Africa

October 9, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan army (SPLA) issued a statement on Sunday, seeking regional support that could see its armed oppostion faction (SPLM-IO) led by the country's former vice-president, Riek Machar designated as a "terrorist" group.

Rebel fighters aligned with former vice-president Riek Machar gather in a village in South Sudan's Upper Nile state on 8 February 2014 (Photo: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

The army spokesman, Brig. Lul Ruai Koang told the state-owned SSBC that 21 people were confirmed dead after several commercial vehicles travelling along the Yei-Juba road were attacked at Ganji area Saturday morning.

“Yes, I would like to confirm that this unfortunate incident has occurred. It took place yesterday morning on Saturday when vehicles carrying citizens who were going to Juba came under attack. They were ambushed by the opposition at an area called Ganyi and they killed 21 people, and about 20 others were wounded," said Koang.

He further claimed a man, 15 children and five women lost their lives, while 20 others sustained injuries. The attackers, he added, also burnt a commercial vehicle.

“We are heading to the area to bury those people now," said the army spokesperson, who claimed a faction allied to Machar carried out Saturday's attack.

“We always tell people that Riek Machar has no programs. He has no vision. We always tell this to the international community that there will not be peace because of Riek Machar. His interest is only to return to power at expense of the suffering of the people of South Sudan. He is a violent man. So we call upon IGAD,Troika, and friends of South Sudan to declare Riek Machar's forces as terrorists," Koang, an ex-SPLM-IO stressed.

Survivors of the attack, family members and eyewitnesses said several passengers were killed after a vehicle travelling to Juba from Yei came under attack near Lainya.

The attackers, a survivor narrated, wore masks when they attacked the vehicle.

"Few people jumped out of the vehicle and ran into the bush when the lorry came to a halt. Afterwards the gunmen systematically started separating people on the basis of ethnicity from others by asking people whether there were members of ethnic Dinka, a tribe of president Salva Kiir or not," he told Sudan Tribune Sunday.

Those found to be ethnic Dinka, an eyewitness said, were executed, including women and children and then burnt the vehicle, claims Sudan Tribune could not easily substantiate.

*Among the dead were four children who were 13, 11, 8 and 7 years old. The bodies of the children were brought to Juba. Many of the bodies have not yet been recovered and the exact number of the people who died among the 200 passengers has not yet been ascertained," explained the eyewitness

The attack comess in the wake of another incident in which 14 members of ethnic Dinka were killed in a similar ambush a week ago just few kilometers outside Juba.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir is an ethnic Dinka and his performance is attributed to the role the Jieng Council of Eders (JCE) has been playing in managing the affairs of the young nation, resulting in alleged targeting of innocent civilians from other tribes.

(ST)

October 9, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The procedural session of Sudan's National Dialogue Conference on Sunday has approved the national document which would constitute the basis for drafting the country's permanent constitution.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir listen to the National anthem during opening session of Sudan National Dialogue conference October 10, 2015 (REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

The document was signed by leaders of political parties and armed groups participating in the dialogue, while additional political parties are expected to endorse the document ahead of the final session on Monday.

Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir, who chaired the procedural session, said the national document reflects the will of the Sudanese people and serves as basis to govern the country.

He welcomed the Future Forces of Change (FFC), the National Forces Alliance (NFA) and the sacked figure of the National Umma Party (NUP) Mubarak al-Mahdi for joining the dialogue conference.

The Sudanese president stressed that the national document has expressed views and aspirations of all political forces including the opposition, adding the “door will remain open for anyone who wishes to join it”.

He further pointed that the consensus of the Sudanese political forces would shut the door on those whom he called the “conspirators” who target the country through war, economic sanctions and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In January 2014, al-Bashir called on political parties and armed groups to engage in a national dialogue to discuss four issues, including ending the civil war, allowing political freedoms, fighting against poverty and revitalizing national identity.

Launched on 10 October 2015 for three months, the dialogue process was initially expected to wind up in January 2016 but it was delayed until October 10th.

Rebel groups and opposition parties refuse to join Khartoum process as they demand the government to end war and ensure freedoms in the country before. However, the U.S. backed talks brokered by the African Union are deadlocked, over the confidence building measures.

PHONE CONVERSATION WITH AL-MAHDI

Meanwhile, al-Bashir on Sunday disclosed that he had a phone conversation with Sadiq al-Mahdi the leader of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) in which he urged him to join the government-led national dialogue.

In his address before the procedural session on Sunday, al-Bashir said he spoke with al-Mahdi just moments before the outset of the session, noting he told him that “your natural place should be among the participants in the dialogue”.

