Sudan Tribune

October 24, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - President Omer Hassan al-Bashir Tuesday paid a surprise visit to Riyadh where he met with King Salman but no statement has been released on the details of the meeting.

Al-Bashir since three days is touring the Gulf countries in a visit to Kuwait and Qatar, officially he was there for talks on Sudan reconstruction conference sponsored by the Arab League and will be held in Saudi Arabia.

However, observers speak about a possible mediation he undertaking to settle the five-month crisis between Qatar and a Saudi-led alliance including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

"The King and the visiting president held official talks, during which they discussed bilateral relations binding the two sisterly countries, in addition to the latest regional developments," said the official Saudi Press Agency.

The meeting was attended by Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, Prince Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet, Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Minister of the National Guard, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Massed bin Mohammed Al-Ayban, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf and Minister of Finance Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jada'an.

Sudan refused to take part in the ongoing diplomatic crisis and declared its support for the Kuwaiti efforts to settle the rift.

In a speech delivered before the Kuwaiti parliament on Tuesday, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, warned that the dispute could escalate and open the door for regional and international intervention in the Gulf region.

"History and future generations will not forgive anyone who contributes, even one word, to fuelling this dispute," he further said.

President al-Bashir previously tried in the past to convince Riyadh to end the crisis but he failed.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi who is visiting Paris nowadays told the France24 TV that they have 13 demands and Doha should respond to all without exception.

Qatar rejected the demands saying it means an effective end to its independent foreign policy.

After his meeting with King Salman, al-Bashir left Riyadh to Al-Madinah to visit the Prophet's Mosque. From where he is expected to return to Khartoum without meeting the powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

(ST)

October 24, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - Ethiopia sent 200 peacekeepers over the weekend to South Sudan to help stabilize the war-torn east African nation, an Ethiopian official said on Tuesday.

UN peacekeepers from Ethiopia patrol the outskirts of the disputed Abyei town that straddles the border between Sudan and South Sudan on 16 September 2013 (Photo: Reuters/Andreea Campeanu)

The country's foreign affairs minister, Meles Alem was quoted saying the peacekeepers were sent in line with a United Nations resolution to stabilize South Sudan.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2327 on Dec. 16, 2016, which called for an increase in the overall force levels of United Nations Mission in South Sudan to 17,000 military and 2,101 police personnel.

The resolution also extended the UNMISS mission until December 2017 and gave stronger a mandate to the peacekeeping forces to protect civilians.

South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, has been embroiled in a major conflict since December 2013, after clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and the country's former deputy president, Riek Machar, spiraled into an all-out civil war.

Several rounds of peace negotiations mediated by the African Union, the regional body Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the UN have so far failed to stop the bloodshed.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than two million displaced in the country's worst violence outbreak since its independence.

(ST)

October 24, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Tuesday announced that a person suspected of causing the death of its late spokesperson Lam Kuei Lam has been arrested by the Sudanese police.

Fallen South Sudan rebel leader's spokesperson Lam Kuei Lam (File photo)

In a statement extended to the Sudan Tribune, Pouk Both Baluang, the SPLM-IO's director for information and public relations announced that the forensic report of Lam's autopsy has indicated that the cause of death was a small bowel explosion as a result of a severe blow he received.

"Accordingly, the Sudanese police began a criminal investigation with a suspect who voluntarily surrendered to the police on the morning of Sunday, October 22, 2017. Also, it (the police) summoned some eyewitnesses to testify in order to find out the real circumstances of the incident," Baluang said in a statement written in the Arabic language.

Lam, died in Sudan's capital, Khartoum on Saturday.

The statement didn't give further details but said the SPLM-IO leadership is closely following the investigation and called for calm and to avoid fake news.

"We ask everyone to be patient and careful, and not to false fabricate information in respect of the feelings of the family and friends of the deceased," he said.

Lam succeeded James Gatdet Dak, the former spokesperson in Machar's office who was handed over to the South Sudanese government by Kenyan authorities in November 2016.

(ST)

October 24, 2017 (JUBA) – At least nine Namibian police officers have been sent to war-torn South Sudan on a United Nations peacekeeping mission.

The contingent of Namibian police headed for South Sudan (The Namibian)

Namibian Police Inspector, Sebastian Ndeitunga said the contingent, under the command of Jona Nairenge, would be tasked with general policing, maintaining of peace and security and the restoration of law and order in the war-torn country.

