Africa

August 18, 2021 (ANKARA) - Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday proposed to mediate a brotherly solution to the border dispute between Sudan and Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was in Ankara for a one-day working visit where he held talks with President Erdogan. Also, officials from the two countries signed a number of deals including military framework and military financial agreements.

Following the signing ceremony, the Turkish president pointed to the need for stability in Ethiopia and offered to mediate a solution for the Tigray conflict and the border tensions with Sudan.

He underscored that the continuation of the armed conflict in the northern part of Ethiopia will affect the whole region before adding that Turkey is ready to contribute to finding a solution to the crisis in Tigray.

Further, the Turkish leader mentioned the current tensions with Sudan over the Fashaga area saying that Ankara is also prepared to broker an amicable solution for the border dispute.

"I have already raised the issue with Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of Sudan," added Erdogan referring to the recent three-day visit of the head of the Transitional Sovereign Council Ankara.

Earlier this year, Ethiopia claimed ownership of the Fashaga border area and called for talks to demarcate the border between the two countries.

In return, Sudan rejected the claim and called to place border markers based on previous agreements reached in 1902, 1903 and 1975.

The United Arab Emirates sought to mediate between the two countries and proposed to establish agricultural projects in the area involving farmers from the two countries but Sudan stressed that Ethiopia has first to accept the implementation of the signed border demarcation first.

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The BBC is told they were forced to fight for Tigray's rebels, but were words put into their mouths?

August 17, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Islamist Popular Congress Party (PCP) in Sudan, founded by the late Islamic leader Hassan al-Turabi, welcomed the Taliban movement's seizure of power in Afghanistan.

After the collapse of the al-Bashir regime, the transitional government banned the participation of its allies in the transitional institutions.

The ongoing development in Afghanistan gives the Sudanese Islamists an opportunity to portray the Taliban as an inspiring movement, despite their bad historical record in their country and the negative outcome of 30 years of Islamist rule in Sudan.

“The Popular Congress congratulates the Islamic nation, the Afghan people, the Taliban Movement and all the free people of the world on the victory of the Taliban Movement and the realization of the aspirations of the Afghan people to gain freedom and defeat the usurping authority in Afghanistan backed by the U.S. and Western colonial powers,” said the PCP.

The Islamist party said that this victory comes after a long struggle to prove to the world that the people's will “will not be defeated by material and human power, no matter how great it is”.

The Taliban spokesman on Tuesday said they want peace with the international community and vowed to respect women rights within the framework of Islamic work.

Last year, the PCP called on the Sudanese to take to the street to protest the normalization of relations with Israel. But, the Islamist party failed to mobilize the Sudanese.

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August 17, 2021 (JUBA) - South Sudan president Salva Kiir has attributed the delay in the formation of a unified military command to the “unreasonable demands” made by the opposition.

The unified force of instructors pose for a group photo in Juba, October 5, 2019 (Xinhua)

He cited the 50-50 representation demanded for by armed opposition groups.

The South Sudanese leader said reports from the Joint Defence Board (JDB) indicate some of those seeking representation do not have forces on the ground and have directed the negotiating team to expedite the process.

He accused other parties of using equal representation to recruit fighters with the view of wanting to bolster their military ranks.

“They want to use it as an instrument for recruitment, which is against the agreement. It is not what is in the agreement. These are unreasonable reasons, but I like I have always said, I will not be the one to derail the implementation of this agreement so that others with their own interest and agenda take advantage of the situation and use it as an opportunity to return the country to war. I have asked Tut [Gatluak] and those responsible for discussions to move fast so that the unified command is formed and to pass out those in the training camps as soon as possible”, a presidential source told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

Last week, President Kiir called for the immediate unification of the command of the forces and directed the country's First Vice President, Riek Machar and Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol to present their list of nominees for the unified command.

The unified command consists of South Sudan People's Defence Forces, South Sudan National Police Services, National Security Services, National Prisons Service, Wildlife Forces and the Civil Defence Forces.

Some opposition officials have accused President Kiir's party of delaying the security arrangement implementation, citing their demand for 60% representation in unified force and 40% to the other parties.

Manawa Peter Gatkuoth, a member of the armed opposition under the First Vice President Riek Machar asserts that the negotiations have stalled because Kiir's faction has refused to equal representation, pointing to 60 percent of the total number of the unified forces in contravention to the terms of the agreement.

