Africa

May 23, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs arrived in Khartoum on Sunday night in a two-day visit to Sudan.

Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani who arrived from Libya was welcomed at Khartoum airport by his Sudanese counterpart Mariam al-Mahdi.

In a statement Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said that Al Thani's visit aims to "strengthen bilateral relations between Sudan and Qatar."

He will meet the Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo "Hemedti" and Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok.

Earlier this year, al-Burhan and Hemetti travelled to Doha and held talks with the Qatari officials.

in April 2019, the transitional military council declined to receive the Qatari top diplomat, but later said it was due to a mistake by the undersecretary for foreign affairs.

During the Paris Conference for Sudan, the Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said his country is committed to building community institutions and providing returnees who regain their villages with means of life and ready to honour the commitment taken in the Doha donor conference for Darfur of April 2013.

The Qatari official further added that his government would consider investment opportunities in various sectors of the Sudanese economy.

Following the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur in July 2011, Qatar established 14 villages including educational, health and police facilities.

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May 23, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government and the SPLM-North, led by Abdel Aziz Al-Hilu, held preparatory meetings ahead of the peace talks that will take place in Juba on 26 May.

On 28 March, the head of the Sovereign Council and the leader of the SPLM-N signed a declaration of principles providing to separate between state and religion and to form a single national army at the end of the transitional period.

Later on, the South Sudanese mediation announced that the two sides will resume negotiations on 26 May.

In a meeting chaired by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Sunday, the Supreme Peace Council discussed the upcoming negotiations to end the conflict in the South Kordofan area and the Blue Nile.

In a statement released after, the Chairman of Sudan's Peace Commission, Suleiman al-Dabailo said the meeting discussed all the arrangements related to the talks with the SPLM-N al-Hilu.

Al-Dabailo further said that the government negotiating delegation will travel to Juba on 25 May.

The talks between the two sides had been stalled for over a year due to the rejection of the military component in the Sudanese government of the separation between the state and religion.

For its part, the SPLM-N al-Hilu said in a statement released on Sunday that its negotiating team held consultative meetings in the movement-controlled areas in South Kordofan from April 20 to May 20.

According to the statement, the negotiating delegation held a series of meetings with the National Liberation Council, members of the Civil Authority of Sudan, led by First Secretary Arno Naqotlu Lodi, the Nuba-Mountains Governor, and the SPLA commanders.

"The meetings were characterized by clarity, frankness and transparency. Those who met with the negotiation delegation made proposals and recommendations to be included in the negotiations," stressed the statement.

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May 23, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) withdrew its initiative to settle the border dispute between Sudan and Ethiopia, a news report said citing sources at the Sovereign Council.

The UAE proposed to establish agricultural schemes in the Al-Fashaqa area of Gadaref State. 25% of the claimed area will be cultivated by Ethiopian farmers, according to the initiative.

However, the Head of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fatah al-Burhan travelled to Abu Dhabi recently to inform the UAE leadership of Sudan's demand to demarcate the border first before any project or presence of Ethiopian manpower in the area.

The Abu Dhabi based Asharq newspaper reported Sunday that the UAE had officially informed Sudan of the withdrawal of its initiative to resolve the border dispute between Sudan and Ethiopia.

In a letter to the Sudanese government, "the UAE affirmed its respect for Sudan's position" about the need to place border markers first, further said the report citing sources at the Sudanese collegial presidency.

Sudanese officials say Ethiopia has reneged the border agreement signed in 1902, 1903 and 1972. They would not allow their presence of Ethiopian farmers again in the border area unless the markers are clearly established.

Sudan's Finance Minister Girbil Ibrahim recently told the Sudan Tribune that the Gulf country had proposed to invest $8 billons in this project.

The head of the Sovereign Council flanked by the cabinet affairs minister had to travel to Abu Dhabi to reiterate Khartoum's position after pledges made by his deputy to positively consider the UAE's investment project, officials say in Khartoum.

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A young soldier from the United Kingdom says he must stay on his “A-game” on patrol with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali, to keep himself, colleagues and Malians safe in one of the most dangerous UN postings anywhere in the world. 

