Sudan Tribune

January 18, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan government has lifted the ban it had earlier imposed on flights to Payinjiar county in the wake of continuous rebel activities in the area.

The Payinjiar community at a meeting in Bentiu town, August 23, 2015 (ST)

The move came after the country director for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) petitioned the humanitarian affairs and disaster management ministry last week.

The undersecretary in the humanitarian affairs ministry, Gatwech Peter Kulang assured WFP of government support.

“I'm pleased to inform you that the ministry of interior has advised that all humanitarian flights and boats to Payinjiar can resume operations at your own risk,” reads a letter addressed to WFP.

South Sudan's national security service, in a circular it issued on 31 December, 2016, warned humanitarian agencies operating in the area and banned water and air transport.

The decision, officials said, forced most international and national staffs to pullout out of Payinjiar last week after the government requested them to abandon their operations.

Although it remains unclear why government imposed the ban, multiple sources, including aid worker said the decision was meant to prevent rebel groups controlling the area from benefiting from relief items.

Currently, Payinjiar county is reportedly hosting nearly 200,000 internal displaced persons (IDPs), mainly from Guit, Koch, Mayiandit and Leer counties of oil-rich Unity state.

(ST)

January 21, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - A splinter faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) signed on Saturday a peace agreement with the Sudanese government in El-Fasher, capital of North Darfur State, after three months of secret negotiations.

The ceremony was held in presence of the North Darfur deputy governor; members of the state government, and the leader of the dissident faction Sadiq Adam Abdel-Karim (aka Foka).

The Commissioner of Tawila locality, Adam Yagoub Gadid who negotiated the peace agreement with the splinter group told Sudan Tribune that the peace agreement was signed under the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur.

He further stressed the government seriousness to implement all the terms of the signed deal which include security, political and civil provisions.

According to Gadid, Foka has 1500 fighters under his command, a figure that Sudan Tribune was not able to verify. However, the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) said the group has only 15 vehicles loaded with military hardware and ammunition.

Officials and rebels used to magnify or shrink the number of fighters or causalities depending on the circumstances. Also, they say every vehicle carries 10 fighters.

Speaking at the ceremony the group leader said their decision to join peace expresses "a definite and sincere desire to participate in the construction and development" of the country.

He added that the war brought only devastation and destruction, stressing the seriousness of his group to bring stability in the region.

Sudanese government troops carried out attacks on the SLM-AW fighters in Jebel Marra during the last year, accusing them of armed robbery and attacks on commercial convoys.

Last November, Central Darfur government signed a peace agreement with another splinter group from the SLM-AW led by Amin Toro. But the SLM-AW minimized the move, saying their number does not exceed 20 fighters.

The SLM-AW refuses to negotiate with the Sudanese government as they ask the government to implement unilaterally a number of measures including restoring security and financial compensations before to negotiate the root causes of the conflict.

(ST)

January 19, 2017 (JUBA)- The newly appointed governor of Gogrial state, South Sudan, has issued an order relieving a security advisor previously appointed by his predecessor and appointed his own pick.

Women from a cattle camp walk near Gogrial (Photo Tim Freccia/Enough Project)

Governor Gregory Deng Kuac Adol, best known as Gregory Vasilli Dmitry, appointed former Gogrial east county commissioner, Akot Lual Akot as the new security advisor.

In another order, he appointed Anyuon Dhol Anyuon as Commissioner of Apuk East, replacing Anyuon Chan Ajuong.

Also, Joseph Atem Gal was named commissioner of Awan Riau County, replacing Lual Lual Mal and Simon Apet Deng Kon was appointed commissioner Awan Chan County, replacing Peter Atem Yak.

Gogrial State which is the home of President Salva Kiir is one of the 32 states of South Sudan. It is located in the Bahr el Ghazal region and it borders Twic to the north, Aweil East to the northwest, Aweil to the west, Wau to the southwest, Tonj to the southeast, and Northern Liech to the northeast.

(ST)

January 19, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has issued an order appointing three officials into the national legislative assembly.

Members of South Sudan's parliament sing the national anthem during the reopening of parliamentary sessions in the capital, Juba, on 11 June 2012 (Photo: Giulio Petrocco/AFP/Getty)

The presidential order read on the stated own South Sudan broadcasting Corporation, named Malong Lual Diing , son of the prominent SPLM official and a former presidential advisor on political affairs, Lual Diing Wol. The second is Mathiang Bellario Ahoy, another son of a veteran politician Bellario Ahoy Ngong, both of whom died in 2015 and 2016. They were serving members of parliament at the national legislative assembly when they passed away.

