Sudan Tribune

June 2, 2016 (NYALA) - Governor of South Darfur State Adam al-Faki has threatened to arrest journalists and jail them in the infamous prison of Port Sudan if they published “negative and bad” reports about his state.

South Darfur governor Adam al-Faki (ST Photo)

While accompanying the Federal State Minister for Health, Sumaiya Idriss, during a tour at Nyala Educational Hospital, al-Faki said that journalists are drawn to reporting only bad news and contribute to create a negative image of South Darfur state.

This bad reputation affects the economic, social and security situations of the South Darfur State, he stressed.

Reports from South Darfur State often reflect the increasing insecurity there such as armed robberies, kidnapping for ransom, carjacking.

In order to curb criminal activities and attacks by armed gangs, the state of emergency has been imposed in South Darfur state since August 2014, including a curfew in Nyala during the night.

The decision also banned riding of motorcycles by more than one person, driving unlicensed vehicles and wearing of Kadamool (turban which covers the face).

The governor, who disagreed with a doctor on how to run the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital, turned to reporters saying "go and write that the governor quarrelled with the doctors"

On her part, the state health minister said her visit comes in the context of implementation of specialised medical facilities in the regional hospitals, rehabilitating rural hospitals and efforts to provide rural and isolated areas with midwives.

Idriss stated that the total cost of the government plans to implement specialized medical units has reached one billion Sudanese pounds, pointing that the health ministry is working to solve the challenges facing doctors.

(ST)

June 2, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement -North (SPLM-N) warned against the recent deployment of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in the war-torn state of Blue Nile saying the Sudanese government plans to exterminate its indigenous population .

Last Tuesday the Sudanese government dispatched hundreds of the SRF militiamen to Ed- Damazin the capital of Blue Nile where they were received by the state officials and army commanders. RSF field commander, Mohamed Hamdan Hametti also was there and addressed the troops that reportedly arrived from Darfur region.

The SRF militiamen are accused to taking part in the counterinsurgency campaign led by the Sudanese army against Darfur rebel groups. UN agencies estimate that some 300 thousands civilians were killed.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday, SPLM-N Secretary General, Yasir Arman said the militia, which fights the SPLA-N combatants since three years in South Kordofan state, will not make any difference on the ground and expected they would face the same fate like in the Nuba Mountains.

However Arman said the SPLM-N is alarmed by this arrival because their first target this time is the civilian population in the Blue Nile.

"The (RSF's) objective is to exterminate the indigenous people of Blue Nile and to eliminate them from their land, which is one of the most fertile and mineral rich lands of Sudan that includes gold".

He further went to point that the government of President Omer al-Bashir plans to sell the Blue Nile fertile areas to Arab investors.

" Bashir has been promised a huge investment for agriculture in Sudan by the Yemen war coalition as he is part of it, promising that Sudan will be the bread basket of the Arab world," he stressed.

The SPLM-N secretary general said they are very concerned of this "new genocidal project" in the Blue Nile and vowed that the rebel fighters will defeat the regime forces and abort this project.

He called on the Sudanese people to politically resist the regime saying the intends to re-engineer the Sudanese social fabric in the interest of the corrupt business class of the NCP and its allies in the name of investment.

He also called on the regional and international communities to condemn this project in the interest of "respect of human rights and diversity all over Africa". Also he said the Arab investors should wait the end of war.

"For the international community, it is regrettable to indict General Bashir and to leave him to continue what he has been indicted for, and on some occasions, to blame the victims," he further stressed.

(ST)

June 2, 2016 (JUBA) – The world's economic centre house - the International Monetary Fund (IMF) based in New York - has warned of further deteriorating economic situation in South Sudan unless quick economic reform policies were adopted and political environment eased.

South Sudanese finance officials at signing of the treaty to become World Bank/IMF's newest member (AFP File photo)

The IMF staff team, led by Jan Mikkelsen, visited South the Sudan capital from 23 May 23 to 1 June, during which they held discussions in the context of the nation's 2016 Article IV Consultation. Mikkelsen, the IMF's top envoy for South Sudan, is also the mission's chief for South Sudan and deputy division chief.

According to the IMF team, said the current approach by government of South Sudan to its economic situation is wrong, stressing that the deficit in 2016/17 could top US$1.1 billion or 25 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It added that if deficit is financed through borrowing from the central bank or accumulation of arrears, as is the case now, the situation would continue to fuel inflation and put further downward pressure on the exchange rate.

It recommended that restoring macroeconomic stability in the world's youngest nation would require collaborative efforts from South Sudan and its development partners in changing the policies and restoring political and security stability in the war-ravaged country.

“If macroeconomic policies do not change, the economic situation will deteriorate further, resulting in more humanitarian suffering and potentially threatening the still-fragile peace process,” partly reads the IMF's statement, which was released on Wednesday.

“The peace agreement signed in August 2015 has now registered significant progress with the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU). However, political reconciliation must now be consolidated and the TGoNU should work as a cohesive government for it to chart a new course toward broad-based and inclusive economic development,” it added.

South Sudan government, the IMF team further argued, must also do its part by raising non-oil revenue and cutting expenditures, particularly in the payroll, current operations, travel, and investment.

Moreover, it added that, there is a need to strengthen expenditure controls, budget preparation, and to limit arrears accumulation.

“These measures could reduce the fiscal gap to about US$300 million. Meanwhile, the central bank should regain control over monetary policy by refraining from lending to the government, setting inflation on a decelerating path, and gradually start replenishing its international reserves,” it advised in the statement.

It, however, said by not succumbing to the measures in reforming the economy, it would be impossible for the government to meet its obligations, including expenses related to the peace deal, suggesting needs to cover this remaining gap from external sources.

IMF however said the donors may not come forth with provision of financial support to the South Sudanese transitional government unless such measures are adopted and implemented.

