Sudan Tribune

June 2, 2017 (YAMBIO) - At least 12 civilians including elderly people and children has been killed by unidentified gunmen 20 kilometres to the eastern part of Yambio town, as the government has launched a search operation to arrest the culprits.

Citizens riding bicycles in Yambio to promote peace April 17, 2017 (ST)

Speaking to the press, the Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports Gibson Bullen Wande said the Government of Gbudue state has condemned the barbaric killing of innocent people and urged the citizens to cooperate with the Government to give information about the culprits.

He mentioned that the attacker(s) targeted one house where twelve people including those who were staying in the house for cultivation were killed.

He further said that attack was motivated by anger and revenge, according to the first information collected from the areas without elaboration.

"As a government, we condemned in the strongest term the killing of the 12 innocent people and we are appealing to the citizens to cooperate in the search for the criminals".

Seven members of one family were buried in Bazungua in a mass grave while the other five bodies were taken by their families.

This is the second attack in four months after a call by the Governor on all armed group to lay down their arms and to present their grievances in order to benefit from an amnesty issued by the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir.

It remains unclear who is behind the killing. Also, the state police failed to arrest any suspect in connection with the attack.

Wande urged the families to remain calm and not to take law in their hand as the government continues to hunt for the perpetrators.

(ST)

June 2, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The UN Security Council (UNSC) Friday has condemned the killing of the peacekeeper by unidentified gunmen in Nyala, South Darfur State capital.

United Nations Security Council meeting which unanimously adopted resolution 2228 (2015) extending the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) June 29, 2015 (UN Photo)

A Nigerian soldier from the African Union-United Nation Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) was shot dead by unknown gunmen in a carjacking incident in downtown Nyala on Wednesday.

In a press release on Friday, members of the UNSC “condemned in the strongest terms” the attack on the peacekeepers, expressing their “deep sympathy and condolences to the family of the victim, as well as to the people and Government of Nigeria and to UNAMID”.

“The members of the Security Council called on the Government of Sudan to swiftly conduct a full investigation into the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice. They underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law” read the press release.

The members of the UNSC further “reiterated their full support for UNAMID and called on all parties in Darfur to cooperate fully with the mission”.

The killing of the Nigerian soldier on Wednesday brought UNAMID's death toll since the creation of the Mission to 64 peacekeepers.

Last June, the UNSC extended the mandate of the mission until 30 June 2017, stressing that the situation in the western Sudan region continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security.

The hybrid mission has been deployed in Darfur since December 2007 with a mandate to stem violence against civilians in the western Sudan's region.

It is the world's second largest international peacekeeping force with an annual budget of $1.35 billion and almost 20,000 troops.

(ST)

June 2, 2017 (JUBA) - The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which mediated the 2015 peace agreement, will hold a summit this month in a new attempt to ensure its implementation and to address the devastating conflict in South Sudan.

Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn (Allafrica)

The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, in a letter addressed to President Salva Kiir on 29 May 2017, said the conflict in the country was still continuing, despite a declaration of ceasefire and re-invigoration of the national dialogue committee which the president himself proposed in 2016.

"The escalation of violence and growing hostilities are casting their shadows on the national dialogue and the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. this grave situation, thus, requires us to speak with one voice," wrote Desalegn in a letter seen by Sudan Tribune.

The summit, according to the letter, will be held in Addis Ababa, on Monday 12, June 2017.

The eruption of clashes in Juba between the two peace partners in July 2016, followed by a split within the SPLM-IO and the replacement of Riek Machar by Taban Deng Gai, destroyed the little confidence between the two parties for the implementation of the peace agreement.

Pointing to the need to reconsider the situation and to find out the best way to stop the fighting and allow humanitarian access, Prime Minister Desalegn told President Kiir that the recent unilateral ceasefire declared by his government "and attempts to reinvigorate the national dialogue, has not shown any improvement".

"Fighting still continues further worsening the humanitarian situation," Desalegn further stressed.

However, the invitation letter did not indicate the agenda of the meeting and how the regional leaders would ensure they forge a common understanding to speak one voice to end the conflict.

