Africa

June 1, 2015 (JUBA) - Ambassador Gabriel Setlhoke shakes his head in apparent horror after touring staff offices at a public school in the South Sudan capital, Juba on Monday.

“When I went to the head teacher's office, I nearly went down on my knees after seeing the terrible conditions within which he works,” Setlhoke, the South African envoy to South Sudan, said, as MTN South Sudan donated an internet-connected computer lab, the second in a public elementary school, as part of the Group's flagship volunteer event, 21 Days of Y'ello Care.

Setlhoke said South African firms operating within South Sudan ought to use the 67 Minutes for Mandela, a minute for every year of Mandela's jail term, to improve infrastructure in the young nation's schools.

“MTN and our companies must use that 67 minutes. I think they can do something to help. I have been talking to the minister of Education, Dr. John Gai Yoh, since the time when he was the representative of the SPLM to South Africa, to find ways and projects that can improve the conditions of learning," he stressed.

Under this year's 21 Days of Y'ello Care, staff will also hold a Digital Expo at Juba University to disseminate knowledge on ICT, engage with girls and tutors in institutions of higher learning and with women in business, and donate modems and computers to participating institutions.

“This year's Y'ello Care is in line with our vision of fostering ICT through education,” Philip Besiimire, Chief Executive of MTN South Sudan, said.

“We believe the young will embrace this technology, which comes with the knowledge economy,” he added.

In South Sudan, this year's initiative follows an aggressive expansion of network coverage and capacity that saw MTN rollout 76 new sites, built by ZTE, and become the largest and fastest 3.75G data network in the country with crystal-clear voice calls and superfast Internet browsing speeds.

(ST).

June 1, 2015 (BOR) - Inadequate support and ignorance have contributed to the rising numbers of street children in South Sudan's largest state of Jonglei, an official said.

Street children in South Sudan (AP)

In a report presented to lawmakers on Monday, the state minister for gender and social welfare, Rachael Anok said majority of children on streets hailed from families of civil servants.

These children come from families where both or one of their parents serve as employees in the state government, the gender and social welfare minister disclosed.

Anok told lawmakers that they carried out a survey, which showed that these children opted for street life due to lack of proper care, ignorance and insufficient support from parents.

The ministry, in its assessment, discovered that only 44 boys aged between 6-17 years were vulnerable with no families in Bor county.

According to Anok, the 44 kids would be supported to go back to school by the government with the help from partners, adding that a separate camp for them was discouraged on legal basis.

“We made an assessment to identify the vulnerable street kids, but we came to realise that very many of them [children], had their parents here in Bor,” she told lawmakers.

“The parents of these children serve in different ministries in Jonglei,” she added.

The ministry, Anok said, advised that the children be taken to schools, further stressing that the responsibility of caring for them was in the hands of their parents.

Most street kids in Bor are known for pick-pocketing, a habit they practice for survival. Others shine shoes and wash cars for money.

With no shelter to their rescue, majority of these children sleep in old cars and abandoned houses while eating food leftovers from hotels.

Meanwhile, the Korean Child Funds pledged to construct temporary structures in Bor Leudier to enable street children access education.

(ST)

June 1, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese minister of minerals Ahmed Sadiq al-Karuri warned that some unnamed foreign organizations are actively compiling negative reports on the mining sector in Sudan especially gold as a prelude to a ban the country's exports of this precious metal.

Workers break rocks at the Wad Bushara gold mine near Abu Delelq in Gadarif State, Wad Bushara on 27 April 2013 (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

Sudan is trying to compensate for the loss in oil which constituted more than 50% of its revenues until 2011 South Sudan seceded and took with it 75% of the country's oil reserves.

The East African nation now ranks third in Africa in terms of gold production after South Africa and Ghana and aspires to reach the top spot by 2018.

Last March, a US-based think-tank group urged Washington to impose sanctions on gold produced in Sudan's conflict zones.

“After studying this regime for 25 years, it is my conclusion that the Khartoum government is most vulnerable to targeted, focused, relentless economic and financial pressure. Therein lies the greatest opportunity for American leverage to be deployed in support of peace and human rights in Sudan,” John Prendergast, the co-founder of the Enough Project, said in prepared remarks before US congress.

Prendergast urged the US congress to introduce a resolution that would “call on banks and gold refiners to red-flag Sudanese gold as high risk, and for gold industry associations to include Sudan as a high-risk country in their conflict-free audits, in order to ascertain what gold exports from Sudan are conflict-affected”.

At a speech before his ministry on Monday, al-Karuri stressed that they will continue the process of regulating traditional mining operations in order to reduce the use of mercury.

He denied that the primary goal of regulation is to collect revenues and announced that the ministry has achieved 75% of the traditional mining reform plan.

More than 1 million Sudanese work in the traditional mining sector which produces the largest chunk of the country's gold but it is still difficult to obtain credible data.

Sudan said last March, that it produced 17 tonnes of gold during the months of January and February, and that it expects to boost production during 2015 to 80 tons and 100 tons in 2016.