This phone conversation is considered the first of its kind since al-Mahdi left the country in August 2014 after he suspended his participation in the dialogue and forged a new alliance with the armed opposition Sudan Revolutionary Forces (SRF).

At the time, al-Bashir vowed to try al-Mahdi, who has been based in Cairo since, once he returns to Sudan unless he disavows his alliance with the SRF.

Also, the National Dialogue Secretary General Hashim Ali Salim on Sunday said al-Mahdi sent a letter to the general secretariat in which he underscored that if recommendations of the dialogue were implemented smoothly, they would pave the road for drafting a national constitution and establishing a national rule.

According to Salim, al-Mahdi pointed that Sudan is in dire need to stop the war and achieve peace.

Salim added that he responded to al-Mahdi's letter by saying “your seat [in the dialogue] is vacant and there is no reason for you to be away”.

NUP CRITICISES DIALOGUE CONFERENCE

In the same context, the NUP has criticized the dialogue conference saying it was dominated by the ruling party and its chairman.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday, the NUP said that al-Bashir had previously agreed with them that no single party should have the right to decide on national issues including dialogue, peace and governance or isolate others.

It criticized al-Bashir's personal dominance over the dialogue's podium and sessions besides the works of the committees, saying the dialogue has turned into a “monologue”.

The statement described the national dialogue conference as “missing opportunity” and “mere play” that would bring nothing new, saying the NUP has nothing to do with this dialogue.

The NUP reiterated the call to hold a genuine dialogue preparatory meeting, saying dialogue must start by stopping the war, delivering humanitarian assistance, allowing freedoms and releasing political detainees and convicts and then coming together in a forum that is not controlled by any party.

The statement further described the dialogue conference as a meeting between the government and its allies, saying the political and armed opposition will never join such a dialogue.

(ST)

October 9, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) announced on Sunday that hospitals of regular forces joined a strike they started last Thursday.

CCSD, an independent doctors union, announced on Thursday that doctors will refuse non-emergency treatments to patients to protest the poor working conditions, lack of medicines and protection of doctors after increasing attacks on medical staff by frustrated patients and their families.

CCSD Spokesperson Dr. Hossam al-Amin al-Badawi told Sudan Tribune that doctors working at Al-Amal Hospital, run by the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) and Al-Silah Al-Tibi Hospital, run by the Sudan's Armed Forces (SAF) joined the strike, adding that the Police Hospital doctors are preparing to join the movement.

Al-Badawi pointed out that the doctors in the hospitals of regular forces are attached to the Ministry of Health, stressing that the strike is constantly widening as the number of striking hospitals reached 78 hospitals across the country compared to 65 hospitals last Friday.

He revealed that the directors of health centres in Khartoum are meeting and expected that they join the strike, as 26 medical centres in Omdurman joined the protest along with some private hospitals.

The spokesperson stressed that the strike will continue until doctors' demands are addressed despite the harassment faced by the doctors in a number of states.

The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) denounced the strike and minimized the impact of attacks on doctors. Khartoum State Minister of Health Mamoun Humaida said the opposition-backed strike is highly "politicized"

In a related context, the Chairman of General Union of Health and Medical Professions (GUHMP), Yasir Ahmed, said that health institutions run by the regular forces received a lot of civilian patients and offered the needed medical services after the public hospitals went on strike.

(ST)

In Morocco, it's not easy for women to walk the streets unmolested. Morgan Meaker hears from some who want to put an end to endemic harassment.

Edger Mulili, 18, says he owes his life to a $5 a month government health insurance scheme, which millions of Kenyans are being encouraged to join, writes Anne Soy.

Conservationists celebrate the birth of two black rhino calves, bringing the Eastern black rhino total population to 702.

October 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The opposition Future Forces for Change (CCF) and two rebel groups from Darfur region Saturday said they will participate in the dialogue conference next Monday.

The opening session of the first roundtable on Sudan's national dialogue in Khartoum on 6 April 2014 (SUNA)

The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the allied forces participating in the conference endorsed the recommendations of the different panels as they prepare to hold a meeting in Khartoum by attended by several regional leaders.

The meeting will take place without the holdout armed and political groups that were initially meant by the process in order to end the armed conflict in the Two Areas and Darfur.

However, the CCF led by Ghazi Salah al-Din Attabani agreed on Saturday to "participate in the dialogue mechanisms established in accordance with the Roadmap Document of 2014.

