Africa

As Senegal's Mbaye Leye prepares for his first match in charge of Standard Liege he is also taking a big step for African coaches.

Five things you should know about the upcoming elections in Uganda.

A selection of the week's best photos from across the continent and beyond.

The amazing life of Johnny Smythe - RAF officer, prisoner of war and a father of the Windrush generation.

The firm is to pay $2.5bn to settle US criminal charges over the 737 Max aircraft conspiracy.

Despite increased insecurity and limited funding, the UN food relief agency is continuing to supply food for hundreds of thousands of people affected by conflict in northern Mozambique.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has been sworn in for a second term after chaotic scenes in parliament.

The United Nations Secretary-General has expressed shock at the massacre of civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and called on the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. 

A strange coalition of former enemies has joined forces to oust Central African Republic's newly re-elected leader.

The Kani brothers presided over a reign of terror in the Libyan town of Tarhuna - now their crimes are being revealed.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has underlined the critical role of the Security Council in addressing links between fragility and conflict, two of the greatest obstacles to achieving sustainable development across the world. 

Sharon Machira explains how people living in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa can enter.

Senior officials from the United Nations and regional organizations have called on all political actors in the Central African Republic (CAR) to respect the final results of the recent presidential elections, and to settle any disputes peacefully and in accordance with the country’s laws. 

January 4, 2021 (GADAREF) - The Ethiopian Federal Army deployed more troops on the border area to prevent people fleeing the war in the Tigray region to cross into Sudan.

The federal troops have retaken control of most of the territory of the Tigray region. However, the TPLF fighters continue to resist in several areas triggering new waves of refugees.

Sudanese authorities recently identified over 40 TPLF elements who arrived in Sudan among the civilians.

"The Ethiopian army began closing the borders with Sudan, deploying troops, patrolling the border and building a fence to prevent refugees from reaching Hamdayet camp," an eyewitness told the Sudan Tribune on Monday.

The witness further said that the Ethiopian army and police patrols chased the refugees in May Glitte area leading to Hamdayet Reception Centre on the Sudanese side of the border.

There more than 5,000 people in Dima, close to the Sudanese border who seek to enter the Hamdayet centre, according to eyewitnesses.

Fateh Moghaddam the director of emergency housing for refugees told the Sudan Tribune that the number of Ethiopian refugees has exceeded 63,000.

Moghaddam pointed out that 44,000 refugees from Hamdayet camp in Kassala state are waiting to be transferred to Altanideba camp in the Gadaref state.

He added that the transfer of refugees from the Hashaba Reception Centre in Gadaref began on Monday, with 250 refugees.

The UNHCR and Sudanese authorities initially decided to transfer 1000 refugees per day to the newly opened second camp in Altanideba area, but they reviewed their plans after the outbreak of the coronavirus in the Um Rakuba camp.

Moghadam said that the High Commissioner for Refugees reduced the number of passengers in a single transport bus from 35 to 15 people.

Also, 250 refugees are transported to Altanideba from the Hamdayet camp which is near the triangle border area between Eritrea Sudan and Ethiopia. The HCR and Sudanese authorities say they consider ways to accelerate refugees' evacuation from this sensitive area.

(ST)

January 4, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese pound fell on Monday against major currencies as political deadlock continued over the 2021 budget.

U.S. dollar notes (Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha Photo)

Traders told Sudan Tribune that the dollar was sold at 267 pounds while the Saudi riyal was traded at 71 pounds and the Emirati dirham at 72 pounds. The Euro was sold at 225 pounds.

The dealers attributed the decline in the pound's exchange rate to an increase in demand for hard currency in addition to the lack of clarity regarding the 2021 budget.

Sharp disagreements have emerged over allocations in the 2021 budget to the security and defense sector compared to the health and education.

The Finance Ministry announced that the Sudanese council of ministers will consider the budget on Tuesday, provided that it is deposited for final approval by January 10th.

Another trader in the black market, who spoke anonymously, told Sudan Tribune: "There is an increase in the demand for hard currency for the purposes of importing goods and fuel."

He pointed out that many companies are waiting for the 2021 budget to be approved to find out what policies it will adopt pertaining to the exchange rate.

The transitional government is banking on obtaining loans that would help support the Sudanese pound's exchange rate.

(ST)

A viral dance hit points the way to positive developments but there are dangers ahead.

