Africa

May 30, 2016 (WAU) – The Muslim fraternity in South Sudan's Wau state on Monday elected Bashir Dor as the Islamic Council's new secretary general.

Wau Islamic Council's secretary general Bashir Dor, May 30, 2016 (ST)

In an interview with Sudan Tribune after he was elected, Bashir said he would work to ensure the council recovers all lost properties of the Muslims.

He, however, vowed to closely work with the state government to ensure success.

Top of council's priority, its secretary general said, would be to unite Muslims in Wau.

“We thank God for bringing me as the secretary general [Islamic] Council of Wau state. This of cause is not by accident, but by the very big work done by my brothers and actually our programs will start from now onwards in order to recognise the Islamic properties in the state and then to unite Islamic groups,” he said.

Bashir further acknowledged the peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians in the state, but promised to further strengthen these existing ties.

Bashir replaces Sheikh Fuad Hassan who was murdered in Wau county in 2012.

The Muslims, according to a 2012 Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life report, Muslims in South Sudan accounted for about 6.2% of the country's population.

(ST)

May 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has seized copies of Alwan newspaper on Monday for the second day in a row without stating reasons.

Alwan Newspaper

NISS has recently intensified crackdown on the newspapers and confiscated copies of Al-Taghyeer, Al-Saiha and Akhir Lahza newspapers for two days in a row.

Also, print runs of Al-Gareeda newspaper were seized five times within one week.
On Sunday, NISS confiscated copies of Alwan from the printing house while on Monday the newspaper was seized after it had reached the distribution centers.

The editorial board of Alwan said it is not aware of the reasons for the confiscation and pointed that the NISS didn't contact them to explain the causes of the move.

It added that the newspaper might not publish on Tuesday in fear of a third confiscation.
Some journalists said the confiscation was likely a retaliatory measure agsinst Alwan for publishing an interview with the leader of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Gibril Ibrahim on Sunday.

It is noteworthy that Alwan is owned by the popular Islamic figure Hussein Khogali.

Sudan's constitution guarantees freedom of expression but laws subordinate to the constitution such as the National Security Forces Act of 2010 contains articles that can be potentially used to curtail press freedom and instigate legal proceedings against newspapers and individual journalists.

NISS usually accuses the newspapers of crossing the red lines through publishing reports which adversely impact the national security.

Sudanese journalists work under tight daily censorship controls exercised by the NISS.
They say that NISS uses seizures of print copies of newspapers, not only to censor the media but also to weaken them economically.

(ST)

May 30, 2016 (JUBA) – The leadership of the Emmanuel Jieng [Dinka] Parish has released a statement, saying it regretted the violent protest which occurred inside their church in the capital, Juba on Sunday.

Bishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth

They also said the church leadership had convinced the top priest in charge who announced he was resigning over the embarrassing situation caused by Dinka youth protesters, to reconsider his decision and continue leading the church.

The tribally-named Emmanuel Jieng Parish is a branch of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan with Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul as its overall leader in the country.

On Sunday, several protesters were arrested inside the church by security personnel after staging a protest against the church leadership for inviting the First Vice President, Riek Machar, an ethnic Nuer, to the ethnic Dinka church service on 22 May, where he preached the need for peace, reconciliation and forgiveness among the people.

Machar also urged the congregation to support the implementation of the peace agreement he signed with President Salva Kiir to end the 21 months of the civil war.

Since his arrival in Juba on 27 April, Machar visited different churches on Sundays and Saturday with different congregations of different tribes, repeating the same message of peace, reconciliation and forgiveness.

However, his appearance on Sunday, 22 May, in the ethnic Dinka church, which is predominantly of Dinka Bor members from Jonglei state, angered some members of the congregation who walked out in protest, accusing the church leadership of inviting an enemy.

On Sunday, 29 May, a week later, protesters, mainly young people, allegedly incited by politicians inside the church, almost interrupted the church service and demanded that the top church priest who invited Machar last week resigned.

The Dinka Bor youth who stormed the church carried banners of pictures and names of their three senior dead army Generals who were killed in action between 2013 and 2014 while commanding government troops against Machar's opposition forces.

The Emmanuel Jieng Parish's top priest, Reverend Joseph Maker Achiek, after witnessing the chaotic situation, decided to resign, which he announced immediately on Sunday.

Also Bishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth, a respected veteran priest who was also in the attendance and witnessed the chaotic scene, was seen crying while conducting a closing prayer in the church.

The statement released by the church on Sunday evening, however said the church's top priest, Pastor Achuek, will continue to lead the Emmanuel Jieng Parish, describing the protesters who demanded his resignation as not members of the church.

“The Parochial Church Council regrets over the row initiated by non-congregants during the church service at Emmanuel on Sunday, the 29/05/2016. The row-group were dressed in black T-shirts holding pictures of Late Generals Abraham Jongroor Deng and Kuol Malith Reech and also indicated the name of Ajak Yen who were killed in the recent war. Their intention was to provoke the church into chaos, which did not happen,” partly reads the press statement signed by Solomon Manyang Jok, the church secretary.