The revenues from gold exports totaled more than $1 billion in 2014 according to a report previously released by the ministry of minerals.

(ST)

June 1, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The newly elected speaker of the Sudanese parliament Ibrahim Ahmed Omer said his country is committed to promoting the principles of Shura (consultation) in all issues that affect the nation's progress towards prosperity and development.

Sudan's new parliament speaker Ibrahim Ahmed Omer June 1, 2015 (ST)

Omer, who has been elected speaker of the National Assembly by 375 votes on Monday, underscored the country's leadership awareness of the importance of the national dialogue, saying they identified the areas of deficiency which is hindering its progress.

He pointed that the national dialogue initiative launched by president Omer al-Bashir has been widely welcomed by those who are keen on Sudan's progress, demanding adherence to unity and to raise the spirit of cooperation and brotherhood.

Bashir launched the national dialogue initiative in January 2014 but it faced serious setbacks after the government refusal to create suitable atmosphere by releasing political prisoners, ensuring freedoms, and postponing elections.

The Umma Party led by former PM al-Sadiq al-Mahdi withdrew from the process in protest of al-Mahdi's arrest in May 2014.

Later on, several political parties including the Reform Now Movement (RNM) led by Ghazi Salah al-Din and the Just Peace Forum (JPF) led by al-Tayeb Mustafa and the Alliance of the Peoples' Working Forces (APWF) announced they had decided to suspend participation in the national dialogue until the requirements of a conducive environment are met.

The speaker of the parliament stressed that the National Assembly intends to continue efforts to complete the national dialogue and to engage all political forces and civil society figures to resolve the challenges facing the country particularly issues of security and peace.

He noted that the recent parliamentary and presidential elections was a necessary constitutional requirement, describing it as “bright spot” in Sudan's history.

Omer noted that 43 political parties have participated in the elections, saying that 21 of them are being represented in the parliament.

Sudan's general elections produced sweeping victory for the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and president Bashir was re-elected with 94% of the votes.

It should be recalled that the opposition boycotted the election, citing a widespread crackdown on civil society and the media, which they say created an impossible environment to fairly contest Bashir's presidency.

Omer called upon the civil society leaders to be aware of the aggression plots which targets Sudan's security and stability, praising efforts of the army and regular forces to maintain security and defend the country against various types of aggression.

He emphasized the parliament's full support for the army and the police, pointing to Sudan's participation in the Saudi-led “Decisive Storm” operation to restore the legitimate rule in Yemen.

He stressed that the Sudanese people are standing by their leadership in its efforts to support the Arab and Muslim nation.

Last April, Sudan joined the military coalition against Yemen's Huthis comprising mainly of Arab Gulf states in addition to Egypt, Jordan and Morocco.

The offensive codenamed “Operation Decisive Storm” is targeting Shiite Houthi militants allied with Iran, who have taken control of Yemen's capital Sanna since September 2014.

The head of the independent lawmakers bloc at the national assembly Abdul-Jalil Aajabin disclosed their intention to meet with president Omer Hassan al-Bashir to participate in the executive branch while finding guarantees for the bloc to work with the government in accordance with national principles.

Aajabin who was speaking at a press conference in the parliament noted that they come from marginalized areas in need of services.

His deputy Mubarak Abbas announced their agreement on fundamental principles for the nation's issues and the development of the less-developed regions in coordination with the government for what he called the big goals.

"We will not act as opposition in all issues but we will work with a strong will to pass policies," Abbas said.

MP Abu al-Gasim Burtum from Dongola constituency (2), who declined to join the independent bloc and refused to vote for any of the candidates for parliament speakership expressed surprise over the choice of Omer saying he expected the ruling party would put forward new faces.

He pointed out that he did not run for parliament to be a pressure tool but to provide services to his constituents and for the country and to covey the concerns of the citizens of his district.

(ST)

The new head of the United Nations relief arm today released a fresh tranche of crisis funding from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) in order to support life-saving relief work for thousands of Burundian refugees dispersed between Rwanda and Tanzania, the Organization has announced.

June 1, 2015 (NAIROBI) – Former education minister in the South Sudan's Unity state has appealed to relief organizations to intervene and avert humanitarian catastrophe among the populations in the oil-rich state.

South Sudanese women collecting sorghum and oil some hours after an airdrop conducted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Unity state's Leer (Photo: ICRC/Jacob Zocherman)

Peter Gai Joak who hails from Panyjiar county in Uity state said thousands of people were directly affected by the ongoing offensive by president Salva Kiir's government against opposition forces led by former vice-president, Riek Machar.

He said Nyal, which is the county headquarters and Taiyar area are directly affected by the conflict, adding that up to 150,000 people, which is the entire population of the county, have been affected.. Joak said the humanitarian situation of affected populations is critical due to the fact that their entire livelihood were destroyed or burned to ashes.

