Africa

A Congolese fashion designer is finding fame - making clothes out of paper.

The BBC looks at the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, which is fighting to overthrow the Nigerian government and create an Islamic state in parts of West Africa.

Spanish prosecutors are seeking a prison term of more than 10 years for former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o for alleged tax crimes.

Archaeologists in Egypt unearth what they describe as a city that dates back more than 5,000 years.

A four-year-old girl who travelled alone to Italy will be reunited with her mother after a twist of fate.

Warning that ongoing unrest and rising inflation have left more than five million people in restive north-east Nigeria facing acute food insecurity, the United Nations agriculture agency today appealed for $25 million through May 2017 to support irrigated vegetable production and micro-gardening in the dry season, as well as rebuild livestock systems.

Somalia is in the midst of a process to choose its new leaders even though the country remains too dangerous to hold a national poll.

During a year of anti-government protests throughout Ethiopia, its global diaspora has been deeply involved.

November 23, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on Wednesday has arrested four leading figures from the opposition umbrella National Consensus Forces (NCF).

Leading members of the opposition alliance National Consensus Forces, from the right Sidiq Youssef, Mohamed Dia Eldin and Abu Bakr Youssef, speak in a press conference held in Khartoum on 12 October 2015 (ST Photo)

“In an anticipated move from the regime, the NISS has arrested four members from the general commission of the NCF” said the alliance in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the four detainees include Siddig Youssef, Mohamed Diaa al-Din, Tarig Abdel-Mageed and Munzer Abu al-Maali.

The NCF vowed to exert every possible effort to overthrow the regime and achieve aspiration of the Sudanese people - freedom, peace and justice.

“We wouldn't be intimated by the detention centers and we promise you [the Sudanese people] to go all the way down the path of freedom and dignity or die as martyrs” further read the statement.

Meanwhile, the Arab Ba'ath Party (ABP) said the security agents took the four opposition leaders to an unknown location after they arrived at the NISS premises in North Khartoum on Wednesday.

In its newsletter on Wednesday, the ABP disclosed that the security summoned the four opposition figures at 11.00 am (local time) on Wednesday, pointing they were detained after they arrived at the NISS premises.

For its part, the opposition Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) denounced the detention of the NCF figures, saying the regime is reacting violently to the looming revolution.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, SCoP spokesperson Mohamed Hassan Arabi stressed the streets are getting ready to uproot the regime, pointing the detention campaign and human rights abuses wouldn't deter the Sudanese people from achieving its goals.

Following the government decision to raise fuel, drug and electricity price, the NISS launched a large arrest campaign and detained 20 leading figures from the SCoP besides several members of the National Umma Party (NUP), Sudanese Communist Party (SCP), Arab Ba'ath Party, National Alliance Forces (NAF), Reform Now Movement (RNM) as well as civil society activists and journalists.

The government decision stirred up small-scale protests in several towns across Sudan. Also, some two hundred private pharmacies in Khartoum went on partial strike and closed their doors from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday in protest against the government's move.

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November 23, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The exchange rate of the U.S. dollar on Wednesday went up to 19,00 Sudanese pound (SDG) in the black market as security services launches large arrest campaign against currency traders.

A $100 bill (AFP/Getty Images)

A trader in Khartoum told Sudan Tribune that the dollar price rose from 18, 2 pounds on Tuesday to 19,00 pounds on Wednesday, saying the economics department at the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) launched an intensive arrest campaign against black market traders.

The same trader expected the dollar price will reach 20,00 pounds within few days due to high demand and limited supply.

Earlier in November, Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS) introduced an incentive policy, increasing the exchange rate in commercial banks by 131%. As a result, the U.S. dollar exchange rate went up in banks to 15.8 SDG from the official rate of 6.5 SDG.

However this measure didn't curb the rise of the dollar against the pound in the black market.

Sudanese authorities regularly carry out arrest campaign against currency dealers in the black market following the significant increase of the dollar price five years ago after the secession of South Sudan.

Governor of the CBoS had earlier said the currency dealers must be charged with high treason, pointing the rise of the dollar in the black market “unjustified” and a result of “speculation”.

Sudan's economy was hit hard since the southern part of the country declared independence in July 2011, taking with it about 75% of the country's oil output.

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November 23, 2016 (JUBA) – Juba's decision to exclude South Sudan's armed opposition leader Riek Machar from the peace process only prolongs the war, rebel officials warned.

