Sudan Tribune

December 7, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday said the Higher Coordination Committee to Follow Up on the Implementation of the Dialogue Outcome has been endorsed after adding some new members.

Members of the national dialogue general assembly and President Omer al-Bashir attend the third session of the internal process in Khartoum on August 20, 2015 (Photo AFP/Ashraf Shazly)

On Monday, the Dialogue Higher Coordination Committee known as 7+7 dissolved itself and approved the formation of an extended committee to follow up on the implementation of the dialogue outcome, said 7+7 member.

NCP political secretary Hamid Mumtaz on Wednesday said the Future Forces of Change (FFC) led by Al-Tayeb Mustafa, Umma Party led by Mubarak al-Fadil al-Mahdi and the Alliance of National Forces led by Mustafa Mahmoud have been added to the new committee.

He told the semi-government Sudan Media Center (SMC) that the new members have been notified, saying no presidential decree was needed to approve the inclusion of additional members to the committee after they were agreed upon among the political parties participating in the dialogue.

However, the chairman of the dialogue support body, Ammar Al-Sajad, said they refuse the NCP decision to approve the new committee and threatened to withdraw from the national dialogue.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, Al-Sajad demanded President Omer al-Bshir to immediately interfere to stop the decision, describing the decision to dissolve the 7+7 committee as “serious move”.

He said the move constitutes a clear violation of the Dialogue Roadmap, pointing the NCP seeks to disavow its commitments towards the implantation of the dialogue outcome.

Al-Sajad further stressed the 7+7 committee should remain in place until the end of the transitional period according to the Dialogue Roadmap.

Since January 2014, al-Bashir has been leading a national dialogue process whose stated aims are to resolve the armed conflicts, achieve political freedoms, alleviate poverty and the economic crisis, and address the national identity crisis.

In April 2014, he held roundtable meetings with opposition parties, created the 7+7 committee with some opposition and government-allied parties to oversee the process, and drew up a “roadmap” and timeframe for the national dialogue.

Last October, the political forces participating at the national dialogue concluded the process by signing the national document which includes the general features of a future constitution to be finalized by transitional institutions.

The opposition groups boycotted the process because the government didn't agree on humanitarian truce with the armed groups and due to its refusal to implement a number of confidence building measures.

December 7, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan president Salva Kiir vowed to remove barriers to unity, stressing that his government would not spare efforts to promote harmony and peaceful co-existence.

President Salva Kiir adresses a joint press conference on 9 July 2016 (Reuters Photo)

President Kiir made these remarks during a meeting with representatives of Jikany community in Juba who visited him at the presidential palace in Juba on Tuesday to declare the allegiance of the community to him and his administration.

Jikany is a clan within ethnic Nuer section in Bentiu area. The clan is found around Guit, the home county of the first vice president, Taban Deng Gai. The group was led into the meeting by Geng Kuony Puok, the chairman of Guit community in the capital.

Kiir, the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) reported, said he did not forget them and would soon visit the area.

“Don't say I have forgotten you. I will come to you in your areas and there we will take to you message of peace. We will work together with you to heal our divisions and unify our country. When people are unified there is nothing they cannot do,” said Kiir.

He added, “I'm therefore asking you to stand together and work for implementation of the peace agreement”.

Renewed violence broke out in the young nation in July when the country's rivals forces clashed in the capital, Juba, leaving more than 200 dead and displacing thousands on the population.

At least 3.6 million people in South Sudan are currently facing severe food shortages, the highest levels ever experienced at harvest time with the crisis is likely to worsen when food from the current harvest runs out next year, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), announced Friday.

The agency further says the number of people facing severe hunger is expected to rise to 4.6 million between January and April next year and increase even more from May to July unless aid is scaled up.

(ST)

By Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro

On 22 December 2015, at around 12pm, I received a call from the National Security Service (NSS) summoning me to their headquarters for a meeting. I drove to the office and, when I arrived, Akol Kuur, the Director General of internal security, informed me that I would be detained. I spent the next four months and five days living in a cell on the top floor of a two-story prison, located in the back left corner of the NSS Jebel headquarters. I was never charged or presented in court. I was released on 27 April 2016, but left over 30 other men behind, many of whom are still there. I write this public appeal on their behalf.

