Africa

Rescued migrants have arrived in Sicily after the boat they were in capsized on Wednesday.

Ted Dumitru, who coached four African nations and some of South Africa's top clubs, passes away at the age of 76.

A Nigerian baby girl who survived a shipwreck in the Mediterranean goes to a foster family in Sicily, after touching Italian hearts.

By James Okuk

Since the time of separation of South Sudan from the Sudan in 2011, the bilateral relations between the two countries have not become desirably institutionalized for the needed viability of co-existence and cooperation of the two neighbouring countries for ensuring peace, security, stability and prosperity in commonality. The two states have not been seen treating themselves softly with best neighbourliness foreign policies despite the fact that they are deterministically bounded by the longest inseparable geography in the region with land boundaries of about 2,158 km (according to January 1, 1956 alignment). Political leadership could be the problem because social relations of the peoples of the two states are still fine.

The souring relations between Khartoum and Juba didn't creep instantly from the blue. The ruling parties in both capitals had been fierce enemies for decades though the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) tried to tame them into partnership of making unity of the Sudan attractive, especially to South Sudanese (including the Nine Ngok Dinka Chieftaincies of Abyei Area). Because of that commitment, preparation for institutionalization of the independence of South Sudan was totally neglected by the CPA's partners because they were obliged to ‘make unity attractive.' That was why both of them were caught unaware by the overwhelming decision of the people of South Sudan not to be attracted to the politicized unity of the Sudan. The SPLM leaders in Juba found it difficult to go against the people's destiny and they had to betray their NCP partners in Khartoum who were left with no option but to absorb the shock with bitter acceptance of the result of the referendum for self-determination for the people of South Sudan in January 2011, especially after they realized that the separation project has the total backing and support of the U.S superpower and other allies in Europe and Africa.

However and after politics of unity of the Sudan was thwarted by the opposite referendum result, every other commitment that was stipulated in the CPA but remained unimplemented had to get subjected to either automatic collapse or renegotiation. Khartoum had to uncomfortably delete anything that has to do with South Sudan and Juba had to also do the same based on constitutional and sovereignty necessity. The issue of nationality, borders, currency, oil, trade, debts, assets, pensions, post-service benefits, Abyei Administration and referendum, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile popular consultations, and disengagement with the SPLM/A-North popped up to become very urgent but at the same time intricately contentious. Nothing looked sufficient to bridge the urgent gaps left in the broken Sudan and also in the new made South Sudan with its open possibilities.

For example, Juba went ahead to print its own currency and passports without consultation with Khartoum, and despite the previous gentlemen agreement that these issues shall be handled evolutionarily and coordinately so as to avoid any consequence of abrupt unilateralism. The amount of the redundant CPA's Sudanese pounds circulating in South Sudan was seen to be a danger to Sudan's economy, especially after it has loss many oil fields to South Sudan. Hence, Khartoum decided abruptly too to change its currency to a new pound while disqualifying the old one it used to share with Juba. South Sudanese working in Sudan had to get fired. A threat of conflict and aggression became eminent. The border movements had to get restricted and sometimes closed, especially after the Sudan People's Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-North) in the areas of Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile went into war with Khartoum to add to Darfuri rebels.

Nevertheless, the nature of the possible war by then between Khartoum and Juba wasn't the same as the previous civil wars (e.g., Anya-nya and SPLM/A) because of the new reality that the warring parties were ruling two separate independent countries that are already recognized legitimately by the United Nations, the African Union and other international bodies and individual countries. The two countries have also recognized each other's independence when they opened their respective embassies in Juba and Khartoum and exchanged resident Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassadors. Such war, if allowed to be fully conducted, would no longer be an internal affair. Regional and International intervention was eminent. Thus, the AU had to take it upon itself to mediate for negotiations through a High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) chaired by the former South African President, Thabo Mbeki and with Abdulsalam Alhaji Abubakar (former Nigerian President) and Pierre Buyoya (former Burundian President) as core members.

The AUHIP led by these peer of former presidential elders and advised by some experts on Sudan and South Sudan (like Alex de Waal) tried to contain the situation though tensions over the post-CPA and post-independence issues continued unabated. To make things worst, the SPLM's regime in Juba decided to shut-in oil production in January 2012 when the resource makes up over 90% of the government budget and expenditure. The core justification was that Khartoum was taking and taping out secretly the crude oil from South Sudan without permission from Juba. In retaliation, the NCP's regime in Khartoum decided to close down the regular borders movements of the people and tradable goods along South Sudan. In April 2012 the two countries went for a brief but deadly war over the lucrative Heglig (known originally as Panthou) oil facility that has been managed by Khartoum while claimed by Juba. The UN Secretary-General, U.S President and other allies mounted a pressure on Juba to leave Heglig to Khartoum. Juba was left with no power to cement itself but withdraw from the contested area with regrettable costs to many lives of soldiers.