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar speaks during an interview with Reuters in Addis Ababa on July 9, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)

“There is a wrong perception with some of the regional leaders who are being misled by the government of Salva Kiir and political rhetoric from individual officials in some countries in the west. They believe chairman, Riek Machar is the problem. This is wrong perception,” Kuong Dak, a rebel official told Sudan Tribune.

He added, “He [Machar] is just a leader championing the cause of the people and even if he surrenders, the cause will never vanish. It can never be wished away like some people would like to believe”.

Dak said regional efforts to exclude Machar from the political process will never bring about peace and stability in the young nation.

"There are leaders in the region who believes that the exclusion of Dr. Riek will stop the war. This is a wrong analysis of the complex situation in South Sudan. The war will stop if there is a radical solution to the problem”, the official said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Mabior Garang de Mabior, the former Water and irrigation Minister in unity government said the ongoing conflict will not stop if even members of the opposition are kidnapped or killed.

“Even if we are all kidnapped or killed, it will not solve the root cause of the problem and rebellion will continue. The only way to stop the rebellion is to abandon a military solution and resume dialogue with us”, Mabior posted on his Facebook page.

MACHAR TO DENOUNCE WAR

South Sudan President Salva Kiir said amnesty will not be granted to his political rival and the country's former First Vice-President unless he openly denounces violence.

“My brother Riek Machar thinks the only way for him to become the president of this country is violence, killing innocent people. I told him several times [that] there is no reason to fight. If you [Machar] wants to be the president, wait for elections, but he did not listen”, Kiir said on Sunday.

The South Sudanese leader said a number of people approached him demanding that he pardons the armed opposition leader when he returns.

“They come asking me to pardon him. I tell them I have no problem with him. He is a citizen of this country and he can return anytime, but must denounce violence”, he said.

President Kiir had met Dinka elders who briefed him on their activities after they visited their counterparts from Equatoria and Nuer territories.

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November 23, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan lawmakers proposed on Wednesday that the country's oil production be halted due to what they described as “inappropriate financial assistance” given to Sudan.

A pipeline that transports crude oil from the south to Port Sudan (Reuters)

During deliberation on the 2016/2017 financial budget, lawmakers on South Sudan's Parliamentary Committee for Finance said Khartoum takes the chunk of the revenue from oil and Juba must re-consider continued production.

“The Committee has observed with dismay that Sudan is taking 80.33% of the government total oil revenue! (…)The Government of the Republic of South Sudan is getting only 19.67% of its total oil revenue,” said Goc Makuac Mayol, the chairperson for Finance Committee in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly.

Reading through a list of recommendations from his committee, Mayol said what Juba pays its northern neighbour is in compliance with the September 2012 Agreement between the two countries.

“This is because GRSS [Government of the Republic of South Sudan] continues to provide the inappropriately designed Transitional Financial Assistance/Arrangement (TFA), which gives Sudan USD15/bbl. being transported through Sudan,” said the lawmaker.

“In this regard, it would seem to the committee that South Sudan would be better off if she were to shut down oil production than continuing with the current arrangement with Sudan,” he added.

Mayol backed his argument on South Sudan's financial woes, by citing a fiscal gap of 47% said to be in the budget before parliament.

“South Sudan is currently facing a resource gap of 47% in the proposed FY2016/2017 and yet she is providing a financial assistance to Sudan. Payment to Sudan must not exceed 30% of GRSS' crude oil entitlement,” stressed the lawmaker.

South Sudan, it was agreed in 2012, would and Sudan $24 per barrel of as pipeline fee and other tariffs. However, the fall in the price of oil means South Sudan is unable to fetch substantial revenue from oil.

The budget will be presented to Parliament for third and final [fourth] reading next week. If MPs incorporate the recommendation to shut down oil production, fiscal gap would wider, according to analysts.

Oil accounts for 83% of the SSP 29.6 billion budget before parliament.

South Sudan first halted oil production in 2012 over accusation that Sudan was “stealing” crude oil. Sudan, at the time, said it was confiscating quantities of oil equivalent to the tariffs for pipeline use.

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November 22, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Director of President Omer al-Bashir's Office Taha Osman Tuesday denied rumours published by an electronic outlet saying he denied after a sudden heart attack.

The Mokhtsr.com, a Gaza based news website released a short wire about al-Bashir's death. The fake report twitted and posted on Facebook and other social media very quickly.

Al-Bashir has been outside the country since 14 November. He participated in the UN climate change conference (COP22) in Marrakech and now he is taking part in the Fourth Africa-Arab Summit Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

“I am sitting next to President al-Bashir in Morocco and enjoying the rain. We are getting ready to leave in a while to Guinea to participate in the Arab-African Summit,” Osman told the Saudi Alarabiya.net,

He added they were getting ready to depart for Malabo to attend the Arab African meeting.

