Sudan Tribune

By Stephen Par Kuol

Skilled diplomats and students of international relations would contend that there is no single country on earth whose foreign policy has more successes than failures, and that certainly includes the United States, which by nature of its role in the world takes on the most daunting diplomatic challenges. Success or failure in Foreign Service often depends on the resources capacity (human and material) of the nation in question. The stark irony in the case of the United States is that it has a huge leverage over others in term of material and human resource capacity but its diplomatic performance leaves a lot to be desired. The diplomatic history of United States is littered with costly foreign policy failures with far reaching and dire consequences. The United States Foreign Policy after World War II often failed to accomplish its objective and produced counter-productive results. From Vietnam to Angola, Korea, and Afghanistan, the Americans either prescribed wrong solution or failed to study the grime nature of the problem at hand. During the cold war, the United States foreign policy was guided by cold war against communism. As that receded, the United States confronted global terrorism. This war does not recede; it grows and as it grows, the United States is getting it wrong every day. As the history repeats itself, the diplomacy of this war is still myriad with a lot of strategic mistakes. In Iraq for example, the United States used some wrong intelligences to take a decision that defeated the very ultimate goal of combating terrorism. The unilateral military action taken by Bush Administration in violation of the United Nations Charter brought about permanent turmoil that has eventually produced ISIS.

A comprehensive review of American foreign policy towards Africa exposes a consistent lack of statesmanship, double standards, lack of preventive diplomacy and a disposition to defeat the very core values of American freedom and democracy. The irony of all ironies is the tragic fact that the United States has a long history of building dictators and terrorists that often cost more to oust once the policy makers in Washington realized that they are hazardous to the vital interest of the United States. By then, the permanent damage is done. From Sadam Hussien to Ben-Laden, Mumbuto Seazeko and Emmanuel Noriga, the United State has always been ripping what it has sawn at the expense of American lives and taxpayers' dollars. For whatever mind-boggling reason, the United Sates often pays dearly to contradict what it values the most as a nation (freedom) and it has done that more in Africa than anywhere else in the world. Successive American leaderships have been maintaining that there is no American strategic interest in the continent. The United Sate Foreign Policy in Africa has thus been dubbed as constructive engagement with Africa. This policy subtly resolves that Africa is a different place with its own human right and jungle political standards that must be left alone to evolve without heavy hand from the outside world. This has terribly worked against the cause of human right and the protracted war against terrorism in the second largest continent on earth.

The Democratic Administrations in particular have done more disservice to humanity in this continent. Even the two terns of Obama Administration have done nothing to deter the despotic behaviour of these dictators in this war-ravaged region. Until today, Washington has been talking the talk without walking the walk. In Washington's best traditional practice, things are practically done about Europe and the Middle East but African affairs are just talked about.

The intelligence of the profession (diplomacy) teaches that, you don't send your best to strategically none essential places. That is why the Obama Administration deployed two incompetent diplomats in the persons of Donald Booth and Molly Phee to South Sudan. These two diplomats have been approaching their assignment in a very fallible manner. The negotiation between the SPLMIO and Kiir's regime took that long in Ethiopia simply because Donald Booth has totally failed to educate himself of the root causes of the conflict and resigned to bashing both sides for failure to implement the peace agreement which has been unilaterally violated by Salva Kiir and his Jieng Council of Elders in open defiance of all western empty threats. Those of us who worked with Ambassador Phee in Juba to implement ACRISS have known first hand that she has been miserably defeated by Kiir's regime. As we witnessed during the recent evacuation, the malleable diplomat succumbed to Kiir's hoodlums who humiliated American citizens in a broad daylight at Juba International Airport. Where on the planet -earth can you subject evacuation of your citizens to scrutiny by the same government they are escaping death and rape from? Only in Juba where the Ambassador of the United States is Molly Phee ! South Sudanese Americans will not forget that dreadful experience in which they were left to fend for themselves amidst turmoil. In any case, whatever the two diplomats represent in this region, we are terribly embarrassed as proud citizens of the United State. Beyond any reasonable doubt, this South Sudan conundrum is beyond their punch and capacity. Having failed the United States and the people of South Sudan, it is widely recommended now that the two should just pack their suitcases and go home. In the mean time, the United States must take quick and practical action to reverse this costly foreign policy fiasco in the Horn of Africa. In truth, it makes fool of the United States to appease fascist dictators who are purchasing lethal weapons from Russia and China to kill their fellow citizens while yearning for western financial aid at the same time.

In one of his usual undiplomatic blusters, Yoweri Museveni , the darling of the United States and number one recipient of USAID in the region uttered that, “Africa is not prepared for full blown democracy during our life time”. This notion has been driving the western foreign policy toward Africa for decades. This has been done in disregard of the fact that Yoweri Museveni has been fanning insurgencies in DRC and the genocides in Rwanda and South Sudan while practising the worst brand of African dictatorship at home in Uganda. For the worst part, Museveni is also supporting notorious Islamic terrorist organizations like Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) of the Sudan using Kiir's regime as a conduit. This project of arming rebels with well known affiliation with international terrorist network does not only complicate resolution of the conflicts in the two Sudans but also poses eminent threat of breeding another brand of terrorism in the region. This background verified that Yoweri Museveni does not have a track record of being a stabilizing factor in this region. If any thing, he has been the gent of destabilization. Unfortunately, Washington has been and is still putting its biggest bets on strong African men who give false sense of order while in reality sowing the seeds of future destabilization at home and in their surrounding regions. Yoweri Museveni is in a long string of fascists with whom Washington has disastrously waltzed. With the weight of the United States behind him, Yoweri Museveni has bullied every political force at home to servitude while coaching other inept dictators like Salva Kiir to destabilize South Sudan. Presently, the American love affair with the Ugandan dictator is based on his opportunistic vow to fight Alshaba in Somalia and protect South Sudanese dictator Kiir who has committed genocide and practising Idi Amin brand of tyranny in the nascent nation. So the strategic line pursued by Washington in South Sudan and Uganda is deeply mistaken. This policy is crowned with utter failure as it has stooped low to supporting these red –handed fascists in both countries of Uganda and South Sudan. In the process, the United States has become an accomplice in commission of war crimes, crime against humanity (genocide) and violation of the international law on prohibition of weapons of mass destruction like cluster bomb they used on our civilian White Army in the year 2014.

