Sudan Tribune

November 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Leading figure at the National Umma Party (NUP) Mubarak al-Fadil on Tuesday has downplayed the renewal of the United States sanctions against Khartoum saying the opposition mustn't count on the embargo to change the regime.

Mubarak al-Fadil (ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/Getty Images)

Al-Fadil, who is a cousin and political rival of the NUP leader al-Sadig al-Mahdi, had been a presidential aide in 2002, has recently again improved his relations with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and participated in the government-led dialogue process as leading figure of the opposition NUP.

However, al-Mahdi who is allied with the armed groups since August 2014, issued a statement from his residence in Cairo distancing the NUP from the activities of al-Fadil saying he is no longer a member of the party.

In a press statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, Al-Fadil said the U.S. sanctions “wouldn't topple the regime” but will adversely impact on the residents, economy and future generations.

Sudan is under American economic and trade sanctions since 1997 for its alleged connection to terror networks.

On Monday, U.S. President Barak Obama extended sanctions on Sudan for another year, saying Khartoum actions and policies that caused these sanctions continue to pose a threat to the national security and U.S. foreign policy.

Al-Fadil pointed that the statement issued by the U.S. Department of State has underscored Washington's commitment to a continued high level policy engagement with Sudan.

On Monday, the U.S. Department of State issued a separate statement minimizing renewal of the sanctions, saying it is “a technical decision and part of a routine, annual process that does not prejudice the ability of the President to provide sanctions relief at any point in the future”.

He called on the opposition to reach a political settlement with Khartoum and “stop running behind mirage”, asking the government to accelerate implementation of the dialogue's outcome and reforms agreed upon with the international community in order not to “miss this historic opportunity”.

Last month, the political forces participating at the government-led 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.

Washington urged Khartoum to consider the government-led dialogue as a first step for a broader process for peace and democratic reforms that will encompasses all the political and armed groups in the country.

In 2002 Al-Fadil defected from the NUP and formed the Umma Reform and Renewal Party (URRP). He was of the view at the time that the NUP should take part in the government while al-Mahdi rejected any participation in a non-democratically elected government.

Following what, he was appointed as a presidential adviser for economic affairs in 2002 and several members of his party were also appointed in various positions in the government.

However, he was sacked in 2004 after a dispute with President Omer Hassan al-Bashir and was arrested in 2007 with a number of retired army generals and accused of attempting to stage a coup. He was released five months later.

(ST)

November 1, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese government under the leadership of President Salva Kiir has downplayed the significance that the absence from unity government of the former First Vice President, Riek Machar, will derail implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement, saying the country must move forward.

First Vice-President Riek Machar (L) and President Salva Kiir (R) listen to the national anthem following a ceremony during which Machar was sworn in on April 26, 2016. (Phot AFP/Samir Bol)

Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs, Tut Kew Gatluak, told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that the cabinet had clearly stated and affirmed during a series of meetings with the delegation of the African Union the government's commitment to fully implement the agreement.

“The delegation of the African Union Peace and Security came and was able to hold series of meetings with all the stakeholders and went to Malakal where they met the internally displaced persons in POC's protection of civilian' sites managed by the United Nations in South Sudan,” said Gatluak.

“In the meeting with the government they were convinced that a lot has been done. And it proved the commitment of the government to go ahead with the implementation of the peace agreement,” he claimed.

Meanwhile President Kiir's controversially appointed First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai, also said absence of Machar in Juba could not endanger the implementation of the agreement, claiming that there was no good working relationship between him and the government.

"The days when Riek Machar was in Juba, we witnessed strange relationship between him and government," said Gai.

Gai, a former chief negotiator for Machar during two years of talks with the government to end conflict, stressed that people of South Sudan need to move forward.

The president, he said, needs a partner and he cannot work in a vacuum. “Leadership of the SPLM-IO decided to go ahead with the implementation because the first vice-president is not here. He is not in Juba. So how do we move forward? He cannot take charge of his responsibility and the people of South Sudan need the things to go forward. They need the peace to be implemented,” he explained.

He was speaking to the delegation of the African Union over the weekend before departing the country on Monday after spending three days in the country to interact with different stakeholders in the peace agreement.

(ST)

November 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's government has described the United States President Barack Obama's order to extend sanctions on Sudan as “unjust” saying it is inconsistent with his administration's recognition of Khartoum's role in the fight against terrorism.

The US imposed comprehensive sanctions on Sudan in 1997 (US Embassy in Khartoum website)

Sudan has been under American economic and trade sanctions since 1997 for its alleged connection to terror networks and remains on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terror.

On Monday, U.S. President Barak Obama extended the 19-year embargo on Sudan for another year, saying Khartoum actions and policies that caused these sanctions continue to pose a threat to the national security and U.S. foreign policy.

However, the U.S. Department of State issued a separate statement minimizing renewal of the sanctions, saying it is “a technical decision and part of a routine, annual process that does not prejudice the ability of the President to provide sanctions relief at any point in the future”.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Sudan's embassy in Washington described Obama's order as “unjust”, saying it contradicts with the statement issued by the U.S. States Department acknowledging Sudan's active role in combating terrorism in the region.

On 21 September 2016, the Department of State welcomed Sudanese government efforts to combat terrorism and its increased cooperation with Washington.

“While countering terrorism is an important objective for the United States, we continue to engage the Government of Sudan on protecting human rights, resolving internal conflicts, addressing humanitarian needs, improving regional stability, and advancing political freedoms, accountability and reconciliation," further said the statement.

The diplomatic mission stressed that the unilateral coercive U.S. sanctions constitute a "blatant violation of human rights", pointing to its adverse impact on human rights conditions in Sudan and elsewhere.

For his part, Sudan's Information Minister Ahmed Belal Osman described Obama's order to extend the sanctions for another year as “routine decision” that brings nothing new.

He told the semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) that the remaining period for President Obama in office wouldn't allow him to take any measure to lift the sanctions, saying Khartoum got accustomed to hear such a decision every year.
Osman underscored Sudan's cooperation with the U.S. in the war against terror, stating that Khartoum is dealing with Washington cautiously.