“The group claimed to be disappointed by the visit of the First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar Teny last Sunday, the 22nd May 2016, accusing the church to have allowed him to pray and addressed the congregation, because they termed the church to be tribal while the church is the body of Christ where everybody has right to exercise his Christian rites,” the statement further reads.

He said the government's law enforcement personnel intervened and apprehended the protesters, but added that the church administration sent a delegation to the security organ to release them later.

“As a result of the row, the Parish Priest, Rev. Joseph Maker Achiek was emotionally moved and uttered his resignation, which the Council termed as slippery of tongue. Based on this, the Church Council called the Parish Priest immediately to withdraw his statement, which he did,” he said.

“We as a church do urge our members and the community at large to remain calm and show away from this barbaric act of this group and click into the spirit of love, harmony and unity as children of God,” the statement added.

(ST)

May 30, 2016 (BENTIU) – At least 5,320 Bul Nuer currently living at the United Nations Protection of Civilian (PoC) site at Jebel-Kujur, a suburb of the South Sudan capital, have urged the country's leaders to speed up the ongoing peace implementation process.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir (C) poses for a picture after the government swearing in with his first deputy Riek Machar (R) and second deputy James Wani on 29 April 2016 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

James Tut Wuliny, a Bul Nuer community leader, said the peace deal signed in August last year, between warring parties was the only option to end conflict.

He however said South Sudanese leaders should explain the importance of peace among citizens in the young nation.

Wuliny says both President Salva Kiir and his first deputy, Riek Machar had vital roles to play in efforts to promote peace and unity in the country, despite the two year conflict.

“We are taking this initiative as Bul [Nuer] community leaders that President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first deputy in the formation of transitional government of national unity had a task to stop random killings and looting of properties experienced in this unwanted three years of crisis,” he said.

The official lauded both leaders for their commitments to the ongoing implement of the country's peace accord, but said more need to be done in sensitizing the population.

“This courageous step you have taken shall save the country from economic crises and it will also restore trust between the tribes broken into ashes by the crisis,” he said.

Wuliny said the populations of Mayom, one of the counties in Unity state, fully support the peace deal and that it was time for people to forgive each other for crimes committed.

“We call upon all people in South Sudan to say sorry to one another and accept ourselves as one people serving one nation with a purpose,” further stressed the Bul Nuer leader.

James Gatluak Madiet, a displaced Bul Nuer currently living at the UN protection of civilian base in Juba, said a reconciliation campaign successfully kicked off on Sunday.

“The reconciliation campaign started today in UNMISS [UN Mission in South Sudan] will open doors to all peace lovers countrywide and also in the diaspora because without telling the truth to the affected communities, there will be no peace and the grievances will remain,” said Madiet.

The campaign is the first ever event organised by the Bul Nuer community at a UN protection site, since the conflict broke out in the South Sudan capital in December 2013.

(ST)

May 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir would head his country's delegation participating in the upcoming Arab League (AL) summit which will be held in the capital of Mauritania, Nouakchott in July, said Sudan's state foreign minister

Sudanese President Omer HAssan al-Bashir arrives in Khartoum after a flight from Johannesburg on June 15, 2015 (AFP Photo/Ebrahim Hamid)

Bashir is under two International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants since 2008 for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed in Darfur.

The Sudanese president visited Mauritania two times since the ICC issued the arrest warrants.

Mauritania is not a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, and therefore has no obligations under the statute. However, the ICC chief prosecutor, Fatu Bensouda, had in the past asked Saudi Arabia and Egypt who are also non signatories to the statute to arrest Bashir.

Sudan's State Foreign Minister Obied Allah Mohamed stressed the need to discuss ways for implementing the Arab food security initiative launched by President Bashir during the meetings of the 3rd Arab Economic and Social Development Summit in Riyadh in 2013.

He praised the support rendered by the AL to Sudan particularly with regard to peace and development issues, stressing Sudan's support for the Palestinian cause as the central and pivotal issue for the Arab and Islamic nation.

Obied Allah, who participated in the AL foreign ministers emergency meeting in Cairo on Saturday, expressed hope that the French initiative for Israeli-Palestinian peace could achieve the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to the establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Commenting on the situation in Libya, the Sudanese minister pointed to his country's efforts within the mechanism of the neighbouring countries of Libya to settle the differences among warring factions, stressing Sudan's support to the internationally recognized government headed by Faiz Al-Siraj.

Obied Allah further welcomed the AL resolutions supporting peace and development in Sudan, demanding the regional body to support the exit strategy of the peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) following stability and improved security situation in the region.

He also urged the AL to support Sudan's demands for lifting the unilateral coercive economic sanctions imposed on it by the United States besides removing its name from the U.S. list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

Washington imposed economic and trade sanctions on Sudan in 1997 in response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights abuses. In 2007 it strengthened the embargo, citing abuses in Darfur which it labelled as genocide.

