Sudan Tribune

April 13, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's inflation rate has risen to 55,6% in March compared to 54,34% in February, reported the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBoS)

In January, the director of the Troubled Currencies Programme at Johns Hopkins University Steve Hanke said Sudan's inflation has skyrocketed to a record high of 122% pointing the East African country “now has the second highest inflation rate in the world after Venezuela”.

The government seeks to achieve an average inflation rate of 19,5% by the end of the 2018 fiscal year compared to 34,1% in 2017.

Earlier this year, the Sudanese pound plummeted to record lows on the black market. The U.S. dollar was sold for a high 42 pounds in early February.

However, the government introduced a number of measures to curb the rise in the dollar price including limiting cash withdrawal from banks to absorb liquidity, cracking down on black market Forex traders and restricting imports.

The government measures managed to pull back the dollar price to 34,00 pounds however economists expect a new rise in its price once these restrictions were lifted.

The most recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) report indicated that Sudan's gross international reserves remained very low in 2017 ($1.1 billion, 1¾ months of imports).

Following the promulgation of the 2018 budget which included a number of austerity measures, peaceful protests erupted in a number of Sudanese states leading to the killing of a high school student in West Darfur State and detention of dozens of opposition activists across the country.

Prices and services have soared in Sudan since South Sudan seceded in 2011, taking with it three-quarters of the country's oil output, the main source of foreign currency used to support the Sudanese pound.

Ordinary citizens continue to complain from cost of living increases that impaired their access to basic commodities.

(ST)

April 13, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The United Nations Security Council has extended for 10 days the support of its mission in the disputed Abyei area to Sudan and South Sudan Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism.

In May 2017, the Council pointed to the persistent delay to operationalise the buffer zone decided to end United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)'s support to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism within six months unless the two countries activate the border monitoring mechanism.

Since the two countries under regional and international pressures finally redeployed their forces out of the disputed areas and activated the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone and marked five crossing points.

However, the Governor of Upper Nile State on 23 March prevented the marking of the southern limit of Kosti Renk corridor, according to a UN report seen by Sudan Tribune.

Considering that the (UNISFA) has provided the needed support to the two government efforts to normalize relations in the contested border region in line with the 2012 Cooperation Agreement the Security Council unanimously decided to extend this support for ten days to complete the remaining matters.

The resolution 2411 (2018) recognized that “the current situation in Abyei and along the border between Sudan and South Sudan continues to constitute a serious threat to international peace and security"

The Joint Political and Security Mechanism is expected to hold an extraordinary meeting before the end of this month.

(ST)

April 13, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has named its heads of offices in the disputed Abyei area saying the move comes in preparations for the 2020 general elections.

In statements released in Khartoum, the NCP political secretary for Abyei Scholl Muwin Paul said the naming of the party officials would help to achieve social peace and stability in the area.

According to Paul, the NCP has named Salouma Yahia as deputy chairman of the party while Hafiz Abo Maki was appointed as NCP head for central Abyei and Hamdein Adam Youssef as chairman for northern Abyei.

On the other hand, Mohamed Muhana, Hassan Mileik and John Zakaria have been named as NCP heads for western, eastern and southern Abyei respectively.

Paul further said his party would conduct administrative and organizational tours across Abyei during the next few days, pointing out that the naming of the party heads aims to activate the political work and prepare for the upcoming elections.

Ownership of Abyei, a border region disputed by Sudan and South Sudan, remained contentious after the world's youngest nation split from Sudan in 2011.

There is no joint administration between Sudan and South Sudan, as the Ngok Dinka refuse the formation of Abyei Area Administration and the Legislative Council. Instead, they call to hold a referendum without the Sudanese pastoralist Misseriya.

Now there are two committees one for the Misseriya appointed by the Sudanese government and another for the Ngok Dinka appointed by Juba government.

On 27 June 2011, the Security Council, by its resolution 1990, responded to the urgent situation in Abyei by establishing the UNISFA.

