Sudan Tribune

November 19, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan security service has permitted a return to air of Eye Radio FM after closing it down, sparking protest from media organizations, human advocacy groups and government critics.

The station, according to a statement by it management resumed its broadcasting on Saturday morning after being shut down by National Security Service officers last week.

“The management of Eye Radio is pleased to inform our listeners and the general public that Eye Radio is back on air on Saturday, 19 November 2016, from 9:00 am,” a notice published by Eye Radio on its website this evening, reads in part.

The notice informs the general public that “matters concerning the recent shutdown of the station have been discussed and amicably resolved with authorities,” It did not say what the authorities have said.

The shutdown was due to a short news clip in which former First Vice-President and leader of armed opposition (SPLM-IO) Riek Machar spoke about lack of new political initiative about a month ago when Machar when was leaving Khartoum for South Africa.

(ST)

November 19, 2016 (JUBA) – Fuel shortage, resulting from the devaluation of the currency, has hit the South Sudanese capital, Juba.

Motorcycles line up for hours to get fuel before it runs out July 18, 2012 in Juba, South Sudan. (Getty)

The situation has affected business operations in the country as residents are forced to queue at fuel stations in various places and residential areas of the town.

Fuel shortage has seen prices increase from SSP60 per liter in October to SSP160 in recent days.

Traders fear the rising prices may place a big impact on commercial activities and thus have impact on the transportation budget.

Deng Ayuen, a retail trader, says rising costs of fuel could have serious impact on movement of passengers in coming weeks and may affect the ability to transport essential supplies to destinations.

An official ministry of petroleum admitted the prevalence of limited reserve at the depot, saying the system has enough fuel for about two weeks. Another 8,500 gallons has been ordered, and if it is available, it would increase fuel reserves to another three weeks.

“Beyond that we are not sure we will be able to secure diesel for official business. Should the system run out of fuel, it may be necessary to temporarily suspend non-essential activities until our supply is replenished,” the official told Sudan Tribune Saturday.

The ministry of petroleum, he said, is already taking precautions to try and save as much fuel as possible, while still trying to operate.

“All field trips, except those related to security and other essential business, have been suspended until further notice. All key officials will be allowed to move, but other officials are being asked to help pay for their own movement until resupply is made,” he added.

Fuel consumed in Juba is mainly imported from Kenya's port of Mombasa.

Early this year, however, the state-owned Nilepet company undertook measures to control fuel stations in the country to regulate and subsidize fuel.

(ST)

November 19, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese-Saudi Standing Committee on Joint Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Red Sea will hold its 12th meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday to continue discussions on ways to utilize the mineral resources in the Red Sea rift valley, known as Atlantis II.

In February 2012, Khartoum and Riyadh signed an agreement on exploring minerals in the joint territorial water in the Red Sea. Atlantis II is dated back to 1970s, but was not implemented due to the lack of suitable exploration technologies at the time.

Minerals estimates show that there are 97 million tons of various minerals, which include two million tons of zinc, 500,000 tons of copper, 4,000 tons of silver and 80 tons of gold and other valuable minerals.

In a press statement on Saturday, the information office at the Ministry of Minerals said Sudan's Minister of Minerals Mohamed Sadig al-Karori would lead a senior delegation to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Saudi Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Faleh to attend the Atlantis II meeting.

Al-Karori pointed the Sudanese-Saudi Standing Committee on Joint Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Red Sea meets every six months in rotation between Khartoum and Jeddah, saying the committee is the authorized body to grant licenses and follows up on technical and financial issues.

He stressed the two countries would benefit enormously from the Atlantis II, saying the value of the minerals wealth of the project amounts to $20 billion as of April 2016.

In 2010, the Canadian Diamond Fields International and Saudi Manafa International Ltd. were licensed by the Saudi Sudanese Committee to conduct exploration activities in Red Sea rift valley.

In a feasibility study conducted in 2012, Diamond Fields International expected that Saudi Arabia and Sudan will make big profits from the extraction of copper, silver and zinc from Red Sea bed. At the time, it expected to start production in 2014 once technical studies are completed.

Sudan and Saudi Arabia relations have recently improved after years of tension caused by Sudan-Iran connections. The development of bilateral relation was crowned by Sudan's participation in the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi militants in Yemen and in the military exercises “Thunder of the North” in Saudi Arabia.

(ST)

November 19, 2016 (JUBA) - The United States has demanded the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on the leader of the armed opposition (SPLM-IO) SPLA chief of staff and information minister for hampering the peace process in South Sudan.