A third nominee into transitional legislative assembly is Oliver Majok Aleu. He replaced Garang Diing Akuong, whom President Salva Kiir appointed two ago years into foreign services and dispatched him to the United States where he is presently serving as the head of mission.

The basis of the appointment remains contentious. Presidential sources cite article 64 (1) (b) of the transitional legislative assembly which gives the president powers to appoint upon receiving notification from the speaker of the legislative assembly after the seat has fallen vacant.

Critics, however, argue that the speaker had to write first to the national elections commission to organize elections and only to the president when it is not possible to organize elections, particularly when it is remaining only three months period into the general elections.

“The Speaker of the appropriate House shall, in writing, notify the National elections commission Notwithstanding sub-Articles (1) and (2) above, if a vacancy occurs in respect of any seat in the National Legislative Assembly or the Council of States before the expiry of one year from the beginning of the Transitional Period: (a) the Speaker of the appropriate House shall, in writing, notify the President within ten days from the occurrence of that vacancy; (b) the President shall appoint the successor to the seat within sixty days.

Following the occurrence of the vacancy after consultation with the relevant constituencies, political parties and state legislatures concerned, as the case may be national Elections Commission within ten days from the occurrence of that vacancy”. A by-election to fill the vacancy shall be held by the National Elections Commission within sixty days following occurrence of the vacancy, a presidential source told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

(ST)

January 19, 2017 (JUBA) – The United States Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of African Affairs visited Juba on Wednesday but failed to meet President Salva Kiir or any government representative, local media reported on Thursday .

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield, testifies on Jan. 9, 2014, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on situation in South Sudan. (Photo AP Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Linda Thomas-Greenfield arrived to Juba on Wednesday in a one-day visit before to travel to Ethiopia. The purpose of the visit was to discuss issues if mutual concern, to discuss humanitarian assistance with the international organisations working in the country.

She concluded her visit by meeting the U.S. Embassy staffs and a selected number of editors from South Sudanese newspapers and radio stations.

“I am disappointed that I cannot meet the President or other member of his government,” Linda told the journalists, according to the English language newspaper, The Juba Monitor.

The American diplomat, said her one day trip was meant to empathize Washington position on deployment of UN Security Council authorized Regional Protection Force and continued support to the full implementation of the shaky peace agreement.

Linda said the national dialogue announced by President Salva Kiir last month should be inclusive.

“It has to be one in which people feel confidence in the process,” she told editors from the US funded Eye Radio, UN's Radio Miraya and independent The Juba Monitor newspaper in a brief encounter in Juba on Wednesday.

“So it is not just the process that is being controlled by the government but is an open process that everyone who is participating makes some contribution to how it will be organized,” she said.

The National Dialogue announced by President Kiir will be headed by former political and religious leaders.

President Kiir appointed the steering committee of more than 50 members without consulting his rivals from the armed SPLM In Opposition or any other political parties, attracting criticism of attempting to negotiate with himself.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

January 19,2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - Ethiopia and Sudan on Wednesday reaffirmed commitment to bolster existing bilateral cooperation to a higher level.

The two neighbours expressed their commitment here in Addis Ababa when Ethiopia's state minister for foreign affairs, Hirut Zemene, conferred with Gamal al-Sheikh Ahmed, Ambassador of Sudan to Ethiopia and permanent representative to the African Union(AU)

According to the Ethiopian ministry of foreign affairs, the two sides expressed determination to further enhance relations and to boost existing cooperation to attain shared strategic visions.

Hirut and Ahmed further discussed on ways how to solidify existing regional and global cooperation.

The state minister said the two countries are enjoying the "close and excellent cooperation" in political, social and economic frontiers.

She stressed that the partnership between Ethiopia and Sudan should further be pronounced.

The Sudanese Ambassador to his part emphasized that his country greatly values the age-old strong ties and strategic partnership with government and people of Ethiopia.

"Sudan's cooperation with Ethiopia at bilateral level and at the AU is a number one priority" Ahmed said.

Cooperation between the two neighbouring countries has increasing gained momentum within the framework of mutual benefits.

The Sudanese diplomat added that he would make sure that the momentum of cooperation between the two countries sustains during his tenure.

The two countries expressed commitment to jointly work for regional peace and security.

They also reaffirmed to working together on a wide range of continental and international issues of common interest.

Currently Ethiopia and Sudan have a number of joint projects on pipeline among others on road and railways to link their borders.