Ndeitunga was quoted saying said the Namibian police contingent would form part of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which is mainly mandated to provide support for peace efforts and to support longer-term state-building and economic development.

The peace keeping mission in South Sudan is also tasked with supporting the South Sudanese government in conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution and to protect innocent civilians.

“Our forces are disciplined. That is why they have always been accorded appreciation on their hard work, discipline and professionalism,” Ndeitunga told The Namibian.

“Up to now we have not received any negative report from the areas we served. They were all doing very well,” he added.

Ndeitunga was further quoted saying the international operations division of the Namibian Police was preparing to send a 50-member contingent to the Sudanese region of Darfur and to support the United Nations interim security force in the disputed region of Abyei.

“This is an indication that the Namibian Police will continue to honour their international obligations by committing to UN peacekeeping missions,” Ndeitunga said, adding “The police has so far made 45 deployments to several peacekeeping missions across the world.

Currently, there are already around 12,000 troops operating under UNMISS in South Sudan, but the Security Council authorised the deployment of the regional forces after the July 2016 violence amid complaints the UN failed to protect the civilians.

In August 2016, the UN Security Council, following a request by the regional body Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), approved the deployment of 4,000-strong RPF force to secure Juba in the aftermath of renewed clash there.

The 4,000-strong force is meant to protect civilians from the gang rapes and other abuses seen during the fighting that erupted in the capital, Juba, a year ago. This additional force would beef up the existing 13,000-strong UN peacekeeping troops.

South Sudan's civil war has killed tens of thousands and displaced over two million civilians in less than five years, according to the world body.

(ST)

October 24, 2017 (JUBA) - United Nations personnel across South Sudan on Tuesday came together with local leaders and communities to celebrate UN Day and the work the organization is doing to protect civilians, build durable peace, and create stability and development within the young nation.

David Shearer (UN photo)

Speaking at a UN Day event in Juba, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, David Shearer paid tribute to the professionalism, commitment and courage of the thousands of staff working for more than 20 UN entities in often remote and dangerous locations across South Sudan.

“This year alone, UN agencies and humanitarian partners are providing life-saving health, nutrition, education, and water and sanitation services to 4.7 million South Sudanese in need.

Those achievements are testament to the commitment of dedicated aid workers, many of whom are South Sudanese nationals,” said David Shearer.

South Sudanese political and community leaders as well as members of the public joined in the 72nd anniversary celebration held in the capital as well as at UN bases across the country under the theme: “United Nations and South Sudan Building the Future Together”.

The UN has been working in what is now the country of South Sudan, for over 50 years, providing vital services such as food, access to clean water, sanitation, education, health care, infrastructural development, peacekeeping, policing, demining, human rights and other forms of advocacy.

David Shearer said while the many South Sudanese people he had met were from different regions and backgrounds, they all wanted one thing – peace.

“People want to return home. They want their children to go to school. They want to be productive citizens. They want to be self-reliant,” he said. “That is why the South Sudanese are urging their leaders to silence the guns and give peace a chance.”

UN day allows the organization to actively promote the ideals of the UN. It is also being celebrated in Torit, Aweil, Yambio, Bentiu, Malakal, Wau, Bor, Rumbek and Warrap.

The world body was established in 1945 with just 51 Member States. Today there are 193 member states. While the organization has changed, the UN's founding principles of promoting peace and security, human rights and development remain the same and are at the core of the UN's work in South Sudan, said David Shearer.

(ST)

October 24, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS) has revoked previous restrictions preventing banks from carrying out clearing transactions in U.S. dollars.

U.S. dollar notes (Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha Photo)

Earlier this month, the U.S. Administration permanently lifted 20-year-old economic sanctions that have seriously damaged Sudan's trade, investment and banking transfers.

The new regulation issued by the policy department at the CBoS Sunday allows all banks to carry out business transactions in all convertible currencies including the U.S. dollar.

The new regulation, seen by Sudan Tribune, cancels the November 17, 1997, decision of the CBoS foreign exchange department which prevents the use of U.S. dollar in clearing transactions.

It also revokes the decision issued by the CBoS policy department on 24 December 2007 which pertains to the use of other currencies except for the U.S dollar.

The new regulation further allows the banks to deposit their legal foreign currency reserve with the CBoS in all convertible currencies including the US Dollar.

Meanwhile, the CBoS said the new set of monetary and banking measures and policy reforms aims to control liquidity, maximize export revenues, and decrease imports to stabilize the exchange rate and reduce inflation.

