TV)

The NCP's five-hours meeting, which was chaired by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir, was wrapped up in the early hours of Friday morning.

The deputy chairman of the NCP Ibrahim Ghandour emerged from the meeting to tell reporters that the cabinet reshuffle and the names of governors will be announced within the next 48 hours.

"If all goes as planned, the oath [ceremony for ministers and governors] could take place on Sunday," Ghandour said.

The NCP official said that the leadership bureau discussed the proposed new cabinet and “made observations” about the ministerial formation finalized by Bashir.

"We discussed all the names given and approved a large number of them, and there are two parties that did not submit their candidates' names for the [government] portfolios," he said.

The NCP leadership bureau consists of 45 figures, 30 of whom are elected and the remaining are appointed by Bashir.

Ghandour said they will convene again later today to continue discussions and noted that 30-35% of government posts will be allocated to non-NCP parties.

The Sudanese leader said earlier this year that only parties which contested in April's general elections will be offered posts in the government.

Bashir issued a decree on Tuesday night dissolving the government and relieving his aides. Earlier that day he was sworn to a new term.

The Federal Truth party (FTP) has been excluded from the new cabinet while the United Umma Party (UUP) rejected the NCP offer for ministerial posts on the grounds that it is not compatible with their political stature.

Last week, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) led by Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani announced that it will not join the government for the same reasons spelled out by the UUP.

But the NCP swiftly denied the DUP declaration stressing that consultations between the two sides are ongoing.

(ST)

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has welcomed the latest military operation by the country’s armed forces against members of an independent militia group following the collapse of political negotiations.

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) has launched an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against an underage person involving one of its personnel, it was announced today.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon remains concerned about the potential for escalating violence in Burundi and has reiterated his call for calm and restraint amid the African country’s simmering political tensions.

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June 3, 2015 (KHARTOUM) The Chinese president Xi Jinping has invited his Sudanese counterpart Omer al-Bashir to visit Beijing, announced the Chinese environment minister, Chen Jining.

Sudan's President Omer Hassan al-Bashir reviews the Chinese military honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Wednesday, June 29, 2011. (AP)

Minister Jining who led the Chinese delegation to the inauguration of president Bashir met with the latter on Wednesday evening.

After the meeting the Chinese minister told reporters that the extended an invitation from president Jining to Bashir to visit China.

The minister said they discussed a number of issues of common interest in all fields and ways to develop relations between the two countries. He further expressed his confidence that bilateral ties would continue to progress during the new term of president Bashir.

Bashir's last visit to China was in June 2011, where he reached Beijing after a delay of 24 hours due to last-minute change of his flight itinerary.

The Sudanese president has an outstanding arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and genocide he allegedly masterminded in Sudan's region of Darfur.

In statement to the official news agency SUNA, the spokesperson of the Sudanese presidency Mohamed Hatim Suleiman said president Bashir has accepted the invitation to visit China, adding that the later attaches special attention to the historical relations between the two countries.

Suleiman further said the president praised the strong bilateral relations and expressed his appreciation to China for its participation in the swearing-in ceremony and its support for Sudan in different forums.

(ST)

June 3, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The South Sudanese armed opposition faction of the ruling (SPLM) party has welcomed the decision to revoke the “unconstitutional” dismissal of their leader, Riek Machar, and his colleagues from the ruling party, saying the move was an “overdue” good gesture in complementing the Addis Ababa peace process.

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar speaks during an interview with Reuters in Addis Ababa on July 9, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)

President Salva Kiir's SPLM faction on Wednesday announced their leadership had revoked dismissal of opposition leader Riek Machar and others and that he was reinstated to his previous position as first deputy chairperson of the ruling party. They also said the frozen assets or bank accounts for members of the former detainees and armed opposition faction were unfrozen in the country and they could access them.

The rebels commended the decision as correct one but added that this was not the end of the story as many other processes and decisions were still pending in order to end the crisis in the country.