The records must also be informed that through undeterred behaviour of the two fascist dictators (Kiir and Museveni), the United Nations Mission in South Sudan has been weaken and it is becoming a fiasco in its own right. As a result of its failed operations under Chapter 7, the UNIMISS will leave the country in worse chaos. That is why we are calling for higher mandate instead of this one that has failed to even accomplish its prime goal (protection of civilians). The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has been partly weaken by American impotent diplomatic engagement with Kiir's Police State, which is now resisting a robust regional and international intervention to save lives in whatever is left of South Sudan. It is understandable that the world is not governed in the light of human right but the unfolding crisis in South Sudan will soon embarrass both the supper powers in the United Nations Security Council and the regional powers who have also been appeasing Kiir's regime in the same manner. Hence, the word has been said that any cosmetic project to save Kiir's face will back fire and cost more in term of human lives, material resources, humanitarian assistance and the economies of the neighbouring states including Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and the Sudan. Hence, the downtrodden people of South Sudan are urgently calling for a robust and independent hybrid mission of the United Nations and the region in South Sudan to compel this fascist regime to implement the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ACRISS) or face radical regime change as the only way to rescue the people of South Sudan. Do that or do as per Princeton Lyman's recommendation (life support solution). Any thing short of that is what I call Another US Foreign Policy Fiasco in Africa in general and in South Sudan particular.

The author is a former Deputy Ambassador of Sudan to Tanzania and a freelance writer. He can be reached by email through :kuolpar@yahoo.com

July 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The head of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel and chief mediator Thabo Mbeki will meet the Sudan call forces on the 7th of August, said the leader of the National Umma Party (NUP) Sadiq al-Mahdi on Saturday.

AUHIP chief Thabo Mbeki (R) meets opposition NUP leader Sadiq al-Mahdi on June 2, 2016 (Courtesy photo of NUP)

From 18 to 22 July, the opposition groups the Sudan Call tasked al-Mahdi to write a letter to Mbeki demanding to meet him in order to discuss their reservations on the Roadmap Agreement before its eventual signing.

According to the opposition umbrella, the chief mediators in a letter he sent on 23 June had explained that their demands for an inclusive national dialogue preparatory meeting and additional confidence building measures will be taken into account.

"Mbeki responded to (my) letter and fixed the seventh of next August to meet him to discuss the Roadmap (Agreement) after taking into account the demands of the opposition," al-Mahdi told the state-run Sudan TV in a talk show on Saturday evening from Cairo where he is residing since two years.

Mahdi said that the opposition's letter included their demands for a comprehensive national dialogue, leading to a constitutional conference. Its agenda consists of the end of war, delivery of humanitarian aid to the affected civilians, identifying the confidence building measures, and release of political detainees and prisoners.

He further stressed that the letter underlined the right of the Sudan Call to determine who would represent it in the meetings with the AUHIP and the government.

"If that happens, then the outcome would be a comprehensive national constitutional dialogue," he said.

The opposition leader disclosed that the Sudan Call intends to invite national figures to attend the external process leading to the national dialogue inside the country in order to reach out, and mobilize the different social segments and promote the ownership of the process by all the Sudanese.

Earlier this week, opposition officials said they had been told by the AUHIP secretariat the meeting would be held in mi-August.

It is not clear if the meeting would take place after or before a visit the chief mediator would pay to Khartoum for talks with the government officials on these developments.

U.S. Special Envoy Donald Booth who facilitates the process is already in Sudan where he is assessing the humanitarian situation in Darfur region and also to discuss the upcoming meeting with opposition groups in Addis Ababa.

Speaking at the talk show, Sudanese Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid who is tasked with the peace negotiations file, said the government reiterated to the mediation its commitment to the Roadamp Agreement and to a comprehensive dialogue as provided in the call launched by President al-Bashir for a national dialogue two years ago.

Hamid further said it is better for the opposition groups to meet the national dialogue committee (7+7) as provided in the Roadmap Agreement instead of its demand meet the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) alone.

"When the (7 +7) meets with the Sudan Call, the dialogue committee would not come alone, but with a representative of the government, and this is better than to meet the government only."

However he reassured that the gap between the government and the opposition is not too big, adding : "We are confident that we are all keen to preserve the security of the homeland".

He further described the NUP leader as a nationalist keen to preserve the nation and its interests.

(ST)

July 30, 2016 (EL-FASHER) - Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, (aka Hametti) said his fighters have arrested about 600 Ethiopian illegal migrants near Sudan's border with Libya and Egypt.