UNISFA's establishment came after Sudan's government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) reached an agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to demilitarise Abyei and let Ethiopian troops monitor the area.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) provides that the contested territory remains part of the north until the organisation of a referendum determines its fate.

The difference over who will participate in the referendum prevents the two countries from holding the agreed referendum.

However, the Dinka Ngok organised a unilateral referendum from 27to 29 October 2013 to say they want to join the Republic of South Sudan.

Khartoum, Juba, the African Union and the international community refused to recognise the outcome of the vote.

(ST)

April 13, 2018 (JUBA) - Former South Sudan's army chief of staff and leader of the newly formed South Sudan United Front (SS-UF) Friday said he is preparing to form a new leadership structure after completing mass consultations.

Gen Paul Malong Awan told Sudan Tribune that he has not formed the SS-UF leadership structure, dispelling initial reports he assembled his team in preparation for joining the IGAD brokered peace revitalization forum.

The former strong ally of president Salva Kiir turned rebel commander denied media reports alleging he appointed former Fangak governor James Kok Ruei as his deputy while former ambassador to Russia federation, Telar Ring Deng as the movement's secretary for external relations.

Also, it was reported that the former deputy information minister Akol Paul Kordit was made secretary for political affairs but he denied any involvement with the new movement, saying the reports were false.

Other officials named include Dut Yai Anyar as the chief intelligence, Akok Malek as the financial affairs officer while Awan's wife Lucy Ayak Malek allegedly named as the deputy secretary for external relations.

Ayak also denied the appointment, saying it was a ploy by the government to target some of those claimed to have switched their allegiance from government and joined Awan's rebel movement.

Paul Malong was relieved from his position in May 2017, since them ha remained confined in Juba. But in November of last year, he was authorized to travel to Nairobi for medical reasons.

(ST)

April 12, 2018 (JUBA) – South Sudan's Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR) Board meeting, initially scheduled for 12 April, has been postponed to next month.

The head of the Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR) Board Secretariat, Col. Ufulle Gaaro Kenyi (courtesy photo)

The head SDSR Board Secretariat, Col. Ufulle Gaaro Kenyi said lack of quorum prompted the meeting not to occur as scheduled.

“Some of the board members are engaged elsewhere. Therefore, the meeting for today is cancelled until next month,” said Kenyi.

“The exact date of the next meeting will be communicated in due time,” he added.

The meeting planned to discuss the introduction of the new chairman, Lt. General J.J Okot, review the status of the SDSR process and also agree on the way forward to complete the SDSR process.

The SDSR Board, according to Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict of South Sudan, is expected to undertake a comprehensive assessment of South Sudan's defence requirements, inform the formulation of the country's defence and security policies and subsequently lead to an overall process of security sector transformation, including the future command, function, size, composition and budget of the national army and security forces.

The process, the agreement says, should be comprehensive, inclusive, transparent and “underpinned by the national interest of promoting and defending the sovereignty and dignity of the country and its people.”

The SDSR reports to the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) and the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU).

(ST)

April 12, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan says it is optimistic relations with the United States will improve after Washington nominated a new envoy to the East African nation.

South Sudan's foreign affairs spokesperson, Mawien Makol (Photo: Citizen News)

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing on Wednesday for Thomas Hushek, who is President Donald Trump's nominee, to be the next US ambassador to South Sudan.

"Juba and the U.S. have diplomatic relations. So we are happy that the US is finally appointing someone to head its mission here. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will welcome him and work with him," the foreign affairs ministry spokesperson, Mawien Makol told Xinhua.

The officials also hinted on the sanctions imposed on some South Sudanese officials in 2017 and 15 oil companies this year, but said South Sudan remains fully committed to working with the US.

"These are some of the ups and down that we are going through and we hope that we shall understand ourselves and be able to push forward," stressed Makol.

South Sudan descended into war in mid-December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused the the country's former first vice-president, Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands and forced more than 2 million people to flee their homes.

(ST)

April 12, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - President Omer al-Bashir will travel to Saudi Arabia Saturday leading Sudan's delegation to the 29th Arab Summit.