“Well, we welcome the good gesture. It does not come out of the blue. Actually it is overdue because it is a provision in the roadmap agreement on SPLM reunification process signed in Arusha several months ago,” Machar's spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday evening when contacted for comment.

“President Kiir who was responsible for this unconstitutional dismissal of senior party leaders was directed by the roadmap agreement to unconditionally revoke his decision,” he added.

Dak pointed out that the revocation of the dismissal decree was meant to smoothen further steps in the tripartite intraparty dialogue in order to further negotiate within the party and reach an agreement on reforms in structural, organizational and future party leadership matters.

He blamed president Kiir's group for aborting internal party transformation processes which sparked the violence and had now developed into a national crisis beyond the party.

Even from the onset of the crisis in December 2013, he recalled that the opposition leader Machar immediately composed a team of SPLM leaders from his side in January 2014 to meet with president Kiir's SPLM team in Addis Ababa so that the crisis would have been arrested at the party level, adding Machar's idea was rejected and the “conflict has now developed into a national crisis.”

He however said the particular decision to revoke dismissal would be complementary to the Addis Ababa peace process led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), particularly on the executive power-sharing for government during a transitional period.

“Let us wait and see how this reinstatement to previous party leadership positions will reflect on the government's position in regard to leadership structure and executive power-sharing in a transitional government of national unity,” he further added.

He challenged that the government was opposed to IGAD proposed executive power-sharing which would see the rebel leader, Riek Machar, become either a prime minister or first vice president with shared executive powers.

The rebel leader's spokesman however said the intraparty dialogue did not confirm president Kiir to continue as the party chairman, stressing that there were pending processes on mechanisms within the dialogue that would address party leadership in the course of reunification.

He said this would be like restarting from square one from where we left in December 2013 when president Kiir violently interrupted the processes of party transformation, reforms and leadership contest.

On government leadership, he also said president Kiir has become illegitimate president either through expiry of his term limit or by his deeds which caused the war and administered massacre of thousands of civilians in the capital, Juba.

“These are some of the issues the warring parties shall be tackling in the two complementary processes in Arusha or in Addis Ababa,” he said.

He however commended partial implementation of the Arusha roadmap agreement in order to help expedite the Addis Ababa process, but ruled out possibility that the rebel leader would return to Juba as first deputy chairman of the SPLM per party agreement without a comprehensive peace agreement in Addis Ababa.

(ST)

June 3, 2015 (RUMBEK) – The road connecting Wulu county in South Sudan's Lakes state to the capital, Rumbek has finally been re-opened after three days of closure.

The incident occurred after trainees attending a course in the area rioted when food was not delivered to them, affecting traffic between Wulu and Rumbek Central county.

Lakes state local government and law enforcement minister, Jok Ayom Majak fully intervened and ensured that food was delivered to the trainees and the road re-opened.

Majak said the road closure badly hampered traffic flow between these two counties.

“The trainees closed off the Rumbek-Wulu road which links Rumbek Central to Juba on Saturday and continued till Tuesday,” the minister told Sudan Tribune by phone.

“As I speak to now, people are moving very freely. Trucks are moving freely,” he added.

Lakes state has been blighted by cattle raiding since South Sudan gained independence from the north in July 2011, and continues to be locked in a cycle of inter-clan clashes and revenge killings.

(ST)

June 3, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan's opposition forces led by former vice president, Riek Machar, said they inflicted heavy casualties on government troops loyal to president Salva Kiir on Wednesday after the latter allegedly carried out major offensive against the rebel positions north of the Unity state's capital, Bentiu.

Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) celebrate after recapturing Unity state capital Bentiu from rebel forces in January (Photo: Reuters)

Spokesperson for the opposition leader Riek Machar said they repulsed a massive coordinated attack by combined government forces from different army divisions who attempted to recapture their strategic positions in northern part of the state.

“SPLM/SPLA forces in Unity state have repulsed a massive coordinated offensive by forces loyal to president Salva Kiir on Wednesday morning at Rot Riak (Lalok) town, north of the state capital, Bentiu,” James Gatdet Dak said in a press statement to the media on Wednesday.

