Sudan Tribune

June 21, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A Sudanese military plane crashed on Wednesday in the Northern State, killing all four crew members on board, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) said.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune Wednesday, SAF spokesperson Ahmed Khalifa al-Shami said the “Mi-17 helicopter crashed after taking off on an official mission from Dongola Airport to El-Daba town”.

He blamed “bad weather conditions” for the incident, saying all four crew have been killed without disclosing the identities of the victims.

Sudan's air force fleet of Russian-made planes and helicopters has suffered a number of losses in recent years, with the military frequently blaming technical problems.

Last October, a Bo 360 helicopter crashed in Um Hani area, White Nile State, 105 kilometres south of Khartoum killing the pilot and injuring two crew members.

In April 2016, an Antonov 26 fighter jet crashed while landing at the airport in El Obied, the capital of North Kordofan state, killing all five crew members on board.

Also, 32 people were killed in August 2012 when their Antonov AN-26 crashed in Talodi, South Kordofan's third-largest town.

In October 2012, an Antonov plane crashed in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman killing 12 people.

Two air force crew died in June 2013 when their helicopter crashed in war-torn Blue Nile state, just a week after one went down in South Kordofan.

(ST)

June 21, 2017 (NYALA) - Heavy rains and severe flooding have completely destroyed 1100 houses at Kalma camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), some 18 kilometres south-east of Nyala, South Darfur state capital.

A group of women build a shelter in Kalma camp for internally displaced people in South Darfur on 9 March 2014 (Photo: UNAMID/Albert Gonzalez Farran)

The Deputy Chairman of IDPs and Refugees Association Adam Abdallah told Sudan Tribune heavy rains on Tuesday have caused flash floods destroying 110 homes, saying thousands of IDPs are now living in the open under very dire humanitarian conditions.

He added there is an urgent need to provide the IDPs with food and shelter as well as developing health precautions to respond to any emergencies, calling on the national and foreign aid groups and the government to act immediately to avoid further deterioration in the humanitarian situation.

Abdallah pointed out that most of those affected are women, children and the elderly, saying they are incapable of encountering the damage on their own.

Kalma, which is the home of some 100,000 residents, is considered the largest IDPs camp in Darfur.

The Sudanese army has been fighting a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003. UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in the conflict, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

(ST)

June 21, 2017 (NEW YORK) – The government and the armed opposition bear the responsibility for South Sudan humanitarian tragedy and political instability, said the head of UN Peacekeeping Department on Wednesday.

"We must not lose sight of the fact that this tragedy is man-made" (...) It is the result of deliberate decisions by the SPLA-in Government, the SPLA-in-Opposition and various other entities, to prosecute and sustain armed conflict to achieve political goals," said Jean-Pierre Lacroix in a briefing on the situation in South Sudan to the UN Security Council.

The French diplomat told the 15-member body that the government forces, despite the unilateral ceasefire announced earlier by President Salva Kiir, dislodged the opposition SPLA-IO forces from their strongholds on the west bank of the Nile River. In the east, it has taken towns in northern Greater Jonglei.

"In the west, clashes between Government and Opposition forces around Wau led to 22,000 people taking refuge with the mission. And fighting in the south has left towns in the Equatorias with as little as 10% of their previous populations," he added.
However, Lacroix stressed that the United Nations continues to make every effort to implement its commitment to the country, adding that“only a truly inclusive political process and the genuine political will” of the key protagonists to end the conflict and implement agreements they reached will bring peace to the war-torn country.

The over three-year conflict has left more than half of South Sudan's population in need of food aid. Furthermore, a third of its population is displaced and half of those displaced have sought refuge in neighbouring Uganda, Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia.

The IGAD leaders recently decided to hold a forum to revitalise the implementation of a peace agreement it brokered between the warring parties, but the resumption of hostilities in July 2017 broke the enforcement of the deal and was followed by the resumption of hostilities.

The head of UN peacekeeping department informed the Security Council that in the midst of the fighting, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is “doing its utmost” to protect civilians.

“Our peacekeepers are persistent in getting through checkpoints to reach vulnerable populations, even when the patrols are threatened and, at times, shot at […], giving the populations confidence that we are there to protect them enables us to report human rights abuses and helps us to support our humanitarian partners in ensuring that assistance goes to those who need it most.”

He further pointed that some issues concerning the plot of land provided by the Government to the Rapid Protection Force (RPF), to establish its northern basing site, are behind the delay in its deployment. The RPF is tasked with the security in and around capital Juba.

Concerning the pledge made by President Kiir to release political prisoners, Lacroix told the Council that while one UN staff member was released recently, two others have been held for two years without charge, and another has recently been detained in Rumbek.

“We must judge the President's commitments by his actions, not his words,” he said.

Lacroix, also calling for full freedom of movement for the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) to monitor and verify ceasefire violations as well as UNMISS, “which have faced far too many obstructions to their movements, making their work extremely challenging, and in some cases, impossible.”

In his remarks before the Security Council, the Chargé d'Affaires of South Sudanese mission to the UN, Ambassador Joseph Mourn Malok, said the situation in the country is relatively calm since Kiir's declaration of a unilateral ceasefire.

"In order for the unilateral ceasefire to hold, we call upon the Security Council and the International Community to call on the other stakeholders to respect the ceasefire so as to allow the humanitarian actors to pass," he said.

The Council members may issue a press statement after a consultations meeting but they remain divided on the way forward, as some members support an arms embargo and more targeted sanctions, measures that reject some others describing it "counterproductive".