It added the reforms also aims to curb foreign currency speculations in the black market in order to restore confidence in the banking system following the full lifting of the U.S. economic embargo.

The CBoS urged all banks to expand the networks of their foreign correspondence including the U.S. banks, demanding them to carry out transactions in all convertible currencies including the dollar.

Last week, the CBoS announced that Sudanese banks have actually begun to receive international transfers from banks in the United States and Europe.

(ST)

October 24, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Darfur Special Criminal Court (DSCC) in East Darfur state capital, Ed-Daein Tuesday has sentenced two individuals to death on charges of murder and armed robbery.

According to the official news agency SUNA, in April 2015, the victims hired a vehicle from an individual to carry them from Ed-Daein to Abu Sufian area, north of Abu Karinka, however, on the way; they killed him and stole his car.

The judge of the DSCC in Ed-Daein, Habib Mohamed Ahmed, on Tuesday found the accused guilty under articles 130 and 175 of the 1991 Penal Code and sentenced them to death by hanging.

He also sentenced the accused to a decade-long prison term for violating articles 26 and 42 of the Arms and Ammunition Act.

Sudan's western region of Darfur has been beset by violence since 2003 after rebels began an armed insurgency against Khartoum accusing the central government of supporting land grabbing by Arab tribes and neglecting development.

According to the UN, 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict, and 2, 5 million chased from their homes.

The DSCC was first set-up by the Sudanese government in 2005 to adjudicate cases of crimes in the western region. However, the court has to date failed to bring charges against any Sudanese official.

(ST)

October 24, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan government on Tuesday appealed global support to end the ravaging war in the country, reiterating sanctions would undermine the peace process.

The South Sudanese cabinet affairs minister told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that his government was waiting for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley with a simple and clear message of commitment to implementing peace and ending the war in the country.

“The message of the Transitional Government of National Unity is clear and simple. It is a unified message and it is the message we will give to any foreign official visiting the country. The government is committed to full implementation of the peace agreement and to end the war," Minister Martin Elia Lomuro told Sudan Tribune.

He added that the commitment of the government is seen in significant steps which have been undertaken by the government with regards to implementation of the peace agreement pointing to the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire, and the amnesty granted to all opposition groups, provided that they denounce violence.

Ambassador Haley isis visiting South Sudan and the Central African Republic to assess the political situation in the country but also to deliver a clear message to the leaders that peace should be achieved and war ended.

"While we'll take a critical look at what the UN is doing on the ground, we'll also meet DRC and South Sudanese leaders to deliver a strong message that their governments need to stop making the work of aid workers and peacekeepers more difficult," she wrote in an editorial published on the CNN website on Sunday.

"The United States remains committed to easing the suffering of civilians wherever we can, to engaging with leaders to ease the suffering of their people, and to ensuring the UN is efficient in addressing these crises," the diplomat further said.

However, the South Sudanese minister enumerated the steps taken by his government in the implementation of the peace agreement and cited the formation of the transitional government, reconstitution and expansion of the parliament, the formation of state governments and reduction of insecurity in some states in the country which had in the past experienced sustained military activities.

“You can see Juba today is secured and peaceful. There is no more fighting Upper Nile, no fighting Equatoria, not even in Bahr el Ghazal. What is happening now in some pockets of the country are acts of criminals, which happen everywhere even in the United States of America and other western countries”, said Lomuro

The leader of the alliance of the pro-government parties in coalition government appealed for global support instead of constantly waiving punitive actions and threats.

“What the transitional government of national unity is unanimously asking for, is working together with the international community to implement peace and help us talk to those estranged groups to join the dialogue process so that war is stopped," said Lomuro.

"This is how political issues are addressed in the global arena, not with stick waiving punitive actions. If you do that, it means taking side and that undermines peace efforts and the intention, whether genuine can be subject to interpretations," he added.

The minister stressed they wish that the intentional community first listen to them, see what they are doing and come in with support where there are challenges.Juba rejects imposed solutions he stressed.

"They don't need to bring the ready-made solutions. It will not work because the context of this solution may not fit in our situation,” he said.

His comments precede the visit of the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, as the report of the five-member panel established by the UN Security Council cited an absence of political will to implement the 2015 peace agreement and to address "the destructive governance practices and historical grievances that continue to drive the conflict in South Sudan".