Also, Sudan has been on the US list of countries supporting terrorism since 1993, for allegedly providing support and safe haven for terrorist groups.

The Sudanese minister praised the support rendered to Sudan by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt and Qatar, expecting the AL summit to urge the UN Security Council to consider the adverse impact of the U.S sanctions on human rights in Sudan.

(ST)

The invention that stops girls missing school every month

The former ruler of Chad has been found guilty of crimes against humanity, rape and sexual slavery and is jailed for life.

L'ex-dictateur tchadien a été reconnu coupable de viol, crimes de guerre, torture et crimes contre l’humanité

Les temps forts du procès à Dakar de l’ex-dictateur du Tchad, Hissène Habré, qui a débuté le 20 juillet 2015 et s’est achevé le 30 mai 2016, lorsqu’il a été reconnu coupable de torture, crimes de guerre et crimes contre l’humanité lors de ses années au pouvoir (1982-90).

(Dakar) – La condamnation de Hissène Habré, l’ancien président du Tchad, pour de graves crimes internationaux, est l’aboutissement d’une campagne de plusieurs décennies menée par les victimes, a déclaré Human Rights Watch aujourd’hui. Hissène Habré a été reconnu coupable de torture, crimes de guerre et crimes contre l’humanité, et notamment d’avoir lui-même violé une femme, par les Chambres africaines extraordinaires et condamné à la réclusion à perpétuité le 30 mai 2016.

« C’est une immense victoire pour les victimes de Hissène Habré qui ont lutté sans relâche depuis 25 ans pour le traduire en justice», a déclaré Reed Brody, conseiller juridique à Human Rights Watch qui travaille auprès des victimes depuis 1999. « Cette condamnation envoie un signal d’alarme aux tyrans leur rappelant que s’ils commettent des atrocités, ils ne seront jamais hors de portée de leurs victimes ».  

Le procès de Hissène Habré, qui a dirigé le Tchad de 1982 à 1990, a commencé le 20 juillet 2015. Habré, qui n’a jamais reconnu l’autorité des Chambres, a gardé le silence tout au long du procès.

Un résumé de la décision a été lue en audience par le Président de la Chambre, le juge burkinabé Gberdao Gustave Kam, qui était entouré de deux juges sénégalais. Le Procureur avait requis une peine de réclusion à perpétuité.  

La décision finale écrite sera prochainement publiée. Human Rights Watch a préparé un résumé non officiel à partir des notes prises lors du verdict.

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Des survivants des atrocités commises par Habré marchent vers le tribunal pour assister au verdict, 30 mai 2016 

© 2016 Andrew Stroehlein / Human Rights Watch

Habré a fui au Sénégal en 1990, après que son régime a été renversé par l’actuel président du Tchad Idriss Déby Itno. Bien qu’il ait été arrêté et inculpé une première fois au Sénégal en 2000, une campagne de longue haleine a dû être menée par ses victimes avant que les Chambres africaines extraordinaires ne soient inaugurées par le Sénégal et l’Union africaine en février 2013, pour juger des crimes internationaux commis au Tchad sous le régime de Hissène Habré.

« J’attends ce jour depuis que je suis sorti de prison il y a plus de 25 ans », a déclaré Souleymane Guengueng, qui faillit mourir de mauvais traitements et de maladie dans les geôles de Habré, et qui a fondé l’Association des victimes des crimes du régime de Hissène Habré (AVCRHH). « Aujourd’hui, je me sens dix fois plus grand que Hissène Habré. »

C’est la première fois que les tribunaux d’un État jugent l’ancien dirigeant d’un autre État pour des supposées violations des droits humains. Quatre-vingt-treize personnes ont témoigné au procès, la plupart d’entre elles ayant fait le voyage du Tchad au Sénégal pour y participer. Les survivants ont livré des témoignages bouleversants sur la torture, les viols, l’esclavage sexuel, les massacres et les destructions de villages.

La Cour a notamment condamné Hissène Habré pour des crimes de violence sexuelles, dont le crime de viol et le celui d’esclavage sexuel pour avoir envoyé des femmes servir d’esclaves sexuels pour son armée.

La cour a également reconnu Hissène Habré coupable d’avoir lui-même violé Khadidja Hassan Zidane à quatre reprises. Les juges ont estimé que le témoignage de Hassan était crédible et corroboré par ce qu’elle avait raconté à ses codétenues.

« La condamnation d’un ancien président pour crimes sexuels envoie un message clair : aucun dirigeant – aussi puissant soit-il – n’est au-dessus de la loi ; et aucune fille ou femme n’est en-dessous » a déclaré Reed Brody.

Une deuxième série d’audiences se tiendra en juin ou juillet au sein des Chambres afin d’évaluer les dommages et intérêts à attribuer aux parties civiles et aux autres victimes.

Il semble possible que les avocats commis d’office à la défense de Hissène Habré puissent encore faire appel en son nom, même sans son consentement. Si un tel appel était déposé, une Chambre africaine extraordinaire d’Appel serait constituée pour l’examiner plus tard dans l’année.