But the accusations of each side for supporting rebel's activities to topple each others' regimes became intensified with smearing and rhetorical propaganda. The Sudan Parliament went as far as declared Juba as “an enemy state”. The First Vice President of the Sudan issued orders to shoot-and-kill any person found smuggling goods at the border and to confiscate the caught trucks and other properties from such betrayers.

The post-independence negotiations got stalled until breaking news came later when Presidents Omar Hassan al-Bashir and Salva Kiir Mayardit were invited to Addis Ababa by the AUHIP to be direct participants of the September 27, 2012 agreements between their respective countries. These were:
1) The Cooperation Agreement signed by Presidents Kiir and al-Bashir themselves (confirming commitment to common viability and other bilateral agreements);
2) Security Arrangements Agreement signed by the Ministers of Defence, H.E. John Kong Nyuon for South Sudan and H.E. Lt. Gen (PSC) Eng. Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein for the Sudan (to demilitarize the border, starting with 10-crossing corridors)
3) The Border Issues Agreement (including demarcation and Zero-Points identification);
4) The Framework Agreement on the status of Nationals of the other state and Related Matters (e.g. Interior Ministers chairing negotiations of details of implementation of the Four Freedoms: to Reside, to Move, to conduct Economic Activity, and to Own Property);
5) The Framework Agreement to Facilitate Payment of Post-Service Benefits (to establish principles and mechanisms that ensure uninterrupted, timely and convenient payment arrangements for the retired or pensioned citizens of either state);
6) The Agreement on Certain Economic Matters (Division of Assets and Liabilities, Arrears and Claims and Joint Approach to the International Community to erase Khartoum's debts while it shoulders Juba's share but with no division of assets as a condition);
7) The Agreement on Oil and Related Economic Matters (Waiving the arrears, Resumption of South Sudan Oil Production, Transit through Sudan and Transitional Financial Arrangements, all costing USD 24.5 per a barrel for 42 months so as to enable Sudan to diversify its economy for resilience after losing many oil fields to South Sudan);
8) The Agreement on Trade and Trade Related Issues (pursuing independent trade policy while considering the possibility of common policies and adhering to policies of regional and international organizations to which each state belong); and
9) The Agreement on a Framework for Cooperation on Central Banking Issues (acknowledging the need for cooperation in the management of monetary and fiscal policies to maintain confidence and control inflation that could destabilize exchange rate due to fluctuations, and continuing to adhere to international finance and banking standards).

The rest of the seven agreements were all signed by the Chief Negotiators of the two countries (H.E. Pagan Amum Okiech for South Sudan and H.E. Idris Abdel Gadir for the Sudan). For operational institutionalization, the National Legislative Assemblies of the two countries had to cordially ratify them within 45 days from the time of signature so that the necessary mechanisms for effective monitoring would get established in addition to regular or extraordinary Heads of the two States Summits, Ministerial Meetings and Technical Committees (and Sub-Committees) Meetings.

Some mechanisms commenced as expected but got slowed down later by the tsunamic change of cabinet in Juba in July 2013 and the resultant outbreak of mid-December 2013 crisis of the deadly SPLM/A's leadership struggle. Though Khartoum tried to portray itself as neutral, Kampala direct intervention to take side with Juba in the war against Dr. Riek Machar' rebellion provoked the NCP' regime to rethink its September 2012 rapprochement despite the fact that one of the IGAD's Mediation Envoys (i.e, Gen. Ahmed Mohamed al-Dabi) was a Sudanese Government's nominee while Uganda was totally knocked out from the mediation as a result of objection by the SPLM/A-IO. The counter accusations and suspicion of maliciousness of one country against the other continued.

Notwithstanding, the August 2015 Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) made Khartoum to be hopeful a bit with a hope of bettering relations with Juba. President al-Bashir, and as a member of IGAD's Summit of Heads of State and Government, appended his signature on the deal as a guarantor in the company of other Presidents and Prime Ministers of the bloc who also signed the peace document as guarantors in Addis Ababa. But before signing H.E. al-Bashir voiced out his protest on the continuous use of the name “Sudan Liberation Movement/Army” by the warring parties while South Sudan is no longer part of the whole Sudan that the SPLM intended to liberate in the past against the Islamic and Arabized injustices. Khartoum was keenly interested in the ARCSS so that the Sudan could gain from the stability in South Sudan, especially if Chapter II is implemented in letter and spirit as provided in article 1.5 for the withdrawal of Ugandan Forces from South Sudan within 45 days (except in Western Equatoria due to the previous agreement on hunting the LRA before the outbreak break of mid-December 2013 crisis), and also as stipulated in article 1.6 for disarmament, demobilization and repatriation of Sudanese Revolutionary Forces (SPLM-North, JEM, SLA-Minnawi, SLA-Abdel Wahid) within the pre-transitional period by the state actors with whom they have been supporting.