He added that Washington should abide by its pledges to lift the unilateral sanctions on Sudan, renewing his government's keenness to achieve peace and stability in Sudan and the region particularly South Sudan.

Sudanese officials recently expressed hopes that President Obama before the end of his second term would lift the sanctions on the eastern African country, saying Washington is convinced of its inefficiency and that it harms ordinary Sudanese.

It is noteworthy that Washington eased the sanctions imposed on agriculture equipment and services, and allowed exports of personal communications hardware and software. Also, the U.S. Treasury Department removed the private Bank of Khartoum from a blacklist of Sudanese entities.

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The European Union has achieved a 8.5 million Euro developments projects to address food security in four states in eastern Sudan implemented by the Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and local actors.

Children from the nomadic tribe of the Rashaidas from eastern Sudan they wait on a roadside with their parents for people to come buy their smuggled goods in Tesseney, western Eritrea. (AFP file Photo)

In a joint statement released on Sunday, the EU Mission in Sudan and the FAO said the situation in Sudan, which is vulnerable to climatic variability, has been exacerbated by the effects of El Niño-driven changes in the rainfall pattern.

"This has contributed to reduced water and grazing land availability, as well as lower agricultural production increasing crisis-level food insecurity, especially in the Eastern regions of the Country," underlined the joint statement.

In this context, the purpose of the €8.6 million programme is to address these challenges in eastern Sudan states of Blue Nile, Gedaref, Kassala and Red Sea. Local authorities in the region are involved with the FAO to implement this capacity building and development plan.

“This four years programme is a successful example of FAO and EU collaboration with partner institutions in Sudan to build evidence-based policy responses to food security and nutrition issues in the country,” said Abdi Jama, FAO Representative in Sudan.

Jama further said that the programme set up institutions for collection, analysis and availability of food security information in the four states and pointed to the need for similar projects in the other regions.

On his part, the Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation in Sudan Jannik Vaa, said "In the past four years this programme has achieved undeniable successes".

“Systems have been strengthened by the project and hence future responses to food insecurity in Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref and Blue Nile States will be supported by robust evidence,” Vaa stressed.

He admitted that additional investment at State and Federal level is needed adding "The EU is ready to work with our partners to strengthen food security in Sudan and improve the livelihoods of the rural population."

Over 80% of the labour force in Sudan is engaged in agriculture, and two thirds of the population are living in rural areas. The economically east African country is also hit by armed conflict in southern and western parts.

Eastern Sudan which is one if not the poorest part of the country hosts refugees from Eritrea and Ethiopia who quickly quit the region to Khartoum in their rout to Europe through Libya and Egypt.

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Eastern Sudan civil society groups have called for the creation of a new track for peace talks to address the crisis of their poor region which suffers from underdevelopment and marginalisation.

Refugee girls play during a visit by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres to the Shagarab Eritrean Refugees camp at Kassala in East Sudan January 12, 2012. (Reuters)

Groups from eastern Sudan three states gathered in Nairobi between 24 to 26 October in workshop sponsored by the Sudan Democracy First Group (SDFG) to ''identify a shared vision (...) that would enhance their collaboration "to achieve positive political and societal change both for the region and at the national level".

The meeting which coincided with the 10th anniversary of the signature of the East Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA) agreed that the deal has failed to solve Eastern Sudan's complex crisis.

"Vital questions of power sharing and the relationship with the centre were reduced to individualist trading over government positions," said a statement issued by SDFG at the end of the meeting.

"Participants therefore called for the creation of a new negotiating platform which would address Eastern Sudan as part of a comprehensive approach to Sudan's multiple crises," further announced the statement.

They further said that this track should propose a system of governance for the region "determining the relation with the centre, and enhancing political participation"

Also, the 'Nairobi Declaration for Change in Eastern Sudan' endorsed by the participants identified objectives and a work program for the platform, alongside strategies for achieving political, societal and popular support for the initiative.

"This would include seeking political guarantees from, and opportunities for collaboration with, other agents for positive change in Sudan, and within the international and regional community more broadly," the statement said.

Last September, the opposition United People's Front for Liberation and Justice (UPFLJ), a group from eastern Sudan called on the African Union mediation to open a new peace track for the Eastern Sudan region.

The UPFLJ, which is part of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) led by Malik Agar, urged the African Union mediation "play a positive role in the establishment of a platform to discuss issues of eastern Sudan on the basis of its mandate to broker a comprehensive and inclusive peace process in Sudan.

The African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) is brokering a peace process with two tracks one for Darfur and the other for the Two Areas. This process also provides to hold national constitutional conference with the participation of all the political forces in Sudan.

Eastern Sudan civil society groups who have called to involve them in such political platform said they established to working group to "raise awareness of the need for their full involvement in the process of stability and change in the region and nationally".

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (BOR) - A girl, less than 16 years old, from South Sudan's Jonglei state, said she nearly died during labour about two months ago because of her young age and physical inability to mother her child.

South Sudanese schoolgirls (Getty)

Achol Akim Garang said she was forced by her brothers to marry an old man after the latter paid 34 heads of cattle and about 40,000 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) nearly two years ago.

What aggravated her worries most was the unexpected loss of her husband just a month before she gave birth to her first child. The little girl, born to a poor family, was in primary three when she was told not to go to school again by her brothers who feared she might copy bad habits due to peer groups' influence at school and western "education poison" as brothers put it. All these happened after her father died when the crisis of 2013 started.

"My father was a village chief, and he loved me a lot. He encouraged me to study. After his death, things changed. I was forced to marry a man I never wanted, because he was not of my age, and again I was not mature enough to mother the child," explained the young girl as tears rolled down her face.

Her brothers arranged the marriage at age 14 without her consent, even without putting the mother into picture, she recalled.

"By then I was still 14 years old. I could not do things that other mature girls do, because I was still weak. But they forced me to marry the man simply because they wanted cattle to pay as dowries for their wives," Achol lamented.