The agreement which was signed by the Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid of CCF Deputy Chairman Abdel Gadir Ibrahim Ali, provides they will discuss "joint political initiatives to promote the dialogue, especially those relating to the participation of any other political force".

The head of the African Union mediation team, Thabo Mbeki sought in the past to encourage the CCF to engage discussions with the dialogue committee in order to include them in a future holistic process.

The Sudan Call also said they would include the CCF in a national process they would hold without the NCP, as they would not attend Monday's conference.

The government slammed the holdout opposition groups saying they are not serious about peace and dialogue and stressed they would go ahead with the outcome of the conference without waiting the opposition Sudan Call forces.

DARFUR GROUPS

The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement for Justice (SLMJ) led by Taher Hajer and the Sudan Liberation Movement-the Second Revolution (SLM-SR), led by Abul Gasim Imam told Sudan tribune Sunday they will attend the final session of the dialogue conference.

Although SLMJ and SLM-SR are not a signatory of the Doha document for Peace in Darfur, Imam and Hajer attended the opening session of the dialogue conference in October 2015 but he left the country on the plane of the Chadian leader Idriss Deby who convinced him to take part in the event.

Also, delegations from the two movement participated in the deliberations of the dialogue's six committees.

Hajer told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that they accepted the invitation to attend the National Dialogue General Conference in completion of their previous participation and to confirm SLMJ seriousness to achieve solution for Sudan's intractable problems.

He added his movement participates in the dialogue despite the fact that it didn't sign a peace deal with the government, pointing they seek to achieve national objectives to re-establish the Sudanese state on a new basis.

Hajer stressed that national dialogue is not a substitute for negotiation and peaceful solution with regard to the war-affected regions, saying issues pertaining to Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile must be discussed in the negotiations forums.

Imam for his part, also told Sudan Tribune he would travel to Khartoum on Sunday to attend the concluding meeting of the national dialogue; and the signing of a national document that establishes the Sudanese state on new bases".

Regarding the peace talks they are supposed to hold with the government, he added the conference will be followed by other steps to address the root causes of the crises in the war affected areas under the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.

"This will take place after the end of the dialogue conference and the completion of consultations between the parties and the Qatari mediation," he said.

(ST)

October 9, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan's former First Vice President, Riek Machar, who leads the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), has called on the UN Secretary-General-designate, Antonio Guterres, to follow the footsteps of his predecessor, Ban Ki Moon, in helping to resolve the ongoing civil war in the country.

Portugal's former Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is poised to become the next UN secretary general, after a formal vote by the UN Security Council approving his nomination for the post last Thursday 6 october.

In a meeting to be held next week, the UN General Assembly will appoint Guterras upon the recommendation of the Security Council.

Guterres, 67, who served during ten years (2005-2015) as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is fully aware of the South Sudanese conflict and its impact on the regional stability.

In a congratulatory letter he wrote to the new Secretary General at the UN in New York upon taking up the position, Machar briefly explained the current situation in his country.

“I am writing to congratulate you for winning the confidence of the UN fraternity resulting to your ascension to the positon of the UN Secretary General. I believe you are up to the task,” partly reads the letter, dated 7 October, seen by Sudan Tribune.

“As you know South Sudan is embroiled in a new civil war that broke out again on July 8, 2016, that evening I was nearly assassinated in the Republican Palace (J1). As from July 8, 2016, the civil war has escalated in the country due to the collapse of the August 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan and as well as the collapse of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGONU),” further reads the letter.

Machar who signed the letter as the “Legitimate First Vice President” as well as the Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO), called on the new UN executive chief to prioritize South Sudan in resolving its ongoing conflict.

The former first deputy was ousted in July in a controversial process, which he said violated the peace agreement, after he and his small number of troops were forced out of the national capital, Juba, by forces loyal to President Salva Kiir during four days of fighting.

Machar said he was lured to the palace by President Kiir to assassinate him on 8 July, but the latter said the former attempted a coup. The opposition leader fled the capital and crossed into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a journey that took him 40 days while facing government's continuous daily ground and air attacks on the way.

The clashes have resulted to the renewed civil war in the country as fighting has resumed in Equatoria and Upper Nile regions between the rival forces.

The opposition leader is currently in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, where he received treatment from extreme exhaustion and swollen legs. He is preparing to tour the region to tell his side of the story, Sudan Tribune recently learnt.

His faction has also declared an "armed resistance" against President Kiir's government and has been organizing forces for coordinated assaults with other rebel groups on main government's controlled towns

This week, he has dispatched a team of his senior officials to Washington to engage the U.S. Administration, UN officials as well as brief the South Sudanese communities residing in various states in the U.S.