(ST)

June 21, 2017 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government welcomed and commended, on Wednesday, the joint national and international efforts collaboratively exerted to avert famine from occurring in the east African country.

These efforts were the result of the immediate and sustained multi-sector humanitarian assistance delivered to the population in the conflict-affected areas where the government is fighting opposition armed groups since over three years.

“This encouraging result clearly reflects the commitment the government has made to provide unfettered access to the humanitarian organisations to all parts of the country,” said Cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomuro to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

"It is through these concerted efforts that the famine has been averted and as the government, we would like to commend and appreciate the work of the humanitarian organisation and reaffirm our commitment to working together to improve the situation," he added.

Minister Lomuro, who is also the head of the South Sudanese task force responsible for monitoring and coordinating administrative efforts to remove blockages and provide access to humanitarian agencies, said the government would continue to exert more efforts in this respect.

He was reacting to the reports that were released on Wednesday by South Sudan's National Bureau of Statistics and the UN's updated food and security analysis which showed famine was no longer taking place. The report, however, warned that the situation remains desperate as the number of people at risk of starvation increased during May.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report shows 1.7 million people are still facing emergency levels of hunger, one step below famine.

In February, South Sudan declared two counties in Unity State as famine-hit areas.

The IPC report says the current situation in the areas has improved, however, there are certain areas still in critical condition. Though early detection and a rapid response succeeded in pulling them out of famine and grouped them under a Phase 5 classification, according to the World Food Program analysis.

The UN had warned of a worsening humanitarian situation and emphasised that downgrading the level of existing famine in the region does not mean the situation has completely improved. An estimated 45,000 people are still facing starvation in Leer, Koch and Mayendit Counties, with additional areas across the country having deteriorated as well.

The report shows former Jonglei State which had one of the lowest levels of acute malnutrition with roughly 20,000 people currently experiencing catastrophic food insecurity.

Yei, Lainya, Morobo, Kajo-Keji and Magwi, which were areas in Equatoria region classified as greenbelt areas are facing crisis and emergency levels of acute food insecurity. The conflict in the country is an attributing cause that has driven people out of their homes, resulting and subsequently leading to severe effects on agricultural activities and markets.

The Western Upper Nile region is equally experiencing food insecurity, especially in Manyo, Panyikang, and Fashoda where large displacements have occurred due to the ongoing armed conflict. Through a situational analysis, it has been found that former Northern Bahr el Ghazal State is facing severe food insecurity caused by high food prices and diminished household purchasing power.

While Western Bahr el Ghazal State saw a rise in armed conflict in the counties of Wau and Raga, the disruption of trade, displaced of populations, and livelihoods have been destroyed.

(ST)

June 21, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government on Wednesday denied media reports that the decision to ban the Egyptian agricultural products has been reversed.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) has quoted the state minister of commerce Al-Sadiq Mohamed Ali as saying “the measures that have been taken to ban some Egyptian products are still in force”.

He stressing there was nothing new on this matter, saying the reasons which led to banning the Egyptian products still exist.

Last September, Sudanese government temporarily suspended all imports of vegetables, fruit and fish from Egypt following U.S. reports about cases of strawberries from Egypt causing chronic hepatitis and other diseases.

Also, seven countries including Kuwait, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Japan have taken strict measures banning imports of Egyptian agricultural products.

Last month, Sudan's Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Saleh issued a decision to continue the ban on Egyptian farming products and to stop the importation of any seeds or seedlings from the neighbouring country.

The Sudanese authorities in March expanded the list of banned Egyptian farming products by adding agricultural goods and products, canned fish and manufactured goods, following reports that these products were rotten.

Tensions between Khartoum and Cairo have escalated following the former's decision to restrict imports of Egyptian farming products which was reciprocated by Cairo's decision to raise residency fees for Sudanese living in Egypt.

The deterioration of bilateral relations between the two countries goes back to the attempt to assassinate President Hosni Mubarak in June 1995 followed by the deployment of Egyptian troops in the disputed area of Halayeb triangle.

(ST)

June 21, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A new splinter faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement/AW led by Abdel-Wahid al-Nur has joined the peace process following years of rebellion in Jebel Marra area, said Central Darfur governor.

SLM-AW fighters on guard during a visit by UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari to Fanga Suk village, in East Jebel Marra, West Darfur, on 18 March 2011 (Photo: Reuters)

The Central Darfur government last November signed a peace deal with a number of breakaway commanders from SPLM-AW including Abu Gamal Khalil Bakr, Al-Amin Abdel-Jabar al-Tahir (aka al-Amin Turo) and the movement's spokesperson Shihab al-Din Ahmed Hagar.

According to the official news agency SUNA Wednesday, a new dissident group from the SLM-AW led by commander Haroun (aka Kalmang Koi) has joined the peace process at Fugi area east of Golo in Jebel Marra, Central Darfur state.

SUNA quoted the leader of the dissident group as saying they “joined the peace process after they became convinced of the futility of war that continued for years without achieving anything but further suffering”.

He demanded the government to provide services, reconstruct what have been destroyed during the war and to integrate his group into the Sudanese army.

Under such peace deal, the rebels hand over their weapons after being granted a pardon and receive financial compensations. Sometimes, they are recruited in the government militias to fight against their former comrades.

For his part, Governor of Central Darfur Jaafar Abdel-Hakam said Haroun's group would enhance peace efforts, pointing his government has adopted a plan to end the war, address the root causes of the problem, provide services and reconstruct the region.

He pointed that a number of SLM-AW dissident groups have joined the peace process, saying al-Nur has continued to cling to foreign powers and rejects all peace initiatives.