SRF field commander Mohamed Hamdan (Hametti) speaks in a press conference in Khartoum on Wednesday May 14, 2014 (ST)

Last June, hundreds of RSF elements have been deployed in the remote desert of the Northern State shortly after complaint by the governor of drug and human trafficking by the criminal networks.

On Saturday, Sudanese army's sixth infantry division in North Darfur capital El-Fasher has celebrated the return of the RSF from the Northern State.

Speaking during the celebration, Daglo said his forces arrested about 600 illegal Ethiopian migrants and thwarted several human trafficking operations near Sudan's border with Egypt and Libya and at Al-Nakheel area in the Sahara desert.

He pointed those illegal migrants have been handed over to the authorities in North Darfur as a prelude to repatriate them into their home country.

The RSF commander said the media has turned a blind eye on numerous offences committed by rebel groups including killing incidents, displacement of civilians and destruction of civil institutions.

Daglo hailed discipline among RSF fighters, saying Sudan became a crossing point for illegal migrants seeking to travel to Europe and the United States.

He called on the West to appreciate efforts exerted by the Sudanese government to combat human trafficking and illegal migration across the Sahara.

Sudan is considered as a country of origin and transit for the illegal migration and human trafficking. Thousands of people from Eritrea and Ethiopia are monthly crossing the border into the Sudanese territories on their way to Europe through Libya or Egypt.

For his part, the commander of the sixth infantry division Ashraf Mahdi El-Rifaie said North Darfur became free of rebellion due to efforts of the Sudanese army, RSF and the rest of the regular forces.

“The RSF carried out its full role and combed the area of the rebel remnants and human traffickers” he said

He added that the RSF managed to free hundreds of foreigners from the grip of human traffickers on the desert near the Egyptian border.

Earlier this month, Daglo said his men arrested over 300 illegal immigrants heading to Libya across the remote desert of Northern State.

Deputy Governor of North Darfur, Mohamed Braima, for his part, described the RSF as the right arm of the Sudanese army, saying they play a major role in maintaining peace and security.

He pointed that the security situation in Darfur is stable, saying the government works to amend the social fabric and hold tribal reconciliations to unify the internal front and address the effects of war.

Earlier this year, the European Union granted a €100m development package to address the root causes of irregular migration in Sudan. The financial support came after pledge by the Sudanese government to cooperate with Brussels to stop human trafficking to Europe.

In January 2014, the Sudanese parliament approved an anti-human trafficking law which punishes those involved with human trafficking with up to 20 years imprisonment.

The RSF, which is widely known as the Janjaweed militias, were originally mobilized by the Sudanese government to quell the insurgency that broke out in Sudan's western region of Darfur in 2003.

The militia was reactivated and restructured again in August 2013 under the command of NISS to fight the alliance of rebel groups from Darfur region, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states following joint attacks in North and South Kordofan in April 2013.

(ST)

July 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir on Saturday has pledged to destroy what he described as “institutions of injustice” saying he wouldn't kneel down to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

President Omer al-Bashir at Khartoum airport after his return from Addis Ababa where he received the African Dignity Award on 30 July 2016 (SUNA Photo)

Al-Bashir returned to Khartoum on Saturday from Addis Ababa where he received the the African Dignity Award from the African Initiative for Pride and Dignity (AIPD) in recognition of his efforts in Africa.

He was received at Khartoum airport by large crowds and senior government officials including the First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Salih.

Al-Bashir, who appeared wearing a red bobble cloak and sat on a royal chair in a high platform, addressed the crowed saying he wouldn't succumb to the ICC, saying the western countries don't recognize that he represents the Sudanese people.

“We would destroy all institutions of injustice and liberate Africa from the modern political and economic colonization … we are firmly embedded like mountains and .we wouldn't kneel down,” he said.

The Sudanese President is under two ICC arrest warrants since 2008 for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed in Darfur.

Al-Bashir swore by Almighty Allah (God) three times before the crowed, saying he will always take stances that make the Sudanese people proud of themselves.

“All our decisions and moves were inspired the Sudanese people who don't accept the injustice,” he said.

He said that his government has implemented peace agreements for the sake of peace not to be thanked by other people, pointing that Sudan opened its borders to receive refugees from Ethiopia, Eritrea and West Africa when drought hit the region in 1984 despite the fact that it had suffered from famine.

The Sudanese President further thanked Africa, Ethiopia, Addis Ababa University and Africa's scholars and expert for honouring him.

It is noteworthy that the AIPD was launched by the Addis Ababa University on Tuesday 25 and ended on 29 July.

The initiative aims at basing Africans development efforts on Africans Indigenous Knowledge systems.

It was launched in partnership with the United Nations University for Peace (UP-EACE), the Islamic Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Chair of Cultural Diversity based at the International Relations Institute in Cameroon, the Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies African Network,Tanzania and Centre for the Study of Peace and Human Rights in Sudan.

(ST)

July 30, 2016 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese government has agreed to dispatch a high level delegation, led by its first vice president, Taban Deng Gai to the United Nations headquarters in New York as part of efforts to rally global community support.

Head of the rebel delegation, Taban Deng Gai, attends the opening ceremony of South Sudan's negotiation in Addis Ababa, January 4, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)

“The objective of this mission is to mobilize the international support for implementation of the peace agreement and explain to the leaders of Intergovernmental authorities on development (IGAD) member countries why there were changes within the SPLM-IO leadership,” vice president, James Wani Igga told reporters Friday.

