Africa

December 5, 2018 (JUAB) - South Sudan peace monitoring body called on the South Sudanese government to investigate the cases of sexual attacks on over 150 women and girls along roads near Nhialdu and Guit to Bentiu in Northern Liech State between 19 and 29 November 2018.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) said the preliminary investigation by the by the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) confirmed the occurrence of the sexual violence.

"While CTSAMVM continues to carry out full investigations, JMEC calls upon the government to conduct a speedy, transparent and timely investigation into the attacks and apprehend the perpetrators, hold them to account and urge that CTSAMVM be given full access and support to complete its investigations," further stressed the statement.

The UNMISS which also investigates the rape said the assaults happened in a government-controlled area and carried out by young men in "civilian clothing or military uniforms".

The JMEC indicated that the attacks occurred south of Bentiu town in the areas between Nhialdiu and Bentiu, Thil and Padai road and Bentiu town to Guit.

Also, the peacekeeping mission announced Wednesday that several UN human rights investigators have arrived in Bentiu to probe the attacks.

JMEC's call to investigate the sexual violence comes after statements by Northern Liech State authorities denying the occurrence of the attacks.

In a related development, the Embassy of Canada to South Sudan said concerned by the attacks and called for "a thorough investigation of the reported crimes, and a commitment to bring those responsible to justice".

"The brutal attacks against women and girls in the Bentiu area not only requires immediate action, it requires immediate reflection on how the issue of sexual and gender-based violence continues to challenge the full promise of South Sudan," stressed the Embassy in a statement to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

(ST)

December 5, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Federal Democratic Party (FDP) led by Gabriel Changson, Wednesday, sacked four members saying they formed a new faction of the party supporting the election of Peter Gatdet for the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).

Gabriel Changson Chang (file/ST)

In a statement issued late on Wednesday night in Khartoum, Changson said they learnt that Thomas Peter Okacb, Chanjok Neilak Oraj, Simon Otiek Ayul and Zakariya Paulino Oyai conducted "illegal meetings" on 2 and 3 December with Lam Akol, the leader of National Democratic Movement (NCM) to form a new faction of his party, the FDP.

"This is the violation of the party principles and norms," he said.

"Therefore, the Leadership decided to terminate their membership from FDP/SSAF with effect from 04th December 2018," he further stressed.

On Friday 30 November, an SSOA faction announced the election of Peter Gatdet as a new leader of the opposition umbrella replacing Changson who had been elected in February 2018. They pointed that the alliance charter established a rotating presidency with the election of a new chair every six months.

However, on 4 December, Changson and his supporters within the SSOA decided to suspend the Peter Gatdet election and keeping him at the head of the alliance. The other faction rejected the suspension of the election creating two organizations with two leaders.

(ST)

December 5, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi and the Sudanese Defence Minister Awad Ibn Ouf on Tuesday have discussed the current security challenges in the region.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (Photo Reuters)

Ibn Ouf has arrived in Cairo to participate in the first international exhibition EDEX 2018 (Egypt Defense Expo) which was inaugurated on Monday.

During the meeting, President al-Sisi stressed the importance to continue to support joint military cooperation between Sudan and Egypt and the exchange of expertise between the two armies.

He also underlined keenness to cooperate with the Sudanese army in a number of domains including training, security and intelligence and military industry.

The Egyptian President further pointed to the need to continue joint coordination to meet the current security challenges and maintain the regional peace and stability.

For his part, the Sudanese Defence Minister stressed his country's keenness to promote joint cooperation with Egypt in all areas particularly military and security areas.

During a visit of the Egyptian Defence Minister Mohamed Ahmed Zaki to Khartoum last month, the two sides agreed to establish joint border protection force to combat terrorism and cross-border crimes.

The two countries also agreed to build strategic partnerships on military cooperation and reached understandings to strengthen security and intelligence cooperation.

Relations between Sudan and Egypt experienced in December 2017 a new crisis over media attacks against President Omer al-Bashir after a visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Sudan. Also, Sudan accused Egypt and Eritrea of supporting rebel groups to attack Kassala State on the eastern border.