(ST)

October 8, 2016 (JUBA) -Japan's Defence Minister, Tomomi Inada has visited South Sudan as the war-hit nation prepares to receive up to 4,000 United Nation-mandated regional protection forces.

The forces, to be stationed in the capital, Juba and it's outskirts, were approved by the African Union members states at a summit held in Rwanda in July.

About 350 peacekeepers from the Asian country reportedly form part in the U.N. mission in the world's youngest nation.

The Japanese defence ministry, media report say, is considering sending peacekeepers expected to engage in risky rescue missions in war-torn South Sudan.

The UN mission in South Sudan, which comprises of a 12,000-strong force, has repeatedly accused South Sudanese authorities of obstructing its movement in contravention of the status of forces agreement it signed with the young nation.

Some UN peacekeepers were also killed when fighting erupted in the capital in July between South Sudan's two rival factions.

Tens of thousands have died and hundreds displaced since civil war began in December 2013, and has continued despite a peace deal reached last year.

(ST)

October 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - United States has called on Sudanese government to consider the next-week national dialogue meeting as a first step for a broader process for peace and democratic reforms that will encompasses all the political and armed groups in the country.

3rd meeting of the national dialogue national assembly in Khartoum on Thursday 20 August 2015 (Photo - SUNA)

Next Monday, President Omer al-Bashir will attend the final session of the National Dialogue Conference which is expected to endorse the recommendations of the internal process, paving the way for the inauguration of a transitional period to implement political and constitution reforms in Sudan without the holdout opposition groups.

Rebel groups and opposition parties refuse to join Khartoum process as they demand the government to end war and ensure freedoms in the country before. However, the U.S. backed talks brokered by the African Union are deadlocked, over the confidence building measures.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, U.S. Department of State Spokesperson John Kirby advised Khartoum's government to wait before to conclude the process and to seek a wide-ranging dialogue that includes all the political and armed opposition groups for a viable settlement of Sudan's internal crises.

“While we acknowledge that the conference will recognize the contributions of the different stakeholders to the National Dialogue, we believe it is equally important to strive for a representative and comprehensive national dialogue with participation from political and armed opposition, for a sustainable end to Sudan's internal crises,” the statement read

"We urge the Government of Sudan to consider the current National Dialogue a first phase, and to engage with the opposition for its participation in an inclusive dialogue process, as prescribed in the Roadmap agreement negotiated by the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP)," Kibry further said.

He warned that ending the dialogue at this stage could seriously impede the AUHIP-brokered negotiations for cessations of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements.

Recently, the alliance of armed and political groups, Sudan Call, blamed Khartoum for the failure to reach a humanitarian truce agreement. Also, they warned that they would hold their own dialogue process without the ruling party if the ongoing process wraps up its works without them.

Earlier, Sudanese President al-Bashir stressed that the end of the national dialogue on October 10, will close the door in front of any negotiations with the opposition. For his part, Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid also accused the military and political opposition of lacking seriousness and stressed that the negotiations will end with the national dialogue conference in October.

Since last year, the American administration worked hard to bring the Sudanese parties to a comprehensive peace agreement ending war in the Two Areas and Darfur. Multiple sources said President Barak Obama initially wanted before to leave the White House next January to support regional efforts for peace and eventually lift sanctions on Sudan.

In January 2014, al-Bashir called on political parties and armed groups to engage in a national dialogue to discuss four issues, including ending the civil war, allowing political freedoms, fighting against poverty and revitalizing national identity.

Launched on 10 October 2015 for three months, the dialogue process was initially expected to wind up in January 2016 but it was delayed until October 10th.

(ST)

James Ruea Kok (ST)

October 8, 2016 (FANGAK) - Speaker of Fangak state legislative assembly, one of the controversial 28 states created by President Salva Kiir on 2 October, 2015, has accused the appointed Governor, James Kok Ruea, of using authoritarian approach and intimidation against state officials.

Nelson Kuony Thoat, the speaker, said Governor Ruea has violated the supplementary budget for assembly, according to the article (66) (1) in the transitional constitution of the state that allowed Assembly Conduct of Business Regulation, 148 (a,b) which gives post holders a right to pass the budget seating.

“As the members of Fangak State Legislative Assembly, we decided to approach H.E the president because our Governor James Kok Ruea used intimidating words against whoever approached him to discuss any matter whether political, administrative and finance issues,” the statement extended to Sudan Tribune reads in part.