“Strong policy efforts by the government could lay the basis for donors to play a role in providing support to close the fiscal gap, including through budget support. The mission urges the government to restore credibility by not only preserving peace and the rule of law, but also by starting to implement a stronger public financial management framework and enhancing transparency in its financial transactions,” stressed the New York-based financial body.

Demonstrating political unity and commitment in the coming months to economic stabilization and strengthening public financial management, the IMF said, “Will be key steps to rebuilding policy credibility and regaining access to external financial support.”

The IMF's high level delegation during their three days visit to the South Sudanese capital, Juba, between 30 May and 1 June, met with President Salva Kiir, First Vice President, Riek Machar, Vice President, James Wani, Finance minister, Deng Athorbei, and governor of the Bank of South Sudan (BoSS), Kornelio Koryom.

South Sudan has suffered political instability and external shocks over the last two and a half years. Since the civil war started on 15 December 2013, around two million people have been displaced, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.

The decline in oil production by almost half in the oil producing states of Unity and Upper Nile and the sharp drop in international oil prices caused large shortfalls in foreign exchange receipts and government revenue.

“The country is experiencing an economic crisis with a sharp decline in national income and high inflation, which approaches 300 per cent,” IMF further warns.

Moreover, the value of the South Sudanese pound, it said, has dropped by close to 90 per cent since the exchange rate liberalization in December 2015, while central bank international reserves have dwindled to a few days of import coverage.

South Sudan depends on oil revenues by 98 per cent of its budget as non-oil revenues have not been tapped for the past 10 years of existence either as a semi-autonomous entity or independent country.

Observers say despite being oil-rich, South Sudan is likely to record negative gross domestic product growth in 2016 after growing by 30.7 percent two years ago, largely due its conflict, decline in oil production and global fall in oil prices.

The country imports from regional countries both food and non-food items despite that over 90 per cent of its land is arable and the nation has millions of animals, including cattle, sheep and wild life.

Its economy has not been diversified for the past 10 years as corruption took its toll with billions of dollars believed to have been squandered over the years by some senior government officials.

Although potentially rich, South Sudan is ranked one of the poorest in Africa and the world at large, with the worst indicators of health, education and underdevelopment.

(ST)

June 2, 2016 (BOR)—Traditional chiefs of Jonglei state have expressed concerns over the overwhelming divorce cases in Jonglei state, which prompted the state government to order for a review of customary laws to minimise separation among the married.

Chiefs gather at Wanglei in Twic East county 1, August, 2015 (ST).

During a meeting organised last week by the state government through the ministry of local government that brought together many chiefs from Duk, Twic and Bor counties, several Dinka Bor customary laws were reviewed with some amendment made to be applied in the local courts throughout the state once approved.

The Bor county paramount chief, Alier Aluong, said the Dinka Bor community had fixed the bring price to 30 heads of cattle, adding that the divorce wouldn't be granted by any statutory courts unless by the chiefs concerned at village or payams level.

“We have agreed that the pride price is 30 heads of cattle. If you pay more than that, that is not bad so long as you want to please your in-laws. But in case you separate with the woman, the court will only consider 30 heads of cattle from which the necessary reductions would be made from, in case you have kids with her. The rest will not be considered”, said Aluong.

“The other biggest issue, if you mess with someone's wife, she will not be your wife. If you elope someone's wife, you will be charged some six heads of cattle and imprisonment for some months”, he added.

Most cases in the statutory courts in Bor are dominated by women wanting to separate with their husbands, but chiefs argued that such cases be handled by traditional courts.

Achieu Duoi, a woman representative, agreed with laws restricting divorce, saying it should not be granted on un-necessary grounds, as the statutory courts practiced.

She further said the existing customary laws should reflect some articles prohibiting the use on skins of various emollient that come as bath additives and showers gels.

“I am against the boys who go sagging, and some ladies who apply creams to change their skins' colour. We have tried to talk against them, but they had ignored us. Our mothers and grandmothers did not apply creams to change their bodies' colour. You men had allowed these women to change their skin colour because you tend to love ladies with brown skins, and leave the black ones”, Achieu told Sudan Tribune in Thursday.

The customary laws will be announced to the public by the governor's office if approved.

(ST).

June 2, 2016 (JUBA) – A senior presidential advisor allied to President Salva Kiir, has denied any consensus reached by the presidency to review the number of states in the country, saying the President had no power to reverse the 28 states as the matter had allegedly been in the hands of the people.

Tor Deng Mawien (ST Photo)

In an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune on Thursday, Presidential Advisor on Decentralization and Intergovernmental Linkages, Tor Deng Mawien, a relative to President Kiir, said the committee agreed on Wednesday by the presidency to be formed will only work on the boundaries of the 28 states but not to temper with their numbers.

Mawien totally dismissed the joint spoken statement which First Vice President, Riek Machar and Vice President, James Wani, issued to the public on Wednesday after the presidency meeting.

In the joint statement to the press by the two deputies after the meeting, a committee of 15 members will be constituted from all the parties to the August 2015 peace agreement and from the international partners to come up with recommendation on the number of new states and determine their boundaries.

“We discussed the issue of the 28 states. We decided to tackle this through a committee. That committee will be composed of 15 members…So that they can work on the number of states, review them and they come up with recommendation on the number of the states and this will be within 30 days. Within 30 days this work will be done,” said First Vice President, Riek Machar, in a press statement to the media, also broadcasted on the South Sudan TV (SSTV) on Wednesday evening.

Machar said the 15 members of the committee will include 10 South Sudanese from the parties in the peace deal and 5 others from the international partners. He added that they would ask South Africa and Tanzania to bring in two members from their countries.

He also said the presidency agreed to release prisoners of war and to budget for establishment of cantonment areas for the forces across the country.

Also, Vice President, James Wani, who held the joint spoken statement with Machar, confirmed the outcome of the presidency meeting with President Kiir's participation.