“This is a very important mission,” added the vice president.

Gai, who succeeded the armed opposition (SPLM-IO) chairman Riek Machar, was sworn-in early this week, a move the former rebel leader described as being “illegal”.

"President Salva Kiir wants the country's first vice-president to explain to the world the recent political changes in nation," Igga told reporters in the capital, Juba.

The South Sudanese leader, he said, told the armed opposition leaders in the capital, Juba it was their role to make the region understand why Machar was replaced.

“Taban and some members of the team which will select by the President to go to the neighboring countries, including Khartoum as number one, so that we put clearly to them the situation,” explained Igga.

The team will reportedly also tour neighboring countries to advocate for regional support for the peace agreement.

Igga further said President Kiir agreed to accelerate discussions on how to improve security in the country, revive the economy and repatriate internally displaced persons.

(ST)

July 30, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese authorities have released on bail an editor they detained for weeks after he wrote an article said to be critical of he country's leaders.

Alfred Taban (Time-UA Photo)

Alfred Taban, the Juba Monitor's managing editor, had accused President Salva Kiir and his then deputy Riek Machar of failing to cooperate in the implementation of peace agreement, prompting his immediate arrest and detention.

Taban, however, said Saturday that he was granted bail to allow him to continue taking his medication as directed by his personal doctor.

This was after he was detained for a week without charge. He was charged under Article 75 and 76 of Penal Code 2008 for writing a false story and insulting the president.

Amnesty International, in a statement, said detaining Taban over his peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression makes him a prisoner of conscience.

“We urge you to support our call for the immediate and unconditional release of Alfred Taban”, partly reads the organisation's statement, also extended to Sudan Tribune.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) had also called for the immediate release of Taban.

The editor's arrest came weeks after John Gatluak Manguet Nhial, a journalist who coordinated and reported for Radio Naath FM in Leer, was killed with complete impunity in Juba's Terrain Hotel on 11 July, probably because he hails from the Nuer ethnic group.

South Sudan is ranked 140 out of 180 countries in RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index, thus falling 26 places since the start of the conflict in Africa's newest nation.

(ST)

July 28, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The head of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki will meet with the opposition Sudan Call forces during the next week of August, said the National Umma Party (NUP).

Leaders and delegates of the Sudan Call forces pose in a collective picture at the end of their meeting outside Paris on November 13 2015 (ST Photo)

The head of NUP political bureau Mohamed Mahdi Hassan Thursday told Sudan Tribune the AUHIP Executive Director Abdel Gader Mohamed (Abdul) informed the Sudan Call groups that Mbeki would meet them in the second week of August without giving the exact date.

"The meeting will discuss the demands of the opposition and its reservations over the road map," Hassan said, adding that they will decide to sign it or not based on the outcome of the meeting.

Abdul met the Sudan call forces in Paris on 21 July where they gave him a letter to Mbeki expressing their readiness to sign the Roadmap Agreement after a meeting to discuss their demands for additional confidence building measures and inclusive process.

The opposition groups said Mbeki reassured them in a letter he had sent on 23 June where he said that Addis Ababa meeting - proposed in the roadmap - with the Sudanese government dialogue body is in fact the national dialogue preparatory meeting, and all the Sudan Call factions can attend it.

Observers point the Sudan Call forces are now divided over the negotiations with the government as some say that the ruling National Congress Party would not accept to implement a peace agreement they may reach, or the outcome of the dialogue process.

Some parties of the internal opposition groups refused to take part in Paris meeting while others attended. Those who boycotted are not expected to take part in the upcoming meeting.

(ST)

July 28, 2016 (JUBA) -Three supporters of General Taban Deng Gai, newly appointed First Vice President to replace Riek Machar in a controversial process, were seriously tortured and were beaten nearly to death by groups of internally displaced person (IDPs) after discovering their underground campaign and bribery of other members of people staying the United Nations camps.

IGAD chief mediator Seyoum Mesfin (L) and the SPLM In Opposition's lead negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, attend the resumption of South Sudan talks in Addis Ababa on 11 February 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)

An eyewitness told Sudan Tribune that the three men were caught by a villante group, known as ‘Nuer Four' or N4 police who have been mandated by the community to put law and order in the protection of civilians site.

He said one man had been reported with serious injuries in the body after the local police in the camp discovered their activities and beat him.

It is unclear why civilians seeking protection at civilians' site resulted in such activities, but officials there said people are deeply divided over recent decision to appoint the SPLM-IO former chief negotiator to replace Machar, with overwhelming majority in the UN camps still supporting Machar.

A close allied to Taban Deng GAi in Juba has confirmed that the incident occurred, but added that “it is a minor case.”

He said most of those seeking protection at civilians' site in Juba and other states are very desperate about the life in the camp.

“You know most of the civilians in the camp are not happy about the recent development of appointing Gen. Taban Deng Gai as the first vice president to replace Dr. Riek Machar Teny in the Transitional Government of National Unity,” he told Sudan Tribune.

He however added that the new first vice president “is progressing well despite all condemnation by the members of supporters of Riek Machar.”

However, residents in the camp told Sudan Tribune that the situation at UN camps in Juba remain tense as supporters of Taban Deng are being targeted. It is confirmed that most people in the UN camp are restricted to get out, but some politicians are accused of fuelling the situation.

