Sudan Tribune

February 2, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's national dialogue conference has recommended the delay of the Darfur administrative referendum.

3rd meeting of the national dialogue national assembly in Khartoum on Thursday 20 August 2015 (Photo - SUNA)

The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) provides that the permanent administrative status of Darfur be determined through a referendum. The voters have to vote for the creation of a Darfur Region composed of the States of Darfur; or the retention of the status quo of States system.

The Darfur Referendum Commission (DRC) had earlier announced that the referendum will be held between 11 to 13 April.

However, the chairman of the dialogue freedoms and rights committee Obied Hag Ali said in press statements Tuesday his committee recommended postponement of the Darfur referendum, noting the recommendation will be submitted to general secretariat of the dialogue conference.

He added the committee also called for retaining the international human rights agreements and the bill of rights included in the 2005 constitution, demanding restructuring and activating judicial organs which are responsible for monitoring and protecting liberties.

“The committee also called for maintaining neutrality of the civil services and the defence institutions including the police, army and the security services”, he added
Meanwhile, the DRC announced the completion of all arrangements to start the registration for the referendum on 8 February saying that 1400 polling centers have been set up across the region.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) Tuesday quoted the DRC deputy chairman Abdel-Aziz al-Samani as saying that all technical and administrative arrangements for holding the referendum have been completed.

He added that registration centers will be ready to receive the voters between 6 to 8 February, saying the DRC has completed the training of the referendum officers in the five states of Darfur.

Several lawmakers had previously called to postpone the referendum saying the exercise will create a new turmoil in Darfur and also noted the huge financial cost of the referendum.

According to the latest census, the inhabitants of Darfur region are estimated at 12 million people including 5 million internal and external migrants.

Observers close to the file in Khartoum say the organization of the referendum illustrates once again the deep divisions among the Darfurians, adding that those who are against the process are not part of the DDPD signatories.

Some rebels among the non-signatories of the Doha framework agreement say they are against the referendum because it would not express the will of Darfurians, pointing to the IDPs and refugees in Chad who will not participate in the vote.

(ST)

February 2, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese government has renewed call for the implementation of the cooperation agreement signed with South Sudan saying it would ask Juba to hold a meeting for the Joint Political and Security Committee (JPSC).

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (L) and his Sudanese counterpart, Omer Hassan al-Bashir, attend a press conference at Khartoum airport on 4 November 2014 (Photo: AFP/Ashraf Shazly)

In September 2012, both Sudan and South Sudan signed a series of cooperation agreements, which covered oil, citizenship rights, security issues, banking, border trade among others.

In March 2013, the two countries signed an implementation matrix for these cooperation agreements.

Sudan's state minister at the presidency Al-Rasheed Haroun said a meeting of the higher committee for the implementation of the cooperation agreements chaired by the First Vice President Bakri Hassan Salah discussed the progress made in the implementation of the agreements since they were being signed.

According to Haroun, the committee praised recent decisions by the presidents of Sudan and South Sudan to re-open the border between the two countries, stressing that Sudan continued to implement the agreements to enable both peoples to live in peace especially along the joint border.

Last week, the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir issued a presidential decree ordering to open the border with the South Sudan and directed the concerned authorities to take all the necessary measures for the implementation of this decision on the ground.

Bashir's decision came as a response to an earlier decision by the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir ordering his army to withdraw from border with Sudan to 5 miles [8km].

Haroun further told the official news agency (SUNA) that the meeting underscored the strategic relations with South Sudan, pointing to Sudan's keenness to promote those relations and implement all items of the cooperation agreements.

He said the Sudanese relevant committees would press ahead with the parallel committees in South Sudan to implement the outstanding issues including the security arrangements, borders, trade, oil, economic situation, workers conditions and the contested area of Abyei.

Haroun added the meeting directed the Sudanese committees to contact parallel committees in South Sudan to implement the border agreement on the ground, demanding Juba to reciprocate by carrying out similar practical moves.