The men I lived with at the NSS were mostly from the Equatorias and Western Bahr el Ghazal and were arrested arbitrarily at different times and places in 2014 and 2015. I interacted with them one by one and asked them why they were there, but most did not know. They were all suspected of supporting the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) in one way or another—the illiterate warden in charge of the prison called us all “political detainees.”

I believe that some of them are as innocent as any villager who does not even know what government is. A person who was picked from a remote village, who cannot speak English or Arabic, who was not caught with gun in hand, who had never before even seen Juba, how can such a person be a “political detainee”?

Even if some were IO supporters, none among them had been charged or taken to court. In reality, many of them are there because they happened to offend someone who has a friend in the NSS. I can confirm that there is nepotism, sectarianism and discrimination in the detention process.

I am afraid to think of how many of my fellow detainees might have now died. We were fed beans with posho, sometimes rice, sometimes lentils, every day and only once a day. The prison building was like a container made of concrete—there were no windows, and no ventilation. Some nights, they would lock the metal doors and we would suffocate.

The warden had a very terrible leather whip—one lash would make you bleed. When new detainees arrived, I heard them cry. Some nights, detainees would be taken away and not brought back. One detainee tried to hang himself with his sheet in the toilet because the frustration of being arbitrarily detained was too much. Some suffered from high blood pressure or had other illnesses, but did not receive treatment. In that prison, I witnessed a lot of things that I still can't understand.

When the Peace Agreement was signed between the South Sudan government and the IO in August 2015, these young men thought they were going to be released as the agreement called for the release of all those “detained in relation to the conflict.” They all waited. But even after the IO arrived in Juba in April 2016 to form the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), these prisoners were not freed.

The day of my release, Akol Kuur and his team warned me to keep quiet and not talk too much, because they would be following me. I told them that I was not taught to lie; that I cannot keep quiet when I see things going wrong.

This is why I am appealing to the government of South Sudan to either release these young men in detention or charge them and take them to a court of law so that justice is seen to be done. I urge Taban Deng to insist on the release of the detainees whose liberty has been taken away in the name of IO.

The author is a former Governor of South Sudan's Western Equatoria state

December 6, 2016(BOR) – Five people were killed and two children abducted in separate attacks within South Sudan's Jonglei state, despite the peace accord signed between the Dinka and Murle ethinic tribes.

Jonglei state governor, Phillip Aguer speaks during the independence occassion July 9, 2016 (ST)

Local authorities in Twic county on Monday reported a brief confrontation between Dinka herders and suspected Murle cattle raiders in the village of Baping, where three Murle men died.

Two other people were also killed in Kongor village and another child abducted in the Monday night attack. All these were carried by suspected Murle criminals, officials told Sudan Tribune.

Two women were also killed in another attack in Bor North county.

Kuol Bol Ayom, the area member of parliament, said the attack, which occurred at 11pm (local time), was perpetrated by suspected Murle criminals who went away with a child after killing the mother.

“The attack took place at around 11pm, in which the mother Abiar Ruk was killed, with one other woman inside the same house. The criminals abducted a 10-year-old-girl, Awuoi Achieu Thon”, said Ayom.

This incident occurred just two days after the peace conference began in Boma state capital of Pibor, to bring the two ethnic communities to live in peace and forgive one another.

Bol said the criminals who normally abduct children usually do it for profit making, saying they should be brought to face justice.

Boma and Jonglei states government witnessed the signing of the local peace deal brokered by the government with support from the United Nations to bring together Dinka Bor and Nuer ethnic tribes.

(ST)

December 6, 2016 (JUBA) – The government of South Sudan on Tuesday ordered immediate deportation of Justin Lynch, an American scribe working for the Associated Press (AP).

Lynch was reportedly taken to Juba airport and put on a Uganda-bound plane.