The international experts attribute these failures to "the political and military elite of the country, with the primary responsibility for the ongoing violence resting with those in the government, led by Pesident, Salva Kiir, and the First Vice-President, Taban Deng Gai".

The report notes that Neighbouring nations continue to experience adverse impacts of the nearly four-year-long civil war, yet they are making no effective efforts to negotiate an end to the fighting.

It found that countries in the region like Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and the four other member-states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) have not generated "a coherent political process backed by genuine pressure on the parties".

"Each IGAD member is dealing with significant national challenges that, coupled with long-standing and complex regional rivalries, continue to undermine consensus on South Sudan," the report adds.

An ensuing proliferation of uncoordinated diplomatic initiatives has enabled the warring forces to "forum-shop".

The panel of experts noted that the government and armed opposition groups "engage selectively in various processes while buying time for military operations, and avoid attempts to enforce a political settlement to the conflict".

The report, also, criticised the new U.S. administration of under President Donald Trump administration for failing to sustain U.S. attempts to resolve the conflict.

"The leadership of the United States and other nations that previously exerted leverage in the region has also waned considerably in 2017," they underlined.

The report makes note of complaints concerning U.S. support for the continued exclusion of opposition leader Riek Machar from peace-making efforts. Some opposition groups view this refusal to include Machar in the search for a settlement as an impediment to a neutral mediation approach by outsiders, the panel states.

The experts pointed out that political impasse, along with government military offensives in recent months, has substantially worsened an already dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

"The population faces intersecting threats of violence and insecurity, large-scale population displacement, extreme food insecurity and an escalating national economic crisis," says the report.

"The actions of South Sudanese leaders have done nothing to address these threats, and there is unlikely to be an improvement in the foreseeable future absent a significant change in the national and international approach to the conflict."

(ST)

October 11, 2017 (CAPE TOWN) – South Africa's deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa as decried the “wasteful” war and violence, which has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions in South Sudan.

South Africa's Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa receives members of South Sudan's national dialogue committee in South Africa, July 2, 2017 (ST photo)

“The war has destroyed the country and the economy. For that reason our commitment to solving the crisis in SS [South Sudan] must also be irrevocable. War breeds hatred; it breaks down nations and makes people hate one another and it makes it difficult to engender reconciliation,” Ramaphosa told South Sudan's national dialogue steering committee members at a retreat held in South Africa on Tuesday.

“So it is important that the commitment to reconciliation be irrevocable,” he added.

Members of South Sudan's national dialogue steering committee, led by the committee's co-chair, Angelo Beda were in South Africa for a three-day retreat.

The South African government, its deputy president stated, has decided to consciously to deploy as many resources as possible for the people of South Sudan, including sharing their own experiences.

“Our bonds with SS [South Sudan] are deep and we remain hopeful that SS [South Sudan] will recover,” he said.

Ramaphosa, who intends to write a book, said it was important to know who the protagonists to the conflict are for it to be resolved.

“These are the entities that must sit down and negotiate this peace. These must not be lovey good-feeling interlocutors; rather they must be those who have been at each other's throats and who must sit down and negotiate their peace,” said the South African official.

But he said that the process must be underlined by trust and respect.

“Without trust there will be no way of resolving the problems and the challenges. Trust has to be built. Leaders must respect one another in their leadership positions and what they represent,” he stressed.

Ramaphosa, also the deputy chairman of the South Africa's ruling party (ANC), said he is optimistic the South Sudan crisis will be solved.

“I come from a process that looked unsolvable. When we started our process, I always knew we would be successful,” he stressed, but called for commitment from South Sudanese leaders involved in the country's peace process.

Officially launched in May, the national dialogue is both a forum and process through which the people South Sudan shall gather to redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, redefine citizenship and belonging, as well as restructure the state for national inclusion.

Since December 2013, tens of thousands of people have been killed and over two million displaced in South Sudan's worst ever violence since its cessation from Sudan in July 2011.

(ST)

October 11, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - North Darfur Governor Abdel Wahid Youssef Nahar has welcomed the arrival of 10,000 militiamen in his state saying the will contribute to establishing security in the troubled state.

North Darfur state recently witnessed a recrudescence of violence and kidnapping of foreign aid workers. Also, the state prepares to launch the second phase of the weapon collection operation which will be mandatory soon.

Speaking to the 10,000 elements of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that arrived from Kordofan region, Governor Nahar said the force would work to support the weapon collection campaign, protect the border and to deal with the outlaws.