"Six months later I was pregnant, and had a lot of problems. I thought I was going to die. Sometimes I couldn't sleep at night because of the trouble my brothers had caused to me. The baby was too heavy for me to carry in the womb, but God helped me," she said.

While at home with her mother, she was advised about things contrary to traditions.

"I was told not to eat food that would let me grow fat, because the child was going to gain more weight, which would result in labour complication during the child birth,” she said.

Achol also tried to avoid nutritious and energy giving food or any vitamins, but her condition deteriorated as she completely became weaker and weaker week after week.

She further recalled that she was not allowed to see doctors for prenatal care, adding that during her last trimester, she was unable to stand on her own and tears could drop voluntarily from her weakened eyes even when she was not crying. She remained indoor for most of the day.

"One evening, I was on labour, but I did not know. I thought something was burning up in me. I stood up, sat down, but there was no better way to resist the pain. I cried for help. My mother came and held me down," explained Achol.

She said she was in hard labour for three days before the child was born during which she could hardly drink water or eat food due the unbearable pain.

“I was abusing every man that passes nearby," she narrated, adding, but "Then finally the child was born. I did not wake up for hours because I was exhausted, and bleeding was serious. This time, I could hear people's voices like birds, and nobody was clear in my sight, I was blind."

She cautioned that the experience she went through was horrific for a child like her, further revealing that she was married at almost the same time with her age mate, but she has never conceived till now.

Paramount chief, Alier Aluong declined to talk about customary laws when contacted by Sudan Tribune.

"We have no authority to tell someone not to marry underage. If the girl respects her parents to get married before the age of 18 years, we don't interfere," said paramount chief Alier.

Per South Sudan's Transitional Constitution, a person is a child when he or she has not reached the age of 18 years. Any marriage that involves a child of below 18 years of age is considered an offense, and is punishable by law.

Sources from Jonglei state ministry of education said such underage forced marriages are common in the communities, but no one has been punished for committing such an offense as the society seems to condone it.

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and Kenya on Sunday signed a number of agreements between the two countries in the fields of minerals and oil, in the presence of Presidents Omer al-Bashir and Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kenyatta left Khartoum on Sunday evening after a two-day official visit to Sudan. Bilateral meetings between the two sides began on Saturday evening after the arrival of the Kenyan leader and his delegations.

In a ceremony held at the Sudanese presidency on Sunday evening, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding for bilateral cooperation in the field of mineral resources and another deal for cooperation in the fields of oil and gas.

At the conclusion of the joint talks Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed and Sudan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal al-Din Ismail co-signed the final communiqué. Foreign Affairs Minister Ibrahim Ghandour is visiting in China.

Recently Kenya discovered oil in Kenya's northern Kerio Valley. Nairobi sought to export the expected small production via a joint pipeline that the land-locked Uganda can finance to export its oil but Kampala preferred to partner with Tanzania.

President Omer al-Bashir thanked Kenyatta for visiting Khartoum saying his short visit to Sudan was full of activities. He further pointed that the establishment of an independent state in South Sudan didn't affect the good relations between the two countries.

"We thank Kenya for its efforts during the peace talks (to end war between northern and southern Sudan) in Naivasha that ended a war lasted for twenty years," Bashir stressed in remarks he delivered after the signing of the agreements:

"President Kenyatta promised us a longer visit (next time) and expressed his desire to visit the Meroe pyramids, Kenana sugar factory, the Gezira Scheme, and the complexes of military industry," he added.

For his part, Kenyatta praised the progress Sudan achieved in the oil industry and the expansion of its infrastructure.

The Kenyan president paid a visit to the oil crude refinery in Khartoum state, where he was briefed on the advanced techniques used in the refining operations.

He praised the Sudanese long experience in the oil industry and associated industries, stressing his desire to transfer Sudan's experience in the oil industry to his country.

The two leaders didn't comment on the decisions of three African countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) which issued two arrest warrants against al-Bashir and indicted Kenyatta before to withdraw charges later.

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (KAMPALA) - The Guit community living in Uganda have backed the appointment of Taban Deng Gai as South Sudan's first vice-president.

South Sudan's first Vice President Taban Deng Gai addresses the UN General Assembly (UN Photo/Cia Pak)

Gai, a former rebel chief negotiator, replaced the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar.

Kuol Dak Peter, the leader of Guit community in Kampala said members of various students' bodies, including civilians who have fled into refugees resettlement camps within Uganda have welcomed the appointment of Gai as first vice president.

“Your H.E the first vice president of the republic of South Sudan, the entire Guit community and youth leagues in Uganda would like to make it clear to your office and the entirely leadership of the SPLM-IO that you have won a trust and support through the implementation of the peace agreement on the resolution of the conflicts in the country,” he said.

The secetary general of the Guit community association in Uganda, Tang Beliny Wang said Gai's appointment will enhance efforts to implement the already shaky peace deal.

“On the context of peace among Guit Community members in Uganda, We are very firm and capable to enlighten and aware our people in Uganda about the peace implementation through the leadership of Taban Deng Gai,” he said.

The appointment of the former rebel chief negotiator, analyst said, was one of the most controversial decisions made by President Salva Kiir after his main political rival peace Machar who was part of the Transitional Government of National Unity was sacked in August. The reblel leader described Gai's appointment as "illegal."

(ST)

By Ambassador Dhano Obongo

British and Arab colonialists used the spelling Anuak to describe these people, but the social anthropologist, Dr. Conrad Perner known as Kwakakworo (which mean leopard) among Anyuak community, changed the spelling to Anyuak.

The people themselves use the term, Anyuaa which indicates in their language mean sharing nyuaak. They are of the Luo nationality and ethnic group. These South Sudanese comprise the Collo or Shilluk, Acholi, Pari, Banda-Bor, and Chad as well as Luo (Jurchol) peoples. The Dr. Perner noted in his book that the Anyuak kingdom ethnic group originated from Rumbek in the Lakes area.