The journalist, known for his extensive coverage of human rights violations in the young nation, was told he was being deported for his work, which never pleased South Sudanese authorities.

According to the AP, prior to Lynch's deportation, South Sudanese security agents seized his mobile phones and allowed him to pack his bag.

Top executives from the agency defended the journalist, saying they will ask for explanation from South Sudan government on the American scribe was deported.

"Any move to suppress legitimate journalism and truthful reporting shedding light on humanitarian crimes is wrong and should be condemned. We hope that the government of South Sudan will reconsider its actions," Ian Phillips, AP's vice president for international news told the agency Tuesday.

When contacted, however, South Sudan's Minister of Information Michael Makuei reportedly said he had no knowledge of the deportation, but will look into the matter.

South Sudan is ranked 140th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders 2016 World Press Freedom Index, falling 26 places since the start of its civil war in 2013.

(ST)

December 6, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Armed pastoralists Monday closed the road linking Nyala and El-Fasher the capital towns of South and North Darfur states and seized passenger buses in Darbat area, in East Jebel Mara locality , 160 kilometers west of Nyala.

The nomad said they intend to protest against the theft of 250 camels by an armed gang in Kator area on the border between North and South Darfur. The unknown armed robbers drove the stolen camels to the mountainous areas of Jebel Marra.

On Tuesday, eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that a group of armed pastoralists Monday had ambushed a convoy of passenger buses in Darabt area and seized 25 commercial trucks coming from Nyala.

The armed militia refused to release the passengers until they get back their stolen camels and threatened to permanently close the road if armed robbery continues in the area, according to the eye witnesses.

The security committee in East Jebel Marra headed by Commissioner Hassan Adam, met pastoralists representatives and secured the release of passengers and the trucks.

But the armed men refused to open the strategic road to Darbat for traffic, forcing the trucks coming from Nyala to return to Al-Wihada locality and the trucks coming from El-Fasher and Khartoum to go back to El-Fasher.

The security committee in East Jebel Marra County has contacted the commissioner of Tawilla distric in North Darfur and discussed ways to return the stolen camels and secure the joint borders between the two localities.

A local merchant in Darabt, Mohamed Yagoub, told Sudan Tribune that some 65 trucks usually arrive to the weekly Monday market in the area from Nyala, El-Fasher and Omdurman to transport the local products especially fruits. He added that the road closure caused them severe financial damage.

Darfur has been a flashpoint for lawlessness and violence since t2033 when armed groups took up arms against the Khartoum government. The government says it forces pacified the region, but armed gangs continue to carry out criminal activities.

Sudanese authorities vowed to protect civilians and to collect arms but its plans to disarm militias are not yet implemented.

The United Nations estimates as many as 300,000 people have been killed and almost 3 million people have been displaced during the ongoing conflict. According to the UN Human Rights Council, 400,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced.

(ST)

December 6, 2016 (JUBA) - China has sent 120 troops to South Sudan as part of a 700-member U.N peacekeeping force, the Associated Press reported.

The second battalion pf peacekeepers are in South Sudan to protect civilians, humanitarian workers, conduct patrols and provide security escorts.

South Sudan experienced renewed violence in July this year when its rival armies clashed in the capital, Juba killing hundreds and displacing thousand of the population.

This is despite a peace deal agreed upon by leaders from both rival factions.

The world's youngest nation has seen continuous fighting since its civil war broke out in mid-December 2013. Also, the more than 12,000 U.N. peacekeepers already operating in the country have often been criticized for failing to protect civilians.

During the July violence, two Chinese peacekeepers died and five others were wounded after their vehicle was struck as fighting intensified in the capital, Juba.

China is reportedly the biggest contributor of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, with 2,639 currently deployed.

(ST)

December 6, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) on Tuesday said it has conducted the largest military exercises in its history in the presence of President Omer al-Bashir and senior army commanders.

SAF troops march during the concluding ceremony of Northern Thunder in Saudi Arabia on March 12, 2016 (ST Photo)

The military maneuvers “Knights' Challenge” were conducted at Al-Ma'aqil military area in the River Nile state as part of SAF's 2016 training program.

