Africa

June 23, 2021 (KAMPALA) – Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has urged members of his new cabinet to focus on service delivery and champion fight the against corruption.

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni (Photo: Carl Court/AP)

He was speaking at the swearing on ceremony of the newly-appointed ministers at a ceremony held in Kampala on Monday.

“This government must be one of service delivery. I don't want to hear any more outcries from the people. People are crying because of evictions,” said the Ugandan leader.

“This cabinet must look into that,” he added.

Museveni, who was sworn in on May 12 for his sixth five-year term in office, appointed on June 9 an 81-member cabinet. He also sacked 37 former ministers, reshuffled and named new ones.

He tasked his new cabinet members to focus five targets, citing cohesion, corruption, integration, patriotism, and service delivery.

"This is a cabinet of cohesion in the system. I want the program of National Resistance Movement to be implemented enthusiastically. It must be a cabinet of no corruption. You people should be careful. There is nothing I don't know. I appeal to the ministers not to ask for anything from anybody. If you want to be durable leaders, don't seek and accept favour from anybody. And don't tolerate corruption under you," warned Museveni.

The president also said the new government must be a government of service delivery in the areas of education, health and roads.

"I don't want to hear outcries anymore. The issue of justice, land evictions. This cabinet must look at those five targets. I congratulate all of you on being sworn in today and I congratulate all the people of Uganda for having successfully held elections in spite of the coronavirus and other challenges. Now we have got a parliament and cabinet. So, we are set now,” explained Museveni.

“This ceremony is part of the Constitution and we shall have our first cabinet meeting next Monday in Entebbe," he added.

Meanwhile Museveni said lot of growth has been achieved in terms of education, agriculture, life expectancy, reduced infant mortality, infrastructure and others, over the last 35 years of his rule.

"39 per cent of homesteads are still in the non-money economy, meaning that 61 per cent of the economy are in the money economy. This cabinet must now resolve that all people work for the stomach and money as well," he stressed.

Museveni was declared the winner of elections held on Jan. 14 this year after receiving 58% of the vote while his closest rival, Robert Kyagulanyi garnered 35%.

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June 23, 2021 (JUBA) - Production in South Sudan's Block 5A – operated by Sudd Petroleum Operating Company (SPOC) – has resumed from the Tharjiath Central Processing Facility into the Tharjiath - WNPOC Heglic Control Centre pipeline after seven years of production shutdown due to civil war.

A worker at the power plant of an oil processing facility in South Sudan's Unity state on 22 April 2012 (Photo: Reuters)

According to a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, SPOC will unpack its production resumption journey at the upcoming South Sudan Oil & Power 2021 conference, organized by Energy Capital & Power, taking place in Juba from June 29-30.

The Block will produce more than 8,000 barrels per day (bpd) by the end of 2021, 16,000 bpd by mid-2022; 30,000 bpd by 2025 – and is expected to reach a peak of 45,000 bpd in 2028 once four field development projects have been completed.

Block 5A is the final operating Block to resume production after the Greater Pioneer Operating Company, which operates the Unity Field in northern South Sudan; and Dar Petroleum Operating Company, which operates Blocks 3 and 7 in the Melut Basin. SPOC's resumption of production is highly significant, as it is the last joint operating company to resume production after the civil war.

“The resumption to us as a government means economic security, not only to the government of South Sudan, but also to the communities in the oil producing region,” Minister of Petroleum, Puot Kang Chol told reporters on Monday.

Meanwhile, SPOC, with the support from its partners, has also launched its Magnetic Tomography Method; a new pipeline inspection technology which is the first of its kind in South Sudan and has helped accelerate its 172km export pipeline integrity assessment work.

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility program, SPOC commissioned its upgraded water treatment plant in Tharjiath that sources water directly from the Nile River located 16km away from the Tharjiath field, ensuring the security of water supply is sustained throughout the year and enabling SPOC to provide continuous clean and fresh water supply to over 20,000 community members surrounding its operations area.