In Anyuak oral tradition Gilo was the grandfather of the kingdom ethnic community. He had two younger brothers. Dimo fathered the Luo ethnic group of the Wau. The second brother, Nyakango, fathered the Collo kingdom ethnic group. Three paths developed for the brothers from a dispute over an issue of precious bead or “dimu” swallowed by a daughter. The Nyakango kingdom ethnic group settled in the Sobat River mouth and along the White Nile.

Dimo proceeded to the current Wau town area. Gilo and his people journeyed along the Sobat River toward the east and finally settled in Niyum forming what is now the eastern Jikang Nuer ethnic group area Nasir. Several vicinities were overrun and fought over in the 1880s as Nuer and Anyuak contested.

Anyuak Kingdom governance is monarchical. The top ruler is based on birth and not merit or capability. The same applies to chiefdoms or Kwar status. Political tokens of kingdom include precious bead and royal emblems whose possession led to horrific disagreements which provide decentralized governance.

The Anyuak ethnic community inhabitant is estimated according to the Sudan census of 2008 to be 165 thousand, (Akobo 65 thousand), while Pochalla is about 100 thousand) and the total population of the Anyuak monarchy community is165 thousand people in South Sudan. Furthermore, the Ethiopian Anyuak ethnic community inhabitant is estimated to be 300 thousand people.

The Anyuak monarchy has six major subclasses of which three are in the Republic of South Sudan. They are known as Ciro Anyuak (Akobo), Tiernam and Adongo (Pochalla), in Ethiopia Anyuak sub-clans are Openo, Lul and Juor. On international maps, rivers become natural borders. This provided an unfair division of South Sudanese and Ethiopian Anyuak peoples by former colonial masters.

Royal emblems or heirlooms such as spears, iron, thrones, drums, and especially
precious bead known as Oshwak are ensconced in oral tradition of these peoples. In 1910 control of them went to His Majesty Nyeya Akwei war Cham. Two years later the Anglo-Egyptian Administration became aware of this aristocracy. Whose leader is the grandfather of the current Nyeya, His Majesty Akwei Agada Akwei. He succeeded his brother late Nyeya Adongo Agada Akwei who went back to river (pass way) in Nairobi, Kenya 2011. Thier father late Nyeya Agada Akwei Cham took the throne at age 12. Primogeniture reigns.

Ottio village is the headquarters of the royal Anyuak monarchy sited in the Pochalla area of Boma state.

In colonial days the British District Commissioner of Akobo District subsidized the Nyeya at a salary of one Sudanese pound per month.

In 1942 at age 20 the late Nyeya Agada war Akwei was installed as Nyeya and reigned for 58 years.

He was elevated from a job as a messenger in the Akobo District post office. In 2000 he went back to the river. Prince Adongo Agada Akwei replaced his father in accordance with a legngi an Anyuak word for will in March 2011. He was followed by Prince Adosh Agada and then the current H.M. Akwei Agada Akei. Naming the three sons publicly was designed to avoid any controversy among the children and among the Adongo Anyuak subclan community. The different between the Anyuak and Collo monarchies are that, the Anyuak monarchy is decentralized (many Nyeya (Kings), while the Collo monarchy is centralized (one Reath (King).

H.M Nyeya Adongo Agada Akwei died November 30, 2011 in Nirobi, Kenya, at age 52. He was succeeded by his step brother current H.M Nyeya Akwei Agada Akwei on April 25.2012 as Oshwok Nyeya. He was the 24th Nyeya of the Adongo Anyuak monarchy sub-clan at age 48.

The author can be reached at email: dhano01obongo@gmail.com

October 30, 2016 (JUBA) - The governor of the newly created Yei River State has admitted for the first time - since his appointment - the existence of rebellion in his area, correcting the initial description of armed dissident youth as “high way bandits.”

Yei River state governor David Lokonga (L) and deputy Abraham Wana March 9, 2016 (ST)

Speaking at a community function on Saturday, governor David Lokonga Moses said the presence of armed opposition fighters in the state has caused serious insecurity situation since September this year.

He revealed for the first time that all the counties in Yei state have been affected by the insecurity as clashes have been occurring between government forces and opposition fighters allied to former First Vice President, Riek Machar.

"There is problem in Yei. The problem in Yei is very clear, there is rebellion which has happened in all our counties," he said, adding that the insecurity started to deteriorate in the state when July incident happened in Juba between rival forces.

He was speaking at the official launching of his State Coordination Office at Nyakuron Cultural Centre in the national capital, Juba.

The governor urged the youths who have rebelled to lay down their guns and dialogue in order to restore peace in the state.

“Violence cannot be the best to addressing issues. Dialogue is the best way. Through churches, we have these people who are carrying arms to stop fighting and come forward for dialogue. The president is ready. He would listen to anybody with any concern,” governor Lokonga told the audience which was predominantly members of his ethnic Kakwa and other natives inhabiting the areas falling under the new state.

His admission of the existence of the armed opposition forces in the area contradicted the initial statements by senior government's political and military officials in Juba who preferred to describe the fighting in the area as being carried out by roads bandits and people doing unlawful acts.

The governor did not however specify the territories being controlled by the opposition fighters in the state.

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The British Ambassador to Khartoum, Michael Aron on Sunday has discussed with the Sudanese Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahomud Hamid humanitarian access to the rebel-held areas in the war-torn states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

British Ambassador to Sudan Michael Aron (Reuters Photo)

The Sudanese army has been fighting Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the “Two Areas” since 2011.

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

SPLM-N demands to bring 20 percent of the humanitarian assistance to the affected areas directly from Ethiopia. The Sudanese delegation rejected the demand insisting all the aid should come via the government controlled areas.

Following his meeting with Hamid on Sunday, the British ambassador expressed hope that talks on the Two Areas would resume soon to achieve peace and security in the country, pointing to the deep bilateral relations between Sudan and the United Kingdom.

According to the official news agency (SUNA), the meeting discussed the government position with regard to the humanitarian access to the Two Areas besides national dialogue and ongoing efforts to form the government of national concord.