SAF's Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Emad al-Din Mustafa Adawi said the exercise was the largest in the history of the Sudanese army, pointing the new strategy of the exercises involves the largest war formation from all military units.

Adawi, who addressed the military units participating in the ““Knights' Challenge” maneuvers, pointed that the training programme aims to raise combat efficiency and readiness in order to enable SAF face regional and international challenges and threats.

He said this year's training programme is considered a model in terms of the preparation and performance, adding that SAF remained faithful to its command and the Sudanese people.

Adawi underscored SAF's readiness not only to fight the rebel movements but also to secure the borders effectively.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

For his part, al-Bashir expressed commitment to provide all military needs and equipments for SAF in order to achieve security and stability in the country, stressing importance to build a strong army through continued training.

He hailed SAF's sacrifices at all battle fronts, expressing appreciation to all participants and organizers of this year's training programme.

(ST)

December 6, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir on Tuesday has said that his country will receive a $500 million central bank deposit from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir (C) flanked by Abu Dhabi crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (L) and UAE vice-president Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum (R) in Abu Dhabi on 22 February 2015

On Thursday, al-Bashir and his accompanying delegation concluded a four-day visit to the rich Gulf state where he discussed bilateral ties between the two countries.

In a meeting that lasted until the early morning hours of Tuesday, al-Bashir briefed the leadership office of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on the outcome of his visit to the UAE.

Following the meeting, NCP deputy chairman for party affairs and presidential aide Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid said that al-Bashir informed the meeting that the UAE has agreed to deposit a $500 million with Sudan's central bank (CBoS).

According to Hamid, al-Bashir also said the UAE has pledged to cover Sudan's gasoline consumption for 6 month and to build a solar power plant that produces 1000 megawatts through the Build Operate Transfer (BOT).

The NCP deputy chairman further described the outcome of al-Bashir's visit to the UAE as real support for the national economy and efforts to increase production.

It is noteworthy that al-Bashir's visit to the UAE came amid popular unrest and civil disobedience following the government decision to lift oil, electricity and drug subsidy.

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.

In its latest consultation report on Sudan in October, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Sudan's already low foreign exchange reserves dropped to 1½ month of imports.

Last month, CBoS introduced an incentive policy and increased the exchange rate in commercial banks and exchanges by 131%. As a result, the U.S. dollar exchange rate went up in banks to 15.8 SDG in comparison with to the official rate of 6.5 SDG.

As a result, the U.S. dollar hit another historic high against the pound on the black market settling at 18.8 Sudanese pounds.

(ST)

December 6, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan army (SPLA) on Tuesday said it repulsed attempts by the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) fighters to take control of Yei town, the administrative headquarters of South Sudan's newly-created Yei state.

Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang, SPLA spokesperson, is seen at a containment site outside of the capital Juba on April 14, 2016. (AFP Photo)

The army's spokesman, Lul Koang Ruai said the rebels "unsuccessfully" attacked government-held positions around Yei town over the weekend.

“It is not true. This is a white lie. There are no rebels I know operating in Equatoria state. What happened is that some "armed criminals attacked positions held by our forces around Yei over the weekend”, explained Koang.

"And they (SPLA) responded overwhelmingly with a deadly firepower. Our special forces were involved in ground attack and they were given very good air support by the SPLA Airforce”, he added.

The military spokesman said armed men engaged by their forces attacked Kargulu, Lasu, and Umbasi areas near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), adding that government had sent more troops aided with the Airforce cover.

Local officials and residents confirmed, in a series of interviews, the new offensives.

Government forces, according to multiple sources, were using ground and air strikes.

South Sudan government is waging an offensive war to recapture all areas held by armed opposition fighters in the area in preparation for dry season offensives.

The United States on Monday accused South Sudan government of deploying thousands of troops to Equatoria region, increasing prospects of violence escalation.

Fighting between government forces and the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) escalated to Central Equatoria state when violence erupted in Juba last July.