(ST)

June 2, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has recused himself from being the patron to the national dialogue, a process he launched last week, in a bid to bridge gaps created by three years of conflict in the young east African nation, a leading figure said.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir arrives in Khartoum on September 3, 2013 (AFP Ashraf Shazly)

“He [President Kiir] has relinquished the patronage over this [political] process because of the criticisms that have come around and has left it free for us. We, the two chairpersons, should see to it that we are the ones moving with it ahead,” said Angelo Beda, a co-chairperson for the Steering Committee of the National Dialogue.

Beda applauded President Kiir for relinquishing the “patronage” and appreciated steps taken by the leadership including releasing a journalist last week as well as other political leaders.

The co-chair of the process was speaking at a workshop attended by civil society activists and religious leaders in Juba on Thursday.

He and his other co-chairperson, Abel Alier-wal Kuai, said at the launch of the national dialogue last week that the process must be inclusive stressing that “no one dialogue alone” in a complete rebuttal to President Kiir's rejection of the participation of his political rival and rebel leader Riek Machar.

The opposition groups criticised the chairmanship of national dialogue process which is supposed to achieve reconciliation and endorse democratic reforms by President Kiir saying he cannot be both judge and party.

Beda reiterated that the process will include “all South Sudanese”, echoing the committee's decision earlier in the week to approach armed oppositions groups to take part in the process.

He said South Sudan's 64 tribes will be accorded space to speak freely.

“They are going to discuss the war, they are going to discuss the conflicts, they are going to discuss the killings either for cattle rustling or for land or by the government's army, which is supposed to protect us and is [now] killing us,” he said.

(ST)

June 2, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said he will visit Cairo on Saturday to hold talks with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry within the framework of the joint Sudanese-Egyptian political consultations committee.

Sudan's FM Ibrahim Ghandour (L) meets with his Egyptian counterpart Samih Shoukri in Cairo on January 9, 2016 (Photo released by the Sudanese FM)

Ghandour on Sunday cancelled a planned trip to Cairo, saying “we told our brothers in Egypt about the postponement of the visit due to internal issues and it would take place later”.

On Thursday, Ghandour received Egypt's ambassador to Khartoum Osama Shaltout and discussed with him various bilateral and regional issues of common concern.

In a press release following the meeting, foreign ministry spokesperson Gharib Allah Khidir said Ghanodour underscored the special relations between the two countries and the need for permanent contacts and consultations among officials from both sides.

He pointed that Ghanodour announced his visit to Cairo on Saturday at the invitation from Shoukry to hold in-depth discussions within the framework of the political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

Sudan's top diplomat visit to Cairo comes several days after accusations by President Omer al-Bashir that Egypt provided weapons to Darfur rebels used during a recent attack.

The Egyptian authorities dismissed the Sudanese accusations of support to Darfur armed groups. But Khartoum points to the armoured vehicles seized from the rebels, a matter that Cairo didn't explain.

Last week, Sudan's Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Salih extended the ban on Egyptian agricultural products which was announced last September. Also, the commissioners of North Khartoum and El-Fasher, North Darfur issued decisions banning Egyptian street vendors.

The relation between the two countries is strained due to the disputed Halayeb triangle, Sudan's support to the Ethiopian dam, and the ban of Egyptian agricultural products.

However, since the beginning of this year, President Omer al-Bashir has referred to the Egyptian support to Darfur armed groups.

The Egyptian authorities, on the other hand, have another point of view on the growing rift between the two countries.

The Egyptian Madamasr website reported Wednesday that Egyptian government officials consider that Khartoum is encouraged by Gulf countries to seek troubles with Cairo and to stand behind the Ethiopian dam.

The Egyptian official further said that Sudan had rejected a proposal to turn Halayeb triangle and its neighbouring Sudanese territory into a joint integration and cooperation area.

(ST)

June 1, 2017 (JUBA) – Fifteen children died in South Sudan's Eastern Equatoria region following failed Measles vaccination, health ministry and World Health Organization said.

An aid workers administers a polio vaccine to a Sudanese boy (Photo: AFP)

South Sudan Minister of Health, Riek Gai Kok, said the death occurred in newly created Kapeota state.