On 21 October, SPLM-N announced the suspension of negotiations with the government over political settlement citing the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Sudanese army in the war affected areas in Darfur and the Two Areas.

However, the rebel movement expressed readiness to continue talks for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreement with the Sudanese government under the AU brokered process.

For his part, Hamid stressed his government's seriousness to implement the outcome of the national dialogue.

Earlier this month, the government and its allies concluded the National Dialogue Conference 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.

The recommendations of the conference provide to open the door for the holdout opposition groups to sign the framework text and to join the transitional government and parliament that would work to implement the reforms agreed in the National Document.

But, the opposition armed and political groups criticize the move saying it breaches the Roadmap Agreement which provides to hold a preparatory meeting to create a conducive environment for an inclusive process.

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on Sunday described China as an important partner in peace and development issues in Sudan and the region hailing the strong bilateral ties between Sudan and China.

“Relations between Sudan and China are strong and it is considered a model for South-South cooperation and the reason for the success of these relations is honesty and the firm desire to develop them” Ghandour told the official Chinese news agency Xinhua.

He stressed that China is a key partner in establishing peace in Sudan and the region, saying “we live in the East African region which suffers from a lot of problems and Sudan has a pivotal role in this region”.

“China is an economic partner for the countries in the region and it was a party to the Sudanese-Sudanese, Sudanese-African and African-African dialogue and it continued to follow up on these dialogues through its various envoys,” he added.

Ghandour pointed that Sudanese-Chinese cooperation in oil production has significantly contributed to the development of the Sudanese economy, saying the partnership between the two countries has now extended to various fields including the infrastructure.

He pointed to the Meroe Dam which was built by China, saying it has increased electricity generation more than 6 times.

Sudan's top diplomat further said that partnership between the two sides has turned into political, social and economic partnership, saying that Sudan and China exchange support in all regional and international forums.

He said the two countries are now cooperating in the agricultural processing following the signing of a joint agreement on the model agricultural projects, pointing that Sudan, which has vast agricultural lands and water resources, could benefit from the Chinese experience in agricultural development.

Ghandour pointed that the two countries have signed a preliminary agreement to build a nuclear electric power station in Sudan besides another agreement on the renewable energy.

Beijing has invested more than $20 billion in Sudan mostly in the oil sector during the past two decades. Beijing provides low-interest loans and weapons transfers in return for oil.

During a visit by President Omer al-Bashir to China in 2015, Sudan and China signed “strategic partnership” that gave China the right to explore oil in new fields after Sudan lost 75% of its oil resources after South Sudan secession in 2011.

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese armed opposition faction led by Riek Machar has captured at least 99 government soldiers loyal during the recent fighting in Greater Mundri area in Western Equatoria region, according to opposition leader's spokesperson.

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

Machar's official spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that up to 99 soldiers of the government were captured this week when the opposition forces overran Kadibe military base in Mundri county.

Commissioner of Mundri East County on Thursday confirmed to Sudan Tribune that Kadibe was briefly captured and controlled for two days by the opposition forces, but he said they were eventually dislodged by government's forces. He also accused the rebels of allegedly abducting up to 500 school children.

Dak however denied their forces abducted school children, adding civilians fled the area in fear of government's forces who targeted them for allegedly supporting the opposition faction. He said civilians including the elderly, women and children voluntarily fled to areas controlled by the opposition forces for protection.

He has however revealed that they did capture nearly a 100 government soldiers during the brief capture of Kadibe, further revealing that some are recruits.

“Our troops have captured 99 soldiers loyal to Salva Kiir's regime. Our gallant forces under the overall command of General Wesley Weleba captured them when they overran their military base of Kadibe in Mundri,” Dak said, adding that a huge quantity of weapons and ammunition were also captured and were carried away.

He added that 49 of the captured government's soldiers were new recruits in the area who were also undergoing training at a training center in Kadibe.

The opposition leader's spokesman further claimed that their forces also overran a police post in Yambio county and took with them all the ammunition in their store.

Officials in both Mundri and Yambio confirmed the clashes in Kadibe and in Yambio but could not confirm whether the soldiers and ammunition were captured by the opposition forces. Both Mundri and Yambio are located west of the national capital, Juba.

Fighting, he explained, also occurred around Lainya county, south of Juba, in Central Equatoria, as well as in Jerusalem area, east of Juba, in Eastern Equatoria, where the opposition reportedly overran the area.

SPLA-IO TO CAPTURE JUBA

Dak also said fighting has been ongoing in many locations in Upper Nile and Unity states between rival forces, saying it is a matter of time before their forces will capture both Malakal and Bentiu, the respective capitals of the oil producing states in the country.

He also claimed their forces may soon move on to Juba and capture it together with Bor, capital of Jonglei state, if no political solution is found to revive the peace deal in the country.

“If there will be no political solution to resuscitate the peace agreement in the next few weeks, then our forces are ready and will be directed by the leadership to capture Juba and Bor to restore law and order and usher in peace and stability in the country,” he said.

Fighting has been escalating across the country following the renewal of violence in the capital, Juba, on 8 July between rival forces loyal to President Kiir and his former deputy, Machar.

The opposition faction has called for “resuscitation” of the peace deal they signed with the government in August 2015, or opt for popular armed resistance if the government refuses peace and continues to attack the opposition's controlled territories across the country.

The government says it is comfortable with the new First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai, saying he is cooperating with President Kiir.

Numerous clashes have occurred in Equatoria region which hosts the seat of the national government, with increasing reported ambushes on Juba-Yei, Juba-Nimule and Juba-Bor roads. Dozens have already been killed on the roads.

The two sides seem to be preparing for an all-out war in the coming weeks or months as they reportedly stockpile weapons and ammunition and reorganize forces, with movements of rival troops detected in the country.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 to end 21 months of civil war which erupted in December 2013 is threatening to collapse following the renewed upsurge of violence in the world's youngest nation.