Abdel-Hakam added the dissident groups were “fed up with the non-objective stances of al-Nur and chose to lay down arms and join the peace process”, vowing to include Haroun's group on the security arrangements programme.

Al-Nur refuses to negotiate with the government since the failure of Abuja peace process in 2006. He says that the Sudanese authorities have to disarm militias, provide security for the displaced persons and civilians in Darfur and re-institute grabbed land.

He further insists that any talks should only deal with the root causes of the conflict, not its consequences.

On 12 April 2016, the Sudanese army declared Darfur a region free of rebellion following the capture of Srounq area, the last SLM-AW stronghold in Jebel Marra.

However, the army continued for several months to carry out attacks on rebel pockets in the mountainous area.

(ST)

June 21, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir said he will not accept being forced to step down by force, insisting it would set a bad precedent for the country.

President Salva Kiir addresses the nation at the South Sudan National Parliament in Juba, November 18, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Jok Solomon)

Kiir made these remarks during a meeting with Akobo state governor, Johnson Gony Biliu, who was in Juba to brief him on the current security and humanitarian situation in the area.

Biliu was accompanied to the South Sudan capital by his Bieh state counterpart, Moses Majok.

“You need to talk to your communities, to local leadership, chiefs and you about the importance of the national dialogue which has started the process. They have set up committees. Some will go to those in the diaspora and to refugee camps in countries in the region to where people have gone. Other committees will go to states and different places within the country,” said Kiir.

He added, “This is the only way to stop this war and return the country to the path of peace so that people get the opportunity to go for elections and make their own choices, not through violence”.

During the meeting, Kiir lauded efforts of the two governors and asked them to continue with the efforts of mobilisation for peaceful settlement of the conflict to allow people regain hope and trust.

“Your efforts through these briefings are commendable and you should ahead so that our people understand and embrace peace because it is through peace that people can only make choices. You know I did not into this position by violent means,” said Kiir.

Kiir, elected as president in March 2010, vowed not to accept forceful removal from power.

“They [citizens] want peace and I will not accept to let them down and step down by force,” stressed the South Sudanese leader, who said the unity government will ensure peace returns to the young nation.

South Sudan was plunged into conflict in December 2013 as the rivalry between President Kiir and his then-vice president, Riek Machar, turned into a civil war. Since then, the fighting, which has often been along ethnic lines, triggered Africa's worst refugee crisis, with over three million people fleeing their homes.

(ST)

By Eric Reeves | June 21, 2017

In October 2014, I analysed some of the implications of minutes reflecting the deliberations of the most senior military and intelligence officials of the National Islamic Front/National Congress Party regime during a “Joint Military and Security Committee Meeting held at the National Defense College on 31/08/2014 (http://wp.me/p45rOG-1wk ). These minutes have been repeatedly and authoritatively confirmed by a wide range of sources (http://wp.me/p45rOG-1w5 ). They were leaked to me by a Sudanese source of unimpeachable character and honesty, although his identity—and those who assisted him in this extremely dangerous undertaking—must remain confidential for obvious reasons.
The minutes are highly revealing on various counts, including what at the time was the vehement insistence that Iran was Khartoum's singularly vital ally in the region. This insistence is a virtual refrain, appearing in the comments of nearly every senior official present, including First Vice President Bakri Hassan, who presided at the meeting. The ongoing implosion of the Sudanese economy has forced that Khartoum regime to abandon Iran and side with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States; but ideologically—as the minutes clearly reveal—the regime is very much on the side of Tehran. Only the possibility of immense financial assistance from the Saudis and the Gulf States compelled the abandonment of Iran. Notably, the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, mentioned in the minutes as recipients of aid from Khartoum, are now being targeted by Sudan Armed Forces in concert with the Saudi-led campaign.

This is the context in which to see the import of a dispatch in today's Sudan Tribune, concerning the repatriation of Sudanese nationals who had gone to Libya to fight with ISIS (Sudan Tribune, June 21, 2017). This is obviously a delicate issue for Khartoum's security services, something reflected clearly in the Sudan Tribune analysis.

But let's return to the views of the Khartoum regime in late 2014, and the question of how that regime saw the opportunities presented by Libya in chaos. I offered contemporaneous commentary on particular passages from the minutes, reproduced here without change or editing. The leaked minutes obviously put Khartoum in an extremely awkward position in communicating with recognised Libyan authorities, and this is where I began. Although reflecting only one issue in a very wide-ranging set of topics covered in the meeting of senior officials, let us remember that there is not a shred of evidence that ideologically the NIF/NCP has changed its views about radical Islamic militants.

“Fallout from Leaked Minutes of August 31 2014 Military/Security Meeting: Khartoum's Obligatory Lies" | 29 October 2014 | http://wp.me/p45rOG-1wo

(Speakers in each case are identified; emphases in bold have been added; my commentary appears in italics followed by my initials, ER)

Travelling to Khartoum this month [October 2014], the Libyan Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani undoubtedly had the August 31 minutes much on his mind when meeting with regime officials. Libya comes up frequently in these minutes, and at several points in ways that must be deeply disconcerting to the struggling Libyan government, and reveal yet again the depth of the mendacity that characterises the regime. On 7 October 2014 Sudan Tribune reported:
The head of the Libyan government, Abdullah al-Thani, will visit Khartoum in response to an invitation extended by Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir, a government source disclosed this week. “The Libyan government welcomes the invitation received from President al-Bashir. (The government) considers it as a step in the right direction and a confirmation of Sudan's support to the democratic process in Libya,” a Libyan official told the Libyan Bawabat Alwasat on Monday.

