Sudan Tribune

June 12, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - Two people were killed and ten others injured on Sunday by unidentified gunmen at the locality of Al-Twisha, North Darfur State.

An eyewitness by the name of Ahmed Daw al-Bait told Sudan Tribune Monday that residents from the Um Katkout village were chasing gunmen who stole their cattle when they were ambushed, saying two villagers have been killed and 10 others injured.

According to the eyewitness, the injured have been transferred to El-Fasher, North Darfur capital for treatment.

For his part, the member of the North Darfur legislative council Sulieman Mukhtar told Sudan Tribune that a group of residents from Um Katkout have been ambushed, saying two were killed and 10 others injured, including three seriously.

Mukhtar added that additional numbers of villagers have headed to the incident's scene, urging the authorities to protect them against any further attack.

He pointed that the gunmen are unknown, calling on the security organs to hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

(ST)

June 12, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A tripartite meeting between Sudan, United States and Norway Monday has discussed the Sudanese-American relations and the situation in South Sudan, said Sudan's Foreign Ministry

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Gharib Allah Khidir said Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour has met in Oslo with the representative of the Office of the U.S. Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Paul Steven and the Norwegian Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Erling Skojonsberg.

According to Khidir, the meeting discussed “the course of Sudan-US relations regarding the five-track engagement between the two sides besides some regional issues, especially the situation South Sudan”.

On 13 January, former U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order to ease the 19-year sanctions against Sudan enabling trade and investment transactions to resume with the east African nation.

Washington is involved in a five-track engagement process with the Sudan over the permanent lift of sanctions on Sudan. Several agencies, including the State Department, have to present to President Donald Trump this month their findings and recommendations over the fate of the sanctions.

The five-track process includes the fight against terrorism, Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Sudan's role in the peace process in South Sudan, Sudan's peace and the humanitarian situation in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

SUDAN-NORWAY RELATIONS

Meanwhile, Ghandour on Monday has discussed with his Norwegian counterpart Børge Brende ways to promote bilateral ties between the two countries in the various fields.

According to Khidir, the meeting also discussed regional and international challenges besides the internal developments in Sudan.

He added that Ghandour invited Brende to visit Khartoum, saying the latter has accepted the invitation and promised to fulfil it as soon as possible.

Khidir pointed that Ghandour has briefed Brende on the pivotal role played by Sudan to resolve some regional crises, particularly in South Sudan, stressing participation of President Omer al-Bashir in the IGAD summit on South Sudan.

The press release added that Ghandour pointed to Sudan's engagement with the regional and international partners to address the crisis in South Sudan, stressing the importance to reach a ceasefire and resume talks among all warring parties.

It pointed that the two sides agreed to continue the work of the political consultation mechanisms between the two countries, saying Norway vowed to support Sudan's request to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Khidir further said Sudan's top diplomat and his Norwegian counterpart agreed to exchange diplomatic training between the two countries, saying Brende pledged to support peace efforts in Darfur and the Two Areas.

(ST)

June 12, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudan President Salva Kiir has received a special message from his Egyptian counterpart, Abdul Fatah al-Sisi, in which that latter assured the former of support and strengthening bilateral relations in various areas.

Egypt's assistant minister of Foreign Affairs for South Sudan and Sudan with President Salva Kiir, June 12, 2017 (ST)

Ambassador Ahamed Fadel Yaguop, Egypt's assistant minister of Foreign Affairs for South Sudan and Sudan delivered the message in the capital, Juba on Monday.

South Sudan, according to the country's minister for the presidency, Mayiik Ayiik Deng currently enjoys cordial relations, which binds the two Nile basin countries.

Deng said Kiir and the visiting diplomat discussed various issues of bilateral relations, including economic and commercial ties as well as regional and international matters and areas of cooperation in which the two countries can enhance ties for the mutual benefits of the two citizens. other issues discussed were the removal of obstacles to the flow of trade between the countries and work to increase investment opportunities in education, health, electricity, agriculture and power.

The Egyptian diplomat told reporters in Juba that he held a frank and cordial discussion with President Kiir on bilateral relations between the two countries.

The minister said a number of aeroplanes would come to South Sudan based on the instruction from the Egyptian president as part of its humanitarians support to the people of the young nation during the current political, economic and security situation.

He described as "historic" relations between the North African nation and South Sudan.

Egypt was one of the country's that officially recognised South Sudan's independence when the latter got its independence from Sudan in July 2011.

(ST)

June 12, 2017 (JUBA) - The South Sudan national dialogue committee, Monday has denied backing efforts aimed at blocking the return of the exiled rebel leader, Riek Machar, and preventing his participation in the political process.