However, the two countries recently developed joint security cooperation against the opposition groups from both sides.

The main differences between the two neighbours remain the dispute over the border triangle area of Halayeb and the construction of Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam that Sudan backs.

(ST)

December 5, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Commander of the U.S. Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa James Craig has praised Sudan's efforts to achieve regional security and stability.

Sudanese Army's Chief of General Staff Kamal Abdel-Marouf on Tuesday met with Craig in the presence of the military attaché at the U.S. embassy in Khartoum Adam Cordish.

In a press release on Tuesday, the Sudanese army said the meeting discussed ways to promote joint military cooperation as well as the ongoing dialogue between the two countries.

For his part, Abdel-Marouf renewed Sudan's keenness to promote its relations with the U.S., saying the second phase of dialogue is expected to lead to the removal of Sudan's name from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

He said Sudan looks forward to building a strategic military partnership with the U.S., pointing to his recent visit to Washington.

In April 2017, Sudan participated for the first time in the meeting of the United States Africa Command known as "AFRICOM". At the time, the Sudanese army Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Emad al-Din Mustafa Adawi took part in a meeting of AFRICOM chiefs of general staff in Stuttgart, Germany.

In October 2017, the U.S. Administration permanently lifted 20-year-old economic sanctions against Sudan citing positive actions on humanitarian access and counter-terrorism.

The decision was in line with the "Five Track Engagement Plan", in which Khartoum agreed to a cessation of hostilities with the armed groups, opened unfettered humanitarian access in the conflict-affected areas, agreed to support efforts for peace in South Sudan and developed cooperation with the U.S. to counter terrorism in the region.

However, Washington didn't remove Sudan's name from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. In addition, it keeps in place targeted sanctions against individuals with arrest warrants related to atrocities committed during the conflict in Darfur.

Last month, Sudanese foreign minister El-Dirdeiry Ahmed and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan started talks in Washington on the normalization of bilateral relations and the removal of his country from the terror list which is the major obstacle in this respect.

At the time, sources close to the talks told Sudan Tribune that the two sides agreed to develop a new plan labelled the “five-track engagement +1” to say it would include important parts of the previous five-track engagement that led to the lift of the economic sanctions.

The sources further pointed out that the focus in the new plan will be on the human rights and freedoms particularly religious freedom.

“So, this time Washington wants Khartoum to observe the international law and principles on this respects but also to amend its repressive and coercive laws,” the sources said.

(ST)

December 5, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The political crisis among the groups of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) has worsened as several resist calls to suspend the election of Peter Gatdet as the new chairman.

The election of the South Sudan United Movement (SSUM) leader Peter Gatdet on 30 November triggered a political crisis among the SSOA which was seen as the third political force to append its signature on the revitalized peace agreement on 12 September 2018.

A group led by the ousted leader Gabriel Changson announced on Tuesday that an agreement was reached to suspend the election and vowed to work collectively and amicably towards resolution of all the concerns and within the shortest time possible.

In response, Peter Gatdet's supporters Wednesday maintained that SSUM leader was elected in "a transparent election took place in line with the SSOA Charter and Regulations under elaborate procedures agreed upon unanimously by all."

They further went to point an accusing finger to Juba's meddling in the alliance internal affairs saying that the 4th December meeting that decided the suspension was "chaired by a very senior" South Sudanese government official.

"We, the undersigned declare that the said decision of this group to suspend the election or the Chairman of SSOA is null and void," said the Peter Gatdet's allies in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

The statement further called on the IGAD and the international community to channel all communication connected with SSOA and the implementation of R-ARCSS to the elected Chairman of SSOA, Gen. Peter Gatdet Yak and his team.

This development if not resolved quickly will jeopardize the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and the work of the different pre-transitional period mechanisms.

The statement underscored that two constituent members (Lam Akol and Peter Gatdet) had been excluded from the 4 November meeting.