The operator has also launched a Geocell System for pond reinstatement, which ensures a low bearing base, stabilizes eroded slopes, reinforces embankments and effectively protects liner.

“This production resumption would not be possible without the trust, belief and effort from the Ministry of Petroleum, the SPOC Partners - PETRONAS, ONGC and NILEPET, the resumption service providers as well as all SPOC employees. With the Water Treatment Plant upgrading and commissioning, SPOC has brought the river directly to our community," said Eruwan Gerry, head of SPOC.

Revenue from oil accounts for nearly 98 percent of South Sudan's annual budget.

In June last year, the Central Bank of South Sudan said it would start buying crude gold from local miners to boost the country's economy.

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June 23, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) obtained enough pledges from its members to provide comprehensive debt relief to Sudan, said the financial institution on Tuesday.

Last May, the IMF Executive Board approved a financing plan to mobilize needed resources to cover its share of debt relief to Sudan.

This plan relies on IMF member countries, including cash grants and contributions derived from IMF internal resources.

"101 IMF member countries have pledged to provide more than SDR 992 million (US$1,415.7 million) in financing," said IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

"This will enable the clearance of Sudan's arrears to the IMF, allow for the provision of new Fund financing, and facilitate the delivery of the HIPC Initiative and other debt-relief to Sudan," added Georgieve.

Sudan's debt has reached over $60 billion, according to the Sudanese officials. The IMF estimates it totalled $50 billion in 2019.

Over 85% of Sudan's debt is arrears, unpaid interest and penalties.

The severe economic reforms and the economic hardships the country is experiencing pose a risk to Sudan's stability, particularly as the Hamdok government did not succeed to implement the safety net programme that was supposed to support vulnerable families.

“This achievement marks a clear recognition by our membership of the extraordinary efforts of the people and the government of Sudan to advance economic and financial reforms despite a challenging environment," said the IMF Managing Director.

She pointed out that these pledges will also help unlock significant amounts of development assistance and create the conditions for higher and more inclusive growth in Sudan.
Also, she hailed efforts by many low-income countries for mobilizing funding for Sudan.

"Sudan is now one step closer to reaching the HIPC Decision Point, a landmark which will significantly reduce Sudan's total debt and allow access to fresh funds and new investments critical to boost growth and fight poverty,” concluded Georgieva.

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June 23, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, Head of the Sovereignty Council, denied "rumours" about differences within the military component of the transitional authority in Sudan and reaffirmed their unity and commitment to back democratic transition.

Al-Burhan made his remarks in a military event held at the General Command of the Sudanese army in Khartoum on Wednesday attended by his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo who publically refused to integrate his Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the national army on 3 June.

“The (Sudan) Armed Forces and Rapid Support (Forces) are united to preserve the security of the homeland, its people and its territorial integrity," said al-Burhan according to a statement released by the Military Media after the event.

"He further stressed that the Armed Forces and Rapid Support are one strong hand to protect the transitional period and produce the desired democratic transformation, and called to achieve political unity for all Sudanese," further stressed the statement.

At the end of last month, signs of the alert state were displayed at the entrance to military installations of the SAF and RSF in Khartoum after Hametti's statements about the independence of his force.

In an initiative calling for the unity of transition's forces announced on Tuesday, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok spoke about differences within the military component of the transitional authority.

Hamdok's Media Adviser Faisal Mohamed Saleh said on Tuesday that the military component was the first to be informed about the initiative but they did not respond.

In statements to Blue Nile TV about the initiative, Saleh admitted the existence of "serious differences" between the regular army and the militia force.

"The dispute between civilians ends with withdrawals and statements, but between the military, it is dangerous to the security, safety and unity of the country," he stressed.

Hemetti, in his speech, reaffirmed the cohesion of the military component, adding that the "enemies are waiting for us to antagonize and fight each other," according to the statement.

"The Armed Forces and Rapid Support are one force under the command of the Commander in Chief," he stressed.

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Kidnappers have seized more than 1,000 students and staff in raids on schools in northern Nigeria since December.