He said Taiyar business centre located in Payinjiar county which linked traders from Yirol East of Lake state, Bor, Twic and Duk counties in Jonglei state is completely destroyed.

“Apparently, the government destroyed the market premises and burnt it to ashes. This has left the community with questions as to whether it is there to provide services or destroy people's livelihood,” he added.

Taiyar Market was established after 2010 as a business market to mitigate border conflict. The market was initiated and supported by AECOM international with the direct funding from USAID.

The market had indeed proven effective in bringing about livelihood changes among the communities of triangle states of Unity, Lakes and Jonglei.

He urged International organizations for quick step into Payinjiar county before everything gone worse.

“In this regard, I'm appealing to international organizations to urgently return to Panyijar county and resume provision of humanitarian assistance such as essential drugs, shelter items, clean and safe water and distribution of food among other emergency needs,” he added.

Joak served as education minister when he was appointed by care taker governor, Joseph Nguen Minytuil. He also served previously as Payinjiar county commissioner during regime of governor Taban Deng Gai and later on became the best political friend and ally to Monytuel after he secured a ministerial position.

However Joak is reported to be battling with undisclosed illness just few months later assuming the office, and was granted treatments by state government to neighbouring Kenya.

In 2014 he was relieved from duty by governor Monytuel due to his persistent unrecovered sickness that took him a year without improvement.

Last week the rebels appointed commissioner John Tap Puot told Sudan Tribune that the security situation is calm, adding that the lives of those displaced by fighting is horrific calling on all aids agencies who have been operating in the areas to return and carry out their duty.

(ST)

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today condemned the Government of South Sudan's decision to expel his Deputy Special Representative and the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, Toby Lanzer.

June 1, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir has relieved on Monday the military chief of staff and other senior officers hours before his swearing-in ceremony for a new term in office.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir (ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/Getty Images)

Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) spokesperson, Colonel al-Sawarmi Khalid Sa'ad, said in a statement Monday the changes come in the context of the annual routine work at the SAF, saying that Bashir met with the outgoing chiefs of staffs and thanked them for their services.

He said that Lieutenant General Mustafa Osman Obeid Salim has been appointed the army's new Chief of Staff. Lieutenant General Ismail Breima Abdel-Samad has replaced Lieutenant General Hashim Abdallah Mohamed Hassan as the deputy Chief of Staff.

Lieutenant General Ahmed Abdalla al-Naw has replaced Lieutenant General Mohamed Graham Omer Sha'oul as the SAF General Inspector, General Isam Mubarak Habib Allah Ibrahim has been appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and General Ibrahim Mohamed Al-Hassan as the Chairman of the Joint Operations Staff.

The state minister of defence Lieutenant General, Yahia Mohamed Khair Ahmed, has been appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Land Forces while General Ali Mohamed Salim has replaced General Sideeg Amer Hassan Ali as the Chairman of the Intelligence and Security.

General Fath al-Rahman Muhi al-Din Salih Mohamed has replaced Lieutenant General Dalil al-Daw Mohamed Fadlalla as the Chief of Staff of the Navy.

The vice-president of Karari University Lieutenant General Salah al-Din Ahmed Abas was also referred to retirement.

According to the statement, General Emad al-Din Mustafa Adawi has been appointed as director of international relations department at the defence ministry while General Ahmed Ali Osman was appointed as director of human resources department at the ministry.

The minister of defence, Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, for his part thanked the retirees for their efforts and outstanding performance, wishing the new chief of staff every success in the upcoming period.

June 1, 2015 (JUBA) – The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon has condemned South Sudan's decision to expel its humanitarian coordinator in the country.

United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Toby Lanzer, talking to the media during a press conference on August 28, 2014 in Juba (AFP/Samir Bol)

Toby Lanzer, the Ki moon said, has been instrumental in addressing the increasing humanitarian needs of conflict-affected communities in the country, and ensuring that life-saving humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable.

“This has been necessary because of continuing violence by both parties in the absence of a comprehensive peace agreement,” the secretary-general said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

South Sudan's ongoing conflict began in December 2013 and has been marked by brutal violence against civilians and deepening suffering across the country. Some 119,000 people are sheltered in UN compounds across the country, the world body said.

In recent weeks, however, the fighting in the country has worsened considerably with reports of widespread killings, rapes, abductions and the burning and destruction of towns and villages, particularly throughout South Sudan's Unity and Upper Nile states.

The UN chief, however, called on South Sudan government to reverse its decision immediately, further urging it to fully cooperate with all UN entities in the country.

Lanzer, who also doubled as the deputy special representative of the UN secretary general, was due to end of his term in South Sudan before leaving for the Sahel region.

The secretary general has appointed Ghana's Eugene Owusu as Lanzer's successor.

SIMILAR EXPULSION

In November 2014, South Sudan expelled a UN official who carried out investigations into the human rights situation in the country.The expulsion was reportedly linked to a report published in August, accusing the army of torture, rapes, killings and abduction.

The UN condemned the decision, which is said violated South Sudan's legal obligations.