The dialogue body in a statement released to the public described as misleading media reports claiming that Angelo Beda, co-chair of the dialogue committee was backing efforts aimed at denying the return of Machar to participate in the process.

The statement further claimed that the committee was exerting efforts to persuade President Kiir to allow the return of Machar as a normal citizen.

President Kiir and government officials say they prefer for the time being to keep the former first vice president in his forced exile and support the idea the main rebel group join the dialogue in order to make it inclusive and successful.

"The President does not intend to block Dr Riek Machar from participation in the National Dialogue since he has already welcomed the participation of Machar's delegation," said the statement pointing that the insistence of the rebel leader on the “Armed Resistance”, contradicts the basic principles of a peaceful dialogue.

"Thus, If Dr Machar is for peace and stability of the country, he can accept the proposal for non-violence and peaceful resolution of the conflict through a credible and transparent National Dialogue (ND) and such a gesture would be highly appreciated by everyone and therefore, he would be most welcome to participate in the ND," further reads the statement.

The SPLM-IO insists on the need to hold talks between the two main warring parties to reinvigorate the 2015 peace agreement and reactivate the security arrangements including the ceasefire. The presence of the SPLM-IO faction led by Taban Deng Gai in the transitional government seemingly represents an obstacle that Machar factions intends to clear before to go to the political process.

However, the committee explained that the national dialogue initiative is both a forum and process through which the people of South Sudan shall gather to address the root causes of their conflict, redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, citizenship and belonging, as well as the restructure of the state institutions for national inclusion and stability.

The key objective is to end the conflict and usher a new era of sustainable peace, reconciliation and to prepare for a national election, the committee emphasised.

Angelo Beda, according to the statement, said that the declared unilateral ceasefire and the release of political prisoners by the President as well as other gestures of good will were significant positive steps taken to build confidence and create a conducive environment for the National Dialogue.

"In this respect, Dr Riek Machar is equally expected to take a gesture of goodwill by reviewing his earlier declaration of “armed resistance” made in Khartoum," it further stated.

The national dialogue, which was officially launched by President Kiir last month, is both a forum and process through which the people of South Sudan shall gather to address the root causes of their conflict, redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, citizenship and belonging, as well as the restructure of the state institutions for national inclusion and stability.

Since mid-December 2013, tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in South Sudan's worst ever violence during its post-independence period.

(ST)

June 12, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) Monday has released a report saying security and humanitarian situations are steadily worsening in Darfur and regretted that international reports do not reflect the situation on the ground.

The United Nations Security Council is set to discuss the situation in Darfur region this week and is expected to change the mandate of the hybrid peacekeeping operation to a peace-building force.

In a 50-page report covering a three-month period from December 15, 2016, to March 15, 2017, the SLM-Humanitarian Team collected "a wide range of information on the government's humanitarian violations, including patterns and frequency of the manifestation of violence against civilians" in the region.

The report further challenged the figures of human rights violations included in the UN reports on the same three month period and produced its own statics on the killing, rape abduction, looting, and displacement cases.

Among others, the SLM report says the death toll of civilians according to the UN report during the three month period has reached 84 people while the armed group claim that the human causalities are at 216 victims. Also, the SLM refutes the figure of rape cases given by the UN (181 cases) saying there were 279 rape and sexual assaults crimes.

The armed group continues to paint a gloomy picture of the humanitarian situation pointing to food shortage and deterioration in the humanitarian services to the displaced people. It further says this situation "represents a grave security threat".

The report denounces the lack of accountability for the perpetrators of war crimes, stressing that the impunity in Darfur "remains a major factor for the continuation of the cycle of violence against the civilians and seriously impacts the already catastrophic humanitarian situation".

The SLM-MM fighters clashed last month with the government forces in North and East Darfur. Khartoum said the rebels entered the region from South Sudan and Libya.

The African Union mediation has failed to bring the warring parties in the region to sign a cessation of hostilities agreement and to negotiate a lasting peace in Darfur.

The armed groups demand to open the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), but Khartoum rejects any attempt to change the framework agreement.

The SLM report accused the government of obstructing the AU-led efforts to sign a Cessation of Hostilities agreement (CoH) in August 2016.

"Defining the areas or location of forces of the parties, disagreement on the establishment of Joint Humanitarian Mechanism, the release of prisoners of war, and the status of Doha Document," were the main differences that hampered the signing of a humanitarian truce deal, according to the report.

" The fact is that government's intransigence on conditioning the Doha Document as the base for any political talks before concluding the CoH was the primary cause that torpedoed and prevented any progress".