The official further said that al-Thani accepted the invitation after Khartoum's full recognition of the House of Representatives as the sole legitimate body representing the will of the Libyan people. Observers in Khartoum says the public acceptance of the invitation is seen by the Sudanese government as the first positive signal from Tripoli after repeated Libyan accusations of supporting extremists groups in the north African nation. On 2 October, Sudan's foreign ministry for the second time within a less than three weeks summoned the Libyan ambassador in Khartoum to protest against these accusations.

Earlier, on 2 October 2014, the Sudan Tribune reported more particularly on the accusations by Libya against Khartoum:

The Sudanese foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it summoned the Libyan charge d'affaires to protest recent remarks by an army general in which he accused Khartoum of backing extremist groups in the North African nation. This follows a similar move on September 15th by the ministry in which the acting Libyan CDA was summoned to complain over same allegations made by Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni. The latter warned that Tripoli may sever ties with Khartoum as well as Doha if they continue aiding these militias. Sudan's foreign ministry reiterated its denial of meddling in Libyan internal affairs or taking sides in the ongoing conflict.

"The misleading information transmitted by media that is attributed to Libyan [army] officer claimed Sudan's interference in the internal affairs of his country,” the ministry said in a statement adding that this information is “unfounded." It denounced attempts seeking to involve Sudan in the Libyan conflict and noted the Sudanese government's recognition of the legitimacy of the elected Council of Representatives, which meets in Tobruk.

So Khartoum would appear to be ready to bluster with denial of what is revealed clearly in the minutes of the 31 August 2014 meeting of senior regime officials:

"We have intensified the work to train and graduate Libyan [Islamist rebels] Military Intelligence cadres. Currently, they are doing an advanced course on Internet operation, deciphering of codes, interception of telephones and wireless radios. Their leadership requested us to train and establish for them a strong Military Intelligence system." (General Siddiq Amer, Director General of Intelligence and Security)

"Our intelligence and security files can play a role in the improvement of our economy [how is never explained—ER] and diplomatic relations. They can also be used to abort the conspiracies of the rebellion against us. The victory of our people [Islamists of the Libya Dawn rebel movement—ER] in Libya is an indication that we will also achieve victory over the New Sudan Project ["New Sudan Project" is Khartoum's catch-all phrase for any movement toward democratization, press freedoms, equality in citizenship, and secular governance—ER]

And there seems no way to deal with this assertion by General Imad al-Din Adawy, Chief of Joint Operations:

"The Libyan border is totally secured, especially after the victory of our allies [Libya Dawn forces] in Tripoli. We managed to deliver to them the weapons and military equipment donated by Qatar and Turkey and we formed a joint operations room with them under one of the colonels in order to coordinate and administer the military operations. Turkey and Qatar provided us with information in favour of the revolutionaries on top of the information collected by our own agents so they can control the whole country."

Radio Dabanga reported very recently (28 October 2014) on further details of the Libyan accusations:

[In] late September, Libyan army officers intercepted a Sudanese convoy with Yemeni fighters at El Kufra on the Sudanese-Libyan border. On 6 September, a Sudanese military aircraft was grounded at El Kufra airport, “laden with weapons bound for [Libya Dawn] rebels.” The week before, the Sudanese military attaché in Tripoli was declared persona non grata, after being accused of supporting Libyan militia groups.

Our best news account of what is really at stake here, and the character of Libya Dawn militias is The Guardian [Tunis], 7 September 2014:

Libya has expelled the Sudanese military attaché after accusing Khartoum of flying weapons to Islamist rebels in Tripoli, raising fears of a widening regional conflict. The government, which has fled Tripoli for eastern Libya, accused Khartoum of sending a transport plane loaded with munitions for the Islamist-led Libya Dawn militias who control the capital.

"Sudan is interposing itself by providing arms to a terrorist group that is attacking the headquarters of the state," said a government statement. "This also represents a clear violation of international resolutions, and the latest UN Security Council resolution." The government said the plane entered Libyan airspace without permission on Thursday, making a refuelling stop in the southern oasis town of Kufra, where the weapons were discovered. It said the weapons were destined for the Tripoli airport of Mitiga, controlled by Libya Dawn. Sudan, which is sympathetic to Libya's Islamists, confirmed sending the plane but insisted the weapons were intended for legitimate border forces patrolling the southern desert.

This is who the NIF/NCP was and remains. And if we want to know the face of radical Islam in Libya in 2014, I can think of no more telling image than one showing some twenty-one Egyptian Coptic Christians being led to their beheadings on a beach in November 2015: http://wp.me/p45rOG-1Cg .

Sudan and Terrorism

In Senate testimony of July 2009, the Obama administration's first special envoy for Sudan, Air Force Major-General (ret.) Scott Gration, declared that:

"There's no evidence in our intelligence community that supports [Sudan] being on the state sponsors of terrorism. It's a political decision," Gration said.