“There were human errors such as poor storage of vaccines, use of single to vaccinate many people,” said Riek, speaking to reporters at the State House, after briefing President Salva Kiir the incident on Thursday.

Minister Riek said the “errors” led to vomiting and diarrhoea among the children leading to death within six hours of injection.

A World Health Organization (WHO) official who accompanied Minister Riek said the lifesaving vaccine shouldn't lead to death.

(ST)

June 1, 2017 (YAMBIO) – The Commissioner of Tombura county in South Sudan's newly-created state of Tombura has been sacked by the governor.

Governor Patrick Zamoi, in a decree read on Yambio FM, relieved Babiro Charles Gbamisi, but gave no reason for his sudden decision.

The former county commissioner was appointed in July last year.

In a separate decree, Zamoi appointed Deric Zioin Sasa as the new commissioner for Tombura county, replacing Bibiro Charles Gbamisi.

(ST)

June 1, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan former First Vice President and rebel leader Riek Machar has called on the UN Security Council to end in order his forced exile in South Africa and to allow him to engage in a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

South African President Jacob Zuma meets South Sudan's First Vice President, Riek Machar in Pretoria on 18 February 2016 (ST Photo)

“We [SPLM in Opposition] are calling on the UN to end the international policy of isolating the SPLM(IO) including my release from the confinement and detention so as to enable our full engagement in finding a peaceful resolution to this conflict,” said Machar in a written statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

In October 2016 Machar left Khartoum to Pretoria officially for medical treatment. But in fact, his travel had been decided in a common agreement between the IGAD countries. Washington was involved in the decision.

One month later, the former first vice-president successfully escaped his residence in Pretoria and reached Khartoum and Addis Abba. But he was forced to return to South Africa as the Sudanese and Ethiopian authorities refused to allow him to enter into their territories.

The idea was to grant him an asylum in South Africa far away from South Sudanese politics, with the hope to contain the situation and prevent the eruption of hostilities again.

According to the seven - page text, Machar made his call during a video conference on Wednesday with the Security Council. However, South Sudanese diplomat said he had a meeting with officials from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) who sought to convince him to stop the hostilities following a unilateral cessation of hostilities declaration by President Salva Kiir.

Machar accused President Kiir of resisting reforms and democratisation of the ruling party.

The second part of written speech detailed the failure of the August 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) and actions that should be taken to end the war in South Sudan as third port of his presentation.

“We [SPLM-IO] are calling on the UN to initiate a political process for peaceful settlement of the conflict using the agreement (ARCSS) as the basis, review the status of the UN peacekeeping forces to enable it to carry out its mandate effectively,” he further said.

He further said a humanitarian conference should be convened and “a political process for peaceful settlement of the conflict using the agreement as the basis” will end the war in South Sudan.

In a meeting with the Acting Director in the Office of U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Paul R.Sutphin, on 27 April, the SPLM-IO delegation called for the ARCSS revival through an inclusive political process that requires the involvement of the two warring parties to the South Sudanese conflict.

The rebel group further said that the SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar should be the one leading the group for the new peace negotiations.

However, the American official reiterated that they want Machar to continue to be in South Africa until the conclusion of a lasting peace agreement by his group and not his person.

" We still hold the view and of the support that Dr Riek should still remain in South Africa until lasting and sustainable peace followed by the political settlement of the conflict in South Sudan is achieved," said Sutphin, according to the minutes of the meeting seen by Sudan Tribune.

(ST)

June 1, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - U.S. Embassy in Sudan Thursday has warned its American nationals against a cholera outbreak in the east African country including its capital Khartoum.

"The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum informs U.S. citizens that there are confirmed reports of cholera cases in some areas of Sudan, including the greater Khartoum metropolitan area, that have resulted in fatalities," said a statement released by the embassy.

Khartoum's State Health Minister, Mamoun Hamida, confirmed in a press statement on Tuesday 120 cases of watery diarrhoea in the Sudanese capital, killing two people.

Sudanese authorities describe the water-borne disease as "acute watery diarrhoea", avoiding to call it cholera.

"This is a reminder to follow hand hygiene practices, and to consume safe food and water," said the Embassy adding "Those who will be far away from medical care should travel with oral rehydration salts (ORS) -at least 3 sachets- and water purification tablets or other devices for clean water".

