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Bonn, 31.08.2015. Die Berichterstattung über den Krieg des selbst ernannten „Islamischen Staates“ gegen den Irak und Syrien ist hierzulande stark von der politischen Instabilität und von geostrategischen Konstellationen geprägt. Militärische Lösungen dominieren die Diskussionen. Darüber gerät jedoch die langfristige Traumatisierung der Zivilbevölkerung leicht in Vergessenheit. Aber es ist vor allem die Zivilbevölkerung, die durch die Angriffe des Islamischen Staats bedroht wird. Hinzu kommen langfristige psychosoziale Folgen, wie sie durch Vertreibung, Vergewaltigung und physische Angriffe verursacht werden.
Das Land zwischen Eufrat und Tigris ist seit Dekaden mit einer massiven Gewalt konfrontiert, die nicht abzuebben scheint: die Kriege mit dem Nachbarland Iran in den 1980er Jahren, der US-Angriff in Folge der Besetzung von Kuwait durch Truppen Saddam Husseins und die US-Invasion seit 2003. Ein aktueller Höhepunkt der Gewalt ist das Erscheinen der Terrorgruppe „Islamischer Staat“. Seit mehr als einem Jahr überzieht sie den Irak und das Nachbarland Syrien mit einer beispiellosen Kampagne der Gewalt und sorgt für weltweite Aufmerksamkeit.
Ergebnis der neuesten Entwicklungen sind massive Vertreibungen, Entführungen, eine weitverbreitete Traumatisierung der Bevölkerung, Gewalt gegen Frauen und Kinder sowie materielle Zerstörungen in den Gebieten, die vom „Islamischen Staat“ angegriffen oder besetzt wurden. Die Region Kurdistan, die Zufluchtsstätte vieler Vertriebenen, ist selbst seit Dekaden Gewaltexzessen unterworfen. Traurige Höhepunkte waren etwa die Anfal-Kampagne des ehemaligen Diktators Saddam Hussein, der Ende der 1980er Jahre im Zuge einer Strafaktion zehntausende vor allem kurdische Zivilisten zum Opfer fielen und der Giftgasangriff auf die Kleinstadt Halabja im Jahre 1988 mit 5000 Toten in nur wenigen Tagen. Die erlebte, massive Gewalt hinterlässt auch Jahre nach einem beendeten Konflikt ihre Spuren in der Gesellschaft. Zu ihnen gehören schwere Traumata, die sich vielfach in Angst, Wut, Depressionen oder Schlaflosigkeit manifestieren. Die psychischen Störungen einer Vielzahl von Menschen beeinflussen das soziale Gefüge einer Gesellschaft nachhaltig. Die internationale Gemeinschaft ist daher aufgerufen, bei ihrer Suche nach Frieden und Stabilität im Irak und darüber hinaus, diese langfristigen Effekte des Krieges zu berücksichtigen. Der Frieden manifestiert sich nicht nur in der Schaffung demokratischer Institutionen, der Abhaltung von Wahlen, passierbaren Straßen und einer funktionierenden Energieversorgung. Diese sind zweifelsohne wichtige Elemente. Aber darüber hinaus müssen Traumata aufgearbeitet werden, um ein erneutes Zusammenleben von Menschen mit unterschiedlicher ethnischer oder religiöser Zugehörigkeit zu ermöglichen, um zukünftigen Terrorgruppen oder Milizen auf der Suche nach Rache den Boden zu entziehen. Nach wie vor ist die internationale Gemeinschaft, also die arabischen Nachbarländer mit ihren verschiedenen Interessen sowie die westlichen Staaten, weit davon entfernt, für die gebeutelte Region einen Plan zur Befriedung, zur staatlichen Konsolidierung und Versöhnung auch nur anzustreben. Aufgrund der historischen Verbindungen mit der Region trägt sie jedoch zumindest eine Mitverantwortung für das Geschehen. Einen solchen Plan bräuchte es jedoch dringend, denn die aktuellen Terrorkampagnen, die Flüchtlingsströme und Gewaltexzesse sind – wie das Beispiel Irak zeigt – die Probleme von Morgen für den Westen. Der deutsche Export von Militärmaterial ist in diesem Zusammenhang sicherlich keine gute Investition in die Zukunft. Bei aller gegebenen Notwendigkeit, terroristische Gruppen auch militärisch zu bekämpfen, sollte das „Danach“ einer von Gewalt gezeichneten Gesellschaft unbedingt Teil eines weitreichenden Plans zur Konsolidierung sein. Einzelne, beispielhafte Initiativen gibt es bereits. Dazu gehört die Vereinigung Jiyan, die 2005 gegründet wurde und als erste Organisation dieser Art Folteropfer im Irak unterstützt und ihnen psychologische Hilfe anbietet. Jiyan betreut Menschen aller ethnischer und religiöser Gruppen und macht sich für die Rechte von Frauen und Kindern stark. In Deutschland arbeitet die Gruppe mit dem Behandlungszentrum für Folteropfer Berlin (BZFO) zusammen. Auch die christliche Organisation Wings of Hope arbeitet bei der Traumabewältigung eng mit Jiyan zusammen und bildet etwa vor Ort einheimische Fachkräfte fort. Diese und ähnliche Anstrengungen verdienen die Aufmerksamkeit und Unterstützung der Öffentlichkeit sowie der politischen Entscheidungsträger. Dieser Artikel ist auch bei ZEIT Online erschienen (02.09.2015)

