Africa

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

June 16, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Ethiopian government on Thursday downplayed a claim by Eritrea that the latter has inflicted heavy losses to Ethiopian troops during the weekend clashes along their disputed border.

Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki (Reuters)

In a statement issued today, Eritrea alleged that its Army has killed 200 Ethiopian troops and wounded more than 300 further saying the disclosed figures are conservative estimates.

The statement issued by the Eritrean ministry of information added that Ethiopian forces were “compelled to retreat to locations beyond from where they initially unleashed the attack”

However Ethiopia has immediately downplayed Asmara's claim saying the number of causalities Eritrea alleged to have entailed were only a desperate and cooked up figures aimed to cover the very heavy loss the Eritrean Army suffered.

“This is noting but a belated effort by a shell shocked regime to boost the flailing morale of its few remaining supporters” Ethiopia communication Minister, Getachew Reda, later on Thursday told Sudan Tribune.

“We are not going to be sucked in to a game of numbers because we have achieved our objectives” Getachew said adding “We have no time or interest for morbid excitement”

The Ethiopian Minister has earlier admitted that there would be significant damage on both sides but mainly on the Eritrean side saying the clashes were serious one not just a simple skirmish.

The two rival neighbours on Tuesday traded blame over who first instigated the fresh border fighting that lasted between Sunday and Monday

The fighting took place in Tserona central front, an area about 75 kilometres south of the Eritrean capital, Asmara.

The international community including the United States, the United Nations and the African Union have expressed concern, and called on both sides for maximum restraint as fears swell of a potential an all-out war.

The latest battle is the worst after the 1998-2000 border war which has claimed the lives of an estimated more than 70,000 people.

(ST)

June 16, 2016 (JUBA) - Armed South Sudanese gunmen have killed several officers and soldiers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), an official army of South Sudan, in the attack targeting government officials in Raja town, which is the administrative capital of Lol state on Wednesday.

An SPLA soldier is pictured behind a South Sudan flag as he sits on the back of a pick-up truck in Bentiu, Unity state January 12, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Andreea Campeanu)

The attack which occurred on Wednesday morning resulted to the brief capture of the state capital by the gunmen.

Senior government officials, including governor Rizik Zechariah Hassan, fled the town for their safety. However, several officers were killed including those in charge of the governor's bodyguards.

The head of gubernatorial guard force, Captain Deng Akuei Diing, is one of several officers and soldiers who have been killed in the attack.

Several others including one of the drivers of governor Hassan have also sustained injuries as they were trying to flee the town amid heavy gunfire.

At least 9 gubernatorial guards, according to several state government officials, have been confirmed killed in the fighting.

Five guards who sustained injuries have been received at Aweil hospital. Others have been received at Nyamellel and Marialbai where they are getting medical attention at local primary health units.

While others are being treated some are reportedly still on their way to where they would be assisted.

Government officials have reportedly returned to Raja on Thursday following the withdrawal of the gunmen who took control of the capital on Wednesday.

There are conflicting explanations as to the exit of the armed fighters. While some said they withdrew voluntarily and government officials had to return after confirming their withdrawal, others said the Darfuri rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) who had a base near the town were asked by the South Sudan army to help in the fight which dislodged the gunmen from the town on Wednesday evening.

No group has claimed responsibility for the assault on the state capital and the government could not identify the attackers only to describe them as “bandits.'

(ST)

June 16, 2016 (JUBA) – A United States-based Enough Project has called on South Sudan's President, Salva Kiir, to ensure that the public money which have been stolen over the years by his officials should be returned.

Clooney, South Sudan's Kiir and Prendergast share a light moment, March 11, 2012 (Larco Lomayat)

In a statement released on Thursday, Enough Project's top leaders including John Prendergast and Brian Adeba, said President Kiir's recent comments to recover the assets stolen were encouraging, but cautioned that past promises by the President meant nothing.

“Recently, the president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, called for global support to recover assets stolen by South Sudanese elites and deposited into foreign bank accounts or spent on purchasing properties in foreign countries. This is not the first time President Kiir has expressed a desire to tackle elite corruption in his country. In past cases, however, there has been no effective follow through, leaving the situation unchanged and the stolen assets in the hands of those who stole them,” said Enough Project in the statement.

“This time it can, and should, be different,” it added.