The summit will be held in Dammam capital of the eastern province, where the Palestinian issue, the Yemeni conflict and the Iranian involvement are likely to take centre stage.

Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour took part Thursday in the preparatory meeting for the summit in Riyadh said the meeting supported Sudan's efforts to be removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

However, it was not clear if the meeting will discuss the rift between Qatar and the four-countries group of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Arab United Emirates and Egypt who accuse Doha of supporting terror groups, an accusation the latter has rejected.

Qatar will attend the summit but it was not yet if the Emir will be present or not despite rumours about his participation and a possible reconciliation meeting between him and the other four Arab leaders.

In a related development, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman called President al-Bashir on Thursday to offer condolences for his nephew's death.

The official news agency SUNA reported they agreed to meet on the sidelines of the Arab summit to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern.

(ST)

April 13, 2018 (JUBA) – South Sudan rebel leader, Riek Machar and the African Union chairperson, Mousa Faaki Mohamed met on Thursday in South Africa to discuss the ongoing peace process.

The two leaders, during the meeting held in Pretoria, discussed the high-level revitalization forum, challenges facing the process and the role of other peace partners, like AU and the five African countries that form the IGAD-Plus.

The IGAD-Plus nations (Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa) were added into the mediation process to strengthen Africa's support to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and assist South Sudanese parties and stakeholders to achieve durable peace.

“The SPLM/A (IO) [Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition] welcomes the visit of the chairperson of the AU Commission and expresses its appreciation as we look forward to the substantive results of that visit,” partly reads a statement from the SPLM-IO director for information, Puok Both Baluang.

He reiterated the armed opposition's full commitment to the peace process and to a negotiated settlement, saying it is the only means to end the conflict.

“Though, well-documented belligerence of the regime, as they continue to violate the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, their refusal to sign the Declaration of Principles at the HLRF [High-Level Revitalization Forum, continued abduction of our political leadership and general intransigence,” he said.

South Sudan has been mired in conflict between the government of President Salva Kiir and rebels led by Machar, the country's former first vice-president since December 2013. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced almost over 2 million people from their homes, including over a million refugees who have fled into neighbouring nations.

(ST)

April 12, 2018 (JUBA) - The United Nations migration agency (IOM) and its partners are set to begin a second round of an oral cholera vaccination campaign in Malakal and Wau, South Sudan, after the initial round reached more than 60,400 people in March this year.

A child receives an oral cholera vaccine dose in the South Sudan capital, Juba (Medair Photo)

Following a cholera outbreak in the country in February, IOM said it has also been leading a reactive measles vaccination campaign in Aweil East, which reached more than 83,700 children last month.

“Children are extremely vulnerable to outbreaks of measles and other contagious diseases,” said Derebe Tadesse, IOM's migration health officer.

“The measles vaccine will save lives. With just one dose, 85 percent of children over nine months and 95 percent of children over twelve months of age are immune,” he added.

Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. The disease is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholera.

The conflict in South Sudan, now in its fifth year, has led to protracted displacement and poor health conditions, contributing to yearly cholera outbreaks.

In 2017, however, IOM said it reached more than 469,800 people with oral cholera vaccination campaigns in Unity, Warrap, and Eastern Equatoria states.

“With an estimated 5.1 million people in need of emergency health care assistance, IOM continues to work country-wide to provide aid to vulnerable populations affected by the conflict,” the agency said.

(ST)

April 12, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Egypt has denied impeding the signing of a deal on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) at a recent tripartite meeting held in Khartoum with Ethiopia and Sudan on 5 April.

The planned Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project (AP)

In an interview with the BBC Arabic, Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said the three delegations were about to sign an agreement after 17 hours meeting when Egypt raised the disputed Nile Water Agreement between Cairo and Khartoum of 1959 which the three parties had agreed to not include in the discussions over the GERD.

Also, Ethiopia's foreign ministry spokesperson Meles Alem told reporters in Addis Ababa that his government is keen to minimize any significant harm to downstream countries, however, "there will never be negotiation on any agreement that we were never part of".