This could be the crux of the matter why Khartoum sent a chilling decision in mid-March 2016 to treat South Sudanese nationals as aliens and close the border for security reasons. Fast steps that have been taken by Juba to get admitted into the East African Community might have also hastened the vile of Khartoum to decide the way it did. Khartoum might have gotten worried of not harvesting the fruits of ARCSS as its implementation is over-delaying while time is running out. With no Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) in place and effectively operational in Juba, defeating and destroying the Sudan rebels' forces shall remain a nightmare to the NCP's regime. But again, pushing Juba to disarm, demobilize and repatriate the Sudanese Revolutionary forces is not an easy project to pursue because it has a tremendous cost to lives, properties and finance of South Sudanese. Perhaps, if the AUHIP manages to strike a peace deal between the Sudan rebels and Khartoum, that could be the only safer exit by Juba from that trap.

Khartoum doesn't trust the SPLM-Juba because of its connection to the rebels of the Sudan and also to President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, despite his two-day bilateral visit to Sudan in September 2015 where it was highlighted that there shall be renewed cooperation between them in security, intelligence and defence matters. Kampala has been accusing Khartoum of harbouring the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) of Joseph Kony in a remote area in Darfur region and assisting them with arms. Nonetheless, Khartoum has been appreciating Kampala for restricting activities of Sudanese rebels who used to hold meetings in Uganda and get arms through it. That could be part of the motivation why President al-Bashir took the risk of ICC's Warranty of Arrest and travelled to Uganda on May 12, 2016 for Inauguration of President Museveni's fifth term of presidency and further discussion on bilateral ties even with protests by US, Canadian and some European Governments.

It seems probable that the recurrent chilling bilateral relations between Khartoum and Juba shall not get eased unless there is peace in both countries. The positive moves towards revitalization of the delayed ARCSS implementation shall make Khartoum to slow-down and monitor the new political developments. The suspension of operationalization of hullabaloo of the 28 states until a political consensus is reached as directed in the January 2016 Communiqué of IGAD's Council of Ministers, may also cool the nerves of Khartoum to be patient and improve the bilateral ties with Juba. Not only these but also if the development partners and rest of international community come to aid of Juba for easing the dire humanitarian situation and rescuing the collapsing economy, Khartoum may reconsider its arrogant attitude towards Juba. The NCP plotters could get tamed more if the TGoNU sent to Khartoum a very high-level delegation composing of prominent representatives of the four principal parties to the ARCSS to discuss the hot issues with President al-Bashir and his cabinet. Their negative attitude towards Juba may subside immediately with Abyei becoming a bridge between the two countries as dreamt by veteran Ambassador Francis M. Deng.

The result of that unique visit shall speed up the paralyzed progress of the required missing ministerial and technical committees for the proper institutionalization of the specific instruments of implementing the signed bilateral agreements or renegotiating them. The normalized cordial relations between Juba and Khartoum shall enable both countries to venture into unsuspicious joint activities for rebuilding the two states with common prosperous viability. Some of the marginalized professional South Sudanese diplomats shall be willing to help and use the nuance they have had within the Sudanese diplomacy so as to generate fruitful gains within the context of sustainable peace and desirable neighborliness as stipulated in the constitutional principles of the two countries.

Thus, the key to ending the unending Khartoum-Juba diplomatic, security and economic rows or show-downs is to properly institutionalize the bilateral relations and cement it with concrete mutual interests that each state will be sensitive to compromise at any cost. Diplomacy and international relations is supposed to be based on the premise that isolation is not an option but interdependence with keen understanding and skilful management of sophistication of the globalization process.

It is high time the TGoNU prioritizes a reformed and transformed South Sudanese diplomacy in order to protect invigoratingly the national interests and safeguard the territorial integrity; identify and level the extent of cooperation or competition with others; preserve the national security and stability and contribute in doing the same to the region and the world at large; cement the development of core national economic, social and political objectives; and motivate the influential positive actors while neutralizing the negative ones.

Dr. James Okuk is lecturer of politics reachable at okukjimy@hotmail.com

Zamalek will now complete their Egyptian Premier League season, having said on Wednesday they were withdrawing over "disastrous refereeing errors".

South Africans are wondering how serious President Jacob Zuma is about austerity after it emerged this week that the state had spent about 8.6m rand ($550,000; £374,000) on new cars for his wives over the past three years, writes the BBC's Milton Nkosi.

May 25, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Tens of relatives of students arrested by the Sudanese security service have protested at the office of the vice chancellor of the Khartoum University on Wednesday demanding their immediate release.

Families of detained students sit in outside the Khartoum University Vice Chancellor on 25 May 2016 (ST Photo)

Earlier this month, Vice Chancellor relieved six students and suspended 11 others for their alleged role in April protests against the relocation of the university buildings.