In a report to the Sudanese parliament about the health situation in the country Thursday, Health Minister Bahr Idriss Abu Garda said there are over 14,000 water-related cases, adding the disease killed 272 since the spread of the outbreak in August 2016 in 10 states.

The minister stressed that the contaminated drinking water has been behind the spread of the disease.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

(ST)

June 1, 2017 (JUBA) – During a meeting with Prsident Salva Kiir on Thursday, a delegation of United States legislators have emphasised the importance of ending the war that has killed thousands of people and displaced millions in South Sudan.

Members of Sub-committee on Africa Affairs in the US House of Representatives with South Sudanese leaders in Juba, June 1, 2017 (ST)

The legislators, led by Christopher H. Smith, met South Sudan President Kiir and urged the latter to also consider involving church leaders in the recently national dialogue initiative.

"We reaffirm our commitment to peaceful dialogue as the viable option to ending the conflict in South Sudan and urged the government to follow through on its pledge and to actually focus on honouring the ceasefire,” Smith told reporters in Juba Thursday.

“We also reaffirm our shared view that a negotiated political settlement and inclusive democratic future for South Sudanese, and we call on all armed groups fighting in South Sudan to stop fighting and declare a cessation of hostilities", he added.

The head of the U.S. delegation reiterated the demand of the global community, citing the need for humanitarian access to all areas of South Sudan, including those on the United Nations' priority list, and deplored the delays and obstruction caused primarily by the parties of humanitarian deliveries to the population in desperate need.

"The devastating events in this country underscore what we have been saying for some time. The burden is on the parties to prove they are willing and able to take extraordinary steps to salvage diplomatic efforts to restore a Cessation of Hostilities (CoH), allow unfettered humanitarian assistance and create the conditions necessary for the resumption of UN-led talks about a political transition", stressed Smith.

He further said their mission to Africa was to visit Refugee camps in Northern Uganda, to know the situation of people in the camps.

South Sudan government has renewed its commitment to allowing free access and movement of relief organisations to those in need.

"The Government of South Sudan has committed itself to grand a free movement of the non-governmental organisations in order to assist those who are in need of humanitarian assistance", the cabinet affairs minister, Martin Elia Lomuro told reporters.

The minister confirmed that President Kiir met with a delegation from the United States of America, led by Christopher H. Smith, a member of Subcommittee on Africa Affairs in the US House of Representatives.

Lomuro said that the meeting also discussed the role of Churches in the national dialogue and how government can engage churches in order to move forward in the reconciliation and dialogue process.

President Kiir officially launched the long-awaited national dialogue initiative in the capital, Juba last week. The national dialogue initiative is both a forum and process through which the people South Sudan shall gather to redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, redefine citizenship and belonging, as well as restructure the state for national inclusion.

Since mid-December 2013, tens of thousands of people have been killed and over two million displaced in South Sudan's worst ever violence since its independence.

(ST)

June 1, 2017 (AIN SIRO) - The governor of North Darfur, Abdel Wahid Youssef, denied on Thursday the displacement of civilians from Ain Siro area after the recent fighting with armed groups in the state.

Youssef made the denial in a speech to the residents of Ain Siro and the Rapid support Forces where he arrived with RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (aka Hametti), and North Darfur security committee members.

The governor told the civilians to not listen to those who call them to go into displacement camps adding, "We will not allow anyone who attacks you or takes your belongings". Also, he called on the civilians to report any attack immediately to the government forces in the area.

Ali Adam Taher, an Ain Siro resident told Sudan Tribune two days ago that some RSF militiamen attacked them under the command of Mohamadine Arko Jalu, a former rebel commander who broke away from the SLM-Minni Arko Minnawi and joined the government.

"This commander has an old hatred with some people in those areas. The attack forced thousands of civilians to flee towards the mountains," Taher said.

"They live in difficult conditions, some in the mountains of Kula, Diri, Adri and Matarj," he said.

Also, leaders of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Girbil Ibrahim and the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) Wednesday have accused government forces of committing mass crimes against civilians in more than 90 villages in North Darfur State.

