Sudan Tribune

March 18, 2017 (JUBA) – Dozens of South Sudan army (SPLA) soldiers led by Captain Lam Yuol Jok abandoned their positions and joined the armed opposition Brigadier Gen. Musa Dakumi in Raja area of Western Bhar el Gazal last Friday, a rebel spokesperson told Sudan Tribune Saturday.

SPLA soldiers in Malakal, capital of the battleground oil-state of Upper Nile on 15 May 2014 (Photo AFP/Ivan Lieman)

Lt. Col. Lam Paul, a deputy rebel spokesperson, said pro-government camp in Raja and Western Bhar el Ghazal state joined ranks with their forces in the area to fight against the government.

He, however, said the soldiers defected after allegedly witnessing several mistreatment of civilians that include rape, tortures and extra-judicial killing of innocent children in Wau.

“They witnessed many atrocities ranging from gang rape of women and underage girls to kidnap and killing of innocent civilians by the untrained government Militias and so, they decided to join the mighty and disciplined SPLA-IO under the leadership of the Commander In Chief Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon,” Lam told Sudan Tribune.

The rebel official said they have welcomed all steps taken by the former government fighters, adding that their defection to the rebel movement remains a big blow to the Juba regime.

Lam has also disputed earlier reports that Col. Yien Mathew, a former fighter of the armed opposition faction in Upper Nile state defected to the government led by President Salva Kiir.

Yien, according to Lam, joined Lam Akol's National Democratic Movement (NDM) and not a member of the armed opposition movement led by former First Vice President, Riek Machar.

“Late last year he [Yien] became a member of NDM Liberation Council. Yien Mathew was a beneficiary of Dr. Lam Akol's NDM and did not rejoin the SPLA-IO completely, even secretly,” he said.

Sudan Tribune was unable to reach the SPLA spokesperson on the alleged defection.

(ST)

March 19, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - One person was shot dead and several others injured including an army officer in shooting incident Sunday in Mellit locality, 60 kilometres north of El-Fasher, North Darfur state capital.

A UNAMID peacekeeper uses branches to mark the location of a mortar projectile abandoned inthe Abassi camp for IDPs in Mellit, N Darfur (Photo UNAMID/Albert González Farran)

Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that a fight broke out when a trader in Mellit market was provoked by a person coming from another locality leading to the intervention of an army soldier.

In statements following the incident, acting governor of North Darfur Mohamed Braima Hassab al-Nabi said the killing resulted from a brawl among a group of people in the market.

“During the fight, some of them seized the rifle magazine from a soldier and the magazine was restored and some bullets were fired into the air and two attackers have been injured,” he said.

He pointed that four people were wounded in the fight, saying one of the attackers was injured and another died.

Hassab al-Nabi added that an army soldier was injured while he was acting in self-defence, saying the situation in the locality is calm.

He described the attackers as outlaws, saying they came from Kabkabiya locality and engaged in an altercation with a trader leading to the intervention of the army soldier.

The acting governor described the incident as “limited”, saying the commissioner and the security committee in the locality are investigating the issue to find out why the attackers came to Mellit.

Last June, North Darfur governor Abdel-Wahid Youssef accused unnamed parties of seeking to keep the “insecurity and instability” situation in Darfur, pointing to “hidden hands that prompt the security chaos in all Darfur's five states not only North Darfur”.

He declared a state of maximum readiness among regular forces to control the lawlessness situation in the state and prevented riding of motorcycles, wearing of Kadamool (a turban which covers the face) and holding arms inside the capital, El-Fasher.

(ST)

March 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's foreign ministry has instructed the concerned bodies to develop a roadmap to end the Egyptian presence in the disputed area of Halayeb triangle, said border demarcation official.

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

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

Head of Sudan's Technical Committee for Border Demarcation (TCBD) Abdallah al-Sadiq told Sudan Tribune the foreign ministry has met with several government organs including the justice and interior ministries, National Records Office and the TCBD in order to modify files prepared by previous committees on Halayeb.

He pointed the move indicates that the foreign ministry aims to take some action regarding Halayeb issue.

On Sunday, al-Sadiq told the semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) that a committee including all concerned bodies has been formed to decide on Halayeb triangle issue.

“The committee held a preparatory meeting to develop guidelines and a road map to explore ways to evict the Egyptians from the area [Halayeb] through diplomacy,” he said.

Al-Sadiq stressed that Khartoum has documents which clearly proves that Halayeb is a Sudanese territory.

Last October, Sudan once again lodged a complaint to United Nation Security Council (UNSC) over Halayeb triangle.

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

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

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

Also, the Egyptian authorities have imposed restrictions on the entry of Sudanese nationals into the area.