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November 22, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) released on Tuesday 11 of the 12 doctors it had detained for 20 days.

Striking doctors meet at Khartoum Hospital on 20 oct 2016 (ST Photo)

The move came barely two days after the doctors called off their strike and ended their initial refusal to provide non-emergency treatment to patients.

In statement extended to Sudan Tribune, the independent doctors union, Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) said NISS released 11 doctors, including CCSD's Secretary General and spokesperson, but one of the doctors is still detained.

On Monday, CCDS called off an earlier strike planned up to the end of November and called for the release of the 12 detained doctors.

The pro-government Sudanese Doctors Union on Monday praised NISS's response to its initiative to stop summoning doctors and for allowing the union visit those detained.

CCDS, in statement issued Tuesday, said NISS had released all the detained doctors except Dr. Jihad Abd- al-Monauim who remains detained for unknown reasons.

On 6 October, Sudanese doctors staged a strike and refused non-emergency treatments to patients to protest the poor working conditions, lack of medicines and protection of doctors after increasing attacks by frustrated patients and their families.

However, on 13 October, CCSD called off the strike following government pledges to introduce a bill to the parliament to protect doctors, improve training conditions for registrars and improve work environment in hospitals.

But on 8 November, CCSD announced a resumption of a two-day strike every week during November, saying the Sudanese government did not honour its commitments.

In a statement Sudan Tribune obtained on Saturday, CCSD said it decided to increase the number of days on which strike action would take place to three, saying the Health Ministry was dragging its feet into the implementation of the agreement.

“Fifteen days have passed and [we haven't seen] anything new from the [Health Ministry] but further intransigence and lack of seriousness in dealing with our legitimate demands” read the statement.

The CCSD statement noted that the independent doctors union has submitted a memorandum to Sudan's Vice President Hassabo Abd al-Rahman on the 13 October and that the presidency had pledged to implement 13 of its items immediately.

However, government did not meet its commitment to implement doctors' demands to improve the health system and therefore doctors' decided to resume strike in November to push for the meeting of their demands, according to CCSD's statement.

Earlier in November, Amnesty International urged the Sudanese government to release 10 doctors arrested and to halt security summons to striking CCSD members.

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November 22, 2016 (BOR) - Teachers in Bor, the capital of South Sudan's Jonglei state protested, calling for pay rise and demanded the state government to reverse the termination of their 11 members.

Lakes state teachers demonstrate on the streets to demand allowances, February 19, 2014 (ST)

The strike, now on more than two months, intensified as the teachers threatened to resign should their needs not be amicably addressed.

The new chairman of the teachers' steering committee, Ruben Matuor Mayom, in a petition, addressed to the office of the governor, explained contents of their letter to the media on Tuesday.

“The first claim made by the teachers' general assembly is the reinstatement of all the 11 committee members who were sent by the teachers general assembly to present their grievances to the state ministry of education, these people were suspended and then terminated by the minister of education”, explained the Matuor.

Some teachers, both in primary and secondary schools, had been employed without appointment letters since 2005. The teachers are now demanding their appointments to be prepared and given out.

The teachers are also demanding pay rise as prescribed in the Republican order, issued some months back, granting salary increment for the government staff serving in grade 10 and below. This order had not been implemented, according to teachers.

“Since the ministry of education has failed to solve teachers' problems, this is why the teachers came up to governor to seek for a solution”, stressed the chairman of the steering committee.

Meanwhile, the state minister of information, Akech Deng, said government will look into issues bothering teachers and find remedies.

“The governor will read the demands of the teachers, and then the council of ministers or the leadership of Jonglei state will sit down and look into the issues that the teachers have raised. From there, it will be a dialogue, we are going to dialogue with them”, Akech said.

“The national budget is not passed yet; it is after the budget is passed that change will be seen. For sure now, with the economic crisis, everybody is feeling it, not only teachers”, she added.

The minister advised teachers not to let down students, much as they have put forward their demands for better working conditions.

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November 23, 2016 (JUBA)- Government and rebel forces in and around South Sudan's town of Yei committed serious abuses against civilians in recent months, a U.S-based human rights body revealed.

SPLA forces in Wau town on May 16; 2016 (ST Photo)

The abuses, Human Rights Watch said, include killings, rapes, and arbitrary arrests by government forces and abductions by rebels.