"It was agreed that the new national army is to be formed of an equal number of troops from the two sides. The SPLM In Government (SPLM-IG) provides a half and the other signatories a half," Gatkouth told Sudan Tribune in an interview Tuesday.

"However, the SPLM-IG now refuses to implement this agreement and demands to have 60% and the other signatories only get 40%," he added.

The revitalized peace agreement calls for the establishment of unified forces made up of 83,000 soldiers to take charge of the country's security during the three-year transitional period.

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August 17, 2021 (JUBA)- Lack of political will from the warring parties to implement the security arrangements has allowed “peace spoilers” to use public resources to destabilized the armed opposition movement (SPLM-IO), a senior official said.

Manawa Peter Gatkuoth

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the SPLM-IO Acting Chairperson of the National Committee for Information and Public Relations, Manawa Peter Gatkouth said the armed opposition group remains committed to the implementing of Chapter II of the accord, dealing with the security arrangement.

“Chapter II of the agreement changes the balance of power in the country by evenly distributing the national army 50/50 percent between the government and opposition forces, as stipulated in the Khartoum workshop facilitated by IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development],” he explained.

On August 3, the SPLM/A-IO former chief of staff Simon Gatwech Dual defected from the group, accusing its leader Riek Machar of nepotism and weakness.

Gatkouth, however, accused those behind Kitgwang Declarations of violating the peace agreement by creating internal conflicts to destabilize the SPLM-IO.

“The Kitgwang Declaration was engineered to create new conflicts between communities in the Upper Nile Region to further delay the peace implementation,” he said, adding that it is an attempt to derail the implement of the security arrangements.

According to Gatkouth, while the SPLM-IO remains committed to the peace agreement as the solution to the conflict, Kitgwang Group insists on an armed revolution by mobilizing cattle camps and South Sudanese living in camps.

“The SPLM-IO reiterates its commitment to the implementation of the Agreement and restore permanent and sustainable peace, security and stability in the country,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Mabior Garang de Mabior, son of the founding leader of the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and a member of a faction of the main armed opposition under Gen. Dual has a rejected a peace deal aimed at distributing jobs instead of reforms and delivering services.

Garang denied that the Kit Gwang declaration was sponsored by a section of the coalition government, pointing to lack of implementation of the key provisions in the peace deal.

“The charge that we are backed by Juba is intended to discredit those who are calling for security arrangements as peace spoilers. The peace they mean is this distribution of jobs they have been engaged in for the past three years. Not a single provision in the reform agenda has even been discussed, let alone implemented”, said Mabior in a statement seen by Sudan Tribune.

The Kit Gwang Declaration, he argued, is a reminder to the politicians in Juba that they have forgotten some key provisions of the Agreement.

Garang appealed to the public to disregard claims that they are on the payroll of Juba.

“This propaganda begs the question; what is the criteria for talking to Juba? Because these same people are wining and dining with the "who is who of Juba". We are open to dialogue with anyone, we are not afraid to negotiate, as President JFK would put it and we shall also not negotiate out of fear - as it were," Garang stressed.

He added, "The interest of the Kit Gwang Declaration is what is in the best interest of the peoples of South Sudan and dialogue is the least costly way for us to reach an understanding on how we can best achieve welfare and prosperity for all our peoples”.

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August 17, 2021 (JUBA)- The Red Army Foundation, one of the main organs of South Sudan's ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), has threatened mass mobilization against President Salva Kiir if he fails to address issues affecting citizens in the world's youngest nation.

Members of South Sudan's Red Army Foundation in Western Bahr el Ghazal state on 29 July 2014 (ST)

The group, in a statement issued on Tuesday, also warned security agencies not to interfere in matters which government can handle.

“The Red Army has had enough! … We warn the Government of South Sudan through its various security agencies not to interfere in this matter which is an SPLM family matter that should be solved amicably unless someone is looking for trouble,” it reads in part.

The chairman of the Red Army Foundation, Deng Bol Aruai Bol said the former child soldiers have unsuccessfully waited patiently for many years to see if the ruling party would get its act together.