Thousands of families in southern Madagascar are on the edge of starvation, and “holding on for dear life”, the UN food agency chief said on Wednesday - after bearing witness to the suffering firsthand - urging the world to step-up and take action.   

Defense forces, soldiers from nearby countries and other security personnel have been fighting an “asymmetric war” against armed groups, sparking an “unprecedented humanitarian crisis”, the top UN official in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday.

June 23, 2021 (KHARTOUM) Sudan called on the United Nations Security Council to request Ethiopia halt its plan to fill the reservoir of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) unilaterally.

According to the official SUNA, the Sudanese Foreign Minister called on the Security Council to meet as early as possible to discuss the planned filling of the giant dam and its impact on the safety and security of millions of people living in the downstream countries.

In a letter on Tuesday, Mariam al-Mahdi called on the 15-member body to urge all parties to abide by their obligations under international law and to refrain from unilateral measures.

Al-Mahdi further requested the Council to "call on Ethiopia to stop unilateral filling the Renaissance Dam which will exacerbate the dispute and poses a threat to regional and international peace and security".

After nine years of direct talks without an agreement, Ethiopia says determined to carry out the second filling of the GERD reservoir with 13.5 billion-cubic-meter.

African Union Chairperson and Congolese President Felix Tshiseked failed during a visit to Addis Ababa on 9 May to persuade the Ethiopian prime minister to strike a deal with Egypt and Sudan.

The Sudanese minister said Ethiopia's intransigence and its lack of political will hampered efforts to reach an "agreement that addresses the interests and concerns of all parties".

Last week, the Arab League called on the Security Council to discuss the issue of the GERD between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.

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Full implementation of a historic ceasefire agreement and the withdrawal of foreign forces are critical for consolidating peace in Libya, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday in remarks to a major international meeting aimed at shoring up the country after a decade of civil conflict. 

June 22, 2021 (JUBA) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of €5.7 million ($6.68 million) from Germany to provide life-saving food assistance to thousands of people in South Sudan this year.

The German national flag (Getty)

The donation, WFP said in a statement, comes at a critical time when funding is scarce, and the country faces alarmingly high rates of food insecurity due to conflict, floods and rising poverty.

According to aid agencies, South Sudan is experiencing its worst humanitarian crisis with 7.2 million people–60 percent of the population–facing acute food insecurity and 1.4 million children under five years of age and half a million pregnant and breastfeeding women expected to suffer from acute malnutrition.

Germany's contribution will provide food and nutrition assistance to over 150,000 vulnerable people in the most food-insecure areas, WFP said, stressing that it gave food and nutrition assistance to more than five million people across the country in 2020.

"We are grateful to Germany and its people for supporting South Sudan at this critical time when multiple crises and conflict mean more and more people cannot support themselves and their families," said Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Representative and Country Director in South Sudan.

"WFP relies on predictable funding from donors to support vulnerable families who need food assistance to survive,” he added.

Janika Walter, Chargeé d'Affaires and Head of Cooperation of the German Embassy in South Sudan said Germany hopes that the additional funding will contribute mitigating the suffering of vulnerable people on the brink of starvation, at a time when more South Sudanese than ever before need humanitarian assistance.

"We commend WFP for its continuous efforts to operate in such a challenging environment to improve the lives of South Sudanese families,” he said.

Germany is a long-standing partner of WFP and has supported its work in South Sudan since 2011.

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June 22, 2021 (JUBA) - South Sudan has officially launched its first oil licensing auction with five blocks on offer, the country's Petroleum ministry announced on Wednesday.

An aerial view of an oil field near the town of Bentiu, Unity state (AP)

"The oil licensing round aims to attract interest from a diverse group of foreign investors to a region that is already home to oil and gas majors from China and Malaysia," partly reads the ministry's statement.

Currently, China National Petroleum Corporation and Malaysia's Petronas are operating in the young nation.

According to the ministry once the period for expressions of interest closes, a series of data presentations would be hosted virtually.