As Eritrea marks 30 years of independence from Ethiopia, a former fighter reflects on what has been achieved.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Sunday that hundreds of children and families in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Goma district are at risk following the volcanic eruption of Mount Nyiragongo.

Muslim volunteers in Senegal are organising dignified funerals for the unidentified dead.

May 22, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Aisha Musa, a former member of the Sovereign Council harshly criticized the Transitional Government in Sudan and branded it with failure to provide services and achieve justice.

On 12 May, Musa resigned from the collegial presidency which includes the civilian and military components.

Her resignation took place one day after the killing of two civilians in a peaceful rally to commemorate the second anniversary of a bloody attack by the security forces on a pro-democracy sit-in on 3 June 2019.

In a statement she read in a video released by the official news agency on Saturday, the former representative of the civil society groups in the Sovereign Council revealed the reasons that prompted her to resign.

She started by apologizing to the Sudanese women saying that they "still suffer exclusion" and do not participate in decision-making. Also, she apologized to the mothers of the protesters' dead and wounded, for her decision to quit the transitional authority.

She further stressed that her resignation aimed at expressing "a refusal to participate in more humiliation of our gigantic people," she said.

She pointed out that her efforts for justice and to defend women rights did not yield any results because her points of view were ignored and while the military component exceeded their constitutional powers.

"The civilian component in the Sovereign Council and at all levels of government became merely a logistical executive body that does not participate in decision-making - but endorse pre-prepared decisions."

The Sovereign Council is chaired by the Sudanese army commander in chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan until next November and then he should be replaced by a civilian, as it was agreed in the constitutional text governing the transitional period.

Aisha criticized the Council of transition partners formed after the peace agreement adding that it led to "diminishing the joint meetings of the cabinet and Sovereign Council and the ruling coalition."

This situation led to the concealment of efforts to form the transitional parliament, adding that this step is a breach of the Constitutional Document and without logical justifications, she said.

"The weakness in the state institutions led to the extension of insecurity and the inability to regulate and monitor the military forces, so the second blow of 11 May came stronger, more painful and let us down," she said.

Al-Burhan role in the leadership of the Transitional Sovereign Council has been contested by several political forces. However, he was encouraged by the divisions among the Forces for Freedom and Changes, his willingness to normalize relations with Israel and the border dispute with Ethiopia.

Also, Hamdok's nonchalant manner in peace and justice issues infuriated some political forces but others said the FFC's weakness was to blame.

Musa called to reform the justice system, implement the death sentence against some killers of demonstrators and investigate the reasons for delaying the publication of the findings of the investigation committee on the 3 June attack.

In a statement issued on 19 May, Human Rights Watch denounced the use of excessive force against protesters on 11 May.

The rights groups said the attack on civilians shows the urgent need for security sector reforms, and to end immunity provisions that shield officials from accountability.

“Sudan's international partners should see to it that Sudan's leaders turn their pledges to action when it comes to upholding a rights-abiding transition,” said Laetitia Bader, Horn of Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

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May 22, 2021 (JUBA) - The head of South Sudan's peace monitoring and evaluation body deplored the failure of the government to implement the security arrangement, pointing that combatants are abandoning cantonment sites.

On 20 May, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) held its 17th monthly meeting in Juba, to discuss the ongoing implementation of the revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018.

In his remarks at the opening sessions, RJMEC Interim Chairperson Charles Tai Gituai said disappointed with the continued delay in the implementation of security arrangements (TSAs, the unification of forces, in particular.

"No graduation and redeployment for Phase One of the Necessary Unified Forces has taken place. Cantonment sites and training centres continue to be abandoned due to a chronic lack of food, medicines, shelter facilities and hygiene items for women," Gituai said.

"The conditions in both cantonment sites and training centres continue to deteriorate and can only get worse with the onset of the rainy season," he further added.

He urged the transitional government to allocate the needed funds for the implementation of the security arrangements and to ensure the DDR process.