He further stressed his government's keenness to provide security as a top priority.

"The country will see a new dawn in the days ahead, and we want you to be a real addition to the security and stability process in the state," he said.

The governor added that another force is deployed in Kabkabiya district, to establish security and stability, and hailed the RSF contributions during the past period.

For his part, Maj. General Yahya Ali Mohamed, the RSF Commander in El-Fasher, said that the force will be part of the 6th Infantry Division of the Sudanese army in the North Darfur and will work side by side with it to achieve security and stability.

He emphasized that the RSF is a national force defending the homeland and protecting citizens.

Last Sunday 8 October, Unknown gunmen kidnapped at gunpoint a Swiss humanitarian worker, Margaret Schenkel, from her home in downtown El-Fasher, and fled to an unknown destination”.

(ST)

October 11, 2017 (JUBA) - The Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) has urged on South Sudan's warring parties not to focus on power sharing and division of wealth during the forthcoming peace revitalization forum being organized by the regional bloc (IGAD).

President Salva Kiir (L) and rebel leader Riek Machar (R) attend the signing a ceasefire agreement during an IGAD summit on the South Sudan crisis in Addis Ababa on 1 February 2015 (Photo: Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)

Consultations, IGAD said, will take place from 13-17 October.

However, the CPJ coordinator, Tito Anthony said focusing on power sharing will drive the discussion from solving the country's conflict to fulfilling interests of parties who may be interested in ministerial posts.

“If the discussion of upcoming revitalization forum will focus on power sharing, the agreement will not be reached soon to end the suffering on civil population as hundreds are dying on a daily basis by diseases, hunger and others being targeted killed by the two [warring] parties,” Tito said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

The official appealed to parties to be consulted by IGAD to reflect on the suffering of the civilian population in who live in the internally displaced camps and those sheltered at the United Nations bases.

“The citizens, who voted for independence of South Sudan, are now suffering as if the independent has been a curse,” stressed Tito.

He further added, “[South Sudanese] leaders should think about people not their interest, let them end the conflict and citizens will now chose because they now knew the true color of all politician. They will choose leaders out of experiences they had in the conflict”.

The CPJ official said it time for leaders to sacrifice themselves for the people of South Sudan during the upcoming revitalization forum to pave way for peace in a nation where tens of thousands have died.

“I urge the IGAD to stand firm in the process and guide the parties in the discussion because IGAD is entity that setting the agenda, approach the discussion from the soft to harder,” he further stated.

In June, a summit of IGAD heads of state and government decided to convene a meeting of the signatories of the South Sudan peace agreement to discuss ways to revitalize the peace implementation.

During the June summit, it was agreed that all groups be included in the discussion aimed at restoring a permanent ceasefire.

IGAD is an eight-member economic bloc that brings together Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda.

Over a million people have fled South Sudan since conflict erupted in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir sacked Machar from the vice-presidency. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced in South Sudan's worst ever violence since it seceded from Sudan in 2011.

(ST)

October 11, 2017 (JUBA) – The various parties that make up South Sudan's coalition government have agreed on a joint consultation at the upcoming peace deal revitalization by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), an official said on Wednesday.

South Sudan's information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, speaks to reporters in Jonglei state capital Bor on 25 December 2014 (ST)

"We have already received the IGAD letter on revitalization and without prejudice to other parties to be consulted, we have agreed to be consulted as the TGoNU [Transitional Government of National Unity]," said South Sudan's information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth.

The High-Level Revitalization Forum takes place from October 13-17.

Consultations, according to the regional bloc, will begin with officials in the coalition government and include the other faction leaders.

Dhieu Mathok, a member of the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Taban Deng Gai urged the need for a unified consultation instead of reaching out to separate individuals.

This call has, however, been opposed by member of the country's former political detainees who insisted on separate consultations to be held. Two of the ex-detainees serve in the coalition government.

In June, a summit of IGAD heads of state and government decided to convene a meeting of the signatories of the South Sudan peace agreement to discuss ways to revitalize the peace implementation.

During the June summit, it was agreed that all groups be included in the discussion aimed at restoring a permanent ceasefire.

Last week, IGAD unveiled the timetable for the revitalization forum to start consultations with South Sudanese leaders and the nation's citizens. The process, it said, begins on 13 October and ends on 17.

