Africa

The Central African Republic’s (CAR) considerable progress over the past two years risks being reversed unless national authorities demonstrated commitment to inclusive and transparent governance, and to addressing the root causes of the crisis afflicting the country, the United Nations peacekeeping chief warned today.

As South Sudan prepares to mark its fifth anniversary of independence, United Nations officials today expressed concern over the continuing violence in parts of the country and the resulting forced displacement of people, both internally and throughout the neighbouring region.

The United Nations refugee agency today said that more than six thousand people from the Central African Republic (CAR) have fled into Chad and Cameroon to escape renewed tension and violent clashes since mid-June.

A selection of the best photos from across African this week.

The recent killing of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani and two others has once again put the Kenyan police in the spotlight. The police have been accused of running death squads, a claim they deny. The BBC's Tomi Oladipo investigates the growing public mistrust of the police, especially among young men.

Foreign fishing vessels operate illegally off the coast of Guinea, depleting its fish population and destroying marine life. Despite the economic and social consequences of illegal fishing, the Guinean government has failed to police its waters because it doesn't have money to operate surveillance equipment, as the BBC's Tamasin Ford reports.

An inclusive and credible dialogue among Congolese stakeholders is the only realistic way to defuse political tensions, overcome the electoral impasse and prevent violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where public discontent is being fuelled by delays in the electoral process and shrinking democratic space, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson warned today.

Reauthorizing the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until 31 May 2017, the United Nations Security Council today set out key objectives for the operation during its new mandate, including “to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and other armed opposition groups.”

A look at a new scheme in Tunisia that aims to helps impoverished beekeepers produce more honey to help them boost their incomes.

Criscent Bwambale, six, sees for the first time after an operation to remove cataracts in Uganda.

The United Nations human rights office today condemned the killing of Kenyan human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josphat Mwenda, and their taxi driver, Joseph Muiruri, on 23 June, in a context of persistent allegations of extrajudicial killings by police forces.

The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) announced that floods across Ethiopia have severely impacted the recovery processes, particularly for livestock-dependent families, following more than 18 months of dry spells and poor rainfall induced by an El Niño drought phenomenon.

In our series of letters from African journalists, media trainer Joseph Warungu takes a satirical look at why, in the aftermath of the UK referendum, Britain could now qualify for a place in the African Union.

July 4, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - A faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement Monday has proposed a cease fire agreement in Darfur to be verified by monitoring teams of the hybrid peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) to allow humanitarian access into Jebel Marra area.

SLM Minni Minnawi (L) and Nimir Abdel Rahman sign a political agreement on 20 February 2015 (ST Photo)

During the recent months, Darfur mountainous area witnessed fierce fighting between the government forces and the Sudan Liberation Movement - Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW), causing massive displacement of civilians in the region, as others are still in isolated areas without humanitarian access.

Head of the Transitional Council of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (TCSLM) Nimir Abdel Rahman said that the government unilateral truce should be followed by a genuine agreement between the warring parties and a monitoring committee composed of the UNAMID peacekeepers.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday, Abdel Rahman said such deal will pave the way to open humanitarian corridors and allow aid groups to reach affected civilians in the remote affected areas of Jebel Marra.

Abdel Rahman previously was the SLM-AW spokesperson before to form the TCSLM with others members of the group. His group says they have a military force in Jebel Marra led by commander Mohamed Adam Abdel Salam "Tarada".

“without such agreement, the cease fire will be a lie, a diversionary tactic and a deception aiming to gain the support of the international community, especially the U.S.,” he further said.

The TCSLM leader meanwhile urged the international community to put further pressures on Khartoum to open the humanitarian access to save the lives of civilians stranded in Jebel Marra. He expressed readiness to cooperate in order to support the needy, particularly the rainy season has started and the IDPs are without shelter, as he said.