They said the recent appointment of Gai is calculated to further divide the Nuer ethnic group into separate rival groups.

(ST)

July 28, 2016 (EL-FASHER) - Hundreds of Sudanese staff working for the African Union – United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) went on an open-ended strike Thursday over alleged non-payment of accumulated benefits.

The head of the UNAMID National Staff Union Khalil Tkras told Sudan Tribune that they resort to the strike as means to pressure on the United Nations and UNAMID to approve the payment of due benefits and to address all the outstanding entitlements, including the risk allowance, to be consistent with the increase in salaries in the period from 2012 even in 2015

Trkas said that their demands include also the medical insurance, overtime pay, sudanization of jobs, payment of pension benefits in a short period, and to pay additional benefits to the staff members who accomplish additional tasks besides their jobs.

He added they demand the implementation of local staff training budget, especially the external training.

In the past UNAMID Sudanese staff staged similar protests, demanding to be paid in dollar or to recalculate their salaries according to the exchange rates in the parallel market.

In 2012, they went on strike for demands related to the benefit entitlements. This year also, the local workers held different protests in El-Fasher, and Zalingei for the same claims.

Last March the mission denied press reports that it had refused to pay the pensions of former Sudanese personnel dismissed for the purpose of internal reorganization

There are some 2,900 local workers in the hybrid peacekeeping mission which is deployed in Darfur since December 2007. There are nearly 22,000 international military and civil personnel with an annual budget of $1.35 billion.

(ST)

July 29, 2016 (JUBA) – Rival South Sudanese leaders' spokespersons have clashed over interpretation of how a “temporary” replacement of Riek Machar, as First Vice President, should have been handled in accordance with the Article 6 of the provision of the August 2015 peace agreement.

Riek Machar, left, first vice president of the Republic of South Sudan, and Salva Kiir, the president, at the first meeting of the new transitional coalition government in Juba, South Sudan, in April, 2016 (Jason Patinkin/AP)

This is after President Salva Kiir replaced Machar and appointed Taban Deng Gai, an ex-official of Machar's faction when a group of senior leaders of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) nominated Gai on 23 July in a process challenged as “illegal” by Machar's faction.

Gai and his group announced publicly that the nomination was “temporary” and that Gai would step down from office if Machar returned to Juba after two weeks of absence when he and his forces were forced out from the capital after clashes with forces loyal to President Kiir.

The process has attracted controversy and counter-interpretations when referred to the provisions in the peace agreement.

Ateny Wek Ateny, President Kiir's spokesperson in a live debate on Turkish TRT World TV with his rival, James Gatdet Dak, Machar's spokesperson, argued that Article 6.4 in the peace deal gives President Kiir the right to appoint a replacement for Machar.

Article 6.4 reads: “In the event that the post of the First Vice President falls vacant during the Transitional Persiod, for any reason, including mental infirmity or physical incapacity of the office holder, the replacement shall be nominated by the top leadership body of the South Sudan Armed Opposition as at the signing of this Agreement.”

Ateny argued that Machar had been away for two weeks and his whereabouts was not known, thus giving the right to his faction to nominate someone to take over the SPLM-IO party and the SPLA-IO army, and also gives the President the right appoint his replacement as First Vice President.

Machar's spokesperson, Dak, however counter-argued that the agreement did not give President Kiir to power to appoint Machar's replacement on a “temporary” basis, saying this is not there under the current circumstances.

Dak said it should have been the First Vice President who “may delegate” one of his senior officials in the party to act on his behalf until he returned, referring to Article 6.5 of the agreement.

Article 6.5 reads: “In the event of temporary absence of the First Vice President, the First Vice President may delegate a senior South Sudan Armed Opposition Minister to carry out functions and duties as stipulated in this Agreement.”

While Ateny defended the action of Taban Deng and President Kiir on the basis of Article 6.4, Dak on the other hand condemned their action on the basis of Article 6.5.

Ateny said even if Machar comes back to Juba, he will not be reinstated as First Vice President and will have to first go through reinstatement by the SPLM-IO led by Taban Deng, or else “will not be seen again” if rejected.

Dak argued that Machar was forced out of Juba and asked for deployment of a third party force so that he could return to Juba, from “around Juba”, adding that President Kiir had no power to appoint his replacement per the “temporary” absence as stipulated in the peace agreement.

He also argued that the process to nominate Taban Deng Gai, was “illegal” because Gai was dismissed from party a day before he convened the “illegal meeting” and also there was no SPLM-IO institution that sat and nominated him. He said only five officials of the top leadership nominated him with no required quorum.

“H.E. Dr. Riek Machar is "legally" still the First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan. That "illegal" replacement in Juba - which violates the August 2015 peace agreement - will soon be deemed null and void,” Dak posted on his Facebook page on Thursday.

He also accused President Kiir of taking part in the conspiracy with Taban Deng to become the First Vice President so that he could help him “destroy the peace agreement.”

The United Nations also said the replacement of Machar was not consistent with the peace agreement.

Ateny however fired back, saying the United Nations was not “telling the truth” or those who criticized President Kiir's action did not read well the peace deal.

(ST)

July 28, 2016 (NEW YORK) – United Nations said it has begun relocating internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Tongping camp, near Juba airport, to Jebel camp, in the outskirts south of the capital.

The decision to relocate people was made due to inadequate humanitarian infrastructure and capacity in Tongping, which currently houses nearly 3,000 who fled to the site in the wake of recent violence in Juba. It is also intended to provide them with better conditions and humanitarian services that are already in place in the Protection of Civilians site.