The speaker explained that on 19 August, the governor forced out deputy speaker during the meeting through the use of violence and on the 2 September, governor Ruea banged on the table and said: “I have the powers to remove whoever threatens my government, and appointed whoever I see does not impose threat to my leadership.”

In the letter, which Sudan Tribune obtained, the group has warned of the major political crisis within Fangak state after Governor Ruea failed to lend ears to the state officials and acted on his own behalf without consultation with the members of parliament and council of ministers.

Thoat also said there is more confusion over repeated statement by governor Ruea on the fate of the newly appointed members of parliament by president Salva Kiir.

“The governor in many occasions said that he is only considering six members who came from the former Jonglei State Assembly and that the other fifteen (15) members who were appointed by H.E the president of the republic of South Sudan have no budget,” he added.

He criticized the action by the governor, which he claimed, is without collaboration with the members of the state government, saying this indicated abuse of the executive power by the appointed governor.

“The governor in any meeting used an intimidating language repeatedly by boasting that he as the governor and the chairperson of the SPLM, he can remove and can appoint members as he wishes according to the powers bestowed upon him by the president,” the speaker lamented.

The state legislators have urged president Kiir for a quick intervention before things could get out of control in the new state.

(ST)

October 8, 2016 (BOR) - Primary and secondary school teachers have declared strike in Jonglei state, demanding that they receive their salaries increment. A representative of the teachers, Matiop Ruben, who spoke to the media blamed the government for ignoring teachers' pay rise following the current economic inflation.

Some of the angry youth protesting in the Jonglei capital, Bor on July 19, 2016 (ST)

Reuben said all the teachers in Jonglei state from Primary to secondary schools have agreed to strike. According to the teachers, the national government failed to fulfill the promise it announced earlier that there would soon be increment of salaries from grade seven to grade one in two circulars.

Currently, teachers are paid between 600 and 1,018 South Sudanese pounds (SSP), depending on the class of teaching.

“The government of the Republic of South Sudan came up with the resolution that salaries from grade 17 to grade 10 should be increased. That document had come into effect in the army, organized forces, in the national government and in even in some other states. In Jonglei state here, we waited for that document to be effected, but it was not effected till today,” explained Reuben.

He further explained that a second circular, which had been received by the teachers and signed by the public service department on 25 July, showed phase two salaries increment which is from grade nine to grade five, and also from grade one to grade four.

“That was supposed to [be] effective from July or August, but was not implemented,” he said.

The teachers, he added, have decided not to go back to their classes for teaching till concrete explanation about why the state government had refused to implement the circulars is made clear to them. The schools had just opened for third term and the strike, if it is not resolved in time, would disrupt the learning process.

“It is now two days for teachers not coming to schools. We want our teachers to be back. If they delay for even one day, [it] means we shall not study again,” said a primary school girl in Bor.

The state government is yet to react to the announcement made by the teachers.

Students from Jonglei state were among the top ten best performing students in the country in the national exams for secondary education. The best student who took lead nationally was from Jonglei state.

Some schools in the state were also listed among the top ten best performing schools in the country in the same exams.

(ST)

October 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The commander Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has said that his forces will put an end to the anti-human trafficking operations and fight against extremists, if the international community lifts economic sanctions on the east African country.

SRF field commander Mohamed Hamdan (Hametti) speaks in a press conference in Khartoum on Wednesday May 14, 2014 (ST)

Washington admitted recently Sudan's cooperation in the anti-terrorism war but underlined that it wouldn't remove Sudan from the list of states sponsor of terrorism or left economic sanctions, before the end of armed conflicts in Darfur region and Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, commonly known as “Hametti”, said that his forces struggle to thwart human trafficking, pointing that these efforts serve the interest of international community.

In statement to Sudanese News Agency (SUNA) on Saturday, Hemeti called for the lifting of "unjust" economic embargo on Sudan, pointing that "if the international community responded to the demands of the Sudanese people, the RSF are ready to thwart the human trafficking operations and eradicate extremists.

He added that the RSF fighters work to clear Sudan's border with Egypt, Libya and Chad from the remnants of rebel groups which are now involved in people and gold smuggling.

Sudan is considered as a country of origin and transit for the illegal migration and human trafficking. Thousands of people from Eritrea and Ethiopia are monthly crossing the border into the Sudanese territories on their way to Europe through Libya or Egypt.

The commander stressed that RSF has managed to haunt the armed groups and forced them to cross into the Libyan territory, pointing out that his forces made great efforts to combat these movements and fight human trafficking in spite of the long border between Sudan, Egypt and Libyan.