(ST)

Click here to read the full text of the report: SLM Report on Security Situation and Peace Process in Darfur

June 11, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan army (SPLA) on Sunday dismissed as unfounded reports alleging the military lost heavy weapons during recent clashes with the armed opposition forces in Upper Nile state.

Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) soldiers singing pro-war song (AFP file photo)

The army spokesperson, Col. Santo Domic Chol said their forces have never confronted rebels ever since the president declared a unilateral ceasefire.

"All those reports in the social media are unfounded and baseless. The public should not rely on them. They are just part of propaganda by anti-peace elements. Our forces have not lost any weapons anywhere, let alone reports talking about losing tanks and other weapons,” Chol told the state-owned SSBC in a Sunday interview.

“It is not true and the public is advised not to rely on them [social media reports]", he added.

The military spokesman further stressed that the SPLA remains fully committed to respecting orders made by President Salva Kiir, but will only respond to aggression from rebels in self-defense.

Chol's response came in the wake of the armed opposition faction's claims that their fighters clashed with pro-government forces in the Upper Nile region and this reportedly resulted into their forces taking over a town, which was previously held by pro-government forces.

The rebels claimed they captured three tanks, two land cruisers mounted with 12.7 mm AA machine guns, 24 Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG-7) launchers, 30 PKM and over 300 AK-47 rifles in good condition.

Sudan Tribune could not, however, independently verify claims from rebels.

The rebels appealed to the international community to resuscitate the 2015 peace deal and free their leader from “unnecessary” confinement and detention in South Africa.

South Sudan has witnessed renewed clashes between forces loyal to South Sudan President Kiir and the armed opposition faction backing the country's former First Vice-President, Riek Machar in spite of the August 2015 peace deal.

The young nation has become the world's fastest growing refugee crisis with more than 1.8 million refugees, including one million children, having sought safety in Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.

Last month, two United Nations agencies appealed to donors to step up support for people fleeing South Sudan as the $1.4 billion response plan remains 86% unfunded.

(ST)

June 10, 2017 (MALUALKON) - The Governor of Aweil East State has ordered that the recently sacked relief coordinator be placed under house arrest, despite being appointed by the national government.

Map detail showing South Sudan's border state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal

Deng Deng Akuei replaced Mawien Arol, who was appointed by South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (SSRRC).

SSRRC is an independent national commission with an independent budget and constitutional mandate to recruit, hire and deploy its employees to different parts of the country to implement objectives for which it was established by an act of parliament.

The motive behind the decision of the governor, until now, remains unclear.

Local officials and area legislators, in series of interviews, told Sudan Tribune that the governor was infuriated by the national government's decision, which prevented him from making changes.

"They have been looking for me for the last two days. I don't know why. The governor has directed the security personnel to look for me. They went to my village in Manyiel and Peth, but they did not find me there. They then decided to call today and I told them where I am currently,” Arol told Sudan Tribune on Friday.

“When I they heard where I am, they said it is better you tell us where you are otherwise it will be rough if it is us going to look for you. So I told them the place and they came. Now I am with them. They are taking me to the detention. I do not know what I have done and I do not know the governor is treating me like this,” he added.

Akec Mel, another official who was removed from his position in the same institution claimed the governor replaced Arol with his relative and declined to the leadership of the relief and rehabilitation body, which deployed Arol to the state from Juba.

"What happened is that the governor last week said he had replaced Mawien Arol with his private secretary, Ngong Acuil Alor, who is his cousin and asked us to hand over the office,” said Mel.

"Because we did not want to be blamed by the headquarters for not letting them know, we forwarded this information to our offices in Juba and they wrote to him [the governor] saying his action undermines the independence of the commission,” he added.

Mel said he has since been detained with a colleague on the governor's orders.

(ST)

June 9, 2017 (KAMPALA) - The International Youth for Africa (IYA), a South Sudan-based human rights entity has strongly condemned the killing of civilians along Juba-Nimule road and urged the country's rebels and pro-government forces to desist from attacking civilians.

The wreckage of a bus on the Juba-Nimule road on 29 September 2014

Over 20 people were killed and dozens injured during the attack, which the armed opposition forces claimed to have carried out.

IYA's executive director, Ter Manyang Gatwich accused the armed opposition of violating the recently agreed upon unilateral ceasefire.

“IYA condemns [the attack] in strongest term possible. Those who claimed the responsibility need to be taken to the court. Both SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO committed a lot of human rights abuse this including arbitrary detention, torture, killing, forced and disappears,” he said.

The official, however, appealed to the country's two main warring factions to sort out their differences through a peaceful dialogue.

“A political agreement should be the first to stop the war and then followed by the national dialogue in the context of reconciliation, forgiveness and accountability,” further stressed Gatwich.