"I was asked yesterday about the relocation of people from Tomping Compound in South Sudan, and I can inform you that the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reports that the initial phase of voluntary relocations of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the Tomping Compound to the Protection of Civilians (PoC) site 3 adjacent to UN House in Juba began today,” Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, told reporters in New York on Thursday.

He said the relocation is a coordinated effort by UNMISS and humanitarian partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which is providing logistical support.

Haq added that security forces of the government have been informed of the relocation process and will also assist in providing security on the routes the IDPs will use for the relocation to the Jebel camp.

“I was also asked about escorts from the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) yesterday. The Mission says that it had sought security assurances from the Government, National Security Service and the SPLA in order to guarantee the safe passage of the displaced people from Tomping to Protection of Civilians site 3,” he said.

He added that UNMISS will be providing force protection to the convoy from Tomping to the final destination, while the Joint Verification Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM), with support from the South Sudan National Police Service, agreed to deploy in strategic areas along the route to ensure the convoy's timely passage.

Currently, there are about 30,000 IDPs who have taken refuge in a number of UNMISS manned protection camps in the capital, Juba.

(ST)

July 28, 2016 (NAIROBI) - The European Commission has released €40 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to South Sudan in the wake of recent clashes in the country.

European flags are seen outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels (Reuters Photo)

The donation, the Commission said in a statement, brings to €103 million its total support for the young nation for 2016.

An outbreak of violence in the young nation early this month has displaced more than 40,000 people, agencies said, as the renewed fighting threatens peace and stability.

"The recent deadly escalation of hostilities in South Sudan is extremely worrying and threatens the very fragile situation in the country. The EU stands by those most in need caught up in the conflict. The emergency aid will address the overall deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country, providing crucial supplies such as food and nutrition, water and sanitation, protection and healthcare,” Christos Stylianides, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management said in a statement.

“I urge all parties to respect their obligation to grant unhindered and safe humanitarian access to those in need. Furthermore, the systematic looting of humanitarian facilities is unacceptable and must stop immediately," added the official.

Recent violence has affected food supply and the nutrition situation in South Sudan has reportedly reached critical levels in many areas. Access to medicine throughout the country is limited, with humanitarian organizations providing the majority of healthcare, according to the Commission.

Meanwhile, together the European Commission and Member States are reportedly providing more than 43 per cent of the overall humanitarian response in the country.

(ST)

July 28, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese capital Khartoum will host next Sunday a meeting for the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) Partners Group to discuss implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) and the recent developments in Juba,.

Botswana's former president Festus Mogae (Photo File AFP)

The meeting which will be co-chaired by Sudan and China, includes representatives of Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan, Somalia, Chad, China, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, the African Union Commission, the European Union, the IGAD Partners Forum and the United Nations.

In a press statement on Thursday Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Garib Allah Khidir, said that Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour will co-chair the meeting with the Chinese Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Zhong Jianhua.

China which has energy interest in South Sudan has always been actively involved in the regional and international efforts to end the South Sudanese conflict.

The meeting will be briefed by the Chair of JMEC, former President Festus Mogae.

The first meeting of the JMEC partners group held in Nairobi in February 2016 had been co-chaired by Kenya and the United States, the second held in Addis Ababa last May.

Since the clashes in Juba between the troops of President Salva Kiir and the former First Vice President Riek Machar and his replacement by Taban Deng Gai, observers agree that the peace process is on the verge of collapse.

Some diplomats express hope that a Machar would return to Juba and be reappointed in his position. But it is not clear how such scenario can be achieved.

(ST)

July 28, 2016 (JUBA) – At least 17 people have died from recent Cholera outbreaks in South Sudan and 340 cases of the disease registered in recent weeks, the health ministry said.

A child receives an oral cholera vaccine dose in the South Sudan capital, Juba (Medair Photo)

A World Health Organization (WHO) statement issued on Wednesday also confirmed the early suspected cases of Cholera in different parts of the young nation, saying 10 samples from patients tested positive for Vibrio Cholera Ivana in a public health laboratory.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Its symptoms may be mild or moderate, with acute watery diarrhoea and severe dehydration notable. It can lead to death if untreated.

46 cholera patients were reportedly been hospitalized in Duk county of Jonglei state, while seven died. Also five people, out of the 12 registered cases, died in Terekeka county of Central Equatoria state.

On Wednesday, the medical charity, MSF, and the health ministry launched a vaccination campaign that, it said, targets 4,000 people in Juba, particularly in the epidemic suburbs of Gorom, Khor William and Giada as well as in other parts of the country's capital.

Only a quarter of people living South Sudan's towns have access to clean drinking water, worsening any spread of water borne diseases.

Researchers have estimated that every year, there are roughly 1.4 to 4.3 million cases, and 28 000 to 142 000 deaths per year worldwide due to cholera. The short incubation period of two hours to five days, is factor that triggers the potentially explosive pattern of outbreaks.

(ST)

July 28, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan's President, Salva Kiir on Thursday met his two deputies in the coalition government, during which he expressed willingness to expedite implementation of the peace deal.

President Salva Kiir meets SPLM-IO Chief Negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, in Juba, December 22, 2015 (ST Photo)

The three leaders, a statement from the presidency noted, agreed to undertake measures to "strengthen the protection of civilians”.