Other cooperation agreement include Security, trade as well as on rebel and criminals extradition deal.

Sudan has also linked its grid with Ethiopia to import Ethiopia's hydro power processed electricity.

The countries are also working on creating a free zone area along their shared border to facilitate movement of people and trade.

(ST)

January 18, 2017 (WASHINGTON) - The outgoing U.S. Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan Donald Both Wednesday criticized the refusal of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North (SPLM-N) for a humanitarian proposal saying they should put their people first not their political ambitions.

Since last November the U.S. envoy filled a proposal providing that USAID would transport humanitarian medical assistance to civilians in the rebel held areas after it inspection by the Sudanese authorities. Khartoum accepted it but the SPLM-N stuck to its initial demand to transport 20% of the humanitarian aid through the Ethiopian Asosa town on the border with the Sudan.

This point is the last contentious point preventing the signing of humanitarian and cessation of hostilities agreements between the government and the rebel group, in a peace process mediated by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and facilitated mainly by the U.S. and Germany.

"I must say we need to be careful not to hold them in unquestioned high esteem. It is important to be clear-eyed about whom we are dealing with," Booth said, in a speech at the U.S. Institute of Peace about his action during the past three years.

"I have found that some of the leaders of the Sudanese opposition, especially those with guns, are more than willing to ignore the interests and well-being of ordinary civilians, in favour of their own political ambitions," Booth added.

In line with a Roadmap Agreement brokered by the AUHIP, the government and rebel groups in the Two Areas and Darfur should reach first a humanitarian truce before to move for a second phase to discuss other confidence building measures and hold an inclusive political process to discuss constitutional reforms in order to restore democracy in Sudan.

The Chief Mediator Thabo Mbeki worked to have armed groups in Darfur and the SPLM-N as well as opposition groups in this forum to achieve what he calls "holistic approach" to end the Sudanese crisis. Backed by the German government first and then by U.S. administration he convinced Khartoum to accept this comprehensive process.

"It seems to me that just as there are hardliners within the Sudanese government who hold on to false notions that military victory can be achieved, so too there are leaders of the armed groups who believe they are right to fight on no matter what the cost to their people, until they get what they want politically," Booth said.

Both last Monday together with other Troika envoys (Britain and Norway) and the newly appointed French envoy for Sudan met with the SPLM-N in Paris to convince them to accept the humanitarian proposal, adding that they should not miss this golden opportunity to reach civilians in all the war affected areas in the two areas. Khartoum will not dare to obstruct during the upcoming six month because this means the resumption of sanctions, they underlined.

"So even though we hold the government to its commitments to peace, we must also demand that the opposition set aside personal political ambitions and put their people first," he stressed.

The SPLM-N says they did a lot of concession on the humanitarian file to ensure the delivery of aid to the civilians in the conflict affected areas, and points to Khartoum's intransigence and refusal to accept the 20%.

Khartoum accuses the rebel groups of planning to use the humanitarian corridor through Ethiopia to bring arms and ammunition to their fighters. But the SPLM-N says they accept that the relief materials be inspected by Sudanese authorities before.

The U.S. envoy said during the past year he wanted to go beyond the mistrust and accusations of bad faith in the relations between Washington and Khartoum, adding that this engagement has really started in February 2015 when the invited the then Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Ghandour.

He also said the new administration of President Donald Trump is fully briefed about the Sudanese file, including the recent developments.

Booth is the first American diplomat who has openly criticized Sudanese armed groups, accusing them of obstructing peace in Sudan.

Recently he slamed Abdel-Wahid al-Nur for his refusal to join the peace process saying "His refusal to negotiate has been a perennial problem for international efforts to end the conflict in Sudan, but it has become especially damaging as other parties to the conflict begin moving toward peace".

(ST)

January 18, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has, in a decree read on the state owned SSBC sacked the governor of Boma, one of the nation's new states

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (AFP)

Baba Medan Konyi was replaced by Sultan Ismail Konyi, a member of the council of state. The council is the upper house of the South Sudanese legislative assembly.

Boma was one of five states curved out of Jonglei in October last year. The other states are Akobo, Biech, Fangak, Western Biech and Jonglei States.

Kiir, in a separate decree, dismissed the governor of Akobo state, Gai Riam before he was sworn into office. Riam was, a few days ago, appointed to head Akobo state.

Meanwhile, General Johnson Gony has been nominated as the new governor for Akobo state, replacing Riam, a former minister in Jonglei state.