“The massive attack involved thousands of government soldiers from various army Divisions 4,3 and 5 including Tiger Division as well as pro-government militia forces of Matthew Puljang,” he said.

He said the attack occurred at 9am at Rot Riak area situated at the main road junction between Panakuach and Unity oilfields.

Their forces, he said, repulsed the attack with huge casualties inflicted on pro-government forces, adding that seven tanks in good condition were among the war equipment captured from the government.

“Juba forces were therefore dispersed and ran in disarray in the direction of Mayom or Warrap state,” he added.

Dak said the aim of the major offensive by forces loyal to the government was to try to recapture oilfields under the control of the opposition forces in the state.

He also said another pro-government force attempted to push towards Pariang area but were defeated and repulsed as well.

Other rebel sources told Sudan Tribune that their forces were matching towards the state capital, Bentiu, in retaliation of the government's offensive. They also said they were in full control of the Unity oilfields, north of Bentiu.

Dak accused the government of continuing with the “full scale war project” which he said was in violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement signed by the warring parties in South Sudan since 23 January 2014.

SOUTH SUDAN ARMY REPULSES WAU ATTACK

Meanwhile, officials in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state on Wednesday said government forces managed to repulse yet another attack by rebels in Wau county, about 50km away from the state capital.

Western Bahr el Ghazal state's minister for local government, Angelo Taban Baijio, told reporters in the capital, Wau, said fighting lasted for several hours on Wednesday when forces allied to the opposition faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar, attempted to take over Kpaile Payam near Wau.

According to the official, rebel forces experienced heavy losses in the fight over the control of the area, but could not say how many were killed from both sides. He said the offensive by the South Sudanese army (SPLA) was in response to Sunday's attack initiated by the rebel forces in the area.

“The SPLA forces have maximally defeated the rebels as a response to the last Sunday attack in Bazia Payam 50km south-west of the state capital,” said the minister.

He attributed the rising armed rebellion in the state to the administrative differences since 2012 in the state.

“What is now happening in Wau county is a continuation of the December 2012's violence of which the state capital has witnessed a serious protest over the allocation of the county's headquarter from Wau town to Bagari. These are the same people today supporting and joining the rebellion,” he said.

The minister warned that any civilian and those who were arrested and jailed for punishment sentence and released after their jail term ended seen supporting the rebellion would be dealt with.

State government officials have been accusing citizens in Wau county of collaborating with the rebels and not providing early warning information to the authorities about the movement of the rebel forces in the area.

They cited the recent attack on Bazia town, 50km away from the capital and wondered how the opposition forces could reach the area without being detected by the citizens.

(ST)

June 3, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A visiting Russian official announced today his country's readiness to support Sudan technically as well as militarily to boost its defense capabilities to enable it to combat terrorism.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir meeting with Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov in Khartoum June 3, 2015 (SUNA)

Russia's deputy foreign minister and the presidential special envoy for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov told Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir that Moscow does not mind training Sudanese officers and assist the country in counter terrorism.

Bogdanov said that there is a political will in the leadership of the two countries to strengthen the bonds of friendship and fruitful cooperation and achieve a true partnership in all fields, describing Sudan as the closest partner of Russia in African and Arab region.

Bashir on his end affirmed his country's keenness to develop relations with Russia in all fields and expressed gratitude to Russia's participation in his swearing-in ceremony and praised Russia's role in monitoring the April elections.

He also commended Moscow's support of Sudan in international forums.

In a related issue, Bashir received an official invitation from his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, to visit Beijing to promote bilateral relations between the two countries.

Jinping's special envoy, Cheng Jing, who visited Sudan for the inauguration ceremony underscored the strength of bilateral relations between the two countries and the need to enhance them in all fields.

The Chinese diplomat pointed to the strategic partnerships that combine both countries, and conveyed the congratulations of envoy Jinping on the occasion of his new presidential term and wished him and the people of Sudan, progress and prosperity.