The Associated Press reported that an annex to the U.S. resolution calling for an arms embargo and new sanctions proposes to impose travel bans and freeze the assets of rebel leader Riek Machar, Gen. Paul Malong and Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth.

The annex says Machar's SPLM-IO faction “declared war on the South Sudanese government and called for armed resistance” following what “forces allied with Machar have raided villages and abducted civilians and aid workers,” reported The AP.

In a statement released on 25 September, following a meeting held in Khartoum, the SPLM-IO called to wage war on the “regime” in Juba under President Salva Kiir and called on the international community to declare it a “rogue” regime.

Regarding the Sudan People's Liberation Army's Chief of Staff, the annex said Malong has expanded the conflict in South Sudan and broken the cease-fire deal.

“As of early August 2016, Malong was responsible for efforts to kill opposition leader Riek Machar,” it said, including knowingly violating Kiir's orders and launching tank, helicopter gunship and infantry assaults on July 11 against the rebel leader's residence and the rebels' ”Jebel” base.

He informed SPLA commanders “that Machar was not to be taken alive,” says the annex, according to The AP.

Last year, the U.S. failed to blacklist Malong and top rebel commander, Maj. Gen. Johnson Olony, because of opposition from Russia, China, Angola and Venezuela.

On the case of Lueth, the minister of information and broadcasting, the annex said he“has repeatedly and consistently worked to obstruct and undermine the implementation of peace deals in South Sudan”.

It further points to Lueth's involvement in planning and coordinating an April 2014 attack on the U.N. compound in the Jonglei State capital, Bor where three U.N. guards and 140 civilians were killed. The

Also, the annex cited his statement in September that the government would treat “as invaders” members of the Regional Protection Force if they deployed without government approval on numbers, nationalities and equipment.

The Security Council has already imposed sanctions on six South Sudanese commanders, three from the government and three from the opposition.

(ST)

November 18, 2016 (NYALA/EL GENEINA) - Darfur Crimes Courts on Thursday have sentenced four people to three and four years for armed robbery, theft and kidnapping.

A special judge sits in court in Nyala during the trial of six Sudanese men accused of belonging to the Janjaweed, 30 September 2004 (Reuters)

A Darfur Crimes Court in Nayala, chaired by the Judge Mohamed Kamal al-Din, sentenced two defendants accused of carjacking to three years in prison and ordered to pay 17.680 Sudanese pound (SDG) as compensation to the victims of the crime.

Darfur Special Persecutor, al-Fatih Tayfur, said that the two criminal used force and robbed a vehicle rented by an international non-governmental organization (INGOs) to transport doctors to and from Kalama camp.

They were arrested after the vehicle had broken down in Belail forest.

Speaking to the official Sudan News Agency, the Representative Plaintiff, Musa Daw al-Beit, said that the two defendants were sentenced in accordance with article 21/175 of the Criminal Act.

“The two convicts were fairly tried and the trial was monitored by UNAMID's Civil Affairs Department,” stressed Daw al-Beit, adding that the two defendants were allowed to hire lawyers.

In El Geneina the capital of West Darfur state, another Darfur Crimes Court headed by the judge, Abdel-Rahim Youssef, on Thursday sentenced two convicts to four years in prison, 60 lashes and fined each of them 6000 SDG. In case of non-payment, they would be jailed for two additional years.
“The convicts were sentenced after they were found guilty of theft, armed robbery and causing harm,” said Darfur Crimes Persecutor, al-Fatih Tayfur.

The two criminals were arrested in Zalingei after robbing the complaint's vehicle from “Nus Camp” on the 15th of September 2016.

Darfur Crimes Court was established in 2005 after the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided to investigate war crimes committed in Darfur region.

However, Sudan refused to cooperate with the ICC, saying that local courts are able to examine the crimes committed since the eruption of Darfur conflict in 2003.

UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in Darfur conflict since 2003 and over 2.5 million were displaced.

(ST)

November 17, 2016 (RUMBEK) – The governor of South Sudan's Eastern Lakes state, Ring Tueng Mabor has sacked five health officials, who until now, worked at Nyang hospital.

Map detail of South Sudan showing Lakes state in red

The dismissal of workers came in the wake of complaints over poor working conditions at the hospital.

The workers dismissed included laboratory technicians and officers in-charge of monitoring and evaluation aspects.

In recent weeks, however, the governor seems to have been isolated by his close allies due to his absurd decisions.