“The President of the Republic of South Sudan, H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, today met with his two deputies, to discuss some of the issues on peace implementation and some current developments in the country. The three leaders have agreed to undertake measures to expedite the implementation process of the peace agreement so that the country can move forward with reconciliation, healing and forgiveness”, partly reads the statement Sudan Tribune obtained.

“The president has made it clear that he will cooperate with the new first vice president and the vice president to ensure that priority would be given to resolving key problems that have caused strong protests by the people. A new spirit is emerging from the presidency, the spirit of cooperation, consensus and willingness to implement the agreement so that the country can move forward,” it added.

President Kiir on Monday appointed the armed opposition's former chief mediator, Taban Deng Gai as the country's First Vice-President replacing Riek Machar, who left the capital following recent clashes.

More than 270 soldiers, officials said, died when forces loyal to Kiir clashed with pro-Machar soldiers before a ceasefire was declared.

According to the statement from the presidency, a number of things have been agreed to be resolved, including accepting that the deputy speaker's position be nominated by the armed opposition.

“These nominations will speed-up the establishment of a new parliament incorporating members of the SPLM/A-IO, and enabling the parliament to function as normal, enacting laws and aiding in the establishment of institutions prescribed by the Compromise Peace Agreement 2015, including approving the new Constitution of the Republic, leading to the next census and elections”, it stressed.

Officials at the presidency told Sudan Tribune that many of the details of the peace proposal were already known, including, among others, commitment to observing a permanent ceasefire, implementing the security arrangement by disbanding and integrating members of armed opposition into different institutions of government under one command and protecting the civilians.

Observers, however, say it is unclear how the leaders intend to implement the deal and how members of armed opposition and the international community would react, if the accord is compromised.

It is also unclear what exactly the leaders have agreed to do as the first thing in the implementation of the peace agreement and how long they have collectively intended to achieve their objectives.

(ST)

July 27, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The visit of United States Special Envoy, Donald Booth, aims to assess the situation of displaced people in Darfur and to brief the government officials on the outcome of his contacts with the opposition holdout groups, said the Sudanese foreign ministry on Wednesday

U.S. Special Envoy Donald Booth, speaks at the U.S. House Subcommittee on Africa, on April 28, 2016 (ST Photo)

On Tuesday, Booth has started a visit to North Darfur state where he visites the newly displaced people to assess the security and humanitarian situation. Also he he will meet with the state authorities and UNAMID officials.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Garib Allah Khidir, told reporters that the ministry is organizing Booth's visit and his meetings with the different officials, in coordination with the relevant authorities .

Khidir added the U.S. diplomat would brief the government officials tasked with the file of peace in Darfur on the outcome of his visit to the region and his observations.

"Booth is very concerned by the conditions of displaced civilians who fled their villages following the latest fighting in Jebel Marra," further said the newly appointed spokesperson.

He went further to say that the visiting envoy would discuss with the Sudanese officials the outcome of his discussions in Paris with the holdout opposition groups on the African Union brokered Roadmap Agreement.

Both and his aides recently met with the opposition groups in Addis Ababa and Paris in a bid to convince them to join Roadmap Agreement.

Also, he and the joint chief mediator for peace in Darfur Martin Uhomoibhi met recently in Paris with Abdel Wahid al-Nur, the leader of a Sudan Liberation Movement faction to persuade him to join the peace process.

Last week, the opposition Sudan Call groups disclosed that Booth encouraged them to reconsider their position from the roadmap, adding he also reached the head of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki and helped to soften his position towards their demand for additional confidence building measures before to sign it.

His visit to Sudan comes before a series of meetings Mbeki would held in Khartoum with the Sudanese officials and the opposition groups in Addis Ababa next month.

The Sudan Call forces said they are willing to join the roadmap after guarantees that the peace plan would lead to an inclusive process that would be conducted in a conducive environment where freedoms are not restricted and political prisoners are freed.

(ST)

July 27, 2016 (KAMPALA) - The Ugandan Chapter of South Sudan's armed opposition (SPLM-IO) say they do not recognize Taban Deng Gai as the nation's First Vice President.

SPLM-IO Chief Negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, speaking to journalists at Juba airport upon his return from Pagak with his team, 22 January 2016 (ST Photo)

President Salva Kiir replaced SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar with Gai, a move said to be contrary to terms of the peace agreement signed in August last year.

The SPLM-IO chairman in Uganda, Buay Keake described as “unacceptable” the decision to appoint Gai, saying it was a violation of peace accord and against the will of South Sudanese.

“Gen. Taban Deng Gai's appointment is illegal and it has been condemned by the members, the entire leadership in Uganda and the entire members of the SPLM –IO chapter in Uganda,” said Keake.

“On my own behalf as national coordination and the acting principal representative of Uganda , I would like to bring it into the attention of the general public that our office in Uganda strongly condemns the conspiracy plan,” added.

The official claimed the 8 July shootings, which occurred at the presidential palace in Juba was conspiracy allegedly to kill Machar.

Stephen Wat Bipal, the humanitarian liaison officer in Kampala said Gai's elevation violates provisions of South Sudan's peace accord.

Bipal said Gai was no longer an armed opposition movement member.

“Our office remains unshakable and will continue to hold onto the movement's objectives and vision. The chapter urges all members, supporters, and sympathizers to maintain their continued strong commitment to the democratic movement under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar,” he told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

On Monday, the South Sudanese leader took a unilateral decision after he gave his first deputy Machar an ultimatum 48 hours to report to Juba or else risk being sacked from his vice-presidency position.