Wednesday's statement was signed by Thomas Peter Okac (FDP), Gen (PSC, ll8) Henry Oyay (NAS), Lam Akol (NDM), Anas Richard Zanga (PDM), Thomas Ali Bilal (SSSNMC), Gen Jacob NyierGatkuoth (SSLM) and Gen Peter Gadet Yak (SSUM).

On Tuesday the suspension was decided by Gabriel Changson Chang (FDP/SSAF), Khalid Butros Bora (NAS), Josephine Lagu Yanga (PDM), Joseph B. Bakasoro (SSNMC), Hussein Abdelbagi Akol (SSPM), BapinyMonytuilWejang (SSLM).

Observers denote that the FDP, NAS, PDM, SSNMC and SSLM are represented in the two factions of the SSOA by different persons. This development means that the ongoing rift also affects the unity of the alliance's groups.

SSOA's Changson spokesperson Hussein Abdel-Bagui told Sudan Tribune that the signatories of Tuesday's statement are the parties' leaders or representatives accredited at the IGAD except, Lam Akol and Peter Gatdet "who leads the other faction", as he said.

He further stressed their commitment to the unity of the alliance under the leadership of Changson.

(ST)

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December 4, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister El-Dirdeiry Ahmed and the United Kingdom's Permanent Secretary at the Department for International Development (DFID) Matthew Rycroft have discussed the British development aid provided to Sudan.

In a press release on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Babiker al-Siddiq said the meeting discussed Darfur development strategy that is being prepared by Sudan, UK and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

He added the meeting also discussed the security threats in the region and the situation in Libya and the Central African Republic as well as the implementation of South Sudan peace agreement.

For his part, Rycroft stressed his country would continue to assume a leading role in providing development assistance to Sudan particularly with regard to macroeconomic reform and the provision of livelihood for poor families within the framework of achieving the UN sustainable development goals.

The British official also praised Sudan's efforts that led to achieving South Sudan's peace agreement.

It is noteworthy that Rycroft has arrived in Khartoum on Monday in a three-day-visit during which he would also travel to the capital of South Darfur State, Nyala to visit some projects funded by the UK.

Since 2015, Sudan and the UK have started a dialogue upon request from Khartoum to push forward bilateral ties.

In March 2016, Sudan and the UK held the first strategic consultations meetings between the two countries in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. The meeting was considered the first talks of its kind at the ministerial level in 25 years.

The two countries agreed to exchange visits at the level of senior officials from the two countries along with increasing cooperation in the fields of economy, investment and culture.

The UK Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Chris Trott last year visited Khartoum several times to discuss ways to develop bilateral relations and encourage Khartoum efforts to reduce the illegal immigration from the Horn of African countries towards Europe and Britain especially.

The dialogue also was seen within the framework of the after-Brexit policy aiming to develop trade relations with the former British colonies.

(ST)

December 4, 2018 (JUBA) - The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA has finally suspended the election of Peter Gatdet Yaka as a new leader and decided to work collectively to resolve the concerns and reservations that tainted the operationalization of the leadership council.

On 30 November, the SSOA Leadership Council elected Yaka for six months but failed to elect the remaining other seven office bearers because the outgoing chairman rejected the outcome of the vote and contested the procedures used in the vote.

However, the opposition umbrella Tuesday decided to backtrack on its decision to elect Yaka pointing to the complications that the split of the group would generate and its negative impact on the peace implementation process.

"Following the dispute that emerged during the meeting (of 30 November), SSOA Leadership in a meeting held on 04th December 2018 unanimously agreed to suspend the outcome of the said meeting," said a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday evening.

"In the meantime, the Interim Leadership will collectively continue to administer the affairs of SSOA and work amicably towards resolution of all the concerns and within the shortest time possible," further said the SSOA in a joint statement signed by five leaders.

The statement was signed by Gabriel Changson Chang (FDP/SSAF), Khalid Butros Bora (NAS), Josephine Lagu Yanga (PDM), Joseph B. Bakasoro (SSNMC), Hussein Abdelbagi Akol (SSPM), BapinyMonytuilWejang (SSLM).

