Africa

The United Nations human rights chief has urged several States to intensify their efforts to investigate long-standing allegations that soldiers in their forces sent to keep the peace in the Central African Republic (CAR) may have committed very serious violations, including killing of civilians and sexual exploitation of local women.

At the conclusion of his two-day visit to Burundi, Adama Dieng, the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, warned of increased tensions and the risk of further violence, unless all parties engage in open dialogue to resolve the crisis and calm tensions.

May 30, 2015 (JUBA) – The governor of South Sudan's Upper Nile state, Simon Kun Puoc has returned to the oil-rich region after government troops gained its control from rebels.

Governor Simon Kun Pouch (FILE)

The state information minister, Peter Hoth Tuach said the governor landed in Paloch, the main oilfield, which presently has heavy military presence.

“The governor returned today [Friday]. He was accompanied by several officials, including the minister of finance and was received on arrival by the deputy governor and number of officials, including myself”, Tuach told Sudan Tribune by phone.

Military confrontations between Pouc's bodyguards and forces under the command of Johnson Olony, a former government-allied militia leader forced the former to vacate the state capital, Malakal as opposition forces briefly occupied the area a week ago.

Olony was a militia commander between 2010 and 2012, when he fought under the banner of South Sudan Democratic Movement led by late George Athor Deng, who rebelled in protest of the result of 2010 elections in which he contested as an independent candidate for Jonglei state. He later decided with several other militia groups to abandon rebellion in response to the 2012 presidential amnesty.

Governor Puoc, the information minister said, will be in Paloch for at least three days while assessing the security situation in the region.

“He [governor] will visit the internally displaced persons and hold talks with local communities and commanding officers of our gallant SPLA forces in the area, personally congratulate them on behalf of Upper Nile state government for defeating the rebels and demonstrating strong commitment, allegiance and determination to defend the constitution, resources and citizens of South Sudan from physical threat and harm,” said Tuach.

The United Nations expressed concerns over the serious violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law have taken place and are ongoing, as fighting intensifies between forces of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and Sudan People's Liberation Army–In Opposition in Unity and Upper Nile states.

There are 30,410 people at the protection of civilians sites in Malakal, the UN said.

(ST)

May 30, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) led by Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani announced that it rejected the offer submitted by the National Congress Party (NCP) to join the new cabinet that will be formed after president Omer Hassan al-Bashir is sworn in to a new term.

Mohamed Osman Al-Mirghani (file photo)

Osama Hassoun, a DUP leading figure, told Sudan Tribune that the party held a meeting on Saturday evening in which the decision was made to reject the proposal and focus on building the party.

“We want partnership in the homeland not participation in the government,” Hassoun said.

But other government sources dismissed these remarks saying that the DUP completed consultations with the NCP on its allocated posts in the cabinet.

It is understood that the NCP offered the DUP the same posts it currently holds in the cabinet which includes three federal ministries, two state ministers and other posts on the state level.

The NCP said it will look into the DUP's request for an additional post without committing to it which aggravated al-Hassan al-Mirghani who is currently running the party as his father is still out of the country.

But Ali al-Sayed, a long-time DUP figure, dismissed this decision as a manoeuvre by al-Hassan to secure more concessions from the NCP.

He noted that al-Hassan agreed to participate in the elections in order for the party to be able to remain in the cabinet.

President Bashir has warned earlier this year that only parties which contested in April's general elections will be offered posts in the government.

Al-Sayed was dismissed by al-Hassan from the DUP along with other top party figures who challenged his decision to participate in the elections and sought unsuccessfully a court ruling declaring him ineligible to represent the party before the National Elections Commission (NEC).

The DUP left opposition ranks and joined the “broad-based” government of the NCP in December 2011, citing the “need to save the country” in the words of al-Mirghani himself.

(ST)

May 30, 2015 (BENTIU) – More displacement of civilians in the South Sudan's oil-rich Unity state has reportedly occurred in the counties of Koch, Mayiandit, Leer, Guit and Rubkotna for the last two weeks. This is due to the ongoing offensive by government's troops on positions of forces loyal to former vice president, Riek Machar.

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

United Nations agencies said as a result, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has risen from 40,000 to 60,000 in the UN civilian protection site in the state capital, Bentiu, following the renewed attacks by troops loyal to president Salva Kiir in the area.

Affected civilians said they fled from their areas after government forces attacked them and had to decide to seek shelter and security in the UN compounds.

Nyanen Kuol, told Sudan Tribune over satellite phone from Bentiu on Saturday that life while hiding in the bushes was unbearable and decided with others to walk many days to reach the protection site.

She said there were many children in the UN camp who had no parents as many of their parents might have been killed in the attacks or gone hiding in the bushes. To reach a safer place, she said, had never been easy as some of the IDPs walked for 120 kilometers along the way to Bentiu.

“It took us a whole week to reach here. We have no other option [than] to die in the bush without food. But we offered ourselves to die on the road to reach UN camp,” she added.

Many children and girls between 10 and 16 years old ended up being raped on their way before they could reach a safer place like the UN camps.

UN reports also expressed deep concerns about unusual movement of civilians, describing it life threatening as they walked long distance to reach a protection of civilians site in Bentiu.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has reported over 21,000 people who were displaced by the ongoing offensive by pro-government forces have entered the camps near Bentiu.

(ST)

May 30, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Darfurian Arab Mahameed clan chief, Musa Hilal, has arrived in Khartoum on Saturday to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of president Omer al-Bashir amid remarkable reception by his supporters.