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced from their homes to neighboring countries after their villages were also destroyed during intense fighting between the rival forces in violation of an initially-agreed upon ceasefire.

The United Nations has warned of possible genocide in South Sudan which the U.S said needed to be averted by holding leaders accountable and imposing arms embargo.

(ST)

December 6, 2016 (JUBA) – Armed men abducted a local South Sudan leader in the troubled Yei River state over the weekend, officials said on Tuesday.

Julius Tabule, the Commissioner of newly created Kangapo County in Kajo-Keji, Yei River State was taken at gunpoint while attending a funeral services in Bori, a village close to South Sudan – Uganda border on Sunday.

Yei River Governor David Lokonga Moses told a local radio station in Juba on Tuesday that Commissioner Tabule was kidnapped by “unknown gunmen.”

“In fact, he went for prayers of funeral, then he ended up in the hands of these unknown gunmen who abducted him and we don't know [his whereabouts now]. I am still not getting details, but I am trying to establish contacts,” Lokongo told Juba's based Eye Radio.

A resident of Kajo-Keji told Sudan Tribune that two armed men stormed the funeral services on Sunday and led away the commissioner.

“The gunmen cocked their guns and asked the mourners ‘who is the commissioner here?'. The commissioner identified himself and they led him into his own car and ordered the driver to drive all of them away,” said the source who preferred to keep anonymity.

Many civilians fled the area to Uganda following the kidnapping of the local administrator.

Government sources have blamed the armed SPLM In Opposition for the abduction though this has not been independently confirmed.

Last Sunday SPLM-Io rebels who are active in the area said they captured Lasu\Lonbongo in Yei River State.

(ST)

December 2, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan Friday commended the diplomatic efforts exerted by Russia, China, Egypt, Angola and Venezuela for the diplomatic efforts exerted to convince the United States to withdraw a proposal of arms embargo and targeted sanctions on three key government and opposition figures.

“We are appreciative and grateful to the government and people in the Russia Federation, the Chinese government and people, Angola, Egypt and Venezuela,” said Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Cooperation Mawien Makol.

His comments come following media reports that Obama administration has abandoned a plan to submit a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council resolution imposing arms embargo on South Sudan and targeted sanctions.

Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N, was quoted by unnamed official saying Obama administration decided to put off a plan to call for a Security Council vote for the arms embargo.

Government supporters in Juba claimed the move shows the U.S. administration is coming to a realisation that the measure won't have passed with a fierce opposition from South Sudan's allies, the veto-power Russian Federation and China.

The move was opposed by China, Russia, Egypt, Angola, Senegal, Venezuela, and Japan with Malaysia also expressing reservations. The American draft resolution was supported by its traditional allies, the British, French and other nations like Ukraine.

On 18 November Power disclosed its intention to submit the arms embargo and sanctions to the Security Council, saying that all the ingredients for a genocide exist in South Sudan.

She added that the international community should shoulder its responsibility to protection civilians and prevent an "imminent genocide" as in was said by the UN Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng last wek.

"In the coming days, the United States will put forward a proposal to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan and targeted sanctions on the individuals who have been the biggest spoilers to achieve lasting peace in South Sudan," Power said.

(ST)

December 2, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The last batch of twenty two Prisoners of War (POWs) from the Sudanese army who were released by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has arrived on Thursday in Khartoum.

Last month, JEM announced the release of all detainees and POWs from government forces and breakaway factions in response to appeals from religious leaders, civil society organizations and prestigious national figures.

Government sources told Sudan Tribune that the arrival of the final group of POWs on Thursday has brought the number of the released to 22 prisoners, saying most of them are from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and other regular forces.

The POWs have been transferred by road from their detention camp in South Sudan to North Kordofan state capital, El-Obeid and from there they were flown to Khartoum.

Lt. Col. Ihab Abdel-Mun'im, who spoke on behalf of the released POWs upon arrival at Khartoum airport, thanked the JEM for the good treatment, saying “Sudan is a capacious country and its territory could accommodate everybody”.