No reasons were, however, given for the new changes made in Wednesday's decree.

(ST)

January 18, 2018 (JUBA)- The two main rival forces in the South Sudanese implicated in a newly released United Nations report have denied their involvement in human right abuses, with government troops protesting and questioning the credibility of the report.

Arms and light weapons have been used by both warring parties in South Sudan to commit abuses (Photo courtesy of SSANSA)

The world body, in a report released on Wednesday, accused the South Sudanese army (SPLA) and the armed opposition faction of abusing civilians in form of rape, abduction and killing of innocent civilians in various parts of the country.

However, the deputy spokesman of the SPLA Col. Santo Domic criticized the UN report, which claimed government troops of committing grave human rights violations including killings and gang rapes in Juba during and after the fighting that occurred between 8 and 12 July 2016.

The military officer wondered why the victims could not come forward to report the alleged abuses or go to court to file their grievances against the actual perpetrators.

“The victims should go to the court and open cases against the perpetrators, if the accused are members of the SPLA army, they should come and identify the perpetrators, if they are from the national security, they should do the same thing,” he said.

William Gatjiath Deng, the official spokesman of the armed opposition denied their involvement of their forces in the atrocities committed during and after the fighting in Juba.

"The SPLA-IO forces were not part of it, because when the clashes erupted in Juba everybody knows what happened, were clashed with the government forces and we left Juba, but the government forces went and raped international aid workers," claimed Deng.

The two officers were reacting to the UN report, which observed that throughout the fighting between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO),”the belligerents blatantly ignored international human rights law and humanitarian law.”

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and iys H' uman Rights Office published the report.

(ST)

January 18, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBoS) on Wednesday reported that inflation jumped to 30,47% in December 2016 from 29,49 in November pointing to continued rise in food and energy price.

Last November, the government lifted fuel, electricity and drug subsidy in a bid to stop the surge in inflation and control the fall of Sudanese pound in the black market.

Also, Central Bank of Sudan introduced an incentive policy, increasing the exchange rate in commercial banks by 131%. As a result, the U.S. dollar exchange rate went up in banks to 15.8 SDG from the official rate of 6.5 SDG.

Following the CBoS decision, the dollar price went up and settled at 19,4 pounds on the black market.

However, after the U.S. decision to ease economic and trade sanctions imposed on the east African nation since 1997, the dollar price fell slightly in the black market and settled at 18,2 SDG.

In a move to reduce the demand for the U.S. dollar and protect domestic industry, the government banned import of frozen meat and fish and raised tariffs on a number of imports. However, these restrictions pushed inflation further high given the country is heavily dependent on imported goods.

Last month, the Sudanese parliament approved the 2017 budget expecting the deficit would reach 2,1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) compared to 1,6% in 2016.
According to the budget, the growth rate would decline from 6,4% in 2016 to 5,3% and the targeted average inflation rate is 17%.

Sudan's economy was hit hard since the southern part of the country declared independence in July 2011, taking with it about 75% of the country's oil output.
The Sudanese pound has lost 100% of its value since South Sudan's secession, pushing inflation rates to record levels given that country imports most of its food.

Ordinary citizens continue to complain from cost of living increases that impaired their access to basic commodities.

(ST)

January 18, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has criticized the way in which international organizations treat their local staff members, saying they were subjecting them to unfair treatment when deciding on the currency of payment .

“When it comes to local employees they have decided to pay them in local currency, and they pay their international staff in hard currency. That is very unfair," said president Kiir.

The president said most of the international organisations take their money outside the country, denying the country an opportunity to benefit and utilize the money they get from the work they do in the country.

“Foreigners who are working here, including the NGOs, have decided to bank outside South Sudan, and they just bring salaries for their employees. “I'm not an economist, but I think it has an effect on the country's economy”, he said.

The President pointed that most of the hard currency generated within the country is spent abroad .

He made the remarks Tuesday during a function in which he oversaw the taking of office of newly appointed Central Bank governor and his deputy and the deputy minister of finance.

The South Sudanese pound is declining against the dollar due to the collapse of oil price, the fall of oil production and the civil war that erupted in December 2013. Also, foreign donors stopped their aid programmes to the new nation.

In Juba currency traders are selling one U.S. dollar at 103 pounds in the black market, while the official at the Central Bank is 87 pounds for one dollar .

President Kiir expressed concerns about the diminishing value of the pounds.

“What is it that made us lose the value of our money? Is it something that can be corrected, can it not be corrected?” He asked the officials.