(ST)

October 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Two opposition leaders Sadiq al-Mahdi of the National Umma Party (NUP) and Ghanzi Salah al-Din al-Attabani of the Future Forces of Change (FFC) said the government has to commit itself to the African Union brokered Roadmap Agreement for peace and national national.

National Umma Party (NUP) leader Sadiq al-Mahdi (R) meets with chairman of Reform Now Movement(RNM) Ghazi Salah Eddin Attabani, in Cairo on Wednesday January 6, 2016 (Courtesy photo by NUP)

Al-Mahdi who is also a leading figure of the opposition Sudan Call alliance received a call Saturday from Attabani where they discussed the need to hold a national dialogue leading to "consensus and political reform".

Al-Mahdi and al-Attabani "stressed the need for the government's commitment to the signed Roadmap and not to end the dialogue as stipulated in the road map," says the joint statement.

"They renewed their call for an agreement addressing the root causes of war and achieve stability in accordance with a plan for a just and comprehensive peace and full democratic transformation," further read the statement.

The Sudanese government and its allied political forces concluded the National Dialogue Conference on 10 October 2016 by the adoption of the National Document.

The recommendations of the conference provides to open the door for the holdout opposition groups to sign the framework text and to join the transitional government and parliament that would work to implement the reforms agreed in the National Document.

But, the opposition armed and political groups criticize the move saying it breaches the Roadmap Agreement which provides to hold a preparatory meeting to create a conducive environment for an inclusive process.

The opposition also proposes to consider the National Document as representing the government's position and to discuss it in another dialogue conference with them.

Sadiq al-Mahdi plans to return to Sudan on 19 December as he intends to dedicates more time for the party's organizational issues after a two-year self imposed exile in Cairo. Also, he said there is a need to mobilize the street to bring the government make the needed reforms.

(ST)

October 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Ghandour, Saturday said China has renewed solidarity and support to Sudan in all fields.

During a meeting in Beijing with the visiting Sudanese foreign minister on Saturday, the Chinese Deputy President Li Yuanchao described Sudan as “a friend of iron,” that you can always count on, according to a statement by the foreign ministry in Khartoum.

Yuanchao accepted an invitation extended by the First Vice President Bakri Hassan Saleh to visit Sudan, says the statement seen by Sudan Tribune.

The office of Sudanese minister of foreign affairs noted that Yuanchao and Ghandour also discussed developments in Sudan and the East of Africa region.

On Friday, Ghandour met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and discussed issues of mutual interest and efforts to address obstacles hindering coordination between Sudan and China before international forums.

Yi has pledged to support Sudan in safeguarding the integrity of its territory and to enhance strategic partnership between the two countries, hailing the “mutual trust” between the China and Sudan.

China is willing to maintain strategic mutual trust with Sudan and expand cooperation in the areas of energy, production capacity, agriculture, renewable energy and people-to-people exchange, Wang said.

Ghandour has hailed China vital support to Sudan before international institutions and in achieving economic and social development.

He further said "Sudan adheres to the one-China policy and China's stance on the South China Sea," reported the official Chinese news agency Xinhua.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have similar claims to parts of it.

Beijing has invested more than $20 billion in Sudan mostly in the oil sector during the past two decades. Beijing provides low-interest loans and weapons transfers in return for oil.

During a visit by President Omer al-Bashir to China in 2015, Sudan and China signed “strategic partnership” that gave China the right to explore oil in new fields after Sudan lost 75% of its oil resources after South Sudan secession in 2011.

(ST)

October 28, 2016 (ROME) - The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis on Friday received several Christian religious leaders of war-hit South Sudan.

Pope Francis recieves the flag of South Sudan from Choul Laam (Vatican photo)

The delegation from South Sudan included, Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro of Juba, Rev. Daniel Deng Bul Yak, Archbishop of the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan & Sudan, and Rev. Peter Gai Lual Marrow, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan.

The clerics, in the wake of the ethnic violence in the young nation, urged the Pope to acknowledge that good and fruitful collaboration exists among the Christian Churches.

South Sudan witnessed renewed violence in its capital in July when forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those allied to his former deputy, Riek Machar clashed, leaving hundreds dead.

Waves of ethnic targeted killings have since hit the country, amid calls from authorities for an end to what could ignite a bigger conflict.

The religious leaders, during their meeting with the Pope, also demanded that they be allowed to makes contributions to promoting the common good, protecting the dignity of the person, protecting the helpless and implementing initiatives for dialogue and reconciliation.

However, in the light of the Year of Mercy in progress in the Catholic Church, it was underlined that the fundamental experience of forgiveness and acceptance of the other is the privileged path to building peace and to human and social development.

"In this regard, it was confirmed that the various Christian Churches are committed, in a spirit of communion and unity, to service to the population, promoting the spread of a culture of encounter and sharing," reads a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

Meanwhile, during the meeting, all parties reiterated their willingness to journey together and to work with renewed hope and mutual trust, in the conviction that, drawing from the positive values inherent in their respective religious traditions, they may show the way to respond effectively to the deepest

(ST)

By Stephen Par Kuol

The birth of the Republic of South Sudan was a painstaking labor that had to involve so many friends and actors of good will. However, the United States of America was the most instrumental midwife during that toilsome delivery. Even welcoming the new baby (South Sudan) into the world clubs did not settle down well with some powerful adversaries in some diplomatic circles, but without any qualm, the United States recognized the independence of South Sudan on the same day it was declared (on July 9, 2011) upgrading the consulate opened in 2005 in Juba to the status of an embassy. That historical solidarity with the people of South Sudan has given Washington moral obligation to nurse the infant state into political and institutional maturity. Hence, despite the leadership deficit in Juba, the bilateral ties between the two capitals have progressed to all spheres, including, defense, security, institutional capacity building and the infrastructural development program that brought about Juba-Nimuli Road which is now the only lifeline of Juba's battered and collapsing economy. Pursuant to the framework of those ties, President Obama decided to provide military assistance and equipment to South Sudan in 2012. A team of five American officers to advise the SPLA soon followed this. A good number of South Sudanese military cadres were also sent to the US military schools for training.

