Sudan Tribune

May 20, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudanese government forces killed 114 civilians in Yei, a town located about 100 miles from the capital, Juba between July 2016 and January 2017, the United Nations said.

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

The U.N, in a new report, also documented various crimes of rape, looting and torture, allegedly committed by government forces in and around Yei town.

"Attacks were committed with an alarming degree of brutality and, like elsewhere in the country, appeared to have an ethnic dimension," partly reads a section of the U.N investigation report.

Yei, a relatively peaceful region until mid-last year, has lately been experiencing lots of clashes between government forces and the armed opposition troops loyal to ex-First Vice President, Riek Machar.

The U.N investigations report also highlights various cases of sexual violence, including rape, allegedly committed by pro-government forces on women and young girls in and around the town of Yei.

"In view of the restrictions of access faced by (the UN), the number of documented cases may only be a fraction of those actually committed. Some of the human rights violations and abuses committed in and around Yei may amount to war crimes and/or crimes against humanity and warrant further investigation,” it says.

ARMY DENIES ALLEGATIONS

South Sudan army spokesperson Colonel Santo Domic Chol has, however, dismissed the U.N report, describing it as “baseless”.

"This is not the first time the UN has accused the SPLA and tried to portray us as enemies of the people," Chol told Reuters.

“The SPLA is one of the biggest military institutions in the country and it accommodates people from different background and the whole SPLA cannot go out and rape citizens... so it has to be specific that we have seen two or three SPLA soldiers in such location committing such crimes,” he added.

The military official said President Salva Kiir ordered all army commanders in Yei to punish soldiers who committed gender-based violence.

Last week, two U.N agencies appealed to donors to step up support for people fleeing crisis-hit South Sudan as the $1.4 billion response plan remains 86 percent unfunded.

According to the U.N, the situation in war-torn South Sudan continues worsening, with a combination of conflict, drought and famine leading to further displacement and a rapid exodus of people fleeing one of the world's most severe crises.

South Sudan has reportedly now 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 (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR).

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

(ST)

May 20, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Armed Forces (SAF) and the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) led by Minni Minnawi have exchanged accusations over renewed fighting in North and East Darfur.

Rebels of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), loyal to leader Minni Minnawi (AFP)

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Saturday, SAF's spokesperson Ahmed Khalifa al-Shami pointed out that the armed forces and the security services have been closely monitoring the movements of armed groups “mercenaries” in South Sudan and Libya.

He said these rebel groups have been preparing to “abort peace and stability that have been achieved across Sudan and particularly in Darfur states”, pointing that clashes are still ongoing.

“The two groups entered North and East Darfur states from Libya and South Sudan simultaneously but the armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have responded to them and clashes are still ongoing,” he said.

A reliable military source in East Darfur told Sudan Tribune that a fierce battle occurred between a faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) led by Minni Minnawi and government forces in the Eshairaya area, some 50 kilometres south-west of Ed-Daein, East Darfur capital.

He added the clashes caused panic among residents of Asalaya locality, saying the government troops responded to a faction that entered from South Sudan and was seeking to reach Jebel Marra.

“The government troops forced the rebels to retreat and are still chasing them,” he said.

The same source revealed that the government forces had inflicted heavy losses on the rebels, saying 25 rebels have been killed and at least 17 arrested.

He added that a number of four-wheel drive vehicles have been seized from the rebels, saying 5 government troops have been killed and 7 others injured and were transferred to Ed-Daein Hospital.

Meanwhile, SLM-MM military spokesperson Ahmed Hussein Mustafa said their forces have been attacked inside areas under the movement's control in North Darfur, describing the attack as “violation of the ceasefire”.

“In a clear violation of the ceasefire from the government side, an administrative patrol of the SLM-MM has been intercepted by the government troops and the latter initiated the shooting,” he said.

Mustafa added their forces responded to the government attack and inflicted heavy losses on them, saying the attackers fled the scene leaving behind hundreds of dead and wounded.

Last January President Omer al-Bashir extended the unilateral cessation of hostilities in war zones for six months. Also, SLM-MM, and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in May extended for six months the unilateral ceasefire in Darfur.

SLM-MM has recently accused the government of preparing to launch a large attack against its areas, saying it dispatched 150 vehicles loaded with heavy weapons to areas under its control in North Darfur including Wadi Maghrib, Donky Ba'ashim, Hoash, Khaim and Majour.