Former janjaweed leader and tribal chief, Musa Hilal welcomed by his supporters at Khartoum Airport on Saturday 30 May 2015 (Photo by Saleh Ajab Aldor)

Hilal, who was one of the main militia leaders that participated in the brutal counter-insurgency campaign during the first years of Darfur crisis, turned his militiamen against the governor of North Darfur state, Osman Kibir and accused him of feeding tribal conflicts in the state.

The notorious Janjaweed leader then started making statements critical of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), of which he is a member, and calling for deep reforms.

He left the capital Khartoum in mid-2013 and retreated to his home town of Misteriya in North Darfur along with his troops and continued blasting the government and the NCP.

The Mahameed chief did not give any statements upon his arrival as he seemed busy welcoming the large crowed of recipients at Khartoum airport.

He said in a written statement that he was concerned about the situation in Darfur, noting he launched a societal dialogue with the various tribes in the region before he left Khartoum in his capacity as a special advisor for the ministry of federal affairs.

Hilal said his dialogue culminated in holding several reconciliations, pointing the dialogue was conducted in coordination with the presidency represented by the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Commission.

“After we concluded the dialogue in Khartoum, I travelled to Darfur to [oversee] the implementation of the [agreements] on the ground. This [dialogue] had an obvious impact on the establishment of security in the region,” he added.

The Janjaweed leader said he came to Khartoum to participate in president Bashir's swearing-in ceremony and also to accelerate peace moves.

He further vowed to continue his efforts to achieve peace and tribal reconciliations in Darfur, saying many steps would be revealed in this regard in the coming days.

Hilal also demanded the Sudanese people, particularly the people of Darfur, to turn the page on their differences and look to the future, urging the government and the friendly countries to grant reparations to the victims of the conflict.

The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when an ethnic minority rose up against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum, which then was accused of enlisting the Janjaweed militia group to help crush the rebellion.

In April 2006 the UN Security Council imposed financial and travel ban against Hilal for obstructing peace in Darfur. The then US president George Bush issued an executive order enforcing similar sanctions on them.

In January 2008, the Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir appointed Hilal as a special advisor for the Ministry of Federal Affairs in Sudan.

In mid-2013, however, Hilal returned to North Darfur, where his fighters launched widespread attacks on government forces and allied militias.

Last year, Hilal's troops seized control of western localities in North Darfur state including Saraf Omra, Kutum, Kebkabiya, Al-Seraif, and El Waha.

The tribal chief announced the establishment of administrations in these localities, naming his forces the Sudanese Revolutionary Awakening Council (SRAC).

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

May 30, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – One of Ethiopia's main opposition, Semeyawi (Blue) party rejected both the election process and the preliminary results issued on Wednesday from Sunday's parliamentary election.

A woman casts her vote in Ethiopia's general election in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Sunday, May 24, 2015. (AP Photo)

“The Blue Party does not accept the process as free and fair and does not accept the outcome of unhealthy and undemocratic elections,” the opposition party said in a statement it issued on Friday.

Partial results announced by the country's National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) showed that the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) party and its allied regional political organizations have so far won 442 seats declared out of the 547-seat parliament.

“This 100 percent win by the regime is a message of disgrace," stressed the statement, adding that the sweeping victory was an indication that a "multi-party system is over in Ethiopia”.

The youngest Ethiopian political force which participated at national elections for the first time, accused the ruling party of using authoritarian tactics to guarantee victory.

The Blue Party's spokesperson, Yonatan Tesfaye said that candidates were denied for registration and some others were illegally cancelled by the Election Board after they were registered.

Tesfaye claimed that some 200 party candidates were denied the right to stand for parliament and 52 party members and many other supporters were arrested in the run-up to the polls.

“The security forces and cadres of EPRDF continued in harassing, beating, arresting and some cases killing candidates and potential observers of opposition parties without any valid reasons and the order of courts,” he said.

"We don't think there is an independent justice system to deal with our complaints. We'll continue our peaceful struggle," the spokesperson concluded.

Over 90 % of the total registered 36.8 million people have cast their votes on Sunday's national elections; the country's first since Ethiopia's long-time ruler Meles Zenawi, died in office in 2012.

Final election results will be announced on June 22.

The African Union (AU) observers' mission, the only monitoring group deployed to oversee the election process has said that Ethiopia's Sunday general elections were “credible” and in line with African Union standards.

“The Ethiopian Parliamentary elections were generally consistent with the AU guidelines on the conduct of elections in Africa,” said former Namibian president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, in an initial report he issued on Tuesday.

The European Union on Wednesday has also expressed satisfaction at the conclusion of the “largely peaceful and orderly" election process and commended the hard work exerted by the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia

According to the state-run Ethiopia Broadcasting corporation (EBC), the EU took note of the preliminary statement of the African Union Election Observation Mission, including the areas for further improvement identified by the Mission.

The AU added the electoral process was discussed in the framework of the EU-Ethiopia political dialogue with the Government and with the main political actors involved.

(ST)

May 30, 2015 (JUBA) - Peace talks between South Sudan's warring parties will not commence next month, despite earlier pronouncements from the country' presidency.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (L) shakes hands with rebel leader and former vice-president Riek Machar after signing an agreement at the end of talks in Arusha, Tanzania on 21 January 2015 (AP)

“Peace talks are not resuming talks on 8th June. The IGAD has called for a consultative meeting between the parties involved in the negotiations. I will be going with other two members as the government delegation as directed by the president in response to the invitation extended to us by the IGAD," Nhial Deng Nhial, South Sudan government's chief negotiator told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol, chairman of the external relations committee for the armed opposition, equally confirmed that his group received invitation from the regional bloc for a consultative meeting to be convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 8-10 June.