Any dialogue, he said, should involve the country's political parties and main stakeholders like church leaders, the youth, women and community leaders who are both within and outside the country.

Gatwich also urged regional leaders and the international community to put pressure on the country's leaders to end the war that has displaced millions.

(ST)

June 10, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - Government forces managed to kill two commanders from the Sudan Liberation Movement - Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) during a recent military confrontation this week in North Darfur state, a military official said on Saturday.

"The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last Thursday have killed Commander Khater Shata and Commander Adam Bakheit in a battle in Aru area, northeast of Ambro, North Darfur State, a military source told Sudan Tribune under the cover of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

The RSF troops also "captured four rebels and seized four Toyota vehicles including three Land Cruisers and one Hilux," he further said.

Shatta is the SLM-MM's logistics and supply officer, while Adam Bakhit is the Movement's deputy commander for North Darfur operations.

A joint rebel force from the SLM-MM and SLM- Transitional Council fought the government troops in North and East Darfur in a series of attacks that began on 20 May 2017 in order to reach the mountainous area of Jebel Marra.

While the force that penetrated into East Darfur from South Sudan was quickly crushed, the rebels who reached North Darfur from Libya clashed first in Wadi Hawar and continued to move towards Jebel Marra before to be defeated by Ain Siro.

Since, the RSF and the army have launched pursuit operations to hunt those who fled Ain Siro battlefield.

The military source said the authority tracked the phones of fugitive rebels and determined their positions, adding it was the last group to escape after the battle of Ain Siro.

Following Ain Siro battle, government forces captured a number of rebel senior leaders, including the Chairman of the SLM- Transitional Council Nimir Abdel Rahman and the SLM-MM spokesperson Ahmed Mustafa Adarop.

(ST)

June 10, 2017 (WANYJOK) - The leadership of the Episcopal Church of Sudan and South Sudan has no Saturday officially inaugurated and installed the new bishop of Wanyjok, marking the spread and expansion of the Anglican faith in the country to areas predominantly Roman Catholic.

Bishop Joseph Mamer Manot, was on Saturday enthroned at a religious function attended by the Episcopal Bishop of Aweil, Abraham Yel Nhial and the new bishop of Nyamellel, Peter Garang.

The new Speaker of Aweil East state Santino Deng Deng Maluil also attended on behalf of the state administration. He appealed for unity and religious guide in service delivery.

He pointed out unity and collaboration between different institutions of the government and religious establishment was the only way through which peace and stability could be achieved.

Maluil told the gathering that South Sudan was a secular state without a control of the religious practice, emphasising the importance of separating politics from religion.

"We need to share a common vision and a common work to defend secularism and religious plurality, where no space should be left to ambiguity. As the government, we will work to promote peaceful coexistence and free choice of association.

He called for religious to find a balance between citizenship and religious coherence, away from bigotry and extremism.

Bahr el Ghazal region was initially predominantly Catholic Verona Fathers, in accordance with the colonial regulations, until 1942 when Anglican missionaries from the Christian Mission Service (CMS) arrived in Wau and established a school in 1950 at Gel River.

In 1988 Wau became a Diocese with the Rt Rev John Malou Ater being the first Bishop of Wau Diocese.

Today, with the increase in the population of an Episcopal congregation in the country, the church is growing tremendously from a few members scattered around the Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr El Ghazal and the Warrap States.

Under the leadership of Bishop Moses Deng Bol, the church has established new dioceses including Aweil Diocese under Abraham Yel Nhial in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State with two more Area Dioceses of Wanyjok Area Diocese under Joseph Mamer Manot and Nyamlel Area Diocese under Peter Garang Akuei.

Abyei Diocese under Michael Deng Kutpiny, Gogrial Diocese under Abraham Ngor and Tonj Diocese under Peter Yuol Gur have been established.

(ST)

June 10, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The secretary-General of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) Ali al-Haj Mohamed has rejected terror list issued by Saudi Arabia and its allies praising Qatar's support for Sudan.

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani attends the 25th Arab Summit in Kuwait City, March 25, 2014 (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed)

On Monday, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain severed ties with Qatar, saying Doha is harbouring a multitude of terrorist and sectarian groups that aim to create instability in the region.

The four nations on Friday issued a list of 59 individuals and 12 entities they say are linked to Qatar over terrorism. The list includes the Muslim Brotherhood's spiritual leader, Yousef Al-Qaradawi, and the 12 entities include the Qatari-funded charities Qatar Charity and Eid Charity.

Al-Haj, who addressed a meeting of his party's Shura Council in Khartoum Saturday, has criticised the list of terror issued by those countries, denouncing the criteria by which these persons and entities have been classified.