In recent years, however, domestic and international human rights bodies have accused the South Sudanese army of gross human rights violations, allegations it has dismissed.

(ST).

June 1, 2015 (WAU) – Wau county in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state is now calm, a day after opposition forces took control of Bazia payam, its commissioner Elia Kamilio Dimo, said.

Dimo said the population in the county have resumed their normal cultivation activities.

“Our people are now in their farms carrying out their normal duties,” the Wau county commissioner told Sudan Tribune Monday.

“The rebels have been flashed out from the town a day after Sunday's attack on our payam headquarters,” he further stressed.

Dimo said government forces now control of Bazia town after pushing out rebels.

On Sunday, government officials admitted that the opposition forces had captured Bazia, a strategic town south of the state capital.

At two people were reportedly killed during the attack, which also witnessed the massive destruction of properties in the area.

The state security advisor, Wol Dhel Theip said government had deployed heavy security personnel within Wau county to monitor and militarily deal with rebels.

The presence of rebel forces in Wau county forest had earlier been reported by state authorities since conflict erupted in the country. In January this year, an attack on a group of journalists traveling on Wau-Raga road was blamed on the armed opposition.

(ST)

By Abdirahman Mohamed Dirye

From the onset, Aminos had had always pondered escape route from Yemen which was falling apart at the seams. She wished to flee to Somaliland, a place she imagined has a better human rights record than Somalia that once inserted radio batteries in her vagina and offer safe space to live. “Somalia is too dangerous to live despite having thousand foreign peacemakers,” she said. She safely arrived after precarious voyage, but she wasn't allowed to disembark. Because Sadly, rather than rescuing fleeing Somalis from Yemen's civil war, Somaliland openly denied her debarkation at Berbera, closest safe haven by escaping folks of approximately a quarter million Somalis who already fled from Mogadishu's insecurity and sought safety earlier on. But they caught up in Yemen's intensifying deadly war again. The inhuman decision terrified them. They come can't return to Yemen's inferno nor land at the Berbera—it's catch-22 situation. Aminos, (not her real name) called out in agony. Somaliland's ruling party Kulmiye's leadership values are tested and they miserably failed us all by sending her back to the sea to die. But we're not that bad.

Financial quarrel with Mogadishu over the share of the UN repatriation funds assigned for the refugees once they arrive at Somalia's entries including Somaliland. This squabble led Kulmiye's government to reship and bar refugees away.

The ruling party, not the public, victimized and exploited the vulnerability of their fellow Somalis; but it's the height of immorality. The mishandling of refugees is more akin to the mistreatment of Rohingya Muslims refugees driven to the seas by Buddhists' Osama while their unreliable boats running out of water.

Somalilanders, however, ghastly watched Somali woman, one of their own flesh and blood as she was denied landing at of what once used to be of “her own country's port” because her ethnicity was different from the dominant tribe there. “I rather die at “my” sea than going back to Saudi's massacre!” she sobbed convulsively.

On the other hand, some fringe minority says that any non-Somalilanders should be sent back taking no notice of the world outcry. Saudi Kingdom, the holy land for our religion did the same thing to us. Why Somaliland be an exception? But they tend to forget that Somaliland is a sort of democracy where human rights are for all while Saudi Kingdom's “ Sharia law” considers non-westerners inferior therefore are a fair game.

Did it morally wrong to return refugees—technically nationals - coming back to their “homeland”? Some say it wasn't. Hosting countries everywhere are paid by the UN agencies, so likewise Somaliland. Nevertheless, can Kulmiye the ruling party's love for money from the UN and the following transfer of the cash to Mogadishu warrant the refusal of the disembarkment? Still there's a hope as the overruling decision emerging day in and day out. Hirsi and Warana'ade ministers categorically denied entry for refugees, those belong to them in terms of tribe, and ideology are the exception, unless UN funds are equally shared between Hargeisa and Mogadishu, they greedily argued.

The port authority officers yelling at the hapless woman who narrowly managed to escape from naked death forcibly deporting her to Yemen's all-out war while Yemenis were allowed in unchecked. If Kulmiye was true to Somaliland democracy and the rule of law, the officers were persecuted and found guilty of homicide. Somalilanders shocked the misconduct and the ongoing criminality. This dangerous move by the unpopular ruling party stained Somaliland's reputation as “welcoming democracy” for all victims” because Somalilanders witnessed a war and asylum. Back in the days, even Somaliland's withered president Silanyo was an asylum seeker in some point in his lives.

Abdirahman known as “Irro” of Wadani party leader refused to gloss over ongoing abuses of fundamental principles of human rights by the myopic ruling party and sympathized with the plight of refugees stranded at the Berbera. It's naked violation of human rights to slam the door in the face of danger by fleeing refugees, he stated. Wadani party protested to repudiate the politicization; commercialization of humanitarian disaster.