At the same hearing, former Senator Russ Feingold, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on Africa rightly pushed back:

Gration said Sudan, once home to Osama Bin Laden, has been helpful in counterterrorism efforts. However, Sen. Russ Feingold, a Democrat from Wisconsin, said Sudan's cooperation is always overstated in this area.
More fully, Feingold had issued a strong statement in May of that year (2009):

"I take serious issue with the way the report [on international terrorism by the U.S. State Department] overstates the level of cooperation in our counterterrorism relationship with Sudan, a nation which the U.S. classifies as a state sponsor of terrorism. A more accurate assessment is important not only for effectively countering terrorism in the region but as part of a review of our overall policy toward Sudan, including U.S. pressure to address the ongoing crisis in Darfur and maintain the fragile peace between the North and the South." (Statement by Senator Russell Feingold, Chair of the Africa Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, May 1, 2009)
Gration was spectacularly ignorant about Sudan and was simply wrong in his claim about what U.S. intelligence knew at the time—and on multiple counts, including Khartoum's assistance in Iran's movements of weapons to Gaza—well reported at the time in The Guardian (December 6, 2010)—and the bald fact that Hamas was allowed to operate freely in Khartoum, despite being on the list of terrorist organizations compelled by a wide range of countries besides the U.S. There were many other examples as well that Gration simply chose to ignore. Rightly, Sudan remains one of only three countries on the State Department's list of “state sponsors of terrorism,” including Syria and “best-strategic-ally-for-life” Iran.

All this becomes particularly important as a Trump administration, easily as ignorant as former special envoy Gration and even more cynical, approaches a decision about whether or not to lift U.S. economic sanctions on Khartoum permanently. The terribly misguided and mendaciously justified decision by the Obama administration in January 2017 provisionally to lift sanctions can still be reversed. But depending on the administration of a xenophobic, pathologically narcissistic, and profoundly ignorant President Trump seems to make reversal a distinct long shot. And although the Trump administration that will make the decision, it was President Obama that set the clock ticking. In rewarding Khartoum's génocidaires, he is a disgrace to the campaign statement he made in running for the presidency in 2008—“that genocide in Darfur was a "stain on our souls" and that he would not "avert his eyes from human slaughter."

Unctuous words that meant nothing for the eight years of his administration, which concluded with Obama's decision to begin the process of lifting longstanding U.S. economic sanctions on a regime guilty of serial genocides.

Eric Reeves, Senior Fellow at Harvard University's François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

June 20, 2017 (HAWASSA) – Ethiopia on Tuesday inaugurated what it said is the first specialised, sustainable textile and apparel industrial park in Africa.

Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn (Allafrica)

The massive Chinese-constructed Hawassa industrial park (HIP) was inaugurated in the presence of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn who officially declared the full operationalization of the park under phase one.

At the occasion, Hailemariam said Ethiopia's vision is to be the leading manufacturing hub in Africa by the year 2025.

“Our goal is to create millions of new jobs in labor-intensive and export-oriented light manufacturing”, he said.

He added “the full operation of the Hawassa industrial park is the most evident and concrete example yet towards achieving our national vision and marks a milestone in our quest to industrialisation”.

The Hawassa world-class eco-industrial park featuring state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly technology was built by Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) at a cost of about $ 322 million.

Covering an area of 1.3 million square meters, of which 300, 000-meter square is factory shed build up area, the park has so far attracted 18 leading textile and garment companies from across the world including from America, China and India.

Also, eight domestic investors have been meticulously selected and necessary preparations are finalised to facilitate their investment inside the park.

The park, built in record time nine months implements a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) that enables to recycle 90 %of sewerage disposal water and fulfils international standards.

The plant uses the latest technology and has the capacity for treating and recycling 11 million litres of effluent every day.

Ethiopia says its rapid economic growth can only be sustained through the realization of a structural economic transformation.

The country has been registering a strong and steady economic growth for more than a decade now, with an average GDP growth rate of 11%.

The most recent report from both the World Bank (Global Economic Prospect, 2017) and IMF (World Economic Outlook 2017) forecast that the horn of Africa's nation will be one of the fastest growing economies in the world and a star performer in the African continent in 2017.

Furthermore, Ethiopia has become one of the largest recipients of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the continent.

According to UNCTAD's 2017 investment report, Ethiopia is now the second largest recipient of FDI in textile and apparel next to Vitnam.

The Ethiopian Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC) Board Chairperson Dr Arkebe Oqubay told journalists that development of world-class, specialised, sustainable, vertically integrated, export -driven and competitive industrial parks is the central drive toward realising vision 2025.

Arkebe, who is also Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, said currently there are some 10,000 employees in the Hawassa Park but at full capacity, the park will hire around 60,000 employees.

He added some companies in the park have already started to export and when the park starts production at full capacity, Ethiopia will earn around one billion USD every year from Hawassa Park alone.

Arkebe said the park could be considered as a model for other parks being built in other East African countries.

Including those two parks which recently operationalized, Ethiopia is currently building a total of 15 industrial parks across the country as part of its goal to emerge as continent's manufacturing hub.

Sudan Tribune has reliably learned that four more industrial parks namely Mekelle, kombelcha, Adama and Dire Dawa parks will be inaugurated till September.

(ST)

June 20, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan's steering committee for the national dialogue says lack of funds hindering its efforts to consult exiled rebel leader, Riek Machar and opposition politicians abroad.

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar addresses a news conference in Uganda's capital Kampala January 26, 2016 (Reuters photo)

"A committee has being formed to consult with the leader of the SPLM-IO [Riek Machar] and all [South Sudanese in the] diaspora but as you know, the government has no money and members of the international community are yet to offer their support," said Alfred Taban, a member on the information committee.

"This is serious because without money, we cannot travel outside the country to meet refugees, politicians living in exile. This is a very important step in the national dialogue," he added, shortly after a meeting of the committee chaired by Angelo Beda on Tuesday.

President Salva Kiir launched the national dialogue committee last month as parts of efforts he said will restore confidence among the local communities divided by the war. The bottom-top approach is meant to address local issues as well as national political differences that morphed into the war along tribal lines three years ago.