The armed opposition leadership, Wol said, will be represented in the upcoming consultative meeting by its chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai and two other members.

He could not disclose names of the officials who will accompany their lead negotiator, stressing that the selection would be made by the leadership of the armed opposition.

South Sudan's former justice minister, John Luk Jok, who speaks on behalf of the former detainees, also said his group had received an invitation letter from IGAD to participate in the consultative meeting to be held in the Ethiopian capital, next month.

“I am not aware of the resumption of peace talks on the date you have said. What I know is that there will be a consultative meeting on 8th June. This is what I know. IGAD has called for consultations and we have received the invitation to participate in these consultations," he said.

Jok did not reveal names of those representing them at the consultative meeting.

The consultations will begin on 7-9 June and compromise of the lead negotiators with two other members from each of the invited parties, explained the former justice minister.

The office of the South Sudanese presidency announced on Wednesday that IGAD, which is mediating the talks aimed at finding a solution to the conflict in the country had invited the rival factions to resume negotiations on 8 June in the Ethiopian capital.

The decision, a presidential aide said, was reached at a consultative meeting between president Salva Kiir and two foreign ministers from Ethiopia and Kenya who visited the world's youngest nation on Wednesday on behalf of regional leaders involved in the talks.

In March, the East African regional bloc proposed an IGAD-Plus structure that will bring in other African regions, including South Sudan's development partners such as the African Union, the United Nations, China and the Troika, the key funders of the peace talks, which comprises of the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA) and Norway.

The mediators' decision came days after the South Sudanese president and opposition leader, Riek Machar failed to agree on a permanent peace deal, despite pledging to end the conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions of people since it broke out in December 2013.

(ST)

May 30, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government has denounced the suicide attack that took place on Friday at a mosque in Saudi Arabia's port city of Dammam.

In this still image taken from video provided by Saudi TV, burnt out cars are seen as investigators collect evidence, in the aftermath of a suicide bomb outside the the Imam Hussein mosque in the port city of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Friday, May 29, 2015.(AP)

Four people have been killed in Dammam, a city in eastern Saudi Arabia, after a suicide bomber's explosives blew up in the parking lot of a Shiite mosque, according to the kingdom's official news agency.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group later claimed responsibility for the attack.

The spokesperson for Sudan's foreign ministry, Ali al-Sadiq, said in a statement on Saturday that Sudan condemns and denounces the terrorist bombing which targeted the Imam Hussein mosque in Dammam and killed several people.

He stressed Sudan's refusal to any attempts to destabilize Saudi Arabia, noting that such criminal acts would not deter the kingdom from defending truth and goodness and standing by the oppressed people.

Al-Sadiq further underscored that Sudan stands by the kingdom and supports all measures taken by its government to maintain security and stability.

The Saudi press agency quoted the spokesperson of the ministry of interior as saying the explosion occurred when the bomber was parking his car during Friday prayers at the entrance of the Imam Hussein mosque in the port city, home to a large Shiite population.

It said guards approached the car as it was parking and that the driver who had disguised himself in the black all-encompassing garments worn by women in Saudi detonated a bomb.

The Dammam bombing came exactly a week after a suicide bomber attacked a Shiite mosque in a village in Qatif province during Friday prayers, killing at least 21 people and wounding several others.

That attack was also claimed by ISIL.

(ST)

May 30, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Armed opposition faction led by former vice- president, Riek Machar, said they would welcome targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for perpetuating the 17-month long civil war in the country.

South Sudan's rebel leader, Riek Machar (Photo: Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)

Mabior Garang de Mabior, chairman for information and public relations committee in the opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), in a press statement issued on Saturday also said that the opposition called for release of the report by the African Union (AU) Commission of Inquiry on atrocities committed by warring parties in South Sudan.

“The SPLM/SPLA takes this opportunity to renew its call for the release of the AU report and application of targeted sanctions,” he said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

United Nations has called for sanctions regime that would target individuals responsible for the continuation of the crisis including freezing of assets and imposition of travel bans on such individuals. Arms embargo would also be imposed on South Sudan.

The rebel official called on the international community to exert pressure on the government of president Salva Kiir to return to the negotiating table in good faith.

Mabior also said the rebel movement welcomed the proposed active participation of the troika countries (United States, Norway and United Kingdom) in the next round of the peace talks.

“The SPLM/SPLA remains committed to the IGAD-led peace process and respectfully urges the region and the world to use all means at their disposal to persuade our partners in peace to return to the negotiating table in good faith,” he said.

He accused the government of allegedly violating the cessation of hostilities agreement (CoHA) which the two parties signed since 23 January 2014.

Direct talks between president Kiir and opposition leader Machar collapsed on 6 March in Addis Ababa when the two principals could not agree on almost every outstanding issue.

The East African regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has reportedly informed the parties in the conflict to resume the peace process on 8 June.