Somaliland born out of social injustice and supposedly believed to stand by justice regardless of tribe or faith, but the tragedy created the stark fault lines within the system. But this unique phenomenon has far-reaching impact. Although Wadani party stated this case is extreme case unrepresented of the nation's traditional values and against our decorum. It's Kulmiye's moral turpitude and lack of conscience.

Dirye is Somaliland Activist, Political Commentator, and Senior Editor at Democracy Chronicles, mrdirye@gmail.com

Language English

Zama Coursen-Neff is the executive director of the children's rights division of Human Rights Watch.  She leads the organization’s work on children’s rights and chairs the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA). Coursen-Neff also conducts fact-finding investigations and is the author of reports and articles on a range of issues affecting children, including access to education, police violence, refugee protection, the worst forms of child labor, and discrimination against women and girls. She has published on op-ed pages in major international and US publications and speaks regularly to the media. During a sabbatical in 2006/2007, she ran a protection monitoring team for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Sri Lanka. Before joining Human Rights Watch in 1999, Coursen-Neff clerked for a US federal judge, advocated on behalf of immigrants and refugees in the US, and worked with community development and women's organizations in Honduras. She is a graduate of Davidson College and New York University School of Law.

Last Name Coursen-Neff Type Experts Senior Management Staff Link to Profile Executive Director, Children’s Rights Division Photo Zama Coursen-Neff ZamaHRWExternal Writing

• Schools as Battlegrounds

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May 31, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The leadership council of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Sunday nominated Ibrahim Ahmed Omer for the position of the National Assembly's speaker.

Ibrahim Ahmed Omer (SUNA photo)

The newly elected Sudanese legislators will meet on Monday to elect the speaker of the lower house, the National Assembly, a day before the swearing-in ceremony of the re-elected president Omer al-Bashir.

Following a meeting of the NCP leadership council, the party's spokesperson Yasir Youssef told reporters that the ruling party selected Ibrahim Omer for the position of National Assembly's speaker.

Youssef further said that another leading member, Omer Suleiman, was nominated for the speaker of the upper house, the Council of Sates.

He was keen to add that the nomination of the two speakers was "unanimously approved", reflecting the unity and solidarity of the party leadership.

Rumours circulated in Khartoum that the former first vice-president Ali Osman Taha was seeking to take the position of the speaker. However, it seems that the party's leaders wanted to turn the page on the old rivalries that his return may revive.

The new speaker has been widely respected for his altruism and neutrality. He also called for reforms within the party and to transfer power for the young generation of leaders during a large debate across the party in 2013.

Omer was the NCP secretary general after the removal of Hassan al-Turabi from the party and the parliament in December 1999. Also he served as a presidential adviser and a minister.

The new speaker is "a man of wisdom and has a long and extensive experience in the leadership of public work, Furthermore, he has gotten unanimous support of the NCP members," said Youssef.

In a meeting with the new legislators members of the NCP parliamentary bloc on Sunday, president al-Bashir who is also the party's chairman expressed his satisfaction of the party's institutions, saying "the leadership of the party works like a watch"

President Bashir also praised his presidential assistant and NCP deputy-chairman for the political and organisational affaires Ibrahim Ghandour.

"We thank him (Ghandour) for establishing an academy for training, and an information center. He also funded the party's structure and the election campaign from the membership and wealthy donors," Bashir said.

The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) won 323 of the 426 seats in the National Assembly during April's general elections which was boycotted by the opposition groups.

(ST)

May 31, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan's armed opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) has appointed a governor for Jonglei state in a latest order by the opposition leader, Riek Machar.

Alier Samuel Ateny Lueth has become the opposition's first governor of Jonglei state, a partial territory cut from the previously known Jonglei which the rebel group has divided into four new federal states of Bieh, Pow, Pibor and Jonglei.

The new Jonglei state will now comprise mainly of the Greater Bor counties of Duk, Twic East and Bor.

The new 21 federal states in the country, rebels said, were based on the old districts established by the British colonial administration before 1956 when former Sudan, from which South Sudan split in 2011, became independent.

The order for Alier's appointment, which copy was extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday, came into effect on 30 May.

Several governors have been appointed in the past by the opposition leadership for the newly created federal states. SPLM-IO said the governors would establish civil administrations in the rebel controlled areas as well as provide security for the civil populations and coordinate humanitarian interventions in cooperation and coordination with the humanitarian wing of the rebel movement and non-governmental organisations.

The rebels presented their position paper at the negotiating table in Addis Ababa demanding to restructure South Sudan as a state on the basis of federalism, a demand the government rejected, deferring it to a future permanent constitutional making process for consideration.

Other voices from within the government called for a referendum vote by the people whether they would want federalism or not. But the opposition faction argued that federalism has been a popular demand of the people of South Sudan since 1947 and it would be a waste of resources and time to conduct a referendum.

However, a conference at Nyakuron Culture Center in Juba early this year by representatives of the 64 ethnic communities in South Sudan passed a resolution calling on the parties to the conflict to adopt federalism in the would-be peace agreement in Addis Ababa as the system of governance to be implemented in the transitional period.