Reacting to the two statements, the Egyptian foreign ministry rejected the blame stressing on Egypt's "positive spirit and a serious desire" to reach a deal in line with the directives of 29 January meeting between the leaders of the three countries in Addis Ababa.

Ahmed Abu Zeid Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said his country has shown flexibility and a positive attitude during the whole process and will keep doing that.

"Such attitude was also obvious in the Egyptian proposal for the World Bank participation in the tripartite negotiations, and other proposals put forward by Egypt during the recent nine-party meeting in Khartoum," Abu Zeid said

He further disclosed that Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has addressed Wednesday a letter to his Sudanese and Ethiopian counterparts to call for a second nine-party meeting in Cairo to resume talks.

Following the failure of Khartoum meeting, Ghandour said the next meeting would only include the irrigation ministers of the three countries and when they reach a deal the others will join them.

On 29 January meeting, Presidents Omer al-Bashir, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the then Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn agreed that the meeting should include foreign affairs and irrigation ministers and the head of security and intelligence services in the three countries.

(ST)

April 12, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and South Korea discussed ways to boost bilateral economic relations between the two countries in a meeting held in Seoul on Thursday.

The South Korean delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Yun Kang-hyeon and the visiting Sudanese delegation was chaired by Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary Abdel-Ghani Al-Nai'm.

In Khartoum, the foreign ministry said the two parties agreed to hold two economic forums the first in Korea and the second in Khartoum in the third trimester of 2018 to present the huge economic potential in the two countries and create a suitable atmosphere for investment to attract Korean companies to invest in Sudan.

For its part, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that Yun called on the Sudanese side to improve the investment environment so that more Korean companies can actively invest.

"He also stressed the need for the speedy ratification of a Korea-Sudan double tax avoidance agreement and the signing of an investment protection agreement," said Yonhap.

South Korea has a significant economic presence in the east African country that started in the seventies with Daewoo group. Also, Hyundai Motor Company is assembling more than 7000-10000 cars annually in cooperation with JIAD Company.

Recently LG Electronics Company moved its regional office from Nairobi to Khartoum which reflects the volume of its products distributed in Sudan besides Samsung and other Korean companies working in Sudan.

However, there is no viable statistics for the trade volume between the two countries.

Al-Naim called on the South Korean government to support Korean investors and companies willing to work to Sudan.

He further expressed hope that the U.S. administration removes Sudan from the list of countries supporting terror groups and clear remaining obstacles hampering foreign business and investments in Sudan.

(ST)

April 11, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese defence ministry has stuck to its participation in the Saudi-led war against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and mentioned the presence of South Sudanese troops inside the national territory.

Saudi soldiers is seen in the southern province of Jizan, near the border with Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 (AP)

The Minister of State for Defence Ali Mohamed Salim made his remarks in a closed-door briefing to the parliament about the security situation in the country.

Members of Parliament (MPs) who attended the briefing told reporters that Salim defended the participation of Sudanese troops and described it as "normal".

"The participation of the (Sudanese) armed forces in the war in Yemen is normal and this is not the first time that the Sudanese forces participate in a war outside the country," Salim stated.

There are many questions raised in Khartoum about the reasons behind the involvement of Sudanese troops in the war in Yemen.

Several legislators called last week to withdraw Sudanese forces from Yemen.

Critics point that several countries members of the Saudi-led coalition did not send troops to Yemen. Others say Saudi Arabia and UAE provides financial support to other countries but not Sudan despite its difficult financial situation.

Last October, President Omer al-Bashir thanked Saudi Arabia and UAE for their strong support to the lift of 20-year U.S. economic embargo. The two countries vowed to continue supporting Sudan removal from the list of countries supporting terrorism.

South Sudan Army

The state minister further told the lawmakers that some South Sudanese troops are now present in the Sudanese territory but minimized the move saying it would not lead to war between the two countries.

The leader of the far-right Just Peace Forum (JPF) demanded to reciprocate with South Sudan, accusing the neighbouring country of supporting the rebel groups.

But the minister turned down the request saying "Gun will not solve problems with Juba but the dialogue will."