The statement suggested that President Kiir could demonstrate his commitment to action by giving real autonomy and support to the domestic agencies that are authorized to counter corruption and by operationalizing collaborative efforts between his government and international agencies.

It added that combating corruption would work only if independent investigators were allowed access to financial information of top officials of the government, right up to the presidency, instead of targeting political opponents in the country.

“If instead anti-corruption efforts become a tool to target political opponents, it will have no impact on good governance and only serve to undermine confidence in future anti-corruption initiatives,” said.

Recent news of convictions in a case involving the reported theft of $14 million from the presidency, the statement said, was encouraging, but added that questions abound as to how such an effort will be followed up and further high-level corruption will be targeted.

In order for President Kiir's call for global support for asset recovery, specific steps including official request for global assistance in asset recovery, specifically to the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Kenya are important.

The president, it added, should also spearhead and fully resource an independent audit of government departments suspected of massive leaks of funds both before and during the conflict, including his own office.

The body also recommended tasking government agencies with implementing mechanisms to enforce banking and procurement transparency.

“In particular, procurement transparency should include requirements for the publication of contract amounts, beneficial ownership information, and other pertinent data, in line with the principles of the Open Contracting Partnership,” the statement added.

“Ensure that civil society and media organizations focused on investigating and reporting on corruption can do so in a safe space without fear of retribution.”

With these steps taken, it added, the United States and other governments should respond by providing tangible assistance to investigations through the Department of Justice's Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative and, for transactions that appear to have been conducted in U.S. dollars, through investigative tools available to the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

“President Kiir has opened up a critical conversation just as he did in 2012 when he addressed a letter to 75 top officials asking for the return of $4 billion that were stolen and taken out of the country. Since that time, the looting has continued and too often anti-corruption measures have been used as a political tool to target political opponents,” it said.

The Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), it further observed, will need to address serious economic, humanitarian and political challenges so as to win support of the donor community, adding that demonstrating that graft and corruption will no longer be tolerated is an essential element in building back trust.

“In order to set South Sudan on a new path forward, we call on President Kiir to show the South Sudanese people and the international community that he means what he says and that the Transitional Government of National Unity will act on these words in the interest of the people.”

Taking the fight against corruption serious, it said, the era of impunity can be brought to an end, restoring investor and donor confidence as well as laying the groundwork for a lasting peace.

(ST)

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June 15, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – The United States, United Nations and African Union have expressed concern over clashes between Ethiopia and Eritrea in a disputed border.

Rival forces of the two neighboring nations engaged in fighting between Sunday and Monday in the border town of Tsorena, sparking fears of a renewed full scale war.

The two nations have accused one another of provocation.

Ethiopia said Monday that its military took "proportional measures" in response to the Eritrean army's attempted attack and that retaliatory measure taken by its forces “seriously weakened” the Eritrean army.

Eritrea, however, denied the accusations, saying it repulsed the attack with Ethiopian troops sustaining heavy causalities.

The latest clash is larger in scale since the two countries fought war in 1998-2000 over their disputed border area.

The international community is expressing concern over the growing tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The US voiced "grave concern" and called on both sides to exercise restraint and engage in political dialogue.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the US's assistant secretary and department spokesperson, John Kirby urged the two arch rivals to cooperate in promoting stability and sustainable peace in the region.

“As both Ethiopia and Eritrea are party to the 2000 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and there cannot be a military solution, we call for both sides to exercise restraint and engage in political dialogue”, Kirby said in a statement.

Concerned by the latest development, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday met Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in Brussels and Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson phoned Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh Mohammed, urging them to restraint and refrain from any act or statement that could exacerbate the situation, according to a UN statement.

The AU chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, equally expressed deep concern over the fiery weekend clashes.

She urged the two countries to exercise utmost restraint and to refrain from any statement and action likely to aggravate the situation and further endanger regional stability.

The AU chairperson said both nations could resolve their differences and lay foundation for lasting peace between them only through the recourse of peaceful means.

Although a peace deal signed in 2000 ended a civil war, terms of the accord are yet to be implemented as Addis Ababa demanded further talks on implementation process.

Ethiopia and Eritrea routinely exchange accusations backing rebels trying to topple their respective regimes.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (JUBA) – Violent incidents against aid workers operating in South Sudan increased during the month of May, despite efforts to assist thousands of vulnerable people in the war-torn nation, the United Nations humanitarian agency (OCHA) said in a recent report.