Following this decision, on May 5, armed men in plain clothes of Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service stormed into the office of the lawyer Nabil Adeeb in Khartoum and arrested dozens of students who hired him to challenge the dismissal decision.

On Wednesday tens of the students' families have handed over a memorandum to the minister of the higher education and the vice chancellor to protest the in which they described the penalties against the students as unfair.

The memo, which was supported by the university's teachers, the graduates association and the students lawyers, said that in addition to the punishments” the Vice Chancellor of the University of Khartoum made outrageous rumours against the students, a matter that paved the way for the security service to arrest and torture them”.

The signatories to the memo have held the university officials responsible for the safety of the students, saying that the case would not take that course if the university adopted wisdom and constructive dialogue and committed to the laws.

They further called them to reach the security service to ensure the immediate release of the students, urging the university administration to reverse the dismissal decisions.

The students started legal actions against the merits of the university's vice chancellor dismissal decision but they were surprised by the security service raid at the lawyer's office, the memo said.

The students were brutally beaten before taken to unknown place inaccessible to their families and lawyers” the memo added.

The memo has blamed external bodies for the crises of the university, pointing out that the protection of the independence of the university's institutions is essential to solve the university crisis.

Human Rights Watch issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the continued arrest without charges of the Sudanese university students.

"If the authorities have credible evidence that any of those detained have committed legitimate offenses, they should have already charged the detainees. Anyone not already charged should be released pending any potential charges the authorities intend to bring", Human Rights Watch said.

The international rights group pointed that the Sudanese security services have "repeatedly and violently cracked down on protests, including in September and October 2013, when security forces killed more than 170 protesters".

(ST)

May 25, 2016 (JUBA) – Current sittings of the former national legislative assembly of South Sudan are illegal following formation of new unity government which should have reconstituted new parliament, said officials of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO).

The opposition faction also said their leadership has been committed to peace and cooperated in its implementation, including the urgent need to reconstitute the parliament in accordance with the August 2015 peace agreement.

“We have a new transitional government of national unity, being executive, since 29 April. There should have been a reconstituted new inclusive transitional national legislative assembly from that day. This would have included memberships of opposition factions,” James Gatdet Dak, press secretary of the SPLM-IO's leader, Riek Machar, told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

“This has not happened and the former parliament of pre-transitional unity government has continued to illegally operate alongside the new executive organ,” he said.

Dak said mode of electing new speaker as well as who should chair the first sitting during which the speaker should be elected from lawmakers from Equatoria region have delayed reconstitution of the new parliament.

He said while the SPLM-IO was for secret ballot votes in electing the speaker and that the oldest Member of Parliament should be best suited to chair the sitting, the former government was for show of hand in voting and for the current speaker, Manasseh Magok Rundial, to chair the first sitting.

“But the most serious violation or inconsistency as the parliament is concerned is the ongoing illegal sitting of the former parliament of the former government when a new government is in place,” he said.

The SPLM-IO's leadership, he added, was of the view that the sittings should have been suspended until the contentious issues were addressed by the new government and a new national parliament reconstituted which could now sit under new inclusive membership and speakership.

On Monday, for instance, he said the old parliament of President Salva Kiir's faction unilaterally deliberated on and ratified a document which made South Sudan a member of the East African Community (EAC).

He said such an important decision affecting the future of the whole country should have been delayed to be discussed by the new transitional unity parliament.

Dak also said the former parliament has continued to summon national ministers of the new unity government to present to its sittings in violation of the peace agreement.

The Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS), which the parties signed in August 2015 to end 21 months of civil war, has called on the parties to form a new unity government, including new parliament with membership from all the peace partners.

He said the SPLM-IO's leadership is committed to the implementation of the peace agreement as signed to end the suffering of the people, but added that there is need for reciprocity from the other partner.

Dak reiterated other challenges including lack of resolution on the status of the 28 states unilaterally created by former government against the peace deal which was based on the country's 10 states.

Refusal by President Kiir's faction in the cabinet to agree on cantonment of opposition forces in Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal regions is another stumbling block, he said.

NO OFFICE FOR MACHAR

Dak also revealed that the SPLM-IO's chairman, Riek Machar, who was appointed as First Vice President in the transitional government of national unity has not yet been given office to operate from.

Machar, he said, has been operating officially from his temporary prefab residence behind Jebel Kujur, about 6kms west of Juba city center or the presidential palace, and would only come to the government's premises or meeting hall in the city when there was cabinet meeting or to attend other official meetings involving other ministers or senior foreign dignitaries.

Several ministers appointed from the SPLM-IO, he added, have no cars to take them to work as cars used by the former ministers were nowhere to be found and no new cars have been provided for them.

He said some of the new ministers have been forced by the situation to hire vehicles or share hired cars for official transportation.

(ST)

May 25, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese government Wednesday said the implementation of the cooperation agreement is indivisible and cannot be selective, ahead of meeting with South Sudanese officials to be held in Addis and Khartoum.