The two rebel leaders stressed that Ain Siro area was the most affected by the attacks, saying the government forces and the RSF burned, looted and raped large numbers of girls and terrorised the residents by the intense and indiscriminate aerial bombardment.

However, RSF commander Hametti emphasised that there is no displacement from the area, adding that those who fled the fighting to the mountains returned to their villages and vowed to provide them with the needed protection.

"Our instructions are very clear and we will not accept any mistake. We have strongly advised you to give the needy and follow the straight path," he further said.

RSF Brigadier General Essam Saleh Fadil said that the Rapid Support Forces managed to seize 18 Land Cruiser vehicles, including two ambulances in the Ain Siro battle, in addition to sophisticated weapons in the hands of the armed groups.

"Among the seized weapons that indicate a new development in the arming of the Darfur rebels, the laser-guided rockets that hit their targets from incredible distances," he said.

(ST)

June 1, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Troika and European Union countries Thursday have called the Sudanese government and armed groups in Darfur region to return to the negotiating table to reach a cessation of hostilities.

"The Troika (United States, United Kingdom, Norway) and the resident European Union Embassies in Khartoum are deeply concerned about reports of renewed fighting in Darfur between the Government of Sudan and Darfuri armed movements led by the Sudan Liberation Movement – Minni Minawi (SLM-MM), which began on May 20 after a reinforcement from outside Darfur by the armed opposition elements," said a statement extended to Sudan Tribune .

Recently, Khartoum called for an international condemnation of the joint attacks carried out by the SLM-MM and SLM-Transitional Council (SLM-TC) saying the assailants came from Libya and South Sudan. Further, the Sudanese authorities accused Egypt of providing armoured vehicles to the Sudanese rebels.

By mentioning "reinforcement from outside Darfur" for the armed groups, the Troika and EU countries reject the claim of the rebels that the Sudanese government militiamen attacked their positions in Darfur where UN reports repeat that the region was free of rebels.

"These new incidents of violence underscore the urgent need for the parties to finalise a negotiated cessation of hostilities and an agreement to return to political negotiations leading to a sustainable peace," points a statement issued by the Embassies of the Troika and the EU in Khartoum.

The statement urged the hybrid peacekeeping force to reach the areas where the fighting has been reported to verify and assess the extent of the violence and its impact on civilian populations.

" We call on all parties to show restraint, cease all military actions, return to the unilaterally proclaimed ceasefires and finalise as soon as possible a joint cessation of hostilities agreement," further stressed the statement.

The western embassies encouraged the government to show willingness to compromise in negotiations saying "This should allow for a swift return to cessation of hostilities talks, including the safe return of opposition groups outside of Sudan, and entry into a broader and inclusive peace process under the auspices of the AU High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP)'s Roadmap Agreement".

Following the failure of the last round of peace talks in Addis Ababa in August 2016, the National Congress Party (NCP)-led government held its national dialogue conference and endorsed a framework for democratic reforms called the National Document.

Since the government omitted the Roadmap Agreement saying the holdout opposition groups can join the implementation of the National Document conclusions.

(ST)

May 28, 2017 (JUBA) - The Elders, a group of independent leaders, have condemned the political paralysis and failure of leadership at all levels in South Sudan in the face of worsening famine and humanitarian disaster.

People in conflict-affected areas of South Sudan collect food from WFP (WFP/eter Testuzza Photo)

The group, in a statement, also reiterated their view that all parties to the conflict, including the government of South Sudan and armed opposition groups, are directly contributing to the famine by leading military operations that destroy civilian homes and livelihoods.

South Sudan's situation, their statement stressed, is compounded by the brazen obstruction of humanitarian access to the conflicted-affected areas.

At the same time, they added, the international community has shown paralysis bordering on disinterest in regard to meaningful conflict resolution efforts and financial support to humanitarian aid.

“South Sudan is a young country, but its people have been consistently let down by their leaders who have been unable or unwilling to move away from conflict and personal enrichment at the expense of the nation,” said Kofi Annan, chair of The Elders.

He added, “Alleged war crimes and gross human rights violations committed by parties to the conflict, including the government and armed opposition groups, are prolonging the suffering of the people, and those who are responsible need to be held accountable.”