(ST)

By Stephen Par Kuol

With its compact cartographic shape and susceptibility to violent armed conflicts, Africa, the second largest continent on the globe has been metaphorically described by some western pundits as a loaded pistol whose trigger is located somewhere in the Gulf of Guinea (Western Congo and Southern Cameroon),with its ammunition magazine somewhere in the extreme Horn of Africa (Somalia) and the barrel on the southern tip of the continent (Cape Province, SAR). This literately means that the African people live inside a loaded automatic handgun ready to fire at any time. Some African gurus of history and political science have dismissed that as Euro-centric prejudice. Arguable or not, the home truth is that humanity has never experienced real peace in the continent since the era of slave trade, colonial conquest, and scramble for Africa and unfortunately up to the independence in 1960s. Things have only gone from bad to worse with liberation and independence. While most of what we have to deal with today is the aftermath of colonialism, bashing the long gone colonialists for everything is really shirking leadership responsibility. Like Asians who have so far overcome the bruises of colonialism, we are masters of our own destiny to make this continent a hell or paradise for our people. We have all it takes to make life fun and liveable in this cradle of humanity. What is missing is the statesmanship in African politics. The African leaders in their club of dictators called African Union (AU) talk very big but do very little in their countries as their own people continue to wallow in misery.

Today, from Eritrea to Zimbabwe and from South Sudan to Uganda and Burundi, the African people have been trapped in what Professor Patrick Lumumba of Nairobi University Law School has called “Martyrs syndrome”. Martyrs Syndrome is a political psychosis of the liberation armies/movements turned –ruling parties in post war African countries. The most common symptom of this psychosis is the paternalistic conviction on the part of the so-called liberators that they deserve everything in the country they martyred liberating. This pathological mentality prescribes that the liberated (the populace) are the ruled and the liberators are rulers with unquestionable authority over them. My own sojourn in Post War South Sudan politics has exposed me to the spectacle of this thing called liberated –liberators discourse. In this discourse, the liberators see everything in their liberated country as dividend of their sacrifice and success. This includes public resources and the political power they earned through bullets (not ballots). Even the term corruption has by implication gained virtuous currency in the society where the so-called political leaders are entitled to loot the country straight faced. One South Sudanese political scientist at Juba University has called those illegally amassed resources “SPLA I fought Wealth” That is called “graft” in the civilized world of sane and sober, but in the world of those goons, it is called “payback” for the time and opportunities lost during the liberation struggle. Even the demand for the freedom we all fought for is now branded as errant nuisance of the west. Meritocracy and institutionalism have been deliberately eschewed to advance this thing we have called lootocracy in our Juba English of drinking joints. Subsequently, South Sudan has been long condemned to the reign of political ineptitude, mediocrity, ethnic bigotry and corruption of the ruling overlords. All this is called “payback”, of course, without term limit!

In Robert Magube's tradition, revolutionaries can be retired only by the Mother Nature. In solemn term, African liberation leaders do not retire without political violence. No wonder, civil wars are raging in most of the African countries ruled by those hooligans who call themselves revolutionaries. I call those “wars of liberation from villainous liberators”. In most of the African countries with former guerrilla leaders at the helm, those “war made politicians “(in the word of Prof. Peter Adwok Nyaba ) have created a sterile world of oppressors. They usurp the rule of law and place themselves above the law and the whole justice system, to the point where a few conscientious judges and lawyers have absconded. The rest have been knuckled down to live with the hollow that even the President can also be the lawmaker when it comes to his throne. The supreme law of the land (the constitution) is amended at the behest of His Excellency the President to extend his own rule of gun. This has been witnessed in Burundi, South Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe and so many other African countries. Yowery Musveni of Uganda, the guerrilla commander turned life President has been running his country with iron fist amending the constitution three times since 1985. He shunned multi-party democracy through physical elimination and intimidation. Robert Mugabe, the infamous liberation leader who led his country to independence in 1980 ordered killing of thousands of people who refused to vote for him during the last elections he shamelessly rigged through intimidation and bribery. He has been the only president Zimbabweans have known since then.

President Isiyias Afiworki of Eritrea has executed many of his former comrades in arms and introduced a red terror that has cowed everybody to political servitude in the country. The Red Sea despot has been leading an anti-intellectual movement that has exiled the national intelligentsia and the best cadres of the liberation struggle. He has been the only presidents Eritreans have known since independence in 1991. In truth, what happened in the SPLM of South Sudan, EPLF of Eritrea, ZANUPF of Zimbabwe and NRM of Uganda is a case of chicken devouring its own eggs. In Burundi, President Pierre Nkurunziza, the former guerrilla leader has been violently wrestling with the people to extend his despotic rule in blatant violation of Arusha Peace Agreement enshrined in the constitution with clearly defined term limit. Despite wise counsels of so many world leaders to yield to the demand of his people, President NKuruniziza insists that there is no Burundi without him in power. He is thus adamant to glide the country back to another civil war to ensure that he is made life president like Mugabe and Musevene. One wonders what President Nkurunziza wants to do with more years in office after squandering ten years without accomplishing a thing for Burundi! This is typical of the so-called African liberation leaders. The typical African dictator will use every tool at his disposal to cling to morally decayed power.