South Sudan's defence minister Kuol Manyang Juuk shakes hands with his Sudanese counterpart Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Ouf while AUHIP member Abdulsalam Abubakar applauds, after the signing of an agreement to operationalize the buffer zone between the two countries on 14 October 2015 (Courtesy photo by the AUHIP).

These statements come as a South Sudanese high level delegation led by the South Sudanese Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk is expected in Khartoum on 7 June to discuss the implementation of the eight agreements and security arrangements particularly.

The eight agreements brokered by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) include oil transit, security arrangements, four freedoms and border demarcation are signed on 27 September 2012.

In Khartoum, the coordination committee between the different panels tasked with the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement held a meeting chaired by the Sudanese Vice President Hasabo Abdel Rahman.

"The meeting stressed that the Cooperation Agreement does not accept division and selectivity. Its eight agreement must be enforced simultaneously" said the State Minister at the Sudanese presidency Haroun al-Rashid after the meeting.

He further called on the South Sudanese government to accelerate the works of it various committees to reach an agreement.

Since four year, the two countries have failed to implement the eight agreements except that one on the oil transit fees.

As it accuses Juba of supporting Sudanese rebels, Khartoum insists on the need to operaltionalize the demilitarized zone and to deploy the joint patrols in line with the security arrangements agreement.

Al-Rashid said the different subcommittees presented their reports on the implementation of the signed agreements. Also, the meeting discussed the needed efforts to reactivate the work with their counterpart bodies in South Sudan.

He added that the meeting discussed the ongoing preparations to hold the meeting of the Joint Political and Security Committee (JPSC) next month in Khartoum and the meeting of the Joint Border Demarcation Committee which will be held in Addis Ababa at the end of this month.

Earlier this year Sudan decided unilaterally to open border and allow cross border trade but two months later decided to suspend it and renewed accusations against Juba.

(ST)

May 25, 2016 (JUBA/NAIROBI) – South Sudan's top army commanders should thoroughly investigate abuses committed by its forces, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable, a United States-based human rights body said in a new report.

Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) jump off the back of a truck while on patrol in the capital, Juba, following the December 2013 outbreak of violence (Photo: Reuters)

“They should know that they too could face international and criminal sanctions if they don't take concrete action in accordance with the law,” Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report issued Wednesday.

According to the rights body, South Sudan government soldiers carried out a wide range of often-deadly attacks on civilians in and around the country's town of Wau.

The soldiers, it alleged, killed, tortured, raped, and detained civilians and looted and burned down homes in the attacks.

Abuses in the Western Bahr el Ghazal region reportedly took place during government counterinsurgency operations that intensified after a peace deal was signed last year.

The attacks, the rights body stressed, underscored the need for the national unity government to take immediate steps toward accountability for crimes by all warring parties since the start of South Sudan's conflict in mid-December 2013.

“With all eyes on the new national unity government in Juba, government soldiers have been literally getting away with murder in the country's western regions,” said Bekele.

“The new government should immediately call a halt to the abuse, free all arbitrarily detained civilians, and support the creation of a war crimes court that can investigate and prosecute those responsible, including at the highest levels of authority,” he added.

ARMY DISMISSES REPORT

A spokesperson for the national army, Brig. Gen Lul Ruai Koang, said the report was “bias, one sided and heavily relied on incredible eye witnesses to draw conclusions”.

He instead said his office would provide graphic evidences proving that “horrific”crimes were indeed committed against innocent civilians by the “criminals and bandits”.

“These are crimes that HRW either deliberately, out of ignorant or in haste failed to mention in its report as some of the most terrible and heartbreaking crimes committed by unlawful combatants we have been battling,” said Koang.

“It's good to underscore that it takes two to tangle,” he added.

The report says newly deployed, mostly Dinka, soldiers from the South Sudanese army allegedly attacked ethnic Fertit civilians in villages and neighborhoods of the town of Wau.

The abuses, it said, forced tens of thousands of people to flee, leaving villages and entire neighborhoods empty, which it found during a research mission to Wau in April.

The rights body claimed it documented numerous killings, most of which were reportedly committed by SPLA soldiers.

Since late 2015, it said, local authorities, including the governor of the newly created Wau state, Elias Waya Nyipuoch, and community leaders have been reporting the spate of abuses to the army and other government officials.

No steps, the US-based rights body said, were taken to investigate these abuses.

The new transitional government of national unity, Human Rights Watch said, should ask the African Union to promptly establish the hybrid tribunal envisioned in the August 2015 peace agreement to try serious crimes in South Sudan.

“National authorities should also investigate and fairly prosecute human rights violations. The UN peacekeeping mission should also report publicly on the abuses and the government's response,” further says the new report.

(ST)

May 25, 2016 (JUBA) - The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, Eugene Owusu, has strongly condemned the tragic killing of Sister Veronika Racková, a Slovakian nun and medical doctor who was shot last week in Yei River state.