"We will not enter into a war with South Sudan despite the incursion of southern forces within the Sudanese border," he further underscored.

(ST)

April 11, 2018 (JUBA) – Allegations that South Sudan's former army chief of staff, General Paul Malong Awan obtained $5 million from the country's Central Bank to kill rebel leader Riek Machar are untrue, the spokesperson of the Malong-led South Sudan United Front (SSUF) clarified.

Former South Sudan army chief of staff, Gen Paul Malong Awan (Juba24 News)

“We are also refuting and condemning claims that 5 million dollars was given to General Malong so as to kill Riek Machar. It is untrue and thus a possible ploy meant to disintegrate the alliance formed by the oppositions against Kiir's leadership,” Sunday de John said in a statement issued Wednesday.

The South Sudanese presidential spokesperson was on Tuesday quoted saying the Central Bank of South Sudan was opened at night and Malong allegedly obtained the $5 million for military operations.

“You can't transaction money at night so that you use it to fight the war in the morning that is a misplaced statement manifestly meant to reveal lack of common sense. Is money bullets? For this reason, we urge the public to disregard this as "old wive's tale", said de John.

He dismissed as false all the allegations made against Malong, which mainly ranged from corruption practices, mastery of impunity, international blacklisting and transacting in the central bank at night.

“We disconfirm such false allegations and we urge the public to avoid listening to the falsehood by a leader that has deprived them of their basic necessities,” stressed de John in the statement.

The SSUF official instead urged President Kiir's administration to focus on building strong institutions, improving peoples' livelihoods, developing the country and the rule of law, among other issues.

“If such things happened, Kiir should shoulder the blame and hence fit to be charged for sinking the country through incompetency”.

Malong, a former close ally of President Salva Kiir, announced the formation of SSUF, claiming it was the only means through which he would work with compatriots to "arrest the carnage" in the country.

“Our movement is a just an urgent call to our compatriots and a struggle to first arrest the carnage that has befell our country and secondly to steer us towards democracy and development, which are the cornerstones of nationhood, an African nationhood of democracy, development, equal citizenry, justice and freedom”, noted the former army chief of staff in a letter released on Monday.

He accused President Kiir of building a nation where total impunity remains in order.

“Our movement seeks to reverse this. We must build our nationhood around strong institutions and not strongmen. Strong institutions will outlive all of us and guarantee the prosperity of our nation. This is what we yearn for in our country”, stressed the ex-army chief.

Malong said his new rebel group would strive towards fighting what he described as "systemic corruption, stop the ongoing carnage, steer the country toward democracy, justice, equality and freedom."

Relations between Malong and the South Sudanese leader deteriorated after the former was sacked from his post as army chief of staff in May 2017 and placed under house arrest for fear he would start a rebellion.

He was, however, freed in November following mediation led by the Jieng Council of Elders. The agreement refrained him from going to his home-town of Aweil in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal state but was allowed to travel to any East Africa country.

In February this year, the European Union imposed sanctions on Malong and three South Sudanese officials implicated in human rights violations and obstructions of the country's peace process.

(ST)

April 11, 2018 (JUBA) - A South Sudanese official has mocked the country's former army chief of staff, General Paul Malong Awan, days after the latter announced the formation of a new rebel group.

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

Speaking to reporters in the capital, Juba on Tuesday, presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny claimed General Malong was at the center of corruption when he was in charge of the military's affairs.

“You know General Paul Malong and the issues he raised as the cause for his rebellion. All he said makes people and country feels ashamed on his behalf”, said Ateny.

He added, “The issues he [Malong] raised are the issues someone like him cannot open his mouth and talk. Who does not know that during his time in office as army chief of staff, in an attempt to conceal impunity, banks were opened at night for General Paul Malong to take money and he squandered a lot of money?”

He claimed at one moment, the Central Bank of South Sudan was opened at night and $5 million was allegedly released for military operations against the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar.

Sudan Tribune could, however, not independently verify claims against Malong.