“Really, I have nothing to say further, what the First Vice President has just articulated is absolutely in place. These are the issues we agreed on,” Vice President Wani said.

“But one would want to underline the fact that the meeting of today by the three of us has been one of the most successful meetings,” Wani added.

However, the presidential advisor, Mawien, who did not attend the presidency meeting, said reviewing the number of the states was not agreed in the presidency.

“As far as I know there were only three important issues which the President with First Vice President and the Vice President have discussed and reached a consensus. The meeting of the three leaders which took place yesterday afternoon was very important. It resolved that cantonment sites for SPLM-IO forces will be established in the country. This means some places will be identified as areas of assembling points in Equatoria and other places in the country. The meeting also resolved to release prisoners of war and to lift the state of emergency. These were the issues which were discussed. There was no consensus on the number of states,” presidential advisor, Mawien, said on Thursday when asked to comment on the latest political development.

Mawien further explained that the issue of the number of the states was no longer in the hand of the president for him to decide whether to reverse the order or not.

“I think the issue of the states is no longer with the president. It has left his hand and it is now owned by the people themselves. If there are people who still want this issue to be discussed again, or if they want the number of states to be reduced or expanded, they should now talk to the people and see what the people will say in this regard. What the committee will do is to review borders and make necessary recommendations on how issues relating to borders can be resolved amicably,” explained Mawien.

The decision of the three leaders has also received mixed reactions from the public with opposition figures insisting on the revocation of the establishment order, asserting that the agreement was signed on the basis of ten states in addition to the fact that the decision itself was not constitutional in the first place.

Onyoti Adigo, the Minority Leader in the national parliament from Democratic Change party, said Thursday his party would continue to reject the implementation of 28 states because it violated the peace agreement.

“I understand that political parties will be represented in the committee. For us, we will not nominate a member to participate unless the terms of reference are clarified. We need to know the work of the committee itself first and when it will start work. When this is clarified, we will nominate,” said Adigo.

The opposition figure asserted that the establishment order unilaterally issued by Pesident Kiir to expand the number of states to 28 from 10 was issued without carrying out studies so that the views of the people at the grassroots levels were incorporated.

“No studies were carried out. It was a decision of certain people who wanted to sabotage South Sudan like now. There are problems caused by the 28 states. The current economic crisis is one of them. As we speak there are people who did not get salaries for three months, four months and two months, it is a problem of 28 states,” he said.

“There is no money. If there is no money to pay employees where will the budget come to establish all these states? It is not economically a viable decision.”

He said his party has not stopped rejecting the creation of more states, adding that they will stick to the 10 states.

“Of course we are still rejecting it until now, we will not accept 28 states, now there is no room for 28 states or 13 states or 50 states, and we demand 10 states according to the agreement,” he added.

President Kiir on 2 October 2015 issued an establishment order announcing the creation of 28 states. He later issued another order appointing governors to run the new states even after he signed the peace agreement based on 10 states with the armed opposition faction under the leadership of Machar.

Critics say the 28 states, which gave the ethnic Dinka almost half of the country's states, is meant to grab other communities' lands in Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal regions and annex them to the Dinka lands.

Proponents however argue that the decision was made in accordance with the will of the people.

(ST)

June 2, 2016 (JUBA) – Conflict has emerged over interpretation of the would-be formed committee by the South Sudanese presidency to review the number and boundaries of states in the country, with differing explanations as to the main purpose of the committee in determining the status of states in South Sudan.

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)

The presidency composed of President Salva Kiir and his two deputies, Riek Machar and James Wani, on Wednesday resolved to form a 15-member committee to review the 28 states unilaterally created by the former government despite a peace agreement signed on the basis of 10 states.

In a public joint spoken statement to reporters on Wednesday after the meeting, which was also broadcasted on the national television, the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), Machar and Wani said the committee would determine the number of new states and their boundaries.

The inclusive membership committee would include 10 from South Sudanese peace partners and the other 5 from the international community. The committee will recommend a way forward within 30 days.

However, Ateny Wek Ateny, President Kiir's press secretary, told the media on Thursday that the main purpose of the committee was not about the number of states, but rather about reviewing the boundaries of the created new 28 states which “bother” people.

He said the committee's task will be to try to determine the boundaries of the 28 states, but added that they may add more states to the current 28 but will not be allowed to reduce the number.

“The importance of the committee is specifically to settle the borders and see the problems that bother the states. The committee can come up with a recommendation to increase the number of states but it's impossible that it could be less than 28 states. Because nobody will accept that his state will be removed. Nobody will want that. Whose state will be removed and whose state will remain,” he asked.

But in an interview broadcasted by the United Nations-run Miraya FM radio on Thursday morning, James Gatdet Dak, First Vice President Machar's press secretary, told the UN radio that the committee will review the “number of the states as well as their boundaries.”

He said if the committee will not agree on the number of states, they will simply revert to the 10 states as provided for in the August 2015 peace agreement.

When contacted in a separate interview by Sudan Tribune on Thursday, Dak said the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) is for the 10 states as a priority.

“As for the SPLM (IO), we want to abide by the peace agreement. The agreement talks of the 10 states. This is our priority now, not 21 or 28 states,” Dak said, while referring to 21 states earlier proposed by the SPLM-IO during the peace negotiations in Addis Ababa last year and the 28 states created by President Kiir's faction in Juba five weeks after the peace agreement was signed.

Dak said more states may be premature for now given the security and economic challenges in the implementation of the peace agreement, coupled with the conflicts over states boundaries that the new 28 states have brought about.

He said the country, through the 15-member inclusive committee, may soon within 30 days confirm maintaining the 10 states and delay creation of more states to later period in the transitional period or after 2018 elections.

Dak acknowledged that the presidency had not yet put on paper the terms of reference for the 15-member committee, adding “this could be the reason for the misinterpretation of the task given to the committee.”