Last week, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo warned those who he called “mercenaries” against seeking to enter Sudan from Libya, hinting at attempts by rebel movements to enter Darfur after acquiring vehicles from Libya.

On 12 April, the Sudanese army declared Darfur a region free of rebellion following the capture of Srounq area, the last SLM-AW led by Abdel-Wahid al-Nour stronghold in Jebel Marra. However, the army continued for several months to carry out attacks on rebel pockets in the mountainous 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.

Doha brokered the Darfur peace negotiations which resulted in the signing of the DDPD by the Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) in July 2011. Also, a dissident JEM joined the DDPD in April 2013.

JEM and SLM-MM have engaged in peace talks with the government under the auspices of the African Union.

SLM-AW, however, is not part of the African Union-mediated peace talks. The rebel group rejects negotiating a peace agreement with Khartoum government unless the government militias are disarmed and displaced civilians return to their original areas.

CALL FOR CONDEMNATION

Meanwhile, Sudan's foreign ministry has demanded ambassadors of Western countries in Khartoum to denounce the Darfur armed movements in the wake of renewed fighting between the rebels and government army.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Saturday, foreign ministry spokesperson Gharib Allah Khidir said foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour has held separate meetings with the envoys of the permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC), ambassadors of the Sudan Troika countries and the European Union envoy to Khartoum.

He said Ghandour told the Western diplomats that “Sudan's rebel movements which are present in Libya and South Sudan have moved across the borders to abort peace and stability that has been achieved in Darfur and acknowledged by the UNSC and the African Union Peace and Security Council.”

Sudan's top diplomat said the rebels move aims to drag the government to military confrontation so as to abort the unilateral cessation of hostilities declared by president Omer al-Bashir.

He demanded the Western envoys to report the rebel's move to their respective governments immediately, calling on the international community to denounce what he described as “hostile attack”.

Ghandour stressed the Sudanese government will respond to the attack and defend the country until achieving the comprehensive peace.

(ST)

May 20, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Saudi ambassador to Khartoum Ali bin Hassan Jaafar has revealed efforts by his country to achieve a permanent lift of U.S. sanctions imposed on Sudan in June.

The US imposed comprehensive sanctions on Sudan in 1997 (US Embassy in Khartoum website)

Last January, former President Barack Obama eased the 19-year economic and trade sanctions on Sudan. The decision came as a response to the collaboration of the Sudanese government on various issues including the fight against terrorism.

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 next June their findings and recommendations over the fate of the sanctions.

In an interview with the Blue Nile TV, Jaafar said Saudi Arabia played a significant role in the ease of U.S. sanctions imposed on Sudan, adding the Kingdom is “leading efforts to achieve full lift of sanctions next July.”

He praised Sudan's support of Arab and Islamic issues, saying “the Saudi government and peoples appreciate President al-Bashir's strong statements in which he considered the security of Saudi Arabia and the two holy mosques a red line.”

The Saudi envoy said the economic relations between the two countries would witness an unprecedented boost, hailing measures taken by the Sudanese government to promote Saudi investments.

“I am optimistic that the economic relations between Khartoum and Riyadh will grow so that citizens of both nations could feel the outcome of the integration of relations between the two countries," he added.

The Saudi diplomat's remarks coincides with a rare visit by the U.S. President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia where he received a warm welcome amid preparations for an Arab-Muslim summit attended by 37 Arab leaders.

The Sudanese president didn't take part in the summit despite being invited by the Saudi government after Washington expressed displeasure with his presence at the summit and urged the host country to not invite him.

Khartoum has emerged as a close ally of the Gulf States in the last two years. Sudan participates with over 850 troops in the Saudi-led “Decisive Storm” coalition against the Iranian-allied Houthi militants in Yemen.

In February 2016, the Sudanese army participated in a regional military exercise including Saudi and Gulf armies, Egypt, Jordanian, Pakistani, and Sudanese armies.

Also, last March, Sudanese and Saudi air forces conducted joint military exercises in northern Sudan.

Saudi Arabia has the largest Arabic investments in Sudan which reached $15 billion in 2016. Some 196 investors from Saudi Arabia are active in producing fodder, wheat and sorghum, which are exported to Saudi Arabia.

