Africa

Le procès des viols de Minova montre la nécessité de mener des réformes de toute urgence

(Kinshasa) – Le gouvernement de la République démocratique du Congo devrait de toute urgence réformer le système judiciaire du pays afin de mieux juger les atrocités commises dans ce pays, a déclaré Human Rights Watch dans un rapport publié aujourd’hui.

October 1, 2015 Report La justice en procès

Enseignements tirés de l’affaire des viols de Minova en République démocratique du Congo

• Télécharger le rapport

Ce rapport de 117 pages, intitulé « La justice en procès : Enseignements tirés du procès des viols de Minova en République démocratique du Congo », montre comment, malgré une attention et un soutien internationaux de grande ampleur, le procès dit des viols de Minova n’a pas réussi à rendre justice, que ce soit pour les victimes ou pour les accusés. Le rapport décrit comment la justice militaire a réagi aux viols d’au moins 76 femmes et filles par des militaires qui, après avoir battu en retraite, ont envahi en novembre 2012 la petite ville de Minova, située dans l’est de la RD Congo, ainsi que les villages voisins.

« Le procès des viols de Minova a été une énorme déception pour les victimes de l’un des pires incidents de viols de masse que la RD Congo ait connu ces dernières années », a déclaré Géraldine Mattioli-Zeltner, directrice de plaidoyer au sein du Programme Justice internationale à Human Rights Watch. « Les autorités congolaises doivent tirer des enseignements de cette affaire et veiller à ce que justice soit véritablement rendue à l’avenir. Elles le doivent aux victimes. »

Le tollé général provoqué par les viols de masse commis à Minova a conduit à la mise en accusation et au jugement par une cour militaire de 39 soldats pour crimes de guerre (viols et pillages) et violations des consignes militaires. Mais, cinq mois plus tard, lorsque le procès est arrivé à son terme, seuls deux soldats de rang ont été condamnés pour viol. La plupart des soldats de rang ont été condamnés pour pillage, malgré la faiblesse des preuves et d’autres violations de leurs droits à un procès équitable. Les commandants de haut niveau responsables de l’ensemble des troupes présentes à Minova n’ont jamais été inculpés. Les juges ont ordonné que des réparations soient versées par l’État congolais aux victimes de viol et de pillage ainsi qu’à une victime de meurtre, mais celles-ci n’ont pas encore été payées.

Le dossier de l’accusation était fragile, notamment en raison du manque d’expérience en matière de scènes complexes de crimes de masse et de violence sexuelle, de l’absence de stratégie pour rassembler les preuves, et d’erreurs au niveau des poursuites, a expliqué Human Rights Watch. Le fait que l’accusation ait sélectionné principalement des accusés de moindre rang sème le doute quant à la volonté de l’armée de demander des comptes à ceux qui portent la plus grande responsabilité. La représentation légale de mauvaise qualité accordée à certains des soldats de rang condamnés pour pillage a été aggravée par l’impossibilité en droit congolais de faire appel des décisions rendues par le type de cour militaire qui a jugé l’affaire.

Share Le procès des viols de Minova montre la nécessité de mener des réformes de toute urgence.

Les problèmes survenus dans le cadre du procès Minova sont représentatifs des lacunes du système de justice militaire en RD Congo en matière de poursuite des graves crimes internationaux, lacunes qui persistent malgré des années de soutien international, a ajouté Human Rights Watch.

« Pour démêler une structure de commandement militaire et poursuivre ceux qui exerçaient la responsabilité du supérieur hiérarchique, il faut avoir des compétences particulières et du courage politique, deux éléments qui ont fait défaut dans l’affaire Minova », a déclaré Géraldine Mattioli-Zeltner.

Human Rights Watch a identifié certains aspects positifs dans la gestion de l’affaire Minova. Le gouvernement a débloqué des fonds pour le procès, les juges et les procureurs ont directement appliqué le Statut de Rome de la Cour pénale internationale (CPI) pour compenser les lacunes du droit national, et des pressions diplomatiques soutenues ont permis que l’affaire soit portée devant la justice. La protection et la participation des victimes et des témoins, deux défis de taille dans le cadre des procès pour graves crimes internationaux tenus dans des zones de conflit, ont bénéficié d’un large soutien international. Grâce à l’aide d’organisations non gouvernementales, les victimes de viol ont pu être accompagnées par des psychologues pendant l’enquête et durant le procès. Cependant, ces éléments positifs n’ont pas suffi à faire en sorte que le procès rende justice aux victimes, a souligné Human Rights Watch.