The Elders, in the statement, expressed particular outrage on the widespread use of sexual violence, including mass rape, as a tactic of war in South Sudan's crisis.
“All warring parties, including the state and other armed groups have a responsibility under international law to protect rather than violate the inviolable human rights of civilians,” adds the statement.

“The suffering in South Sudan should shame us all. It is an affront to civilised values, and the longer the international community allows the conflict and human rights abuses to persist, the weaker those values become. As Elders we stand in solidarity with the people of South Sudan and will continue to press for peace and justice,” said Mary Robinson, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Founded by former South African president, late Nelson Mandela, the Elders are independent leaders using their collective experience and influence for peace, justice and human rights worldwide.

(ST)

May 28, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Due to the improvement of humanitarian access in Darfur, International Organization for Migration (IOM) last April managed to register 52,700 IDPs mostly displaced from Jebel Marra in 2016.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)'s office in Khartoum reported on Sunday in its weekly bulletin that the recently registered IDPs from the 2016 caseload, include "24,613 IDPs were registered in Tawilla locality, North Darfur and 20,402 IDPs were registered in Nertiti locality, Central Darfur".

Furthermore, there are "7,554 new IDPs who fled their homes in East Darfur and arrived between 17 February and 8 March in El Lait locality, North Darfur were registered in April".

While the 2016 IDPs fled their areas due to the clashes with the holdout rebel groups, the new "IDPs had fled their villages in East Darfur State due to an inter-communal conflict between farmers and pastoralists and sought refuge in four locations in El Lait locality".

Following an agreement with the U.S. on the lift of the longstanding economic sanctions, Khartoum agreed to stop air attacks on civilian areas, declared a unilateral cessation of hostilities and opened humanitarian access to the IDPs areas in Darfur.

Some armed groups also committed themselves to a unilateral cessation of hostilities.

10,000 RETURNEES

Based on Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Fact Sheet prepared by IOM, OCHA reported the registration of 10,229 returnees in April.

"4,385 (people returned to) Otash village, South Darfur and 5,844 returnees were registered in nine localities in North Darfur State," said the UN humanitarian agency.

"The registered returnees said their return is permanent and that they do not plan to go back to their areas of displacement," said the report.

According to the UN agencies, over 195,500 refugees and IDP returned to their areas of origin in Darfur in 2014-2016.

(ST)

May 28, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on Sunday cancelled a planned trip to Cairo several days after accusations by President Omer al-Bashir that Egypt provided weapons to Darfur rebels used during a recent attack.

Sudan's FM Ibrahim Ghandour (L) meets with his Egyptian counterpart Samih Shoukri in Cairo on January 9, 2016 (Photo released by the Sudanese FM)

The Egyptian authorities dismissed the Sudanese accusations of support to Darfur armed groups. But Khartoum points to the armoured vehicles seized from the rebels, a matter that Cairo didn't explain.

Ghandour had to travel to Cairo on Wednesday 31 May for follow-up talks with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on contentious issues discussed last April in Khartoum between the two officials.

"We told our brothers in Egypt about the postponement of the visit due to internal issues and it would take place later," said the Sudanese top diplomat in statements to the press on Sunday.

"The purpose of the visit was to convene meetings of the joint Sudanese-Egyptian political consultations committee and its agenda has been agreed already," he added.

However, Ghandour avoided giving the details of the internal issues that triggered the cancellation of the visit.

The 31 May meeting between Ghandour and Shoukry was supposed to discuss the ban on Egyptian agricultural imports and visa requirements after the Sudanese government decision to re-establish visa for Egyptians.

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.

Since then, Khartoum has been moving to improve its ties with the eastern and western neighbours, instead of its strategic ties with Egypt.

Khartoum further went to back the construction of a dam in Ethiopia, which Cairo says will hurt its water needs. Also, the Sudanese government recently signed investment agreements with Gulf countries. Accordingly, they will establish huge agricultural projects that require the full use of Sudan share of the Nile water, a move which is seen in Cairo as another threat to Egypt.