(ST)

May 19, 2017 (JUBA) - The United Nations has released a new report on the human rights violations and abuses against civilians in Yei town in Central Equatoria stressing it may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity.

The report which is jointly released by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) covers the period of July 2016 and January 2017.

Yei had been a largely peaceful town, with between 200,000 and 300,000 residents of many different ethnicities, until July 2016, when violence erupted between Government and opposition forces, which led to the departure of opposition leader Riek Machar into the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“The conflict in Yei, in particular, highlights the startling level of impunity in South Sudan, which has fed successive cycles of violence across the country,” said the report, which contains the findings of an in-depth investigation into violations committed in and around the Central Equatoria town, located 150 kilometres southwest of the capital, Juba.

The report documents 114 cases where the SPLA and allied militias arbitrarily killed civilians for their alleged support to the SPLM/A In Opposition.

These cases included attacks on funerals and indiscriminate shelling of civilians; cases of sexual violence perpetrated against women and girls, including those fleeing fighting; often committed in front of the victims' families and with a shocking degree of brutality, said the report.

The UNMISS and HCR pointed that the rebel groups are also responsible for human rights abuses. "The extent of these abuses remains unclear given the Government prevented HRD from accessing areas where armed opposition forces were active".

The two bodies reiterated their call to end the war and urged the transitional government led by President Salva Kiir to investigate and prosecute those believed to be responsible for gross human rights violations and abuses.

The Transitional Government of National Unity "must also ensure that victims whose human rights have been violated have access to an effective remedy, including just, fair and gender-sensitive reparations," the report says.

(ST)

May 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - In a two-day meeting held in Berlin, the Sudanese government and two main armed groups in Darfur showed interest to resume talks on Darfur conflict but they failed on how to refer to the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

The informal consultations meeting from 18-18 May, included Amin Hassan Omer, the government chief negotiator, Gibril Ibrahim, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Minni Minnawi leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM). Also, participated in the meeting Ahmed Tugud and Ali Trayo, the chief negotiators of the two groups.

The meeting which was attended by officials from the German government and the U.S. administration aimed at bridging the gaps between the two sides over the DDDPD. The government says any agreement should be on the basis of this framework agreement, while the holdout groups say want a new peace process.

"Both sides said interested in resuming negotiations and demonstrated a lot of openness on what can be negotiated," a source close to the discussions told Sudan tribune on Friday after the end of the meeting.

"However the parties are still at odds on how exactly we can refer to the DDPD," he further said.

During a meeting held in Doha last December including the Sudanese and Qatari government, the former U.S. special envoy and UNAMID, it was agreed to consider the rebel demand for talks on issues already included in the DDPD including compensations and land ownership.

It was also agreed that such deal would be in a special annexe attached to the DDPD.

In a statement released after the meeting, Omer said the German government presented a proposal to narrow the gaps on the positions of the two sides from the DDPD. Also, it disclosed a proposal from the two groups.

"The meeting was characterised by a positive spirit despite the disagreement ( over the DDPD). The German side has offered a proposal for facilitating a rejuvenation of peace efforts in Darfur region, along with another proposal presented by the two armed movements," he said.

"We believe that we can move ahead with the valuable assistance of Germany and other peace-loving nations," he further stressed.

Trayo and Tugud in their statement said "the two movements presented a proposal to push forward the peace process" adding "it was accepted by the facilitators as a working paper", and they would continue consultations on it with the two parties.

The government and the two groups failed in August 2016 to sign a cessation of hostilities for humanitarian purpose as JEM and SLM-MM demanded that Khartoum accepts clearly it would engage in peace negotiations without referring to the DDPD.

UNAMID head who is also tasked with the peace file in Darfur held, earlier this month, a meeting with the two groups in Paris where they handed him over a position paper on the peace negotiations.

(ST)

May 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The governor of Blue Nile state has told the United Nations independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Aristide Nononsi the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) obstructs the child vaccination programme in areas under its control.

The UN expert is visiting Sudan from 11-21 May to carry out his fourth mission to the country so as to continue his engagement with the Sudanese authorities and discuss the implementation of his recommendations.

Blue Nile governor Hussein Yassen Hamad Friday said he briefed Nononsi on the security situation in the state, stressing Sudan's army adherence to the unilateral ceasefire declared by President Omer al-Bashir.