Malong announced the formation of the South Sudan United Front (SSUF), which he claimed was the only means through which he would work with compatriots to "arrest the carnage" in the country.

“Our movement is a just an urgent call to our compatriots and a struggle to first arrest the carnage that has befell our country and secondly to steer us towards democracy and development, which are the cornerstones of nationhood, an African nationhood of democracy, development, equal citizenry, justice and freedom”, he said in a statement issued on Monday.

He accused Kiir of building a nation where total impunity is the order.

“Our movement seeks to reverse this. We must build our nationhood around strong institutions and not strongmen. Strong institutions will outlive all of us and guarantee the prosperity of our nation. This is what we yearn for in our country”, stressed the ex-army chief.

Malong said his new rebel group would strive towards fighting what he described as "systemic corruption, stop the ongoing carnage, steer the country toward democracy, justice, equality and freedom."

South Sudan's information minister, Michael Makuei said Malong was at “the top of corruption” and that he was the one responsible for all the atrocities the army committed in the course of the civil war.

He, however, admitted that pro-government could have committed numerous atrocities as they pursued Machar who attempted to take over power from the incumbent President Salva Kiir.

Relations between Malong and President Kiir deteriorated after the former was sacked from his post as army chief of staff in May 2017 and placed under house arrest for fear he would start a rebellion.

The ex-army chief was freed in November following mediation led by the Jieng Council of Elders. The agreement refrained him from going to his home-town of Aweil in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal state but was allowed to travel to any East Africa country

(ST)

April 11, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan Liberation Movement of Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) Wednesday called on the international community to provide humanitarian assistance to the civilians recently displaced by clashes in Jebel Marra.

Since last March, reports emerged from Central Darfur state about the resumption of clashes between the government's forces and the rebel group which is not part of the regional and international efforts to end the 15-year conflict in Darfur.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Wednesday, SLM-AW spokesperson Mohamed Abdel-Rahman al-Nayer said thousands of civilians affected by the recent fighting in eastern and southern parts of Jebel Marra are in dire need for humanitarian aid.

"Civilians in Fina, Sawani, Gurbal and Bahr Kru, and other areas burnt by the regime's militias in eastern and southern Jebel Marra need urgent international humanitarian intervention to save them from the spectre of famine threatening them after they have lost all their possessions," said al-Nayer.

"We call on the Sudanese benefactors around the world and humanitarian organizations, to act urgently to save the lives of innocent civilians who are threatened by hunger and disease," he further said.

The UNAMID didn't report recently about the humanitarian situation in Jebel Marra following the recent clashes.

For their part, the Central Darfur authorities last March spoke about limited clashes with SLM-AW fighters saying they came from the top of Jebel Marra to "loot the residents".

(ST)

April 11, 2018 (JUBA) - IGAD special envoy for South Sudan discussed with the civil society groups the outstanding issues in the peace revitalization process as part of the ongoing preparation to resume the process by the end of this month.

The IGAD mediators suspended the second phase of the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) last February and worked on new proposals on the security arrangements and the power-sharing during the transitional period.

The process is scheduled to resume on 26 April, but through these separate consultations meetings, the mediation team hopes to narrow the gaps between the HLRF parties, prior to the next reconvening of the Forum.

In a statement released after the meeting, the IGAD said Special Envoy Ismail Wais met the representatives of the South Sudanese Civil Society Stakeholders to the HLRF to discuss key outstanding issues at the Forum, including positions of the various parties and possible compromises.

"The consultations meeting tackled the key areas of disagreements on governance and security arrangements at the HLRF," said the statement.

Under governance, the meeting discussed: the composition of the transitional government; structure of the government; responsibility sharing; number of states and size and composition of the Parliament.

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

At the end of the meeting, "the representatives of the Civil Society and stakeholders at the HLRF made recommendations for considerations by the Parties at the HLRF".

(ST)

April 11, 2018 (RABAK) - The government of the White Nile State Wednesday said it has formed a technical committee to arrange for the reopening of three border crossing points with South Sudan.