(ST)

May 28, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Secretary-general of the United Nations, António Guterres has praised Sudan's role in mitigating the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, said Sudan's foreign ministry.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune Sunday, foreign ministry spokesperson Gharib Allah Khidir said foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour received a message from Guterres in which he pledged to attract addition funds to enable Sudan to cope with the large influx of South Sudan's refugees.

He pointed that Guterres expressed appreciation for Sudan's government efforts to provide assistance for those affected by the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and mobilising support from relevant national actors.

The UN secretary general thanked Sudan for opening three humanitarian corridors to transport relief to South Sudan.

According to Khidir, Guterres stressed that he is “counting heavily on the Sudanese government to support regional and international efforts to pressure the conflicting parties in South Sudan to stop the fighting”.

Three United Nations agencies declared an outbreak of famine in the young nation in February, saying an additional 1 million people were are the brink of starvation.

On 30 June, the World Food Programme (WFP) began providing food assistance to South Sudan using a new corridor opened by Sudan.

According to the latest report released by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), Sudan's has received over 417,000 South Sudanese refugees since December 2013.

South Sudan became the world's newest nation after declaring independence from Sudan in 2011. However, in 2013 the country was plunged into civil war killing tens of thousands of people and displacing millions.

(ST)

May 28, 2017 (JUBA) - The Aweil community in South Sudan have called for reconciliation between President Salva Kiir and the former chief of staff for South Sudan army (SPLA), Paul Malong Awan.

S Sudan's President Salva Kiir is received by former Chief of General Staff of the SPLA Paul Malong Awan at the airport in Juba March 6, 2015 (Reuters)

The community, in a statement issued on Saturday, said Awan's removal from his position should not affect his decade-long relationship with the president simply over divergence in opinion.

“We believe that the near-crisis involving his sacking is a considered matter of your administration and should not be allowed to be exploited by war merchants, or ethno-regional players who, by any statistical measure, are rooting against the stability of the country”, partly reads the community's statement.

It further called for calm among communities, while urging elders and representatives in different Parliaments to stand behind the reconciliation effort so that this matter is quickly put to rest.

“Gen. Malong deserves a special pat on the back or a medal of honor for having gracefully and caringly handled the delicate situation following his unceremonious discharge. He has already, in our humble view, won the admiration of many South Sudanese for such a rare demonstration of statesmanship,” noted the statement.

“Our position as a community is that of peace and integrity of the country. We call upon you, Mr. President, to allow General Malong to exercise his freedoms, including freedom of movement to any place of his choice as a responsible citizen of this country,” it added.

President Kiir relieved the former army chief from his position, but the decree announced on the state-owned television cited no reasons.

Malong was replaced by Lt. General James Ajonga Mawut, who was the deputy chief of general staff for administration and finance.

The removal of the former army chief of general staff came as the army was repeatedly accused of gross human rights violations, rape, atrocities and war crimes on civilians in conflict-affected areas.

Malong, who also recruited a notorious militia from his home region, had been accused of failing to crack down on abuses by the SPLA.

The conflict in South Sudan had driven over a million children out of the country, the United Nations recently said, warning that the future of a generation is ‘on the brink.'

(ST)

May 28, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Guinean President and Chairperson of African Union (AU) Alpha Conde Sunday has arrived in Khartoum on a three-day visit to discuss the security situation in the continent.

The official news agency SUNA Sunday quoted Sudan's foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour as saying “Conde's visit to the country comes upon an official invitation from President Omer al-Bashir”.

“Important issues relating to the African continent will be discussed during the visit, especially the situation in South Sudan and Libya, and the role and position of Sudan on these issues,” he added.

According to Ghandour, the two sides will also hold talks on bilateral relations between the two countries, saying they will discuss economic, political and cultural issues of common concern.

(ST)

May 28, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan rebels allied to the country's former First Vice-President have dismissed as untrue claims that members of their forces have joined the Juba government in response to the national dialogue declared by President Salva Kiir.

David Otim (R), principal representative for the SPLM/A in Opposition in Uganda, and Oyet Nathaniel Pierino speak at a press conference in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, on 22 September 2014 (ST)

Officials in Imatong, one of South Sudan's newly created states said the armed opposition under the overall command of General Patrick Ohiti accepted in principle to join the national dialogue.