It is noteworthy that Abdel-Mun'im had spent 9 years in captivity.

On 3 November, four former rebel commanders of the Justice and Equality Movement - Dabajo (JEM-Dabajo) returned to Khartoum after their release by JEM.

The splinter commanders had been detained after clashes with their former comrades on the border between Chad and Sudan in May 2013. The faction leader Mohamed Bashar and his deputy Arko Suleiman Dahia were killed during the fighting.

Last September, President Omer al-Bashir announced the release of twenty one children allegedly detained during the Gouz Dango battle with the JEM in April 2014.

However the rebel group denied that these children were part of its fighters reiterating its commitment to international conventions banning the use of child soldiers.

(ST)

December 2, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The rebel Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) has called on the various opposition alliances and youth groups that were engaged in the recent civil disobedience to address the international community to demand the ouster of President Omer al-Bashir.

SPLM-N leader Malik Agar (C) his deputy Abdel Aziz al-Hilu (L) and SG Yasir Arman pose for a picture in undisclosed location in the rebel controlled areas in March 2014 (AFP/Getty Photo)

Large segments of the Sudanese people have engaged in a three-day civil disobedience act from 27 to 29 November to protest the recent austerity measures and the lack of freedoms.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday, SPLM-N leadership said “we demand the ouster of al-Bashir and to reach agreement on new transitional arrangements under which the dialogue conference and the constitutional arrangements should be held”.

“We make this demand to the African Union High Implementation Panel, African Union, Arab League, European Union, United States, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the UN Security Council as the sole demand of the Sudanese people,” read the statement.

“We would continue our struggle to achieve the popular uprising and the objectives of 27 November away from the marathons of negotiations and thus we end the discrepancy between the uprising and the negotiations and we rely on the popular uprising as means to achieve the demands of our people,” it added .

The SPLM-N pointed out that it developed a new negotiation stance with the government that includes the ouster of President al-Bashir and the achievement of transitional arrangements agreed upon among the forces of change.

The rebel movement stressed that it wouldn't negotiate any political issues with the government, saying it will only engage in talks to address the humanitarian situation on the bases of the international humanitarian law.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

After a series of talks under the auspices of the African Union in Addis Ababa between 9 to 14 August, the Sudanese government and SPLM-N failed to sign cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements.

The statement further called for holding immediate meetings and conferences for all the forces that had engaged in the civil disobedience, stressing the need “to agree on a unified programme to respond the desire of the Sudanese for change”.

It pointed to the importance of agreeing on a leadership body to lead the upcoming moves, saying the final victory could only be achieved through the unity of the forces of change.

The statement also called for holding a conference for all forces that had engaged in the civil disobedience in Khartoum in coordination with the armed movements in order to transfer the core of the opposition work inside Sudan.

Also, the SPLM-N urged the two factions of the rebel umbrella Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) to agree on a joint agenda to address the current political situation and to strengthen coordination between the two factions.

The rebel group expressed readiness to cease hostilities whenever the Sudanese army and police decide to join the popular uprising, saying “we are ready to coordinate with them to counter the enemies of the uprising”.

The statement also warned against differences among the forces of change and attempts to exclude any armed or peaceful resistance forces, pointing to the shortcoming of the civil disobedience including the absence of a declared leadership and lack of accurate identification of goals.

(ST)

December 2, 2016 (JUBA) - The command of South Sudan army (SPLA) denied on Friday reports that up to 300 soldiers have switched allegiance to the armed opposition forces loyal to former First Vice President Riek Machar.

An SPLA soldier is pictured behind a South Sudan flag as he sits on the back of a pick-up truck in Bentiu, Unity state January 12, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Andreea Campeanu)

The soldiers, according to James Yoach, spokesperson for the opposition in the area, decided to break out because the government was not able to establish cantonment sites in the area and feed them.

The defectors were allegedly led by a 2nd Lt. Gai Kongim, who crossed to opposition forces”.

However while the armed opposition claims it has received the soldiers, government officials and military officials loyal to the government under President Salva Kiir have denied any knowledge of these developments.