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Hissène Habré lors de la première phase de son procès à Dakar, en novembre 2015.
 

© 2015 Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise

Le procès de Hissène Habré souligne aussi l’importance de la compétence universelle, a déclaré Human Rights Watch. Ce principe de droit international permet à des tribunaux nationaux de juger des crimes les plus graves même lorsqu’ils ont été commis à l’étranger, par un étranger, et contre des victimes étrangères. 

En mars 2015, une cour criminelle tchadienne avait condamné 20 anciens agents de la police politique du gouvernement de Hissène Habré pour des faits de torture et de meurtre.

Le régime à parti unique de Habré a été marqué par des atrocités massives et généralisées, dont des vagues de répression ethnique. Les documents de la police politique de Habré, la Direction de la documentation et de la sécurité (DDS), retrouvés par Human Rights Watch en 2001, ont révélé les noms de 1 208 personnes exécutées ou décédées en détention, ainsi que de 12 321 victimes de violations des droits humains.

Les États-Unis et la France considéraient Habré comme un rempart contre la Libye de Mouammar Kadhafi, et l’ont donc soutenu durant tout son règne, malgré les preuves indiquant clairement que Habré commettait des abus contre son propre peuple. Sous la présidence de Ronald Reagan, les Etats-Unis apportèrent en secret, par le biais de la CIA, un soutien paramilitaire à Habré pour l’aider à prendre le pouvoir en 1982. 

Habré avait été inculpé une première fois par un juge sénégalais en 2000, mais suite à des immixtions politiques, les tribunaux sénégalais ont statué qu’il ne pouvait pas être jugé au Sénégal. Les victimes avaient alors porté plainte en Belgique. En septembre 2005, après quatre années d’enquête, un juge belge avait alors inculpé Habré et demandé son extradition. Le Sénégal avait refusé d’extrader Habré en Belgique, et ignoré la demande de l’Union Africaine (UA) de juger Habré. La Belgique avait alors porté plainte contre le Sénégal devant la Cour Internationale de Justice (CIJ). Le 20 juillet 2012, la CIJ a ordonné au Sénégal de poursuivre Habré « sans autre délai » à défaut de l’extrader.

Après l’élection de Macky Sall à la présidence du Sénégal en avril 2012, le Sénégal et l’Union africaine ont signé un accord pour la création des Chambres africaines extraordinaires pour la tenue du procès au sein des juridictions sénégalaises, en vertu du principe de compétence universelle.

Les Chambres ont inculpé Habré en juillet 2013 et l’ont placé en détention provisoire. À l’issue d’une instruction de 19 mois, les juges ont conclu qu’il existait suffisamment de preuves pour que Habré soit jugé.

Suite au refus des avocats de Habré de se présenter à la barre, conformément à ses instructions, la Cour a nommé d’office trois avocats pour le représenter et a ajourné le procès pour 45 jours afin de leur donner le temps de préparer leur défense. Au premier jour de la reprise du procès, le 7 septembre 2015, Habré a été amené dans la salle contre sa volonté, criant et se débattant. Par la suite, il fut amené dans la salle au début de chaque journée d’audience, avant que les portes ne soient ouvertes au public.

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DANS LES MÉDIAS

Le Monde‎ - L'ex-président tchadien Hissène Habré condamné à la prison à perpétuité
Le Monde - Hissène Habré, dix mois de procès pour huit ans de crimes
L’Express -  "Le procès d'Hissène Habré peut servir de modèle pour juger d'autres tyrans"
Le Point - Procès Hissène Habré : retour sur les temps forts
Libération - Habré condamné à la perpétuité : un procès pour l'histoire, mais des parts d'ombre
DW - "Un procès exemplaire en Afrique" (interview de Reed Brody - audio)

Topic

• International Justice

• English

In landmark case, Hissène Habré found guilty of rape, war crimes, torture and crimes against humanity(Dakar) – The conviction of Hissène Habré, the former president of Chad, for serious international crimes, is a vindication of the decades-long campaign waged by his victims, Human Rights Watch said today. Habré was convicted of torture, war crimes and crimes against humanity, including having raped a woman himself, by the Extraordinary African Chambers in the Senegalese court system and sentenced to life in prison on May 30, 2016.

“This is an enormous victory for Hissène Habré’s victims, who for 25 years never gave up fighting to bring him to justice” said Reed Brody, counsel at Human Rights Watch who has worked with the survivors since 1999. “This conviction is a wake-up call to tyrants everywhere that if they engage in atrocities they will never be out of the reach of their victims.”

The trial against Habré, who ruled Chad from 1982 to 1990, began on July 20, 2015. Habré does not recognize the chambers’ authority and sat silently throughout the trial.

A summary of the decision was read out in court by chief judge Gberdao Gustave Kam of Burkina Faso, who shared the bench with two senior Senegalese judges. The prosecutor had requested a life sentence.

The written decision will be distributed at a later date. Human Rights Watch has prepared an unofficial summary from notes taken in court.