The euro and the Schengen zone have been two of the EU’s most tangible and widely recognizable achievements. Now, both are faced with considerable, even existential, challenges. The concept of a border-free Europe is being tested by the evolving migration and refugee crisis, with an extremely high number of people from Syria and other conflict regions trying to cross into European countries (mainly Greece and Italy) in an attempt to seek asylum in their final destination country in Northern Europe. The limited enthusiasm of most EU states—with the notable exceptions of Germany and Sweden—to undertake any commitments in the context of a burden-sharing agreement promoted by the European Commission is once more testing the limits of European solidarity and the idea of common European policies.

An additional concern about radical individuals entering Europe disguised as refugees complicates the situation even further at a time of increasing radicalization of societies in some EU countries and rising xenophobia or Islamophobia in others. Schengen, and the whole European experiment, will soon be dead unless Europeans act on the basis of the assumption that “we must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” In the meantime, the fighting in Syria should stop. Talk to the Iranians and the Russians ASAP.

Dr Thanos Dokos

This article was published on Carnegie Europe website.

August 30, 2015 (JUBA) – The Japanese ambassador to South Sudan, Kiya Masahiko, concluded a visit to South Sudan's Upper Nile state last week to show solidarity with the refugees and appreciate the impact of Japan's aid contribution to their living conditions.

Sudanese refugees wait to board a truck heading to Batil refugee camp in South Sudan's Upper Nile state on 15 July 2012 (Photo: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

A delegation of local authorities and partner organisations, including the country representative of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), Ahmed Warsame accompanied Masahiko.

During the trip, the Japanese envoy reportedly visited some of the projects funded by the government of Japan in Doro camp, including classrooms at the Nur primary school, a solar-power borehole and the mud-plastered transitional shelters for vulnerable refugees.

Masahiko, UNHCR said, also visited Maban county hospital, which has been equipped with a X-ray room, two operating theatres, three paediatric wards and a pharmacy over the last two years, courtesy of funding from donors, including Japan.

"This hospital serves more than 200,000 people from the refugee and host communities and remains the only functioning hospital in the entirety of Upper Nile State since the start of the conflict in December 2013," UNHCR said in a statement.

Japan, UNHCR's second largest donor globally has reportedly contributed more than $16 million since 2014 to support UN refugee agency's efforts to protect and assist refugees and extend a helping hand to host communities in the world's youngest nation.

"Japan's support has been key in improving the living conditions of tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees who have found shelter in camps in Upper Nile and Unity states as well as many South Sudanese living within and around Maban camps," said Warsame.

"We were able to build better shelters for families and ensure higher standards in health, water, sanitation and education," he added.

The Japanese envoy reportedly met the refugee leaders to hear the concerns of their community. Access to higher education, health care, food and shelters were said to be top priorities for the refugees as do Internet connectivity for education and access to labor-saving modern farm technologies like tractors to increase agricultural production.

"Resources are limited, but we are committed to continue our support for refugees and host communities in South Sudan," said ambassador Masahiko.

"It is important that the contribution of the people of Japan reaches the most needy refugees and makes substantive improvements in their livelihoods," he stressed.

Currently, South Sudan reportedly has some 265,000 refugees of which nearly 90% are from South Kordofan and Blue Niles states and live in Unity and Upper Nile state camps. The remaining 10% are refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and Ethiopia who live mostly in Central and Western Equatoria state.

(ST)

Vlagyimir Putyin fogja vezetni Oroszország küldöttségét az ENSZ 70. szeptemberi jubileumi ülésére – írja a TASS. Erről az orosz elnök rendelkezett.

August 30, 2015 (RUMBEK) – Two former Members of Parliament (MPs) in South Sudan's Lakes state, called for peace and reconciliation among rival communities after they were released last week in the state capital, Rumbek, after 10 months in prison without charges.

Marik Nanga Marik at the right and Isaac Makur Buoc Apac at the left speaking to press at Rumbek airstrip upon their arrival from Yirol west on 25 August 2015 (Photo ST)

Thousands of people including relatives and friends on Sunday gathered in the house of Isaac Makur Buoc, one of the released MPs, to thank South Sudan's president Salva Kiir for having instructed state authorities for their release.