South Sudan government earlier warned that the revitalization forum by the regional bloc, which mediated the 2015 peace accord, should not be another platform for negotiations of the peace agreement between the two factions to the conflict.

IGAD is an eight-member economic bloc that brings together Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda.

Over a million people have fled South Sudan since conflict erupted in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir sacked Machar from the vice-presidency. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced in South Sudan's worst ever violence since it seceded from Sudan in 2011.

(ST)

October 11, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Defence Minister Awad Ibn Ouf Wednesday discussed with the visiting Egyptian military intelligence chief Mohamed Faraj El Shahat, ways to control and monitor the joint border between the two countries.

El Shahat is in Khartoum, in line with an agreement reached by the two defence ministers providing to hold regular meetings for the joint military committee to promote cooperation and coordination on border control.

In May 2017, Sudan had accused Egypt of providing armoured vehicles to Darfur rebels in an attack carried out from Libya.

"During the meeting, the (Sudanese) Minister of Defence stressed the need to combat arms smuggling and human trafficking across the border between the two countries," said a statement released in Khartoum.

Ibn Ouf further underscored the need to "establish points of transit and communication channels between the Sudanese armed forces and their Egyptian counterparts".

The meeting was attended by Gen. Gamal al-Din Omer Mohamed Ibrahim, head of Sudanese military intelligence.

Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour last June told reporters in Cairo that Sudan proposed to form joint border monitoring patrols to prevent human trafficking and protect the border.

Libya is a source of security concerns for both countries. Khartoum is worried by the presence of Darfur armed groups in eastern Libya as Cairo also seeks to prevent Jihadists in the troubled north African country from extending their activities inside Egypt.

Sudan and Chad agreed recently to enhance the joint patrols on the border with Libya after reports of the presence of Chadian opposition elements in Libya.

(ST)

October 11, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS) on Wednesday said the Sudanese banks have actually begun to receive international transfers in U.S. dollar.

U.S. Dollar bill

The U.S. Administration on Friday permanently lifted 20-year-old economic sanctions against Sudan citing positive actions on humanitarian access and counter-terrorism.

In a press release on Wednesday, the CBoS said money transfers in U.S. dollar started to flow from international banks to Sudanese banks following the lift of the trade sanctions.

According to the press release, two Sudanese banks on Tuesday have actually received international transfers from banks in the United States and Europe.

The permanent lifting of the sanctions ends a U.S. economic embargo on Sudan, removing longstanding restrictions on trade and financial transactions. It also permits U.S. companies to do business with oil and gas industries in Sudan.

Also, Sudan hopes its name would be removed from the U.S. list of states sponsor of terrorism. That designation carries its own penalties, including a ban on weapons sales and restrictions on U.S. assistance.

Sudan was placed on the terror list in 1993 over allegations it was harbouring Islamist militants working against regional and international targets.

(ST)

October 11, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBoS) reported that inflation has increased to 35,13 % in September from 34,61 in August, a rise of 1.51%.

A vendor sells vegetables during Ramadan at a local market in north Khartoum August 3, 2012 (REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

Sudan's inflation rate continued to rise for fifteen consecutive months since April 2016.

According to the CBoS monthly bulletin on Wednesday, the twelve commodity and service groups contributed to the rise in inflation at varying rates.

The food and beverage group contributed to the overall price rise by % 22,91 while the clothing and footwear group share was 2,55%.

The contribution of the other groups was as follows: 1,59% for the health group, 0,96% for the communications group, 0,93% for the transportation group, 0,90% for the housing, water, electricity and gas group and 1,21% for the home appliances group.

On the other hand, the education group contributed 0,64%, the miscellaneous goods and services share was 0,84% while the restaurants and hotels group contributed 1,13% and the tobacco group share was 0,53%.

The CBoS pointed out that the general price index of the vegetables has increased by16,04 points, a rise of 2,11% from August.

The highest increase in the price index for goods and services in September was registered in North Kordofan State while the lowest was registered in the North State.

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.

The Sudanese pound has lost 100% of its value since South Sudan's secession, pushing inflation rates to record levels given that country imports most of its food.
Ordinary citizens continue to complain from cost of living increases that impaired their access to basic commodities.

Last month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the economic conditions in the east African nation remain challenging in the face of persistent fiscal deficits, high inflation, and economic sanctions.

It expected that weaker demand, partly due to a reduction in energy subsidies by the government in late 2016 would limit growth to 3,2% in 2017.