(ST)

June 3, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The leader of the Darfurian clan of Mahameed, Musa Hilal, said Wednesday he intends to discuss with government officials what he called "four pivotal issues" including the registration of his militia as political party.

Former janjaweed leader and tribal chief, Musa Hilal welcomed by his supporters at Khartoum Airport on Saturday 30 May 2015 (Photo by Saleh Ajab Aldor)

Hilal, who was one of the main militia leaders that participated in the brutal counter-insurgency campaign during the first years of Darfur crisis returned to Khartoum on Saturday from his home town of Misteriya in North Darfur to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of president Omer al-Bashir
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He left Khartoum in mid-2013 and turned his militiamen against the governor of North Darfur state, Osman Kibir accusing him of feeding tribal conflicts in the state.

The notorious Janjaweed leader then started making statements critical of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), of which he is a member, and calling for deep reforms.

Also, last year Hilal's troops seized control of western localities in North Darfur state including Saraf Omra, Kutum, Kebkabiya, Al-Seraif, and El Waha.

The tribal chief went further to announce the establishment of administrations in these localities, naming his forces the Sudanese Revolutionary Awakening Council (SRAC).

On Wednesday, Hilal addressed a meeting of his supporters in the Sudanese capital saying he intends to discuss with the political leadership in Khartoum four issues including registration of SRAC as political party, the security arrangements, social reconciliation and the political reforms.

He also said the discussions would include the need for equal sharing of power and wealth besides the just development.

"We came to Khartoum to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of president Bashir and we will sit with decision makers in the coming days to discuss those issues clearly and we would achieve an agreement that will take us and the Sudan forward," he said.

The tribal leader denied that he is part of the opposition, stressing he would not rebel against the government.

He said that he went to Darfur to visit his people and discuss their concerns, adding the presidency is fully aware of his activities there.

"We are neither outlaws nor opponents as some people claim", he noted.

"If we were rebels, we would have held arms against the existing legitimate government and we won't hold arms against our government", the tribal leader added.

Hilal further said that differences of opinions don't constitute a crime and divergence of views is not a shame, expressing confidence that SRAC would reach an agreement with the country's top leadership.

The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when an ethnic minority rose up against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum, which then was accused of enlisting the Janjaweed militia group to help crush the rebellion.

In April 2006 the UN Security Council imposed financial and travel ban against Hilal for obstructing peace in Darfur. The then US president George Bush issued an executive order enforcing similar sanctions on them.

In January 2008, Bashir appointed Hilal as a special advisor for the Ministry of Federal Affairs in Sudan.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

June 3, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said over 100,000 people have been displaced over the last two months alone due to fierce fighting in South Sudan.

Ethiopia has witnessed a huge influx of South Sudanese refugees since conflict erupted in the young nation in December 2013 (AFP)

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, the UN refugee agency, said the heavy fighting ongoing in South Sudan's Unity and Upper Nile states has also blocked humanitarian aid deliveries for some 650,000 people as aid organizations were forced to withdraw from war zones.

Upsurge of fighting in different areas of the country and mounting food insecurity are said to be the main reasons forcing people to leave their homes.

“It's estimated that more than 3.8 million people, representing a third of South Sudan's population of 11 million, do not have sufficient food,” the statement said.

The youngest East African nation plunged into chaos in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of attempting a coup, an accusation the latter denies.

Since January this year some 60,000 South Sudanese have fled home to neighbouring countries mostly to Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya to escape ongoing fighting between government forces and rebels led Riek Machar.

“UNHCR offices in Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda have all reported sharp increases in arrivals during May” the statement said.

According to UNHCR, last week alone, some 6,000 South Sudanese arrived in Sudan's White Nile and South Kordofan states.

Since conflict erupted, the UN said some 555,000 people have fled the country while some 1.5 million have been displaced internally.

The UN refugee agency also said its aid programme for South Sudan is lacking funding and expressed concern that the 2015 South Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan that covers the refugee programmes in the neighbouring countries, run by UNHCR and 39 partners, is only funded at 10 percent.