MP Isaac Makur Buoc, representing Rumbek East county constituency number 13, was released with his colleague, Marik Nanga Marik, representing constituency number 2, on 22 August, 2015 in the county.

The two lawmakers spent over 300 days in jail and released without charges after president Kiir intervened late.

Speaking during the thanksgiving event, Buoc urged Rumbek East population to advocate for peace and reconciliation within their family members. Buoc He said talking for peace was the best tool to wed for peaceful future.

He encouraged his supporters to work hard for putting platform for peace instead of allow revenge and counter-revenge in the community.

Marik Nanga Marik, flanked his colleague and urged residents to be valiant in putting peace first than supporting personal interests that divide state inhabitants.

He described his arrest as normal and urged his supporters to support national government to implement the peace deal signed by South Sudan's president Kiir and the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar.

“Work in support [of the] recent peace signed by president Kiir – your goal now must be to build peace if you really supported me- supported national government with your heart and soul. We need peace so that our children could harvest nice future,” he said.

The thanksgiving ceremony was attended by top government officials.
Lakes state has been in cycle of revenge killings and unlawful arrests of civil activists and politicians with public losing interest in the current state administration led by military caretaker governor, Major General Matur Chut Dhoal, who also survived the recent reshuffle.

(ST)

August 30, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir on Sunday issued a decision to form a fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances of a brawl between members of two factions of a former rebel group signatory of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

The chairman of Darfur Regional Authority and NLJP leader Tijani El-Sissi (Reuters)

On Wednesday 26 August members of the Liberation and Justice Party (LJP), led by Bahar Idriss Abu Garda fought with members of National Liberation and Justice Movement (NLJP) led by Tijani al-Sissi during the launch ceremony for Phase II of development projects in Darfur in the Sudanese capital.

The LJP supporters came to contest the legitimacy of the attribution of 640 development projects and reiterated accusations of corruption for the NLJP led Darfur Regional Authority (DRA).

The presidential decree provides that the committee should investigate with the official and non-official persons involved in the incident, the circumstances and motivations of this unprecedented development in the conflict between the two parties.

LJP and the Justice and Equality Movement -Dabajo (JEM-Dabajo) call on president Bashir to appoint a new chairman for the regional authority and to be equally represented in the DRA which controlled by al-Sissi's pary.

The decree appointed the minister of justice Hassan Awad, as chairman of the committee and the minister of the federal affairs Faisal Hassan Ibrahim, and the deputy chief justice Idris Awad al-Majid as members.

The three member investigation body had to submit its findings to the president within a week from the date of the presidential decision.

BOYCOTT OF RDA

In a related development, LJP and the JEM-Dabajo ministers in the DRA decided to boycott the meetings of the regional body till an expected reshuffle takes place.

The two political groups are expected to hold a press conference to explain their decision.

The DRA chairman Sissi on Sunday headed a meeting of the regional authority at its headquarters in Khartoum with the participation of the five governors of Darfur states.

DRA information minister Abdel Karim Musa told reporters that the meeting stressed the government's determination to enforce all the 1071 development projects in Darfur.

Musa disclosed that the federal finance ministry approved 900 million pounds for the implementation of the second phase of recovery and development projects.

(ST)

August 30, 2015 (JUBA) - A group of defected rebel officials in South Sudan conflict have rejected a recently signed peace deal between the government of President Salva Kiir and the rebel faction under former vice president, Riek Machar, demanding that peace renegotiations between warring parties should take place inclusive of their group.

Gabriel Changson Chang (ST Photo)

The group calling itself Federal Democratic Party (FDP) with it military wing South Sudan Armed Forces (SSAF), an army pending name they borrowed from the South Sudan's transitional constitution is led by former national minister of youth, culture and sports, Gabriel Changson Chang.

The group called upon the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to adopt a new strategy in the peace negotiation.

“We in the federal democratic [party] and South Sudan armed forces believe that the IGAD must adopt a new strategy in the peace negotiation. We believe that in order to bring a lasting peace to South Sudan, all parties and stakeholders in the conflict must be included in the peace talks so that any agreement reached by [parties] must [be] owned by South Sudanese,” the statement dated August 29, 2015 reads in part.

The statement criticized IGAD, an east African bloc, which mediated the end to more than 20 months conflict in the country, for allegedly restricting negotiations “to a few favoured clients are contrary to the spirit of peace.”

IGAD, according to the statement, must allow open discussion of the root causes that triggered the conflict. It expressed doubt whether president Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar will be able to work together after “failing to gain trust despite working for eight years in the same government.”

“Both president and Dr. Riek Machar worked with each other for eight years and could not trust each other. It is doubtful whether these leaders will invent or generate any trust between them in the short period of transitional period,” he Changson said.

“Due to this mistrust between the two leaders, it remains to be seen whether the Juba massacre will not repeat itself,” he further predicted.

He claimed that the peace agreement between Kiir and Machar failed to recognize the Juba massacre and this “is very disappointing to the Nuer ethnic group in general and the families of the massacred people in particular.”