(ST)

March 19, 2017 (JUBA) – The office of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has dismissed reports claiming the country's leader had allegedly confirmed the "death" of Rebecca Nyandeng Garang, widow of South Sudan's ruling party (SPLM) founder, John Garang.

Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior (ST File Photo)

Ateny Wek Ateny, the presidential spokesman said Kiir's alleged confirmation of Nyandeng's "death" that circulated on social media was “just an evil-wishing spree.”

The presidential spokesman said Nyandeng has immediate and extended family members who would have confirmed or denied such news, if any.

"President Kiir has not spoken to anybody about the passing of John Garang's widow nor did he mention the word ‘dead' of any opposition leader," he said.

Ateny advised members of the public to disregard the news and treat it as a scam.

(ST)

March 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - European Union Special Envoy for the Promotion of Freedom of Religion, Jan Figel, called on the Sudanese government to released two Sudanese pastors sentenced together with a Czech missionary last February.

Hassan Abdel-Rahim and Abdel-Moni'm Abdel-Mawla were sentenced to 12 years for colluding with the Czech filmmaker who had been condemned for espionage, waging war against the state and inciting hatred against religious congregations.

"The Envoy called for the pardoning of the two Sudanese pastors, sentenced along with the released Czech Missionary Peter Jašek," said a statement released by the European Union delegation in Sudan at the end of Figel's visit to the east African country.

Jašek has been pardoned by President Omer al-Bashir upon the request of the Czech government.

The statement further disclosed that the European envoy had been allowed to meet the human rights defender Mudawi Ibrahim in his detention who has been in custody without charge since last December.

Sources close to the file say Mudawi's case will be soon filled to the court as the investigation have been concluded.

The envoy, according to the statement, discussed the constitutional amendments and their compliance with international human rights law and pointed that the importance that the legislative framework also reflects these standards.

“A fair state must be organised around equal citizenship for all. Diversity enriches while uniformity weakens societies," said Jan Figel.

During his three-day visit, Figel met with Sudanese ministers for Foreign Affairs and Endowments and Guidance, and members of the parliament. Also, he visited the National Human Rights Commission and Council of Islamic Fiqh, Nour Mosque, and Coptic Church.

Jan Figel announced that he will brief the EU Parliament and other EU institutions about his visit.

The Sudanese government has good relations with Germany and Italy. Further, it seeks to improve relations with the European Union and the resumption of it economic support to Sudan which is suspended since the coup d'état of 1989.

(ST)

March 17, 2017 (BOR) - Authorities in South Sudan's Jonglei state have intensified calls for the enactment of forest laws, saying illegal cutting of trees has led to loss of thousands of indigenous tree species in the area.

Forest loss along the edge of Mount Dongotomea in South Sudan from Google Earth.

The director general in the state agriculture and forestry state, Del Anyieth said there has been rampant cutting down of trees by unauthorized people for charcoal business, in addition to those who use it to create settlement areas.

The practice, he said, could lead to complete loss of forests, if uncontrolled.

“Forest laws are supposed to be passed in this country, and when these laws are passed, there should be forest reserves, if they are marked, they can be deserted to make sure that there is no encroachment. When the state has a forest reserve that means there is a future for that”, Anyieth told reporters in the capital, Bor Saturday.

“We have seen a lot of destruction taking place. Forest is being cut without permits, without laws and protection. Supposed if forest laws are passed, there will be protection”, stressed the senior ministry official.

He urged cabinet and lawmakers in Jonglei state to swiftly enact laws that will allow his directorate control random cutting of trees in the surrounding areas.

South Sudan has no forestry policy. And authorities are worried they could lose the country's tropical forests; unless stringent measures are put in place to curb the rampant rate of illegal logging.

These fears come barely a year after conservationists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) warned of dangers the lie ahead as the country's wildlife and natural resources face an alarming expansion of illegal exploitation, trafficking and logging.

The report, the agency stated, was based on scientific monitoring and investigations undertaken its team undertook in cooperation with local partners over the past months, which documented a sharp rise in illegal activities in various areas of the young nation.

Cited as an immediate threat to South Sudan's forests were illegal logging, gold mining and charcoal production, among others.

Sadly, however, these illegal activities are reportedly being perpetrated by local and international individuals and actors, including members of various armed groups active in the country.

South Sudan is currently embroiled in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of the population, displacing nearly two million of them.

According to conservationists, prior to the outbreak of its war in December 2013, South Sudan's extensive areas of untouched natural woodlands, forests, and savannas, were home to wildlife populations including approximately 2,500 elephant, hundreds of giraffes, the endemic Nile Lechwe and white-eared kob tiang, Mongalla antelope migrations, wild dog and chimpanzees.

However, over the past two years of armed conflict, the various armed forces across the country, WCS said, have been implicated in several cases of large-scale illegal exploitation of natural resources.