Hundreds of people have fled from South Sudan's Greater Equatoria region as a result of continuous clashed between the South Sudan army and rebels, with the warring factions accused of attacking civilians.

These attacks followed renewed clashes in the capital, Juba between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebel leader, Riek Machar in July.

Abuses documented, Human Rights Watch said, are the latest examples of attacks on civilians by both sides involved in the conflict.

“A proposal for a United Nations arms embargo is finally on the table after nearly three years of atrocities against civilians by armed groups in South Sudan,” said Daniel Bekele, senior director for Africa advocacy at Human Rights Watch.

“Security Council members should urgently support the measure, which could help stem the attacks on civilians,” he added.

According to the rights body, between October 19 and 26, its researchers interviewed more than 70 victims and witnesses in Yei, the capital of the newly created Yei River state, in Central Equatoria.

“Because of ongoing insecurity, researchers were unable to reach and assess areas outside of Yei, including Mugwo, Rubeke, and Mitika, on the road to Lasu, places where there have been further serious allegations of abuses,” the rights body said on Wednesday.

The U.S-based body cited a 23 August, 2016 incident, in which unidentified attackers entered a house and killed a mother and her 4-year-old daughter with machetes, then dumped their bodies in a river. The 4-month-old baby was cut on the neck but survived, it said.

The killings reportedly took place in areas controlled by government forces but in this and some other cases, Human Rights Watch was unable to identify if the attackers were government forces or rebels.

Cases of arbitrary detentions of civilian men by government troops in Yei military facilities, in addition to several incidences of arbitrary detentions by the military in the towns of Juba, Yambio, and Wau.

Human Rights Watch researchers reportedly also found that rebels claiming affiliation with the opposition forces led by Machar ambushed a convoy of cars carrying civilians fleeing Yei, killing mostly Dinka, who are from the same broad ethnic grouping as Kiir.

Meanwhile, the rights body said the UN Security Council members should support the U.S proposal for an arms embargo and targeted sanctions.

“Security Council members should also press for progress on establishing the African Union (AU) hybrid court for South Sudan to investigate and prosecute people responsible for war crimes and other serious violations of the laws of war during the conflict,” it said.

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November 22, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday has discussed with the UNAMID issues pertaining to the mission's performance and exit from the western region.

A UNAMID peacekeeper during a routine patrol in Tawila, North Darfur.(Photo UNAMID/Hamid Abdelsalam)

Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary Abdel-Ghani al-Nai'm on Tuesday has met with the Deputy Joint Special Representative for the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Jeremiah Mamabolon, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Gharib Allah al-khidir.

He pointed that al-Nai'm stressed the need to agree on practical moves to implement a gradual and smooth exit for the UNAMID from the region in accordance with the references agreed upon among the various parties.

According to the press release, al-Nai'm renewed his government's firm stance to support the mission and facilitate all its tasks.

For his part, Mamabolo underscored importance of issues raised by al-Nai'm, expressing his gratitude for the valued cooperation of the Sudanese government with the mission.

Sudan, African Union and the United Nations since two years hold discussions on the UNAMID's exit from western Sudan. Khartoum says the security situation is stable and its efforts to curb the tribal violence have been successful.

But the UN proposed a limited and gradual withdrawal from some sectors saying the full exit should intervene after the signing of peace agreement with all the rebel groups and to ensure the protection of displaced civilians.

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.

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

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November 22, 2016 (JUBA) - The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) Tuesday said 39 Sudanese refugees have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen from Lasu camp in Central Equaroria area, South Sudan.

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)

"An alleged armed group abducted some 39 Sudanese refugees from Lasu camp on 19 October 2016 and took them 18 kilometers east of Lasu to their base, 3 km off the main road near Mitika SPLA base," reported the HCR based on the accounts by survivors currently at Yei Hospital.

Two Sudanese refugees from the Nuba Mountains were killed, and five others were seriously injured in Lasu, earlier this month on 5 November.

The remaining abducted refugees are still in captivity, the report said.

No information is available about the cause of the targeting of Sudanese refugees. But the security situation in the area is volatile.

UNHCR and aid groups have not been able to access Lasu camp over the past month due to insecurity en route from Yei to Lasu. Also, delivery of humanitarian assistance has been disrupted.

There are some 266,000 registered Sudanese refugees, from South Kordofan and Blue Nile States in South Sudan in the Upper Nile and Unity regions near the border. But there are no statistics for the refugees in other regions of South Sudan.