"Governor is becoming unprecedented and unpredictable. He just came to our hospital and we welcomed him. It was a chance for us to tell our governor the problems that we are facing, but he turned a wrong page by dismissing five workers,” said an official, who preferred anonymity.

The laboratory technician, Riel Madhieu and the monitoring and evaluation officer, Gordon Chien were among those dismissed, junior officer speaking on condition of anonymity, said.

Ever since the unlawful arrest of 65 youth in Anuol payam, residents and officials distanced themselves from Mabor.

(ST)

Nov 18, 2016 (Yambio) – South Sudan's Gbudue State says that a member of the African Union Regional Task Force (AU RTF) operating in LRA-affected areas has been abducted since three weeks

Ugandan soldiers, who are tracking down Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) fugitive leaders, walk in a forest bordering Central African Republic (CAR), South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo, near river Chinko April 19, 2012 (Reuters)

Following his return from Juba, Gbudue State Governor Patrick Raphael Zamoi told reporters that the armed group led by Alfred Futuyo abducted a member of the RTF force while they were coming from Nzara to Yambio, three weeks ago and his whereabouts is not known.

“We learnt that they brought a lot of number of guns back to the state, I still gave them a chance for peace. When I went back again to Juba I found that they start trouble here coming attacking the town abducting the boys here and there, attacking refugees camp abducting one of the officer of the AU RTF.”

Zamoi blamed the armed group saying he has been trying by all possible ways to dialogue with them. But they continue causing insecurity just to tarnish the image of the Government. and the community is tired of them.

He added that one day they would harvest what they are sowing.
However, the governor vowed to continue his efforts for peace because "it is the community which suffers".

He hailed the progress made in the implementation of a peace agreement signed in April 2016 with the South Sudan National Liberation Movement in Yambio, one of the armed group in Western Equatoria region.

He said the reintegration process of SSNLM forces into the organized forces is at the final stage. Also, he said that President Salva Kiir met the SSNLM commanders last week.

“After the President gave them his blessings now they are ready to pass out and then we will have two to three weeks to graduate them and integrate them to the organized force," Zamoi stated.

The United Nations supported AU RTF comprise 5,000 soldiers drawn from the four countries affected by the LRA – Uganda, DRC, CAR and South Sudan. Its headquarters is in Yambio, and has other bases in Dungu town of Congo , Obo of CAR and Nzara in South Sudan.

Security situation continue to deteriorate in Western Equatoria and Yambio in particular where looting, abduction, and rape continue in the remote area. Also, it was reported that four civilians were killed last week by uniformed personnel.

(ST)

November 18, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The independent doctors union, Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) on Friday said the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has arrested another doctor describing its renewed strike as complete success.

On 6 October, Sudanese doctors staged a strike and refused non-emergency treatments to patients to protest the poor working conditions, lack of medicines and protection of doctors after increasing attacks by frustrated patients and their families.

On 13 October, the CCSD called off the strike following government pledges to introduce a bill to the parliament to protect doctors, improve training conditions for registrars and improve work environment in hospitals.

However, the CCSD on November 8th announced resumption of a two-day strike every week during November, saying the government didn't honour its commitments.

On November 12th, CCSD said it decided to increase the number of days on which strike action will take place to three days, saying the Health Ministry continues to drag its feet on the implementation of the agreement.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Friday, the CCSD said the NISS on Thursday morning arrested doctor Sara Faisal following four days of repeated summoning, pointing the number of the detained has now risen to 12 doctors.

Last week, Amnesty International urged the Sudanese government to release ten doctors arrested and to halt security summons to the striking members of CCSD.

The statement described the seventh day of the strike as “significant success”, saying that 75 hospital and health centres across the country have participated in it.

It pointed that electronic and foreign media have paid great attention to the strike as well as the national and international rights groups, saying this genuine attention has largely participated to the success of the strike.

The statement also praised the unity and efficient organization of the doctors, pointing to their effective and informative role via the social media networks.

Last Tuesday, the State Minister of Health Sumaia Akad threatened to take legal action against striking doctors, saying these actions include suspension of any doctor who refrains from work.

She stressed the Ministry of Health wouldn't tolerate such a behavior, saying that several striking doctors have been recently suspended from work.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

November 18, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – The United Nations Higher Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) on Friday said that it has opened a new camp as it records high influx of South Sudanese refugees flocking in to Ethiopia.

Nearly 40,000 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Ethiopia's Gambella region since early September.