“The Red Army for the last 9 years has called on the SPLM to get its act together and fulfill the liberation promise of liberty, justice, equality and prosperity for all,” explained Bol.

He added, “The people of South Sudan have convicted the SPLM for failing the people and the country is liberated.”

Bol said the Red Army members have, through their umbrella organization, intensified their advocacy on behalf of the foundation and all victims of the war through the Lobonok Position Paper, which called for the rejuvenation of the SPLM based on its liberation principles.

He, however, said they believe their efforts all fell on deaf ears.

“Now, the Red Army is on collision course with the SPLM. Our leaders keep telling us that the SPLM belongs to us, yet we are not part of it, not working in it, and not making policies and decisions within it. We have finally decided that if the SPLM belongs to us, we must own it so that we can use it as a ruling party to rescue and save our suffering people and nation.

He urged Kiir to quickly intervene or else his group will mobilize to face the SPLM party head-on until new consensuses are reached.

“Finally, we call upon the Chairman of the SPLM Cde Salva Kiir Mayardit to quickly intervene as this matter has the potential of getting out of hand. We have been patient, professional, courteous, and have done everything with the spirit of comradeship and patriotism! But it looks like no one has these qualities within the SPLM National Secretariat”, stressed Bol.

“The Red Army all over the world should get ready for a major faceoff between the Red Army and the SPLM National Secretariat over their cowardice refusal to accept the proposed SPLM – SPLM/A Red Army Dialogue,” he added.

Bol promised members and the public that their organization will issue a press statement on these issues and more in coming days.

“A press statement from the Red Army Foundation shall come out soon and a major declaration shall follow depending on the attitude of the party,” he stated.

The Red Army Foundation was established as an organisation dedicated to addressing social problems, especially among the Red Army's former members.

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A South African barista was offered a dream opportunity in Oman but unknowingly signed away his freedoms.

Holders Algeria face former winners Ivory Coast in group stage of next year's Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon after Tuesday's draw

Two-thousand Afghans will be taken in following a request from the US, the refugee minister says.

The vaccination against Ebola of high-risk populations began on Monday in Côte d’Ivoire following the discovery of an outbreak in the country three days ago. The swift response came after vaccines manufactured by Merck, which the World Health Organization (WHO) helped to secure to fight a four-month long outbreak in neighbouring Guinea, were quickly sent to the country. 

August 16, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Prime Minister extended his hand to Ethiopia, calling for good relations between the two countries, stressing that the Al-Fashaga area is an integral part of Sudan and will not accept bargaining over it.

For the first time, Hamdok travelled on Monday to the border area with the head of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to inaugurate several infrastructures projects including bridges and roads built to link the border area with the rest of the country.

“The Prime Minister affirmed Sudan's keenness to establish a good relationship with neighbouring Ethiopia, stressing Sudan's ability to protect and defend its territory,” said a statement issued by his cabinet.

He stressed that “the government would not compromise or make any concessions on the country's territorial integrity,” further said the statement.

The inauguration of the bridges and roads was part of the Celebration of the Sixty-Seventh anniversary of the Sudanese army.

Until recently, the prime minister who chairs the eastern African bloc of IGAD kept a low profile over the Ethiopian claims on Sudan as al-Burhan adopted a tough stance towards the eastern neighbour.

The Prime Minister stressed that the December revolution provided an opportunity to recover "this dear part of the country".

He hailed the role played by the armed forces, stressing his confidence in its ability to protect the border area.

Militiamen almost from the Amhara region hired by Ethiopian farmers attacked farmers and expelled them from the fertile border area as the former regime pulled out any Sudanese troops from this territory during the past twenty years.

In November 2020, al-Burhan expelled the Ethiopian gunmen and deployed troops in Al-Fashaga. The move angered the Ethiopian government, which brushed aside the demarcation agreements between the two countries and claimed the border area.

In his speech, al-Burhan called on Ethiopia to stop the encroachment on the Sudanese territory and to observe international law.

He announced the establishment of a fund for the reconstruction of Al-Fashaga and the border strip.

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August 16, 2021 (JUBA) - At least three people were killed in an ambush on Juba-Nimule road in South Sudan on Monday, a police officer confirmed.

General view of Juba Nimule road leading to Nimule Park and neighbouring Uganda (Pinterest photo)

A Catholic nun was among those killed in the attack that occurred on the road between Aru Junction and Kubi.