Non-food items distributing to IDPS by the UNHCR workers in Maridi on 4 March 2016 (ST Photo)

78 humanitarian access incidents, OCHA said, were reported by partners in May, 73% of which involved violence against aid personnel or their properties.

These numbers, it said, was higher than in April, when 48 incidents were reported, and also higher than the monthly average of 63 incidents reported from January to March.

“Road and river travel for humanitarians continues to be hazardous,” partly reads the OCHA report.

It said violent incidents, including shooting, ambushes, assaults, harassment and robberies, increased during May, and included the killing of three humanitarian workers, bringing the reported number of aid workers killed in South Sudan to 55 since the conflict began in December 2013.

Since January, there have reportedly been 29 incidents of vehicles robberies as they travel to assess, deliver and pre-position items in various part of the young nation.

“In Upper Nile, humanitarian partners were shot at while attempting to cross the River Nile to deliver humanitarian assistance between Malakal and Wau Shilluk on 26 and 30 May,” the agency disclosed.

According to OCHA, nearly 4,500 internally displaced people departed the Bentiu Protection of Civilians site in May, bringing the population in the site to about 95,000 at the end of the month. Most of those departing, it said, plan engaging in farming in Rubkona, Guit and Koch counties.

About 103,400 people have been reached with food rations distributed outside the Bentiu Protection of Civilians site, including in Bentiu Town, Ding Ding, Kuach, Nhialdiu, Nimni, Bil, Kadet and Jazeera since February, while seeds and fishing kits have been provided to about 7,400 households in Guit County and 10,000 in Koch County, OCHA revealed.

(ST)

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June 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has revealed the arrest of what it described as the most dangerous gold smuggling network in the country.

A Sudanese merchant weighs gold in al-Shirik, Sudan (AFP)

The Sudanese gold panners and the mining companies reportedly smuggle their production because of restrictive policies implemented by the Bank of Sudan.

The central bank sets the purchase price based on the official exchange rate of the dollars, while the producers prefer to smuggle the gold to get benefit from the higher price of the dollars in the black market.

The Sudanese Medic Center quoted a security source, on Wednesday, as saying that the NISS seized 64 kilograms of gold that were designed for smuggling abroad to a neighbouring country.

The NISS further arrested 7 members of the network, including two foreigners from a neighbouring country it did not identify.

The capture of the gold smugglers took place after monitoring of purchase and storage operations of gold in order to smuggle it broad.

The Sudanese Media Center, which is close to the NISS, reported that the members of the network confessed plans to smuggle the gold through different stages.

Addressing the inauguration of NISS's new facilities in the River Nile state capital, Al-Damar last January, the chief-spy Mohamed Atta said gold smuggling has become a public security issue, stressing that NISS is ready to combat the phenomenon in coordination with other regular forces.

Gen. Atta revealed higher security directives to stop the transportation of gold without prior permission from the concerned authorities.

He further pointed out that the recent amendments of the Criminal Code approved by the parliament aim to curb gold smuggling.

The spy-chief described the gold as a national resource that contributes to supporting the national economy.

The Sudanese minister of minerals, Ahmed Mohammed Sadiq al-Karouri, said in previous statements that the government has almost no control over 90% of the gold produced by independent miners, saying that the lack of adequate gold laboratory services led to the spike in smuggling; but vowed to enforce strict policies to curb it.

In a report to the parliament in June 2014, the Ministry of Minerals said that 75% of the gold production is smuggled abroad.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (BOR) -The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) funded project, Quick Impact Project (QIP), which aimed to improve the fishery sector in Jonglei state, was launched in Bor after its completion on 15 June, 2016.

A fisherman sailing a boat in the White Nile, 17 September 2013 (ST)

Implemented by Humanitarian Development Consortium, QIP created a fish market near the main fish landing site to improve the hygienic conditions associated with fish handling and storage.

Speaking in Bor when the project was handed over to the community, the UNMISS head of field office, Debora Schein outlined the impact the project has achieved.

“I am pleased that this fish market is an UNMISS quick impact project aimed at improving the sanitary conditions of the market, and the hygienic conditions of handling, storing and selling fish which protects your health and that of the entire community”, said Schein.

She said the market was not only a place to buy food, but a place where people socialize, talk to each other and meet friends, which would promote peace among the people, as the function was attended by people living in town and displaced living in the POC in Bor.