The government says unable to finance the crucial security arrangements has called for international support. But Juba is requested first to curb corruption and make more transparency in the management of the oil income.

Gituai welcomed the formation of the new transitional parliament and commencement of the Permanent Constitution-making expressing hope that it will drive to make progress in the peace enforcement process.

"Now is the time to continue to build political will, strengthen trust and confidence, implement tasks concurrently, especially completing the TSAs, and providing humanitarian assistance, in order to deliver peace dividends for the people of South Sudan," he added.

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May 22, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government announced the implementation of the second phase of the direct cash transfer programme in 10 states as of next June.

The Sudan Family Support Program aims to provide direct financial support to 80% of Sudanese people to soften the impact of hard economic reforms after the cancellation of commodity subsidies and the rise of bread, fuel and power prices.

"Preparations have been completed for the launch of the programme in 10 states in the first week of next June," reads a statement released by the Ministry of Finance on Saturday.

The ministry added that the 10 states are: the Blue Nile, White Nile, North, East, West and Central Darfur, Sennar and North, South and West Kordofan.

Each family of six members will receive 30 dollars a month, approximately 13000 Sudanese Pounds.

This family support programme enjoys the support of over US$900 million from the international community. The Friends of Sudan pledged to give US$500 million, said Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank Managing Director Operations during the Paris Conference on 17 May.

The Sudanese government said it transferred money to 182,248 families, in the states of Khartoum, Kassala and the Red Sea.

The remittance process would reach 414,000 families that completed their data.

Household registration is done through the national number document.

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Ladi Ladebo, who has died aged 78, was a passionate campaigner against looted artefacts.

May 21, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Al-Hadi Idris, a member of the Transitional Sovereign Council will begin Saturday a visit to Riyadh to discuss relief and rehabilitation projects with Saudi officials.

Idris told Sudan Tribune that he will discuss humanitarian assistance and development projects in the war-affected area in Darfur and the Two Area.

"Also, the discussions with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre will cover rehabilitation projects," he added.

The senior officials will be accompanied by Hafez Ibrahim Abdel Nabi, Minister of Livestock
Abdallah Yahya, Minister of Urban Development, Roads and Bridges.

On 21 April, Saudi Ambassador to Khartoum Ali bin Hassan Jaafar met Idris to hand him an official invitation to discuss the visit.

Jaafar told reporters that the senior Sudanese officials will also discuss economic and investment issues, determine the humanitarian assistance in the conflict-affected areas in Sudan.

The Centre has already implemented $16.5millions projects in Sudan including food, WASH and health.

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May 21, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Egyptian infantry forces arrived in Sudan to participate in bilateral military exercises involving ground, naval and air armies of the two countries, the Sudanese army said on Friday.

The Military Media stated that preparations have been completed for the launch of the Sudanese-Egyptian drills dubbed "Nile Protectors" from 26-31 May.

Besides the ground forces, the drills involve the air forces and the air defence forces from the two armies.

Armoured vehicles and weapons arrived in Port Sudan while the troops were transported by plane.

The drills will take place in Umm Sayala and El Obeid of North Kordofan and Merowe in northern Sudan.

It will be followed by a naval exercise in the Jebeit area on the Red Sea.

Altahir Abu Haja, the Media Adviser of the Sudanese army commander in chief and head of the Sovereign Council said the Nile Protectors drills are the continuation of the previous exercises in Merowe and Alexandria between the two armies.

The Nile Protectors exercises express the firm conviction of the two countries about the need for joint strategic action to address potential threats and the need for tight coordination to defend vital strategic interests of the two countries," further stressed Abu Haja.

Sudan and Egypt previously denied that these exercises are directed against the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) which is perceived as a threat to the two countries interests if Addis Ababa continues to refuse to sign a legally binding agreement on its filling and operation.

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The Chairperson of the African Union is expected to file new proposals to the three countries over the outstanding issues in the near future.

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May 21, 2021 (GADAREF) - Ethiopia has deployed troops in the Qatarand settlement inside the Al-Fashaqa border area of Gedaref State, Sudanese military sources said on Friday.