Expand

Une femme —voilée pour protéger son identité du public— témoigne sur le viol qu’elle a subi pendant le procès Minova. Une avocate tient le microphone pour elle. Les soldats inculpés sont assis derrière elle. 

© 2014 Diana Zeyneb Alhindawi

Au cours des dix dernières années, la RD Congo a mené un nombre croissant de procédures judiciaires pour crimes de guerre et crimes contre l’humanité, avec environ 30 procès menés à terme devant des cours militaires. Le procès Minova a bénéficié de cette expérience, ainsi que de projets mis en œuvre par des partenaires internationaux et par la mission de maintien de la paix des Nations Unies en RD Congo pour renforcer les capacités du système judiciaire militaire et mettre un terme à l’impunité des auteurs de crimes graves.

Toutefois, ce procès a montré que la qualité des procédures judiciaires, et pas seulement leur nombre, devrait être examinée de près et améliorée. Les autorités congolaises et les partenaires internationaux doivent encore travailler pour surmonter les obstacles qui entravent une justice véritable pour les violations des droits humains, a déclaré Human Rights Watch.
 

Le procès des viols de Minova a été une énorme déception pour les victimes de l’un des pires incidents de viols de masse que la RD Congo ait connu ces dernières années. Les autorités congolaises doivent tirer des enseignements de cette affaire et veiller à ce que justice soit véritablement rendue à l’avenir. Elles le doivent aux victimes. Géraldine Mattioli-Zeltner

directrice de plaidoyer au sein du Programme Justice internationale

Human Rights Watch a adressé un certain nombre de recommandations au gouvernement congolais. Parmi celles-ci figurent la création d’une unité d’enquête spécialisée chargée de centraliser et de mobiliser les compétences de fonctionnaires de la justice nationale en matière de prise en charge des crimes graves, y compris ceux comportant des éléments de violence sexuelle ; l’adoption des réformes en attente visant à améliorer le cadre juridique, notamment d’une loi de mise en œuvre du Statut de Rome de la CPI ; l’amélioration des droits des accusés relatifs à un procès équitable, et l’examen de pistes pour améliorer l’indépendance et l’impartialité du système judiciaire. Afin de mieux rendre la justice dans les affaires de violence sexuelle en particulier, Human Rights Watch préconise l’utilisation par les centres de santé soignant les victimes de viol de formulaires médico-légaux améliorés ; le recrutement et la formation d’enquêtrices et de procureurs de sexe féminin, ainsi que l’inclusion des cas de violence sexuelle dans une stratégie nationale en matière de poursuites.

La proposition du gouvernement de mettre en place, au sein du système judiciaire national, un mécanisme judiciaire internationalisé temporaire regroupant des fonctionnaires judiciaires nationaux et internationaux reste essentielle pour renforcer les compétences et protéger la justice contre toute ingérence.

En 2004, la CPI a ouvert une enquête sur des abus commis en RD Congo. À ce jour, cette enquête a abouti à deux condamnations, à un acquittement et à un procès encore en cours. L’un des suspects recherchés par la CPI continue d’échapper à la justice. La CPI ne peut enquêter que sur les crimes commis après 2002, et son travail ne peut déboucher que sur une poignée d’affaires, a précisé Human Rights Watch.

« Les affaires ouvertes par la CPI en RD Congo sont très importantes, mais elles ne font qu’effleurer la surface quand il s’agit de l’impunité qui règne dans le pays depuis plusieurs décennies », a conclu Géraldine Mattioli-Zeltner. « Le gouvernement congolais devrait faire davantage pour qu’une justice digne de ce nom soit rendue aux victimes, et pour démontrer que personne n’est au-dessus des lois. »

------

À lire aussi :

BBC Afrique 01.10.15

VOAAfrique.com 01.10.15

Romandie / AFP 01.10.15

Adiac 01.10.15

RadioOkapi.net 02.10.15

Deutsche Welle 02.10.15 (itw G. Mattioli-Zeltner)

Jeune Afrique 02.10.15

Le Matin 02.10.15

Courrier int. / Afrikarabia 04.10.15

JournaldeKin.com 05.10.15

 

 

Topic

• International Justice
• International Criminal Court

• English

Provides an overview, basic information and key dates for this land-locked African country

Provides an overview, key facts and history of this West African nation

September 22, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese vice president, Jame Wani Igga, said the government is committed to fully implement the peace agreement signed last month. Igga will be relegated to third position after former vice president Riek Machar, who will be made the first vice president according to the peace deal.