“This leaves many lifesaving activities such as the provision of clean water, sanitation and health services, food and shelter severely underfunded,” it added.

Meanwhile, the UNHCR has launched its annual World Refugee Day Campaign in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

The Campaign was launched on Tuesday with the release of several films featuring celebrity supporters that tell the human side of the refugee plight.

The UN refugee agency said this year's campaign aims to bring the public closer to the story, showing refugees as ordinary people living in extraordinary circumstances.

The films feature UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and best-selling author, Khaled Hosseini, photographer and supermodel, Helena Christensen, singer and songwriter Maher Zain and actor Jung Woo-Sung.

(ST)

June 3, 2015 (WAU) – South Sudanese civil society activists have organised a one-day consultative meeting on peace talks between the country's two warring factions mediated by regional leaders.

Civil society activists demonstrate in Warrap state capital, Kuajok, April 16, 2012 (Julius Uma/ST)

The event in Western Bahr el Ghazal state, also focused on the country's Financial Policy Bill 2015, currently before the national legislative assembly.

Religious leaders and political parties attended the forum, organised by Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO).

“Today, CEPO in Western Bahr el Ghazal state with support from Justice Africa is organising a one day consultative meeting aimed at gathering ideas on challenges facing both the Inter-governmental Authority for Development and civil society organisation at the peace venue in Addis Ababa,”, said CEPO's state coordinator, Stephen Robo.

“We need public demands on how the Financial Bill will look like,” he added.

The forum, Robo said, will also explore ways of how taxes can be collected to save the seemingly collapsing South Sudan economy.

“Since our financial situation appears to be collapsing, there is a need for us to find a possible situation of collecting the national taxes that would help rebuild our national economy,” he stressed.

The official further said the forum will also suggest ideas to the mediators and other stakeholders in the negotiation between the warring parties in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“Both IGAD and other mediating terms are having a lot of weakness during this peace talk. Therefore, this consultation meeting will help the mediating teams by providing them with ideas for the two warring parties to reach a lasting peace,” said Robo.

Peace talks between the rebels and government hit a deadlock on 6 March prompting the mediators to initiate an IGAD-Plus arrangement, involving the five African countries, the African Union, United Nations and the Troika (Britain, Norway and United States).

The negotiations, being brokered by the East African regional bloc offers the best chance to end nearly 18 months of conflict in the world's youngest nation.

(ST)

June 3, 2015 (NYALA) - The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has restored eight vehicles stolen from the hybrid peacekeeping in Darfur (UNAMID) by an unidentified militia in Jaraf area, 37 kilometer north east of South Darfur capital, Nyala.

The El Fasher 1 Team Site conducts a joint morning patrol with Community Policing Volunteers and interacts with community leaders at the Zam Zam camp for IDPS near El Fasher, North Darfur. (Photo UNAMID/Rabi Abuassi)

Brigadier Isam Fadil, advisor to the RSF said in press statements on Wednesday that their forces captured three of the perpetrators and killed six others besides seizing three four-wheel drive vehicles during heavy clashes with the gunmen.

He added that they thwarted the largest armed robbery attempt against UNAMID following fierce clashes with the armed gang in the jungles of Jaraf area which belongs to the locality of Al-Wihda.

"The (SRF) forces managed to recover UNAMID's cars including 3 Land Cruiser vehicles and 5 trucks besides seizing 3 vehicles belonging to the gunmen," he said

On the other hand, the commander of the Sudanese army's sixteenth infantry division, Maj. Gen. Adil Hamad al-Nil, said the army, after it crushed the rebellion, targeted groups of outlaws in order to achieve security and stability in the state.

He added that armed militias continued to carry out looting, kidnapping and killing attacks while the army was busy fighting against rebel groups, warning the outlaws that the RSF would always be lurking for them.

Hamad al-Nil pointed they received preliminary information from a border guard station about suspicious movements, saying the army and the police informed the RSF which in turn moved quickly and defeated the armed group.