“One of them is that, our people took their money out of the country, and money taken out of the country does not benefit us.

“Most South Sudanese have decided to reside out of the country; they just come here to get some dollars and go. That will never make us grow. But we cannot force people to remain in South Sudan, when we are not sure about the security,” he said.

(ST)

January 18, 2017 (PARIS) - Leader of the National Umma Party (NUP) al-Sadiq al-Mahdi has re-assured his allies in the opposition umbrella Sudan Call to not hold any bilateral agreement between his party and the government, stressing commitment to address the root causes of the Sudanese crisis.

The veteran opposition leader is expected to return to Sudan on 26 January following a two-year self-imposed exile in Cairo.

He told Sudan Tribune in an interview on the sidelines of a press conference held at the French National Assembly in Paris on Wednesday that the NUP is “acting in a national not partisan manner”, saying his party considers itself a representative of the “Sudan party”.

Commenting on statements by the leading figure at the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) Nafie Ali Nafie in which he expected the NUP and Darfur armed groups to join the peace process soon, al-Mahdi said: “The Sudanese government can wish of anything it wants but we have a clear stance … what is the reason for wars and divisions?… the reason for divisions in the Sudanese political body is the lack of democracy and the reason for wars is the existence of specific injustices”.

He stressed that any party who engages in a bilateral agreement with the government and abandons the call for reaching a comprehensive and just peace that addresses the causes of the problem and making full democratic transformation would only serve a “narrow partisan interest”.

Al-Mahdi further said the opposition seeks to remove the injustices and achieve democracy, stressing the NUP is strongly committed to resolve the root problem that caused the wars which is dictatorship.

“In my opinion, any solution that is based on the removal of the causes of conflicts, fighting and dictatorship would be accepted by all [parties] and we will work to achieve this solution which would yield national support,” he said.

During the past two years, al-Mahdi worked tirelessly to win the confidence of the armed groups and to bring them together with the other opposition groups in the Sudan Call alliance to accept the idea of a comprehensive national solution.

The government and Sudan Call forces (the armed groups, NUP, Sudanese Congress Party and other political groups) signed in March and August 2016 the Roadmap Agreement brokered by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) including several steps towards their participation in a national constitutional process inside Sudan.

However, the parties failed to sign a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian agreements that are seen crucial before to move forward in the roadmap implementation process. However, the government maintained its plans, held a dialogue conference and adopted a National Document including constitutional reforms and release of freedoms.

Sudanese government and allies pointed that the holdout groups can sign the outcome of the dialogue process (National Document) and participate in its implementation through the National Concordance Government and transitional parliament. The move is seen by the opposition group as clear violation of the Roadmap.

U.S. ECONOMIC SANCTIONS

Meanwhile, al-Mahdi said the recent U.S. decision to ease sanctions imposed on Sudan would help the opposition achieve its goals pertaining to democratic transformation and in particular the Roadmap.

Last Friday, President Obama signed an executive order suspending sanctions against Sudan enabling trade and investment transactions to resume with the east African nation. The move comes in recognition of Sudan's collaboration to curtail terrorism, and its efforts to improve humanitarian access.

Al-Mahdi pointed that Washington has appointed itself as watchman on the government behavior regarding the five tracks that constituted the bases of dialogue between the two sides, describing Obama's decision as “certificate of good conduct for the Sudanese regime”.

It is noteworthy that Khartoum and Washington said they have engaged in a five-track dialogue process including the fight against terrorism, Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Sudan's role in the peace process in South Sudan, Sudan's peace and the humanitarian situation in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Al-Mahdi told Sudan Tribune that he demanded Washington to include issues pertaining to the political solution and human rights to the five-tracks, saying the move would help the Sudanese achieve democratic evolution and the Roadmap.

(ST)

January 17, 2017 (JUBA) - The youth league from South Sudan's armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) has denied reports that its members conducted a meeting with pro-government supporters in Nairobi, Kenya describing the group as “non-active” members.

Section of participants during the Youth peace and reconciliation workshop in Wau on 5, November, 2016 (ST Photo)

The leader of the SPLM-IO youth league, Puot Kang Chol, told Sudan Tribune the meeting could have been organised by individuals allied to South Sudan government.

“What happened in the Kenyan capital was not in any manner an inclusive initiative that shows all faces of South Sudanese youth in general, but individuals being used by the Jieng Council of Elders,” said Chol.

The group's views, he said, do not represent the SPLM-IO's position, but of some individual directly linked to the Jieng Council of Elders.