No public official reaction yet from the government on the resolutions of the collective tribal leadership.

(ST)

May 31, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan's former political detainees have pledged the leadership of the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) party upon returning from neighbouring Kenya.

South Sudan's former justice minister John Luk Jok (ST/File)

A five-member delegation of the ex-detainees headed by former cabinet affairs minister, Deng Alor is expected in the capital, Juba on Monday.

“Yes, we will be coming tomorrow. It will be a five member delegation. Comrade Deng Alor Kuol will be leading the team comprising of myself, comrade Kosti Manibe, Cirino Hiteng and Madut Biar, will be in Juba tomorrow to consult with President Salva Kiir and members of the SPLM leadership on the way forward,” former justice minister, John Luk Jok told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

“Our priority is to work for peace to come to our country”, he added.

Jok, however, said not all the ex-detainees would be returning to Juba on Monday.

“The delegation will be accompanied by South African deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa, Ethiopian foreign minister, Tedros Adanhom and Kenyan foreign minister, Amina Mohammed and the secretary general of the Tanzanian's ruling CCM [Chama Cha Mapinduzi], Abdulrahman Kenana,” disclosed the former justice minister.

Jok said the Juba visit, the first since their release early last year, would not exceed a week as they were also expected in the Ethiopian capital for a consultative meeting.

Some of our members will participate in the meeting before traveling to the armed opposition headquarters in Pagak for similar engagements with the rebel leadership, he said.

The ex-detainees, Jok stressed, are determined to ensure all obstacles around the peace process are removed to end suffering and ensure the next round of negotiations does not collapse when talks resume.

The CCM-led talks are parallel to that mediated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Addis Ababa.

The SPLM factions signed a reunification agreement on 21 January and later committed themselves by signing implementation matrix. The matrix gave a 45-day ultimatum for implementation of the agreement.

(ST)

May 31, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government backtracked on its announcement this week that Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad will fly to Sudan to attend the swearing-in ceremony of president Omer Hassan al-Bashir.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir raises his arm as his supporters cheer at his victory speech after he won the presidential election at the National Congress Party headquarters in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, April 27, 2015 (AP Photo/Jason Patinkin)

Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti said that Saudi Arabia will be represented by Prince Mansour bin Mutaib who is a state minister and an adviser to the king.

Sudan's state news agency (SUNA) said that Qatar's deputy Prime Minister Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud will arrive on Monday for the ceremony.

There was no word on the level of representation by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Sudan has recently managed to normalize its ties with Saudi Arabia and UAE and it was expected that the thaw in ties would be reflected in the delegations they send to this event.

One Gulf observer told Sudan Tribune that it is not customary for these nations to dispatch senior officials for these kind of ceremonies.

Karti said that leaders of Egypt, Kenya, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Djibouti, Chad and Ethiopia will be present.

His spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq earlier confirmed that South Sudan, Comoros Island and Uganda will be represented at the Vice President level.

Bahrain will send its deputy Prime Minister, al-Sadiq said while Turkey and Algeria will send their parliament speakers along with representatives from Russia, China, Morocco, Tunisia and Malaysia.

Late last month, Bashir won re-election with 94% of the vote, extending his nearly three-decade rule for another five years.

(ST)

May 31, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A court in Khartoum resumed its sessions in the trial of two pastors from South Sudan charged with espionage and trying to foment sedition and incite hatred among tribes and religious sects.

A Bishop stands in front of the altar during Easter Sunday service at Episcopal Church of the Sudan Diocese of Khartoum All Saints Cathedral in Khartoum April 24, 2011 (Reuters)

Reverend Yat Michael and Reverend Peter Yen – of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (PEC) – have been detained by Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in Khartoum at two separate occasions.

Michael, a visiting pastor from South Sudan, was taken into custody in December after giving a service at the Khartoum North church of the PEC.

Reverend Peter Yen was also visiting Khartoum when he was arrested last January after responding to a summons to report to an office of the NISS.

The investigator in the case Mohamed Khair Ibrahim told the court on Sunday that the second defendant managed an organization working to distort the image of Sudan through reports sent to circles hostile to the country so that the information would be used in human rights reports.

He said that lectures and training packages belonging to the NISS were found in the personal computer of the first defendant.

"It is the same curriculum that is taught in all stages at the NISS, including a package on psychological aspects to deal with investigators which is one of the advanced courses in the bureau,” Ibrahim said.

He said the defendant was unable to provide any explanation for the possession of such data.

"But through investigation [we found] that there is an intelligence work [done] by the first defendant which prompted him to keep the curriculum despite its secrecy".

Ibrahim displayed a picture of President Omer Hassan al-Bashir with the word "WANTED" underneath and pointed out that it demonstrates that the first defendant tried to portray a bad image of the president.

He also presented a drawing found in the first defendant's PC showing a map of Sudan divided into five, ethnic states and said that the goal was to show South Kordofan and Darfur as part of South Sudan.