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Survivors of Habré's atrocities walk to the court to hear the verdict, May 30, 2016

© 2016 Andrew Stroehlein / Human Rights Watch

Habré fled to Senegal in 1990 after being deposed by the current Chadian president, Idriss Déby Itno. Although Habré was first arrested and indicted in Senegal in 2000, it took a long campaign by his victims before the Extraordinary African Chambers were inaugurated by Senegal and the African Union in February 2013 to prosecute international crimes committed in Chad during Habré’s rule.

“I have been waiting for this day since I walked out of prison more than 25 years ago,” said Souleymane Guengueng, who nearly died of mistreatment and disease in Habré’s prisons, and later founded the Association of Victims of Crimes of the Regime of Hissène Habré (AVCRHH). “Today I feel ten times bigger than Hissène Habré.”

Habré’s trial is the first in the world in which the courts of one country prosecuted the former ruler of another for alleged human rights crimes. Ninety-three witnesses testified at the trial, the majority travelling from Chad to be there. Survivors presented powerful testimony about torture, rape, sexual slavery, mass executions, and the destruction of entire villages.

Notably, the court convicted Habré of sexual crimes, including rape and the sexual slavery of women to serve his army.

The court also found Habré guilty of having raped Khadidja Hassan Zidane on four occasions. The court found Hassan’s testimony credible and supported by an account she gave at the time. It is the first time that an ex-dictator is found personally guilty of rape by an international court.

“Found guilty of sex crimes, including his rape of one woman, Hissène Habré’s conviction signals that no leader is above the law, and that no woman or girl is below it” said Reed Brody.

The chambers will hold a second set of hearings in June or July on damages for the civil parties and other victims.

It appears possible that Habre’s court-appointed lawyers could lodge an appeal without Habre’s consent. If an appeal is lodged, an Extraordinary African Appeals Chamber will be constituted to hear the appeal later this year.

Habre’s trial underscored the importance of universal jurisdiction, Human Rights Watch said. That principle under international law allows national courts to prosecute the most serious crimes even when committed abroad, by a foreigner, and against foreign victims. 

In March 2015, a court in Chad convicted 20 top security agents of Habré’s government on torture and murder charges.

Habré’s one-party rule was marked by widespread atrocities, including waves of ethnic cleansing. Files of Habré’s political police, the Direction de la Documentation et de la Sécurité (DDS), which were recovered by Human Rights Watch in 2001, reveal the names of 1,208 people who were killed or died in detention, and 12,321 victims of human rights violations.

The United States and France viewed Habré as a bulwark against Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, and so supported him throughout his rule despite clear evidence of his abuses against his own people. Under President Ronald Reagan, the US gave covert CIA paramilitary support to help Habré take power. 

Habré was first indicted in Senegal in 2000, but after political interference, the country’s courts said that he could not be tried there, so his victims filed a case in Belgium. In September 2005, after four years of investigation, a Belgian judge indicted Habré and Belgium requested his extradition. Senegal refused to send Habré to Belgium, and spent the next three years stalling on a request from the African Union (AU) to prosecute Habré. Belgium then filed a case against Senegal at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). On July 20, 2012, that court ordered Senegal to prosecute Habré “without further delay” or to extradite him.

After Macky Sall’s election as president of Senegal in April 2012, Senegal and the AU agreed on a plan to create the Extraordinary African Chambers to conduct the trial within the Senegalese judicial system

The chambers indicted Habré in July 2013 and placed him in pretrial custody. After a 19-month investigation, judges of the chambers found that there was sufficient evidence for Habré to face trial.

After Habré’s lawyers, following his instructions, failed to appear at the opening of the trial in July 2015, the court appointed three Senegalese lawyers to defend him and adjourned for 45 days so they could prepare. The first day back, on September 7, Habré was brought in to the court against his will, kicking and screaming. After that, he was taken into the courtroom for each session before the doors to the public opened.

Topic

• International Justice

• Français

A Senegalese court jails Chad ex-leader Hissene Habre for life for crimes against humanity, in the first African Union-backed trial of a former ruler.

As Chad's ex-ruler Hissene Habre is convicted of crimes against humanity, the BBC's Maud Jullien looks back at the landmark trial in Senegal.

A military court in Somalia sentences two men to life in prison for masterminding a bomb attack on a Daallo Airlines passenger plane in February.

May 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan Sunday has criticized a statement by the Troika countries denouncing government aerial bombardment on rebel held areas in South Kordofan state.

Sudan's foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour, addresses the general debate of the General Assembly's seventieth session on 2 October 2015 (Photo UN/Cia Pak)

In a statement released in Washington, the Sudanese Embassy to the United Sates described the joint statement as "biased" and " a repetition to negative positions that do not help to bring peace to the people of South Kordofan and Blue Niles states".

The Torika members, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United, on Saturday condemned the Sudanese government's aerial bombardment of civilians in Kauda and the Heiban areas of South Kordofan.

The three western countries said they "are appalled" by these attacks, which included the bombing of St Vincent Elementary School on 25 May.