January 3, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan agreed on Sunday to hold bilateral meetings to determine points of agreement and disagreement between them over the Renaissance Dam, ahead of another meeting next week.

The three countries held a virtual meeting on Sunday chaired by the South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor to discuss better ways to break the deadlock in the talks on the filing of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

"The meeting concluded with the adoption of Sudan's proposal that this week be devoted to bilateral meetings between the three countries and the group of experts and observers," said the Sudanese irrigation ministry in a statement released after the meeting.

The statement further said that the South African Foreign Minister requested that "the bilateral meetings be designated for "identifying points of agreement and disagreement between the three countries, provided that the tripartite meetings will be held again on Sunday, January 10, with the hope that the negotiations will be concluded by the end of the current months."

South Africa's chairmanship of the African Union will terminate by the end of January as the 34th AU Summit will be held in Addis Ababa on 6 and 7 February 2021.

In a separate statement, the Egyptian water ministry said its delegation stressed the need to reach an agreement on the GERD filling as soon as possible, before the start of the second phase of filling the dam reservoir.

(ST)

January 3, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) called to disband the Rapid Support Forces and its integrate its elements into the national army.

The request comes after the death under torture of a Sudanese held in an illegal detention facility established by the militia in Khartoum on 20 December 2020.

“To prevent any future violations, we demand the abolition of the Rapid Support Act and the integration of these forces into the army within a determined time frame (...) and the demobilization of those who do not fulfil the conditions required by the Armed Forces Act," reads do a letter addressed to the Attorney General and Justice Minister, seen by the Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

The SPA further called on the Attorney General, in coordination with the Police Director-General, to form a committee from the Public Prosecution and the Bar Association to inspect all the RSF centres to ensure that they are free of detained civilians and to hand any detainee over to the police if they are found.

The illegal detention of civilians by the RSF militiamen was widely condemned in the country as it constitutes a clear violation of the criminal procedure law which provides that detention is carried out by the police under the control of the Public Prosecutor Office.

Following the death of the detained civilian, the RSF did not explain why they held him, but only they said that those who are involved in his torture have been delivered to the police.

The Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, on his speech on the occasion of the new year, announced that his government had approved the ratification of the international treaty against torture and it will be endorsed in the upcoming meeting of the joint meeting of the cabinet and the Sovereign Council.

According to the Juba peace agreement, the RSF and the former rebel groups will merge with the Sudanese army.

(ST)

The United Nations Secretary-General has strongly condemned Saturday’s attack by unidentified gunmen on two villages in western Niger, which reportedly left about one hundred people dead, while hundreds of survivors fled the scene on foot. 

January 3, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Sovereign Council, Sunday, distanced itself from statements made by a military official supporting a businessman accused of corruption and linked to the ousted regime.

However, the statements stirred up a controversy over the presence of such military in key positions at the Sudanese presidency after the popular revolution that ousted the former regime in April 2019.

Some dozens of people supporting Fadl Mohamed Khair a businessman linked to the former regime gathered outside the Republican Palace to submit a memorandum calling to return him his assets and companies confiscated by a committee to dismantle the former regime.

The protesters 'memo was submitted to the Sovereignty Council's Secretary-General, Major General Amir Youssef who pledged to hand it over to the Chairman of the Sovereign Council before showing sympathy with Fadl and his supporters.

Your support to Fadl "Is evidence of the ethics of the Sudanese who do not forget the kindness of those who worked with them," said Youssef before to add that the memorandum will find all the "needed care and appreciation".

"God willing, victory will be your ally," he concluded.

A few hours later, the video of the general's speech circulated in the social media stirring up interrogations about the military component and its intentions.

Reacting to the controversy the Sovereign Council issued a statement saying the secretary-general was tasked to receive the memo but not address the gathering.

"Therefore, what he said in his speech represents his point of view and does not in any way represent the opinion of the Sovereign Council," further stressed the statement.

It was not clear if the secretary-general will be dismissed for serious misconduct.

For its part, the Empowerment Removal Committee, which confiscated Mohamed Khair's assets and companies, issued a statement welcoming the clarification of the Sovereign Council.

The statement also recalled the right to resort to justice to challenge its decisions which are taken after legal investigations.

Wajedi Saleh a member of the Committee issued a statement stressing the need to review senior cadres in the government structures such as " those who wear the military uniform and hold sovereign positions and do not believe in this great revolution."

(ST)