He warned that a humanitarian disaster may occur in Jebel Marra, saying thousands of civilians took refuge in the caves, in three areas : Dulu, Lugui and Sortoni, besides those who are in Tawila, Kabkabiya, Nirtiti and Galdu.

“They have no shelter, medicines, food and blankets. They live in a very bad humanitarian situation,” he added.

On 12 April, the Sudanese army declared Darfur a region free of rebels following the capture of Srounq area, the last SLM-AW stronghold in Jebel Marra.

United Nations agencies estimate that over 120,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in Jebel Marra area since last January.

Abdel Rahman further praised the efforts exerted by the international community, especially the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), the U.S. and other international actors to end the war in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

However, he called to not limit peace talks with three armed groups and the opposition National Umma Party led by Sadiq al-Mahdi.

They do not represent all the Sudanese opposition forces, whether political, civil or armed groups," he said.

“If there is a real desire for a sustainable peace, it will be better to have the participation of all political forces and to reconsider the Roadmap Agreement signed by the Sudanese government and the African Union mediator for the benefit of the citizen and the homeland", he stressed.

There are unconfirmed reports about peace talks between two Darfur rebel factions led by Abu al-Gasim Imam and Taher Hajer in Doha during the upcoming weeks, but the TCSLM or the SLM-Unity of Abdalla Yahiya are not part of the process.

(ST)

June 4, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudanese government has admitted killing an “armed criminal” on 2 July at Kator residential area in the national capital, Juba, at 11:20am.

Late Captain Gismallah George (File photo)

Although the date and timing of the killing as well as the location match with the incident in which suspected Military Intelligence (MI) personnel killed Lt. Colonel George Gismala of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA-IO), the report did not mention the identity of the deceased.

Earlier, South Sudan police service denied army's responsibility for the killing of the officer.

However, in the confidential report of government seen by Sudan Tribune on Monday and entitled, ‘Aba Lif (Kator-Tombura Road) Incident', it acknowledged that the “criminal” was killed by Military Intelligence (MI) personnel in self-defence after allegedly attacking their patrol team.

The report also narrated that the incident occurred while President Salva Kiir and First Vice President, Riek Machar, were also at the location in Kator, same area, where they both attended a wedding ceremony of a daughter of the President.

“On 2nd July 2016, at 1120 hrs, as MI patrol team were heading to St. Theresa Church to support the presidential protection Unit, at the church (the President and the First VP were attending the wedding of president's daughter), an armed criminal jumped in front of the patrol car at Aba Lif CORNER (Tumbara-Kator road) and started shooting at them,” said the report.

“He was shooting while bouncing from one point to another. The patrol team immediately responded by firing back at him as a result he was shot and fell down wounded. He was found alive and carrying a numberless AKM rifle and a pistol number 01692816238. He was rushed to the Military Hospital where he passed away on the way. The body of the criminal is currently at the Military Hospital mortuary awaiting identification,” further narrated the report.

Despite the fact that the report did not mention by name the claimed criminal, the date, timing and location suggested that it was narrating the circumstances under which Lt. Colonel George Gismala died.

Earlier reports published in the media suggested that the SPLA-IO's officer was shot dead at Kator residential area at 11:20am on 2 July, and his body was taken to a military base in Juba.

However, eye witnesses earlier told Sudan Tribune that the officer was shot while found seated at a tea place in what appeared to be a targeted killing. Other sources said he first engaged in argument with the MI personnel loyal to President Kiir over the lack of the implementation of the security arrangements in the peace agreement before he was shot.

Security forces loyal to President Kiir were immediately deployed in the capital to impose security measures and prevent violent reaction.

SPLA-IO DEPLOYED TROOPS

Eye witnesses and officials of the SPLA-IO also confirmed that their troops on 2 July had also deployed west of the government's headquarters in response to the situation.

Eye witnesses said they witnessed the deployment of the SPLA-IO troops lining up from Jebel Kujur, the residence of the First Vice President, Machar, walking through Gudele highway up to the roundabout of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which is only about 400 meters from the government's headquarters or ministries in the town center.