“[We] would renew call for South Sudan to hold the meeting of the JPSC to determine the demilitarized zone and the [border] crossings and ensure the non-harboring and support [of rebels from the other country]”, he said.

Last December, the third meeting of the JSPC which was scheduled to be held in Khartoum was postponed for internal Southern Sudanese security reasons.

South Sudan broke away from Sudan in July, 2011, following a referendum held in January of that year.

February 2, 2016 (JUBA) – The leadership of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) Tuesday welcomed the call of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to suspend the controversial 28 states and form a transitional unity government.

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

SPLM-IO further said political decisions made by President Kiir's government outside the peace agreement are seen by the armed opposition's leadership as proposals that have no legal binding on the constitution and the peace deal agreed by all parties in August last year.

On the other hand in Juba, the government has “accepted” the communiqué from IGAD, but it concentrated on the call to form a transitional government.

The East African regional bloc, IGAD, on Sunday issued a communiqué, calling on all the parties to the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) to form a transitional unity government at the national level without an amended new constitution.

IGAD also called on President Kiir's government to “suspend” the implementation of the 28 states he unilaterally created on 2 October after the peace agreement, describing the decision as “inconsistent” with the provisions of the peace deal which only recognizes the existing 10 states in the country.

The communiqué also called on the parties to establish an inclusive boundary commission with membership of all parties to the peace agreement in order to review creation of more states, and in case of disagreement, the parties should revert to the 10 states as provided for in the accord.

A media official of the armed opposition faction said the SPLM-IO leadership welcomed the IGAD decision to suspend the unilateral creation and implementation of the 28 states, adding it should therefore be treated as a mere suggested policy on governance by President Kiir's faction.

“The leadership of SPLM/SPLA (IO) has commended the decision which calls for suspension of the 28 states. The parties should abide by the peace agreement and form a Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement,” James Gatdet Dak, official spokesman of the opposition leader, Riek Machar, told Sudan Tribune.

He said since the current constitution only recognizes 10 states as also stipulated in the peace agreement, there is no reason not to incorporate the provisions of the peace deal and pass a new constitution as the basis for formation of a new unity government.

He however said the decision to suspend the 28 states implies that the 10 states which have been in the constitution and in the agreement shall prevail until in the future when consensual change may take place on the number of the states.

The 28 states, he said, should be treated like the rest of political proposals from other parties in the country if “President Kiir's administration” wanted to table it for discussion in the future.

“If it is a political decision of one party or faction to create 28 states after signing the peace agreement based on the existing 10 states, then this decision is not legally binding and should not therefore appear anywhere in the constitution, as it is not in the peace agreement. It should be treated as a suggested policy proposal from one party,” he added.

Dak also said the SPLM-IO has a party policy which has suggested creating 21 states in South Sudan which are based on former colonial districts and their boundaries as they stood from 1956, but added they don't want to impose it and violate the agreement.

“We don't try to impose on the constitution our party policy to create 21 states. We keep it as our proposal to be tabled before the other parties to the agreement at an appropriate time,” he said.

He said if President Kiir has suggested 28 states as a political decision or policy of his faction, the two or more suggestions will then be discussed when time comes using the mechanisms in the peace agreement.

Meanwhile, he said, the parties should abide by the agreement which should be incorporated into a new constitution based on the 10 states as recognized by both the constitution and the “supreme document”, the peace agreement.

Besides violating the power sharing deal for the states, the controversial 28 states, he added, are problematic as they are intended to grab lands from certain ethnic groups and annex them to another ethnic group.

The decision by IGAD, a body which mediated the peace process between the South Sudanese parties, seemed to have partially echoed previous decision by the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) over the 28 states.

Festus Mogae, chairperson of JMEC, a body which is established by the peace agreement to oversee its full implementation, described the creation of 28 states as “political” and not “legal” matter, urging the parties which involve the armed opposition faction of SPLM-IO led by former Vice President, Riek Machar, and former detainees and other political parties to reach a consensus on the “political matter.”

Mogae, former President of Botswana, however called on them to form a unity government at the national level and delay formation of state governments until they reached a consensus on the number of states.