The Secretary-General of the White Nile State government al-Tayeb Mohamed Abdallah stated that the three crossings include Godat al-Adal, al-Tuboon and the river crossing linking Kosti to Juba.

He added the technical committee would hold a meeting with its South Sudan's counterpart during the next few days to discuss the arrangements pertaining to the zero-line and the demilitarized zone between the two countries.

Abdallah pointed out that the reopening of the border corridors would contribute to enhancing trade exchange and flow of the basic goods as well as facilitating movement between the two countries.

The African Union last week said the construction of 3 out of 10 border crossings between Sudan and South Sudan have been completed, saying the move comes in implementation of the cooperation agreement signed between the two countries.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan on July 9th, 2011 following a referendum on whether the semi-autonomous region should remain a part of the country or become independent. 99% of the southern voters chose independence.

In September 2012, both Sudan and South Sudan signed a series of cooperation agreements, which covered oil, citizenship rights, security issues, banking, border trade among others.

In March 2013, the two countries signed an implementation matrix for these cooperation agreements. However, the execution of the agreements didn't go according to plan.

(ST)

April 11, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said the second phase of the normalization process between Khartoum and Washington would begin in the next few days.

In October 2017, Washington decided to lift economic sanctions on Sudan in line with a five-track framework reached by the countries in December 2016. Khartoum, accordingly, authorized humanitarian access to civilians in Darfur and unilaterally declared a cessation of hostilities in Darfur, the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

The two countries agreed to resume talks on the normalization of bilateral talks and the lift of remaining sanctions particularly its designation as a state sponsor of terrorist groups. The measure is crucial to get a debt relief and allow Sudan to get international aid to build its economic infrastructure.

Sudan's State Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdallah Idiss told the semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) the lifting of the U.S. sanctions has led to positive steps that will pave the way for the removal of Sudan's name from the U.S. list of states sponsors of terrorism.

He stressed that Khartoum is ready to resume the dialogue with Washington according to the priorities and tracks agreed upon between the two sides.

Idriss added the Sudanese negotiating team that has achieved the lifting of the economic sanctions would also manage to remove Sudan's name from the terror list.

He pointed out that the negotiating team is ready to cooperate with Washington on issues of counter-terrorism and combating human trafficking.

Speaking to lawmakers on Tuesday, State Minister of Finance said Sudan didn't benefit greatly from the revocation of the economic sanctions because its name is still on the terror list.

Following a meeting between Foreign Minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan on the sidelines of the 54th edition of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) last February, Sudan's Foreign Ministry said the two sides agreed to begin discussions on Sudan removal from the list of terror.

In November 2017, Sullivan was in Khartoum to launch the second phase of the normalization process and pointed to the need for reforms on human rights and religious freedom. Also, the two countries also agreed to engage in written exchanges between the two countries for Sudan's removal from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Different sources say the lawsuits filed against the Sudanese government over the attack on USS Cole may be one of the issues raised in the bilateral talks as the families of the Cole sailors sued Sudan and courts condemned Khartoum to pay over 300 million dollars for them.

By Tor Madira Machier

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the rest of the international community seem to be investing in two rival projects: One is the Machar project and the second is the so-called High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF).

The IGAD, on one hand, seems to be exerting efforts to revitalize ruins of the dead peace agreement (as it is known to Machar and the entire leadership of the SPLM-IO) signed in August 2015 by the SPLM-IO rebel group and President Kiir's SPLM-IG-led government. Preceding this initiative was an admission by the region that the 2015 peace agreement, the ARCSS, has failed just after the release of a UN confidential report in September 2016 which accused the government of having the highest hand for the collapse of the peace and the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) in July 2016.

The regional bloc on the other hand invests in targeting of Machar who is a party leader on the false accusation that the SPLM-IO leader is interested in pursuing violent means to unseat the regime in Juba attaching to the planned release of the rebel leader a number of conditions including but not limited to the IGAD's demand that Machar first “renounce” violence; something which doesn't make sense and which also contradicts the reality on the ground.