To date, The United States remains the single biggest bilateral donor to South Sudan. In its budget request for 2017, the State Department asked for $30 million to help modernize the South Sudanese army so that it “respects human rights, is accountable to elected leadership, protects the people of South Sudan, and encourages stability in the Horn of Africa. Another $132 million was also requested for civil society and peace-building programs. The American people and their government have been doing all these to build the intuitional capacity of the nascent state to uphold the cardinal responsibilities of the sovereignty such as provision of public security for its citizens, respect for human rights and the rule of law. In another word, the American taxpayer's dollars have been ditched to Juba to ensure that Kiir's regime does not carry out the gross abuses it stands accused of. To the disbelief and dismay of South Sudanese and the world public, Salva Kiir betrayed all that well-meaning support and embarked on building a corrupt ethnocentric police state. The circumstantial president stooped low to betray every thing including his own noble historical legacy as the only surviving heir of the founding leadership of the revolution that made him the First President of the Republic. Without any shred of shame, President Salva Kiir Mayardit resigned to the cocoon of his kin and kith under the guidance of the infamous Jieng Council of Elders (JCE) and became one of the worst depots in world history.

Right from the Independence, the cowboy tyrant introduced what will go down in the History of South Sudan as the “ Era of Rule by Decrees” when President Kiir arbitrarily arrogated all the constitutional powers to himself and sacked elected political leaders including his own running mate, Dr. Riek Machar. President Kiir then closed the political space through his notorious hoodlums by lynching political opponents, civil society activists and journalists. As a ploy to physically eliminate all his political opponents in the country, Salva Kiir fabricated a coup narrative that has plunged the country into the ongoing crisis since December 2013. Kiir's fascist regime then unleashed its tribal militia( Mathing-Anyor) on the people of South Sudan and committed heinous war crimes in the process. South Sudan has thus become a slaughterhouse for humans, a hailing state on its deathbed, if you will!

To consolidate his reign of tyranny and terror, Salva Kiir adopted a very hostile foreign policy toward the United States for counseling him to govern democratically and inclusively. Having misperceived that wise counsel as a regime change policy, President Kiir shifted East (to China and Rusia) and started to maliciously work against all US and western interests in South Sudan. Thenceforth, from being the most indispensible friend it was during the liberation struggle, the United States has becomes the enemy number one to Kiir's regime. Through his public blusters, Kiir's police state institutions have internalized extreme hatred toward the Americans; be they diplomats, aid workers, development partners or expatriates. As a diplomatic vengeance, the Americans have been wrongfully accused of every thing from espionage to shunning the sovereignty of South Sudan, and grooming oppositional groups for regime change. Of late, the United States, EU and TROIKA have been bitterly blamed for imposing an agreement (ARCISS) with reform provisions that subject the despot to the will of the people through a democratic transition leading to a people driven constitution as well as free and fair elections in a leveled playing field. That institutionalized prejudice against American people has manifested itself in the most recent upsurge of violence targeting American citizens for killing, torture and rape. The Terrain Hotel savagery and the barbaric attack on the diplomatic vehicle (CD) carrying American diplomats by none other than Kiir's own bodyguard are the hallmarks of that diplomatic madness!! Unfortunately, the Washington's kingpins in the persons of Susan Rice, Donald Booth and John Kerry have continued to implement their treacherous foreign policy by rewarding Kiir's fascist regime with more financial and military aid. That is morally disturbing as the ethnocentric fascist regime is using American taxpayer's money to build a tribal army committing heinous atrocities against both the people of South Sudan and the American people. For worse, the military aid to South Sudan has also been implemented with a myriad of financial corruption involving some dubious contractors and self-appointed Washingtonians in Kiir's pay roll system.

It goes without informing the records that those goons and gold diggers sharing the spoils of graft with Kiir's kleptocrats under the cover of war have succeeded in smearing the issues surrounding the ongoing crisis in South Sudan. Subsequently, the Obama's Administration has squandered all the opportunities it has had to hold the malignant regime accountable for all the crimes it has been committing against South Sudanese and American people since 2013. As the institutionalized treachery prevails both in Obama's White House and Kerry's State Department, even the death and rape of American citizens in South Sudan has not changed any thing in these treacherous bilateral relations between Washington and Juba. Being left to fend for themselves during the recent crisis, South Sudanese Americans in particular have born the brunt of that treachery in their sincere effort to give back to their native country.

With this piece of work, the point I am driving home is the cruel fact that Kiir's fascist regime has proven beyond a reasonable doubt to be imminent security threat to South Sudanese in South Sudan, South Sudanese diplomats in foreign countries and all foreign friends residing in South Sudan at the time of this writing. Otherwise, in the diplomatic security as we know it, exposing accredited diplomats in your country to danger means exposing your own diplomats in the other receiving country to danger. That is evidently beyond the capacity of the rogue rulers in the jungle laws city like Juba to fathom. That is why these Juba's nefarious loonies like Gordon Buay and Steve Paterno masquerading as diplomats are roaming Washington beer joins like nobody's business while American diplomats and aid workers are subjected to hostile security surveillance in Juba. Perhaps, that is the stark contrast between one city ruled by statesmen and competent professionals (Washington) and another one (Juba) ruled by hooligans and hoodlums.

By all conventional diplomatic standards, the latest events in Juba have exposed the chilly truth that Kiir's Police State represents nothing but organized violence, anarchy and miserable failure to observe the basic provisions of the international treaties it has signed and ratified such as the Vienna Treaty on Diplomatic Relations, 1961. Article 29(1) of that treaty stipulated that it is a responsibility of the receiving state to prevent attack on the accredited diplomatic agents of the sending state. This means that both the persons and the properties (automobile included) of the diplomatic agents are inviolable under the public international law. In any case, those documented incidents including the Terrain Hotel savagery speak volume of the ugly fact that the JCE regime in Juba is too deformed to reform (in the word of Dr. John Garang) referring to the then NIF regime in Khartoum. Thus, it has to be diplomatically isolated and removed since it has resisted to reform as per the provisions of the Agreement on the Conflict Resolution in South Sudan (ARCISS) it has just scrapped. Failure to do just that would be another telling tale of treachery to both South Sudanese and the American people!