Earlier this year, the European Union granted a €100m development package to address the root causes of irregular migration in Sudan. The financial support came after pledge by the Sudanese government to cooperate with Brussels to stop human trafficking to Europe.

In January 2014, the Sudanese parliament approved an anti-human trafficking law which punishes those involved with human trafficking with up to 20 years imprisonment.

The European Parliament demanded on Thursday European External Action Service to monitor closely the EU's development aid to Sudan to prevent any direct or indirect support to the local militias

Hemeti asserted the excellence of relations between Sudan and Chad describing it as "strong historical eternal". He further praised the efforts of the joint force to secure the common border.

(ST)

October 8, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese government has embarked on actual moves to hand over 21 child soldiers to their families after completing the legal procedures, said children official.

A member of Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) walks with his rifle at Ashma village 30 km (19 miles) from Nyala, south Darfur, October 6, 2004. (Reuters photo)

Last month, President Omer al-Bashir announced the release of twenty one children allegedly detained during the Gouz Dango battle with the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in April 2014.

However the rebel group denied that these children were part of its fighters reiterating its commitment to international conventions banning the use of child soldiers.

In a press conference in Khartoum on Saturday, the chairperson of Sudan's National Council on Child Welfare (NCCW) Suad Abdel-Aal, said they are working with the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (DDR) to integrate the child soldiers into the society.

She pointed that one of the child soldiers is from South Sudan, adding they would coordinate with Sudan's Foreign Ministry and the concerned organizations to send him back to his family.

The Sudanese official added that 7 of the child soldiers suffered from tuberculosis, saying one of them had died while the remaining 6 were rescued after the government authorities provided them with medical treatment.

She declined to provide the names of the child soldiers under the pretext that they seek “to maintain their safety and privacy”, saying the process of integrating them into the society would be conducted confidentially.

Abdel-Aal pointed the child soldiers are being hosted in a special house in Khartoum's neighborhood East Nile, saying the house was rented by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

She said the concerned bodies would develop a plan to ensure the safety of these children until they were handed over to their families, saying the DDR would complete the procedures to integrate them into their societies.

The Sudanese official pointed the children have been subjected to the worst kinds of exploitation, saying they were used as human shields in the military operations.

For his part, the Special Prosecutor of Darfur Crimes Al-Fatih Mohamed Tayfor said the name of the child soldiers who died Mustafa Ahmed, pointing he passed away on June 17th.

He stressed the need to impose the rule of law and fight against impunity, saying he received information that many soldiers who were captured by the Sudanese army during the Gouz Dango battle were underage boys.

Tayfor pointed that most of the child soldiers have fallen victims to kidnappings and forced recruitment, saying some of them were seduced to take up arms against the state.

The Sudanese army and its allied militias have has been fighting a number of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

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

(ST)

October 8, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan government has welcomed the United State's decision to extend its military aids, saying it would help in consolidating “stability" in the country and strengthening relations.

On Friday, President Barack Obama issued a decision to continue U.S. military assistance to the troubled South Sudan despite the use of child soldiers in the troubled country.

The waiver circumvents the 2008 Child Soldiers Prevention Act, which is meant to block some military assistance to countries recruiting Childs in their armies.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Saturday, Cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomuro described the policy shift as "the right thing to do", adding that imposing arms embargo would have increased hostilities and limiting military capabilities to strengthening combat operations.

Minister Lomuro, an ally of President Salva Kiir, said the move showed the "renewal of the partnership" between the two countries, and vowed to step up efforts to implement the peace agreement to restore stability.

Obama also granted waivers to six other countries : Somalia, Congo, Nigeria, Rwanda, Iraq and Myanmar.

Gordon Buay, a senior diplomat at South Sudan embassy in the United States, also commended inclusion of South Sudan in the list of countries which would benefit from military assistances from United States.

The diplomat added that his government under President Salva Kiir remains committed to full implementation of the peace agreement reached with armed and political opposition to end the nearly three-year conflict in the country.

The inclusion of South Sudan in the renewal sparked mixed reactions from among South Sudanese, with some questioning the basis for inclusion of the country after the government has been accused of buying weapons to use against dissent groups without distinguishing civilian areas.

The move also is seen as a sudden major shift from earlier plans advocated and supported by senior officials in the United States administration to impose arms embargoes and individual sanctions.

(ST)

October 7, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - In their second day of strike, Sudanese doctors in Khartoum say more practitioners across the country are joining their protest over lack of security and poor work conditions.