The armed opposition faction loyal to ex-First Vice President Machar has dismissed the dialogue as a strategy to prolong President Kiir's legitimacy after the 2015 peace agreement collapsed last year.

International donors are also reluctant to fund the process after President Kiir said his main rival Machar should not participate in the process because "he will come and cause another trouble in Juba."

However, the national dialogue steering committee has insisted that all sides in the war must participate irrespective of President Kiir's refusal to dialogue with his arch rival. But without fund, amid the economic crisis in South Sudan, the process is likely to further delay.

(ST)

June 20, 2017 (JUBA) – Fuel shortage in South Sudan worsened on Tuesday amid reports of massive corruption in the national oil supplier, Nile Petroleum (NilePet), with a liter costing 110 South Sudan Pound, the highest price for gasoline ever recorded.

Motorcycles line up for hours to get fuel before it runs out July 18, 2012 in Juba, South Sudan. (Getty)

Early this week, commuters and public transport system were paralysed in the capital Juba and government departments closed.

A government administrator said his ministry's offices remained closed this week, due to shortage of fuel to power the generator.

"We have sent many, very many letters to NilePet requesting fuel for our generator for the last three weeks but never got a single litter because we did not pay bribes. A liter costs 22 SSP at the station but you have to pay extra 8 SSP per litter and extra 5,000 SSP to the national security to escort the fuel tank to the ministry," the ministry official, who asked not to be identified, told Sudan Tribune Tuesday.

NilePet imports fuel from neighbouring East African countries since oil producing South Sudan has no oil refinery, but only one-third of fuel demands is covered and sold at official price of 22 SSP per litter, a quarter of the black market price of about 160 SSP or $1 per litter. But on Tuesday, a liter of petrol reached its highest level ever.

"Right now, water bottle of one and half litters costs 220 SSP. That means, a litter is sold at least 140 SSP," said Peter, a taxi driver.

Mary Achai, a black market dealer, confirmed the souring price, attributing it to lack fuel and rising prices of food items in the market.

"We [black market dealers] buy this fuel from the Security [officials] at a very price and had to make a little profit," explained Achai.

NilePet has, however, denied manipulating fuel supplies for it benefits and in a statement issued on Tuesday said several fuel tanks were heading to Juba from Nimule at South Sudan- Uganda border.

In various locations of the South Sudanese capital, the average price for a litter of fuel went for 115 SSP, which is six times the official price.

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June 20, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese foreign ministry said on Tuesday it will represent the interests of Yemen in Qatar after the rupture of diplomatic relations between the two countries earlier this month.

Ibrahim Ghandour (Photo Suna)

"Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour has received a message from his Yemeni counterpart (...) including a request that Sudan takes on the role of ‘protecting power', looking after the interests of the Yemen in Qatar," said a short statement issued in Khartoum.

The Minister expressed Sudan's acceptance of the request based on the strong ties between the Sudanese and Yemeni peoples.

Earlier this month, Yemen's internationally recognised government severed ties with Qatar, accusing it of working with its enemies in the Iran-backed Houthi movement.

The Yemeni decision to cut ties with Qatar came on 5 June hours after Saudi Arabia and two other Gulf countries had announced the cut of diplomatic and economic relations with Qatar, accusing the wealthy state of funding terrorist groups in the region and developing strong relations Iran.

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June 20, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir met with King Salman on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia to discuss its rift with Qatar and to propose his efforts to end the Gulf crisis in support of the Kuwaiti mediation.

The Saudi News Agency reported that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud received President al-Bashir at the royal palace in Makkah, adding they break their fast together in presence of over 20 princes.

However, the official agency didn't elaborate about bilateral talks between the Saudi monarch and the Sudanese president who is on an unofficial visit to the Kingdom.

Nonetheless, Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour who is part of the presidential delegation stated that al-Bashir in his meeting with King Salman would discuss the Gulf crisis and support mediation efforts of the Kuwaiti Emir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

Unlike several Arab countries, Khartoum didn't cut diplomatic ties with the State of Qatar and called to ease the tensions between three Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UEA with the tiny Gulf country.

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain severed diplomatic ties with Qatar over alleged accusations that Doha was supporting terrorist groups who are threats to the region's peace and security including Hamas. Also, they say that Qatar is siding Iran. But, Doha rejects all these accusations.

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June 20, 2017 (JUBA) – A leading member of the Jieng (Dinka) Council of Elders Tuesday said the reunification initiative being facilitated by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, should not only be honoured by the three factions of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) but also needs to be expanded to governance matters.

“This peace initiative being mediated and sponsored personally by President Museveni must be honoured by the three SPLM factions. Many people feel that the initiative should not be limited to the outcome of the ongoing reconciliation to Arusha's reunification of SPLMs 2014 agreement per se, but the SPLM should widen, transmit and expand on democratic reforms for the coming constitutional, making of the whole nation,” wrote Aldo Ajou Deng Akuey.

President Museveni, he added, should open up a wider door to route through a peaceful resolution of the conflict, based on universal liberties, freedoms, democracy and the rule of law, and not rule by law.

“Such comprehensive democratic reforms will relieve the SPLM from being a government movement or a government party, a system of authoritarian governance the SPLM has possessed from 1983 to date. There are many alternatives to pursue towards sustainable peace by breaking up, at this stage, the present political stalemate,” he added.

Akuey who leads a parliamentary committee for human rights, legal and constitutional affairs at the Council of States in South Sudans' parliament, explained in an opinion article released to the public on Tuesday, that the expansion of the SPLM reforms should include, an inclusive national federal constitution, liberal and free democracy and the rule of law.