Northern Liech State Information Minister Lam Tungwar, denied the defection and lessened the news.

“This is baseless and unrealistic news. There is nothing like at all. No one from our gallant SPLA forces has ever defected to the SPLA-IO. This is just propaganda to project themselves as still existing but in fact they are not in the area. They are practicing hit and run," he said.

"The Governor of Northern Liech state is in Mayom right now. our people should not panic. This is a lie and should not be taken seriously,” stressed Tungwar.

SPLA spokesman, Brigadier General, Lul Koang Ruai said he was not aware of any defection.

(ST)

December 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour Thursday discussed with the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson ways to develop relations and trade between the two countries.

The meeting between the top diplomats was held on the sidelines of the three-day MED (Mediterranean Dialogues) Forum, organised by the Italian foreign ministry in Rome.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Garib Allah Khidir said the meeting discussed ways to promote bilateral relations between the two countries, and Sudan's role to maintain regional peace and security particularly in South Sudan.

"Sudan looks forward to building strong relationship between the two countries especially in the economic field, calling on British companies to invest in Sudan," Ghandour told Johnson, according to the spokesperson.

As the British government prepares to trigger negotiations to leave the European Union next year, London considers to develop trade and economic relations with Africa before the Brexit.

British officials said they plan to develop a “pro-development trade policy with Africa,” reported the Financial times last October.

Sudan which is under U.S. sanctions has developed "South-South trade" ties with China, and Russia, India and other countries in Asia and Africa.

(ST)

December 2, 2016 (JUBA)- South Sudan's armed opposition leader, Riek Machar has appointed Henry Odwar as deputy chairperson of the rebel movement.

Machar speaks on a mobile phone after an interview with Reuters in Kenya's capital Nairobi July 8, 2015

Odwar, in a decree Sudan Tribune obtained, assumed office on 1 December.

“Pursuant of the SPLM (IO) constitution and reference to the political Bureau resolution of September 23rd 2016 on the restructuring of the SPLM/SPLA-IO political organ, I Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon chairman and commander –in-chief, SPLM/SPLA (IO) hereby appoint comrade Henery. L Odwar as the deputy commander-in-chief, SPLM/SPLA-IO with an effect on 1st December 2016”, partly reads the decree.

The deputy chairperson's post fell vacant in July when renewed clashed between South Sudan's rival factions forced Machar out of the capital, Juba.

Many of the armed opposition officials who remained in Juba were forced by government to nominate Taban Deng Gai as Machar's immediate successor.

The position of the deputy chairman of the armed opposition was previously held by Gen. Ladu Gore, before renewed fighting broke out in Juba.

(ST)

December 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) — The Chairman of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Thursday, in an unexpected move, fired one of his aides without explanations, as the group holds consultations with the Sudanese government over humanitarian truce in Darfur.

In a short communiqué he issued, Gibril Ibrahim, the rebel leader relieved Abu Bakr Hamid from his position as secretary of organisation and administration.

The decision was made in ''the interests of the revolution and to preserve its gains'' says the text.

Hamid accompanied Ibrahim last October to meet the Chadian President Idris Deby in Berlin.

Deby sought to convince JEM leader to join the peace process in Sudan and to end a 13-year armed conflict that affects his country and hampers the development of economic exchanges between the two neighbouring countries.

Hamid who has good personnel relations with Deby, was more responsive to the efforts of the Chadian president.

On Wednesday the Sudanese government Top Negotiator for Darfur conflict, Amin Hassan Omer disclosed that secret discussions are taking place in Addis Ababa between the government, JEM and Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM).

The consultations which are brokered this time by the U.S. Special Envoy Donald Booth who is currently visiting Sudan, deal with the cessation of hostilities and the humanitarian access.

The American diplomat seeks to narrow the gaps between the two parties over the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD). Khartoum insists it should be the basis for any political talks but the two groups demand a new process.

Also, talks are expected to resume soon as the African Union Chief Mediator Thabo Mbeki would visit Khartoum during the upcoming days to meet President Omer al-Bashir and his aides before to fix a date for the resumption of formal negotiations.