He said the SPLM-N is not serious about achieving peace, pointing to its rejection for the child vaccination campaign in areas under its control besides its continued attacks against farmers, cattle herders and humanitarian workers.

Hamad stressed his government's commitment to the U.S. humanitarian proposal, pointing to humanitarian and IDP's challenges facing his state and the need for the international community to support peace, stability and development.

He called for the need to double the contribution of the international community in water harvest and returnees support programs.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

Talks between the two sides 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.

According to the official news agency SUNA, Nononsi said the international community is keen to support efforts to achieve peace, stability and development in the state.

According to the U.N., the independent expert on Sudan will meet with relevant stakeholders, including the Sudanese authorities, civil society actors, academia, community leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, and UN entities to ensure all relevant information is reflected in his next report to the U.N Human Rights Council (HRC).

As part of his eleventh day visit, Nononsi, who was invited by the Sudanese government, will hold a series of meetings in Khartoum and Blue Nile.

Meanwhile, the independent expert is expected to present his findings and recommendations to the U.N Human Rights Council in September 2017.

(ST)

May 19, 2017 (JUBA) - A general in the South Sudan army (SPLA) has been accused of taking side in a recent communal feud that resulted in the death of over ten people.

South Sudanese SPLA soldiers are pictured in Pageri in Eastern Equatoria state on August 20, 2015 (Photo AFP/Samir Bol)

Dinka Bor and Mundri have used to trade accusations of using weapons belonging to the national army SPLA or claim the involvement of soldiers from the rival tribes in the clashes over ownership and use of natural resources.

This time, the Major General Malual Majok, head of the mechanised unit in the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) at the general headquarters in Juba is personally accused of taking side in favour of his ethnic Dinka Bor in clashes occurred earlier this month with the Mundri.

According to a statement by Mundari Global Community on 8th May 2017, General Majok, allegedly allowed arms and personnel under his direct command in a purported coordination with the division commander based in his home Bor to carry attacks on civilian settlements inhabited by ethnic Mundri in Central Equatoria region.

“A motor boat carrying the riverine forces and the SPLA division 8 under the command of Malual Majok were dispatched from Gondokoro through Mongala. The riverine forces attacked civilians in the island of Korchomba and Gumeiza, terrorised, displaced civilians and (caused) massive destructions,” the statement reads in part.

The motives for which a top military officer took side in the communal feud remain unclear. Sudan Tribune was unable to reach him for comments despite several attempts. Military colleagues and relatives denied his involvement, describing the allegations as false and as a "smear propaganda".

Ethnic conflicts and rivalry over grazing lands in South Sudan have often been attributed to actors primarily divided by cultural and ethnic lines.

Long-standing herder-farmer conflicts, typically involving disputes over land and/or cattle between herders and farmers in the states of Jonglei, parts of former Warrap state, Lakes, parts of former unity have killed thousands of people and displaced tens of thousands more.

Analysts agree that the conflicts between the Dinka-Bor and Mundari over the natural resources have been transformed into violent political conflicts over the years.

(ST)

May 19, 2017 (YAMBIO) – At least seven people have been killed in Rirangu Payam of Yambio County by unknown gunmen during the past two days creating panic among farmers in South Sudan's Gbudue State

Members of the SSLMN and South Sudan government in Yambio April 02, 2016 (ST)

An eyewitness told Sudan Tribune on Friday that many people have been killed by unidentified armed men in uniform in Rirangu. The victims are mostly the farmers who went to the area to cultivate their lands.

“Over seven people have been killed by unknown men wearing military uniform in Rirangu area (...) and I have seen five bodies being brought to Yambio town on Motorcycles and more bodies still lying on the ground,” he said.

The Source said, there was heavy gunshot during the past two days and the farmers returned, running, to the town fearing for their lives stressing the gunmen were shooting indiscriminately killing civilians in a brutal way.

He mentioned that people along the road are pointing an accusing figure at government forces heading to Rirangu where armed group under Alfred Futiyo were based saying they confused between civilians who are cultivating in the area and the armed group.

Efforts to reach the state government officials for comment on the allegation were fruitless.

Calm has returned to Yambio since several months now and the hostile area of Rirangu was also pacified after an appeal from the Governor of Gbudue State Daniel Badagbu to silence the guns and join him to bring peace in the state and to end the suffering of civilians.