However, the peace agreement provided for compensation and reparation of the victims of the massacre in Juba and in other areas. A report by the African Union's Peace and Security Council also addressed the Juba massacre and to hold those responsible to account once it is released during the implementation of the peace deal.

But Changson further predicted that rivalry between the two major communities of Dinka and Nuer may continue.

“This shows lack of respect for the dead and this can heighten the sentiments that can threaten reconciliation and healing between the Nuer and the Dinka ethnic groups,” he argued.

The statement further added that imposed peace hardly changes the attitude and behaviours of people involved in the conflict, thus demanding the need to involve all the stakeholders in negotiations.

“In condemning this agreement, we are aware and convinced that this imposed peace will not alleviate the suffering of our people. We have learnt from the history that imposed agreement do not change attitude and behaviours of people previously in conflict. It is only when agreement and reconciliation are concluded through free wills of the people that commitment and respect for those agreement is upheld,” he added.

(ST)

August 30, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – President Yowerei Museveni of Uganda has held unexpected high profile meeting with a high level delegation from the South Sudan's armed opposition faction under the leadership of former vice president, Riek Machar, days after a peace deal was signed by two warring parties in South Sudan.

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni chairs a meeting with SPLM-IO delegation (R) in Kampala, August 29, 2015 (Photo ST)

The SPLM-IO said the meeting took place in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, on Saturday following an invitation extended to the former rebel group after signing of a final peace agreement with president Salva Kiir, which was brokered by the East African regional bloc, IGAD, and its international partners.

“Our Chairman and Commander-in-Chief, Comrade Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, dispatched a high level delegation to Kampala and met with President Yoweri Museveni,” Machar's spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

“They met President Museveni on Saturday and the meeting was cordial,” Dak said, but declined to provide details of the outcome of the meeting.

He however said the high profile interaction discussed a wide range of issues on implementation of the peace agreement and relations between Kampala and the opposition group.

South Sudan's opposition has since last year opened an office in the Ugandan capital and dispatched a representative based in Kampala to deal with humanitarian issues and build on mending relations between the two.

The 10-member opposition delegation was led by the deputy chairman and deputy commander-in-chief of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement/Army in opposition, General Alfred Ladu Gore.

(ST)

August 30, 2015 (RUMBEK) – A renowned youth activists have been killed in Rumbek East county of South Sudan's Lakes state, relatives and officials told Sudan Tribune.

Map detail showing South Sudan's Lakes state in red

Makuer Bol was reportedly killed last Saturday night in Cueicok payam.

A Criminal Investigation Department said a team was dispatched to probe the incident

“Although Makuer was the most influential youth member, he never took sides in all cycles of revenge occurring in Lakes state,” the officer, who preferred anonymity, said.

Meanwhile, unknown gunmen reportedly killed a primary eight pupil along with his father in Mabui village near Rumbek airstrip on Friday night.

Dut Makat's father, Makat Moon was a soldier in the army's division six headquarters.

The state government has intensified the search for the suspected gunmen believed to be from Rup section of Rumbek Central county.

Lakes state has experienced waves of violence following the unsolved murder of paramount chief Apareer Chut Dhuol, an elder brother of the embattled caretaker governor, Matur Chut Dhoul.

There have been growing demands among Lakes state residents for Dhuol's removal, but President Salva Kiir has overlooked these calls.

Local police say state authorities have become increasingly isolated, with the public refusing to share information with law enforcement officers, making it difficult to maintain law and order in the region.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

August 30, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese musicians in Ethiopia stage a concert in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa to celebrate the final peace agreement signed by the two warring factions in the world's youngest nation.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir (seated) signs a peace agreement in Juba, August 26, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Jok Solomu)

South Sudan peace ambassador, Gatwech Koak Nyuon, who chief guest, opened the concert held on Saturday at Gerji community hall in Addis Ababa.

Gatwech made presentations on truth, reconciliation and healing and also awarded top artists.

The Chairperson for South Sudan Artists Association in Ethiopia (SSAAE), Khor Deng Jang, welcomed the signed peace accord to end 20 months long conflict in South Sudan.

"I welcome the peace signed by the president [Salva Kiir] and Dr. [Riek] Machar" Jang elaborated at the closed ceremony.

Khor urged the IGAD-Plus and the international community to help implement the peace process.

In a joint communiqué, the South Sudanese called on IGAD-Plus, the international community as well as on all South Sudanese in the diasporas and at home to keep working together and help the leaders of the parties on implementation process.

They also urged leaders of the two South Sudanese warring factions to quickly establish truth, healing and reconciliation commission as it was done in South Africa.

The musicians further stressed a need for the religious communities to preach for peace and love to bring all South Sudanese communities together as one united family.