South Sudan's vice-president, James Wani Igga, speaks at the opening of the national reconciliation and peace conference in Wau on 2 September 2014 (ST)

Speaking to lawmakers in Juba on Tuesday before leaving for New York to represent President Salva Kiir at the world annual meeting, Igga said the commitment to realize peace is unwavering.

“Our people want to know our seriousness and genuine determination as a government to [implement] this peace [agreement],” said Igga, in a lengthy briefing.

“I appeal to this house, if there is anybody affected by this agreement to forget [his/her reservations],” he said.

President Kiir, in succumbing to heavy regional and international threats of sanctions on him and his government, signed the agreement nine days after rebel leader Machar and former detainee Pagan Amum.

While signing, the president issued a list of points as “reservations” including demilitarization of Juba and the authority of joint monitoring and evaluation that has a veto power over national affairs. He repeated those points last week in address to the nation.

Igga said the government has one choice after the president inked the peace accord, and that is to implement it. He previously criticized the reservations put forth by his government.

“There is no alternative, we must end the war. We want treatment for our country,” he said.

He decried the repeated relegation from senior position in a peace agreement to reunite the ruling SPLM party, referring to Machar's split from SPLM in 1991 and a return in 2002 when Igga was pushed to the fourth position in hierarchy.

However, according to the SPLM historical hierarchy which the movement's leaders have been referring to for reunifications, Igga has been junior to Machar.

While the two top rival leaders, Kiir and Machar, will share power and decision making process in the would-be formed transitional government of national unity in December, Igga will only participate when the two agree to invite him to their presidency meetings.

(ST)

September 22, 2015 (NAIROBI) – The reinstated secretary general of the South Sudan's governing party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), Pagan Amum, has accused President Salva Kiir of attempting to abrogate the recently signed peace agreement with the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar and his group of the former detainees.

The SPLM's former secretary-general, Pagan Amum, talks to reporters following his release outside the court in Juba on 25 April 2014 (Photo: Anadolu Agency/Atem Simon)

In an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, Amum, who is again in self-imposed exile after signing the agreement, said he will travel to New York soon to attend the United Nations General Assembly meeting on South Sudan scheduled for 29 September and to interact with world leaders about the peace deal.

“We are traveling to New York and will be meeting with different heads of state. Those of the region and African continent and the rest of the international community to mobilize support for implementation of the peace agreement,” he said.

Amum, who also represents the former detainees in the peace agreement, said while in New York he will have an opportunity to continue to touch base with the opposition leader and first vice-president designate, Machar, and James Wani Igga, current vice- president.

He however said President Kiir is not committed to implement the peace agreement based on his “negative” public comments and previous reluctance to sign the peace deal with a list of reservations.

The ruling party secretary-general recalled President Kiir's comments when he said the agreement was neither a Quran nor a Bible, adding that the South Sudanese leader was imitating the same comment which former Sudanese president Nimieri uttered when he was about to abrogate the Addis Ababa agreement of 1972.

“He [Kiir] is not for implementation but for abrogation of the agreement. This is very unfortunate,” said Amum.

He further recalled that it became a surprise when President Kiir refused to sign the peace agreement with Machar and others in Addis Ababa on 17 August, saying all preparations were made for him to sign and he had already agreed.

The only outstanding issue Kiir complained of, he recalled, was the power sharing in the three states of the oil-rich Upper Nile state which initially gave the armed opposition of Machar 53%, government 33% and former detainees and political parties sharing the remaining 14%.

However, Amum said in his meeting with the president after the percentage of power sharing in governments of the Greater Upper Nile region was changed to 40%, 46% and 14%, respectively, Kiir agreed to sign the deal and travelled to Addis Ababa for this purpose.

He said the president even told him to carry the message to mediators and the opposition leader, Machar, that he was ready to sign the agreement on 17 August, but Amum accused unnamed people around the president for changing his mind in the last minute when he surprised everybody that he wouldn't sign it.