He stressed that he does not accept the designation of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) as a terrorist organisation, wondering “how can someone like Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi be a terrorist.”

“We reject this classification, we don't beat the drums of war, despite the presence of its signals, and we confirm that we are in permanent contacts with all embassies and our single message to them is that what is happening is not in the interest of all of us,” he said.

The PCP is an Islamist group that shares strong ties with other Islamist groups in Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen. Its former leader the late Hassan al-Turabi travelled regularly to Doha where he was received by the Qatari officials.

The PCP secretary general pointed to Sudan's participation in the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, saying Khartoum would work alongside the Kuwaitis, Americans, Europeans and the others to resolve the crisis.

He added the PCP and the Sudanese people appreciate the significant role played by Qatar in Sudan's affairs, saying it is the only country that supported Sudan in the Darfur issue.

Al-Haj also pointed to the Qatari ruling family delegation that came to Sudan to offer condolences on the death of the PCP leader Hassan al-Turabi, saying these are historical stances that we mustn't forget.

In the wake of the crisis, Khartoum called for self-restraint and announced its support for Kuwait's efforts to prevent further deteriorations of the situation and engaged efforts to reach a compromise ending this crisis between the sisterly states.

However, in a debate on Wednesday on the Gulf crisis at the National Assembly, Sudanese MPs called on the government to voice its support to Qatar saying the tiny Gulf state supported Sudan politically and economically when the country faced an international isolation.

(ST)

June 10, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government Saturday said differences within the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) would obstruct peace talks and exacerbate the suffering of residents of the Two Areas.

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

Sharp differences have emerged within the SPLM-N since last March when the Movement's deputy chairman Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu tendered his resignation and criticised SPLM-N's chairman Malik Agar and Secretary General Yasser Arman.

On Wednesday, the Nuba Mountains Liberation Council (NMLC), an SPLM-N regional body, decided to install al-Hilu as temporary chairman of the Movement, to relieve Agar from the leadership of the armed group together with Arman, and to prevent them from entering the SPLM-N controlled areas.

However, Agar rejected the move describing it as a “coup d'état if it succeeds will pave the way for other coups to come after”.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) Saturday quoted the government's spokesperson Ahmed Bilal Osman as saying they are fully ready to resume peace talks after it has accepted the U.S. proposal to deliver humanitarian assistance to the affected in the Two Areas.

He pointed that the timeframe given by the African mediation to the SPLM-N is sufficient to resume the talks within the coming days; calling on the Movement to resolve its internal differences, which he said represent the greatest obstacle to achieve peace in the Two Areas.

The African Union is brokering peace talks between the Sudanese government and opposition including the armed groups in Darfur and the Two Areas. Last April, SPLM-N announced they agreed with the African Union chief mediator, Thabo Mbeki, to postpone peace talks to next July.

Osman further said the Movement continues to stick to its negative stance towards peace despite efforts exerted by the regional and international community, adding “the government is ready to resume negotiations at any time so that the people of the Two Areas could enjoy full security and stability”.

Talks between the government and the Movement for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access are stalled since last August. The SPLM-N demands to deliver 20% of the humanitarian assistance through a humanitarian corridor from Asosa, an Ethiopian border town.

But the government rejects the idea saying it is a breach of the state sovereignty and a manoeuvre from the rebels to bring arms and ammunition to their locked rebel-held areas in the Two Areas.

The SPLM-N last November declined an American proposal to transport humanitarian medical assistance directly to the civilians in the rebel-held areas in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

(ST)

June 10, 2017 (JUBA) - A South Sudanese official has denied media reports of an alleged diplomatic row with Qatar, amid unconfirmed reports that the East African nation was reviving relations with Egypt and other Gulf states.

"There is nothing like that. Our relations with Qatar are on the basis of mutual benefits just like we do with other countries in the world and with which we do not have any problem. We enjoy strong political and economic relations with all countries with which we have established diplomatic relations", South Sudan's Foreign Affairs Minister, Deng Alor Kuol told Sudan Tribune Saturday.

There were unconfirmed reports saying that Juba decided to back the decision by three Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, Barbarian and UAE as well as Egypt to severe diplomatic ties with Qatar and to impose an economic embargo on the tiny state.

Kuol said he was unaware of any diplomatic row between South Sudan and Qatar before, during and when he was removed from serving the government in 2013.

A former cabinet affairs minister, Kuol was removed by South Sudan's President Salva Kiir in a cabinet reshuffle but returned in 2016 as part of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU).