A 2010 study conducted by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), dubbed the "Forest Resources Assessment", estimated that a high rate of up to 2,776 square kilometres of forests and other wooded land were being lost annually in South Sudan.

(ST)

March 18, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan government has resolved to establish a ministry for foreign affairs, an institution that would be tasked to coordinate regional relations.

South Sudanese information minister Michael Makuei Lueth attends a press conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 5 January 2014 (Photo: AP/Elias Asmara)

This was reached at during the weekly council of minister's meeting chaired by the South Sudanese leader, Salva Kiir Friday.

The information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, said a minister will be appointed by the president, regardless of criticisms over the peace agreement, which limits the number of the national ministers to 30 be shared by the various political partners to the August 2015 peace accord.

“The Council of Ministers has resolved to form a Minister of East African Affairs and gave the President the go-ahead to appoint the minister,” said Makuei.

War-torn South Sudan became a member of the East African regional body (EAC) in 2016, joining Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. South Sudan appointed seven representatives for the East African Legislative Assembly last week and will appoint members to sit on the East African Court in Arusha, Tanzania.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

March 18, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - The number of South Sudan refugees fleeing to neighbouring Ethiopia has seen a surge since the beginning of March, the UN refugee agency said on Saturday.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a statement it extended to Sudan Tribune Saturday said over 600 South Sudan refugees are crossing borders to Ethiopia in March on daily basis, due to the ongoing conflict and food scarcity.

“The daily arrival rate has significantly jumped from 103 persons in February and 199 in February to 660 so far in March,” it said.

Between 1 and 11 March 2017, a total of 7,258 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Ethiopia's Gambella region.

Of these, 3,967 arrived in the week of 6 to 11 March, representing a daily average arrival rate of 660 people.

The latest influx has brought the total number of South Sudanese refugees who have arrived in Ethiopia since September 2016 to 68,858.

All the new arrivals have gone through level-1 registration and were most of them relocated to Nguenyyiel refugee camp, one of South Sudan refugee camps in Gambela region bordering South Sudan.

Pagak, a border town of South Sudan continues to be the main entry point through which an increasing number of South Sudanese refugees are crossing into Gambella, Ethiopia.

Between 1 February and 11 March 2017, a total of 12,828 refugees crossed through Pagak.

So far in March, 7,258 arrivals were registered in Pagak and all, but 192, were relocated to Nguenyyiel refugee camp while other new arrivals remain in Pagak, awaiting relocation.

According to the latest report, 65% of the total registered new arrivals are children, including 15,488 unaccompanied and separated children.

A recent sample survey conducted in Pagak revealed that the new arrivals originated mainly from Upper Nile State (Nasir, Longechuk or Mathiang, Ulang and Maiwut Counties) and Jonglie State (Uror, Akobo and Ayod Counties).

Conflict and food insecurity were cited as the main reasons for leaving South Sudan.

The majority (87%) continue to be women and children. A good number of those who arrived in March originated from Bentiu.

According to the UN refugee agency, as of 15 March, Ethiopia hosted more than 356,000 South Sudanese refugees who originate mostly from Upper Nile and Jonglie States, as well as some from the Unity state.

In addition to registration and protection, WASH, Nutrition, Primary Health Care and other services are available and functioning well at the entry point.

As South Sudan refugees continue to flee to Ethiopia in large numbers, UNHCR in close collaboration with its Ethiopian partner, Administration for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) is in the process of ensuring maximum preparedness by reviewing the capacity of Nguenyiel camp and the identification of possible sites for new camps.

"With Nguenyyiel quickly reaching its capacity and no readily available site for establishing additional camps in the Gambella region, the possibility of transferring new arrivals to the Benishangul- Gumuz Region is being considered," the agency said.

"UNHCR and ARRA are in the process of identifying a suitable site in that region" it added.

Given the ongoing conflict and food insecurity in the newest nation, UNHCR together with ARRA and other partners, have also finalised a draft Contingency Plan to respond to the possibility of a renewed influx of refugees from South Sudan.

The draft contingency plan foresees the arrival of potential more refugees in Ethiopia and fund shorting.

(ST)

March 18, 2017 (JUBA)- The South Sudanese government has protested to a confidential report by a panel of experts who were appointed by the United Nations on findings accusing the government of buying weapons while the country was experiencing a devastating famine.

Arms and light weapons have been used by both warring parties in South Sudan to commit abuses (Photo courtesy of SSANSA)

The U.N. panel of experts recommended the government to consider an arms embargo.

South Sudan's information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth told reporters after Friday's weekly briefing that “we have not bought arms for the last two to three years."

The Minister went on to say that the government had the right to acquire weapons for self-defence. "We have rights to buy arms for self-protection or self-defence. So this idea of the UN saying the government of South Sudan doesn't care about its people and they are fan of buying arms all the time is not correct," said Lueth.