Many people have been killed, properties were looted, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes to the IDPs camp or seeking refuge outside South Sudan.

The killing in Rirangu surprised people who are living in the town because hundreds of armed elements continue to surrender to the government while the security situation has improved greatly.

(ST)

May 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government Thursday said the UN Security Council (UNSC) will include the implementation of recommendations of the tripartite team tasked with developing an exit strategy for the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in its decision to renew the mandate of the Mission in June.

A tripartite working group including the Sudanese government, AU and UN has been set up in February 2015 to develop an exit strategy for the UNAMID from Darfur.

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.

In press statements after the meeting of presidential aide Ibrahim Mahmoud with the visiting delegation of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), Sudan's permanent representative to the AU, Jamal Ibrahim, said the tripartite team has signed the exit decision of the Mission from some areas in Darfur.

“A top tripartite team will meet on 22 May to approve the recommendations [of the working group] and report to the AUPSC and the UNSC on the issue,” he said.

In a report to the UNSC on 26 May, the former UN chief, Ban Ki-moon said the Mission suggested during the negotiations to withdraw gradually from West Darfur, and leave from three bases in North and South Darfur, in areas that do not currently necessitate its presence, noting that withdrawal from other areas would only be possible if a ceasefire and protection of displaced are ensured.

On Thursday the visiting AUPSC delegation acknowledged the improvement of the situation in Darfur region, however, it underscored that security challenges in Jebel Marra area prevent the return of displaced civilians to their homes.

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.

On 27 March, Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said Burkina Faso has decided to implement a decision it took earlier to withdraw its troops from the UNAMID, pointing Sudan will bear the financial cost for the transfer of the troops.

UN agencies say there are nearly 2.5 million displaced persons in Darfur, despite the signing of a peace agreement in Doha in July 2011.

(ST)

May 18, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A visiting delegation from the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) Thursday has acknowledged the improvement of the situation in Darfur region, however, it underscored that security challenges in Jebel Marra area prevent the return of displaced civilians to their homes.

During a four-day visit to the Sudan, the AUPSC delegation led by the Uganda's Permanent Representative to the African Union, Mull S. Katende toured the camps of displaced people in Nertiti of Central Darfur State and Shangil Tobaya, North Darfur.

The delegation will present a report to the Council on the security situation in the western Sudan region, ahead of the extension of Darfur hybrid peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) next June by the United Nations Security Council.

"The situation in Jebel Marra continues to be a source of concern but the situation in the North Darfur State has improved significantly," said Katende, adding that the return of IDPs in Nertiti camp is impeded by a lack of security in Jebel Marra.

"IDPs of Neretti camp have expressed fear of killing once they return to their villages. We know that there are clashes and their areas should be rehabilitated and to protect them."

The mountainous area witnessed last year clashes between the government forces and fighters of the Sudan Liberation Movement - Abdel Wahid. The rebel group rejects to join the African Union efforts for peace in Sudan.

For the IDPs from the areas where there is no violence now, Katende said they have the choice between returning voluntarily to their village of origins or integrating into the communities in which they currently live, adding that in the two options there is a need to provide services and facilitate their integration.

The Ugandan diplomat said he held a meeting with the Sudanese Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid to discuss the outcome of their visit and express their observations on the security situation in the region of Darfur.

He further called on the armed groups to join the national dialogue document and pointed to the government flexibility and readiness to accept those who want to join the process.

The Sudanese government and the three armed groups failed in August 2016 to sign a cessation of humanitarian hostilities agreement.

During a visit to Khartoum, the African Union chief mediator Thabo Mbeki said President al-Bashir welcomes efforts to bring the holdout groups to the framework National Document endorsed by the government-led dialogue process in October 2016.

However, the government has ruled out the organisation of a new national dialogue process initially included in a Roadmap Agreement signed with the opposition groups.

(ST)

May 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's President Omer al-Bsashir will not take part in the two-day Arab Islamic American Summit, said Khartoum on Friday ending speculations about his unwanted participation by the United States.

On Friday morning the official news agency SUNA, has announced in a laconic statement that al-Bashir will not participate in the meeting due to personal reasons without further details.

"The President of the Republic, Marshal Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir has apologised to his brother the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz for attending the Islamic American Summit held in the Saudi capital Riyadh for special reasons," SUNA said.