According to the IMF, the increase in the inflation rate was caused by the impact of higher energy prices and rapid monetary expansion to help finance large remaining subsidies.

It also expected the fiscal deficit to widen to 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2017, saying Sudan's international reserves would remain low.

Sudan hopes that the recent U.S. decision to lift the 20-year-old trade embargo would help improve the overall economic situation in the country.

(ST)

October 11, 2017 (PRETORIA)- The deputy South African president has told the visiting members of the steering committee of South Sudan national dialogue that recognizing the existence of the problem becomes part of the solution.

Cyril Ramaphosa (File photo Reuters)

Cyril Ramaphosa, who was one of the key African National Congress (ANC) members in the negotiation team of the issues aimed at addressing the post-apartheid rule in South Africa, cited their own experience.

“The realization that we had a crisis as a country and that we needed to find a solution. That in itself was a major breakthrough. Sometimes you can live through problems and never realize that you have a problem; like someone who is ill and has lots of pains but doesn't realize there is a real problem. That was when we began to develop the secret that got us to where we are. It was a collective realization that the country was in crisis,” Ramaphosa told South Sudanese officials currently in the country on Tuesday.

The Apartheid regime, he said, had also realized that it had a problem requiring a solution instead of military solution which both sides have had tried without success instead it was worsening the situation.

“Once that had happened, we were able to move forward. Both sides realized they could not defeat each other. Over time they both thought they'd defeat the other (the ANC thought that through MK it would make the country ungovernable, and the NP (government) had a picture in their heads that they would defeat the ANC and that the ANC would be brought to its knees). We also needed to have an honest assessment of ourselves. Once you realize you have that kind of crisis you have to lead from the front,” he explained.

The South African official expressed optimism that the current conflict in South Sudan would end if the problem is identified and recognized; saying many people around the world saw the South Africa crisis at the time as being intractable and thought this would never be solved.

“Many people saw South Africa crisis as intractable and that Nelson Mandela would stay in jail and the ANC would never be unbanned. But there was this commitment that led to the recognition that if we have a crisis we need to talk amongst ourselves; the problem was then resolved”, he pointed out.

South Sudan's war, he said, was now intractable but it will end if the problem is identified and recognized.

“Your problem right now seems intractable. We have tried so much-IGAD, Arusha declaration etc. But we can solve this. I am a total believer that this is a crisis that can be solved. I come from a process that looked unsolvable. When we started our process, I always knew we would be successful. The same is true for Roelf. It requires that. It requires you as actors in this that this is going to be successful. You need to stay committed,” he said.

(ST)

October 10, 2014 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu (SPLM-N al-Hilu) denied reports that the delegates had been embroiled in a disagreement over the number of Blue Nile state representatives in the Extraordinary General Conference.

Nowadays, the rebel group is holding a an extraordinary conference to endorse its charter and constitution and to elect a new leadership after a rift last April over the right of self-determination for the Nuba Mountains.

Scheduled to kick off on 6 October, the meetings, however, began on Sunday amid reports of difference over the number of Blue Nile representatives in the conference. The reports insinuated that Nuba Mountains people wanted to have the upper hand in the conference.

However, Attiya Attroon Attiya the head of the Conference Media Committee refuted the claim, asserting that the meeting is taking place with the participation of South Kordofan and the Blue Nile delegates.

"Delegates for the Extraordinary General Conference have been chosen in accordance with the percentages agreed in the Election Regulations," Attiya said.

" We would like to assure the masses of the SPLM inside and outside Sudan, all the peoples of Sudan and forces of change in Sudan as well as SPLM friends, we assure that the conference has become a reality," he further added.

In a statement released on Sunday, the SPLM-N Nuba Mountains said held its general conference and elected 122 delegates to the Extraordinary General Conference.

(ST)

October 10, 2017 (WAU) - The governor of South Sudan's Wau state, Angelo Taban Biajo has vowed to protect all foreign traders operating in the region.

Biajo made these remarks after meeting with the Sudanese business community who mainly hail from Sudan's western region of Darfur.

“You traders work very hard and we have a relationship with you. Our responsibility is to protect all of you, whether you are citizens from Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia or Kenya in Wau”, said the governor.

He said it was the right of everyone living in Wau to live in harmony.

“You all know that we have just emerged from the war and we became a nation [and] so this country should not only be for South Sudanese citizens [but] for all. You all have right as civilians. There is a civil right and there is nothing wrong there”, further stressed Biajo.