Deputy head of UN mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Eugene Owusu (YouTube Photo)

The nun, who was on a humanitarian mission, died at a hospital in Kenya.

“I am deeply saddened by this senseless act and send my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Sister Veronika Racková,” Owusu said in a statement.

“I welcome steps being taken by the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and urge them to act swiftly,” it adds.

The deceased was reportedly driving an ambulance on her way back from a medical centre when she was attacked.

Her death, Owusu stressed, brings to 54 the number of aid workers killed in South Sudan since mid-December 2013.

“Violence against humanitarian workers and humanitarian assets is categorically unacceptable and must stop,” he said.

Owusu urged the Transitional Government of National Unity to endeavour to strengthen the safety and security environment for aid workers and intensively work with them.

(ST)

May 25, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim Ghandour has expected a breakthrough in relations with Washington and vowed to resolve security issues with neighbouring countries.

John Kerry (R) shakes hands with the Sudan's FM Ibrahim Ghandour as they pose for photos at the Palace Hotel in New York, October 2, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Stephanie Keith)

Ghandour, who spoke in his ministry's regular media forum Wednesday, described the United States as “friend and foe”, saying the latter has imposed an unjustified and unjust sanctions on Sudan.

He stressed however that the dialogue between Khartoum and Washington wouldn't stop, saying his government will “knock on all doors until they open up”.

The top diplomat added that Washington's hostile attitude towards Sudan is unjustifiable, pointing to the great efforts made by his government to achieve peace in Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile.

He further pointed that the sanctions would be “eroded” if the U.S. didn't lift it.

“I'm neither optimistic nor pessimistic about the relationship between Sudan and the U.S. and I expect that relations between Khartoum and Washington would experience a breakthrough,” he said.

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.

Sudan says Washington didn't honour its pledges to lift Sudan from the United States list of state sponsors of terrorism after the independence of South Sudan and kept sanctions for political reasons.

But Washington says Khartoum has to end the armed conflict in South Darfur and Blue Nile states and to settle Darfur crisis.

AFRICAN, ARAB AND NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

Meanwhile, Ghandour said his ministry seeks to resolve Sudan's problems with neighbouring countries in order to maintain secure and evolving ties with them.

He pointed that relations with Ethiopia and Eritrea have reached the stage of full coordination besides the continuous coordination with Chad and Central African Republic (CAR), saying they are keen to maintain special ties with South Sudan.

Ghandour also underscored his government keenness to maintain peaceful relations with Libya, pointing to Khartoum's support for the legitimate and internationally recognized government headed by Faiz al-Siraj.

He said that Sudan is among the few countries that didn't close down their embassies in Tripoli.
The top diplomat further revealed that the Libyan foreign minister would visit Khartoum soon to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Libya's internationally recognised government has persistently accused Sudan of providing weapons to Islamist militias in collaboration with Qatar.

Concerning the Sudanese-Egyptian relations, Ghandour emphasized that Halayeb is a Sudanese territory, saying the dispute over the triangle wouldn't adversely impact on the strategic relations between the two countries.

The Sudanese top diplomat pointed to the improving foreign relations with the African countries and described it as “distinguished”.

He said the African nations have rendered their support to Sudan in various issues including the economic sanctions imposed on Sudan by Washington and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The ICC has two outstanding arrest warrants against President Omer al-Bashir since 2009 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Darfur conflict.

The Sudanese top diplomat added that Sudan is part of a large Arab coalition, saying his government enjoys strong ties with its brotherly Arab nations who support his country in all crucial issues.

EUROPE, LATIN AMERICA AND CHINA

Ghandour said the Sudanese-European relations have recently witnessed remarkable openness following his meeting with a number of European Union (EU) officials in Brussels.

“There is a remarkable openness [in relations] … I'm not saying that our relations with Europe are excellent but the icebergs between us and some of the European countries have begun to melt and we only have to swim towards each other,” he said.

However, the top diplomat pointed to various obstacles that hinder improvement of ties with some of the European countries particularly Britain, saying Sudan's relations with the latter is not as desired.

He further mentioned the good relations with Italy, Germany and Australia, saying they intended to open a consulate in Sydney to serve more than 35,000 Sudanese nationals residing there.

Ghandour also pointed to Sudan's keenness to maintain good ties with Latin American countries, saying they intend to open embassies in Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina.

He described his country's relationship with China as strategic, pointing to Beijing's support for Sudan in the UN Security Council as well as its leading role in the Sudanese economy.

UNITED NATIONS

Meanwhile, Ghandour pointed to Sudan's important role in the regional and semi-regional organizations, saying they sought to strengthen foreign relations via 83 consulates and embassies around the globe.

He attributed the recent decision to not renew the stay permit of the head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Khartoum Ivo Freijsen to the latter's lack of coordination with the government and his incorrect reports on the situation in the country.