On Thursday, an independent doctors union, Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) announced that doctors will refuse non-emergency treatments to patients to protest the poor working conditions, lack of medicines medical material. They also demand protection after the increase of attacks by frustrated patients and their families.

CCSD Spokesperson Dr. Hossam al-Amin al-Badawi Friday told Sudan Tribune that "ten hospitals have joint the strike and five others are preparing to rally the protest on Saturday".

56 hospitals have participated in the strike since Thursday.

Al-Badawi pointed to the national character of the movement, saying that hospitals in Port Sudan, the capital of Red Sea and in Al-Nuhud of West Kordofan have joint the strike.

“The strike will be open-ended until our demands are met,” he stressed.

He said that 99.7% of the hospitals in Sudan are participating in the strike and stopped treating non-emergency cases, except Omdurman, Khartoum North and Haj-al-Safi hospitals, due to their specific conditions.

Al-Badawi further said that senior doctors have supported the strike by closing their private clinics.

“CCSD general assembly will meet on Friday evening in Khartoum North hospital for more coordination and consultation,” he added.

The strike was condemned by the government and the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), as they minimized the impact of attacks on doctors. Also, Khartoum State Minister of Health Mamoun Humaida said the opposition-backed strike is highly "politicized"

Commenting on these accusations, al-Badawi pointed that such claims should not be said by a health official, adding it was an attempt to deny established facts.

“We have nothing to do with the Sudanese Communist Party or the ruling National Congress Party. We only know the federal and state ministries of health,” stressed al-Badawi.

He said that CCSD is for doctors' social and professional demands and has nothing to do with politics.

On his part, the Chairman of General Union of Health and Medical Professions (GUHMP), Yasir Ahmed pointed that he did not accuse the Sudanese Communist Party of masterminding the strike, but he said the opposition party has misused the just demands of doctors.

Ibrahim further told Sudan Tribune that the GUHMP is negotiating with the striking doctors ways to end the strike, as "the government has started providing medical equipments and devices that worth millions of Sudanese pounds to hospitals in Khartoum and other states”.

(ST)

October 7, 2016 (JUBA) - Armed opposition forces allied to the former First Vice President, Riek Machar, have blocked major and key strategic roads to and from Yei town, the administrative headquarters of the newly created Yei River state, according to local and religious leaders in the area.

A batch of the SPLA-IO forces after arrival in Juba, 1 April, 2016 (ST Photo)

The move carried out by dissidents armed youth involved in a hit and run military activities has cut off the area from Kaya, one of the border towns linking South Sudan with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The blocked main road serves as one of the vital trading routes for South Sudan. It is significantly important for the armed opposition forces to sustain the pressure on government forces if they can maintain and avoid being recaptured by the government forces.

This new revelation comes after David Lokonga Moses, governor of the state, had asked religious leaders in the area to organise themselves and see how they could hold talks with armed dissidents to end hostilities.

“Life in Yei is not easy. There is no movement into and out of Yei for the last few days. Life has been complicated by the crisis. You cannot go beyond the parameters of the town. The Juba-Yei road is off, the same thing for Yei-Morobo road and Kaya –Yei road as well as Yei- Maridi road. These are the major supplying roads in the state. If they are affected by the insecurity like this, then life of the people is in danger,” Moses Duku, a local administrative officer in Yei town, told Sudan Tribune when asked about the situation in the area.

Episcopal church Bishop of Yei, Hilary Luate Adeba, also said in a separate interview with Sudan Tribune that the life in town was not normal, saying religious leaders are exerting efforts to build trust and promote an atmosphere of love.

Yei, according to Bishop Adeba, has been experiencing unusual insecurity situation. He acknowledged that governor Lokonga had asked religious leaders to reach out to the dissidents armed youth in the area for talks so that hostilities stop.

“As the church, we are talking to everybody to listen to the cry of the people and stop fighting. The people are suffering. The schools have been closed down, markets are not functioning normally, health centres in the villages and counties have ceased to operate, there are no people in the villages attending to crops which were planted. It is really a difficult situation and we appeal for a stop to hostilities. We appeal to all those involved in these hostilities to stop and listen to the people,” he pleaded.

Kaya, which is cut off from Yei, is located approximately 78 kilometers (48 miles) southeast of Yei and lies approximately 220 kilometers (140 miles) south of Juba, capital of South Sudan and largest town in the country.

Kaya sits directly across the border from Oroba in Uganda and situated close to Mbazi in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It is believed that opposition forces are preparing for major assaults on government-controlled towns including Yei and Juba, the national capital, follow the collapse of the August 2015 peace agreement.