(ST)

June 2, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese government said on Thursday it had dislodged the fighters of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-N) from Jebel Kilgu in the Blue Nile state but the rebels insisted they still held the area .

Soldiers from Sudan's army celebrate after gaining control of the area, at the Blue Nile state capital al-Damazin, September 5, 2011 (Reuters)

The Blue Nile Governor Hussein Yassin told Ashrooq TV that the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) managed to retake control of the rugged area, located at 30 km south of the state capital Ed-Damazin.

Yassin said that the liberation of Kilgu has increased space of security and stability in the troubled state, considering the victory as a “good omen” for a stable agricultural season that achieves food security in the Blue Nile".

Since April 2015, the Sudanese army has carried out some 21 attacks to capture the strategic from the SPLM-N.

Ashrooq TV reporter said the Sudanese army forces fought a fierce battle on several fronts on the road to the Jebel Kilgu area.

He further said that the SPLM-N forces have left behind a number of their fighters killed and others injured, adding that the armed forces have arrested around one hundred rebels.

While the Sudanese army didn't issue a statement about the outcome of the fighting in Kilgu, SPLM-N Spokesperson Arnu Ngutulu Lodi denied the recapture of the area by the government forces.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune late on Thursday, Lodi asserted that the fighting is still taking place around Kilgu and the SPLM-N forces "are in full control of the situation".

He added that the claimed victory is a "propaganda and lies to boost the morale" of the defeated troops.

The Sudanese government has been fighting the SPLM-N in South Kordofan and Blue Nile areas since 2011.

This week the government dispatched hundreds of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militiamen to reinforce the regular forces.

On Wednesday, Lodi said the SPLM-N forces repelled an attack on their positions in Torda area, located south-east of Kilgu.

He added they inflicted losses on the attackers.

(ST)

June 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese army will deal with air planes belonging to international organisations that have repeatedly violated the Sudanese airspace during the last month of May, warned the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) on Wednesday.

A Soviet-made Ilyushin 76 charted by the United Nations

"On 17 and May 20, aerial surveillance devices spotted the penetration of the Sudanese airspace by Ilyushin 76 aircrafts belonging to international and regional organizations without prior permission," said a short statement issued by SAF spokesperson Ahmed Khalifa al-Shami.

This constitutes "a flagrant violation of state sovereignty and a flagrant violation of the international norms, conventions and laws governing air traffic," al-Shami added.

"The Sudan Armed Forces will deal decisively with any aircraft that fails to follow the proper procedures to get a prior permission as a legitimate target," the statement further stressed.

The Illyushin 76 is a Russian transport aircraft used for civil and military purposes. United Nations agencies use to deliver humanitarian assistance to the different countries.

(ST)

June 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - A Sudanese medical student who joined the ranks of the Islamic State (ISIS) group, has been killed during recent fighting in the Iraqi town of Faluja.

FILE - Two ISIS supporters hold flag (ABC News)

The Iraqi army and the popular mobilisation forces have been launching multiple attacks against the ISIS in Faluja.

The family of Ayman Siddeq Abdel-Aziz, formerly a student at the University of Medical Sciences and Technology in Khartoum, has set up a tent for mourning the deceased in Al-Muhandiseen suburb in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman to receive condolences on the death of their younger son upon learning about his death from colleagues who travelled with him about a year ago.

The deceased student was considered one of the effective members of the second group of students who flew from Khartoum to Istanbul, from where they crossed the Syrian-Turkish southern border.

The group consisted of 12 students, including the daughter of a senior government official. 10 of the students carried British travel documents. The first group embraced 17 students at the medicine and pharmacy departments at the same university.

Mustafa Osman Figiri, a member of the first group of Sudanese students who travelled to Syria to join the ISIS, blew himself up in a suicide bombing in Raqqa last July.

The two batches were followed by a third group of four girls, including twins Manar and Abrar Abdelsalam.

The number of the medical science university students who joined the ISIS reached 40. Three of these students have so far been killed including, Mohamed al-Mutasim al-Kanzi and Abdel-Aziz.

Abdul-Ilah, the son of the late leader of Jamaat Ansar al Sunnah, Abu Zaid Mohamed Hamzah, was killed in armed clashes in the ISIS stronghold of Sirte in Libya last year.

One week before, Abu Ja'afar al-Sudani blew himself up in a car bomb in the Libyan city of Derna. The ISIS mourned last June a Sudanese member nicknamed “Abu-al-fida'a” who said to be “martyred” in Raqaa last June.

The Ministry of Interior in Khartoum announced last year that about 70 Sudanese had gone to join the ISIS franchises, both in Libya and Syria. So far, however, only two of the students who became members of the ISIS have returned, but identical information shows the number of Sudanese students in ISIS exceeds these statistics.

(ST)

June 1, 2016 (JUBA) – In unexpected move which is described as a breakthrough, the South Sudan's presidency has agreed to review the 28 states and come up with a recommendation on the number of new states within 30 days.

President Salva Kiir walks his First Deputy Riek Machar and Vice-President James Wani on 26 April (Photo Moses Lomayat)

The resolution came out after a joint meeting of the President, Salva Kiir, First Vice President, Riek Machar and Vice President, James Wani, at the presidential palace on Wednesday.

In a joint statement to the press by the two deputies after the meeting, a committee of 15 members will be constituted from all the parties to the August 2015 peace agreement and from the international partners to come up with recommendation on new states.

“We discussed the issue of the 28 states. We decided to tackle this through a committee. That committee will be composed of 15 members…So that they can work on the number of states, review them and they come up with recommendation on the number of the states and this will be within 30 days. Within 30 days this work will be done,” said First Vice President, Riek Machar, in a press statement to the media following the meeting, also broadcasted on the South Sudan TV, (SSTV) on Wednesday evening.