The South Sudanese artists planned to compose new songs which are noble to peace so that war affected South Sudanese hurt in this ongoing crisis are healed from trauma.

Over 800 people attended the concert organised by South Sudanese artists in Ethiopia.

Although the two rivals inked a final peace deal which brought hope for permanent ceasefire, some South Sudanese in Addis Ababa, however, still doubt on its implementation citing at least seven ceasefire agreements which were broken quickly.

But thousands of South Sudanese residing at refugee camps in Ethiopia are still hoping to return back home soon to rejoin their families. Since conflict in South Sudan erupted in December 2013, over 200,000 South Sudanese crossed borders into Ethiopia.

The international community has threatened to impose tougher measures on any party that fails to implement the peace agreement initiated by the IGAD-Plus mediators.

(ST)

August 30, 2015 (KHARTOUM) -Sudan's president Omer Hassan al-Bashir has officially rejected the call of the African Union (AU) to hold a pre-dialogue meeting in Addis Ababa, saying he wants the dialogue to be an exclusive Sudanese process.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir (TIKSA NEGERI/REUTERS)

Last week, the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) reiterated its call for an urgent pre-national dialogue meeting of all Sudan's relevant parties, at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, to discuss and agree on procedural matters relating to the dialogue.

Bashir, who addressed the army officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers at the Wadi Siedna military compound on Sunday, said his government refuses to hold the dialogue abroad, stressing that the AU, United Nations and the United States can't force the Sudanese government to hold the national dialogue abroad.

He said that doors are open for all parties to discuss ways for resolving Sudan's problems without foreign tutelage, warning rebels groups against insistence on resorting to arms to resolve outstanding issues.

Bashir said the coming year would be the year for achieving a decisive peace, pointing they offer the full opportunity for all parties to engage in the dialogue.

“We are authorized to wage war against those who refuse to engage in the dialogue,” he added.

In the same context, Sudan's foreign minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, told the Swedish ambassador to Khartoum, Mette Sunnergren, that his government would not accept to hold any dialogue conference abroad.

In a meeting held on Sunday, Ghandour informed the Swedish diplomat that his government wants the dialogue to be "an exclusive Sudanese process", pointing that Sudan coordinates with the AUPSC and the AU High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) only as partners who offer opinion and efforts to ensure the success of the process.

In September 2014, the peace and security body endorsed a roadmap aiming to facilitate the national dialogue. It provides to hold a national dialogue preparatory meeting in Addis to agree on issues related to the process.

But before they have to negotiate a cessation of hostilities immediately followed by security arrangements.

Bashir launched the national dialogue initiative more than a year and a half ago in which he urged opposition parties and rebels alike to join the dialogue table to discuss all the pressing issues.

But the initiative faced serious setbacks in wake of the government's refusal to create suitable atmosphere in the country leading several major participants to pull out.

OPPOSITION CONDEMNS GOVERNMENT STANCE

RNM leader Ghazi Salah Eddin Attabani speaks in a press conference held in Khartoum on 30 August 2015 (Photo ST)

Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition Reform Now Movement (RNM), Ghazi al-Attabani, described the government refusal to participate in the pre-dialogue meeting as “irrational and unsustainable”.

Attabani, who spoke in a press conference held by the Alliance of National Forces (ANF) including the political forces which withdrew from the government-led dialogue on Sunday, said the government would be forced to change its position sooner or later, wondering why it drags its feet on accepting the pre-dialogue meeting while it engages in external negotiations on its entire affairs.

He called on the Sudanese government to stop political manoeuvring on the issue of holding the dialogue inside Sudan, accusing it of trying to portray the opposition forces as seeking to hold the dialogue abroad.

“On the contrary, all political forces are committed to hold an exclusive Sudanese dialogue inside the Sudan”, he added.

RNM leader pointed that some opposition forces agreed to initiate the dialogue by holding a preparatory meeting abroad, describing the AUPSC call for the dialogue as “historic and unprecedented”.

He said the government will be the losing party if it insists on rejecting the AUPSC call for holding the pre-dialogue meeting, warning against underestimating the African support for Sudan.

Attabani further pointed if Africa withdrew its support for Sudan, the government would be exposed to international pressures and would be forced to engage in the dialogue at a higher cost than any genuine dialogue among the sons of Sudan.

He pointed that the recent AUPSC communiqué shows that the regional body was visibly irritated by the procrastination of the Sudanese government in taking the right steps to conduct a genuine and comprehensive dialogue.

“[The AUPSC] is standing one step away from declaring that the ongoing dialogue is worthless because it doesn't meet the minimum standards of political dialogue that have been implemented in similar experiences,” he said.

Attabani demanded the government to immediately respond to calls made by the “Sudan Call” forces for stopping the war, urging it to engage in serious talks to achieve a cessation of hostilities that leads to a comprehensive ceasefire.

“It would be futile to talk about political reform or national dialogue or to address Sudan's economic or regional and international relations crises while the war is ongoing,” he added.