Media official of the First Vice President, Machar, confirmed the deployment, but said it was a normal security measure.

“Yes, SPLA-IO forces from the protection unit of the First Vice President were also deployed in the town on 2 July following the incident. It was a normal and necessary precautionary measure. The deployment was also important in reducing tension and building confidence,” Dak said.

He also said it was necessary because the SPLM-IO leadership was in the town center for the wedding of the President's daughter when the incident occurred.

Dak condemned what he said was a “cold blood murder” of one of their officers.

(ST)

July 4, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan will pay nearly $8 million United States dollars as part of its contribution for the membership to the East African Community (EAC) despite the deteriorating economic crisis, an official revealed on Monday.

Presidential Advisor on Economic Affairs, Agrey Tisa Sabuni, said the government will meet its new regional commitment despite the economic turmoil in the world's youngest nation.

“This amount of $8 million for the EAC has to be factored in the budget so that South Sudan will be able to contribute its share to the secretariat. Once that amount goes to the secretariat, it will be spent on many things like the court of justice, the assembly, the secretariat, and so forth,” said Sabuni, an ex-minister of finance between 2013 and 2015.

South Sudan was admitted to the six-member nations last year and the parliament in Juba approved the accession in May 2016.

Due to failure to form a transitional national legislative assembly (TNLA) as required by the peace agreement, South Sudan's 2016/2017 fiscal year budget is not yet approved by the legislature. The new financial year starts on 1 July.

Sabuni said the EAC's 2016/2017 budget is about $100 million. The regional assembly, the East African Community Legislative Assembly tabled and passed a budget of Financial Year 2016/2017 totalling $101,374,589, last week.

Sabuni said an amount of $47,565,377 will be contributed by all the states and the remaining amount of over $53 million will be generated from donations from development partners, and other miscellaneous revenue sources of the economic bloc, including the General Reserve Fund to facilitate the activities and projects of the secretariat throughout the financial year.

“So the budget that will be contributed by the six partner states is $47 million. That amount must be equally contributed by the member states, and since the partner states are now six, including South Sudan, its means this amount will be divided by six. It comes to $7.8m, approximately 8 million,” he said.

South Sudan is experiencing economic crisis caused by lowering global price of oil, 21 months of conflict that led to reduction in daily oil output and dependence on oil revenue.

Sabuni did not however elaborate on how the government will meet the extra expenditure.

(ST)

July 3, 2016 (KAMPALA) – The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu was in Uganda as part of his four-nation tour of Africa and will visit Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia.

Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, second right foreground, walks next to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, center left, after his arrival at Entebbe airport Uganda, Monday, July 4, 2016. Netanyahu is on a four-nation Africa tour to Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia. (AP Photo/Stephen Wandera)

"After many decades, I can say unequivocally Israel is coming back to Africa and Africa is coming back to Israel," Netanyahu told delegates at State House in Entebbe.

"All of our peoples will benefit greatly from our growing partnership,” he stressed.

Israel wants African nations to back it at the United Nations, where its General Assembly in 2012 overwhelmingly recognized Palestine as a nonmember observer state.

Exactly 40 years ago, the Israeli Prime Minister's elder brother, Yonatan, was killed by Ugandan soldiers at Entebbe International Airport, when he led Israeli commandos in a daring mission to rescue hijacked Israeli passengers.

While speaking at the same occasion on Monday, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni said his government supports a two-state remedy to the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

"The two of you belong to that area," Museveni said in a written speech, from which he keeps referring to Palestine. He also urged both Israel and Palestine to live side by side in two states in peace and with recognized borders.

In attendance were South Sudan's Salva Kiir, Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta, Rwanda's Paul Kagame, Zambia's Edward Lungu and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

Netanyahu later attended a summit meeting of regional leaders on security and the fight against Islamic extremists, and a communiqué issued at the end said the leaders "emphasized the need for increased regional and international co-operation in all fields, including cyber security and information gathering to confront this scourge."