Machar said the 15 members of the committee will include 10 South Sudanese from the parties in the peace deal and 5 others from the international partners. He added that they would ask South Africa and Tanzania to bring in two members from their countries.

Also, Vice President, James Wani, who also spoke to the press with Machar, confirmed the outcome of the joint meeting of the Presidency with President Kiir's participation.

“Really, I have nothing to say further, what the First Vice President has just articulated is absolutely in place. These are the issues we agreed on,” Vice President Wani said.

“But one would want to underline the fact that the meeting of today by the three of us has been one of the most successful meetings,” Wani added.

He reaffirmed that the inclusive committee to be formed will not only review the number of states but also work and recommend on their new boundaries within 30 days. It was not however clear when the committee will be formed to start their work on the new states.

Machar also said the Wednesday meeting tackled the need to release prisoners of war on both sides.

He also said the presidency has agreed to come up with a budget for cantonment of forces in the country.

The rest of the remaining issues, they said, will be tackled during the coming Friday's council of ministers meeting.

Earlier, in a 31 January resolution, the East African regional bloc, IGAD, which brokered the peace agreement, called on the parties to form a boundary commission to work on the number of new states within 30 days, or revert to the current 10 states in case of no agreement.

Observers close to the decision making processes in the rival parties say the most probable outcome will be for the parties to revert to the 10 states, citing lack of agreement.

Earlier, the government said the issue of the 28 states was a “red line” and refused to review them, but the Wednesday breakthrough has come as a positive step.

(ST)

June 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - An estimated 226,950 South Sudanese refugees have fled to Sudan since December 2013, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said in a report attributed to its refugee agency UNHCR.

South Sudanese refugees perform a traditional dance as President Omer Hassan al-Bashir addresses a crowd a rally held in Ed Daein, East Darfur, April 5, 2016. April 5, 2016. (Photo Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

According to the report, the influx of South Sudanese refugees into Sudan, a nation from which it seceded in 2011, resulted from its conflict and deterioration of food security.

UNHCR further estimates that nearly 69,000 people have arrived to various states in Sudan from the world's youngest nation since the beginning of this year until 22 May.

As such, the report says, UNHCR and partners are currently updating their response plan to cope with the newcomers as more arrivals are expected in the coming weeks.

Humanitarian organisations are reportedly continuing to provide humanitarian assistance and basic services for the South Sudanese refugees in Kour Omer camp, while the World Food Program plans to distribute shares of food material for this month, with an estimated 28,428 refugees at Kour Omer camp expected to get food aid.

Last month, OCHA reported that the number of South Sudanese refugees fleeing the conflict in their country had risen to about 80,000 people since mid-December 2015.

The Sudanese government has earlier expressed concern over the situation in South Sudan after mutual accusations between the rival parties of violating the peace agreement signed in Addis Ababa and called on them to abide by the agreement.

"The crisis in South Sudan has significant implications for the region's countries, especially Sudan since peace and security represent an integral issue and no state can be stable while its neighbours suffer from strife and lack of security”, the Sudanese foreign affairs ministry was quoted in an earlier statement on the matter.

The statement further stressed that Khartoum “is following with great concern the persistent reports of the South Sudanese rival parties violating the Addis Ababa agreement and the mutual accusations in this regard and the confrontations that took place in Jonglei, Upper Nile and Al- Wehda states during the past two days”.

Sudanese officials also encouraged leaders in neighbouring South Sudan to amicably resolve their differences through dialogue in order to end the suffering of its population.

South Sudan president Salva Kiir and the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar signed a peace agreement in August last year to end the conflict in the country. The accord, among others, called for the deployment of international forces to monitor the cease-fire and allow humanitarian aid to reach those affected as well as cooperate with the UN and other humanitarian agencies currently operating in the conflict-hit nation.

(ST)

May 31, 2016 (KHARTOUM)- The Sudanese Foreign Minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, will participate in an anti International Criminal Court (ICC) meeting, to be held at the International Security Council on the 9th of June in New York.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) meets with Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour Oct 2, 2015 - (Photo UN/Evan Schneider)

Ghandour will be part of a seven- African minister committee formed by the African Union Peace and Security Council last January to explain the position of the regional body from the war crimes court.

The African Union committee will address the United Nations Security Council to request the postponement of ICC cases against the African leaders, and to suspend any decision already taken against incumbent African leaders.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Ghandour said the committee comprises ministers from Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya and Sudan.

He pointed to the full coordination between these countries, saying that each minister will make a speech before the Security Council, as the ICC prosecutor will submit his report on the same day.

The ICC issued two arrest warrants against Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010 for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Darfur but Khartoum says the court has no jurisdiction over Sudan, accusing it of becoming a political tool to target African leaders.

In 2013, the African leaders refused ICC decision that calls the Kenyan President, Kenyatta to appear at the ICC, demanding the adjournment on the move based on the basic Rome State, but Kenyatta decided later in 2014 to attend the ICC trial as the first move by incumbent president.

During the AU summit on 1 February following his election as the African Union Chairman, the Chadian President Idriss Deby criticized the ICC saying it only focuses on African leaders.

"Elsewhere in the world, many things happen, many flagrant violations of human rights, but nobody cares," Deby said at the close of the African summit.

However the summit didn't take a decision to withdraw collectively from The Hague based court saying it is up to every state to take the appropriate decision.

However, the Kenyan presidency issued a statement saying that the summit decided "to develop a road map for the withdrawal of African nations".

(ST)

June 1, 2016 (NEW YORK) – United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has called on warring parties, turned peace partners, “to fully and unconditionally implement all parts of the Agreement”, uphold the permanent ceasefire and address the economic crisis and dire humanitarian situation in the country.

A UN Security Council meeting (Photo: UN/Paulo Filgueiras)

In the recent resolution passed this week, the Council also called on the parties in the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) to abide by the communiqué of the East African regional bloc, IGAD, on the fate of the controversial 28 states, which it asked the parties to suspend, discuss or revert to 10 states in case of disagreement.