The foreign affairs minister said he is aware the two nations signed a special agreement to establish a team specifically tasked with strengthening bilateral trade ties.

In March 2012, following a difference with Khartoum over oil fees and the shutdown of oil production, Juba received a 100-million dollar loan from the Qatar National Bank (QNB).

Qatar was one of the nations that recognised South Sudan's independence in 2011.

Over the past two decades, however, Qatar has grown its international profile and punched above its weight in international affairs and is currently a member of numerous international organisations and maintains bilateral relations around the globe.

(ST)

June 9, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - Nine people were killed and several others injured Friday after a fire broke out at Silk camp for displaced persons in Korma area, some 50 kilometres north-west of El-Fasher, North Darfur State capital.

Ahmed Abdallah, a tribal chief from the area, told Sudan Tribune that the “fire raced through the Silk camp in Korma area, leading to the death of nine people and wounding several others with varying injuries”.

He added the camp witnessed a similar fire break out last month and two times earlier, saying they don't rule out that there are some hands that want to shut down the camp.

In February, a fire broke out at one of the neighbourhoods in the locality of Al Lait Jar Al Nabi, northeast of El-Fasher, and destroyed more than 25 houses without causing any casualties.

Also, a fire broke out in one of the villages of Fata Barno in the locality of Kutum, North Darfur in late January destroying 25 houses completely.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

June 9, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) – Two Ethiopia- based South Sudan students union who support two different SPLM factions on Friday said they are jointly working to united themselves as part of the efforts to bring about durable peace and stability in the youngest nation.

Members of the Warrap state electoral commission conduct elections in Uganda on 18 October 2014 (ST)

A delegation of South Sudan students union which had been in Juba has returned back to Ethiopia after meeting top government officials over issues of national concerns.

The unions attempting to merge themselves under one acceptable leadership are student union supporting SPLM faction under the leadership of President Salva Kiir and those students backing SPLM-IO under the leadership of Vice-President Taban Deng.

Ajak Koul Dengdit, South Sudan Students in Ethiopia provisional chairperson and head of the delegation told Sudan Tribune that the student delegation withdrawn from both unions had consulted with the leaders of South Sudan on ways how the students could play a role along with the government as a way forward to bring about lasting peace, healing and national reconciliation.

Currently, there are around 3,000 South Sudanese students in Ethiopia who are enrolled in various Ethiopian universities and institutions on government sponsorships and private sponsored ones.

The students here in Ethiopia, however, had been divided on the basis of political affiliation after the civil war that broke out in December 2013.

The provisional body newly established now says it has consulted with the students here in Ethiopia and have laid the foundation to conduct a general election to run both unions under one acceptable leadership.

“one of the issues is our need to reorganise harmonise and to conduct students general election that is expected to bring all South Sudanese students countrywide together under a united leadership and secondly to consult and express our support to the national dialogue initiated and declared by President Salva Kiir as an alternative way to realise peace”peace,” said Ajak.

In seeking for a solution to the matter and while in Juba Ajak said the delegation has knocked at the doors of many top government officials over the two issues mentioned.

According to the delegation has got pledges to support and facilitate during the Union's course of action.

“I would like to inform the general students' body in Ethiopia that we are going to conduct the students general election soon we secure the assistance the government pledged to extend.”

(ST)

June 9, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The head of the SPLM North, Malik Agar, on Friday described the appointment of Abdel Aziz al-Hilu as chairman of the Movement as a coup based on tribal alliances. Further, he reiterated his proposal to choose a temporary leadership from the current leadership council according to the seniority of its membership.

The Nuba Mountains Liberation Council (NMLC) Wednesday decided to install al-Hilu as temporary president of the Movement, to relieve Agar from the leadership of the armed group together with the secretary general Yasir Arman, and to prevent them from entering the SPLM-N controlled areas.

But Agar rejected the move describing it as a "coup d'état if it succeeds will pave the way for other coups to come after," he said, stressing that "a coup cannot lead and build a democratic national movement and will not be accepted by the Movement's members and leaders, or why did our people resist for 27 years the coup of al-Bashir".

In addition, he challenged the legality of the meeting of the Nuba Liberation Council saying it did not have a quorum. He pointed out that a "handful" of NMLC members held the meeting under a direct order from al-Hilu and tried to hide the weakness of attendance through the organisation of a public celebration to mark the 6th anniversary of the resumption of the war on June 6, 2011.

Agar wondered how a regional body can decide to dissolve the SPLM-N leadership council, saying it is a "political, legal and constitutional paradox". Further, he underscored that the decisions of the NMLC were signed by a colonel who joined the SPLA-N in 2012 who dismissed the chairman and the secretary-general, both have the rank of Lieutenant General.