In South Sudan, the cowboy clown called Salva Kiir Mayardit has turned his newly independent country into a bestial human butchery to extend his reign of terror, genocide, widespread insecurity and economic depression. Kiir's oppressive regime has reduced to nothing the meaning of “the rule of law.” It has created a state of affairs in which “terror” has become its definition of liberation. Anyone who does not toe its line is treated as enemy of the state. More than that, he/she may be actually executed by the President's personal hoodlums. Salva Kiir has built a violent kleptocracy fighting for its own survival at the expense of the nascent nation. It is a cult of mediocrity without any program for nation building, if any, it is quite the opposite: “subversion”. One ugly scar Kiir's regime has inflicted on the psyche of South Sudan is the polarization of the nation into sectarian cocoons of mutual hatred. In terms of the quality of life, the economy, morality, culture, justice system, health facilities, quality of education, have pitifully degenerated. Suffering, pain, poverty and oppression have become the core characters of South Sudan independence. Even the freedom of assembly or speech provided for in the national constitution is thwarted by Kiir's Police State. So the question is: where is the freedom we toiled and martyred for as a people? It is unbelievable but it is self-evident that “the self-rule “generations of South Sudanese people have been clamoring for is now synonymous with “self-ruin” under Salva Kiir. In a word, life is miserable!

I have dwelled more on my native country of South Sudan but what is happening there is not necessarily peculiar to South Sudan. It is a common African neo-colonial experience. Although few did well at governance, majority of the liberation leaders throughout the continent have been political disgrace. The leap to borrow as models could be from that of Melese Zinawe and Paul Kagama in term of institutional reform and the economic development, but the two are also guilty of dictatorship and prima donna. Only Mandela was the polar opposite. Most of the rest have reduced the very noble meaning of the term liberation to what Christopher Clapham of Cambridge University has called “Curse of the Liberation”. In my book, political liberation means much more than taking the means of power from a foreign colonial power or from an ingenious dictator. With specific reference to South Sudan, the meaning of political liberation goes beyond hoisting that blue star flag, composing a national anthem; building mansions, palaces houses and having our own currency. This is, but a very limited meaning of liberation. Liberation must be intellectual .It must be found in the minds and the hearts of the liberated. In another word, it must be holistic for it to mean what we wanted it to mean in the first place. Ultimately, it must include getting rid of neo-colonial greed, which illegally exports national assets off shore.

Historically, there was a time during our liberation struggle when we thought all we wanted was to rule ourselves. The pioneers of African independence movements like Khwame Nkhuruma , Mzee Jomo Kenyata, Emperor Haile Selesia, Mawlimu Nyareer gave it all they had. Paradoxically, the very heroes of the African independence who replaced colonial powers emulated their colonial oppressors and made themselves demigods in their newly independent countries. Preoccupied with self-aggrandizing projects, they miserably failed to deliver on democracy and economic development. That is why so many decades into our political independence, Africa is sinking deeper and deeper into not only material poverty but also spiritually and morally in the midst of political sovereignty. Instead of practicing the founding values of their liberation movements (freedom), the African freedom fighters became anti-freedom. For the worst part, the big men of African liberation movements have introduced vicious political tribalism (politicized ethnicity) which has not only consumed the sense of nationhood but also tends to promote miss rule and dictatorship. In African political culture, national political leaders take refuge in their tribal constituencies whenever the center can't hold for them and that has terribly undermined progress toward democratic transformation in so many African countries. We keep voting back to power the same few greedy, self-centered, corruption-oriented individuals because if we do not, the ruling party will murder us. Even when we do not vote for them, they steal the vote with our permission, knowing that there are no reprisals against them. This is humanly much harsher than residing inside a loaded pistol. Hence, it must not be left to posterity. This continent must be liberated from the greed of its dictators, poverty, disease and ignorance. This must commence with ousting inept tyrants like Kiir, Museveni, Mugabe, Nkurunziza and all their likes. Only then can we realize the true meaning of liberation and turn this loaded pistol into the Garden of Eden God meant it to be from the Genesis.

Stephen Par Kuol is a researcher and freelance writer on African political and humanitarian affairs. He can be reached by e-mail via kuolpar@yahoo

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

May 29, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday it has relocated a total of 42, 616 South Sudanese refugees from flood prone Leitchour and Nip Nip camps to a newly built Jewi camp in Ethiopia's Gambela region.

Ethiopia has witnessed a huge influx of South Sudanese refugees since conflict erupted in the young nation in December 2013 (AFP)

The relocation operation was temporarily suspended between Sunday and Tuesday 26 May due to the Ethiopian parliamentary elections but recommenced on Wednesday.

The camp-to-camp operations, which begun on May 8, involves over 400 buses, 86 trucks helicopter.

The Nip Nip camp was officially closed on 9 May.

The relocation operation aims to protect refugees from risks of flooding as rainy season approaches.

Last year, Leitchour and Nip Nip camps were severely hit by flooding after heavy rains forced the Baro River to burst its banks.

A total of 51, 300 refugees from flood-prone areas will be relocated.

According to the UN refugee agency currently an average of 407 South Sudanese refugees cross borders to Ethiopia via two entry points (Pagak and Akobo) to escape the ongoing fighting at home.

Since conflict erupted in South Sudan on December 2013, a total of 205,556 South Sudanese of which most women and children have arrived in Ethiopia raising the total South Sudanese population in Gambella region to 260,000.

Following the eruption of the conflict, over half a million South Sudanese have fled to neighbouring countries but Ethiopia has received the highest number of refugees.

UNHCR has met with partners in Addis Ababa to review emergency preparedness levels as almost 6,000 South Sudanese refugees wait at border entry for registration.

As refugees keep arriving, the Ethiopian government has identified a suitable land close to Pugnido refugee camp to build an additional camp.

The UNHCR and its local partner Administration for refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) have undertaken site planning and a budget proposal have been submitted to Headquarters.