The minister also dismissed the accuracy of the report, claiming it was biased.

Lueth strongly denied buying weapons, however multiple military sources have told the Sudan Tribune on Saturday that weapons were acquired and the information was leaked by officers at the procurement and logistics department.

The leaking of this information has resulted in the arrest of many military officers, while others left the country. Other military officers formed a rebellion.

“It is true there has been a plan to acquire weapons and this information was leaked to the UN by some of our officers in the directorate for logistics. Some of these officers have now left the country. Others like Thomas Cirilo Swaka have rebelled. So it was the work of rebels from within,” a high ranking military officer told Sudan Tribune Saturday.

Famine was recently declared in Mayendit, a village in South Sudan's Unity state, the latest crisis in the country's three-year civil war. About 100 000 people are said to be at risk, and aid groups are pleading for access. At least 5 million people or more than 40% of the nation's population are need urgent assistance, aid agencies say.

Years of civil war, a refugee crisis and a collapsing economy have taken a toll on South Sudan since it gained independence in 2011. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in the country's worst ever violence since it seceded from North Sudan in 2011.

(ST)

March 18, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Chairman of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) Malik Agar Saturday acknowledged that his deputy Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu has tendered his resignation but didn't mention whether or not it was accepted.

Abdel Aziz Adam El-Hilu (ST)

A twelve-page resignation addressed to the Nuba Mountain Liberation Council, SPLM-N's highest political authority in the Nuba Mountains, and signed by al-Hilo has widely circulated on social media on Friday.

Also, there were media leaks that the Nuba Mountain Liberation Council has issued a number of decisions which involves changing the negotiating team with the government headed by SPLM-N secretary-general Yasir Arman.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune Saturday, Agar confirmed his deputy's resignation, denying that any changes have taken place on SPLM-N political and military structure including its negotiating team with the government.

“The only body that would deal with the political issues is the leadership council and the military issues would be dealt with by the SPLM-N chief of general staff,” he said.

Agar accused what he described as “suspicious circles” of seeking to his deputy's resignation to settle scores with the SPLM-N and its leadership and political stances.

“The resignation is true and it would be handled properly and all issues contained in it including the call for self-determination for the Nuba Mountain would be discussed within the regulatory frameworks of the SPLM-N and its leadership and on top of that the leadership council,” Agar said.

The rebel leader stressed the SPLM-N would adhere to the unilateral cessation of hostilities it has declared earlier except for self-defence, pointing the Movement is committed to its stances within the Sudan Call and Sudan Revolutionary Front.

He pointed out the Movement wouldn't abandon issues pertaining to political and security arrangements in the Two Areas besides the comprehensive political solution, saying they will continue to push forward theses issues internally and abroad.

Agar further underscored that the New Sudan project is the SPLM-N's political programme, saying the project is open for the participation of all Sudanese.

SELF-DETERMINATION

Informed sources within the SPLM-N have told Sudan Tribune that al-Hilu continued to demand the Movement's negotiators to raise the issue of self- determination of Nuba Mountain at the negotiating table, saying the refusal of the negotiating team to consider his demand pushed him to tender his resignation.

According to sources, al-Hilu should have addressed his resignation to the SPLM-N leadership council instead of the Nuba Mountain Liberation Council because the former is body entrusted with handling these issues.

In his resignation dated, on 7 March, al-Hilu disclosed differences among the three executive officers of the national leadership council, saying these differences “went beyond the secondary matters to the principles and orientations”.

He pointed that the major disagreement between himself and Agar and Arman evolve around the Movement's manifesto and constitution besides the negotiating position, stressing the SPLM-N has been working without manifesto for six years.

Al-Hilo also accused Arman of controlling the decision-making process, saying the selection of Movement's heads of external offices is done according to “personal mode”.

He also mentioned differences with Arman regarding the Movement's stance towards the security arrangements with the government.

He disclosed that on the security arrangements, he said that Arman last August handed over to the African Union mediation the same position included in Agar-Nafei agreement of 28 June 2011, while he agreed with him in January 2016 to ask for a 20-year period security arrangements deal.

SPLM-N has been fighting the Sudanese army and its allied militia in Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since June 2011.

(ST)

March 18, 2017 (JUBA) – The Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni said the conflict in South Sudan would only come to an end if the parties at war return to the negotiating table, stressing that a war would not solve the problem.

President Salva Kiir (L) shakes hands with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni (R) after signing a peace agreement on August 26, 2015 (Photo AFP /Charles Lomodong)

“The warring groups must hold negotiations aimed at two things, holding elections and reforming the security sector,” said Museveni on Friday during a meeting with a visiting the Chinese Special Representative on African Affairs.