Most of the new arrivals have been registered and relocated to Jewi, Kule, Tierkidi and Nguenyyiel refugee camps, whilst 806 registered persons await relocation.

According to the UN refugee agency, currently on average, some 547 south Sudanese refugees arrive in Ethiopia on a daily basis.

64% of the total registered new arrivals are children, including 8,392 unaccompanied and separated children.

“This increasing trend of underage asylum-seekers from South Sudan adds to the already young refugee population in Gambella” UNHCR said.

The new arrivals, most originate from the Upper Nile State (94.2%) and Jonglie State (5.6%).

Since September, the operation in Ethiopia has experienced a fresh influx of refugees from South Sudan fleeing renewed violence and food shortages in their home country.

To shelter the new arrivals the UNHCR along with its main government counterpart, the Administration for Refugee and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) have built a new Camp in Gambela region which borders South Sudan.

Some 6,200 newly South Sudanese refugees who arrived recently have been relocated to the new camp, Nguenyyiel which is not far from the other camps.
As numbers of South Sudan refugees rises the UNHCR has requested USD 113.8 million for the South Sudan Situation in Ethiopia.

Currently Ethiopia hosts 324,075 South Sudanese refugees and asylum-seekers.

The horn of Africa's country provides protection to refugees from some 20 countries, with the majority originating from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan.

South Sudanese, Eritreans, Yemenis and Somalis originating from South and Central Somalia are granted automatic refugee status.

While to all other, individual refugee status determination is undertaken by the Government's Eligibility Committee, on which UNHCR sits as an observer.

The Government maintains the policy requiring refugees to reside in refugee camps.

It however allows certain refugees to reside in the urban areas, primarily in the capital Addis Ababa.

They include refugees in need of special medical attention unavailable in camps; refugees with serious protection concerns or inability to stay in camps for humanitarian reasons.

Currently over 18,000 Eritrean refugees reside in Addis Ababa enrolled under the Out-of-Camp Policy (OCP).

Meanwhile the UN refugee agency said it will roll out the Education Management Information System (EMIS) before the end of the year,
The EMIS is intended to modernize the collection, reporting and usage of education-related data.

In preparation for that, UNHCR and ARRA organized familiarization trainings for all pertinent personnel working in refugee education across all refugee camps in Ethiopia. Education managers, school directors, programme officers and education data managers were some of the participants of the training.

The EMIS is a critical education management tool approved by UNESCO.

UNHCR, UNICEF SIGN MoU

UNHCR and UNICEF today signed a Letter of Understanding (LoU) and a joint plan of action to further strengthen their partnership in responding to the needs of refugees and host communities in Ethiopia.

The representatives of the two agencies to Ethiopia – Ms Clementine Nkweta-Salami (UNHCR) and Ms Gillian Mellsop (UNICEF) signed the agreement which outlines key areas of collaboration in child protection, education, health and nutrition, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Under the present agreement, which is due to end in August 2020, the two agencies agreed to work together in accelerating their joint refugee response in terms of technical assistance, visibility, advocacy resource mobilization and supply management. In addition, the collaboration will have a strong focus on identifying risks and ensuring that contingency planning and preparedness measures are in place.

“UNICEF and UNHCR have a long history of effective and demonstrated collaboration in humanitarian action which has greatly improved the lives of refugees over the years. This agreement will further cement our partnership and help us to advance our respective mandates in Ethiopia,” said Ms Nkweta-Salami.

In UNHCR's case, this means protecting, assisting and finding durable solutions to the plight of refugees and other persons of concern. For UNICEF, it allows for greater advocacy for vulnerable children by making sure that programmes and policies in response to the refugee crisis put the rights and needs of children first.

“The decision to have this agreement with UNHCR stems from our wish to formalize the complementarity of our work and ensure that we are jointly delivering results for children. Together, we will intensify our efforts to address the issues of refugees and host communities who need our protection and support,” said Ms Gillian Mellsop.

(ST)

November 18, 2016 (JUBA)- South Sudanese officials on Friday lauded the rejection by the veto -power Russian government of an American proposal by to United Nations Security Council to impose arms embargo and targeted sanctions on the new nation.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, called for the imposition of an arm embargo on South Sudan, pointing that all the ingredients for a genocide exist in South Sudan.

She admitted that no embargo can completely stop weapons getting into the country, adding that "an arms embargo could have a significant impact on the ground".

However, South Sudanese cabinet Affairs and defence ministers described the proposal to impose sanctions as part of the efforts aimed frustrating implementation of the peace agreement and prolongs the suffering of the people.