Income from oil accounts for 98 percent of South Sudan's annual budget.

In June last year, the Central Bank of South Sudan said it would start buying crude gold from local miners to boost the country's economy.

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June 22, 2012 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Prime Minister proposed to agree on a common vision to accomplish the transitional agenda, including the reform of military institutions and integration of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the unified national army.

Abdallah Hamdouk launched on Tuesday an initiative aiming to agree on a national platform to achieve the democratic transition in Sudan.

He said that the country is currently experiencing a deep political crisis exacerbated by the differences between the political parties, among the military institutions and the civilian versus military power struggle.

The Prime Minister said the civilian and military component of the transitional bloc have to agree on the tasks of the transition, on top of which is the establishment of a unified professional and national army with a new military doctrine.

The call to reform the security and military sector comes after the refusal of the Deputy-Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo "Hemetti" to integrate the RSF militiamen into the Sudanese army threatening the implementation of peace agreements.

Hamdok further stressed that discussions over the reform of security and military sectors should not be limited to the military, but must involve the political and civil society forces

"It is a key step in the whole transitional process, without it the issues of economy, transitional justice, and building a civil state cannot be resolved."

"The Sudanese Armed Forces must be the only national army, and this requires structural reforms, a new military doctrine, representation of the Sudanese diversity at all levels, and the implementation of the security arrangements agreement contained in the Juba Agreement for the Peace of Sudan," he stressed.

He underscored the need to involve the government in the discussions on the integration of the RSF, rather than limiting it to al-Burhan and Hemedti.

The RSF militiamen are rejected from the Sudanese people because of the war crimes they committed in Darfur and South Kordofan, in addition to the killing of peaceful protesters participating in a pro-democracy sit-in outside the General Command of the Sudanese army in Khartoum on 3 June 2019.

The militia supported the popular revolution that overthrew the al-Bashir regime. However, their well-documented participation in the bloody attack on the sit-in made them unacceptable in Khartoum.

Also, the seizure of several gold mines and their management by a company owned by Hemetti and his family also contributed to its rejection.

Intelligence service and police

with regard to the intelligence service and the police, Hamdok demanded the implementation of the reforms related to these services as provided in the constitutional document.

He said the government should manage the General Intelligence Service (GIS) which replaced the NISS of the former regime.

Apart from changing its name, the GIS is still directed by the same staff appointed by the former regime and keeps the same structures, except the dismantled Operation Department.

In his proposal, Hamdok again spoke about the need to review the economic activity of the army and to limit it to the military industries.

The initiative also dealt with a number of other issues, such as the formation of a transitional parliament within a month and handing over wanted former officials to the International Criminal Court.

Hamdok said he discussed his initiative with the military, political, and civilian forces.

"We expect that these consultations will lead to the formation of a mechanism to achieve a consensus among Sudanese. I want to call it the Transition Protection Mechanism."
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June 22, 2021 (JUBA)- The leader of the major opposition in South Sudan has sacked his chief of staff, sparking debates in ranks and files of the opposition leadership despite new assignment.

Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, the chief of staff of the SPLA-IO, talks to the press at a rebel military site in Juba on April 25, 2016 (Photo AFP/Charles Lomodong)

An order bearing the name and signature of South Sudan's First Vice-President in the coalition government, Riek Machar said Gen Simon Gatwech Dual has been removed and replaced with Gabriel Duop Lam.

The former armed opposition army commander, a strong ally of Machar at the height of the conflict, has now been appointed as an adviser to the president on peace.

The military spokesman of the group was also replaced and asked to report himself to the headquarters of the movement pending a decision on where to be deployed.

No statement has far been issued by the general indicating acceptance or rejection of the new changes. Sources close to him have told Sudan Tribune he was still deciding on whether he should accept or decline the new assignment.

Dual has always preferred full implementation of the peace agreement before he could return to the national capital, Juba. However, officials close to him and members of the opposition say he is dissatisfied with the way in which the security arrangements have been handled.