JUBA ACCEPTS THE TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT

Information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, told reporters after the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) meeting on Tuesday that there is an agreement to form TGoNU

“JMEC had its fourth meeting, and in this meeting, the meeting went on very well and in the meeting we discussed the communiqué which was issued by IGAD and we adopted the communiqué as it is, as the best option and the way forward and as a roadmap for the implementation of the agreement and the establishment of the Transitional Government of National Unity,” Lueth said.

He said they also agreed to deploy about 3,000 components of the joint police and military forces from the opposition faction.

“So we have agreed that, yes, within this coming short period we need to work hard and ensure that the security elements from the [SPLM] IO are brought in. That the police of 1,500 for Juba town and the police for the greater Upper Nile of 1,200 are also brought in and the other security forces of 1,410; all should be brought in as soon as possible so that the first Vice President [Riek Machar] comes in and the transitional government of national unity is established. This is what we discussed. This is what we agreed,” he added.

It is not clear whether the government has also accepted to suspend the 28 states and withdraw its excess forces from Juba.

President Kiir last week said the issue of 28 states was a “red-line” and a decision which will not be reversed, adding it was a demand of the people of South Sudan.

During the peace negotiations in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, the SPLM-IO proposed creation of 21 states based on a federal system of governance, saying federalism was a long time popular demand of the people of South Sudan. The government however refused the proposal at the time, saying there was no money to fund more states and threatened to take the matter to the people for a referendum.

IGAD stepped in and forced the parties to sign the agreement based on 10 states, but provided a mechanism in the agreement for all parties to discuss the future system of governance during a transitional period of 30 months in a permanent constitutional making process.

However, 39 days later after the signing of the agreement, the government unilaterally made a U-turn and decreed creation of 28 new states. Other parties and mediators condemned the action, saying it violated the agreement and called on the government to reverse the decision.

(ST)

January 12, 2016 (WAU) - Thousands of people lined-up Tuesday to welcome the governor of South Sudan's Wau state, Elia Waya Nyipuoch and deputy Andrea Dominic.

Governor Elias Waya addressing people in Wau upon his arrival on January 12, 2016 (ST)

South Sudan National Legislative Assembly's deputy speaker, Mark Nyipuoch Ubong and the country's ex-education minister, Joseph Ukell Abango accompanied the two leaders.

In his address during an occasion organised by the state council of ministers, the governor of Wau wowed to prioritise security, the political situation and development.

Governor Waya urged the people of Wau to embark on peace and reconciliation.

“The peace is already singed, therefore, the situation should go back to normal, the government has already signed everything with the SPLM IO [Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition], and there is no more war again,” said Waya.

“Please forgive each other, open a new page to peace and discuss your differences at day time not at night,” he added.

Waya further assured the people of Wau that those detained since the mid-December 2013 outbreak of the South Sudan conflict would soon be released from detention.

(ST)

January12, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Ministry of Information has said it is about to launch a centre to monitor news and reports broadcast on the Internet.

Sudanese Information Minister Ahmed al-Balal Osman speaks during a press conference in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on June 9, 2013. ( Photo AFP/ASHRAF SHAZLY)

The Ministry on Monday said the move was triggered by publication of false reports harming the government without further details.

Recently, the cyber crime security unit has filed complaints against two journalists because of certain interventions on the WhatsApp groups.

Information Minister Ahmad Balal Osman Monday said that the centre, which will be launched soon, "was dictated by the need to deal seriously with the lies electronic media says".

Osman didn't say when the monitoring body will be established.

The Sudanese government security apparatus used to censure the printed newspapers in the country but however failed to control the independent electronic media outlets.

The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and the interior ministry have set up special units for combating cyber crime.

Observers described the measure as an attempt by the government to curb the increased use of electronic media in the country.

The government used in the past to block some websites but the measure has failed as there is many applications allowing to bypass Internet censorship and gain access to the censored sites.

(ST)

January 12, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese peace partners have agreed to reopen up the peace agreement for further renegotiation on whether to revoke or confirm the 28 states unilaterally created by president Salva Kiir on 2 October in violation of the peace deal he signed in August 2015 with other opposition parties on the basis of the constitutionally recognized 10 states, government's officials said.

Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn (C), South Sudan's president Salva Kiir (L) and South Sudan rebel chief Riek Machar (R) attend a meeting on 3 March 2015 in Addis Ababa (Photo: AFP/Zacharias Abubeker)

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday in the national capital, Juba, shortly after participating in a third meeting of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), information minister Michael Makuei Lueth, who is also the acting chief negotiator for the government's faction, said about 10 outstanding issues had remained unresolved by the National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC), a body set up to amend the current transitional constitution.

Minister Lueth revealed that the number of presidential advisors and the 28 states remained some of the sticking points the two parties would continue to engage in dialogue.

"It was agreed that the parties shall negotiate "outside the box" in regards to 28 states because it was not a legal issue but a political issue,” Lueth informed the public on Tuesday.

Fustus Mogae, former President of Botswana who heads JMEC also confirmed he had asked the parties: government under the leadership of President Kiir; armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by Riek Machar; former detainees led by Pagan Amum and other political parties in the country to discuss the issue of 28 states and see how they can reach a consensus as a political, but not a legal issue.

“We have also agreed that the issue of the 28 states is not actually a legal issue but it is a political issue; so the parties have been directed to sit and negotiate outside the box so that the issue is resolved,” Mogae told reporters.

It was not however clear how the parties agreed to call the issue of states non-legal when the 10 states have been constitutional and therefore legal in the sense of their constitutionality. Likewise, the government unilaterally amended the constitution by inserting the 28 states into the constitution.

The issue of the 28 states will become the second sticking point to be discussed “outside the box”, meaning outside the provision of the peace agreement in further negotiations to finding a solution.

In the peace agreement, 10 states have been confirmed as the number of the administrative units in the country until the parties discuss whether or not to create more states, and on which basis, during the constitutional making process.

The move to discuss contentious issues outside the box is seen by observers to mean an attempt to reopen up the agreement for further negotiations including on deployment of joint integrated forces, among others, which the government has been split over its implementation.

The meeting also discussed the establishment of security institutions in the country and agreed that the next meeting of JMEC will be held on 2 February to follow up on the implementation of the agreement and see whether there are challenges to be addressed and resolved by the parties to the agreement.

JMEC chairman, Mogae, has called on the parties to form a transitional government of national unity in Juba and delay formation of state governments until the issue of 28 states is either confirmed, revoked or reconciled.

He on Tuesday announced that the parties to the power sharing deal will reveal names of their designate ministers to their respective ministerial portfolios which they selected last Thursday.

With the current urge to form government, it is not clear whether the leader of the SPLM-IO, Riek Machar, will return to Juba to form a transitional government with president Kiir before his forces could be deployed in the capital.

Earlier, his spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune that Machar will not return to Juba until the security arrangements in the agreement are implemented including withdrawal of the government's “excess” forces from Juba to 25km outside the city and deployment of joint police and military forces in the capital.

(ST)

January 12, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Secretary General of the rebel Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) Yasser Arman has disclosed moves by Germany to host a meeting for the Sudanese opposition in Berlin to discuss the pre-dialogue meeting.

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)

In a message sent to the leaders of the “Sudan Call” charter and the Reform Now Movement (RNM) and seen by Sudan Tribune, Arman said the German moves have not yet matured but stressed if the meeting was held it would participate to unifying views of the opposition towards the pre-dialogue meeting.

It is worth to mention that Germany had signed a strategic partnership agreement with the AU High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) by the end of 2014 allowing it to work with the Sudanese parties to facilitate a process aiming to bring peace and achieve democratic transformation in the east African country.

Thanks to the German efforts, Sudanese opposition holdout groups, in a meeting held in Berlin last February, declared their readiness to participate the national dialogue preparatory meeting despite their previous reserves.

Arman pointed out that the proposed German meeting would include the RNM leader Ghazi al-Attabani who is a signatory of the Addis Ababa agreement.