It further said Bashir has assigned the Director of his office and Minister of State at the Presidency Taha al-Hussein, to represent him at the summit

The official organ further pointed that the president had received an invitation for the summit handed over by a special envoy.

U.S. officials expressed their displeasure with the presence of Bashir at the summit and urged the host country to not invite him.

But Saudi and Sudanese diplomats including foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour insisted that Bashir was invited and he would travel to Riyadh for the meeting which gathers over 50 heads of state and government.

The row over Bashir's participation in the summit cast doubts over the recent improvement of bilateral relations between Khartoum and Washington.

Also, Sudanese officials were optimistic about the definitive lift of sanctions, but observers now say in the best cases it would be delayed for additional six month period.

In a press release on Wednesday, the U.S. embassy in Khartoum explained Washington's rejection of al-Bashir's participation in the meeting attended by President Trump, saying “we oppose invitations, facilitation, or support for travel by any person subject to outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants, including President Bashir”.

(ST)

May 18, 2017 (JUBA) – President Salva Kiir Thursday said that the national dialogue process will start with those are ready to take part, insisting that the others can join it later on but he would not delay it further.

“Those who are available will be sworn in on Monday, May 22, 2017. Those who are not around will be sworn in as and when they come because the process cannot be postponed,” said President Kiir on Thursday.

Different opposition figures including the widow of the late SPLM leader John Garang de Mabior, Kosti Manibe, and Majak D' Agoot, declined to join the process after their appointment by the President citing the lack of prior consultation and the need for confidence building measures before to hold it.

Kiir pointed out the country's' needs to be guided by the values of peace and national reconciliation as a way of observing the spirit of Lent.

The President went on to emphasising on the values of Christianity.

“The fundamental values of Christianity, such as love of the neighbour, forgiveness, reconciliation and peace, transcend the religious domain to be guiding values of our South Sudanese society because they are shared by all of us, regardless of our differences,” he added.

The head of state said that the national dialogue would be an opportunity and a process for deep reflection on the values and principles which bind the South Sudanese leadership.

President Kiir made the remarks on Thursday to members of the organising committee who have been tasked with various responsibilities to make necessary arrangements for the swearing-in of dialogue committee members.

Peace in the country has been unattainable and is constantly threatened but the fractures within the leadership of the major armed opposition parties and within the government.

(ST)

May 18, 2017 (KAMPALA) - More than 100 lone children cross into Uganda each day as they flee conflict in South Sudan, walking for days on end with no food or family to sustain them, an aid agency said on Thursday.

A United Nations peacekeeper standing with children near the U.N. base in Juba, South Sudan, in January 2016 (AP Photo/Jason Patinkin/File)

World Vision said at least 9,000 children had made the journey since last July and it expects another thousand to join them by mid-year.

“The majority of these children saw their parents being killed, while others lost touch with their families once fighting broke out. Some of them walk for more than a week to get to Uganda, with nothing to eat,” said Gilbert Kamanga, the country director of World Vision in Uganda in a statement.

“This is one of the worst forms of violence against children. It must stop. Peace needs to prevail in South Sudan,” he added.

Uganda, according to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), hosts some 898,000 refugees, with over 2,000 people, mostly women and children, arriving daily.

Children, UNHCR says, make up to 62% of the 1.8 million people displaced by fighting in South Sudan, and more than 75,000 unaccompanied children have fled to Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.

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

(ST)

May 18, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has “reconciled” with former chief of army General, 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 presidential spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny described Thursday's meeting between Awan and the president as “cordial and friendly."

"I can now report to the South Sudanese that President Salva Kiir Mayardit and former chief of staff General Paul Malong Awan have reconciled. They reflected on their long comradeship, friendship dating back to the time of war of liberation and small differences were easily resolved," Ateny told reporters in the capital, Juba.

The meeting was the first encounter between the two ever since Awan was sacked from the army after about four years in charge.

Kiir replaced Awan with General James Ajongo Mawut, who has been described my many as a moderate veteran military officer.

Despite his removal, however, the former South Sudanese army chief is credited for helping the national army win several battles against the armed opposition faction loyal to ex-Vice President Riek Machar.

Not much was divulged on the outcome of Thursday's meeting between the South Sudanese leader and his former army chief.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

May 17, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - A number of Ethiopian institutions were affected by a global cyber attack which hit some 155 countries, Ethiopia Information Network Security Agency (INSA) disclosed on Thursday.