ANF spokesperson, Taha Abdallah Yassin, for his part, said that failure of the government to put the dialogue in the right track would force them to resort the alternative dialogue project which they had agreed to launch with the rebel umbrella Sudan Revolutionary Forces (SRF).

He added the alternative dialogue will be based on the consensus of the entire Sudanese people, saying its outcome would form the basis of the national constitution.

NFC CALLS FOR UPRISING

In a related development, the opposition alliance National Consensus Forces (NCF) issued a statement saying that past and current developments prove they prove right their long-standing position that the government is not serious in its call for a negotiated solution for the country's issues.

"As the regime has rejected all the requirements and objective conditions for dialogue, the choice of the National Consensus Forces (...) is to overthrow the regime through a popular uprising, political strike and civil disobedience, and total rejection of any settlement aiming to maintain this system," the alliance of the left forces said.

The statement underscored that in line with Berlin Declaration, the opposition forces have to stop seeking a negotiated solution and to work altogether in a popular uprising to topple down the regime of President Omer al-Bashir.

RNM DENIES CONTACTS

RNM deputy chairman Hassan Rizq denied they were being contacted by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) to resume participation in the ongoing dialogue, accusing NCP leaders of turning a deaf ear to other political forces.

It is worth mentioning that the RNM pulled out of the dialogue last year blaming the NCP for its refusal to implement a number of confidence building measures aimed at creating a conducive environment before the start of the process.

Rizq called on the Sudanese government to listen to the voice of reason and avoid any confrontation with the AUPSC in order not to prevent transfer of the dossier to the UN Security Council.

“It is the duty of the wise men (within the government) to rein in those who seek to drag Sudan to this confrontation (with the AUPSC) ,” he added.

(ST)

August 30, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - At the end of a five-day visit to Khartoum, the United States Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Donald E. Booth, has expressed regret for not being able to visit Darfur, saying he hopes to visit the restive region soon.

Sudan's FM Ibrahim Ghandour (R- center) meets with the visiting U.S. special envoy Donald Booth in Khartoum on 26 August 2015 (Photo ST)

“I was regrettably unable to make my planned visit to Darfur, but look forward to re-scheduling that visit soon”, Booth said in a statement released on Sunday at the conclusion of his first visit to Sudan since nearly two years ago.

“Instead we engaged with leaders of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), humanitarian actors, and other Darfuri officials on issues of security, inter-communal conflict, and crime, as well as delivery of life-saving assistance, and reconciliation efforts”, he added.

The American envoy didn't mention the reasons that have prevented him from visiting Darfur and whether the Sudanese authorities refused to allow him to visit the region which has been the scene of a deadly conflict between the government and rebel groups since 2003.

Following his arrival in Khartoum on Tuesday, Booth held talks with Sudan's foreign minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, on Saturday but a wall of secrecy has been dropped around it.

The American envoy welcomed the government of Sudan's stated intent to implement a two-month cessation of hostilities and encouraged it “to extend the timeframe and couple it with a negotiated and mutually acceptable mechanism for humanitarian access in order to develop confidence in, and an environment conducive to, an inclusive political dialogue process”.

He further said they will likewise engage opposition actors on these critical issues.

The US envoy pointed they engaged the government of Sudan on the full range of issues that frame the bilateral relationship , adding that the visit also included constructive discussions with civil society representatives, business leaders, political parties, humanitarian actors, and other Sudanese citizens.

He said that discussions with the Sudanese government addressed the need for an open national political dialogue to address the root causes of Sudan's persistent internal conflicts, and to realize more inclusive governance arrangements.

“We exchanged views on security concerns, protection of civilians, and improving humanitarian access to conflict-affected populations,” he added.

Booth pointed out that discussions also covered economic issues such as Sudan's outstanding debt, sanctions, and ways of utilizing the important sanctions exemptions that have been granted for the benefit of the Sudanese people.

The American envoy expressed hope to return to Sudan to advance dialogue on issues of mutual interest and concern.

Sudan has been on the U.S. list of states that sponsor terrorism since 1993, even though the two countries have strengthened their counter-terrorism cooperation since the September 2001 attacks on Washington and New York.

Washington also imposed economic and trade sanctions on Sudan in 1997 in response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights abuses. In 2007, it strengthened the embargo, citing abuses in Darfur which it says constitutes genocide.

The resumption of dialogue between the two countries come after an agreement reached last February with the then presidential assistant Ibrahim Ghandour on the framework of discussion over normalisation of bilateral relations.

Khartoum in the past said talks should be based on mutual interests and refused Washington's approach linking between the resolution of internal conflicts and lift of sanctions.

DISCUSSIONS WITH BUSINESSPERSON ON SANCTIONS' EFFECTS

One of the events that marked the visit was a meeting held on Thursday 27 August by an American technical team accompanying the U.S. special envoy with Sudanese business community to discuss the negative impact of sanctions on the goods exempted from sanctions.