He added that the list of reservations by president Kiir in the agreement are a clear indication that he is not ready to fully implement the peace agreement.

KIIR AGAINST SPLM REUNIFICATION

Amum also accused his party chairman of trying to fail the Arusha agreement on reunification of the SPLM party, saying the president has been reluctant to implement or pursue the party accord and that its implementation had been “frustrating.”

He revealed that when the former detainees, or sometimes referred to as G-10 arrived in Juba for the reunification agreement, Kiir was suspicious and asked them questions contrary to the spirit of the deal.

“Even President Kiir himself was asking why we were returning back. He was telling me that he wanted to know why are we back… That we have hidden agenda to overthrow the government. I told him we are back to reunite the SPLM,” he further recalled.

He also added that he could not return to Juba after signing the agreement and before formation of the transitional government due to threats uttered against him by the government.

“Government launched hostility against G-10 for signing the peace deal. The threats made them not to go back to Juba,” he said.

He further accused the government of employing “assassinating characters” of members of the former detainees. He also stressed that the recent comments by the president revealed that he was not interested to reunite the ruling party.

Amum however said he had informed the ruling parties of Tanzania and South Africa, who mediate between the SPLM factions, about the ill-intentions of president Kiir to kill the party and appealed to their governments to help achieve the reunification of the party.

(ST)

September 21, 2015 (BRUSSELS) - Sudanese prominent activists briefed the European Union (EU) lawmakers about the situation of human rights in the country and pointed to the government's lack of willingness to enforce domestic laws and international conventions.

EU MP Marie-Christine Vergiat, Suliman Baldo and Amin Mekki Medani in a press conference held at the EU premises in Brussels on Tuesday 22 September 2015 (EU Photo)

The Paris-based Sudan Center for Transitional Justice and Peace Studies (SCTJPS) organized on Tuesday a hearing about the current human rights situation in Sudan at the EU Parliament headquarters in Brussels with the participation of Amine Mekki Medani and Suleiman Baldo.

Before the meeting which was supported by EU MP Marie-Christine Vergiat, the two Sudanese activists held a press conference where they painted a gloomy picture about the human rights situation in term of lack of freedoms and war crimes in the conflict zones.

Medani who chairs an alliance of civil society groups explained that the country before the Islamist coup d'état of June 1989 had acceded to several international treaties and conventions. He further said that the transitional constitution of 2005 provides in its article 27 section three that all the conventions ratified by Sudan have to be considered part of the constitution.

"But if one stops and looks at the statuary provisions of the laws and codes which govern the day to day life in Sudan you find there is a wide discrepancy between the law and the constitution itself and thereby a (clear) contradiction with the international governance," he said.

The Sudanese lawyer further stressed that the country is ruled by the State Security Act which is being repeatedly changed to empower the security apparatus and give it the needed means to grip on the country.

To illustrate his statements, Medani cited the constitutional amendment of December 2014 which authorized the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) to have its own military organization and to create the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia.

Also, he said that the NISS has the power to arrest, to search and detain people in its own detention centres not in a prison where people are kept in solitary confinement under bad conditions.

Madani was detained together with the head opposition alliance National Consensus Forces during four months after signing on 3 December 2014 of the Sudan Call declaration which calls for a comprehensive peace and constitutional conference in the country.

HUMAN RIGHT DEVIATION

From his part, the Sudanese human rights activist and international expert Suliman Baldo reiterated that there is no lake of laws or constitutional guarantees for the protection of human rights in Sudan, emphasizing "the problem is the absence of political will to abide by these very strong guarantees" .

In fact "the problem is the total deviation by the practices of the Government of Sudan from constitutional rights that are written in the constitution, from legal obligations that are written in the domestic laws and from religious values that are written in the Islam from which the government inspires its own claims to legitimacy," Baldo stressed.

He said that the government considers the human rights as a political game of power balance between it and the international community.

In May 2011, Khartoum government took commitments to adopt and ratify new international conventions including the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa for Legal Action.

The former director of Africa programme for International Crisis Group, stressed that it is not enough to sign and ratify protocols but "a responsible government" should meet its obligations before international and domestic laws.

DARFUR IDPS

Regarding the human rights violations in the war areas, Baldo said the government can demonstrate its genuine desire to resolve the 12-year crisis in Darfur by encouraging the voluntary return of some 2.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPS).