“The government and the people of South Sudan have said time and again that there is no need to impose sanctions. The peace agreement has been signed and it is being implemented fully," said cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomuro in statements to Sudan Tribune.

"What is needed now from the international community is to stand with the transitional government of national unity in the implementation of the peace agreement. The parties to the agreement are already working together. They don't need sanctions. So what is the use of these proposals again,” he added on Friday.

Meanwhile Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk told Sudan Tribune in a separate interview that sanctions would undermine the implementation of the agreement and will perpetuate the suffering of the people. He described the proposal as an “obstruction” of ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully, stressing that the only way to end the suffering of the people is a political solution.

“When you impose arms embargo on a sovereign state, what does that mean? It means you want no solution to the conflict and it does not represent any attempts to resolve the conflict you want to stop peacefully. And the solution itself becomes a problem. So ,we say sanctions are not the solution,” said Juuk.

The proposal to impose arms embargo and targeted sanctions on South Sudan was supported by two permanent members in the Security Council: UK and France who have power of veto.

The move came after Adama Dieng, the Advisor on Preventing Genocide tabled a report that there is a high risk of genocide in South Sudan, after targeted ethnic killings of civilians. Ellen Løj said that the UNSC has to place the children and the women of South Sudan first in their decisions.

The Russian Deputy Ambassador Petr Iliichev voiced his objection to the imposition of an arm embargo, pointing that the proposed sanction would complicate relations between the host country, the peacekeeping mission there and the international community.

"introducing targeted sanctions against South Sudanese leaders would be the height of irresponsibility now,” Iliiche further said, stressing that some members of the UNSC want President Kiir to share the fate of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Angola, another of South Sudan's allies albeit without veto power, also objected the U.S. proposal saying arms embargo is not a solution.

Also, its ambassador regretted the report of the UN panel of experts. "The Angolans objected to unhelpful language used in the report to de-legitimatize the Transitional Government of National Unity".

The Chinese also expressed reservation and seemed indecisive. The Chinese Deputy Ambassador Wo Haito said the Council should be "prudent" and avoid imposing sanctions in order "to avoid complicating the situation."

South Sudanese officials say the "whole farce" is a ploy for regime change.

South Sudan representative told the Security Council that no sovereign country can accept an armed rebellion. He said the only way to prevent genocide is to end the rebellion not impose arms embargo or sanctions.

(ST)

November 18, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Two hundred private pharmacies in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum have decided to go on partial strike and close their doors on Saturday to protest against recent foreign exchange policy by the Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS) that has led to a sharp rise in drug price.

Earlier this month, CBoS announced it will no longer provide US dollar for drug importation at rate of 7,5 Sudanese pounds (SDG) forcing pharmaceutical companies to buy the dollar from the black market at 17,5 pounds. As a result, drug prices rose by 100 to 150 percent.

Chairman of the Sudanese Pharmacists Union (SPU) Salah al-Din Ibrahim told Sudan Tribune on Friday that drug price has doubled and even tripled due to the CBoS's decision, saying price of some essential medicines saw a 100 to 150 percent rise.

He acknowledged that dozens of pharmacies in Khartoum will close on Saturday in protest against the lift of drug subsidy, describing the strike as a means to draw attention to the adverse impact of the CBoS's decision.

In a statement seen by the Sudan Tribune Friday, the preliminary committee of the pharmacies owners has called for a partial closure of pharmacies from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday to protest the CBoS's policy, demanding the government to go back on this “disastrous decision”.

It pointed that about 200 pharmacies in Khartoum will participate in the strike; saying pharmacies owners don't want the residents to hold them responsible for the price hikes.

The statement further demanded the SPU to take a firm stance toward what it described as “national health crisis”.

Following the CBoS's decision regarding drug importation, the government lifted fuel subsidies and increased electricity price in a bid to stop the surge in inflation and control the fall of Sudanese pound in the black market.

The government move stirred up small-scale protests in several towns across Sudan, including the capital Khartoum, Atbara, Wad Madani and Nyala.

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.

Earlier in November, CBoS 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.

On Tuesday, the pound hit another historic low against the U.S. dollar on the black market as the dollar exchange rate went up to 17.8 SDG from 17.6 SGD last week.

It is noteworthy that the East African nation imports most of its food and medicines.

(ST)

November 18, 2016 (WASHINGTON) - The United States (U.S.) Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power Thursday announced that a proposal for arms embargo on South Sudan and additional targeted sanctions will be submitted to the Security Council very soon.