The Author is a former diplomat of the Sudan and freelance writer on current affairs in South Sudan and the Horn of Africa. He can be reached via electronic mails at kuolpar@yahoo.com

October 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and Ethiopia Saturday have signed in Addis Ababa a memorandum of understanding providing to enhance joint security and military cooperation between the two neighbouring countries to fight terrorism.

The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the meetings of the Joint Ethiopian Sudanese Higher Military Committee chaired by Sudan Defence Awad bin Auf and his Ethiopian counterpart Siraj Fegessa.

The agreement was signed by the head of the General Staff of the Sudanese army Lt. Gen. Imad al-Din Adawi and his Ethiopian counterpart, General Samora Mohamed Younis.

The Sudanese defence minister reiterated the importance of military and security cooperation between the two countries "to counter terrorism in all its forms".

"The signed memorandum of understanding provides to secure the borders, the exchange of criminals, and prevent any hostile activity to the two countries, especially from the anti-peace groups," he said in statements reported by the Ethiopian TV after the signing ceremony.

The terms "anti-peace" and "terrorism" are used in the two countries to describe rebel groups .

From his side, Minister Fegessa stressed the desire of the two countries to work together to combat terrorist activities on the common border.

"The two countries also stressed the need to develop the capacity of the joint defence forces," he said, adding that Khartoum and Addis Ababa were able to stop cross-border crimes through coordination and cooperation.

Last March during the 14th meeting of the joint Sudanese Ethiopian technical committee in Khartoum, Sudan proposed to deploy joint border units on the border between the two countries.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

October 29, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) - Ethiopia says its move to withdraw its troops from Somalia has nothing to do with the recently declared state of emergency.

Earlier this month, the Ethiopian government imposed a state of emergency in the wake of continued anti-government protests across its Oromia region.

The country's information and communication minister, Getachew Reda told journalists that the withdrawal has nothing to do with the state decree, but was related with the "financial burden" and "lack of support" rather than the need for more troops at home.

"It has nothing to do with the state of emergency," said Getachew.

"We have been making a very conscious and responsible decision to evacuate our forces from many parts of Somalia. We cannot remain there indefinitely," he added.

The minister blamed the international community for the withdrawal of troops from Somalia.

"The international community also has a responsibility either to train or to support the Somali national army in whatever way they promised, and if they do not make good on that promise and [the] Somali national army fails to discharge their responsibilities then of course, as they say, nature – and al-Shabaab – abhors a vacuum, so they'll just move in”, said the minister.

He said the violence at home was not "enormous enough for us to shift our policy in Somalia".

Ethiopia, the official said, was only withdrawing troops from Somalia, but not the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

He underscored that Ethiopia was not withdrawing troops from the 4,400-strong Ethiopian contingent of the internationally-funded AU peace-enforcement mission.

Those being pulled out he said are those few thousands deployed in Somalia unilaterally for which his government is paying all the expenses.

"These troops are not under AMISOM and unfortunately are not being helped in their efforts to assist the Somali national army," said Getachew.

Ethiopia began withdrawing thousands of its forces from central Somalia and since Al-Shabaab militants have reportedly managed to recapture three towns.

Getachew, however, said AMISOM troops were not affected and neither were all non-AMISOM forces being withdrawn.

He added that Ethiopian troops under AMISOM are on their regular duties, and the country will continue to step up its effort to bring about peace and stability in Somalia.

The minister also said the state of emergency declared recently has enabled the government to control the violence; and stability has been restored in many parts of the country, adding that many investments are back in business.

Ethiopia's state emergency was imposed for first time after over quarter a century.

The rules within the state emergency include travel restrictions on diplomats.

Accordingly, diplomats are not permitted to travel beyond 40 kilometers of the radius outside the capital, Addis Ababa. A dusk-to-dawn curfew has also been imposed around areas where factories and major projects are based.

As per the directive, security personnel can search suspects, search homes or arrest anyone who violates the rules without court authorization.

The new directive also grants the police and all security forces a power to defend themselves from any threat or attack.

Publishing news and distributing documents or republishing reports of anti-peace elements or opposition movements branded as terrorist entities is prohibited.

The six-month state of emergency also bans terrorist-leaning groups such as the Ethiopian Satellite Radio and Television (ESAT) and Oromo Media Network.

Access to internet services and social media was still impossible in Ethiopia.

(ST)

October 29, 2016 (KAMPALA) - Students from South Sudan's greater Bhar-El-Gazal region in Uganda have expressed concerns over the continuous ethinic killings, and urged the population to desist from counter-revenge practices for the sake of peace.

South Sudanese students at their embassy in Kampala, Uganda (ST/File)

The call comes following after a letter from a group in Bhar-El-Gazal region warned Equatorians working in the region to quit their jobs or face revenge attacks.

James Mabor Ikau, the head of Bhar el Ghazal students in Uganda urged
South Sudanese community in both regions to desisted from violent attacks and called upon them to embrace peace and unity.

“We call and beg all our community members more especially our brothers (youths) back home or in the region to be in peace and swallow the pain of the lost of people and accept all other tribes to stay with them peacefully,” he told Sudan Tribune.

More than a dozen people were killed in several ambushes along the Yei-Juba and
Nimule-Juba roads by unidentified armed groups from Equatoria region.

Also, students from the Dinka tribe, particularly those from Bhar el Gazal described the targeting of Equatorians as unfortunate, calling on all South Sudanese to work for peace.

“Our people should not be dragged into this senseless thing, we need peace and unity in our country, no more war; its time has gone," said Mabor.

“We condemn in strongest terms these targeted killings and satanic behaviour and urged our government to devised mechanism of protecting innocent people to achieve peaceful co-existence soon,” he stressed.

(ST)