The move, officials say, came after months of intense negotiations.

But the rebel-appointed governor of Imatong state, Nathaniel Pierino denied the claim, referring to it as a “fabrication” from government.

“It's understandable that the newly appointed SPLM-IG [ruling party in government] governor of a decentralizes pseudo state of Imatong Hon. Tobiolo Alberto Oromo is seeking the attention of the president by appearing a good boy by spreading unfounded rumors and propaganda,” he told Sudan Tribune over phone on Sunday.

He said they would never join the “fake” and “one-sided” dialogue.

“This is utterly untrue statement and I would like to categorically state that SPLA-IO has been provoked and we are considering the best possible response to prove to the regime and South Sudan that we are not what they say and will never be part of the so-called dialogue,” said Pierino.

He said claims made by the pro-government officials were meant to penetrate their system by using the media as a propaganda tool.

“I am directing all the military organs of the SPLA-IO in Imatong state to convene an emergency security and command meetings to discuss this provocative and destabilizing propaganda of the regime and take appropriate action to punish the regime,” said Pierino.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir officially launched the long-awaited national dialogue initiative in the capital, Juba on Monday.

Initiated by the South Sudanese leader in December last year, the national dialogue initiative is both a forum and process through which the people South Sudan shall gather to redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, redefine citizenship and belonging, as well as restructure the state for national inclusion.

Since mid-December 2013, tens of thousands of people have been killed and over two million displaced from the East African nation.

(ST)

May 28, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A new round of fighting has erupted on Sunday between government forces, and the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and the SLM- Transitional Council (SLM-TC), amid conflicting reports about the losses on both sides.

The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militiamen clashed during four days from 19 to 22 with the SLM-MM and the SLM-TC in North and East Darfur States. The government army killed several leading rebel commanders and arrested the SLM-TC leader and other commanders.

Sudan said the SLM-MM and SLM-TC fighters came from Libya and South Sudan. Also, Khartoum accused Juba and Cairo of supporting and providing weapons to the two armed groups. The two neighbouring countries denied the accusations.

Spokesperson of the RSF, Adam Salih, told the official news agency SUNA Sunday that their forces defeated the rebels at Ain Siro area in Kutum locality, North Darfur State.

He pointed out that the rebel force was among those who fled the fighting in Wadi Hawar and entered the Sudanese-Chadian border, saying the RSF has been pursuing rebels fleeing last week's battles.

Salih stressed the RSF inflicted heavy losses in lives and equipment on the rebels, saying they were able to destroy and seize a large number of military vehicles.
He added that the fighting and the hunt down is still ongoing, saying the RSF is monitoring the border to pursue the fleeing rebels.

Meanwhile, in a joint statement extended to Sudan Tribune, SLM-MM and SLM-TC said government troops and RSF fighters attacked their positions at Ain Siro and the Northwest Kutum mountain range in North Darfur State.

The two rebel groups stressed the government attack have been repulsed and heavy losses in lives have been inflicted on the attackers, saying more than 13 four-wheel-drive Land Cruisers vehicles loaded with heavy weapons have been burned and destroyed.

According to the statement, large numbers of innocent villagers have fled the area.

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.

BASHIR MEETS HAMETTI

The Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Sunday evening has been briefed by the head of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, (aka Hametti) on the recent clashes with the rebel groups.

In press statements following the meeting, Hametti said he briefed the President of the Republic on the latest developments in the recent military clashes in Darfur and "the victories achieved by the army and RSF", adding they "chased the rebels to the borders of the country".

Hametti pointed out that the government forces were able to hit the rebellion in the state of North Darfur, stressing that "Sudan will not be hurt in Darfur after today".

On Saturday the leader of Sudan Liberation Movement, Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) accused the Sudanese government of attacking their positions in the region in an attempt to impose its solution through the barrel of the gun to the 14-year conflict.

"Peace will never be achieved as long as the homeland is held hostage by the regime of the National Congress. The regime wants the whole Sudanese people to give up and stamp on a treaty whose clauses are drafted according to the victor's terms imposed upon the vanquished," he further said.

(ST)