He stressed that maintaining security of the people is their top priority, noting that regular forces have been deployed across the state to secure the farms and villages of voluntary return.

The military commander further pointed that the security committee in the state is well informed about the dense of the crime in South Darfur.

Composed of former militia groups in Darfur and Kordofan regions to fight rebel groups across the country, the RSF currently operates under the command of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and in coordination of the Sudan Armed Forces.

The SRF forces, themselves, are accused of committing war crimes and atrocities against civilians in Darfur and South Kordofan.

The acting governor of South Darfur state, Omer Mohamed al-Bashir, for his part, emphasized that the perpetrators neither belong to the rebel groups nor have tribal affiliation.

He told the pro-government Sudan Media Center (SMC) that the gang is comprised of 12 people, pointing they all worked for the UNAMID.

Al-Bashir underscored the perpetrators will be brought to a prompt and fair trial in the coming days according to the emergency law imposed since last July.

He urged the UNAMID to reconsider some of its contractors, stressing the perpetrators serve agenda of the rebel groups who have recently suffered serious defeats at the hands of the regular forces.

It should be recalled that South Darfur, at the difference of some other states, is witnessing few rebel activities. However the state is known for criminal activities and robbery committed by armed gangs.

In a bid to curb criminal activities, the state authorities in July 2014 declared an indefinite emergency situation in South Darfur state, including a curfew from 7pm to 7am (local time) in the capital Nyala.

(ST)

The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today reported an increase in the intensity and geographic area of Ebola transmission in Guinea and Sierra Leone, warned that the onset of the rainy season &#8220from now onwards&#8221 will make field operations more difficult and noted that community engagement remains a challenge in both countries.

June 3, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – A South Sudanese academician, professor Wani Tombe Lako, died on Wednesday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. He was found dead while in his apartment on Wednesday morning.

Wani Tombe Lako (ST)

Tombe who used to live in exile in England last year came to Ethiopia and sought membership of the opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), led by former vice-president, Riek Machar.

Although he was not yet assigned to leadership position in the rebel faction, he participated in the mid-April leadership conference which the opposition group convened in Pagak, their new headquarters.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, opposition leader, Riek Machar, described the sudden death of his comrade as a great loss to the country, the movement and the late's family.

“On behalf of the Movement and my family and on my own behalf, I am extending my heartfelt condolences to the family of my late comrade Dr. Wani Tombe Lako. His death is a great loss to the Movement and the country,” opposition leader, Riek Machar, said in a statement he issued on Wednesday.

Although no public medical statement has been issued in declaring the cause of his death, his friends and colleagues said it could be attributed to heart failure.

The late held a Bachelor of Science (BSc. Hons.) in Economics and Rural Development from Gezira University, Sudan; a Masters of Human Rights Law (LL.M) from Nottingham University in United Kingdom and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Rural Social Development.

He taught in various universities and wrote extensively on social and political issues about Sudan and South Sudan. The late was the leader of Greater Equatoria Council of Rights (GRECOR), a body mainly based in exile.

Late Tombe after the eruption of the current civil war in South Sudan wrote many articles urging the people of greater Equatoria region, his home region, to rise up against president Salva Kiir's government in order to achieve freedom and prosperity in the country.

He last year joined the rebel movement led by Machar and continued to travel to United States, Canada and Australia, mobilizing the South Sudanese people to join the armed struggle against the government.

His death has received mixed reactions with observers pointing out that the loss of such a high profile personality may generate discontentment and uncertainty from within the political and geographical constituency.

Late Tombe was a strong advocate of federal system of governance in South Sudan which the rebels have also tabled for adoption in the Addis Ababa peace process and for implementation in the transitional period.

Opposition sources and family members have suggested that the body will be taken to the United Kingdom for post-mortem examinations.

(ST)

Renewing its support to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the vital mandate it is performing to protect civilians there, the Security Council today expressed its grave concern over the security and humanitarian situation in the country, which has been torn by “a conflict that is only growing more violent as it nears its 18th month.”