In a very strongly worded speech before the Security Council, power pointed 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.

She said this measure comes in the interest of South Sudanese and the whole region.

Speaking about the ingredients of genocide, Power stressed that violence in South Sudan is now dramatically escalating on ethnic lines, there are no adequate forces to stop mass atrocities, and a growing climate of incitement, fear, and intimidation has been observed there.

She pointed that the perpetrators of this ethnic violence "enjoy near total impunity".

"The message that the government sends by not holding them accountable is crystal clear – keep at it. Keep doing what you're doing," she emphasized.

Also, UN special adviser for the prevention of genocide who just concluded a five-day visit to South Sudan warned the 15-member body about the potential for genocide there.

"I saw all the signs that ethnic hatred and targeting of civilians could evolve into genocide if something is not done now to stop it. I urge the Security Council and member states of the region to be united and to take action," Dieng reiterated in his speech.

However the veto-powers Russian and Chinese diplomats at the Security Council voiced their objection to the punitive measures saying they would not improve the situation.

"We think that implementing such a recommendation would hardly be helpful in settling the conflict," said Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Petr Iliichev.

While from Beijing the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang announced that "As a matter of principle, China's position is that it consistently does not agree with the use of or threat of sanctions".

The Enough Project, in a statement released on Thursday urged U.N. Security Council members to support the arm embargo's resolution to address the crisis in South Sudan.

“South Sudan faces the very real threat of genocide. It is critical that the U.N. Security Council not stand idly by while the crisis intensifies," said John Prendergast, Founding Director at the Enough Project.

"Every genocide early warning system is flashing red in South Sudan today. All of the classic elements are present for mass atrocities to unfold, and when atrocities are targeted at specific communities on the basis of their identity, that is genocide," added Prendergast added.

(ST)

November 17, 2016 (JUBA) - Briefing the United Nations Security Council for the last time, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan called on the 15-member body to continue to accord priority to the country and to consider the future of its people in taking any decisions.

The new head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Ellen Margrethe Loj (Photo: UN/Staton Winter)

“The people of South Sudan have suffered far too much and for far too long. The victims of this conflict still carry hope and have high expectations from the international community,” Ellen Margrethe Løj told the Council today.

“I urge all involved and especially the South Sudanese leaders never to lose sight of the ultimate goal – a peaceful and prosperous future for the people of South Sudan,” she added.

Ms. Løj underscored that the difference between the success and failure of the South Sudanese Peace Agreement lay in its comprehensive and inclusive implementation by its parties and called for sustained regional and international support to the country.

Further in her briefing, she highlighted that the security situation in the country, particularly in the Greater Equatorias, in parts of Unity, and Western Bahr el Ghazal states, remained volatile, with frequent attacks that resulted in civilian casualties and displacement, as well as disrupted supply of essential goods, including food.

The envoy also said the increasingly fragmented conflict – often with ethnic undertones – continued to push the country towards further division and risked a full-scale civil conflict.

“Much more needs to be done by the Transitional Government [of National Unity] to put a stop to these security incidents that contribute to an environment of instability and violence, lead to displacement and exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation,” she said, underscoring the need to take actions that arrest the increasing ethnic tensions.

UNMISS chief cites ‘dire' humanitarian situation

Ms. Løj, also the head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), informed the Council that despite an agreement between the Government and the Mission on freedom of movement, military commanders on the ground were either not informed of or disregarded the agreement, causing significant challenges to the Mission's movement and patrols.

In addition, she drew attention to the humanitarian situation that remained “dire” with some 4.8 million people estimated to be severely food insecure and farmers in parts of the country likely to miss the upcoming planting season due to lack of availability of seeds, caused by fragile security.

“Our humanitarian colleagues are doing their outmost best to reach people in need but they continue to face obstacles in terms of movement, bureaucratic procedures and criminality,” she said.

This briefing was Ms. Løj's last briefing to the Security Council in her current post. She steps down from these positions at the end of November.

(ST)

November 17, 2016 (EL-FASHER) - Three police officers were killed and others were injured in an attack on a customs police station by an unidentified armed group in Gagago area east of North Darfur capital, El-Fasher.

Speaking to reporters, North Darfur State Police Commander, Major-General Abdallah Omer, said that the police officers were taken by surprise in the early morning.

He added that the perpetrators who requested some water to perform ablution and prepare themselves for dawn prayer, suddenly opened fire on the police officers.