The Ugandan leader appreciated the involvement from the Chinese government in the process of seeking a way to end the conflict in South Sudan. “We discussed the situation in South Sudan. Glad China is taking interest in this conflict,” he said.

According to President Museveni's official twitter account, he met Xu Jinghu, the Chinese Government Special Representative on African Affairs and her delegation on Friday at the State House.

President Museveni, who has been a lifeline and the only close political ally in the region of President Salva Kiir for the period of conflict in the country, attributed the conflict in the country to the leadership failure to guide the people of the country, stating the group did not have clear headed leadership.

“The main problem in South Sudan is ideological. The groups there do not have a clear headed leadership to guide the people about their future. They push the pseudo ideology of sectarianism of tribes & yet this is detrimental to the people's well being. Force can't solve the conflict,” said the Ugandan leader.

Museveni called on the “warring groups” to hold negotiations with the aim to establish a security sector and hold elections. His call for negotiation follows a similar call made by American lawmakers on President Donald Trump to appoint a high Special Envoy.

12 United States Senators and Congressmen, in a letter dated 24 February 2017, called on US newly elected President Donald J. Trump, to appoint a new high-level Special Envoy for South Sudan and Sudan with International Status to bring the “urgently needed diplomatic leadership to international efforts to achieve a sustainable peace in and between the two countries”.

The Senators also called on the Africa Union through its high-level representative to South Sudan, to reinvigorate an inclusive political process to end South Sudans' conflict. While President Donald Trump is yet to respond, the regional leaders have begun to talk about inclusive process instead of taking side.

Omar Hassan el Bashir, Sudan President called for an inclusive political process, saying that South Sudan would not have peace without including the leader of armed opposition, Riek Machar. Bashir said that Machar controls wide areas in the country.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir also indicated his readiness to pardon Machar if he denounces violence.

(ST)

March 10, 2017 (BOR) - The head of the United Nations in South Sudan, David Shearer says peace between the Dinka and Murle should be prioritized to stop the critical situation in Bor.

The Special Representative of the U.N Secretary General in South Sudan David Shearer, February 1, 2017 (ST)

The official, on Thursday, visited the Jonglei state capital, Bor to find ways through which peace can be created between the two tribes at war with one another.

“Without peace nothing can happen, peace is a priority here. We were talking to chiefs, the paramount chiefs of the area about the issue of cattle rustling and child abduction, and we offered whatever help we can in terms of building peace between the communities,” said Shearer.

A fight recently erupted between the Dinka Bor youth and the Murle youth in Kotchar, a village in Bor. This incident, eyewitnesses said, happened because the Dinka were waiting for the return of their 12,000 cattle raided in December 2016 by the Murle.

No casualties were reported from the fighting that has been ongoing for a week now.

During his visit, Shearer met South Sudan Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk on Thursday morning in Juba, to discuss ways to bring peace to the two communities.

The U.N official plans on having the same conversation with the new governor Ismael Konyi, to see what they can do in order to bring the communities together and to stop a worsening situation that can only lead to more violence and more death.

To strengthen and maintain the peace between Murle and Dinka Bor, Shearer said he would use the U.N police to protect civilians as a mandate of the world body.

The Governor of South Sudan's Jonglei state, Philip Aguer said social economic problems were the main causes of child abductions and cattle rustling in the region.

“We have shared with him the security threats in Jonglei. The socio-economic problems known as cattle rustling and child abduction, and he expressed the willingness and readiness of the United Nations in South Sudan to help in any way and interacted with leaders in the community who are ready to make peace with the neighbors”, said Aguer.

(ST)

March 11, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's opposition Popular Congress Party (PCP) of the late Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi has decided to cut off contacts with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in the River Nile State following the arrest of a leading party member.

Popular Congress Party (PCP) Political secretary Kamal Omer (Photo SUNA)

On Thursday, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in Atbara, some 320 km. north of Khartoum arrested PCP leading figure Ismail Faraj Allah for five hours for publishing articles in which he criticised the security agency.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Saturday, PCP in the River Nile State accused the NISS of disturbing the political atmosphere and ignoring the national dialogue and its outcome, saying they took a set of measures to confront the situation.

“Accordingly, it was decided to sever all forms of communication with the NCP and state organs that bring us together with it and our partners in the public concern” read the statement.

The statement pointed that the NISS is seeking to mobilise the public opinion in order to maintain its powers which the national dialogue decided to restrict to collection and analysis of information.

It added that the NISS sought to defend its powers and ignored its national responsibilities, saying the security agency went on to arrest anyone who criticises its actions.

The PCP further underscored its commitment to the national dialogue, saying it would keep its contacts with all political forces to coordinate efforts to implement the recommendation of the dialogue and on top of it “human freedom and dignity”.