(ST)

May 29, 2015 (JUBA) – The United Nations secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon announced on Friday the appointment of Eugene Owusu as deputy special representative of its mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

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

Owusu who hails from Ghana will reportedly also serve as the world body's resident coordinator, humanitarian coordinator, and resident representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

The Ghanaian will succeed Toby Lanzer, who is due to take up the new post of regional humanitarian coordinator for the Sahel region.

“The secretary-general is grateful for Mr. Lanzer's dedicated service with the United Nations in the Republic of South Sudan,” said Ki-moon.

The Ghanaian reportedly brings to his new position extensive experience in international development and humanitarian affairs.

Currently, Owusu is the UN resident coordinator, humanitarian coordinator and resident representative of UNDP in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, a position held since August 2010.

Before joining the UN, Owusu who holds a doctorate degree in Agricultural Economics from the United States, reportedly worked for the private sector in the United Kingdom.

(ST)

May 29, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese army (SPLA) spokesperson dismissed as “lie” report by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) that Juba soldiers fired at UN peacekeeping mission in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile state.

SPLA soldier stands next to a machine gun mounted on a truck in Malakal town, on December 30, 2013 (Photo Reuters/James Akena)

The UN said one of its peacekeepers was wounded on Thursday in the oil-rich Upper Nile state's capital, Malakal, when SPLA soldiers fired at its civilian protection site on Thursday.

“The mission is deeply concerned that despite reassurances given by both parties, such an incident occurred this afternoon and reiterates its strong call upon all the parties to respect the sanctity of UN installations and staff,” Stephane Dujarric, a UN spokesperson, revealed in New York.

However, SPLA spokesman, Col. Philip Aguer, frustrated by the report said it was a lie, but added that a preliminary investigation only established that soldiers shot randomly in Malakal town on Thursday, several kilometres away from UNMISS base.

“It [the alleged wounding of UN soldier] was later discovered to be a lie,” said Aguer, speaking to Sudan Tribune by phone.

“It [the shooting] was not near the UNMISS camp. It was inside Malakal town,” he said.

But Aguer insisted that there was nobody even injured in Malakal town among the SPLA or civilians.

Civilians sources sheltering at UNMISS base in Malakal however said that eight civilians were injured inside UNMISS camp including two peacekeepers when elements of the SPLA soldiers fired at the civilians sheltered in the UN facility. No death case was reported.

There are 30,410 civilians in Malakal's UN protection of civilians sites (PoCs) according to the UNMISS.

(ST)

May 29, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir received a letter from the Libyan Prime minister , Abdullah al-Thani, dealing with the political developments in the neighbouring country.

The Libyan prime minister shakes hands with Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti after his arrival to Khartoum on 27 October 2014 (Photo: AFP/Ashraf Shazly)

The official news agency SUNA said Bashir received Friday evening an special envoy of the Libyan prime minister, Nouri Mohamed Beit Almal, who handed him a message from al-Thani.

The president ''expressed interest in the content of the letter, stressing Sudan's desire to assist and continue cooperation with Libya. He looks forward to meet with all parties in a dialogue to stop the conflict and reach solutions restoring stability in Libya,'' said the agency.

Following a visit of the Libyan prime minister to Khartoum in October 2014, Sudan announced that Libya's rival governments accepted Bashir's initiative for reconciliation and dialogue, announcing that Libya's neighbouring countries meeting will be held in Khartoum.

However, earlier this month, the Sudanese government disclosed that the United Nations (UN) has asked for its help to convince the warring Libyan parties to sign an agreement it drafted to resolve the crisis in the north African nation.

On Thursday 28 May, the United Nations special envoy Bernardino Leon said that the rival governments had agreed on 80 percent of an accord and negotiators were working on the remaining 20 percent,

Since August 2014, Libya has two governments and parliaments since Tripoli was seized in a coalition of Islamist groups while the internationally recognized government is based in Tobruk. Qatar , Sudan and Turkey are accused of supporting this alliance.

There are also Jihadists groups linked to the extremists of The Islamic State based the eastern city of Derna.

In press statements after the meeting, Beit Almal said his government appreciates the growing interest showed by president Bashir to bring security and stability in Libya.

He further said he congratulated the Sudanese president for his re-election on the behave of the Libyan people and government.

(ST)

May 29, 2015 (NYALA) - Aid groups in South Darfur state have warned against increasing numbers of orphans and displaced persons due to tribal conflicts and the ongoing war between the government army and the rebel groups since 2003.

A UNAMID peacekeeper is approached by playful children inside Abu Shouk IDPs Camp during his routine patrol on 23 December 2009 (UN Photo)

The national aid group Solidarity for Relief and Development (SRD) on Thursday has launched the first festival for adopting 5000 orphans and providing their families with the basic means of production.

SRD secretary general, Amir Hussein Abdel-Rigal, said they aim to increase the number to reach 10,000 adopted orphans by the end of the year, noting his group continued to offer other services including drinking water projects and building of mosques.

He pointed out that they provide services in various Sudanese states, adding that orphans festival is being launched for the first time in South Darfur.

Abdel-Rigal said they also launched the “Million Subscriber” initiative to support orphans across the country, pointing that subscribers only contribute a monthly donation of one Sudanese pound (SDG).

He called for renouncing tribal violence in Darfur in order to reduce the number of orphans in the restive region, saying that tribal fighting is the major source of orphanhood in South Darfur.