The Israeli Prime Minister left Uganda for the Kenyan capital, Nairobi on Monday evening.

(ST)

June 04, 2016 (JUBA)– Thousands of people internally displaced by the recent violence in South Sudan's town of Wau and now live in United Nations protection of civilians sites as well as churches have rejected calls by the state government for them to return to home.

IDPs shelter near the UNMISS base in Wau (IOM/Gonzalez 2016)

The displaced told members of a fact-finding committee sent from the capital, Juba that they would not leave the protection of civilian sites, having allegedly lost trust in the government organised forces.

“We are not going back homes though the government is asking us to leave these seats, what is the grantee of our protections if we return homes as these forces government is talking about to protect us were those killing and looting our us,” Taban Ngori, a displaced citizen, told the facts finding at Wau Catholic Diocese on Monday.

“We have lost everything belonging to us and many of us have lost their families members, we did not hard that there some rebels killed though the government forces carried out mass killing on the civil population areas in Wau,” he added.

Several civilians, Taban said, were forced by the violence into neighbouring Sudan

“They [civilians] have totally lost trust in government. Those who remained here are seeking for international intervention. We need accountability on those responsible for the massive killings in Wau,” he stressed.

The eight-member committee was formed by President Salva Kiir to probe what actually caused the violence which broke out in Wau town on 25 June. The national health minister, Riak Gai Kok, heads this fact-finding body.

Thousands of people have sought refuge at the UN camp, churches and at the South Sudan Red Cross compound seeking protection.

(ST)

July 4, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government militia; Rapid Support Force (RSF); on Monday said that they arrested over 300 illegal immigrants heading to Libya across the remote desert of Northern State.

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

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.

Last June, hundreds of Rapid Support Force elements have been deployed in the Northern State shortly after complaint by the governor of drug and human trafficking by the criminal networks.

RSF Commander, General Mohamed Hamdan Hametti, told the pro-government al-Shrooq TV that his force, which was combing the western desert in the northern state, has arrested over 300 illegal immigrants in Al-Sheverlite area on the Sudanese- Libyan borders.

The combing operations of the desert in the Northern State are going "as planned by the top leadership" Hametti said, adding that "his forces were deployed in all locations to secure and protect the Sudanese economy".

He further said that the RSF troops have closed all the crossing points into Libya in the Northern State.

The commander of 19th Infantry Division of the Sudanese army, General Adil Hassan Humaida, on his part, said that RSF have been deployed in Northern State to comb the western desert in the state and protect borders with Libya.

Northern State governor, Ali al-Awad said that RSF is deployed combat crime, stressing that RSF first mission is mainly humanitarian and to provide security.

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.

(ST)

July 3, 2016 (JUBA) – A group of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on Saturday clashed with South Sudan army soldiers at Jebel check point, which is located north of the United Nations Protection of Civilians (PoC) site in the national capital, Juba.

UNMISS personnel erect barbed wire fencing around Tomping camp in Juba January 7, 2014 (Reuters/James Akena)

The acting spokesperson for the UN mission in South Sudan (UNIMISS) said the incident was a provocation by several IDPs, who were drinking at the nearby checkpoint area located north of PoC1, towards SPLA soldiers in the area.

“This resulted in an altercation between the IDPs and SPLA soldiers, and a few causalities, to be confirmed,” Chantal Persaud told Sudan Tribune Monday.

“UNMISS and SPLA senior officers met Sunday morning at the Jebel checkpoint, to ascertain the circumstances around the incident and verify information related to the shooting,” she added.

About 50 civilians who run small shops outside UNMISS compound were reportedly allowed temporary entry to UN House Compound and remained in close proximity of the main gate, eventually returning to their premises when the situation was under control.

Both the government and the armed opposition officials confirmed Saturday's clashes.

(ST)