Having signed the Cessation of Hostility Agreement (CoH) along with various armed groups fighting the government in December 2017 in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, Machar had automatically renounced violence since it doesn't have to be like saying “I renounces violence” because ceasing fire with the enemy means giving peace negotiation a chance which literally means one is not interested in violent means to solve political issues.

Now, although the IGAD has stated recently that the negotiating teams representing each party in the peace talks are given until April 30 to agree on a peace deal, clashes between these two projects being run by the IGAD threatens to kill the peace process and to once again set forth a very bad precedent for the regime in Juba to assume that there will be no risk as usual and would again try to derail peace efforts in the watchful eye of the regional and the international communities.

With the IGAD unwilling to bring to account government officials which are to blame for 90% of the ceasefire violations, other armed groups will not respect the regional bloc as a neutral body and a faithful mediator, but will instead label it as a business force investing in the South Sudan conflict. Although Ambassador Ismail Wais recommended that the IGAD should release Riek Machar citing numerous proposals by opposition groups in Addis Ababa, IGAD acted friendly to the Juba government's thoughts that Machar should be excluded from any future peace agreements and implementation. The government in Juba stated clearly that it won't accept Machar again in Juba as part of any peace deal implementation which also contradict IGAD's supposed will to pressure each party to live to peace agreements they inked.

To be frank, with the IGAD decision to relocate Machar to another country, rather than releasing him, the recently cited opposition concerns about Machar's exclusion are not addressed and this will shed on the unfolding IGAD investment interests in the Machar project which is not friendly to the so call HLRF.

To this extent, the IGAD dateline set forth by the mediation recently for the negotiating parties to reach a deal is expected to past without any deal, unless the IGAD suspend the Machar project and focus on pursuing the HLRF in order to avoid a clash of interests.

Tor Madira Machier is a South Sudanese columnist and journalist living in Cairo, Egypt. He can be reached via tormadira2013@gmail.com

by Jehanne Henry

Today, Sudan president Omar al-Bashir ordered the release of “political detainees”, welcome news for 60 or so men who have languished behind bars for weeks. But it is also a grim reminder of a defining feature of Sudan's political landscape: the periodic mass arrest and detention of opposition leaders to silence them whenever they threaten to speak out.

These latest detentions – in a long history of similar detentions – were part of a crackdown that started in January to stifle opposition-led protests over new budget and austerity measures. Police and national security agents arrested hundreds of people, during protests or from homes, offices, or off the streets, and held them without charge or access to lawyer or family visits.

While authorities released some in following weeks, they kept many dozens locked up for weeks, mostly in Khartoum. Many of the detainees, like economist Sidqi Kabalo, are elderly, life-long leaders in Sudan's Communist Party; others belong to other opposition parties and movements or, like lawyer Salih Mahmoud, are known rights activists. Mahmoud has received the European Union's prestigious Sakharov prize, and an award from Human Rights Watch, for his work on Darfur.

Al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Darfur, might hope this move will appease international onlookers. The UN Human Rights Council's Independent Expert on Sudan is due to visit the country later this week. A well-timed prisoner release could help burnish his image.

Sudan has done some clever politicking on the international stage recently. Along with promises to cooperate on counterterrorism and downshift its civil wars, it succeeded in convincing the US to lift economic sanctions last year. In addition, through cooperation with the EU, it received hundreds of millions of Euros for projects to stem migration – support which frankly further empowers the notoriously abusive Rapid Support Forces, who committed grave crimes in Darfur and elsewhere.

Beyond insisting on the release of everyone arbitrarily detained, onlookers should insist on the radical reform of Sudan's national security body, the National Intelligence and Security Service. With broad powers of arrest and detention up to four-and-a-half-months, NISS's ill-treatment and torture of detainees is well documented. We have repeatedly documented harsh conditions of extreme heat or cold, beatings, electrocution, verbal, and other abuses.

Whatever his motivations, al-Bashir does not deserve congratulations. The release of political detainees is not a gift or a political concession, but a basic obligation of respect for fundamental principles of human rights and rule of law.

Jehanne Henry is a team leader in Human Rights Watch's Africa division.