“The SPLM-IO youth league has acknowledged that the conference that was held in Nairobi, Kenya didn't seek to include all the youth leaders across the country, but by a selective group of people who are only there to sing praises to the current regime,” he added.

The armed opposition official accused some elements within the Juba establishment of allegedly working against the peace deal.

“The youth who are being lured into politicking by our elders who are careless about the dying of young children in the internally displaced peoples camps across the young nation must put in to their minds that it's their future that they are playing with, not the future of the elders of today but children of tomorrow,” said Chol.

The quest for peace, he claimed, has been priority of the SPLM-IO.

According to the Chol, the return of peace in South Sudan will not be achieved by a group of youth, but rather through constructive engagement of the two main rival parties involved in the conflict.

“The SPLM-IO didn't participate or delegate any member in or outside the country to attend the conference. Should anybody appear in the conference, he or she is responsible of his or her actions and not the SPLM-IO youth league,” he stressed.

(ST)

January 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North (SPLM-N) said its fighters repulsed an attack by the government forces in the Blue Nile state on Monday.

SPLM-N spokesperson Arnu Ngutulu Lodi (ST Photo)

"Yesterday 16/1/2017 at 7;00 am SPLM/N forces in Blue Nile region repulsed NCP forces and militias raid on SPLA/N outpost in Alruum area," said SPLM-N spokesperson Arnu Ngutulu Lodi in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.

He further said one SPLA fighter was slightly wounded in his shoulder, adding they cannot give account about the causalities of the government troops.

"But there are signs of blood in their fleeing routs," he added.

Since more than a year, thanks to the regional and international efforts, the government and the SPLM-N stopped the fighting in the Two Areas as they are committed to unilateral cessations of hostilities.

However, this the third time since two months that the SPLA-N accuses Khartoum of breaching the unilateral truce.

The Sudanese army refuses to comment on these claims.

Last Thursday the Sudanese government announced a six-month unilateral cessation of hostilities.

(ST)

January 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - leading member of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), Nafei Ali Nafei, Tuesday has ruled out the signing of a peace agreement with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SLPM-N) and the Sudan Liberation Movement - Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW).

Former presidential assistant Nafei Ali Nafei (ST)

In statements to the private Ashrooq TV station, on the other hand Nafei expected that the National Umma Party (NUP) of Sadiq al-Mahdi, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) of Gibril Ibrahim and the Sudan Liberation Movement - Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) reach a negotiated agreement with the government soon.

''The SPLM-N and SLM-AW may only join peace in order to raise another problem in the future and delay its implementation. The SPLM-N and SLM-AW are not genuinely keen to achieve peace. There is no hope in them," said the former presidential aide.

Nafei signed the first framework agreement with the SPLM-N in June 2011, less than a month after the eruption of the conflict in South Kordofan between the Sudanese army and the SPLM-N, but the hardliners in the ruling party and the army at the time rejected the agreement.

He said that the holdout groups that are willing to join peace have to sign the National Document which includes the outcome of the National Dialogue Conference. He pointed that JEM and SLM-MM are the most probable among the rebel groups to join the peace process because they have similar objectives that do contradict the "national goal" unlike the SPLM-N.

The SPLM-N refuses to dissolve its army during the transitional period and demands regional autonomy for South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

The SLM-AW says before to join the negotiating table, Khartoum has to repair the consequences of the conflict in Darfur. So, it demands to provide security to civilians and disarm the militias, to expel the "new comers", and to restitute the land to its owners, to pay compensations to the affected people.

Nafie said the government and the "national forces" will resume soon a new round of peace talks with the holdout groups to convince them to join the National Document agreed by the dialogue conference last October.

He expressed hope that they join the peace process, adding that there would be no delay in the implementation timetable of the dialogue recommendations related to the formation of a transitional government and constitutional amendments.

The NCP leading member said that nothing prevents the holdout groups from joining the new government in line with some understandings that can be reached in the upcoming peace talks.

Nafei avoided to speak much about Sadiq al-Mahdi who will return to Sudan on 26 January after more than two years of self-exile in Cairo. The government hopes to convince the leader of the largest opposition party as they kept direct contacts with him despite his alliance with the armed groups since August 2014.

Last August, following the failure of the parties to sign a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements, the government concluded an internal national dialogue in October, saying it cannot wait indefinitely for the holdout groups.

The Sudan Call groups condemned the move, saying Khartoum violated the Roadmap Agreement and asked the African mediators to convince the government to hold another inclusive dialogue process. But the latter says it had waited since March for them to sign the roadmap and proposes them to join the National Document pointing it includes all what they want to achieve.