Also, a news bulletin issued by the Ministry of Finance confirmed the attack and indicated the attacker were riding a Land Cruiser and arrived to the customs station at around 6 am on Thursday.

The bulletin pointed that the perpetrators fled the scene after stealing the custom police vehicle, three AK-47 machine guns and a DSHK machine gun.

However, a breakdown of the stolen car prevented the criminals from driving it away.

North Darfur State governor, Abdel Wahid Youssef and the state security committee members have visited the scene after the funeral of the murdered officers.

(ST)

November 17, 2016 (JUBA) - A South Sudanese official Thursday denied that rebels had seized a locality in his state and described the armed group led by the former First Vice President Riek Machar, as nothing than "organized criminals".

SPLA-IO Spokesperson William Gatjiath Deng Wednesday said they took control of Kaljak in Unity state, in Bazi at the South Sudan-DRC border and Morobo in Central Equatoria.

Northern Liech State Information Minister, Lam Tungwar, told Sudan Tribune on Thursday that it is not true that armed opposition forces are holding any strategic town in the area, describing reports attributed to the military spokesperson of SPLA-IO as "false and mere propaganda".

“What I am telling you is the truth. These people do not have a base. They are only doing hit and run because they are a small force which cannot fight with our forces. They are just there to cause havoc and terrorize civilians. They are just organised criminals,” Tungwar said Thursday.

Tungwar, a former artist turned politician and became a key official in the administration of Unity State before being divided into three separate states, condemned the manner in which armed opposition forces conduct themselves in the area, accusing them of “doing bad things against innocent civil population”.

He claimed some humanitarian workers were actually abducted by the rebel fighters before abandon later about them in the swampy areas into which the rebels fled after clashing with the government forces.

Sudan Tribune could not independently verify the claims of the two sides because armed activities take place in remote villages where journalists are denied access by the government and armed opposition .

While government officials deny the existence of armed opposition, local residents and humanitarian workers say there are still rebel checkpoints along some main roads. Also, they said that the rebels control many villages the flat, fertile agricultural region creating pockets that function as informal safe zones free of government troops.

Others say that although vast swathes of the area may have fallen out of government control, but they are not necessarily firmly held by the armed opposition.

Humanitarian workers and religious leaders say criminal elements have also taken advantage of absence of the government in the area to function within these pockets. Therefore, armed gangs use these hideouts to kidnap people for ransom or to carjack vehicles.

The armed opposition also tries to police their own ranks, while fighting the government and competing for supplies, supporters and resources with other armed factions.

(ST)

November 17, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan main opposition party, the Democratic Change Party (DCP) of former Minister of Agriculture Lam Akol has suspended its Secretary General for allegedly maintaining ties with the party's previous leadership.

Onyoti Adigo Nyikec (mcclatchy)

Akol, a former minister, left the South Sudan capital, Juba in August and declared the formation of an armed rebellion movement to fight President Salva Kiir's government.

The DCP selected Onyoti Adigo as chairman last week in a process described as “illegal” by Secretary General Deng Bior. The DCP acted on Deng and four other “disgruntled” members, despite assurances that the matter would be sorted out peacefully.

“A committee has been formed to investigate them and if the five members fail to comply with the committee, their membership will be terminated,” said acting Secretary General, Yeka Peter Hillary.

He said Deng and his group are “linked” to former DCP leader Lam Akol – allegation the former strongly deny.

“They will have to prove that and if we get substantial evident written by them, we have to open a [police] case against them for trying to incriminate us,” Deng told journalists on Thursday.

Deng insisted that the process leading to Adigo's selection as party chairman were not legally organized in accordance to party rules and regulations.

It is, however, not clear how long the committee would take before reaching a decision and Deng did not say if he will respect their decision.

(ST)

November 17, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - A United Nation official on Wednesday said they are working to connect humanitarian action in Sudan's Darfur region with the development projects.

In a press briefing following his return from a visit to Sudan, South Sudan, and Haiti the Director of the Operational Division at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), John Ging, pointed to the low funding for aid operations around the world adding the situation challenges prompt and needed relief.

He told reporters he visited Darfur where he met with newly displaced civilians adding that the troubled region hosts over 2.6 million IDPs. He said there are 5.8 million people in Sudan need of some form of humanitarian assistance, including 3.2 million (IDPs) in the whole county

“we have a situation of a protracted crisis for these people who are looking for solutions to their livelihood needs and also for rebuilding their lives,” he said.

Ging added that he focused on connecting humanitarian action with the development event if there is still a need for humanitarian assistance and aid groups are not allowed to reach the needy in some areas of Darfur.