According to Chapter Two of the revitalized peace accord, which consists of the security arrangements, government and opposition forces are supposed to canton and train unified forces during a three-year transitional period leading into elections.

Observers, however, say the entire process has been slow and is behind schedule.

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June 21, 2021 (NEW YORK) – The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is firmly committed to supporting elections in the East African nation, a top UN official in the country said Monday.

The head of UN mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom (Getty)

Briefing the members of the Security Council in New York, Nicholas Hayson, the head of UNMISS, however, said the concerted efforts of the UN should be supported by all stakeholders in South Sudan.

“Equally important, as we move forward, is our partnership with the international community, especially the AU [African Union] and IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development],” he said.

The top UN official in the country acknowledged the slow progress in the overall implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“The formation of the legislature remains incomplete. The constitution of the Council of States and the nomination of the legislative assembly speaker is pending. UNMISS continues to encourage the Government to complete these processes while ensuring adequate representation of women and youth at all levels,” he said.

Haysom expressed grave concern over the dire security situation in the young nation.

"I would like to highlight the pervasive insecurity, in particular intercommunal violence, which continues to obstruct the realization of a durable and sustainable peace in South Sudan. This year, more than 80 percent of civilian casualties were attributed to intercommunal violence and community-based militias," he said.

According to the top UN official, despite the efforts of UNMISS to maintain peace, weak or absent state governance institutions throughout South Sudan have enabled spoilers to exploit perennial communal and ethnic cleavages.

"Worryingly, weakened rule of law institutions and economic deterioration have led to increased criminality and targeting of humanitarian workers. This year alone, four humanitarian workers have been killed, and millions of dollars of humanitarian supplies looted or destroyed," stressed Hayson.

He added, "The callous and indiscriminate killing of humanitarian workers is deplorable, he added.

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June 21, 2021 (NEWYORK) - Vietam will continue to make positive contributions to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and increase the engagement of female officers in the mission, its envoy said.

A UN Security Council session on New York (UN photo)

Speaking at a UN Security Council's discussion on the situation in South Sudan and the operations of the UNMISS on Monday, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy lauded the positive developments in South Sudan as the country prepares to celebrate10 years of its independence.

He appealed to the international community to recognise the progress so far made in the implementation of South Sudan peace agreement.

Quy, however, urged the government of South Sudan to take effective measures to deal with violence among communities, including solving the roots of the problem through dialogue and trust-building.

The Vietnamese diplomat called on the government of South Sudan and relevant parties to work together to implement resolutions of the UNSC on South Sudan, including Resolution 2577 aiming at the removal of the weapons embargo on the country.

Reports at the discussion showed the situation in South Sudan has seen positive developments since the beginning of 2021 with the implementation of a long-term ceasefire agreement and the formation of a transitional parliament. However, they said the implementation of the Peace Agreement 2018 has still remained slow with concern over economic and humanitarian crises in the country.

Vietnam joined the UN peacekeeping operations and dispatched representatives to the UNMISS in 2014. The Asian nation is deploying its third level-2 field hospital in Bentiu, South Sudan.

Founded in 2011, the UNMISS's mission is to consolidate peace and security and help establish conditions for development in South Sudan, strengthening the capacity of the government to govern effectively and democratically and establish good relations with its neighbours.

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June 21, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) led by Hadi Idris Monday rejected calls by some groups of the Sudan Call alliance to reform the ruling Force for Freedom and Change (FFC) pointing that it hampers efforts to consolidate the coalition.

On Sunday, some groups of the Sudan Call, the National Umma Party (NUP) and the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi held a meeting to discuss ways to reform the FFC.

NUP Secretary-General Wathiq Albrair stated that they would hold a founding conference for the FFC groups in line with the NUP efforts to reform the ruling coalition.

In response to the move, the SRF mainstream distanced itself from the Sunday meeting as Minnawi split from the peace signatory groups.