It is noteworthy that the PCP splinted from the NCP since 1999, and joined the opposition ranks since that time but it supported the national dialogue process declared by President Omer al-Bashir in 2014 and participated in all its forums. Also, the party decided to join the upcoming government of national concord led by the NCP.

In January, the Sudanese presidency deposited new amendments to the 2005 transitional constitution with the parliament providing to restrict the powers of the security services and to guarantee political freedoms.

The amendments contained in the “Freedoms'' document are part of constitutional reforms endorsed by the National Dialogue Conference to reduce NISS influence and limits its role to the gathering and analysis of information.

The new amendments propose that the role of the NISS be reduced to the collection of information and to not be able to detain someone without an arrest warrant issued by a judge. Also, it ends press confiscation and censorship.

However, in an open defiance to the amendments, the director-general of the NISS Mohamed Atta Al-Moula last week vowed to develop the “soft and hard powers” of his agency.

He stressed that the NISS will not concede its main powers but will expand it and be more powerful.

Also, NISS deputy director Osama Mukhtar last month voiced his opposition to any attempt to curtail the power of the security agency and called to enhance its powers to fight the threats that the country is facing.

(ST)

March 11, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan president, Salva Kiir said rebel leader Riek Machar would only participate in the national dialogue when he denounces violence.

“How do you dialogue with someone who prefers war than peace, who sees war as an option to dialogue, unity, forgiveness and peaceful coexistence”, asked Kiir.

The South Sudanese made these remarks on Saturday while reacting to a query on whether his pardoning of political opponents, some of whom have been in detention, would extend to those carrying arms and have continued to wage war in the country.

According to Kiir, some contentious issues in the peace accord have been overcome because of the "good working relations" with First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai.

“Some of things that we could not resolve and find a way forward have now been resolved. The issue of states has been resolved. The people were talking that we created more states but it became clear that even after we created more states, people continued to ask for more. To resolve this, we decided to create some states," stressed the South Sudanese leader.

He added, "Now we have more states and the SPLM-IO have some states to run them according to the provision of the peace agreement. So issues of states and the question relating to power sharing have been addressed and there is no problem".

Kiir said the newly-appointed state governors already started work in their regions.

"They have taken oath already and are now in their places”, he explained.

The South Sudanese leader emphasized that he has no personal problem with his former deputy-turned rebel leader, but claimed the latter desires violent means.

“People think I have a personal problem with him [Machar], but this is not true. I have no personal problem with him. He is a South Sudanese like anybody. The problem he has is not with me, but with the way he does his own things. He likes violence. If he denounces violence now, then he is welcome to the country. If he does it now, stop preferring war now, we will talk to him”, stressed Kiir.

Kiir made these remarks while meeting members of the Dinka council of elders who visited him to congratulate him on Friday's national prayer day.

President Salva Kiir announced the national dialogue initiative in December last year and members of its steering committee are scheduled to be sworn in this month.

However, the armed opposition leader criticized the dialogue initiative, saying the process will never succeed unless peace and stability is restored in the young nation.

(ST)

March 11, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir has appointed seven lawmakers to represent the war-torn nation in the East African Legislative Assembly

President Salva Kiir speaks during the inauguration of the new SPLM premises in Juba on 15 November 2013 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

The appointment was made through a decree read on state-owned SSBC Saturday.

South Sudan formally joined the East African Community (EAC), a regional intergovernmental organisation of whose membership includes Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi, last year as the sixth member.

The EAC was signed in 1999 and entered into force in July 2000 after the agreement was signed by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the original partner states.

South Sudan acceded to the treaty in April 2016 and became a full member four month later.

Meanwhile five of the MPs to the regional assembly are members of South Sudan ruling party (SPLM) and will represent the country in Arusha, the seat of the EAC. The other two members will come from the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) and the United Salvation Front (USAF).

The appointed SPLM MPs are Gabrial Alaak Garang, Ann Itto Leonardo, Gai Deng Nhial, Joseph Okello, Thomas Duoth and Gideon Gatban Thoan.

(ST)

March 11, 2017 (JUBA) A top south Sudanese religious leader asked the president and those who attended the National Prayer Day to choose peace instead of evil, warning the crowd that the prayer prayed by the president was dangerous.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir kisses a hand of the Roman Catholic Archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro during a Christmas mass in St. Teresa's Cathedral in Juba December 25, 2010. (Reuters)

Catholic Archbishop of Juba Diocese, Paulino Lokudu Loro asked President Kiir why he had called the prayer, questioning the president's motives for peace or evil. “This prayer is dangerous today because if you have come here I believe this bitterness of our heat will not go in vain, but God will reply to us. Therefore, I say if this prayer is correct and is true, then it is about peace. We are standing for peace, are we going to choose peace or evil,” asked the Archbishop.