“This location, the Bor main docking port is the main entry and exit point for greater Jonglei, and this market should become a hub of activity bringing together people of all ethnic backgrounds. Today, we have with us women and men from the UNMISS Bor protection site. It is my hope to see this as a normal occurrence, with all people moving about freely and safely. People, goods and services moving freely in the port is an affirmation that life is beginning to return to normal and that development and prosperity is coming to Bor. I look forward to seeing a thriving fish market as a symbol of peace and prosperity for the benefit of all of the Community ”, added Schein.

There is alsways high demand of fish in Bor as fish carry relatively cheaper prices.

“In line with our UNMISS mandate of creating the conditions to enable the protection of all civilians, of all communities, the fish market project was designed to assist you, the fishing communities; you, the women; and everyone that enjoys a good fish dinner”, stressed UN official.

James Jok Alier, the deputy director of Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) said the project would help the residents and fish dealers in several different ways.

“When we received the Quick Impact Project (QIP), we prioritised the fish market to be implemented.

"We are happy to both UNMISS and HDC, the implementing partner. They have safe our women from sun, from rains and from unhygienic environment, they will be able to sell their fish in a very conducive place”, said Alier.

Filbert Ahmat, the executive director of HDC, said the project aimed at improving and increasing both the quantity and quality of fish in Bor so that it is exported for cash.

With this project in place, Jonglei state has a better chance of feeding the entire population of South Sudan. We have brought this project so that the people of Bor can develop the fishery sector so that they are able to feed the people of South Sudan. It is not an emergency project, it is not a rehabilitation or recovery project, it is a development project. Now that we have developed the skills, you have to take over”, said Ahmat.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan on Wednesday said the leaders of the great Lakes region adopted a proposal it made to form ministerial committee to fight the activities of the negative forces in the region.

The Heads of State and Government of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), met in Luanda, Angola, on 14th June, 2016 where they discussed the political and security situation in the Region.

Vice President Hassabo Abdel Rahman headed Sudan's delegation to the summit which was held under the theme of “Accelerating the effective implementation of the Pact and its Protocols for a more democratic and stable Great Lakes Region”.

In a press statement after the return of the Sudanese delegation to Khartoum, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Obeid-Allah Mohamed Obeid-Allah said that the meeting adopted a recommendation proposed by the Sudan calling to form a ministerial committee to address the subversive activities of the Negative Movements in the region.

According to the proposal this committee will include the ICGLR ministers of defence, interior and directors of security and intelligence services. Also the Summit recommended the need for a joint coordination between the state members to limit the impact of the rebel movements.

Obeid Allah went further to say that the speech of the vice president in the closed-door session on Sudan's efforts to cooperate and coordinate with the neighbouring countries on security issues was largely appreciated by the ICGLR leaders.

The text of the final communiqué released after the end of the 6th ordinary ICGLR summit seen by Sudan tribune says the meeting "Noted with great concern the growing threat of terrorism and radicalization in the Region and internationally, and called for sustained solidarity in fighting this menace with greater vigour and resolve, including implementation of the earlier ICGLR Summit decision by establishing a Committee of Ministers of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence of ICGLR to expeditiously formulate a strategy and practical actions towards addressing this threat against the region".

The Lakes leaders also called on the ICGLR member states " for concerted efforts to neutralize the LRA and the threat posed by this negative force in CAR and the Region".

Sudan recently declined to join an African Union mechanism to fight the LRA rebels saying this group has no presence in its territory but however vowed to cooperate in this respect when ever is needed.

The regional summit also supported Sudan's efforts to lift the U.S. "unilateral and coercive economic sanctions" pointing to the "disproportionate and indiscriminate human cost of these measures on the Sudanese civilian population".

(ST)

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June 15, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan government has grudgingly admitted falling short of cash to pay civil servants and for essential services, raising fears that such an open admission may lead to uncertainty and insolvency.

South Sudanese information minister Michael Makuei Lueth attends a press conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 5 January 2014 (Photo: AP/Elias Asmara)

Information Minister and government's official spokesperson, Michael Makuei Lueth, announced on Friday in a statement broadcasted by the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) that the government has no money to make prompt payments to the employees, claiming he himself has not been paid for the last three months and “did not complain.”

Lueth argued that people should not demand payments for months which were not paid but rather wait for the months ahead, asserting the government has no money to pay for accumulated and unpaid months.