The opinion article also mentioned the inclusivity of political and economic institutions and the modern creative destruction for immediate industrialisation, thus avoiding extractive political and economic institutions that promote dictatorship or an authoritarian system of government.

Such a political arrangement is best suitable for the unification of a country and its people.

"By this, the SPLM factions will come out with peace, unity and national construction for the whole country. Thus the partisan competition will open up, embracing the norms and principles of change of government through the elections," added Akuey.

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June 20, 2017 (JUBA) – The former South Sudanese army chief of general staff, General Paul Malong Awan said on Tuesday that he was aware all the ill-treatments being given to those loyal to him were a ploy to provoke reactions.

“I know the intentions. They are looking for reactions but let's not do it in their way. If we do so, we will have helped them achieve their objectives,” said Awan during a meeting at his residence in Juba with the family members and friends of the arrested presidential guard officer.

However, he did not cite the names of his supporters who were being mistreated and who was mistreating them.

Last May, South Sudan President Salva Kiir relieved, Awan from his position, among unconfirmed reports that the security service suspects him and his close aides of preparing a coup against Kiir.

Observers in Juba say Malong comments hint to the denied request to return to his area of origin in the Bahr el-Ghazal province and the replacement of all the officers who left with him after his sack. Mor'e recently, the security service arrested a presidential guard officer who is seen as one of his supporters.

Last week, first Lt Lual Akeen Akken Akec was arrested by national security services. The cause of his arrest remains speculative. His whereabouts remains unknown to his relatives since his detention.

Relatives and security sources have been providing conflicting information. Relatives have attributed the cause of his arrest to “a well-designed plan aimed at removing him from the presidency and other key strategic and influential positions in the military office, along with those who have a close connection with Gen Awan.”

Brig Gen Jel Mangok Jel and Yel Deng Nguel, two of the officers who left Juba in May with Gen Awan before to be forced to return to Juba, have reportedly been unable to get permissions to travel home to Aweil or travel abroad to visit their children at school in Uganda, despite having made numerous requests.

Major Gen Akec Adim, who was the overall head of the military police, has been sacked from his position during recent command changes made by the new SPLA chief of general staff, Gen. James Ajonga.

Local politicians previously seen loyal to Gen Awan in the states of what was the former Northern Bahr el Ghazal State - before splitting into two separate administrative units through a 2015 presidential establishment order - have also been removed from their positions.

Aweil State Governor, Ranald Ruay Deng, the Speaker of Aweil East, Akoon Diing Angok, Security Advisor, Bona Makuac Mawien and Political Advisor James Jok Lual, all were in the government of Aweil East State have also been removed from their positions.

Other low-level military officers and officials loyal to Awan also appear affected by the changes.

(ST)

June 20, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) Minni Minnawi has recognised Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu as Chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N).

SLM-MM leader Minni Minnawi (AP Photo)

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, he also called on the conflicting parties within the Movement to overcome their differences so as not to harm the struggle against the ruling regime.

As a result of a rift that started earlier this year and its successive developments, the SPLM-N is now split into two factions one led by Malik Agar and the other by his rival al-Hilu.

Al-Hilu, who gained the support of the Movement's army, has removed Malik Agar from the leadership of the armed group together with the Secretary General Yasser Arman after they rejected his demand for the self-determination.

In a letter addressed to al-Hilu, Agar and Arman Tuesday, Minnawi called on al-Hilu to win back his comrades in order to benefit from their expertise, describing Arman and Agar as “treasures” that should be preserved.

“Particularly, after you gained support and trust of the Movement's institutions and the popular army which imposes the greatest responsibility upon you,” he added.

He also called on al-Hilu to welcome any initiative aiming to rebuild the rebel umbrella Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) or establish any alternative strong alliance among the lively forces in Sudan.

The rebel leader proposed that more realistic efforts should be made to establish new and strong alliances that could avoid the flaws which have weakened the role of the SRF and hindered the strategic goal of toppling the regime and bringing about the desired change.

It is noteworthy that the SRF, since October 2015, split into two factions one headed by Malik Agar and the second by the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Gibril Ibrahim following differences between the SPLM-N and Darfur movements on the chairmanship of the rebel umbrella.

Also before the political split, al-Hilu who was the commander in chief of the SRF forces, dissolved the joint military command and encouraged the rebel commanders from Darfur region to leave with their fighters the SPLM-N controlled areas in South Kordofan.

Minnawi expressed his movement's readiness to provide the necessary support to settle the differences within the SPLM-N in order to achieve the aspirations of the Sudanese people.

He further praised Agar and Arman for calling to maintain the unity of the SPLA-N, urging all parties to work to remove the reasons behind the recent escalation.

He urged them to not seek to establish a new movement, saying such a move would adversely impact on the struggle against the regime.

“Therefore, we call on you to wait a little and listen and give a chance to the institutions of your Movement for the sake of its unity. History requires you to give the necessary appreciation of the comradeship that brought you together all these years for the cause of the homeland,” he said.

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

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June 20, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on Tuesday brought home eight children whose parents have joined the Jihadist Islamic State (ISIS) in Libya.

The representative of the Anti-Terrorism Department at the NISS, Brig. Gen. Al- Tigani Ibrahim, told reporters at Khartoum airport upon arrival of the kids they are exerting significant efforts to repatriate the Sudanese who have joined the Islamic group in Libya.