He added that the information seized reveal maps and statistics which have been compiled to tarnish the image of Sudan.

Among them was a report claiming that children in Darfur are not allowed to enter school until they have memorized the Koran which was cited as a reason for under-enrolment in schools and illiteracy in Darfur.

He stressed that such information is false and that memorizing Koran is not an enrolment perquisite to enter the schools.

(ST)

May 31, 2015 (WASHINGTON) – The rapid and surprising shift in Sudan's regional alliance from the Iranian axis to the Gulf one led by Saudi Arabia came at a surprise to observers, given Khartoum's insistence over the years that its relationship with Tehran is a normal one that is not directed against any country.

FILE - Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir shaking hands with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz (Riyadh newspaper)

Sudan has been unable to persuade the Gulf states with this argument, particularly Saudi Arabia, which has seen its relations with Khartoum severely strained during the reign of late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz who avoided meeting president Omer Hassan al-Bashir since 2012 until his death earlier this year, despite Bashir's repeated visits to the Kingdom.

In August 2013, Saudi Arabia made the unprecedented move of closing its airspace to the plane carrying Bashir on his way to Iran where he was scheduled to attend the inauguration ceremony of then president-elect Hassan Rouhani thus forcing him and his delegation to return home.

Riyadh at the time blamed Khartoum for failing to obtain the necessary permits to pass through Saudi airspace, a claim which was refuted by Sudanese officials.

Sudan has been regularly allowing Iranian warships to dock in Port Sudan, adjacent to Saudi Arabia, sparking concern by the United States and its allies in the Gulf region.

The mostly Sunni Muslim Arab Gulf states are wary of Iranian influence in the Middle East, fearing the Shiite-led country is seeking regional dominance that will stir sectarian tensions in countries like Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

Observers believe that economic pressures faced by Sudan caused by multiple military conflicts, US sanctions and most importantly the loss of oil due South Sudan's secession in 2011 prompted the government to reconsider its regional alliances.

Late last year, Sudanese authorities ordered the closure of the Iranian Cultural Centre in the capital Khartoum and other states and asked the Iranian cultural attaché to leave the country in a move seen as a gesture of goodwill towards the Arab Gulf states.

This shift was culminated by Sudan's announcement following Bashir's visit to Riyadh in March that it has joined the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in the framework of a coalition comprised of ten Arab and Islamic states.

There have also been some unconfirmed reports recently that Sudan could provide troops for the next phase of the military operation in Yemen.

The Iranian government has formally opposed the military operation in Yemen, but did not comment on the Sudanese role or their strategic shift away from Tehran.

But the pro-hardliner Mashregh newspaper in Iran fiercely attacked Bashir and described him as an ingrate.

Bashir “found a better meal and traded Iran's generous help for a seat at Al Saud's table,” an article on the newspaper said according to Al-Monitor website.

The article stated that given Sudan's closing of Iran's offices, maybe Sudan's support for Saudi's bombing of Yemen was not unexpected, but “at the same time, everyone who is aware of our country's support and help of [Bashir] during the most difficult times of his rule, did not expect this level of political immorality and obscenity.”

Saudi Arabian journalist and researcher in Middle Eastern Affairs Abdul Aziz al-Khamis argued that Saudi diplomacy achieved a major diplomatic victory by succeeding in pulling Sudan out of "Iran's bosom".

In an telephone interview with Sudan Tribune from London, al-Khamis said that despite the strategic importance attached by Saudi Arabia to Sudan, relations between them have all but been severed over the years.

He blamed Islamic forces allied with Bashir for "dissociating Sudan from its Arab perimeter".

"Cooperation with Iran cost [Sudan] its Arab attachment and they are now trying to return back to it. There has recently been a breakthrough in easing relations [with Saudi Arabia] especially that Sudan is going through tough economic times because of the secession of the south and the serious ramifications of the Darfur conflict including the indictment of Bashir by the International Criminal Court" al-Khamis said.

Al-Khamis, who was until recently the editor in chief of the London-based al-Arab newspaper, disclosed that Sudanese businessmen dealing with Arab Gulf states pressured their government to mend relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia in particular in order to relieve Sudan's economic woes and restore the flow of investments.

"Sudanese businessmen [working] in the Gulf have a special characteristic which is the strong relationships they build in the surroundings in which they work in so they are keen that their ties with Bashir would not to be at the expense of their relationship with UAE or Saudi Arabia".

He said that Khartoum "tried the alliance with Qatar in the past period, which did not lead to an economic recovery and allowed more Iranian penetration in Sudan".

"The return of Sudan to its Arab surrounding is now occurring after they paid a hefty price from its territory and reputation and after the [Sudanese] government transformed Sudan from a country of tolerance and coexistence to a country notorious for its policies" al-Khamis added.

He assrted that the improvement in relations between the two countries will make Sudan a supporting force to Saudi Arabia and vice versa in the framework of mutual interests.