“There is no money, even myself I have not been paid for the last three months,” said minister Lueth, in a statement broadcasted by the state-owned media.

He was answering a question put to him by a reporter about payment of the civil servants after attending a regular cabinet meeting in which the council resolved to ask the leadership of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of the First Vice President, Riek Machar, to talk to one of his senior commanders, General Johnson Olony, to permit the use of river transport to move grains from Renk to Juba and other parts of the country in order to help the situation.

General Olony is the commander of Sector One in Upper Nile state in the areas under the control of the SPLA-IO. His forces have closed the river Nile route between Renk and Malakal in Upper Nile state.

But minister Lueth's open admission of lack of funds to make payments has received mixed reactions from the general public and from the government, with some officials describing it as “inappropriate statement.”

Others argued that the remarks were part of a political ploy to convince the civil servants to exercise patience as the government is seeking ways out to make payments.

Critics of the government have also interpreted the statement to mean attempt by the government to elicit sympathy and support from the international community.

Many in government, including President Salva Kiir, were persuaded to accept the signing of the peace agreement as a way to receive support to improve the currently struggling economic situation and to avoid sanctions and other measures as incentive for blocking peace efforts.

However, international support has not yet come forth, owing to the lack of political will to implement the peace agreement by the parties.

Among many issues that need to be tackled include the status of the controversial 28 states unilaterally created against the 10 states stipulated in the August 2015 peace deal and cantonment of opposition forces across the country.

International financial experts and institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have warned of further economic deterioration in South Sudan.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese police have freed five children from a child trafficking network in the eastern Sudan state of Kassala. Also, the Police arrested suspects in Khartoum in connection with this network, which smuggles children into Libya

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.

On Wednesday Police in Kassala announced that five children at the age of 15 years were on their way to Libya via Khartoum.

The Family and Child Unit Director, Colonel Amad Ahmed al-Tayeb, and the members of security committee in Kassla State attended the police press conference.

The children were attempting to leave Kassala without informing their families, according to Colonel Amad Ahmed al-Tayeb.

Colonel al-Tayeb added that the police managed to foil their plan after being informed by the Bus Association about the presence of several children seeking to quit the state.

He said interrogation revealed that the traffickers were in contact with a child trafficking network in Khartoum which was arrested as well.

The police official further said that the suspect had previously trafficked children below 18 years old.

Eastern Sudan in particular is believed to be serving as a passage for illegal immigration to Europe for Eritrean, Ethiopian and Somali nationals with the help of human smugglers.

Last week, Sudan, Italy and the United Kingdom said they arrested in Khartoum an Eritrean man suspected of controlling one of the world's four largest criminal immigration trafficking organizations.

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)

June 15 (YAMBIO) - A reintegration project targeting conflict affected communities has been launched in Yambio by the governor of the newly created Gbudue state. The three-year project, supported by UNICEF, targets women, children and youth who have been demobilized from the armed groups operating in Western Equatoria state.

Governor Patrick Zamoi said the youth and community in general will be empowered with skills on peace building; while the returning armed youth will be provided with vocational training to enable them earn money to sustain their families.

“We really completely forget about vocational schools to provide skills to our people and we had been so busy with IT as the computer come as new way to us but not vocational training. We need to provide skills to these people so that they will be in position to provide jobs for themselves and take care of their families,” Governor Zamoi said.

He also said Boda-boda [motor bikes business] cannot lead the youth anywhere, saying it is the obligation of the government with the partners from the international non-governmental organizations to find the best solution to the youth who are idle and creating problems in the state.

Following the signing of peace agreement between the government and the South Sudan National Liberation Movement (SSNLM) on 2 April, 2016, in Yambio, the government through its relevant structures has embarked on peace building and reintegration activities as an effort to restore hope, peace and security of the conflict affected people.

State minister of education, gender, child and social welfare, Pia Philip, said his ministry will champion the three years project, adding it has secured funds from UNICEF to organize workshops on conflict resolution and peace building in the five counties of Gbudue state.

Pia stated that the objective of the project is to create conducive environment for the proper reintegration into the society of the children, youth and women associated with conflict.

“The stakeholders need to understand the different paradigms of conflict, acceptance and forgiveness, forge a local mechanism of managing conflict at the Payam levels,” he said.

He added that realities for the youth are changing including the loss of traditional livelihoods and widespread urbanization.

Jobs are being created in urban areas but these are offered to foreigners who have the requisite skills.