He added that 8 children have been brought back, pointing to ongoing contacts in coordination with the Libyan Red Crescent to bring back 4 others who are currently present in the town of Misrata.

The security official thanked the Libyan Attorney General's Office and the Misrata County as well as the Sudanese Embassy in Tripoli and the Sudanese community, pointing to continued efforts to repatriate mothers of the children from Libya.

For his part, the head of the Sudanese community in Misrata Muataz Mirghani said the Libyan authorities have fully cooperated with them to return the children to Sudan, pointing to ongoing efforts to bring back mothers of those kids who are being detained in Libya.

He added that 6 women who joined ISIS are currently held in Libya, saying fathers of some of the children have been killed while the fate of the rest is unknown to the Libyan authorities.

Mirghani stressed all fathers hold the Sudanese citizenship.

Last February, the NISS brought back a four-month-old baby girl whose parents were killed in Libya while fighting for ISIS.

In 2015, the Ministry of Interior in Khartoum announced that about 70 Sudanese had gone to join the ISIS franchises, both in Libya and Syria.

However, experts on Islamic groups put the total number of the Sudanese fighters within ISIS at 150 Jihadists, saying that 56 of them had travelled to join the extremist organisation from countries other than Sudan.

They say that 35 of them have been killed in Iraq and Syria while 20 others have died in Libya.

(ST)

June 14, 2017 (BENTIU) – A medical officer at Bentiu hospital has admitted the rise in Malaria cases, but dismissed its outbreak.

A WHO free malaria testing and treatment campaign in Juba (WHO)

“There are cases of malaria, which is alarming, but doesn't reach the level of outbreak,” Giel Yoach Thidor told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

Bentiu hospital is currently the only congested health center as members of neighboring countries often seek treatment there.

Malaria is a life-threatening blood disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito.

Most of those affected, officials said, are children and mothers who affected who are suffering from the ongoing war in the country, as the hospital has reportedly run short of medicines and other facilities.

A resident of Bentiu, speaking to Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity, attributed the catastrophe to poor sanitation in the area.

He urged Nuer community worldwide to help overcome the situation facing children and mothers in Bentiu before it gets out of hand.

Before conflict broke out in December 2013, Bentiu hospital was one of the best equipped hospital in South Sudan with all types of operations and specialized doctors as well as nurses in the world's youngest nation.

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June 14, 2017 (IMATONG) - South Sudan's armed opposition faction have accused government forces and their allied militias of violating the unilateral ceasefire by attacking civilians in Imatong state.

The map of Eastern Equatoria state in red

The army opposition's deputy spokesperson, Lam Paul said pro-government forces launched coordinated attacks onto their bases.

“Pro-government forces came out in multiple directions of Torit, Palotaka and Magwi with the aim to retake Moti, Iyire and Iholong areas now under our control,” Lam told Sudan Tribune Wednesday.

The rebel official said pro-government forces suffered heavy casualties, claims Sudan Tribune could not independently verify.

The rebel appointed governor of Imatong state, Oyet Nathaniel confirmed the attack, saying large numbers of civilians vacated Lyire and Ifotu payams and moved towards Imatong mountain ranges.

“The government used civilians especially women and children as human shields as they led them towards heavily fortified SPLM-A/IO headquarters in Imatong state. The government has flagrantly violated their ceasefire and reaffirmed their pursuit of military solutions to the conflict in South Sudan,” Oyet told Sudan Tribune.

“This is an act of cowardice and flagrant violation of the so-called unilateral ceasefire. SPLM-A/IO will never accept or adhere to any ceasefire which is not negotiated. Its bait meant to lure weak-hearted,” he added.

The attack, if confirmed, totally violates the unilateral ceasefire announced by President Salva Kiir as he launched the national dialogue initiative last month.

The South Sudanese government on Wednesday renewed accusations that Sudan allegedly supported its armed opposition fighters with ammunition and logistics in the wake of fresh clashes near the Sudanese border this week.

Tens of thousand 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)

June 14, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan has renewed accusations that Sudan supports its rebels with ammunition and logistics in the wake of fresh clashes near Sudan's border this week.

Omer al-Bashir (R) walks with Salva Kiir after their meeting at Khartoum's airport November 4, 2014 (Reuters Photo)

The deputy army spokesperson, Santo Domic Chol said rebels allied to the former first vice president Riek Machar carried out a number of attacks at army positions in South Sudan's Upper Nile state.

"The rebels launched attacks against the SPLA in Kuek and Ghabat on June 9 and 11. The SPLA thought it was SAF [Sudan Armed Forces] doing the attack. But it became clear in the process of fighting that the rebels are the ones attacking SPLA using SAF uniforms, war hardware and logistics," he told reporters Wednesday.

The official claimed the Sudanese army allegedly offered logistics, training and military hardware, including heavy weapons to rebels.

"The capabilities used by the rebels in these operations indicate that the rebels have received military support from neighboring Sudan," said Chol.

Sudan, he said, also permitted senior South Sudan rebel leaders living in Khartoum to plan their operations and that SAF offered their bases along the border for rebel forces to gather intelligence and launch military operations against the army.

Meanwhile, deputy spokesman for the rebels dismissed as “baseless” accusations that the armed opposition receives support from Sudan.

"These are baseless accusations from the government of Juba,” Lam said, dismissing the army's claims that Sudan militarily backs rebels.

Bilateral relations between South Sudan and Sudan were officially started on 9 July 2011 following the former's independence from the latter. Sudan became the first country to recognise South Sudan's independence. Since South Sudan's independence, relations between Sudan and South Sudan have been poor and frantic.

(ST)