"The solution is in the hands of the government and it does not need the UN Security Council or the African Union to it," he said. Before to add "It has to secure the same areas, and to negotiate with the militias that chased the (indigenous) populations out of their areas. So, that they (the militiamen) are part of the solution and not part of the problem.

He explained that the violence in Darfur since 2008 has changed face because the capacity of rebels has diminished, adding that the region is now the scene of intertribal fighting between different tribes that were armed by the government.

"The claim by the government that it secured Darfur is a fallacy. violence rampant as result of government policies in arming the tribes," he concluded.

(ST)

September 22, 2015 (BENTIU) - The caretaker governor of Unity state, Joseph Nguen Monytuel has, in the wake of the proposed formation of the transitional government of national unity, appointed four new ministers and an equal numbers of state advisors.

The newly appointed caretaker governor of Unity State Joseph Montuil (Photo credit: Larco Lomayat)

Governor Monytuel made these changes through a gubernatorial decree he issued on Monday.

The caretaker governor appointed Chuol Biel as minister of cabinet affairs, Simon Chol becomes minister of parliamentary affairs, Joseph Juoi Gathot to Trade and commerce while Tot Dhieydor Tutroal takes over environment and natural resources ministry.

Monytuel also nominated Mawiech Chilieny and Maluok Matai as security and economic advisors respectively. Others are Apollo Maluit and William Bajuoi Makuet.

A member of South Sudan's ruling Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) told Sudan Tribune, that Monytuel wanted the new group to get a share of the national cake.

“I think the decision by the caretaker governor was to give those who have not held any positions to get something ahead of the formation of upcoming government in the state. We appreciate this step, because most of these comrades have been standing with us for long, and it is time to reward them although it is a short period,” the official, who asked not to be named.

Others, however, say the increase in the numbers of ministers and advisors was to balance positions among counties which beneffitted during 20 months of conflicts.

In 2013, the former governor, Taban Deng Gai reduced ministers to nine after austerity measures were initiated when oil was shut in Unity and Upper Nile states in 2012.

(ST)

September 22, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government disclosed on Tuesday that it has been unable to raise its production of oil due to the global slide in crude prices.

FILE- A December 27 , 2012 file photo shows Sudan's President Omer Hassan al-Bashir (C) inaugurating the Hadida oil field located on the border between East Darfur state and South Kordofan, the country's main oil-producing area (AFP/Getty Images)

Sudan has been pushing hard to increase its oil production particularly after the secession of South Sudan in 2011 taking with it about 75% of the country's oil reserves.

The minister of oil Mohammed Zayed said that oil companies are reluctant to fix damaged wells in light of the dramatic decrease in world oil prices and the need for injecting more capital for repairment.

He said that the steep decline in oil prices from $110 a barrel last year to $47 has disrupted the economies of production for these companies.

Zayed declared that the government reached series of understandings with these companies on measures that would help raise oil production such as reducing production costs leading to improved profit margins.

"You can undertake simple processes to boost oil production by 10,000 barrels per day," he said.

Last May Sudan said it hoped to increase the daily oil production from 120,000 barrels per day to 150,000.

(ST)

September 22, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - European Union (EU) ambassadors in Khartoum called upon the Sudanese government to conduct an independent investigation into the deadly protests of September 2013.

People look on as cars are set alight during protests over fuel subsidy cuts in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on 25 September 2013 (Photo: Reuters)

Demonstrations broke out in several Sudanese states that month following the government's decision to lift fuel subsidies. Rights groups said that at least 200 people were killed but the government put the death toll at 85.

Following a wave of criticism, Sudanese authorities said they formed a commission of inquiry into the protests which were the deadliest of their kind against the regime.

However, the findings of the investigation are yet to be revealed.

Last month, the Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir directed the Ministry of Justice to compensate the families of victims of the protests.

EU mission in Khartoum said in a statement Tuesday that envoys of EU countries in Sudan have recently discussed the protests which erupted in September 2013.

“Ambassadors of EU countries have welcomed the government decision to compensate families of the victims and noted that justice couldn't only be achieved by financial reparations”, the statement reads.

The statement added that Sudanese authorities are still far from conducting an effective and independent inquiry into the killings and other human rights violations which took place during the protests.