The vice-president of Sudanese Businessmen and Employers Federation (SBEF) Youssef Ahmed Youssef who took part in the workshop told reporters that the meeting comes in line with the dialogue that Sudanese private sector engaged since several years with American embassy to consider ways to relieve them from the impact of the embargo.

"The workshop discussed the complexities inherent to financial and banking transactions in the sectors exempted from the American sanctions, which now impact the banking dealings with Asian and European banks that were dealing with Sudan," he said.

Sudanese businessmen say that international banks systematically block their transactions because they fear to be prohibited by trade embargoes and sanctions rules. They add that the foreign and even American banks ignore the list of exemptions granted by the OFAC during the past years.

The members of the visiting technical team vowed to exert the necessary efforts to facilitate the implementation of exemptions decided for the benefit of Sudanese people.

In 1997 when the American Administration decide to punish the Sudanese regime for its support of terrorism. The original bill terminated all commercial activities with Sudan but it exempted only one product, Gum Arabic as result of pressures exerted by American industrial groups who wanted to secure their access to this natural product .

Ten years later in 2007 , Washington strengthened the embargo, citing abuses in Darfur which it labelled as genocide. However to ease its negative impact on the ordinary people, the United States Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) since 2010 amended the bill several times and added more exemptions to the list, including agriculture equipment, educational exchange programs and scholarships, personal communications hardware and software including smart phones and laptops.

August 30, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) said their leader, Riek Machar, who is a designated first vice president in accordance with peace deal with president Salva Kiir, will have bodyguards in the capital, Juba, contrary to what some media outlets said to the contrary.

Riek Machar gestures as he speaks to rebel General Peter Gatdet Yaka (not seen) in a rebel controlled territory in Jonglei on February 1, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

Machar's spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, said what was reported in the media was a misinterpretation of Article 5 of the Transitional Security Arrangements in the accord which the two leaders signed on 17 and 26 August 2015, to end the 20-month long civil war in the country.

“That is a misinterpretation of Article 5.1.1. of the Peace Agreement. Presidential guards which are provided for in the Transitional Security Arrangement means guards for top leaders of the two parties,” he told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

Article 5 of the Transitional Security Arrangements stipulates that forces shall be redeployed by a radius of 25km outside Juba, but with exception of presidential guards and forces to protect military barracks, bases and warehouses as well as joint integrated police drawn from the two sides.

This was a revision from the first IGAD Plus peace compromise proposal of 25 July which gave president Kiir 265 bodyguards and Machar with 195 bodyguards in the capital.

But Dak explained that Article 5.1.1. which provides for presidential guards in the capital meant the combined guards for the two rival leaders and not exclusively for president Kiir.

He further said the IGAD Plus compromise agreement removed the proposed size and composition of the presidential guards for the two leaders and left it to the two parties to determine it in a workshop that will be organized in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in September in implementation of the security arrangements.

He also said the two parties will determine the size and composition of military forces that will remain in Juba to protect military barracks, bases and warehouses as well as joint integrated police to be deployed in Juba, Malakal, Bor and Bentiu in addition to other unspecified areas.

(ST)

Komoly előnyt jelent majd az új pályázatoknál az európai standardokat követő önkormányzati Fenntartható Energia Akcióprogram (SEAP) bevezetése, kidolgozása.  A tervezést most érdemes elindítani, az NLC Kft. vállalja az ebben való szakmai közreműködést.

August 30, 2015 (JUBA) - Rival forces in South Sudan conflict have issued statements counter-accusing each other of violations of the permanent ceasefire hours after it came into effect on Saturday midnight as declared by president Salva Kiir and armed opposition leader, Riek Machar.

Soldiers from the South Sudan army (SPLA) patrol the streets in the Upper Nile state capital, Malakal, on 21 January 2014 (Photo: AFP/Charles Lomodong)

The spokesperson of the government forces, Colonel Phillip Aguer, issued a series of statements on Saturday evening and again on Sunday, accusing forces loyal to the former vice president, Riek Machar, to have carried out attack on positions held by forces allied to president Kiir in Malakal town.

The intention of the rebels attack on the government forces, according to Aguer, was to gain more territories which they were seeking to use as assembling points in the event peace deal is implemented.

“Their intention is to gain more territories. This is the purpose of these attacks. That was why they attacked the positions of our forces in Malakal yesterday (Saturday) and again today (Sunday),” said Aguer.

“For us, our forces will not attack them but they have the right for self-defense,” he added.

However, the military officer revealed that the government had dispatched troops using river transports for delivery of military supplies to Malakal town, capital of the remaining oil producing Upper Nile state.

Spokesman of the leader of the armed opposition leader, Machar, on Saturday and Sunday said government forces moving with barges and gunboats from Juba to Malakal along the river Nile have been attacking their bases.