INSA, a government body tasked to defend threats against country's Information Technology (IT) infrastructures said various government owned and private institutions were hit by a computer virus called "WannaCry Malware" or "Decrypt WannaCry".

The state-run Telecom company, Industries and hospitals were few among others affected by the computer virus.

INSA, however, didn't reveal the levels of damage caused to the institutions by the latest cyber attack.

According to INSA, the virus particularly affected institutions that use Windows operating systems and advised on those institutions to update it to avert dangers of cyber threats which are considered to continue.

INSA called on institutions seeking help to upgrade their Windows operating systems to contact INSA on toll-free local number 933 or email to ethiocert@insa.gov.et to get the necessary support.

It also warned them from opening email messages sent from unknown address.

Ethiopia is one of the 11 African countries targeted by the latest cyber attack.

Officials say the horn of Africa's nation has been hit by 256 cyber attacks during the past six months.

Last year, INSA introduced counter cyber attack solutions to banks enabling the financial firms to detect threats ahead of attacks.

(ST)

May 18, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The newly appointed defence attaché at the U.S. embassy in Khartoum Lieut. Col. Jörn Pung Wednesday held consultations with the governor of the troubled Blue Nile state and senior army commanders in Damazin.

The meeting was attended from the government side by Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Mohammed Abdel-Rahim, second commander of the 4th infantry division, Brig. Gen. Atef Youssef, state director of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) besides a number of army commanders.

Following the meeting, the official news agency SUNA quoted Blue Nile governor and head of the security committee Hussein Yassen Hamad as saying “the state government and all regular forces are observing the ceasefire declared by the President of the republic recently.”

Last January, President Omer al-Bashir decided to extend the unilateral cessation of hostilities in war zones for six months.

Yassen reiterated the call for arms bearers to join the dialogue and peace process, praising the U.S. stances and genuine support for the peace efforts in the country.

He pointed that the meeting discussed challenges facing peace and stability in the region besides government efforts to ease the tasks of the humanitarian and development groups operating in the Blue Nile.

According to SUNA, the U.S. defence attaché stressed his country's support for peace and stability in Sudan and particularly in the Blue Nile, expressing appreciation for the Sudanese army and its sincere adherence to the ceasefire.

He renewed the U.S. call for all arms bearers to join the dialogue and peace process.
For his part, the second commander of the 4th infantry division said Pung's visit comes within the framework of assessing the five-track talks between Sudan and the U.S.

Last January, former President Barack Obama eased the 19-year economic and trade sanctions on Sudan. The decision came as a response to the collaboration of the Sudanese government on various issues including the fight against terrorism.

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 next June their findings and recommendations over the fate of the sanctions.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

Talks between the two sides 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)

May 18, 2017 (JUBA) –President Salva Kiir said that "evil forces" were trying to destroy the country so that they can rewrite the history of the country by driving a wedge among the citizens.

President Kiir spoke on Thursday at the 34th anniversary of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army (SPLA) which was attended by senior military officers and high-level government officials. Last week's celebrations were postponed on the recommendation of the security situation.

“Obviously, in the last three years we have seen how the forces of evil have tried to bring our country down, they are bent on trying to rewrite history and drive the wedge among our people. They have gone as far as portraying our historical army as an ethnic army,” said the President.

Kiir went on to point out how the South Sudanese military has been compromised from different ethnic groups in the country and called to keep its diversity.

“We should not allow our own hands to destroy the most precious gains we have made since we took arms in 1983,” he said.

Regarding, the national dialogue, Kiir downplayed the criticisms of the delay of launching the political process which has been announced since last December. He announced that the initiative would kick off next week Monday.

“I wanted to inform you that we had been talking about this national dialogue, and this national dialogue has raised so many questions especially those who pretend to be friends to SPLM or friends of South Sudan when they are actually enemies trying to destroy South Sudan," he said.

"On Monday, 21 of this month, the general secretariat of the national dialogue will be sworn in so that they can start to operationalise the national dialogue,” President Kiir further said.

(ST)

May 18, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Counterterrorism Authority (NCA) Wednesday disclosed it has frozen bank accounts of unnamed persons linked to terrorist activities and included them in the UN Security Council Sanctions List.

The Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS) in Khartoum (Photo: Reuters)

The European Union (EU) has held a two-day workshop in Khartoum under the title “Combating Terrorism and Money Laundering” from 17 to 18 May to enhance the efficiency of the regular forces, judicial organs and central banks.

The head of the NCA and chairman of the Technical Committee for Combating Terrorism Financing, Brig. Gen. Muawiya Madani, told reporters on the sidelines of the workshop that they froze assets of persons suspected of having links to terrorist activities and included them the UN Security Council Sanctions List.

He pointed that the NCA conducted a thorough investigation regarding those suspected persons and froze bank accounts belonging to their Sudanese agent who oversees their funds.

Madani also revealed that preliminary investigations are underway regarding some additional suspected persons, saying the case will be referred to the prosecution after completion of investigation in a prelude to file criminal charges against them.

He said the decision to freeze these funds comes in implementation of the Council of Minister's decree pertaining to terrorism financing and money laundering which adapts to international resolutions in this regard.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international agency on combating money laundering and terrorism financing, in 2015 removed Sudan from its blacklist, saying the east-African nation is no longer a threat to the integrity of the international financial system.

Sudanese parliament adopted in June 2014 a law to combat money laundering and terrorism financing that contained articles related to consolidating investigations and financial intelligence which is the enforcement mechanism that receives notifications and information from financial institutions and other parties.

(ST)

May 16, 2017 (YAMBIO) – A high-level committee from the government in Juba has arrived in Yambio to finalise the preparations and to graduate the former rebel South Sudan National Liberation Movement (SSNLM) forces who signed a peace agreement with the Government last year in April 2016.

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

The Governor of the newly created Gbudue State, Daniel Badagbu said he had come from Juba with a high-level committee from the national government tasked with the final scrutiny and arrangement to graduate the SSNLM forces.

The leaders of SSLNM who have been in Juba after signing the peace agreement in April last year also came along with the commanders of SPLA-IO who surrendered to the government to call upon their forces to surrender.

“I went to Juba without your notice because I don't want to lie, but I brought a high-level committee headed by John Daniel from National Security to finalise arrangement and graduate the SSNLM,” said Governor Badagbu.

The Governor urged all the armed groups who are still in the bushes to come report themselves to the government and join their colleague for the graduation. He went on to encourage the groups to present their grievances before the graduation because there shall be no more peace agreement
with the armed groups in the State.

He thanked the citizens of Gbudue State for listening to his call to stop fighting and to “silence the guns” since his appointment early this year. He reiterated his calls for peace and armed men to come back home to end the suffering of the citizens of Gbudue.

Meanwhile, Major General John Daniel who headed the delegation from Juba said a representative from the police would be in charge or organise the integration of the forces. Daniel added that a representative from South Sudan Defence Force and National Security would also continue to finalise the arrangement and would immediately graduate SSNLM in few days.

Major John urged all the stakeholders and commanders of SSNLM to cooperate because the ranks they were going to receive would be screened according to the retirement in the military provision.

He went on to warn the SSNLM and SPLA-IO not to arrest any civilian, along with desisting from any further criminal activities that would affect their graduation.

Several reports came to the County authority in Yambio accusing the SSLNM of arresting civilians and demand money from them.

(ST)

May 16, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) Tuesday said it will launch an appeal to provide relief to meet needs of the increasing influx of South Sudan's refugees.

Nearly 500,000 refugees from neighbouring South Sudan, United Nations Higher Commissioner Refugees (UNHCR) estimates show, have fled to Sudan since mid-December 2013.

Famine was officially declared in South Sudan in February, where the government and the U.N said 100,000 people are facing starvation, with one million people classified as being on the brink of starvation.

Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum Tuesday, SRCS Secretary General Osman Gaafar said they are “in the process of launching an appeal within the next two days to provide assistance to the refugees coming from South Sudan”.

He pointed to the continued and increasing influx of South Sudanese refugees crossing into the border states, saying “the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will release the reserve fund to provide the necessary assistance to South Sudan's refugees”.

The world's newest nation has been engulfed by war since 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his rival and former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

The troubled country has reportedly now 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 (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR).

The UN humanitarian agencies said they are seeking $1.4 billion to provide life-saving aid to South Sudanese refugees in the six neighbouring countries until the end of 2017.

(ST)