(ST)

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October 7, 2016 (JUBA) – The armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) has admitted to have lost one of their chapters' heads in the United States to the government under the leadership of President Salva Kiir.

In a joint statement signed by 14 heads of the SPLM-IO chapters in their 15 offices established in the states across the U.S. which have huge populations of South Sudanese, the states' representatives have however downplayed the significance of losing their colleague, Ahchor Dhel, who was the SPLM-IO's head of the chapter for South Dakota state.

The statement said Dhel is the only head of a state chapter who has switched side to President Salva Kiir and his deputy, Taban Deng, adding that the rest of the leadership and membership of the SPLM-IO chapter in South Dakota remains in full support of the former First Vice President, Riek Machar, and that an acting head has taken control of the situation in that particular state office.

“We the SPLM-IO chapters in the United States of America unanimously continue our support to SPLM/A IO under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar Teny, the Chairman and C-in-C. We the fifteen Chapters also regret losing an individual from the Chapter of South Dakota. Ahchor Dhel ran the Chapter in South Dakota and has officially deserted his position. His official release is yet to be approved by the Mission Office of the office of Representative of the SPLM/A IO in USA, and he will be notified of his official release through a letter accordingly,” partly reads the statement.

“The Chapter Office of South Dakota is yet to identify a chapter leader. The Coordination Office shall monitor the process,” further reads the joint statement extended to Sudan Tribune and signed by 14 out of the 15 SPLM-IO heads of chapters in the United States.

They said all the SPLM-IO chapters in the U.S. continue to support Machar and condemned the new First Vice President, Deng, for allegedly having struck a secret deal with President Kiir to destroy the peace agreement and ensure that no various sectors reforms will be implemented so that they allegedly continue to loot the country's resources and intimidate, torture and kill daring citizens using their security organs.

The statement, which was officially released to the public by the SPLM-IO's national coordinator in the U.S., Sabata Ramba, called on all South Sudanese in the country and in the diaspora to mobilize their support behind Machar for better change in the country.

The statement bears the names of the opposition's heads of chapters for the states of Texas, Washington, Utah, Arizona, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas Missouri, Tennessee, North Dakota, Maine, Alaska, California, Colorado and acting head of South Dakota.

This comes following the visit to the U.S. of government's delegation led by the First Vice President, Taban Deng, who is reportedly returning to South Sudan over the weekend.

Officials of the SPLM-IO said they boycotted Deng and his delegation from visiting the chapters in the states and have instead invited a team sent by Machar to visit all the 15 highly populated states and brief the South Sudanese communities about the situation in South Sudan.

(ST)

October 7, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The internal groups of the opposition umbrella Sudan Call and the Future Forces of Change (FFC) alliance on Thursday have agreed to join efforts in order to build a national political project that could bring all Sudanese together.

Leaders of the opposition "Sudan Call" sign an agreement on the alliance's structures in Paris on 22 April 2016 (ST Photo)

In a joint press statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday, the two sides said they discussed the ongoing developments of the national dialogue, stressing the need for joint work to unify political efforts to build a national project.

The statement added “to achieve that end, the two sides called on the government to adhere to the basic dialogue agreements and to create conducive climate”, saying the two sides are keen to engage in joint work and coordinate with all political forces.

According to the statement, the two sides agreed to continue to meet, consult and coordinate in order to fulfill that objective.

The Sudan Call, which was established in Addis Ababa on 3 December 2014, includes the National Umma Party (NUP) and rebel umbrella of Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), and the Civil Society Initiative (CSI).

Sudan Call internal groups include the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP), Sudanese Baath Party (SBP), Center Alliance Party (CAP), Sudanese National Party (SNP) and Sudanese National Alliance (SNA).

FFC, which was launched last February, is actually formed of three existing coalitions that for different reasons failed to join the opposition alliance of the National Consensus Forces (NCF), or the Sudan Call.

The FFC groups are National Forces Alliance (NFA), National Forces of Change (NFC) and National Unity Parties (NUPs). Some members of these groups, like RNM and Just Peace Forum (JPF), were part of the national dialogue process.

Both Sudan Call and FFC are not part of the government-led national dialogue conference which will begin its meeting on Monday.

Monday's conference which will take place with the participation of regional leaders will not include the opposition armed and political groups.

The government slammed the holdout opposition groups saying they are not serious about peace and dialogue and stressed they would go ahead with the outcome of the conference without waiting the opposition Sudan Call forces.

(ST)