However after so many years, people are also expecting the international community to help them with recovery, “and we in the humanitarian community absolutely echo that expectation,” he stressed.

Sudanese government says its forces have crushed the 13-year rebellion in the Darfur. However, since January of this year 2016 the Sudanese and allied militias launched a military campaign in western Jebel Marra area against the fighters of the Sudan Liberation Army – Abdel Wahid (SLA-AW).

Despite the low density of the armed conflict in the recent months, civilians continue to flee the Jebel Marra area seeking refuge mainly in North Darfur state.

Peace talks with the Sudan Liberation Movement – Minni Minnawi and Justice and Equality Movement are stalled, also the warring parties failed to reach a cessation of hostilities agreement.

(ST)

November 17, 2016 (JUBA) - A commissioner in South Sudan's newly created Yei River State has resigned in protest over the human rights abuses allegedly committed by pro-government forces in the area.

South Sudanese SPLA soldiers are pictured in Pageri in Eastern Equatoria state on August 20, 2015 (Photo AFP/Samir Bol)

Jacob Toti, the commissioner of Lujulo county, accused government forces of committing “human rights violations," in recent weeks.

Last week, he said, the soldiers launched heavy attacks, in which they carried out heavy destruction on the civil population, resulting in brutal murder of a school head teacher, religious leader, burning of market centre, church building and looting of properties belonging to the civil population in the county.

These actions by government soldiers, he said, caused many civilians to flee into bushes while others ran to Uganda and Congo for safety.

“I don't feel happy to see my own people being killed, tortured and houses burnt down. As such I have taken this hard decision to quit this position. Reasons are: last week our government forces looted a church, followed by shooting and burning of a market centre in the village. They also killed one person working for a local church and also killed the head teacher of Nyei primary school,” his letter reads.

It adds, “I am really very disappointed on the way the government soldiers are mistreating their own people and their unprofessional actions has made me to quit this position.”

The former county commissioner also dismissed reports claiming he was assigned by the state and central governments to hunt down Yei intellectuals residing in the West Nile region and Uganda at large.

“I also want to take this opportunity to dismiss an allegation that my name is in a document to hunt down people who hail from Yei River State to be deported back to South Sudan. My position is very clear, the situation in South Sudan needs inclusive dialogue but not deportation of people to South Sudan,” Toti further clarified.

“People have come to Uganda as individuals with their own different reasons. There is no way to join any group against the will of God by deporting them back to South Sudan to be killed. I wanted to be clear on this point that I cannot and I am not part of this mistake,” he added.

Toti urged the state governor to replace him with the person of his choice and proposed that dialogue be initiated if the country is to achieve peace.

In May, Human Rights Watch accused government soldiers of a wide range of deadly attacks on civilians in and around the western town of Wau. The army, it said, killed, tortured, raped, detained civilians and looted properties.

(ST)

November 16, 2016 (JUBA) – The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned of the “risk of mass atrocities" in South Sudan, should renewed violence in the world's youngest nation continue.

Ban Ki-moon (Photo UN)

In a report released Wednesday, Ki-moon said the UN peacekeepers must be prepared to protect innocent civilians.

"There is a very real risk of mass atrocities being committed in South Sudan, particularly following the sharp rise in hate speech and ethnic incitement in recent weeks," said the UN Secretary General.

"It must be clearly understood that United Nations peacekeeping operations do not have the appropriate manpower or capabilities to stop mass atrocities," he added.

The UN recently approved the deployment of regional protection forces in the aftermath of renewed violence that broke out in the country in July between South Sudan's two main rival factions.

An estimated 14,000 soldiers and police are deployed in the UN mission in South Sudan, but recent investigations implicated peacekeepers in the failure to protect civilians during the attack.

South Sudan descended into war in mid-December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and more than 2.5 million people displaced.

Meanwhile, the Security Council will discuss South Sudan on Thursday amidst earlier threats to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan.

(ST)

November 17, 2016 (YAMBIO) – The Governor of the South Sudan's Gbudue State, Patrick Zamoi has removed the information minister and the Ezo county commissioner.

The decree was announced on the state-owned Yambio Fm radio.

Information minister, Natale Sabuni was succeeded by Gibson Bullen Wande, a veteran journalist who had joined the state government.

The Governor, in a separate decree, sacked Ezo county commissioner, Arkangelo Bakinde, replacing him with Mario Mboritie.

Mboritie was acting director general in the ministry of public service.

(ST)