"The SRF affirms its commitment to its partnership with the FFC Central Council. This partnership has been included in the Juba Peace Agreement, which became part of the Constitutional Document," says a statement extended to the Sudan Tribune by the SRF Rapporteur Mohamed Zakaria.

"Also, the SRF confirms that the Sudan Call is an essential component of the FCC Central Council and considers that the recent meetings - involving some parties to the Sudan Call- violate the (alliance's) regulations and bar the way to develop the FFC. Further, (these steps) contribute to confusing the democratic transition and serve the enemies of the glorious Sudanese revolution," stressed the statement.

Since last year the NUP has been calling to reform the FFC current structures which give equal representation for the small and large political groups.

Some of these small groups imposed their members in the first transitional cabinet and hampered the agreed principle of a technocrat government. Nowadays, they oppose the government's economic policies.

On the other side, the NUP is accused of seeking to have Lion's share in the FFC leadership structures.

The divisions among political forces supporting Hamdok's government triggered several initiatives including one conducted by the SRF Hadi Idris.

Hamdok's initiative

The Sudanese Prime Minister, for his part, is expected to unveil a political initiative Tuesday to unify the political forces and consolidate the coalition o the transition forces.

A senior government official told Sudan Tribune on Monday that Hamdok's consultations with the political forces began several weeks ago. He added that the premier is seeking to establish a unified bloc, involving the military, to complete the transition agenda.

In a separate press statement, the cabinet said that Hamdok will announce a new national initiative on Tuesday.

"The initiative aims to unify the components of revolution and change, achieve comprehensive peace, enhance the democratic transition and expand its base," reads the statement.

A member of the FFC Central Council, Jaafar Hassan, told the Sudan Tribune that the Prime Minister held "positive meetings", with the FFC leadership in preparation for a political project labelled the "Transitional Bloc" that includes all parties to the revolution.

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Gloria Tumushabe is the founder of Afro Fem Coders which aims to teach Ugandan women how to code.

June 20, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Chairman of the Sovereign Council in Sudan, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on Sunday issued a constitutional decree granting self-government powers for the Two Areas of the Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

The decision is in line with the terms of the Juba Peace Agreement signed between the government and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) on October 3, 2020.

"The President of the Sovereign Council issued a “constitutional decree establishing an administrative system for the Two Areas in accordance with the peace agreement,” reads a statement released by the Ministry of Local Government on Sunday.

The statement said that the Minister of Local Government Buthaina Ibrahim Dinar informed the states and the federal ministries of the decision.

"The Parties agree that without prejudice to the unity of Sudan's people and territory, the exclusive, joint or residual powers agreed upon in this Agreement, the Two Areas shall enjoy autonomy by which they shall exercise the powers stipulated in this Agreement", provides the Juba peace agreement on the system of governance in the Two Areas.

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South Sudan, the UN’s youngest Member State, is marking its tenth anniversary of independence amid languishing political progress and a range of humanitarian challenges, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative told Security Council members on Monday.

June 20, 2021 (JUBA/ADDIS ABABA) - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) regional director for East and Horn of Africa, Mohammed Abdiker is in Juba, South Sudan on a six-day visit.

International Organization for Migration regional director for East and Horn of Africa, Mohammed Abdiker (Getty)

During his trip, Abdiker is scheduled to meet with government officials, international donors and the United Nations country team.

“Mr. Abdiker will also visit Wau in Western Bahr el Ghazal to assess IOM's humanitarian response in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, including the Naivasha IDPs camp, and surrounding communities, as well as visit transition and recovery activities implemented by IOM for communities and returnees,” IOM said in a statement issued Monday.

The top IOM official is expected to brief journalists in Juba on Friday, June 25.

According to IOM, there are more than 1.7 million IDPs in South Sudan living in Protection of Civilians (PoC) site, IDP camps and in host communities.

The organisation said it seeks to work closely with authorities in the country to deliver programs across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus through an integrated, multi-sectoral approach whereby governance, migration management, and transition, recovery, and stabilization efforts complement humanitarian interventions across the country.

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