The SPLM-N leader stressed that the decisions of the Nuba Liberation Council were based on an alliance between certain tribes, warning that this is "unacceptable" and would divide the Movement on a tribal basis.

Also, he said "the small group working on the engineering of this coup is a group with tribal orientations that led to tribal fighting in the Blue Nile, a matter that should not happen in the Nuba Mountains. "

Agar was referring to the recent clashes that occurred in between the SPLA-N controlled areas in the Blue Nile state between the group's members from the Adak tribe against their comrades from Al-Angassana, the tribe of Malik Agar. The former supported al-Hilu's move against Agar.

NEW LEADERSHIP

He renewed his readiness and the Secretary General to voluntarily renounce the leadership of the group saying that "it is better for the Movement to choose a temporary leadership in accordance with the seniority of the current leadership council to oversee the convening of the General Conference with the participation of real representatives of the Two Areas and the states of the northern sector (Sudan) and representatives of the Movement in the Diaspora."

He stressed that the Chairman and the Secretary-General will never run for any future executive position in any way, adding that the movement needs a comprehensive assessment and openness to determine the way forward.

He reiterated that "it is not acceptable that a small group of Kauda town decide the future of the Movement".

He pointed out that the right to self-determination is one of the contentious issues with al-Hilu in that sense that the movement's chairman and secretary-general and many others leaders and members of the movement adhere to the vision of the New Sudan and the unity of Sudan on new bases.

He further said the other contention with al-Hilu that the latter after his return from a secret foreign visit, he started to discuss the possibility of dividing the Sudan into five countries with the SPLM-N's cadre.

Agar called on al-Hilu to realise before it was too late that his "coup paves the way for internal and external forces to encircle the Movement, forces that have been in full hostility with the Movement and will now find a golden opportunity."

He appealed the Movement's forces and members to preserve the SPLM-N unity and to move away from ethnic and tribal, geographical divisions and commit themselves to the group's vision.

(ST)

June 9, 2017 (JUBA) - A South Sudanese veteran journalist and the editor in chief of a daily newspaper in Juba has called for a reverse of a decision barring foreign journalists from entering and operating in the country.

"The country is in dialogue which requires media coverage. It is not the time to bar media from entering and operating in South Sudan. It is a time to allow them to come and report what they see so that they can give out correct information and help in disseminating information of the dialogue," Alfred Taban, chairperson of Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) told Sudan Tribune on Friday

The Veteran South Sudanese journalist was reacting to a decision by the South Sudan Media Authority (SSMA) banning unnamed 20 foreign journalists from entering or operating in the country for what it termed “unsubstantiated and unrealistic stories”.

The chairman of the regulatory agency, Elijah Alier, Thursday claimed that the banned journalists had often reported stories with the potential to incite hate and violence among the South Sudanese. Alier, who did not disclose any names, said the SSMA had issued over 200 permits to foreign journalists and media houses to operate in the country.

These journalists, he said, had filed stories that insulted or degraded South Sudan and its people. sometimes, he claimed, they incite violence rather than encouraging the public to embrace peace. these reports, he adds, undermines the provisions of the Media Authority Act.

Taban said the decision of the public funded Media Authority to ban foreign journalists was in favour of the government and not the country and so its actions may not be helpful and should be reversed.

"The media authority should not be a tool to stifle press freedom and media activities in the country. It should be the one to enhance a working relation between the government and the media instead o becoming part of the government. It should be a regulatory body but what it has done now will not help facilitate the smooth working relations between the media and the government. It will discourage foreign media to not enter South Sudan because they know they will not be protected and this will have an impact on the dialogue process. And it means there is something which the government wants to hide from the public," said the veteran journalist.

Alier, however, admitted that foreign journalists can contribute to mobilising international community on the humanitarian issues in the country.

“Reporting about the humanitarian situation is acceptable. Such reports are helping South Sudan as they inform the world and the donor community,” he said.

Recently, the South Sudanese authorities have rejected to authorise foreign journalists working with international media agencies or services such as AFP, Reuters and Voice of America among others.

South Sudan is one of the countries in the world which has increasingly become repressive and dangerous for journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Several journalists have died in the young nation.

(ST)

June 9, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ministry of defence said it would send additional troops to Yemen to join the Arab coalition forces.

Sudanese troops participating in the 'North Thunder' military drill with troops from 20 nations in Saudi Arabia on 16 February 2016 (Photo Saudi Press Agency)

The Sudanese army has been participating in the Saudi-led military coalition since 2015 in a regional effort to back the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after he was ousted from the capital Sanaa by the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels.