The EU ambassadors further renewed their call to the Sudanese government to conduct an independent investigation that holds the perpetrators fully accountable for their acts.

Earlier this month, the Chairman of the Security and Defense subcommittee in the Sudanese parliament and head of the investigation committee Ahmed Imam al-Tuhami, said that losses resulting from vandalism during the protests are estimated at 30 billion pounds (SDG).

He added that several cases have been filed by families of victims against policemen accusing them of opening fire on the protestors.

Al-Tuhami pointed out that the protests were carried out by students and ordinary citizens against lifting fuel subsidies, saying those protestors didn't involve in the looting and vandalism.

“However, some saboteurs [protestors] took advantage of the protests to carry out acts of looting and theft”, he said.

(ST)

September 22, 2015 (JUBA) – The death toll from last week's oil tanker fire at Maridi in South Sudan's Western Equatoria state has reached 203, the health minister disclosed.

Riek Gai Kok said more than 90 other people were nursing wounds in hospitals.

“We are providing the best medical assistance that we can and some of the wounded are being transferred to Juba,” said Kok.

The oil tanker veered off road while traveling from Juba to Yambio, some 250 km west of the capital, last week. The leaking fuel attracted huge crowds of villagers to siphon oil.

South Sudan observed three days of national mourning to remember the victims while the national assembly set up a committee to investigate the cause of the explosion.

Kok, who met president Salva Kiir this week, described the inferno as a “national tragedy.”

(ST)

September 22, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese army (SPLA) has announced on Tuesday that the Ugandan People's Defense Forces (UPDF), which have been fighting alongside forces loyal to president Salva Kiir against opposition faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar, will start to withdraw from the country next week.

A contingent of soldiers from the Ugandan People's Defence Force (Photo courtesy of New Vision)

“It has been agreed that up to the 10th of October, the UPDF forces will be out of the country. The timeline of their withdrawal is stated between 27th, up to 10th of October,” Lieutenant General Malek Ruben, deputy chief of general staff for logistics,” announced on Tuesday.

According to the recently signed peace agreement to end the 21-month long civil war, all foreign forces allied to both the government and the opposition sides are supposed to leave the country within 45 days after the signing of the peace agreement.

Besides UPDF, Sudanese rebel forces inside South Sudan will be demobilized and repatriated back to Sudan in accordance with the peace deal.

UPDF came to the country in December 2013 when political differences over reforms within the leadership of the governing Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) turned violent.

The initial objective on deployment of the Ugandan troops was to evacuate Ugandan nationals in South Sudan from the country and provide protection to key installations and institutions, including the airports in Juba and other hot spot areas of the country. However, UPDF later on directly interfered in military combat against the rebels.

The foreign troops' withdrawal from the country was always one of the contentious matters at the start of negotiations, but General Ruben told reporters on Tuesday that the issue was resolved during the discussions at the ceasefire workshop attended by the commanders from the warring sides last week in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. This is also in accordance with implementation of the security arrangements as provided for in the peace agreement.

Ugandan forces for the past 21 months of the war have been providing partial defence of the national capital, Juba, and the neighbouring Jonglei state's capital, Bor, and have used superiority of their military hardware including air force in which it has been accused of dropping cluster bombs on rebel forces.

The military officer, however, pointed out that Ugandan troops deployed in Western Equatoria state will not be removed, because they are under a separate arrangement.

“The ones of Western Equatoria are not affected within this agreement; it's a quadruple arrangement connecting Central Africa Republic, South Sudan, Uganda and Congo plus the American forces,” he said.

“These are in pursuit of the Regional Alliance Strategic Agreement to pursue the LRA [Lord's Resistance Army],” he added.

(ST)

September 22, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - President Omer Hassan al-Bashir Tuesday has pardoned rebel leaders who participate in the national dialogue conference, and declared a two-month ceasefire in war areas.

Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir (Photo AFP/Ashraf Shazly)

According to the official news agency (SUNA) Tuesday, Bashir issued a republican decree granting general amnesty for the leaders and members of the armed movements taking part in the national dialogue conference. Also, he issued another decree declaring a two-month cease fire in the battlefronts.

The national dialogue conference is scheduled for 20 October 2015.

Several rebel members and leaders including the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) chairman Malik Agar and secretary-general Yasser Arman have been sentenced to death by Sudanese courts.