“With no jobs or skills, he added, the marginalized youth choose violence and that means coming together based on shared tribal and political interests and poverty also contribute to the conflict [and] gangs on the roads in South Sudan,” he said.

The opening ceremony started with a three-day workshop which drew participants from various payams in Yambio county. The project will be extended to other counties and in schools to inculcate peace into the community and youth in particular.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Minister of Information Ahmed Bilal said the opposition Sudan Call forces are divided and fragmented and wouldn't unite and pointed they are waiting for the outcome of the pressures to compel them to sign the Roadmap Agreement.

Sudanese Information Minister Ahmed al-Balal Osman speaks during a press conference in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on June 9, 2013. ( Photo AFP/ASHRAF SHAZLY)

Last March, the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and the Sudanese government signed a framework agreement calling to stop war in Blue Nile, Darfur, and South Kordofan and to engage in the national dialogue process.

However, four of the Sudan Call forces refused to sign the peace plan saying it excludes important opposition groups, acknowledges the internal dialogue process and ignores important confidence building measures such as ensuring political freedoms and release of political prisoners and detainees.

On Monday, leaders of the Sudan Call forces issued conflicting statements regarding a proposed meeting of the alliance to decide whether or not to meet the chief African mediator Thabo Mbeki to discuss the peace deal.

The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) accused several quarters including the Sudanese government of obfuscating on the Sudan Call meeting.
However, Osman described the SPLM-N accusations as an “attempt to justify the opposition failure”, saying the government has nothing to do with the opposition meeting.

Osman, who is also the government spokesperson, told the pro-government Sudan Media Center (SMC) that the SPLM-N and the Sudan Call forces failed to achieve unity in several meetings including in Paris and Berlin, adding the opposition parties can't agree with each other.

He pointed that the government didn't receive any official notification from any party that the opposition has agreed to sign the Roadmap Agreement despite the pressures that have been exerted on them, saying “we are waiting for the results [of these pressures]”.

Sudan Call forces had earlier disclosed that international parties including the United States (US) are making efforts to convince them to endorse the Roadmap Agreement.

MAHDI'S COMMENTS ON THE DIALOGUE OUTCOME

Meanwhile, the ruling political secretary of the National Congress Party (NCP) Hamid Mumtaz has described the recent remarks of the National Umma Party (NUP) leader al-Sadiq al-Mahdi on the outcome of the dialogue conference as proof of the inclusivity of the national dialogue.

Last week, al-Mahdi disclosed he got a copy of the recommendations that the internal dialogue conference has reached and stressed they are surprisingly identical with so many agendas that the opposition forces are calling for.

Mumtaz also told SMC that the ongoing dialogue's arrangements were meant to approve the recommendations according to the desires of the Sudanese people and the political forces.

He said that fixing the date of the general assembly has sent a message for those who doubted the feasibility of the dialogue initiative, adding that the dialogue is currently in its third phase and the general assembly would approve the final recommendations.

Following its meeting with President Omer al-Bashir on Sunday, Sudan's dialogue body known as 7+7 committee said that the national dialogue's general assembly would be held on August 6th.

Mumtaz stressed that his party would go forward to complete the political consensus and implement its outcome in order to achieve the national objectives that aim to unify the internal front to confront the challenges facing the country and on top of which realizing security and stability.

He praised the efforts of the African mediation to convince the opposition holdout groups to join the dialogue.

The internal dialogue conference was inaugurated in Khartoum on October 10th, 2015 amid large boycott from the major political and armed opposition.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood has split following differences between the Shura (Consultative) Council and the Controller General Ali Jawish on decisions made by the latter to postpone the General Conference and disband group's offices.

Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood Controller General Ali Jawish (SUNA file photo)

The Sudanese branch of the Brotherhood has undergone two famous splits over the last four decades. The first split occurred in 1969 when a group led by the late Hassan al-Turabi founded the Islamic Charter Front (ICF) while the second spilt was led by the late Suleiman Abu Naru in 1991.

An emergency meeting of the Shura Council on Wednesday has decided to relieve Jawish and appoint the former Controller General Al-Hibir Youssif Nour al-Daem in his place on a temporary basis and until the General Conference is being held.

Member of Shura Council Omer al-Hibir told Sudan Tribune that the emergency meeting followed a series of decisions taken by Jawish to disband the group's organs including the Executive Office and the Shura Council as well as postponing the General Conference which was scheduled to take place in July and appointing a committee to run the group's affairs temporarily.