“Welcoming the resolve indicated in the IGAD Council of Ministers Communique of 31 January 2016, urging the TGNU to abide by and take no action inconsistent with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) 30-31 January 2016 communique, which was subsequently endorsed by the parties and JMEC, on the issue of the Presidential Decree on the creation of 28 new states and calling on the United Nations Security Council to support consequences in the event the South Sudanese parties fail or refuse to implement the Peace Agreement…,” partly reads the resolution of the UN Security Council.

It also demanded that the parties to the conflict take immediate action to ensure unconditional humanitarian access across the country.

It further recalled the communique of the 28th Extraordinary Session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government, which inter alia, invited collective action as appropriate by the States of IGAD to enact asset freezes and travel bans, and deny the supply of arms and ammunition and any other material that could be used in war.

“Reiterating its concern at persistent restrictions placed upon the movement and operations of UNMISS, strongly condemning the attacks by government and opposition forces and other groups on United Nations and IGAD personnel and facilities, and the detentions and kidnappings of United Nations and associated personnel and calling upon the Government of South Sudan to complete its investigations of these attacks in a swift and thorough manner and to hold those responsible to account,” it reads.

The Council stressed that the “situation in South Sudan continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region.”

It expressed deep concern at the failures of South Sudan's leaders to fully implement their commitments pursuant to the Agreement, and to bring an end to the hostilities. It further condemned the continued and flagrant violations of the ceasefire provisions of the Agreement, including violations as documented by the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Mechanism.

It called on the South Sudan's leaders to fully and immediately adhere to the permanent ceasefire in accordance with their obligations under the Agreement, and allow in accordance with relevant provisions of international law and the UN guiding principles of humanitarian assistance, full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to help ensure timely delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need.

The Council underscored its willingness to impose targeted sanctions on South Sudanese leaders who continue to violate the agreement in order to support the search for an inclusive and sustainable peace in South Sudan.

It decries policies or actions that threaten transitional agreements or undermine the political process in South Sudan, including planning, directing, or committing acts that violate applicable international human rights law or international humanitarian law, or acts that constitute human rights abuses in South Sudan.

The Council further decried targeting of civilians, including women and children, through the commission of acts of violence, including killing, maiming, torture, or rape or other sexual and gender-based violence, or abduction, enforced disappearance, forced displacement, or attacks on schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where civilians are seeking refuge.

“The obstruction of the activities of international peacekeeping, diplomatic, or humanitarian missions in South Sudan, including the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism or of the delivery or distribution of, or access to, humanitarian assistance,” it pointed out as among the violations.

It also accuses parties of attacks against United Nations missions, international security presences, or other peacekeeping operations, or humanitarian personnel.

“Expresses its intent to monitor and review the situation at 90 day intervals fi'om the adoption of this resolution or more frequently, as needed, and invites the JMEC to share relevant information with the Council, as appropriate, on its assessment of the parties' implementation of the Agreement, adherence to the permanent ceasefire, and facilitation of humanitarian access, also expresses its intent to impose any sanctions that may be appropriate to respond to the situation, which may include an arms embargo and the designation of senior individuals responsible for actions or policies that threaten the peace, security or stability of South Sudan, including by impeding tile implementation of the Agreement, or by failing to take effective and comprehensive steps to cause forces under direct or indirect control to cease military operations, acts of violence, as well as human rights violations or abuses or violations of international humanitarian law, and to enable full access for humanitarian assistance,” it said.

Although the world body renewed sanctions on South Sudan for one more year, it also said it shall be prepared to adjust the measures contained in the resolution, including by strengthening through additional measures, as well as modification, suspension or lifting of the measures, as may be needed at any time in light of the progress achieved in the peace, accountability, and reconciliation process.

The resolution said further actions will depend on the implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement and the parties' commitments, including the ceasefire, and compliance with the UN resolutions.

(ST)

June 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese government has declined to join the African Union-led Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord's Resistance Army (RCI-LRA) considering that the Ugandan rebel group has no presence in its territory.

LRA leader Joseph Kony and his fighters (Getty)

In its final communiqué, the fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Joint Coordination Mechanism (JCM) of the RCI-LRA which took place in Addis Ababa on 20 May called for the sustainment of counter-LRA efforts until the group is eliminated.

“Whereas the capacity of the LRA has been significantly degraded to the extent of not posing a political threat to any state in the region, the LRA still has a capacity to regroup, rebuild itself and resume atrocities against defenceless civilians” read the communiqué.

The meeting requested the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to renew the mandate of the RCI-LRA for further twelve (12) months until 22 May 2017.

It also welcomed the readiness expressed by Sudan to become a full member of the initiative and requested the AU Commission to follow up this pledge.

However, a senior Sudanese official told Sudan Tribune on the condition of anonymity that his government refuses to join the RCI-LRA, pointing the latter is tasked with determining the LRA whereabouts and help arrest its leader Josef Kony and hand him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Sudan has nothing to do with the LRA particularly after the secession of South Sudan which represented a [geographical] barrier between Sudan and Uganda and thus LRA presence in the Sudanese territory was no longer possible,” he said.

Sudan and Uganda traded accusations of support to rebel groups from both sides. Khartoum accused Kampala of backing rebel groups from Darfur and the Two Areas while the latter accused the former of supporting the LRA.

There were reports that the LRA are moving between the borders of Darfur, Central Africa Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after having their presence in South Sudan exposed by the military there. Also, there were media reports that Knoy is present in Kafia Kingi area.

In a report issued in October 2015, the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey group said a verification team led by the AU special envoy for LRA issues Retired General Jackson Tuwei visited Khartoum on 12–15 September 2015.