The South Sudan United Movement (SSUM) of Peter Gatdet and Lam Akol, the leader of the National Democratic Movement (NDM).

SudanTribune failed to reach Lam Akol to get his feedback on this development.

The collective leadership vowed to settle all the concerns that led to creating a rift within the alliance "and that the unity of SSOA and the implementation of the R-ARCSS remain paramount despite the challenging circumstances".

The alliance appealed to all SSOA member organizations, individual members, supporters and well-wishers to be calm, exercise restraint and refrain from provocative and abusive languages.

The SSOA charter provides that the Chairperson is elected by rotation among the Leaders of SSOA's factions and the six-month term was non-renewable.

Gabriel Changson was elected as the interim chairperson of the alliance on 16 February 2018 with the signing of SSOA's Charter. So, Since last August some factions pointed to the need to elect another but due to the peace talks at the times the alliance preferred to wait until a peace deal is reached.

(ST)

December 4, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese lawmakers representing 33 political parties Tuesday have introduced a bill to amend the constitution to allow President Omer al-Bashir to run for a third term in 2020 elections.

Al-Bashir's term ends in 2020 and he couldn't run for office again according to the constitution. Also, the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) statute limits to two terms the nomination of the party candidate for the presidential elections.

However, the NCP Shura (consultative) Council last August amended party statute allowing al-Bashir to stay for a third term as party leader in a move that is largely seen as a prelude to amend the country's constitution to allow him to run for presidency.

The proposed amendments bill was signed by 294 MPs and provides to abolish presidential term limits.

The head of the parliamentary sub-committee on industry Abdallah Masar told reporters that the proposed bill contains 57 amendments pertaining to the presidential term limits.

He described the move as “important national issue”, saying the amendments allow the president to sack the elected governors of states for a number of reasons including violation of “loyalty and obedience” to the president.

Al-Bashir who came to power through a coup d'état in June 1989 will have ruled Sudan for 31 years by the year 2020.

In March 2012, the Sudanese president said he wouldn't seek his re-election in April 2015 but he ran and won in an election that was boycotted by the major opposition parties.

Also, in August 2016, he said “I'm not a dictator and I don't want to cling to power. I won't run for another term, my term will end by 2020 and I won't be able to run again according to the constitution and the constitution won't be amended”

However, last September he openly declared his readiness for the elections after his nomination for the party's candidate by the NCP Shura (Consultative).

(ST)

December 4, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The results of meetings between South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit and armed movements fighting the government in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan will be on the negotiating table next week, a senior Sudanese intelligence and security official said on Tuesday.

NISS deputy head Jalal al-din al-Sheikh

President Salva Kiir recently launched an initiative to narrow the gaps between the government in Khartoum and the armed opposition groups in the country.

Kiir's aides said they will start by the reunification of the SPLM-N factions and then move to bring Darfur armed groups and opposition parties to meet the Sudanese officials in Juba. The purpose of the initiative is to facilitate the African Union mediation for peace in Sudan.

"The outcome of meetings between the armed movements and the government of South Sudan and their visions will be put forward in the peace talks next week," the deputy head of Sudan's security and intelligence service, Jalal al-din al-Sheikh, said in remarks from the Blue Nile state on Tuesday.

He pointed out that all parties are aware of the negative effects of war and its impact and that they will benefit from previous experiences.

However, reports from Juba say the no meeting was held until now between al-Hilu and Agar. So, no progress on this respect.

Also, the Sudanese government negotiating team is expected to meet with the SPLM-N al-Hilu in Addis in the upcoming days within the framework of the informal consultations meeting the African Union chief mediator Thabo Mbeki is organising between the two sides to create a common ground before to launch the talks.

(ST)

December 4, 2018 (ADJUMANI) – South Sudanese refugees living in Nyumanzi, a refugee camp in Uganda's northwestern district of Adjumani have been urged to co-exist peacefully with the host community.

South Sudanese pupils at Nyumanzi refugee settlement camp in Adjumani, Uganda (Getty Image)

About 43,000 South Sudanese refugees live in Nyumanzi, officials say.