The mediators seek to convince Khartoum to accept to open this framework document for more discussions with the holdout groups, but they want first bring the armed groups to sign the humanitarian cessation of hostilities with the government.

Nafei left the national government since December 2014, in order to renew the leadership and give a place for the young generations in the ruling party. However, he remains an influential member in the NCP.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

January 17, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) – A South Sudanese diplomat has downplayed recent rumours that the young nation allegedly struck a deal with an undisclosed party against Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, receives S South FVP at his office in Addis Ababa on 9 September 2016 (ENA Photo)

South Sudan's ambassador to Ethiopia, James Pita Morga, said his country cannot enter into a deal likely to harm Ethiopia's interest with a third party.

Morga, in an interview with the state-run Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), dismissed the alleged report as fabricated.

Since South Sudan's President Salva Kiir paid visit to Egypt few days ago, lots of reports circulated on social media, alleging that the two leaders had agreed to sabotage a controversial Ethiopian massive dam project that is being built in Nile River which Cairo fears would eventually diminish its historic water share.

Kiir's recent visit to Cairo came weeks after Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi met Kiir's close ally and Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni in Kampala.

Unconfirmed reports from opposition group led by former Vice President, Riek Machar, alleged that the latest meeting between Kiir and Al-sisi was allegedly part of a "dirty deal" between the two leaders intended to harm Ethiopia.

But the South Sudan official said Kiir's visit was "a usual, bilateral and friendly visit".
The ambassador further refuted as untrue reports that his country would no longer accept the deployment of additional United Nations peacekeepers.

In August last year, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a resolution approving the deployment of an additional 4,000 peacekeepers to its South Sudan mission (UNMISS).

The Security Council passed the resolution in response to concerns about fighting in the capital, Juba, obstruction of UNMISS and other humanitarian actors by the South Sudanese Transitional Government of National Unity, and failure of the warring parties to implement a UN-brokered peace agreement.

The authorisation of an additional 4,000 troops is intended to supplement UNMISS's existing strength, increasing the total force to 17,000 peacekeepers.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn was recently quoted saying there were Egyptian institutions harbouring, supporting as well as funding terrorist groups in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia has repeatedly accused Eritrea of allegedly supporting its opposition groups.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister said that the support of the Egyptian institutions would impact on relations between both countries as it targets Ethiopia's stability.

Addis Ababa has, however, requested Egyptian authorities to respond to the matter.

(ST)

January 17, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has urged the new Central Bank governor to help improve the deteriorating economic situation in the young nation.

“I want to repeat that don't disappoint your people, because I followed the news in the evening, and your people had been writing a lot, congratulating you and thanking me for appointing all of you,” said Kiir after overseeing the swearing-in of the new officials.

“Now if they hear tomorrow that you went into a different corner, they will be very much disappointed, we don't want this thing to happen. We are hopeful that you will change the situation" added the president in reference to loss in the value of the local currency.

Meanwhile, the country's finance minister, Stephen Dhieu Dau commended the South Sudanese president for accepting his recommendations for the new Central Bank team.

He said the Central Bank governor and his deputy have lots of experiences in banking.

“We will do our best to revert the situation the country is in," further stresed the minister.

The new Central Bank governor, Othom Rago Ajak thanked the president Kiir for appointing him and pledged to work hard to improve the economy and reduce inflation.

He vowed to exert efforts to make economic reforms within 100 days of taking office.

“We are grateful to the president for selecting us and putting his confidence that we can run the bank. However, with the experience, we shall try our best with what is happening in our economy,” said Ajak.

“Of course the problem with the people of South Sudan is the inflation and instable and unstable exchange rate. We shall be working to address these issues and hopefully, we shall do something about it,” he added.

Ajak pledged to put in place regulatory systems to improve the economy.

(ST)

January 17, 2017 (JUBA) – The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) warned armed opposition of inciting the public against the peacekeeping body and accusing the peacekeepers of providing support to the government army.

A statement released by the SPLM IO spokesperson Col. William Gatjiath on Monday claimed that an Indian battalion facilitated the operations of the government at the UNMISS base in Nassir, eastern Upper Nile, .

The rebel official said they allowed government security agents unlimited access to UNMISS facilities including internet, telescope and other surveillance and communication equipment.

The press statement called for an investigation into the conduct of UNMISS soldiers and condemned it alleged behaviors for allowing the enemy to use UN resources.