Machar, however, insisted he would only return to Juba after regional forces have been deployed in South Sudan to create a buffer zone between his forces and those allied to the President Kiir.

But members of the armed opposition chapter in Uganda are urging the African Union, regional bloc (IGAD) and United Nation Security Council to deploy regional troops and pressure to desist from attacking their forces or risk igniting full scale war in the country.

(ST)

July 27, 2016 (JUBA)- South Sudan security operatives prevented a newspaper editor from leaving court premises, despite being granted bail, journalists and family members said

Alfred Taban (Time-UA Photo)

Alfred Taban, the founding editor of Juba Monitor was arrested on 16 July by national security agents, a day after the paper's editorial called for the removal of South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, and the first vice president, Riek Machar, for allegedly failing to successfully implement the August 2015 peace agreement.

However, family members and journalists said on Tuesday that Taban has been denied bail again after he was charged under Article 75 and 76 of the Penal Code 2008 and cannot now be granted bail.

“Alfred has been transferred from the national security premises where he was held for more than a week to Juba north police station where the charges against were read out. He is charged under article 75 and article 76, which are irrelevant articles in this case”, a family member told Sudan Tribune.

He has been charged with "publishing or communicating false statement prejudicial to Southern Sudan” under Article 75 and Article 76 deals with "undermining authority of and insulting the President".

In South Sudan, journalists like Taban, still face constant harassment.

The head of union of journalists in South Sudan, Oliver Modi said in a separate interview he was concerned that the health condition of the detained editor would deteriorate if he is not granted bail.

“They have refused him bail [Taban] which is provided for in the constitution. I appeal to the authorities to listen to those appealing for his release on bail”, said Modi.

Last week, Michael Christopher, the editor of Al-Watan newspaper was arrested and detained after the paper misquoted the information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth.

(ST)

July 27, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has fired the country's finance minister, David Deng Athorbei amid the worsening economic crisis in the nation.

South Sudanese preasident Salva Kiir (AFP)

In a Republican decree 288, read on State-owned SSBC on Monday, the South Sudanese leader relieved Athorbei without providing any reason.

Kiir, in the same decree also relieved Trade and Industry Minister Stephen Dhieu Dau and his Mining counterpart, Taban Deng Gai.

Gai was appointed the country's First Vice President to replace armed opposition (SPLM-IO) leader, Riek Machar by decree 289. A separate decree 290 appointed Dhieu as the new finance minister.

South Sudan economy has deteriorated since December 2015 when the government floated exchange rates for local South Sudanese Pound (SSP) against the US dollar.

Inflation in the country, economists say, has risen by 300% in the last seven months.

Observers say despite being oil-rich, South Sudan is likely to record negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in 2016 after growing by 30.7 percent two years ago, largely due its ongoing conflict, decline in oil production and the global fall in oil prices.

(ST)

July 27, 2016 (JUBA) -Thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) across South Sudan at United Nations protection of civilians (PoCs) sites, have protested against the appointment of General Taban Deng Gai as first vice president to replace Riek Machar, saying the action is threatening the peace deal in the country signed in August last year.

Wiyual Machar Gany, chairman of the IDPs community living in the POCs at Jebel in Juba told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday that civilians in the UN camp are against the decision of president Kiir to illegally sack Machar and replaced him with Taban Deng Gai who “faked” a nomination in a hotel room.

He said such a decision will hamper the implementation of the peace agreement between Kiir and Machar and urged the government to withdraw the appointment of Taban Deng Gai and continue with the implementation of the agreement.

“We civilians at the UN camps have gone to the street today against the decision of president Kiir to replace Machar. We reject the nomination of Gen. Taban Deng and we see this as threats to the peace which was signed last year,” Gany said.

The group said they only recognize Riek Machar as the legitimate leader of the armed opposition faction who also inked the peace deal with president Kiir to end two years of violent conflict.

A similar demonstration witnessed in Malakal, Upper Nile state and Bentiu, Unity state at the United Nations protection sites with residents calling on world leaders to take immediate action before a “full-scale war” could erupt again between South Sudanese rivals forces.

The groups called on the international community to put pressure on both parties to restore peace in the country as per the provisions in the August 2015 peace agreement.

The demonstrators who were carrying placards and leaflets told UN officials that Taban Deng Gai was allegedly working to scrap the peace deal for his person benefits rather than ending the war.

Maruot Changath Payinjiar, a youth leader of Payinjiar county in Unity state, has condemned the appointment of Taban Deng to replace what he called the “legitimate first vice president Machar.”

He said the move is seen to be destroying the peace agreement, despite many signatures from both international and regional leaders.

Changath adding that Taban Deng Gai had already defected to President Kiir's faction and had been removed from the party and should not have been appointed to represent the opposition faction.

The youth leader also claimed that the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has failed to protect civilians after several internal displaced persons were “mistreated and killed in front of them.”

“The youths condemn UNMISS for failure to protect the peace agreement even when they knew Machar was transported with few soldiers from Pagak as if they were in the conspiracy which almost cost Machar's life. UNMISS also failed to protect the IDPs as many were killed in intentional firing by Salva Kiir's soldiers,” he added.

Changath has urged the African Union (AU) to send in third forces to protect the peace agreement and called on them to condemn and dismiss Taban Deng Gai's appointment by president Kiir.

(ST)