"What happened on Juba-Nimule road is very unfortunate," Daniel Justine, a police spokesperson was quoted saying Monday.

"A car was ambushed around 10:00 a.m. and as a result, three people died. One was burnt in the car and another one died on the way after being rushed to Aru-Junction hospital," he added.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Juba confirmed the nun's demise in a statement.

“The Secretary-General, Rev. Fr. Samuel Abe, with deep sorrow announces to the Catholic Faithful, Religious leaders and all denominations, government and other institutions, family and friends and to the general public about the sudden passing on of Sr. Mary Abbud of the congregation of the Sacred Heart,” partly reads a statement the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba issued Monday.

“Sr. Abbud and other nuns got involved in an armed road ambush between Aru Junction and Kubi in which her and her colleagues were shot at while coming from Loa to Juba on Monday,” it added.

The highway is a lifeline for South Sudan, which imports most goods from neighbouring countries.

Last week, a similar attack on the same highway left two dead and three others injured.

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August 16, 2021 (JUBA)- A top presidential aide has warned the country could return to a full scale if president Salva Kiir and his first deputy in coalition of government and the leader of the main opposition continue to ignore “popular demand” for reforms and delivery of services to the people.

Arms and light weapons have been used by both warring parties in South Sudan to commit abuses (Photo courtesy of SSANSA)

“We have always drawn the attention of our leaders to what happens in other countries. We do that to inform their decisions and to enhance their leadership strengths. We drew their attention to events in Haiti where the president was assassinated and Khartoum where president Bashir was removed from power as well as in Zimbabwe where late president Robert Mugabe was removed from power by his own colleagues after showing intransigence to the demand of the people”, a presidential aide in strategic analysis committee of a select coterie and trusted aides told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

The group, assembled by the office of the president through the director of the national security services, are drawn from academics, members of the civil society, experienced politicians, and elders come together whenever there is a crisis at the behest of the leadership to conduct analysis and make recommendation. The source said he was shocked the leadership was not ready to act.

“People are watching developments unfolding in Afghanistan where Talibans have taken over power from the government after twenty years of struggle and in Zambia after the incumbent president was defeated in elections. These are writings on the walls which we share in the strategic and confidential discussions with the leadership but the analysis we are asked to provide on their requests appear to go to the dustbin and there are indicators that the country could return to a full-scale war if there are no immediate actions to salvage the situation”, he warned.

He said and he and select group of coteries within the presidency have been making analysis at the behest of President Salva Kiir through the director general of the internal bureau of the national security services over the past months without progress on their recommendations.

He described the director general of the country's national security services as a "wiseman", citing his readiness to meet and listen to whoever is willing to speak on public affairs and what to be done.

“You see, the director general of the national security services is a Wiseman. He is a humble man and respectful person I have come to know in the course of this work. He would come to us and say comrades, give us an analysis of this and that situation and he does this whenever there are political developments in the region and in the world. We conduct these analyses, and he takes them to the president for briefing. We expect positive feedbacks but each time we analyze, it is like we are starting from scratch. Nobody is reading and if they do, they are not ready to act on the recommendations”, he said.

The warnings come days after a split within the leadership of armed opposition under Machar raised fears that such developments could undermine implementation of the 2018 peace agreement and the ripple effects could plunge the trouble-torn country deeper into chaos.

The inability of the coalition government to graduate troops in the training centers and unify the forces has left the country in the hand of ethnic and regional warlords, opening the floodgates for instability.

A bloody power struggle which has bedeviled all factions and a humanitarian crisis have ravaged a landlocked country , even as the world is struggling to come to grips with the fast-deteriorating situation.

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August 16, 2021 (JUBA) - Defections from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) aimed at preventing full implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and the recent one has the same purpose, a spokesman said on Monday.

SPLM/A-IO former chief of staff Simon Gatwech Dual recently defected from the group accusing its leader Riek Machar of nepotism and weakness.

Manawa Peter Gatkuoth SPLM-IO Acting Chairperson of the National Committee for Information and Public Relations on Monday regretted that some circles in Juba have continued seeking, in vain, to distract the peace implementation process and encourage defections of the main opposition group.