According to the Khartoum-based Al-Saiha newspaper Friday, Sudan's state minister of defence Maj. Gen. Ali Salim disclosed that preparations are underway to send a new batch of troops to Yemen.

Last month, Sudanese military sources revealed that 21 Sudanese troops have been killed in Yemen, including 4 officers.

The Sudanese forces include elements from the regular army and the Rapid Support Forces.

Saudi officials said they want to benefit from the Sudanese experience in the counterinsurgency warfare.

(ST)

June 9, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Amnesty International (AI) has urged the Saudi authorities to release two Sudanese activists warning against deporting them to Khartoum as there is a real risk they would be subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.

Elgassim Seed Ahmed and Elwaleed Imam have been detained without charge in al-Ha'ir Prison since their arrest on 21 December 2016.

“They were interrogated around eight times mostly about their social media activism following their support of the civil disobedience protest in Sudan in December 2016 on Facebook” according to the human rights group.

The rights groups added that “both men had last been interrogated in March 2017, when they were told by prison authorities that they are being detained and interrogated at the behest of the Sudanese authorities”.

“The security officers from the General Directorate of Investigations (GDI, or al-Mabahith) told them that they were now awaiting trial, after which they could face imprisonment or deportation to Sudan,” said Amnesty.

The rights groups pointed that the content of questioning and ill-treatment they faced besides the collection of their passports “raise fears that the authorities are preparing for their deportation to Sudan, where they would be at risk of additional arbitrary detention, torture and other ill-treatment”.

It further called on the Saudi Arabian authorities to release the two activists “immediately and unconditionally, as they are prisoners of conscience detained solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression”.

Elgassim Seed Ahmed has lived in Saudi Arabia since 1998 and Elwaleed Imam since 2013. Both men work in a supply company in Riyadh.

On 14 March 2016, the Saudi authorities released the Sudanese blogger Walid al-Hussein after 235 days in arbitrary detention. Al-Hussein, who runs the Sudanese opposition website Al-Rakooba, was taken by security agents on July 23 rd 2015 from his home in the city of al-Khobar in Saudi Arabia.

In 2005, the interior ministers of Saudi Arabia and Sudan signed a security pact in Khartoum which included clauses related to preventing any activities by residents or citizens on their territories that are hostile to the government of the other side.

Saudi Arabia is generally very sensitive to any foreign political activities on its territory.

In 2011, the Saudi government issued a decree banning any events of political nature without prior permission and warned of consequences to foreign nationals for violating this order which included deportation.

(ST)

June 9, 2017 (JUBA)- High ranking military officers in South Sudanese army have been killed on Thursday when their convoy came under attack on Juba - Nimule road, resulting in the death of more than 40 people, the SPLM-IO rebels said on Friday.

Brigadier General Charles Kon AKot and Colonel Amigo Ange were killed in an ambush carried out by the rebel fighters of the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) under command of the former first vice president turned armed opposition leader, Riek Machar.

Police spokesperson, Brigadier Daniel Justin Thursday confirmed the attack, which occurred near Moli village in the Eastern Equatoria State.

He told reporters in Juba that 14 people lost their lives, and 10 have been injured and the cars in which they were travelling have been burnt.

In a statement claiming responsibility for the attack signed by Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the SPLA-IO said the attack was a response to the repeated attacks on their positions by the government forces and to tell the world it was not part of the national dialogue declared by President Salva Kiir.

"The SPLA-IO takes responsibility on the Juba - Nimule road ambush of yesterday 8/6/2017 and would like to make it clear that the ambush on Nimule-Juba highway was carried out by its forces of the Anyanya division in Imotong state.," said the statement.

The statement denounced repeated attacks by the government forces on their positions and denied Juba claims that the SPLA-IO in Imotong state joined the national dialogue process.

"This is our response to the constant attacks on our bases and making (a) false claim about us joining the National dialogue. The SPLA-IO will not dialogue without it's Commander in Chief and will not sit back while the government continues attacking its bases," reads a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

The SPLA-IO, further said they destroyed four military Land Cruisers and nine other vehicles. Five Ak47 were recovered in good condition. More than 40 lives perished including civilians who were caught in the crossfire.

The armed opposition regretted the loss of civilian lives who felt victims due to an exchange of fire with the government forces who used them as cover.

The incident, it says, was a direct attack on the government escort vehicles which were completely destroyed as reported by the government police spokesperson. The statement warned civilians to not move with the army on the road to avoid becoming victims of attacks targeting the government forces.

"The government should not think that they can intimidate the SPLA-IO and continue to survive using the Juba-Nimule highway which is within our reach and control. The struggle continues," stressed the rebel group.

(ST)