He described Jawish's decisions as an “unjustified coup” to impose a new reality within the group in order to maintain the interests of specific members before holding the General Conference.

Al-Hibir stressed that the meeting Nour al-Daeam was assigned to carry out the tasks of the Controller General until holding the General Conference in mid-October.

He pointed that the emergency meeting, which Jawish didn't attend despite his membership in the Shura Council, also decided to suspend membership of all those whose names appeared on the list of the committee which was appointed by Jawish to run the group's affairs and to replace them by other members in the Executive Office.

Al-Hibir further described the move as “a de facto split”, saying it was caused by an old difference regarding a decision to merge with the group that had split in 1991.

Last January, the two groups signed an agreement to merge in one group under the name of the Muslim Brotherhood.

It is noteworthy that the Muslim Brotherhood led by Jawish had abandoned its partnership with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) following the latter's recognition of the Egyptian President Abde-Fatah al-Sisi who overthrow the regime of the former President Mohamed Morsi.

For his part, Jawish said his decisions were aimed to make the group avoid serious risks that could lead to a third split as has occurred in 1969 and 1991.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune

Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood Controller General Ali Jawish (SUNA file photo)

Wednesday, he said that a small group has been meeting since four years ago to control the Muslim Brotherhood and change its course during the upcoming General Conference.

He said that he was forced to make those decisions in order to maintain the unity, history and future of the Muslim Brotherhood.

“The General Conference has been delayed and the existing organs [of the group] including the Shura Council, the Executive Offices and its subcommittees within measures that seek to maintain the unity and coherence of the group,” he said.

Jawish further called upon the members to name a group of secretaries to run the work alongside the Controller General, pointing that a new Shura Commission has been formed from the states' officials to approve a temporary plan until the General Conference elects new leadership and develop a comprehensive work plan.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan's national army, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), said they have repulsed “bandits” who had earlier on overrun Raja, the administrative capital of the newly-established Lol state in Greater Bahr el Ghazal region.

A SPLA soldier stands in front of a vehicle in Juba on December 20, 2013. (Photo Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

The SPLA spokesperson, Brig. Lul Ruai Koang, acknowledged that fighting erupted inside Raja town on Wednesday morning when fighters he described as “criminals” and “bandits” overran the town and chased out of the town senior government officials, including the state governor, Rizik Zachariah Hassan who fled in disarray.

“In the early hours of Wednesday, June 15, 2016, armed criminals and bandits attacked SPLA's defensive position in Raga town. The attackers have been repulsed and mopping operations is going,” Koang said.

“More updates will follow,” he added, in a press statement he issued on Wednesday evening, nearly 12 hours after the state capital was seized by the unknown gunmen.

Koang also assured the citizens of the SPLA's ability to defend them, despite the fall of the state capital under the control of the gunmen on Wednesday morning.

“SPLA would like to assure the people of South Sudan that it has ability and capability to defeat armed criminals/bandits against the implement of peace agreement and reconciliation,” he said.

It was unclear why it took the whole day delay for the army's official spokesperson to inform the nation about the incident. He did not also explain how the attackers entered the state capital and what were the casualties involved.

In the attack, which occurred while governor Rizik Zechariah Hassen and his cabinet were in a meeting in Raga, the unknown gunmen stormed the state capital, forcing the cabinet members to flee from the town and run in different directions for their safety.

While governor Hassan was reported to have successfully escaped up to Aweil West county, some of his officials' whereabouts, including the deputy governor, were not known during the day.

Koang, in his statement, also called on their partner's co-national army, the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), to help the SPLA fight the attackers.

SPLA-IO is under the command of the First Vice President, Riek Machar, while SPLA is under the command of President Salva Kiir. The two are co-national armies per the August 2015 peace agreement until they will be reunified in the years to come.

Although no group has declared responsibility for the assault on Raga, chiefs of the area had earlier voiced their rejection to the creation of the new Lol state which combines Raja county with parts of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.

The area also witnessed presence of the SPLA-IO forces that have not yet been cantoned or assembled.

Residents of Raja said the gunmen were seen in the town, suggesting they had taken control of the state capital Wednesday morning.

Fighting continued in the afternoon when SPLA sent in reinforcements to recapture Raja.

(ST)

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