Asked about the possibility that Saudi Arabia could mediate between Sudan and the United States, al-Khamis said that this is possible and that Riyadh may stand with Khartoum in some issues "if it is convinced that Sudan is on the right side of these issues."

"But Saudi Arabia cannot stand with Sudan in the repression of its people in Darfur for example. Saudi Arabia in the past tried to help on Darfur but failed due to the intervention of several axis" in reference to Qatar which until recently had strained relations with Riyadh.

"From a strategic standpoint, Saudi Arabia can help Sudan especially in light of the harmony that exists now between Saudi Arabia and Qatar which goes in favor of Sudan".

Al-Khamis downplayed the divergence in views between Sudan and Saudi Arabia on Syria after Bashir's recent announcement that President Bashar al-Assad must be part of any political settlement.

"Bashir wants concessions from the West, which could prompt him to take positions different from that of Saudi Arabia .... but in reality he has no leverage with Syria."

Al-Khamis also expressed doubts on Sudan's announcement that King Salman would attend Bashir's swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday given the recent developments in Saudi Arabia "unless there is a very important reason for the King to visit".

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry declined on Saturday to confirm the presence of the Saudi monarch contrary to what the inauguration committee said on Thursday.

(ST)

May 30, 2015 (BOR) – The experience of a young family losing two of their children to unknown abductors can not only be sad and devastating, but equally hearth-wrecking.

A couple in South Sudan's Jonglei state has appealed to government and the Greater Pibor Area Administration (GPAA) to help them recover two lost children.

Thon Malual Garang, 33, and his wife Ayen Madit are in tears after their four and half year old girl and a boy less than three years were abducted by unknown people from their home in Block Nine zone.

“My children are two, the girl is the elder one and her follower is a boy. My home was attacked in the evening when I was still at work. I was not at home [but] if I were home, I would have given my life to save them”, Garang Sudan Tribune in the capital, Bor on Saturday.

“What I know from my wife and the rest of the eyewitnesses is that the abductors where Murle, their place in Pibor is not known, but I guess they are from western Pibor areas like Manybol, Koth-char, or Gumuruk,” he added.

Malual called on both Pibor administration and the Jonglei state government to coordinate, trace and bring back all the children abducted by Murle tribesmen, including his children, saying this would be the starting point for peace between these two tribes.

During the attack, Malual, an officer at the state fire brigade, said his mother and his youngest son were shot, but the duo were now getting better.

“There is nothing more frustrating than losing your child to abductors. I suffered for years since I was married to raise them, only to see them being taken at a gunpoint,” a tearful Ayen narrated.

Early this month, the GPAA under David Yauyau's leadership, returned four abducted children who were reunited with their parents. At the event, Yauyau pledged to end all criminal activities such as raiding and abduction with support from Jonglei authorities.

The GPAA was created following the 9 May, 2014 peace agreement the Yauyau-led South Sudan Democratic Forces-Cobra faction signed with South Sudan government.

(ST)

May 31,2015 (KHARTOUM) - The opposition Popular Congress Party (PCP) said Sunday they conducted a series of contacts with the rebel groups to join the national dialogue process which would start after the swearing-in ceremony of president Bashir.

Kamal Omer Abdel Salam of the Popular Congress Party (Reuters)

Earlier this month Omer, who represents his party in the national dialogue committee told Sudan Tribune that they decided at the level of the dialogue body to meet the rebels to convince them to join the internal political process

Last March, the PCP refused to take part in a preparatory meeting for the national dialogue saying they refuse any external involvement in the process even from the African Union.

The opposition leading member reiterated his party commitment to an internal process, adding that the dialogue is a strategic option for his party and they have no other alternatives.

He scoffed at the opposition call for a new process with an international participation saying the "Sudan Call" has become the "Call of Paris and Cairo".

"One day they are going to Germany and another day to Egypt while the problem of is inside the country," he said.

Omer called to include the release of political prisoners and detainees and measures to guaranty the safety of rebel delegations to the internal conference in the presidential speech at the swearing-in ceremony on 2 June.

The African Union roadmap to facilitate the national dialogue process asks the government to implement a number of confidence building measures aiming to create a conducive environment before to start the political operation.

TRIBAL CLASHES

The PCP political secretary further warned against the renewal of tribal clashes in Darfur, pointing that heavy weapons are still in the hands of the different tribes.

Dozens were killed during clashes between Ma'alia and Rezeigat tribes in Abu Karinka area of East Darfur state earlier this May. The central government in Khartoum admitted the failure of traditional reconciliation approach and warned that it would take the necessary legal steps to impose the authority of the state.

Omer said the root causes of the conflict between Ma'alia and Rezeigat have not being addressed, adding what happened between the two tribes is a serious indicator of a crisis that can develop in the absence of decisive treatment.

He pointed to the negligence in the enforcement of law and called to punish the perpetrators and bring them to trial.

He further said that the tribes, now, have sophisticated weapons, stressing that disarmament is the responsibility of the State.

(ST)