The diplomatic mission reiterated that the government stance is to continue the dialogue process and the talks as a path to realize peace in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

"Despite their support to the Roadmap Agreement, signed by the Sudanese government alone in Addis Ababa last March, the Troika countries do not make any strong move to push these (rebel) movements sign the roadmap," the embassy added.

The Troika countries applauded the signing of the Roadmap Agreement by the government and said it represents a step forward towards peace in Sudan.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North (SPLM-N), Justice and Equality Movements (JEM), Sudan Liberation Movement - Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM), and the National Umma Party (NUP) have refused to sign peace plan saying it is not inclusive and disregards other conditions to create a conducive environment for a successful dialogue.

(ST)

May 29, 2016 (BOR) - Authorities in the newly created Boma state, one of the controversial 28 states inhabited by South Sudan's Murle, Anyuak and Kachipo ethnic groups, have alarmed sharp increase in number of boys and girls dropping out of schools as they prepare to launch a total back to school campaign in June this year.

Boma State Education Minister, Simon Korton, speaking to Sudan Tribune from his office in Pibor on 24 May 2016 (ST Photo)

The state minister of education, Simon Korton Tulki, cited security as the major cause of the decrease in the pupils populations in schools this year, besides early and forced marriages which heavily accounts for low enrolments of girls in schools as well.

The culture of Murle ethnic community in Boma state, allowed girls to be married off as earlier as the age of 15, which resulted into low girls' enrolment in schools, according to the education minister, Simon Korton Tulki.

“This habit is what we are trying to preach about so that the people abandon it because when the girl is educated, she is better than uneducated girl. Underage marriages also affect the life of the girls because they are exposed to some hardships, which they cannot manage as housewives,” he added.

According to Murle culture, young men in the villages book girls at birth, even when they are days old, by paying some heads of cattle.

A designated traditional beads which is put around the neck of a small girl, indicates which age group the husband to be belongs to. Such girls don't go to school, as they fear of being regarded as ‘spoiled' by these communities which value virginity.

“In schools, you find the girls' up to primary six and then they drop out when they reach the age of 10 and above,” said the minister.

Out of 65 candidates who sat for secondary school exams in Boma state, only one was a girl. A lot more are dropping out before reaching primary seven. Young Murle men have also been busy roaming about in the wilderness looking for cows and kids to steal.

Attempts are being made by the state ministry of education to change this perception in people's minds across the state, but little has been achieved.

“We are trying our best, but it is very hard to be accepted. They had been practising it for centuries and they had never seen or felt the effect of it. Gradually, we will continue to preach it to the communities, and slowly they will accept it. Some individuals who are living near the town have already seen the benefit,” said Korton.

He said South Sudan would be a better place to live in if “we abandon the bad culture of early marriages so that our girls and boys go to schools to learn. Educated people can change the life of this community.”

The state governor, Baba Medan, also believed that only education would change the mindset of the Murle community from child abduction and early marriages to a productive one, free from crimes.

“If you want to build a good community, if you want to have future for this state, we must put our focus on education because education is the key for everything,” said Medan.

He had special message to the parents out there, advising them to put their children to schools.

“If you want to increase the number of your cattle you have, you bring your daughter to school. If a daughter is educated, you will get 200 heads of cattle or more when she gets married. She will also support you with her salaries. But the girls in the villages who are not educated, you only get 50 heads of cattle when she gets married and she cannot support you in any way,” he added.

Boys are also believed to be leaving schools when they are initiated at the age of 16 or above, and become raiders and child abductors, practices which the governor considered to be sinful.

“If young men are educated, they will not abduct other people's children or raid cattle from other communities. This way, peace will come to this place and we will be able to explore our natural resources nicely for the development,” said Medan.

(ST)

May 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Sunday have released a number of graduates of the University of Khartoum after nearly two months of detention without charge.

A student throws stones during a confrontation with the police outside the University of Khartoum on Wednesday April 13, 2016

Mohmed Farouk Suleiman, Murtada Habani, Ibrahim Abu Samra and Ahmed Zuhair have been released on Sunday. The four were detained last April after taking part in demonstrations to protest the relocation of the historical university to construct touristism and business buildings.

Amnesty International and Human Right Watch denounced the arbitrary detention of peaceful protesters and called to release them. Different reports said they their families and lawyers had no access, increasing risks of torture.

Dozens of students mostly from the University of Khartoum and activists are still in jail since last April.

Reports say the detainees are held at the NISS office near the Shendi bus station in Khartoum North. However it was also reported that some of them are being held in unrevealed locations.

The Sudanese authorities accuse the protesters of being connected to opposition and rebel groups, saying they seek to mobilise protests to bring down the regime of President Omer al-Bashir.

Minister of Justice Awad al Nur al-Hassan Sunday refused to comment on the detention without charge of the student and activists.

Also, Interior Minister Ismat Abdel Rahman distanced himself from the issue; saying they are arrested by the NISS which is directly attached to the Sudanese presidency.

Last Wednesday families of arrested students handed over a memorandum to the minister of higher education and the university's vice chancellor, calling for their immediate release.