Gatkuoth said before Dual, there were five other defections from the SPLM-IO but they all failed to destabilize the stance of the Movement towards the full implementation of the revitalized peace agreement of September 2018.

He disclosed the existence of a disagreement between the parties over the number of troops provided by each signatory group for the unified national army.

"It was agreed that the new national army is to be formed of an equal number of troops from the two sides. The SPLM In Government (SPLM-IG) provides a half and the other signatories a half," said the SPLM-IO spokesman.

The revitalized peace agreement does not include such a disposition on the number of troops provided by each party but the deal was struck during an IGAD-facilitated workshop in Khartoum on the security arrangements.

"However, the SPLM-IG now refuses to implement this agreement and demands to have 60% and the other signatories only get 40%," he said.

The IGAD which brokered the peace agreement now proposes 55% for the Government and 45% for the opposition groups.

"The IGAD was expected to press the parties to remain committed to the brokered agreement. Such a proposal is not good because it will encourage them to seek to renegotiate other dispositions and undermine the whole process," stressed the SPLM-IO official.

President Salva Kiir several times called for international support to implement the expensive security arrangements but donors said that Juba has to ensure transparency in the management of its oil income before.

The SPLM-IO official appealed to the recently splintered faction to form its own political organization and to join the national efforts to achieve peace and stability in the country.

"This would be a constructive approach for peace and stability in South Sudan instead of seeking to weaken the main opposition movement," he said.

He further added that five other breakaway groups before Dual attempted to weaken the SPLM-IO but they failed despite the support they received from the "anti-peace circles".

"Yes, they defected but the SPLM-IO remains and will continue to its vision for democracy, transparency and development," he said.

Forces loyal to the breakaway SPLA-IO's former chief of staff Simon Gatwech Dual clashed recently with the SPLA-IO in the Magenis area near the Sudan border.

IGAD's Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu met with Riek Machar on 3 August and called to cease hostilities.

Also, Gebeyehu deplored the slow progress in the implementation of the security arrangements, stressing they remain a big challenge facing the country three years after the signing of the peace agreement.

IGAD Chairperson Abdallah Hamdok is expected to visit Juba in the coming days to discuss the enforcement of the security arrangements with the two parties.

(ST)

A case of Ebola virus has been confirmed in Côte d’Ivoire for the first time since 1994, the country’s Ministry of Health has confirmed. The World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating the delivery of vaccines to the country.

Legislation branded the "anti-miniskirt" law is annulled by Uganda's Constitutional Court.

After six attempts, Hakainde Hichilema has finally become president of Zambia.

People take to the streets following Hakainde Hichilema's landslide victory in Zambia's presidential elections.

Hakainde Hichilema wins a landslide at his sixth attempt, as President Edgar Lungu accepts defeat.

August 15, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - A spokesman for the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) said they had reached an agreement with the Prime Minister to review the draft trade union law that the council had approved on June 13.

This agreement was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok and leaders of the Communist Party on 10 August.

Spokesman Fathi Fadl told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that the Prime Minister and the SPC had agreed to review the draft union law.

He disclosed the formation of a joint committee including from the government side, advisor to the Prime Minister, Faisal Mohamed Saleh, and Buthaina Al-Khurasani from the SPC to review the draft law.

Fadl underlined that the Communist Party did not abandon the slogan of overthrowing the transitional government, pointing that the government "failed to implement the demands of the revolutionaries."

He added that the leaders of the Communist Party informed the Prime Minister of their positions on the government's policies, especially in the economic and peace issues.

"If the sovereign council and the cabinet can implement the revolutionaries' demands, we will think in another way, but so far the party is seeking to overthrow the transitional government."

The Communist Party is opposed to the economic reforms implemented by the government, and the approach adopted in the negotiations with the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, which led to the signing of an agreement on October 3, 2020.

The Communist Party also criticizes the slow pace of the government efforts to achieve peace and justice in the country.

However, Fadl pointed out that they support the government policy to restructure Al-Jazira agricultural schema and the full control of the civilian-led government.

He stressed that the party rejects what he called "foreign dictates", in reference to the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund the government is implementing.

The spokesman pointed out that the Communist Party "does not reject dialogue with any political forces except the banned National Congress Party and the military."

(ST)