“We want Darfur to enjoy stability, peace and prosperity instead of tribal conflicts and fighting which [are the main cause] for the existence of vast numbers of orphans,” he added.

The humanitarian aid commissioner in South Darfur, Jamal Yousif, for his part, praised efforts of the SRD, pointing the great confidence won by the latter from the donors would enable it to provide valuable services for the orphans.

A source within the social welfare ministry in South Darfur told Sudan Tribune that the state was unable to determine the total number of orphans due to limited financial resources, saying that tribal fighting and the armed struggle are the main causes responsible for existence of thousands of orphans.

The same source pointed that a preliminary study showed that the state is a home for more than 4,000 orphans, stressing that numbers of the homeless is constantly growing which requires finding solutions to prevent further exacerbation of the situation.

The government forces conducted a brutal counter-insurgency campaign following the start of a rebellion in Darfur 2003.

UN agencies estimate as many as 300,000 people have been killed and almost 3 million were displaced.

Also tribal fighting has intensified in four of Darfur's five states during the past two years leading to thousands of deaths and injuries and forcing over 300,000 people to flee their homes.

(ST)

May 29, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan's presidency has downplayed reports of insecurity in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, dismissing claims of rebel presence in the region.

General Dau Aturjong (ST)

This comes a day after renegade Gen. Dau Atorjong told Sudan Tribune his forces had captured strategic areas in the state, citing Aweil West and Aweil North counties, Nyinboli and other key areas.

But the presidency, in a statement issued Friday, said the rebels' claim aimed at misleading citizens and the international community

“We want to inform our citizens and to whom it may concerns that Northern Bahr El Ghazal State did not concede any territory to the rebels, nor did it experience any serious fight with the rebels,” it said.

“What has transpired, however, was the column of rebels' intelligent reconnaissance moving to explore targets in NBGS [Northern Bahr el Ghazal state], but it felt into government ambush and two of the rebel officers were taken captive,” added the release.

According to the presidency, the prisoners of war taken by the government forces from the rebel forces of Gen. Atorjong were 2nd Lt. Mou Garang Diing and Sgt. Major Kerbino Bol Marik Ken and they the duo were now in the Division 3 Infantry headquarters' custody.

“The Division 3 Commander's Major General Santino Deng Wol is now arranging with the Chief of General Staff to bring the two captives to the SPLA General Headquarters for further investigation,” stressed the statement issued by the country's presidency.

It further said the rebels who escaped capture were currently on the run, but they are being pursued by the national army attached to Division 3.

“We therefore would like to appeal to our citizens in NBGS to remain calm and focused while the SPLA forces are doing their national duty. Rumors of the utopian rebel advances must be discarded, if rebels are to be deprived of the ability to manufacture lies,” it noted.

(ST)

May 29, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The pro-government Sudan Journalists Union (SJU) said it will hold a panel discussion on Sunday with the participation of several law, security and media specialists.

Members of Sudanese Journalists Network (SJN) hold banners outside the National Council for Press and Publication (NCPP) premises in Khartoum in protest against repeated seizure of newspapers, on May 26, 2015 (ST photo)

The announcement comes two days after the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) welcomed the SJU's initiative to overcome reasons behind extraordinary measures applied by the NISS against the newspapers.

Last Monday, NISS seized copies of 10 newspapers from the printing press and suspended 4 of them indefinitely without giving reasons.

Journalists suggested the move was likely a reaction to news published by those newspapers on incidents of sexual harassment and child rape taking place inside school buses.

An official source within the SJU told the state news agency SUNA that the panel discussion aims to study and analyse the current state of the media, saying it comes within the framework of the dialogue which the SJU hopes would have positive impact on the practice of the profession.

The SJU has invited all journalists, correspondents, media professionals and those interested in the social media to attend the panel discussion which would be held under the title “the press and the community”.

The department of information at the NISS and the leadership of the SJU had discussed on Thursday the importance of the role played by the press and how to reconcile between freedom and responsibility in order for the press to carry out its professional duty.

According to a press release from the NISS, the SJU called for upholding values of freedom and professionalism and resorting to the law for resolving media disputes, saying they also demanded immediate return of the 4 newspapers suspended on Monday.

The NISS's information department, for its part, underscored its keenness to strengthen values of liberty and transparency, stressing it would not tolerate any publishing of news which could negatively affect values, morals and customs of the society.

It also emphasized that all measures taken against the newspapers have been applied in accordance with the law.

NISS used to summon journalists and seize copies of newspapers for publishing news and reports on political, security and military issues, however, they recently they tightened the noose on social issues as well.

Last March, the societal police also interrogated several journalists for publishing stories and statistics pertaining to the HIV/AIDS and the sex workers in Khartoum.

Earlier this year, NISS interrogated journalists, Hanan Issa, of Al-Mustaqilla newspaper and Mohamed Saeed, of Al-Taghyeer newspaper for publishing stories on social phenomena such as marriage and illegal drugs.

NISS also summoned the journalist Asma Michael Istanbol of Al-Tayyar newspaper last December for publishing a press report on prostitution in Khartoum.

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

Sudanese journalists work under tight daily censorship controls exercised by the NISS.

Journalists say that NISS uses seizures of print runs of newspapers, not only to censor the media but also to weaken them economically.

(ST)

May 29, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese army (SPLA) came under yet another deadly attack on Thursday in Yambio county in Western Equatoria state. Senior national and state government officials continue to contradict themselves over how to describe the emerging situation.

Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) patrol the streets of Jonglei state capital Bor (Photo: Reuters)

The new rebel group Revolutionary Movement for National Salvation (REMNASA) led by Lasuba Lodoru Won'go claimed the responsibility of the attack saying , a platoon under captain Joseph Gambur from the South Sudan's Army (SPLA)'s Commando Unit revolted and joined them on Friday.

"The Platoon had serious military confrontations for 45 minutes causing heavy losses on the SPLA forces based in Myka Military billet, in Western Equatoria State, before they retreated and joined the patriotic forces of REMNASA, stationed in Rimenze," said a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

This latest attack happened exactly seven days after the first attack which resulted to brief capture of Mundri county's administrative headquarters in the state.

Information minister in Western Equatoria, Charles Kisanga, confirmed the attack which he said took place in Bangasu payam in Yambio county on Thursday night. He said an army base at Nyaka area was attacked by “unknown” gunmen, revealing that at least one soldier died and four others wounded in the clashes.

“We got this information this morning that there is a small base of SPLA set up this year and some unknown gunmen attacked it last night,” Kisanga told UN-run Miraya FM radio on Friday.

He however insisted on refuting claims by government officials in Juba which declared the situation as “rebellion” in the state.

The official said the situation which occurred in Mundri last Friday resulted from attack by armed youth after the killing of executive director of the county, blaming the South Sudanese army for instigating the incident.

The state official further accused the South Sudanese army of being tribal and violent oriented against the citizens and their properties, citing destruction of Mundri town as an example.

“The army needs to be a national army instead of being from one tribe who can go on rampage like they did. You see how Mundri town had been devastated by the very soldiers who are supposed to protect the citizens,” he said.

“They looted shops, all the supplies and there was shooting and all the people fled to the bushes,” he charged.

In the Thursday's attack in Yambio, Kisanga admitted that he couldn't ascertain those who were responsible for the latest fighting in the state.

REBELLION IN WESTERN EQUATORIA

National minister of information, Michael Makuei Lueth, said the situation was clearly indicating that a rebellion was emerging in Western Equatoria state, but added that an investigation was to be carried out to know what was behind the rebellion.

“It is decided that there shall be conducted an investigation into the matter so that we know exactly what are the intentions of Wesley Welade who is now the leader of this force,” Lueth told reporters in Juba after cabinet meeting on Friday.

He said it was clear that a rebel group was forming itself in the state, saying this will not be allowed to happen. He added the army had already been directed to deal with the situation.

“The indicators are very clear that this is a rebellion,” he said.

He also added that even if the new rebels were not connected to the rebels of the country's former vice president, Riek Machar, it was a rebellion that should be properly addressed.

(ST)

May 29, 2015 (JUBA) – The leader of a new resistance movement in South Sudan's Western Equatoria state has denied their alleged links to the armed opposition led by former vice-president, Riek Machar.

The map of Western Equatoria in red

Wesley Welebe Samson said his group, locally known as the Nyarango Boys, was not behind the recent insurgency in Mundri county.

He also dismissed claimed that his resistance movement was part of the Revolution Movement for National Salvation (REMNASSA) that also claimed responsibility for what occurred in Mundri.

A former lawmaker, Welebe said his groups of mainly area youth want to protect farmers in greater Mundri from the pastoralists who have invaded the area, continuously destroying farms in the area.

He described the pastoralists as “spoilers” of the peaceful coexistence among the various communities in Mundri county.

“I am not [part of the] SPLM/A-In-Opposition as claimed by the opposition”, the group's leader told Sudan Tribune by phone Friday.

He said the Nyarango Boys movement was agitating for peace in the county.

Welebe lauded president Salva Kiir after the latter recently issued an executive order calling for the removal of cattle from their territory.

He claimed the recent killing of Mundri's executive director was what temporarily sparked off chaos and instability in the county.

The former legislator, however, called on the people of greater Mundri to support the government of South Sudan and live in peace.

Our message to the government and president of the Republic of South Sudan Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit is that we are for peace and not against the government, the group's leader assured on Friday.

He further disclosed that they were ready to dialogue with the government, but on condition that his boys would be fully protected.

“The boys are ready and will be handed over to the government and some of them to be recruited to the national army, police, national security and other organised forces in the country such that they are part of security that will protect people,” said Welebe.

FORMATION OF MIDWEST STATE

He also called on the president to consider the proposal to establish Midwest state, which was tabled in his office some years ago, since the Yambio administration had “failed” to solve local problems.

He said his group would not in any way fight the national army or government.

The leader of Nyarango Boys further refuted allegations that his group is linked to one Lasuba and that they had no connection with his group, which only aims at protection the farmers in the area. He urged the government to treat his case differently.

He advocated that the army forces in Mundri be changed with disciplined ones who and understand needs of the local population.

REBELLION OR NOT?

The South Sudanese army spokesperson, Col. Philip Aguer announced on Monday that a new rebellion had been formed in Mundri county of Western Equatoria state.

“There is a new rebel movement in Western Equatoria state. Security reported that somebody called Charles Balogore under Wesley Waluba” leads the rebellion”, he said.

But the state government dismissed reports of a rebellion as "not true" and “one sided”.

“I stand by our earlier story that it was local youth who reacted to the looting and destruction by SPLA unit in Mundri on Friday 22 May 2015 and took control. The youth were angry at the assassination of their executive director plus random gunfire perpetuated by the army then,” information minister, Charles Kisanga told Sudan Tribune.

(ST)