“The AU delegates met with various Sudanese military and civilian officials who denied the presence of the LRA and Kony in Kafia Kingi but assured the AU of their full cooperation, including facilitating a future joint visit to Kafia Kingi," said the report.

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni was last September in to Khartoum to discuss ways to facilitate the implementation of peace in South Sudan and to meet the former South Sudanese vice-president Riek Machar.

The visit also discussed the issue of rebel groups and the two countries agreed to resume discussions on the matter. Khartoum recently admitted that the Sudanese rebel leaders are no longer present in Uganda.

For two decades the LRA rebels were involved in a vicious fight with the Ugandan government. Most of the fighting took place in northern Uganda.

At the peak of the conflict nearly two million people in the region, Kony's home area, and where most of his fighters also come from, were forced from their homes and villages into internally displaced persons camps.

The rebel group has been accused of mass murder and forceful abduction of civilian population to swell their ranks.

In 2005, the International Criminal Court indicted the top LRA leaders including Kony for crimes against humanity.

The LRA was flushed out of Uganda in 2006. The rebel group then moved to South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic (CAR).

In 2011, US President Barrack Obama sent to the Great Lakes region 100 military advisers to help the armies of Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Central Africa Republic fight the rebels.

(ST)

June 1, 2016 (JUBA) – Former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae, who chairs the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), to oversee and monitor the implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement in South Sudan, has accused the minister of information, Michael Makuei Lueth of violating the freedom of speech and expression in the country.

South Sudanese information minister Michael Makuei Lueth attends a press conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 5 January 2014 (Photo: AP/Elias Asmara)

Mogae said he had received “disturbing” report that minister Lueth “harassed” a senior UN lady official and stopped her from organizing national women's conference for peace and reconciliation.

In his speech on Tuesday during the opening of the JMEC plenary meeting in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, Mogoe, whose JMEC oversees and monitors the implementation of the peace deal signed by President Salva Kiir and First Vice President, Riek Machar, the opposition leader of SPLM-IO, said the action was a violation.

He dismissed the concerns of minister Lueth that the women conference on peace and reconciliation was threatening the sovereignty of South Sudan.

Mogae mocked the minister's concern over sovereignty of South Sudan, saying the women gathering could not threaten South Sudan's sovereignty, no matter how fragile it is.

“I am at loss as to why the poor UN woman director was subjected to the harassment to which she became the victim,” the JMEC chairman, Mogae, told the meeting on Tuesday which was attended by foreign diplomats and other peace partners.

“I don't understand why the Honorable Minister Makuei contended that the getting together of South Sudanese women to talk about the need for peace and reconciliation among themselves and in their country needed authorization of the government,” he added.

Mogae said reconciliation processes among South Sudanese men had become slow and so it was better for the women to kick it off and start it rolling.

The peace agreement signed in August last year has provided for freedom of assembly, speech and expression, but it seems there are hurdles in its implementation in letter and spirit.

Minister Lueth had earlier in his comments on South Sudan TV after re-appointment as information minister, acknowledged that many people saw his attitude as “unbecoming”, but added that he did the negative approach because of the war situation and that if the war ended he would change the approach.

However, complaints about his institution have remained the same, including the opposition of the SPLM-IO alleging that Lueth's institution could not allow to broadcast public rallies and meetings conducted by the First Vice President, Riek Machar, with various communities at Jebel Kujur site.

Reacting to Mogae's complaint about him, minister Lueth told the media that he had already told the JMEC's chairman that the government will not allow assembling of people without an authorization.

(ST)

1 June 2016 (JUBA) - Juma Ali Malou, governor of Terekeka state, has described as unfortunate reports accusing him to have appointed members of his cabinet without considering fair representation of other constituencies comprising the state, attracting criticism and resignations from his government.

File photo showing the then Commissioner of Terekeka County, Juma Ali Malou (L) with Bor County Commissioner, Abraham Jok Aring (ST)

“It is unfortunate there is such thinking. There was nothing I did without the involvement of everybody at the time of the appointment. I carried out wider consultations in the area, beginning it with the SPLM leadership, elders, youth, women group and all approved the list of the people who were recommended for appointments in various positions by all these groups. There was nothing I did alone,” explained governor Juma Ali Malou on Wednesday when reached to comment on the reports in which his former information minister and deputy governor accused him of nepotism.

Malou said the cabinet would convene a meeting in coming days to discuss the decision of his deputy, Clement Maring Samuel, who resigned his position and accused governor of misusing pubic funds.

Maring submitted his resignation in a 30 May letter after the resignation of the Terekeka information minister in the same month. The former county commissioner also accused governor Malou of corruption and nepotism.

The former deputy governor confirmed his resignation, saying he was not impressed by anybody to resign his position but that he found unwise to compromise his principle of fairness.

“I accepted the appointment because it was a call to duty by the people of Terekeka state to serve them with humility, dignity and respect. I did not join the government to be part of corruption. I also accepted because I believe my relationships with the governor were cordial and I hoped we were going to develop even more close relationship to provide services to our people. Unfortunately I discovered the governor was not ready to cooperate and so the relationship deteriorated in a very short period of time, especially after discovering that he has no vision for delivering services,” explained Maring.

The official also accused the governor of lack of transparency in financial resources and in the distribution of fuel to facilitate the movement of the government officials in the area and beyond for official business purposes.

Terekeka is one the 28 newly created and controversial 28 states in South Sudan. I is part of the former East Darfur state.

(ST)

June 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's permanent envoy to the United Nations Omer Dahab said his country refused to withdraw the complaint it lodged to the UN Security Council (UNSC) over the disputed Halayeb triangle with Egypt.

The Halayeb triangle overlooks the Red Sea and has been a contentious issue between Egypt and Sudan since 1958, shortly after Sudan gained independence from British-Egyptian rule.

The area has been under Cairo's full military control since the mid-1990's following a Sudanese backed attempt on former Egyptian president Mohamed Hosni Mubarak's life. Egypt brushed aside Sudan's repeated calls for referring the dispute to international arbitration.