Last week, the HCR said 7.500 Sudanese refugees have returned from Yida camp to South Kordofan state. The lack of security threatens refugees life and complicate the transportation of humanitarian assistance to the camp.

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November 22, 2016 (JUBA)-South Sudanese government on Tuesday downplayed reports insinuating new Japanese troops deployed as part of the United Nations peace keeping troops in the country could use force if the situation requires.

A contingent of 130 Japanese peacekeepers on Monday arrived in Juba, where they will join the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The total number of the Japanese troops, 350 peacekeepers, are expected to be deployed in South Sudan by December 15, 2016.

They are mainly tasked with the building of infrastructure in the troubled South Sudan. Also they would guard U.N. protection sites which have been attacked last July by the government forces.

Presidential adviser on military affairs told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that any unilateral act would contravene the Status Of Force Agreement (SOFA), which the United Nations and the host country had signed.

“South Sudan is a sovereign state and any deployment to any independent country is done in a way that it complements the work of the government and sovereign institutions. So any troops coming into the country, whether they are from Japan or any other country have to conduct their activities in accordance with the Status Of Force Agreement and with the consent of a sovereign government”, said Daniel Awet Akot, a leading member of the faction of the governing Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) under president Salva Kiir.

Akot revealed that the government and the United Nations have not concluded discussions about the nature of the additional peacekeeping force authorized by the United Nations Security Council to protect civilians, separate two warring sites and disarm any belligerent force refusing to comply with the rules of engagement and acting in a manner undermining stability and safety of civilians.

Japanese troops, he said, cannot go into combat.without the consent of the host government

“That is not their work and it will not happen. Whatever they will be doing will have to be consistent and in conformity to the international norms. The consent of the government counts. It is very important and so I want to assure our people not to panic about what is reported in the media,” he said.

Meanwhile, the undersecretary of the ministry of foreign affairs also downplayed the fear, saying that the 2012 SOFA which the government signed with United Nations requires cooperation between the mission and the government than taking unilateral military operations.

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November 22, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The United Nations (UN), Sudan's Ministry of Justice and Ministry of International Cooperation have launched a major programme to enhance the rule of law in Darfur.

The initiative comes under the umbrella of the “Global Focal Point” which is a UN working arrangement between the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and other UN partners, to provide joint operational country support in the police, justice and corrections areas in post-conflict and other crisis situations.

In a joint statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, the Deputy Joint Special Representative of the peacekeeping hybrid mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Ms. Bintou Keita, said the ultimate goal of the joint programme “is to identify good practices that can be replicated or gaps to be addressed through technical expertise and support.

“Through these activities, UNAMID will help to maintain stability in pilot areas, contribute to the protection of civilians – including returnee populations and women, and facilitate the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD),” said Keita.

She added that UNAMID “will continue to work with national authorities to monitor, evaluate and strengthen the capacity of rural court judges to resolve and mediate conflicts over land and other resources”.

According to the statement, the programme aims to “lay the foundations for sustainable peace and development by strengthening rule of law institutions, improving people's access to justice and enhancing mechanisms to address land issues in Darfur”.

It will support the region towards recovery and development and has been developed following wide consultations with the Sudanese government, civil society organisations, and UN Agencies at all levels.

For her part, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ms. Marta Ruedas affirmed the “UN's commitment to work jointly for the benefit and prosperity of the Sudanese.

“The Joint Programme represents a significant endeavor for the UN from a global perspective. Once established, it will represent the first organized transition from a peacekeeping mission to the United Nations Country Team (UNCT),” she said.

“Moreover, never have so many UN organizations teamed up on a single Rule of Law programme, or perhaps any joint programme for that matter, making this a showcase of how we can work better together,” added Ruedas.

Sudan's acting Minister of International Cooperation Osman Ahmed Fadel Wash, for his part, stressed that “the programme builds a solid foundation for sustainable peace reflecting national ownership and a strong sense of partnership and coordination between the UN and the Government as well as amongst UN agencies and other stakeholders.”

“The programme is a key pillar of social stability. It ensures women's empowerment for the development of communities and vulnerable groups,” he added.

It is noteworthy that the joint programme has been initiated in implementation of Security Council Resolution 2296 (2016) which requested that certain UNAMID mandated tasks relating to the promotion of the rule of law in Darfur, as well as capacity-building of police and other local institutions, be transferred to the United Nations Country Team in Sudan.

Darfur has been a flashpoint for lawlessness and violence since rebel movements took up arms against the Khartoum government in 2003.

UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in Darfur conflict since 2003, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

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