The letter which is co-signed by the graduates' association and student lawyers, also called to cancel the dismissal of six students and the two-year suspension of for 11 other students accused to orchestrating the protests against the sale of the university building.

(ST)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today welcomed the "historic" verdict of the special court in Senegal convicting the former President of Chad Hissène Habré of crimes against humanity, summary executions, torture and rape.

May 29, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA/JUBA) – South Sudan's armed opposition has accused Ugandan troops of allegedly crossing back into South Sudan and redeploying inside the country this week in violation of the August 2015 peace agreement which demanded their withdrawal from the territories of the world's youngest and war-ravaged nation.

There are concerns that the ongoing presence of Ugandan troops, pictured here in Jonglei capital Bor, could further escalate the crisis in South Sudan and lead to regional conflict (Getty)

A senior military official of the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) under the leadership of the First Vice President, Riek Machar, said convoys of hundreds or thousands of forces of the Ugandan People's Defense Forces (UPDF) were seen sneaking back into South Sudan on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Ugandan troops have crossed the borders back into South Sudan. We don't know about their intention. This is a serious violation of the peace agreement. They were told to withdraw, and they did, then now why should they come back? To do what again?” the anonymous senior SPLA-IO military officer, who is also a member of the Joint Monitoring Ceasefire Committee (JMCC) that monitors implementation of the permanent ceasefire and security arrangements, told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

He further explained that the Ugandan forces have allegedly re-entered South Sudan through Parjok payam in Magwi county of Eastern Equatoria state, east of the national capital, Juba, and another convoy crossed the border through Paluar payam of Keji-Keji county of the newly created Yei state of Central Equatoria, south of Juba.

Eyewitnesses in Magwi county contacted by Sudan Tribune also confirmed seeing Ugandan forces crossing the border again back into South Sudan, five months after their withdrawal from the territories of the northern neighbor.

They however said the foreign troops claimed to be hunting for suspected Uganda's opposition forces being allegedly trained inside South Sudan.

The South Sudanese peace agreement brokered by the East African regional bloc, IGAD, and signed by top rival leaders, President Salva Kiir and opposition leader, Riek Machar, only allowed Ugandan troops based in Western Equatoria under the African Union (AU) mandate to continue hunting for rebels of the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) under the leadership of Joseph Kony.

The opposition's official of the SPLA-IO said the sudden and illegal redeployment of the UPDF inside South Sudan is a violation of the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty which he also said raised suspicion about their intention this time of peace.

He said the regional and international bodies, such as IGAD, AU and the United Nations (UN) should put pressure on Uganda to withdraw its forces and stop “meddling” in the internal affairs of South Sudan.

Before the civil war, UPDF crossed the border into South Sudan days before the 15 December 2013 crisis and eventually took part in the direct combat against the opposition forces of Machar in assisting President Kiir's forces.

When strategic Bor town, the state capital of Jonglei state was overrun and captured by the opposition forces in January 2014, three weeks after eruption of the war, it took the Ugandan troops to recapture it and took control of the town for almost two years.

Thousands of Ugandan forces backed by helicopter gunships, tanks and other armoured vehicles pushed back poorly armed opposition forces, mainly of armed young civilians from the Lou-Nuer community in Jonglei state.

The troops of the southern neighbour also provided much of the security for the capital, Juba, including the airport and protection of the top leadership in the capital during the 21 months of the civil war.

Uganda argued that it sent troops in order to avoid genocide from occurring in South Sudan.

But opposition faction of the SPLA-IO accused the UPDF of instead taking side in the internal war and prolonging it.

(ST)

May 29, 2016 (WAU) - The governor of South Sudan's Wau state, Elias Waya Nyipuoch has dismissed as untrue allegations that he has bad relationship with security organs.

Governor Elias Waya addressing people in Wau upon his arrival on January 12, 2016 (ST)

is response comes a week after the former Western Bahr el Ghazal state governor, Rizik Zackaria Hassan attributed the insecurity in Wau to what he described as the bad relationship between Governor Waya and the head of security organs in the state.

"I have all the newspapers, he [Rizik] kept saying that it is my bad relation with security organs that are killing people in Wau, why should security organs kill people if their relationship with me as a person is bad, why should they kill innocent people?" he asked.

“What is other interpretation to what he is saying? Is he really agitating the security organs against me as a person,” Waya further questioned.

The Wau state governor said it was unfair for his Lol state counterpart to blame him.

“What was that good that he was doing to the security organs? When I came on 14 January this year, during the first meeting that I held with the security committee, I was able to discover that already five people had died within this short period of time. The killing did not start with my coming, it was already a continuous things,” he stressed.

Waya said insecurity in Wau started since 2012 and that Rizik's administration knew this well.

“Am now wondering, what is that bad that I have done to the security organs that he kept talking about in all interviews in the media? Is he agitating the security organs to kill the civil population or he is now agitating the security organs to kill me”? he wondered.

Sudan Tribune was unable to get an immediate reaction from the Lol state Governor.