“Your Excellency, I want to question you: why did you call these people to the heat here like this? Are they coming to choose peace? Is that what your intention is, to bring us here to suffer like this? I hope nobody will be sick today because of this heat. I believe you have invited us to see this suffering because you want peace,'' said Archbishop.

The top religious leader went on to what the government planned after the prayers took place saying, “our government, which way are we going to take and what is the government going to do after this prayer? Is the government going to choose evil or peace? Mr President, take heed after this. We are telling you that after this prayer your Excellency, go into a room and pray and decide for peace in the country”.

Isaiah Majok Dau, bishop of the Pentecostal church said the South Sudanese were the problem and not that they have been cursed. “I hear people say God has cursed South Sudan, I am afraid I disagree. We are not cursed, we are blessed but we are sinners. That is why we hate ourselves, that is why we kill ourselves and that is why we backbite ourselves. So we are the problem. But we have been given the opportunity to be forgiven to be enriched and to be healed” said bishop Dau at the prayer on Friday.

The bishop said he would love to die when the country is at peace because he was born at the time the country was at war, grew up in war and continued to live in a situation of war.

Bishop Dau went on to add, “for those of us who were born in 1955 we were born in the war, grew up, got married and even our grandchildren were born during the war. But if today we are turning away from our sins, then I pray that I will not die in the time of war. I want to see the blessings of God South Sudan before I die, I want to see the people of South Sudan united. I want to see them live in peace and harmony that is my prayer”.

The Bishop called for a change of heart in conformity to the theme of the prayer, saying it would be meaningless if one continues to behave in a way that does not show any difference from the time of the prayers.

“If you are repenting today and you use to kill people, don't kill anyone because you have repented. If you are repenting today and you use to abuse others, from today begin to love people. If you were a thief, now that you have repented, you begin to give to people instead of taking from people. That is repentance. It is meaningless to say we are repenting and then we go do our normal things that we do every day. We are not cheating God, we are cheating ourselves,” he stressed.

A call against the promotion of ethnicity was mentioned by the Bishop, saying the people should begin to talk about South Sudan as an identity instead of various tribes.

Bishop Dau went on to say, ““If we are repenting, we should stop saying that tribe or this tribe, and that person; we begin to say the people of South Sudan are my people. Let us turn from our wicked ways people of South Sudan. If we want God to forgive us, let us humble ourselves. We need true healing in this country. We are sick with hatred, killing, war, poverty and tribalism, we need healing. We need complete healing”.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

March 11,2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - Court in Ethiopia has rejected bail application of a prominent opposition leader from Oromiya region detained since three months, his lawyer told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

Merara Gudina, leader of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) was arrested early in December shortly after return home from Brussels where he met members of the European Parliament.

At a court hearing on Friday Merara's lawyer requested bail grant arguing the defendant is arrested without tangible evidence.

The lawyers further asked the court to consider the roles the former MP had played in the country' politics.

However, prosecutors demanded the defendant to remain in custody to allow police gather evidence. He further argued that the accused could flee the country if released on bail.

Merara is allegedly charged with "attempt to forcefully overthrow the constitutional order," a serious offence punishable up to death penalty.

The leading Oromo opposition figure known for his critics against the government was arrested on December 1 last year for violating sections of the state emergency decree by meeting members and leaders of outlawed opposition groups during his European tour.

Last November, Ethiopia declared a six-month state of emergency and banned wide spreading anti-government protests which sparked in Oromiya region over alleged land grabbing and government's clamp down on political freedom.

In Brussels, Merara appeared at EU parliament to testify on Ethiopia's current political situation and on alleged reports of gross human right violations.

He delivered a speech along with Berhanu Nega, leader of Ginbot-7, an opposition movement long branded by the government as a terrorist entity.

Merara is charged along with Berhanu Nega and Jawar Mohamed, a prominent Oromo activist.

The trial of Merara will resume on April 24, 2017.

(ST)

Merara Gudina, leader of the opposition Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) addresses a rally on 1 December 2016 (AFP Photo)

March 11, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir has directed to provide 10,000 tonnes of sorghum to assist those affected by the famine in South Sudan. He further expressed his government readiness to meet humanitarian needs of large influx of refugees from the neighbouring country, said the Humanitarian Aid Commissioner

On 20 February 2017, South Sudanese government and UN agencies declared Some 100,000 people were facing starvation in the two counties of Leer and Mayiandit, while people in Koch and Panyijar nearby were considered at high risk of famine.

Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed Adam told Sudan Tribune Saturday that they discussed with the Vice-President ways to assist victims of war and famine in South Sudan, pointing to the historic ties between the two peoples.