However UNMISS denied the accusation, describing them as “false and misleading.”

“These photos depict a CTSAMM monitoring and verification team meeting with SPLA liaison officers in the context of their mandated work under the peace agreement in investigating violations of the ceasefire,” UNMISS said in a strongly worded statement released late on Monday.

There are 12 thousand strong UN soldiers in UNMISS providing protection to civilians across the country including Nasir, a town controlled by the government soldiers. UNMISS is mandated by UN Security Council to provide logistical support to CTSAMM.

“UNMISS is bound by strict codes of impartiality in the exercise of its duties in South Sudan. These standards stipulate that UNMISS operate without favor or bias towards any one group, fairly, transparently, and impartially, with the sole aim of achieving much-needed peace for all the people of South Sudan, regardless of affiliation,” UNMISS said.

The Mission reminds all sides that the UN is not a party to the conflict, and is in South Sudan to support the achievement of peace, noting that dangerous statements of this nature, not founded in fact, have the potential to incite backlash against the UN, while also discrediting the sacrifices of peacekeepers in South Sudan.

The world body had been accused in the past by warring South Sudanese parties but they failed to prove its implication in a side or another

(ST)

January 17, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has issued several republican orders, sacking four state governors and appointing eight others.

President Salva Kiir speaks during the inauguration of the new SPLM premises in Juba on 15 November 2013 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

The order, announced on the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), saw Ruweng state governor Mayol Kur Akuei removed and Theje D'Aduot Deng appointed.

Chol Thon Balok, governor of the defunct Eastern Nile state, Patrick Zamoi, governor of the former Gbudwe State and William Akan Othon (Fashoda State) were also removed.

Meanwhile the newly appointed officials include, Gabriel Gai Riam Weituor (Akobo state), Colonel Majok Gatluak Thoah (Bieh state), James Tor Monybuny ( Central Upper Nile state), Daniel Rambasi (Gbudwe state), Peter Gatkuoth Khor (Latjor state), Bol Ruai Rom (Maiwut state), Deng Akuei Kak (Northern Upper Nile state) and Patrick Raphael Zamoi (Tumbura state).

(ST)

January 17, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) has declined a request by a number of international envoys to accept an American proposal paving the way towards the signing of a humanitarian agreement with the Sudanese government.

Washington since last November has proposed to the warring parties in the Blue Nile and the South Kordofan states that the USAID delivers medicines and some humanitarian relief to the civilians in the war affected areas directly after its inspection by the Sudanese authorities.

Khartoum accepted the proposal but the SPLM-N stuck to its request that 20% of humanitarian aid be delivered to the civilians in the rebel controlled areas in the Blue Nile State through Asosa in Ethiopia.

In a bid to convince the rebel group to accept the American humanitarian proposal, the US envoy for the two Sudans, and his British, French and Norwegian counterparts met on Monday with the SPLM-N delegation to discuss the matter.

"The SPLM-N demanded that the Khartoum regime agrees to an external crossing point, as the SPLM-N requests to open Asosa crossing point and the idea has gained acceptance and support from President (Thabo) Mbeki and the AUHIP and the international community," said Mubarak Ardol the spokesperson of the SPLM-N negotiating team.

"Khartoum must not be allowed to control the humanitarian operation as it did in Darfur where it violated the international humanitarian law, and continued war crimes," Ardol added in a statement issued about the meeting on Tuesday.

The envoys encouraged the SPLM-N to accept the American proposal as its implementation will be during the six-month period determined by Washington to reassess the partial lift of sanctions on Sudan, adding that it represents the best guarantee for its full implementation.

The meeting took place in the sidelines of the Sudan Call alliance meetings in Paris. The opposition armed and political groups are expected to end their meeting on Friday.

In a press conference to brief the local media about the decision of President Obama to ease sanctions on Sudan at the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, USAID Sudan Mission Director, Jefferey Ashley, told reporters that the SPLM-N still rejects the proposition.

The Sudanese government refuses to authorise the transportation of humanitarian aid from Ethiopia to the SPLM-N controlled areas to prevent any attempt to deliver weapons to the rebel fighters. While the SPLM-N refuses the delivery of relief materials particularly the drugs from the government areas fearing that it may never reach the civilians, Ashley said.

In line with the Roadmap Agreement, the signing of a humanitarian access agreement and a cessation of hostilities agreements will be followed by a meeting to discuss the creation of suitable atmosphere for an inclusive constitutional conference with the participation of the Sudan Call forces.

(ST)