(ST)

December 01, 2016 (JUBA) - 30 teachers have been arrested after they protested over delayed wages in South Sudan's Jonglei state.

Representatitives of the teachers, county education office in Bor, Feb 21, 2011 ST

Ever since the strike begun over two months ago, 11 teachers have been terminated for leading and organizing the sit down protests.

Jonglei state's education minister, Susan Lith Aluong described as illegal the demands for pay rise and refusal to allow students sit exams.

“The strike is illegal and unlawful because it has exceeded a week," Aluong told reporters in the state capital, Bor on Thursday.

Any legal strike, she added, lasts for a week and teaching resumes.

The strike began in early September when teachers demanded that the state government implements the 300% salary increment approved by the national government in February, but the state insisted there was no money to effect the increase in wages.

Teachers, presently, receive between SSP 500 and SSP 600, despite the persistent rise in inflation that reached over 800% last month.

Last week, the state ministry of education urged teachers to resume work and released a timetable for end of year exams. Some teachers reportedly tore the exams schedule, prompting the state government to order for their immediate arrest early this week.

Teachers on Thursday protested the arbitrary arrest of colleagues.

"When we were meeting, policemen came and wanted to take the leaders, but we refused and decided to come to the police together," a teacher who preferred anonymity said over phone.

Initially, police detained 75 teachers, but 45 of them were released. However 30 of them remained in detention by close of business on Thursday.

Education officials in the state said the teachers would be taken to court and charged with inciting violent. It is not clear when they will appear in court or when the exams would be done by the students.

(ST)

December 01, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) on Thursday has continued its mass confiscation of newspapers print-runs for the successive fourth day, which coincided with the call for civil disobedience.

On Wednesday, two dailies went on strike and did come out in protest against NISS crackdown on newspapers.

Mass confiscation has emerged as a new technique of punishment by the NISS which tends to accuse the press of disseminating news that adversely impact on national security.

On Thursday morning, NISS has confiscated the print-runs of Al-Tayyar, Al-Youm Al-Tali and Al-Watan for the third successive day without any explanation.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune, the publisher of Al-Tayyar newspaper, Osman Mirghani, said NISS had informed him that his newspaper could come out on Friday, stressing that this is the first time that NISS assures him the newspaper will not be confiscated.

“Al-Tayyar newspaper has lost 300,000 SGD (around $15.700) due to NISS repeated confiscations for three days, in addition to the loss of advertisements.

On Thursday, Al-Jareeda and Al-Mydan newspapers did not print Thursday's edition in solidarity with a strike announced by the independent Sudanese Journalists Network (SJN) to protest against the repeated violation of press freedom and mass confiscations of newspapers.

Sudanese authorities have intensified their crackdown on newspapers for its coverage of the three-day civil disobedience organized by Sudanese activists from 27 to 29 November. NISS has confiscated the print-runs of Al-Jreeda and Al-Ayam for three successive days.

In statement extended to Sudan Tribune, the independent Journalists for Human Rights Network (JHR) denounced the "massacre of press" carried out by the security apparatus and the lack of freedom of expression in the country and pointed to the abusive confiscation of the newspapers without explanation .

Also, the pro-government Sudanese Journalists Union (SJU) regretted confiscating newspapers print-runs, and called on the "parties to go to court to resolve their conflict.

“Sudanese Journalists Union is in contacts with the relevant authorities to reach an agreement ending newspapers print-runs confiscations and to respect law prevalence,” said SJU in statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

SJU went to say that there are arrangements to organize a meeting between editors-in-chief, publishers and relevant authorities to end the current tension and reach an agreement to enhance freedom of press.

Following the lift of pre-publication censorship, the NISS opted to punish newspapers retroactively by seizing print copies of newspapers that breach unwritten red lines related to national security.

The measure inflicts financial and moral losses on the media houses. Journalists say that NISS uses seizures of of newspapers, not only to censor the media but also to weaken them economically.

(ST)