“This UN official (Freijsen ) has said that Sudan is experiencing a famine … have you heard about a famine in the country?” he wondered.

“Despite the fact that this UN official has distorted Sudan's image, he wasn't expelled but [we] refused to renew his stay permit,” he added.

Earlier this week, the UN said the Sudanese authorities declined to renew a permit for the head of OCHA, saying he was being effectively expelled from the country.

Concerning the UN resolution 2265, Ghandour said the resolution pertains to the mandate of the Panel of Experts monitoring Darfur's sanctions, saying it continued to be renewed annually since 2005 however Britain and the US attempted this year to propose some items to prevent the export of gold from the region.

He said the experts leaked the report to a US magazine before it is being presented to the Security Council in order to exert further pressures on Sudan, pointing that China, Russia, Egypt, Venezuela, Senegal, Angola and other nations voted against the proposal.

On 10 February 2016, the Security Council approved the resolution 2265 and renewed until 12 March 2017 the mandate of the Panel of Experts monitoring sanctions imposed on those behind instability in Darfur.

The mandate of the Panel, supports the implementation of the resolution 1591 (2005) imposing an arms embargo on the warring parties in Sudan and sanctions on (assets freeze and a travel ban) on designated individuals.

On the other hand, Ghandour renewed his government's demand for the exit of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID), saying the region is currently enjoying peace and stability.

He pointed that Burkina Faso has ordered to withdraw its troops from the mission following a similar decision by South Africa.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

May 25, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – An Italian giant construction company, Salini Impregilo, announced that it has signed a contract agreement with Ethiopia to build a new hydroelectric power plant worth €2.5 billion.

The client Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) awarded the new power plant project which will be constructed in the country's south on the lower bank of Gibe River.

The New mega project known as the Koysha dam will have an installed capacity of 2,200 MW.

According to Salini, the project includes a 170 meter high rolled compacted concrete (RCC) dam; the reservoir volume is 6000 million cubic meters will have an annual power generation capacity of 6,460 GWh.

The new contract agreement with the Italian firm comes few months after Ethiopia secured a finance grant from an Italian credit firm that will fund the project.

Sources told Sudan Tribune that an Italian financial firm called Servizi Assicuative del Commerce Estero (SACE) will fund the giant power plant project.

A high-level Ethiopian delegation has previously travelled to Italy to ink the finance deal with Servizi Assicuative del Commerce Estero.

The horn of Africa's nation is investing billions of dollars by utilizing its rivers in a bid to boost the country's energy supply.

The country is building a number of hydro-electric power plants including what would be Africa's largest Dam known as Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam (GERD) which will have 8.000 MW electric generating capacity.

GERD which is being constructed along the Nile River in the Benshangul Gumz region near the Sudanese border is currently over 50 percent complete.

The Ethiopian government says construction of the massive dam project will transform the country's vision to become the hub for the renewable energy in Africa.

In a recent parliament session, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, told MPs that the country's desire to tap several rivers for power generation is part of plan to boost manufacturing and industrialization and transform its agrarian economy.

Salini Impregilo, in a short statement it issued at its website said the new project (Koysha dam) together with GIBE III and GERD (the Grand Renaissance Dam) on the Blue Nile will enable Ethiopia to become Africa's leader in terms of energy production.

“The Country has been rapidly growing for many years now, and will soon become the driving force of the African continent” it said.

It added that the mega infrastructure projects that have characterized the past few years not only would sustain the country's growth, but also contribute to achieving the goal of transforming Ethiopia into Africa's energy hub.

Ethiopia, which hopes to become a middle income nation by 2025, intends to become a leading power exporter in the East African region and beyond.

Currently, Ethiopia exports hydro-power processed electricity to its neighbours: Kenya, Sudan and Djibouti.

(ST)

May 25, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Priest of Holy Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in South Darfur capital, Nyala, Gabriel Anthony, in his first statements since his release Tuesday said he had not been subjected to physical torture throughout the duration of his abduction.

Priest of Holy Mary Coptic Orthodox Church in Nyala, Gabriel Anthony (ST Photo)

On 14 April, three offenders riding a four-wheel drive vehicle "Land Cruiser" kidnapped Anthony, in front of his poultry farm near Atash camp for displaced persons. On Tuesday, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in South Darfur managed to free Anthony from his kidnappers.

Dozens of the followers of the Orthodox Church accompanied by NISS officers have received Anthony Wednesday in Khartoum.

Anthony told reporters upon his arrival that the abduction experience was tough saying he missed his family however he didn't elaborate on how he has been freed from his kidnappers.

The Coptic Orthodox Church in Khartoum is expected to decide later on whether Anthony will be allowed to return to Nyala or not after considering the details of the incident and its possible developments.

Nyala is the home of hundreds of Sudanese Copts since 70 years ago. Also, the Sudanese Coptic Church is officially recognized, and exempt from property tax.