The Sudanese business community welcomed the governor's assurance, re-affirming their commitment to support his administration by funding security operations using collections from trade unions.

In the past, however, Darfur business community in Wau have complained about night robberies targeting their properties, something the governor condemned and vowed to address.

(ST)

October 10, 2017 (JUBA) – A former South Sudan rebel commander says he is optimistic that the peace revitalization forum, spearheaded by Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) will help end the country's conflict and bring about peace.

General Peter Gatdet Yak addressing a conference in Pagak, South Sudan, April 20, 2015 (ST photo)

General Peter Gatdet made these remarks on Monday after meeting the revitalization forum team in Sudan's capital, Khartoum.

Gatdet, who broke away from the armed opposition faction led by former First Vice President Riek Machar, urged IGAD to consider all options required to restore peace and stability in the war-torn nation.

“The meeting was mainly focused on how to revitalize the collapsed peace in South Sudan in order to help the people of South Sudan, whose lives have been at risks for so long. The people of South Sudan have been at war for so long,” he told Sudan Tribune by phone.

“Therefore, the re-engagement of all political parties, both in oppositions and in government in the process of revitalization and restoring peace is a wise decision made by IGAD in order to end the war and in South Sudan, the world's youngest nation”, he added.

In 2015, Gatdet abandoned the Machar-led rebel faction and formed South Sudan United Movement /Armed Forces (SSUM/AF). He is currently based in Khartoum and commands a few soldiers.

Gatdet says he will actively participate in the IGAD-led peace initiative.

“Peace is a priority and only option a human being cannot denounce. We need peace in the Republic of South Sudan as a mechanism of helping people from the current suffering” he stressed.

In June, a summit of IGAD heads of state and government decided to convene a meeting of the signatories of the South Sudan peace agreement to discuss ways to revitalize the peace implementation.

During the June summit, however, it was agreed that all groups be included in the discussion aimed at restoring a permanent ceasefire.

Last week, IGAD unveiled the timetable for the revitalization forum to start consultations with South Sudanese leaders and the nation's citizens. The process, it said, begins on 13 October until the 17.

The South Sudanese government earlier warned that the revitalization forum by IGAD, the regional bloc which mediated the 2015 peace accord, should not be another platform for negotiations of the peace accord between the two factions to the conflict.

Over a million people have fled South Sudan since conflict erupted in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir sacked Machar from the vice-presidency. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced in South Sudan's worst ever violence since it seceded from Sudan in July 2011.

(ST)

October 10, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and South Sudan have resumed border air patrols since last September, five years after the signing of a security agreement providing to prevent cross-border attacks, said the United Nations on Monday.

Within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement of 27 September 2012, the two countries signed a security agreement with the purpose of stopping the flow of guns and supplies to the rebel groups across the border. The deal also provided to establish a Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ) and to deploy a Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mission (JBVMM) with the support of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

However, South Sudan government resisted the implementation of the agreement, fearing that delimitation of the SDBZ centreline, which passes through contested areas, may be seen as final location of the disputed boundary. After few monitoring operations, Juba had suspended its participation in the JMVMM ending the monitoring operations On 22 November 2013.

However, in a statement released on Monday evening, the UNISFA announced the resumption of the JBVMM operations with the participation of Sudanese and South Sudanese monitors, UNISFA military operations/technical staff, JBVMM international observers and military operations staff and United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

The JBVMM of the UNISFA "undertook a joint reconnaissance between 16 and 22 September 2017. A first of its kind air patrolling operation, it was conducted from the UNISFA Force Headquarters base in Abyei to the proposed team site locations astride" the SBDZ, said the statement.

The air patrols carried out reconnaissance of Safahah (Kiir Adim), As-Sumayh (Majak Kol) and Tishwin (Takshwin), three JBVMM sites located within the buffer zone.

Performed by air hovering operations, the reconnaissance "was significant as it enabled the team to fly at a low altitude to verify and monitor the situation on the ground".

Last May, The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) decided to reduce UNISFA's troops from 5,326 to 4,791.

Further, the resolution reiterated concerns about persistent delays and stalled efforts to operationalise the JBVMM and threatened to end UNISFA's support to the border patrolling operations within six months unless the two countries activate the agreed mechanism.

Khartoum and Juba trade accusation of supporting rebel groups from both sides.

(ST)