According to Al-Sudani newspaper Wednesday, Dahab said that Halayeb's file at the UNSC is under consideration but he didn't elaborate on the next move that his country is intending to make.

Meanwhile, Chargé d'affaires at the Sudanese mission to the UN, Hassan Hamid Hassan has sent a letter on 23 May to the president of the UNSC in May and Egypt's permanent envoy to the UN Amro Abu Al-Atta protesting against the continued measures to “Egyptianize” the disputed triangle.

According to the London-based Alquds Alarabi newspaper, the letter, which was sent from Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour to his Egyptian counterpart Samih Shukry, discussed the “continued moves and measures by the Egyptian government to Egyptianize Halayeb triangle”.

Also, the Sudanese government expressed its desire to circulate and consider the letter and its attachment as a UNSC document.

“Within the context of the ongoing contacts between us [Sudan and Egypt] which aim to promote and enhance ties between our two friendly nations, I'd like to express to you our deep concern over the accelerated Egyptian measures to Egyptianize the triangle of Halayeb-Shlateen-Abu Ramad … We totally reject those measures including laying the foundation for premises belonging to the Ministry of Justice as well as building a number of facilities and services projects including water desalination plants, solar projects, power grid, and religious schools and institutes,” read the letter.

“I‘d like to repeat that we categorically reject the establishment of the Egyptian installations on the Sudanese territory in Halayib - Shalateen - Abu Ramad and we also repeat our call for holding bilateral talks or to agree to [refer the case] to arbitration for a better future for the two friendly peoples,” it added.

Relations between Sudan and Egypt have been frosty over the past few years, but they've recently begun to thaw thanks to a series of conciliatory diplomatic gestures.

In October 2014, Presidents of the two countries upgraded representation in a joint committee aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

(ST)

June 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's gold revenue has reached over 900 million dollars in the first quarter of this year, said the Minister of Minerals Ahmed Mohamed Sadiq al-Karouri on Tuesday.

A Sudanese merchant weighs gold in al-Shirik, Sudan (AFP)

Speaking before the Sudanese parliament, al-Karouri, told the lawmakers that gold production in the first quarter of the current year reached 22.3 tonnes which generated some 903.13 million dollars.

Sudan plans to produce 100 tonnes of the precious metal during this year.

Near 70% of the country's gold production in 2015 was produced in the River Nile State. The traditional mining represents 90% of gold production in Sudan.

Al-Karuri further said that his ministry has fully met its financial obligations to the ministry of finance for the first quarter of 2016.

The minister pointed to the ongoing efforts to Sudanize the determination of gold content process and announced the completion of the design of gold laboratory services project.

The minister also said they regularized the situations of 28 companies working in the gold mining industry. He added they started to cancel the concession given to the small mining companies that failed to begin exploration activities within the agreed period.

Last April the ministry of minerals said that the country's production of gold has risen by 3 percent compared to 2015, according to the first quarter of 2016 report.

(ST)

May 31, 2016 (JUBA) – Deputy governor of South Sudan's newly-created Terekeka state [Central Equatoria state], has resigned, citing poor working relationship with governor, Juma Ali Malou.

File photo showing the then Commissioner of Terekeka County, Juma Ali Malou (L) with Bor County Commissioner, Abraham Jok Aring (ST)

Deputy governor, Clement Maring made the announcement for his resignation in a press statement on Tuesday. He accused the governor of handling the state as his personal asset and undermining his authority as deputy governor.

He claimed that the governor had been delegating powers belonging to the deputy governor to selected ministers, and have been traveling with some ministers, doing nothing.

“It would be wise if you would have left the Ministers and the Secretary General or his deputy with me in Terekeka so that we carry out the work, but you don't want to delegate power, it's a one man's show,” said Maring.

Maring is the second official to quit Terekeka government this month. Information minister Modi Lomindi also resigned early in May, citing what he called widespread corruption within the cabinet.

The former Radio Miraya reporter is a Member of Parliament in the state assembly.

At the time of Modi resignation, governor Malou told reporters that there was no evidence to prove any corrupt practices in the state.

But the latest resignation of deputy governor, Maring, is putting pressure on governor Malou's government.

Former deputy governor, Maring, claimed being humiliated and threatened by governor Malou publicly.

"This is completely unacceptable to work in such a situation," he said. Governor Malou declined to comment when contacted on Tuesday.

President Salva Kiir divided the country into 28 controversial states in October 2015, segmenting the country along ethnic lines. Terekeka is exclusively inhabited by Mundari tribe.

(ST)

May 31, 2016 (YEI) - The Governor of South Sudan's Yei River state, David Moses Lokonga on Tuesday met President Salva Kiir to discuss development and security challenges in the region.

Governor David Lokonga Moses speaks to the press in Yei May 31, 2016 (ST)

The state information Stephen Ladu, said Lokonga briefed the president on potentials and strategies in place for the development of the state.

He however said the governor expressed concerns that insecurity was a major threat.

President Kiir was also briefed by Lokonga on border relations with neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Last month, Congo deployed a number of its soldiers in Morobo county of Yei River state, following a land dispute.

“The governor briefed the president on a number of issues among others, including the need for service delivery, security concerns more especially the killing of late sister Veronika and her transportation for burial in Yei,” said Ladu.

Lokonga also met and held discussions with vice president, James Wani Igga on the presence of armed cattle keepers operating within Kajo-Keji and Lainya counties.

“It's time for farming and these cattle keepers have to move to their state so that farmers in the rural area can concentrate on food production,” said the minister.

The governor also held talks with South Sudan's roads and transport minister, Rebecca Joshua Okwaci, finance and economic minister, David Deng Athorbei and his internal affairs counterpart, Alfred Ladu Gore, centered on economy, roads and insecurity.

(ST)