The US-based Human Rights Watch, in a report released last week, accused the South Sudanese army of killings, raping and abducting civilians in the country's state of Wau.

(ST)

May 29, 2016 (JUBA) – Emmanuel Jieng [Dinka] Parish church service erupted into violent protest on Sunday among its members, forcing the pastor in charge of the church to declare his resignation from the church leadership.

South Sudan's First Vice President, Riek Machar, calling for reconciliation and forgiveness at St. Thomas Parish, Juba, 29 May, 2016 (ST Photo)

Emmanuel Jieng [Dinka] church, located at Hai Cinema in the South Sudan's national capital, Juba, is predominantly of Dinka Bor membership.

Pastor Joseph Makeer Achiek, according to media reports and social media comments, resigned on Sunday, 29 May, after several protesters among his church members demanded his resignation from the church leadership for inviting the First Vice President, Riek Machar, to attend the ethnic Dinka Bor church last Sunday.

The appearance of Machar, a Nuer by ethnicity, where he preached peace and reconciliation among the people of South Sudan, stunned some of the church members who walked out in protest last week.

However, on Sunday, seven days later, some of the members decided to not allow the pastor in charge, who invited Machar last week, to continue leading the church, accusing him of inviting an enemy to the church.

Angry protesters, allegedly agitated by some politicians matched to the podium inside the Emmanuel Jieng Parish and interrupted the church secretary of information while announcing the routine weekly church reports on Sunday.

An eyewitness reportedly said an unidentified protester started the match to the podium with a banner banner bearing the names of Dinka army Generals who were killed by opposition forces of Machar during the 21 years of the civil war which ended in August 2015.

The names the protesters displayed inside the church for the members to see included late Gen. Kuol Malith Reech, late Gen. Abraham Jongroor Deng and late Gen. Ajak Yek Alier who were killed in the conflict between 2013 and 2014 while commanding government troops against Machar's forces.

When the church leadership attempted to stop the man from displaying the dead Generals, other protesters stoop up in support of his action. The situation forced majority of the members of the congregation to walk out, while others tried to calm down the situation.

Security personnel had to be called in by the church leaders and arrested the protesters.

While army generals and politicians who attended the church service remained seated, the church leadership tried to calm the situation to prevent people from leaving.

Pastor Achiek then decided to announce his resignation from leading the church leadership after seeing the unbelievable situation.

The row inside the Dinka church occurred last Sunday when the First Vice President, Machar, addressed the church, encouraging their members to preach peace and reconciliation among the people of the world's youngest country and to support the implementation of the peace agreement.

It was the fourth church in four weeks which Machar visited and shared prayers with since his return to Juba on 27 April, 2016.

On Sunday, May 29, Machar also visited a fifth church, St Thomas Parish of Munuki area, in his fifth Sunday in Juba, where he also called on the congregation to embrace reconciliation and forgiveness among the divided people of South Sudan.

His press secretary, James Gatdet Dak, said that he was welcomed at the church, predominantly of Equatorians.

“His [Machar's] message about reconciliation and forgiveness was well received by the members and leadership at St Thomas Parish,” Dak told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

(ST)

May 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Director for East Africa at the German Foreign Ministry Anke Feldhusen has renewed her country's keenness to convince the opposition holdout groups to join Sudan's national dialogue process.

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

The national dialogue committees chaired by President Omer al-Bashir have finished works late February. The recommendations are waiting the approval of the General Assembly of the Secretariat General.

The visiting German diplomat on Sunday was briefed by the secretary general of the national dialogue Hashim Ali Salem on the latest developments of the dialogue conference.

In press statements following Feldhusen's meeting with Salem, German Ambassador to Khartoum Rolf Welberts said he is optimistic about the future of dialogue and peace in Sudan.

He underscored the rapid improvement of German-Sudanese relations, saying that Feldinsia was briefed by Salem on the outcome of the national dialogue conference.

Germany had signed a strategic partnership agreement with the AU High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) by the end of 2014 allowing it to work with the Sudanese parties to facilitate a process aiming to bring peace and achieve democratic transformation in the east African country.

Thanks to the German efforts, Sudanese opposition holdout groups, in a meeting held in Berlin last February, declared their readiness to participate the national dialogue preparatory meeting despite their previous reserves.

For his part, Salem said he briefed the visiting diplomat on the latest stages of the dialogue conference and the political parties, armed groups and national figures participating in it.

He pointed out that European countries became more interested in promoting relations with Sudan due to its important role in achieving security and stability in the region.

Officials from a number of European countries had recently visited the dialogue conference and were briefed by the secretary general on its latest developments.
They expressed their countries keenness to contact the opposition holdout groups to convince them to take part in the process.

Earlier this month, the British envoy to Sudan and South Sudan Matthew Cannell visited the dialogue conference and stressed his country's strong support for the dialogue and promised to lead efforts to convince the holdout opposition to join it.

Hold out opposition refuse to take part in the conference before the creation of a conducive environment and the implementation of specific confidence-building measures.

(ST)