The two decrees come after a pledge al-Bashir during the opening session of the national dialogue's general assembly last August in which he expressed readiness to declare a two-month cease fire in order to hold the dialogue in a healthy atmosphere and high patriotism.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since 2011 and the armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

Bashir launched the national dialogue initiative in January 2014 but the process suffered major setbacks after the withdrawal of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) and the non-participation of the rebels as well as leftist forces.

The SPLM-N, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) recently expressed willingness to sign a cessation of hostilities with the government for six months if the government commits itself to the pre-dialogue meeting as provided in an African Union's roadmap to facilitate the internal process.

Besides the end of war, the African roadmap includes the implementation of other confidence building measures such as ensuring political freedoms, humanitarian access and release of political detainees and prisoners.

(ST)

September 22, 2015 (WAU) - The health ministry in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state has distributed protein foods to more than 300 malnourished children.

The new women's maternity ward at the Wau teaching hospital in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state was officially opened by president Salva Kiir on 15 July 2014 (ST)

Thomas Gabriel, the outpatient's program manager at Wau teaching hospital, said five distribution centres were established in Lokoloko, Hai Dinka, Jeb Kheer and Bazia Jadid.

The centres have been earmarked to cater for over 300 children lacking food nutrition.

“We at the hospital here are controlling malnourishment, which occurred to children under 6-59 months with an initiative of giving plumy and milk to the children,” he said.

Wau hospital alone, Gabriel further disclosed, currently hosts 154 malnourished children.

He also said that the health ministry was currently introducing health education to the mothers handling children to ensure they handle the distributed items responsibly.

“Plumy nut is an unmixed food, but mainly a multi treatment [administered] to children facing malnourish. We want to tell our people that we are not giving out food but we are giving out treatment to such children. This is because many people are coming in look for plumy nut as food and this is not a case,” Gabriel told Sudan Tribune.

He advised mothers not to sell the plumy nut in markets and instead feed their children.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) funded the program in collaboration with the state government.

(ST)

The United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura has wrapped up an official visit to Guinea, where her Office has been supporting an investigation into events that took place in 2009 at a stadium in the capital, Conakry, where more than 100 people were killed and at least 100 women were raped during an opposition demonstration.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is following with “great concern” the situation in Burkina Faso, and today called upon the country’s defence and security forces to avoid at all costs an escalation of violence and to ensure the respect for physical security and human rights of all Burkinabé citizens.

The United Nations envoy for Libya has announced the finalization of a proposed peace plan to end the political crisis in the North African nation, adding that it is now up to the parties to act on the text.

September 21, 2015 (JUBA) – United Nations (UN) on Monday rang alarm bell over increased death rate among children in the UN protection of civilian site in Unity state's capital, Bentiu where 34 children under 5 years of age died in the first week of September, about 5 deaths a day.

People wait to fill up their water containers at a camp for internally displaced people in Unity state capital Bentiu (Photo: Matthew Abbott/AP)

Spokesperson for the UN secretary general in a press conference on Monday in New York said reports lamented the rapid loss of children in the camp.

"Turning to South Sudan, our colleagues at our Humanitarian Office (OCHA) say that thirty-four children under 5 years of age died from malnutrition in the civil protection site in Bentiu, Unity State, in the first week of September,” announced Stephane Dujarric.

He said the deaths mainly resulted from malnutrition, but added that water and sanitation organizations were stepping up activities to address malnutrition and child mortality in Bentiu.

OCHA said malnutrition remained a major concern across South Sudan, with about a quarter of a million children severely malnourished.

Meanwhile, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) recently launched a joint nutrition scale-up plan, which will see the agencies and their partners assist over two million people – children, pregnant women and new mothers – for the treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition until May of next year.

“Just to give you a scale of the issue: following the recent fighting in central Unity State, we are now housing 112,000 people in our protection of civilians' camp in Bentiu," said Dujarric.

(ST)

September 21, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese armed opposition faction led by former vice-president and first vice-president designate, Riek Machar, has accused forces loyal to president Salva Kiir of committing further violations to the permanent ceasefire deal they signed in August to end the 20-month long civil war in the country.

Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) at Jonglei's Bor airport in January 2014 (AFP)

Opposition leader's press secretary, James Gatdet Dak, on Monday said government troops attacked opposition-held territories and civilian settlements including Thoonyor in Leer county of the oil-rich Unity state.