Speaking at an essay award giving ceremony for primary school pupils who excelled, Daud Gideon, the Executive Director for Remembering The Ones We Lost, lauded all those who participated in the contest, which attracted 89 pupils drawn from four schools.

“Involving pupils from the different schools enhances unity and togetherness,” said Daud, before he handed prizes to the winners.

The competition, managed by an essay organizing committee, covered various topics, ranging from the causes as well as effects of early marriage practices to the impact of conflict on peoples' lives.

Bior Lual Bior, a primary six pupil of Nyumanzi II primary school emerged winner of the essay contest, followed by Deng Kuir Ariik. Others were Nyantich Abui Diing, Dau Abui Dau and Achol Mading.

All the recognized essay winners got cash prizes that ranged from Shs 200,000 ($55) to Shs 50,000 ($15), story books as well as novels.

Daud appreciated the essay organizing committee members, teachers and camp leaders for allowing the organization carry out its activities in support of the refugees in Nyumanzi settlement camp.

Moses Nyang, the Refugee Welfare Council (RWC) secretary, said the essay writing completion not only enhanced pupils' learning ability, but further consolidated the reading and writing skills in them.

Gabriel Ajak, the chairperson of the essay writing competition, said the exercise promoted harmony, unity and peaceful co-existence.

Meanwhile, the host community defeated refugees in a football tournament Remembering The Ones We Lost organized in Nyumanzi settlement camp.

The winning team won a new trophy, a cash prize and a set of soccer uniform. Prizes also went to the runners up and the third placed team.

After opening in January 2014, Nyumanzi has become the largest refugee settlement in Adjumani district in terms of population size. Despite their relatively recent arrival, residents are already well-established and a strong community has emerged in which refugee households actively collaborate with each other to share resources.

However, although many of the refugees are resilient, gaps in critical sectors, such as education and water, health and santitation, persist and undermine refugees' ability to cope with their displacement.

(ST)

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Birtukan Mideksa, a former judge and leading opposition figure, named head of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE). 

@PMEthiopia/Twitter

There was good news from Ethiopia as former opposition leader, lawyer and judge Birtukan Midekssa was named head of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE). Following years of almost completely closed political space, Ethiopia’s government continues to institute an important series of reforms. The appointment of a highly respected – and crucially, independent – new elections chair is another step in the right direction.

The NEBE, like many of Ethiopia’s supposedly independent institutions has been regularly criticized for being controlled by the ruling coalition and political interference in party and candidate registration has been a long-standing problem.

Birtukan understands all too well the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front’s (EPRDF)  stifling political control. Following the 2005 elections, she was sentenced to life imprisonment on politically motivated charges. After receiving a pardon in 2007, she founded and became the chair of the opposition Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) party. But in 2008, she was again detained and only released after the 2010 elections, when the EPRDF won 99.6% of parliamentary seats. Birtukan had been living in exile ever since.

Birtukan’s nomination is also another win for women’s rights in Ethiopia, following a number of appointments of women to senior government positions, including Sahle-Work Zewde to the post of President and Meaza Ashenafi to head the Supreme Court. Dr Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia’s prime minister who came to power in April, has now achieved gender parity in his cabinet, which used to be made up almost exclusively of male party loyalists.

But Birtukan has her work cut out for her. While there have been many positive reforms since Dr Abiy took power, Ethiopia still faces enormous challenges. The last seven months have seen a rise in violence and ethnic tensions in many parts of the country, contributing to the displacement of some 1.4 million people  from their homes between January and June. This is compounded by a growing breakdown in law and order and increasing flows of firearms. Birtukan will oversee crucial and potentially volatile local elections scheduled for 2019 and national elections scheduled for 2020.

Creating an environment where Ethiopians have faith in the electoral process and in institutions like the electoral board is critical, and Birtukan’s appointment is a step towards creating that reality. But whether much needed reforms to electoral laws will be made and she will be given the tools to create a more inclusive elections system will be another test of the government’s true commitment to reform.

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