Sudanese army two weeks ago retook control of the Shai Bait settlement in the Al-Fashaqa after expelling Ethiopia Amhara militiamen. During a visit to the Sudanese forces deployed in the area, a week ago, a member of the Sovereignty Council, Lt Gen Shams Eldin Kabashi stated that over 95% of Al-Fashaqa is now under Sudanese control.

Sudanese military sources in Gadaref told the Sudan Tribune that, the Ethiopian army had been amassing a large contingent of troops and militiamen along the Al Fashaqa area, coming from Bahir Dar the capital of the Amhara Region and Gondar, another city in the same region.

"The Ethiopian army forces, supported by the Amhara militia, have been deployed in the Qatrand settlement, equipped with cannons and tanks," the source who is not authorized to speak with the media added.

The Ethiopian government denies deploying its national army in the border area saying the Sudanese army is hunting Ethiopian farmers. Also, Addis Ababa says seeking a negotiated solution for the border dispute and they refuse to go in war against the Sudanese army.

In Khartoum, Sudanese officials say its army has been deployed within the internationally demarcated border. Further, they refuse talks about border dispute saying the government of Abiy Ahmed seeks to denounce the agreements of 1902,1903 and 1972 about the border demarcation.

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On the heels of recent positive developments, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Libya pointed to renewed hope for peace in the conflict-affected country, and stability across the wider region, in a briefing to the Security Council on Friday.

May 20, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) Volker Perthes voiced "great concern" about the slow pace of peace implementation in the country.

Perthes who took part in an economic conference in Paris for Sudan's debt relief and investment briefed via videoconference the Security Council on Thursday about the democratic transition process, the implementation of the peace agreement and the ongoing efforts to bring armed holdout groups.

In his remakes to the Council, he expressed " great concern with the limited progress in implementing the Juba Peace Agreement, (JPA), pointing to the security arrangements and the establishment of the Ceasefire and other Security Committees.

"Delays in establishing the Joint Protection Force and the absence of integrated and united armed forces, one army that has a direct bearing on Protection of Civilians and overall stability".

The UNITAMS head underscored the urgent need for money to fund the security arrangements and to establish the joint protection force and the enforcement of the security arrangements.

He said the armed groups identified their combatants for the joint protection force but it has not been deployed

"Some delays in deploying the joint protection force are reportedly due to a lack of resources; and material international support for these joint forces, including support for housing and equipment, would certainly be welcomed," he said.

"I fear that without the speedy establishment of these Joint Forces, and the implementation of Sudan's National Plan for the Protection of Civilians, we could see similar incidents like Geneina be repeated," he further stressed.

Over 144 people were killed and an estimated 65,000 displaced following the resumption of tribal clashes in the West Darfur State capital El-Geneina earlier.

For his part, Richard Mills, U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations said the Biden administration remains concerned about the "transitional government's efforts and its ability" to protect its people.

"We cannot let continued violence destroy the Juba Peace Agreement's prospects for effective peace in Darfur. Fulfilment of the agreement is needed for a successful transition to democracy and stability in Sudan," he said.

"We strongly encourage the civilian-led transitional government to commit – with conviction – to ensuring that all Sudanese feel safe and secure in their communities and their livelihoods," he further said.

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Moving from Sudan’s current fragile transition period towards stable civilian rule, requires a continued “spirt of unity, partnership and collaboration”, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Thursday.  

On a recent visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Dr. Natalie Kanem, the head of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, bore witness to the horrific legacy of sexual violence in the country, which is undergoing one of the world’s longest-running humanitarian crises.

Women and young people must be part of Africa’s plans to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, which is feeding factors driving conflict on the continent, UN Secretary-General told the Security Council on Wednesday. 

Despite a deteriorating security situation and the reverberating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, regional troops deployed to combat terrorists in Africa’s Sahel region have scaled up the tempo of their operations in recent months, efforts that must be matched by a spirit of solidarity among their global partners, the senior UN peacekeeping official told the Security Council on Tuesday.