NISS representative Abdallah al-Sharif pointed that they dealt with the incident as top priority, saying they determined Anthony's location since the first day of abduction but decided to take the necessary measures slowly to preserve his safety.

In a press conference held in Nyala Tuesday to announce the liberation of the priest, South Darfur Governor Adam al-Faki praised the efforts exerted by the security service to secure his release but he didn't elaborate on the conditions of his freedom or the identity of the kidnappers.

South Darfur has witnessed over the last two years a wave of kidnapping, murder and looting which prompted state authorities to declare an indefinite emergency situation and impose a daily curfew in 2014.

The decision also banned riding of motorcycles by more than one person, holding weapons while wearing civilian clothes, vehicles driving around without license plates, and wearing a kadamool (a turban which covers the face).

During the recent visit of President Omer al-Bashir to Nyala, the Governor Adam al-Faki promised to lift the state of emergency soon after the improvement of the security situation.

(ST)

May 25, 2016 (JUBA) – Lectures of various universities in South Sudan have begun to go on strike on Wednesday, 25 May, over unpaid salaries for three months as the government has failed to secure money.

The strike, which has no limited period until the matter is resolved, began on Monday and may go on until the Ministry of Finance has settled the payment of three months of salaries.

According to Philip Finish Apollo, member of the academic staff at Juba University, he told the media that the salaries include allowance of medical coverage, annual air tickets as well as higher education employees in the new salary adjustment.

The affected universities which lecturers have gone on the strike include Juba University, Bahr el Ghazel University, Upper Nile University, John Garang University and Rumbek University.

Minister of higher education, whose institution is responsible for paying the lecturers their salaries, however said the lecturers had the right to strike if there was no money to pay them.

Peter Adwok Nyaba, a new minister of the transitional government of national unity who took up his position only three weeks ago, and represents the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), said he had nothing to do to pay the three months of salary arrears as he got the ministry without money.

Nyaba blamed the situation on the previous governments, which he said, had been “stealing” the money for the past 10 years.

"I told lecturers that going on strike is their right because there is a contract. I think the situation is going to get worse and worse,” he lamented in the media on Wednesday.

He said the transitional government has not been effective for the past three weeks, explaining that there have been only two cabinet meetings while challenges to resolve are so huge.

(ST)

A couple of campers describe the moment three lions explored their campsite and licked their tent.

Ethiopia's rescue mission after cross-border kidnapping

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed profound concern over reports of increasing political tensions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) linked to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the country’s electoral process.

By Manyang David Mayar

Last Sunday, Riek Machar boldly walked to the alter at St. Emanuel Parish, a church mainly of Dinka-Bor congregation, and got hold of the microphone and started to speak. Some of the Christians got irritated, some were surprised and a sense of confusion filled the church. The drama quickly spread out and now still remained as one of the biggest conversations you can hear at tea places under trees, under Amaraat in Juba and in social media platforms.

The main concern of those debates was whether it was a right thing for the church to allow Riek Machar into the Holy House or not and whether it was a right time and place for Riek Machar to speak to Bor people about peace. Members of the public have different opinions about that but one thing I have noted is a confusion on how people looked at Riek and how Riek looked at himself in front of his audiences.

After fighting a war that killed several vulnerable people across the country in Bor including those women in the church, did Riek see himself like a winner in front of the Jieng (Dinka) people? To better understand this, you have to study the speech he delivered in the church.

Did he say sorry for what had happened? No. Did he apologize for any damage the war has caused to the people not only in Bor but across the country? No. What did he say? He only narrated his exit from Juba and blamed Salva Kiir for the Tiger trigger. And now that he is back, it is time for peace and reconciliation. Full stop. No recognition of the mistakes and deaths. And that to my observation make Riek to still see himself in his own eyes like a winner. Especially now that he is back in Juba and holding the second most powerful position in the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGONU).
But to the congregation whose relatives and people they know were killed by Riek forces in Bor, Riek is a sinner. And for that reason, many people think Riek shouldn't have been allowed to go even closer to the first row in the church leave alone standing at the alter and addressing Christians. So in the situation where Riek sees himself like a winner and people see him like a sinner, where does peace belong?

Peace is always at the heart of those who are quick to say sorry and at the heart of those who are quick to forgive. But dilemma comes in when one party fails to say sorry. What does the offended do in that case? The Bible tells us to release such people in our hearts so that our relationship with God can be good. Not because you like what the person did to you but because the Bible says God will do the fighting when you forgive. If we understand these Biblical Concepts as Christians, then Riek Machar visit last Sunday shouldn't be of a big confusion. And only then can peace, concrete and true peace be achieved in this country.

Manyang.davidmayar@gmail.com

Despite an uncertain global economic landscape, Africa’s prospects are positive, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, urging the continent’s leaders to use recent gains to address rising social and economic inequalities.