“Government forces have been attacking our bases along the river Nile. They attacked Tayer port on 26 August, the day President Kiir signed the peace Agreement. They attacked our base at Adok port on Friday as they continue to move northwards towards Malakal. Government forces in Malakal also shelled our base on the west bank,” said Machar's spokesman, James Gatdet Dak.

Government spokesman, Philip Aguer, admitted that government forces were moving along the river Nile through territories controlled by the rebels, warning that they will fire back in self-defense should they come under attack from the rebel forces.

Peter Adwok Nyaba, one of the leading figures in the armed opposition faction led by Machar confirmed separately that government forces on Sunday shot at one of their speed boats while traveling between Wau Shilluk and Watbajwok around Malakal, wounding one passenger.

“The information we have is that the government forces continued shelling Ditang, Bukieny, Obuwa and Lelo. Our forces did not return fire respecting the orders of the commander-in-chief Dr. Riek Machar to cease fire,” said Nyaba.

Dak also said their forces came under separate attacks on Sunday morning in their bases in Koch, Leer and Mayiandit counties, just hours after the ceasefire went into force.

NEW ACTING SPOKESMAN FOR SPLA-IO

Machar's spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, who has been handling both political and military issues as spokesman after defection of military spokesman, Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang, to government, said there is now an acting military spokesman to handle military issues.

“I want to take this opportunity to introduce to you my colleague, Colonel William Gatjiath Deng, who has become our acting military spokesperson,” Dak said on Sunday while distributing to the media Colonel Deng's first press statement on the military situation after violation of the permanent ceasefire.

Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang, who was military spokesperson for the rebels' military defected to the government this year. His deputy, Colonel James L. Thichot Ngundeng, who became the acting military spokesperson also defected from Machar with the group of Major General Peter Gatdet Yak and Major General Gathoth Gatkuoth.

Dak urged journalists to also establish contacts with the acting military spokesman, Deng, as he may be dealing mainly with political issues.

(ST)

Aujourd’hui, vendredi 28 août 2015, le Centre Régional Opérationnel de Surveillance et de Sauvetage (CROSS) de Jobourg a été informé par le navire de pêche cherbourgeois « Yannick » qu’un de ses membres d’équipage est blessé à l’œil. Il se trouvait alors au nord du dispositif de séparation du trafic (DST) des Casquets.

• Lire la suite de Un matelot du chalutier Yannick évacué en Manche

Les conditions météorologiques n'ont pas permis d'effectuer le raccordement électrique de l'hydrolienne Sabella posée à 55 m de profondeur, dans le sud d'Ouessant. L'opération était programmée durant les faibles coefficients de marée de cette fin de mois d'août. L'entreprise quimpéroise vise les deux prochaines périodes de mortes eaux de septembre pour réaliser la connexion des deux câbles immergés qui permettront d'alimenter en électricité de l'île voisine. Mais il faudra profiter d'excellentes conditions météo pour réaliser l'opération en pontée du navire Argonaute.

• Lire la suite de Hydrolienne Sabella D10 : La connexion reportée à septembre

Après avoir passé deux ans à la tête de la Force d’Action Navale, le vice-amiral d’escadre Philippe Coindreau passera la barre, le 1er septembre, au vice-amiral d’escadre Denis Béraud. L’occasion de faire le point avec le patron des bâtiments de surface. Ces deux dernières années, la FAN a, en effet, connu d’importantes évolutions, avec l’arrivée des premières frégates multi-missions (FREMM) et leurs conséquences, notamment en termes de ressources humaines.

• Lire la suite de Amiral Coindreau : « La flotte est moins grande mais plus efficace »

Bombes de peinture en main, des artistes vont s’attaquer cette semaine à la coque du Maillé-Brézé. Dans le cadre du festival international d’art urbain Teenage Kicks, organisé à Nantes et Rennes par les associations Plus de Couleurs et Graffiteam, l’ancien escorteur d’escadre de la Marine nationale, transformé en musée à Nantes en 1988, va arborer une nouvelle livrée.

• Lire la suite de Le Maillé-Brézé recouvert d’une œuvre d’art urbain

Les Berlioz et Rodin bloqués depuis le 29 juin par le Syndicat Maritime Nord, alors même qu’ils sont affrétés par DFDS. Le port de Calais perturbé pendant l'été par des manifestations. La SCOP SeaFrance liquidée le 31 juillet, provoquant le licenciement de 487 personnes. Et le cabinet du ministre des Transports qui joue les pompiers et organise, depuis début juillet, des réunions de négociation entre toutes les parties prenantes, pour trouver des solutions. Qui ont toutes, jusqu’ici, échoué. Comme l’avait annoncé Eric Vercoutre, patron du SMN,  l’été calaisien a été chaud.

• Lire la suite de MyFerryLink : Le dernier protocole d’accord pourra-t-il être adopté ?