He said the new support would be added to a previous presidential directive to send 27,000 sacks of sorghum, pointing the relief would be transferred through the border crossing in the White Nile State.

Adam stressed that Sudan attaches great importance to the situation in South Sudan and is keen to provide all necessary assistance to its citizens, pointing to the formation of a national committee to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation there.

He pointed to the large influx of South Sudan refugees, expecting a significant increase in their numbers during the coming days.

“The number of those affected by the food shortage is estimated at 4,6 million people and some of them have reached the famine stage and others are experiencing the pre-famine stage,” he said

“More than 70,000 refugees have entered Sudan during February and the first week of March and we expect more influx” he added

The Sudanese official said the government is currently making arrangements to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of Southerners, pointing they intend to set up new refugee camps and provide the greatest amount of aid to the affected.

According to the UN, the number of South Sudanese refugees in Sudan has surpassed the 300,000 mark and as of 13 February and stands at 305,000 people.

Before the December 2013 crisis, 350,000 South Sudanese have remained in Sudan and didn't return to their areas after the independence of South Sudan.

Also in December 2014, the Sudanese government agreed with the UN to deliver residence permits to South Sudanese refugees enabling them to circulate and to work in the country.

IMPACT ON TWO AREAS

Meanwhile, Adam didn't rule out that South Kordofan and Blue Nile states could be adversely impacted by the situation in South Sudan, calling on the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) to accept the U.S. proposal to deliver assistance to the needy population in the Two Areas.

Adam further underscored Khartoum's support to the U.S. proposal, pointing to the government categorical refusal to deliver the assistance to the Two Areas from abroad.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the SPLM-N in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

The African Union has been seeking to end the conflict for several years. However, last August, the two sides failed to sign a humanitarian cessation of hostilities agreement because Khartoum refuses to allow the delivery of food to civilians in some rebel-controlled areas in the Blue Nile State directly through Asosa, an Ethiopian Town near the border with Sudan.

In a bid to break the deadlock in the peace talks, the former U.S. Special Envoy Donald Booth last November proposed that the USAID will deliver medical humanitarian aid to civilians in the rebel-held areas by air directly after its inspection from the government.

The SPLM-N declined the proposal insisting on the need to transport 20% of the humanitarian aid directly from Asosa to the rebel areas.

(ST)

March 10, 2017(JUBA) - Over 338,000 people in the South Sudan famine-hit areas have received humanitarian assistance, said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on Friday.

On 20 February 2017, South Sudanese government and UN agencies declared Some 100,000 people were facing starvation in the two counties of Leer and Mayiandit, while people in Koch and Panyijar nearby were considered at high risk of famine.

"More than 338,000 people in Leer, Mayendit, Koch and Panyijiar have received humanitarian assistance since localised famine was declared in Leer and Mayendit," said Farhan Haq UN deputy spokesperson on Friday.

Ina separate report, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke, said over million people are on the brink of famine but the humanitarian operations are obstructed by the lack of security and threatened by a funding shortage.

"In the middle of the response since 20 February, 28 humanitarians had been advised to leave Mayiandit town by local authorities, following skirmishes north of the town," Laerke said.

But when they persuaded the authorities to allow aid workers to resume the humanitarian operation, the fighting on the outskirts of the town on 1 March forced the 28 humanitarian workers to stay away.

Regarding the shortage of funding, the spokesperson indicated that the overall requirements for South Sudan for 2017 were at USD 1.6 billion while the UN had received 9.3 percent of that amount.

"More funding was urgently needed, not least to respond in those areas where famine was already a reality," he stressed.

(ST)

March 10, 2017 (JUBA) - The rebel SPLM-IO has captured two Indian oil worker, at Guelguok north, of Adar in the Northern Upper Niles, announced a statement released by its spokesperson Col. William Gatjiath Deng on Friday.

South Sudanese soldiers guard an oil refining facility (AFP)

"Two Indians engineers namely Mr. Ambross Edward and Mr. Muggy Vijaya Boopathy working for the Juba regime were captured alive yesterday Thursday, March 09, 2017," said Deng in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday evening.

He added that the foreign oil workers were seized "during the fighting between the gallant SPLA-IO forces" near the new oil site at Guelguk north but he didn't elaborate on the details.

Last week the rebels warned foreigners and national oil workers to stop risking their lives in oil production areas. The group publically and repeatedly said they want to stop oil production until a peaceful solution is reached.

Adar field, which is located near the Sudanese border in the Melut Basin, is one of the main oil production areas and a source of revenue for the South Sudanese government.

The rebel official claimed their forces under the command of Cdr Major General Khor Chuol Giet and Cdr Brigadier General Gatbel Kuach killed 33 government soldiers.

Also, he accused the Sudanese rebel groups of taking part in the fighting.

(ST)