“Soldiers of Salva Kiir have continued to attack our bases in a clear violation of the ceasefire. They attacked areas in Leer county in Unity state including Thoonyor payam, displacing civilians in the area,” Dak said in a statement on Monday.

He however said government forces were repulsed, but declined to provide details of casualties.

Dak also said fighting had been going on in Western Equatoria state in Mundri and Maridi counties, further accusing the government of launching offensive against their bases and civilian settlements.

President Kiir and opposition leader, Machar, signed a peace agreement in August and instructed their forces to stop fighting in observing the ceasefire.

Senior officers from the rival parties have held a week-long workshop in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on the ceasefire deal and security arrangements, but could not agree on the size and composition of forces and joint integrated police that should remain or be deployed in the national capital, Juba.

Dak blamed the government for the failure to strike a deal, saying the Juba's suggested size of the force in the capital was contrary to the provision in the peace deal.

“The peace agreement clearly provides for demilitarization of Juba and other state capitals. However, the government demands an army division or brigades to be stationed in the capital. This is contrary to the security arrangements provision,” he said.

“The agreement talks of demilitarization, but the regime wants even more forces in the capital,” he added.

He said the opposition wanted a small size of joint integrated police of all categories and armed forces to guide the presidency, barracks, bases and warehouses in the capital.

Observers said the government has taken advantage of the loopholes in the IGAD Plus compromise peace agreement which failed to determine the size and composition of such forces as part of the signed document.

It is not clear when the parties will resume the workshop so as to agree on the security arrangements or whether IGAD mediation will try to come in and impose another compromise, as the implementation of the agreement will likely run behind the schedule.

(ST)

September 21, 2015 (BOR) - Forgiveness, trust building and reconciliations were among the key pillars for peaced discussed during this year's international peace day marked in South Sudan's Jonglei state capital, Bor on Monday.

Jonglei governor John Kong speaking in Twice East county July, 24, 2015 (ST)

The event, organised by South Sudan council of churches with support from the United Nations Development programme (UNDP), was attended by several government officials, humanitarian agencies' representatives and the local residents.

The international peace day, is globally celebrated on 21 September each year. In South Sudan this year, South Sudan council of churches organised peace day celebrations in the provincial capitals of Torit, Yambio, Malakal, Kuajok, Rumbek, Juba and Bor.

The United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, in a statement, called for human rights to peace, demanding an end of impunity that prevailed around the world.

He urged South Sudan's warring parties to lay down their weapons and observe global ceasefire.

Alois Sikuka, a security specialist at UNDP, conveyed Ki-Moon's message to the public.

“Stop the killings and the destructions and create space for lasting peace”, partly noted the UN secretary general's statement read to the public gathered in Bor.

Sikuka also urged the people of South Sudan to work for sustainable peace collectively.

“Here in South Sudan, that we now have peace agreement that has been signed, the observance of international day of peace provides valuable opportunity to remind ourselves that only join efforts can lead to sustainable peace in the country," he said.

Further added the UN official, "The task of implementing the agreement and working toward lasting peace can only be achieved through long term collaborations among all South Sudanese citizens and institutions across existing device”.

The governor of Jonglei state John Kong, advised the public to desist from words likely to derail peace, citing the use of hate speeches and comments capable of slowing down the government's efforts to achieve total peaceful co-existence among communities.

“This problem started with a words, bad words that brought people to fighting”, said Kong, in reference to the start of the South Sudanese crisis in mid December 2013.

"Even when there is ceasefire, if bad words are being used, ceasefire will not work. That is why we are here to support our president, in his efforts of making peace”, he added.

Kong advised the population to work for the interest of South Sudan and not individually.

James Aguer, a council of churches official, said peace would transform South Sudan's negative culture of war.

“We have great concerns about fundamental challenges that could prevent us from achieving the nation we desire, let each and every one plays his or her role in making peace, transforming the negative culture of war, hatred and mistrust into culture of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and unity”, Aguer told the gathering in Bor.

“Peace is the most precious thing in the life of every human being. We people of the RPSs, we were having and still have so many definite ideas about the nation we hope to build. We have a vision that our nation shall be a country of peace, unity, togetherness and love for all and not tribalism”, he said.

(ST)