Khartoum had previously refused to participate in a comprehensive preparatory meeting including the political opposition and civil society groups. Only it reiterated its readiness to meet the rebels to discuss the conditions and guarantees related to their participation in the internal process.

However, the Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir last October instructed the dialogue body known as 7+7 to meet with the signatories of Addis Ababa agreement including the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) and the National Umma Party (NUP).

The SRF and the NUP from one side and 7+7 committee from the other side on 5 September 2014 signed an agreement on identical term with the AUHIP “on the national dialogue and constitutional process”.

At the time, al-Attabani signed the agreement on behalf of the 7+7 committee but his party later withdrew from the national dialogue and since then the government refused his participation in the pre-dialogue meeting.

SPLM-N secretary general expected the AUHIP would submit its annual report and new plan to the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) on January 20th, saying the latter would most likely renew its mandate to continue mediation efforts in Sudan.

“Important regional and international powers have developed new ideas and contacted [the mediation] asking them to take into consideration the latest developments and the new players such as Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Arman added in his message that the AUHIP chief Thabo Mbeke sought to hold the pre-dialogue meeting before he submits his new plan to the AUPSC on January 20th so as to test the will of the various dialogue parties but said that was no longer possible.

He stressed that it is not in the interest of the “forces of change” to keep the current African, regional and international stances, saying this would serve the interests of the regime.

“The internal [opposition] fronts constitute the foundation [for the opposition work] and the major factor to impact on the outside [world] however, it is important to develop a strategy for external action,” he said.

“The world is changing and we all know that opposition work [can't be carried out] the same way as we did in the seventies, eighties and nineties [of the twentieth century] ,” he added.

Some opposition parties inside the country refuse to join the dialgue process despite the regional and international efforts to convince them to change their mind. They say they plan to mobilize the street and bring down the regime through a popular uprising like what they did in 1964 and 1985.

Regarding the upcoming informal talks between the government and the SPLM-N, Arman said they would take advantage of any opportunity to arrive at an equitable dialogue leading to a comprehensive peaceful solution and allowing for delivering humanitarian assistance besides ending the war and allowing freedoms.

“Our negotiating team would be resilient enough to achieve those objectives and it wouldn't abandon the joint goal of [achieving] the comprehensive solution and the equitable dialogue in order to arrive at a political settlement within the framework of a credible political process,” he said.

He expressed readiness to hold more consultations with the political and civil society forces on the issues under discussion in order to develop the joint stances to address the new developments.

DARFUR TRACK

Meanwhile, SPLM-N secretary general welcomed ongoing efforts to achieve a solution on the Darfur track, noting they are aware of moves to hold informal discussions between the government and Darfur movements either in Addis Ababa or Berlin.

“We welcome those efforts and we had previously asked the Sudanese government to hold the [informal talks] on both tracks because the war must stop simultaneously,” he said

The Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed bin Abdallah al-Mahmoud Monday has discussed with leaders of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Gibril Ibrahim and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) Minni Minnawi ways to achieve peace in Darfur.

Doha brokered the Darfur peace negotiations which resulted in the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) by the Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) in July 2011.

In April 2013, a dissident faction of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) joined the DDPD while the main Darfur rebel movements abstained.

The latest round of talks last November between the Sudanese government and the JEM and SLM-MM have stalled over issues pertaining to the security, humanitarian and political arrangements.

Darfur rebel groups demand to hold talks on Darfur conflict and to open the DDPD for discussion before to join the national dialogue process.

Earlier this month, the Sudanese government said it has received an invitation from AU to participate in an informal meeting with two Darfur rebel movements in Addis Ababa.

(ST)

January 12, 2016 (BENTIU) - A woman was killed and two others injured in a shooting in Jeizira area, west of South Sudan's Unity state capital, Bentiu.

The map of Unity state

The incident, an aid worker told Sudan Tribune, occurred in a civilian position.

Lunyjow Manyuan Gatdet, the deceased's husband, said five shots were fired on to his wife's body, describing the situation as “very severe”.

Gatdet admitted the huge presence of pro-government in the area.

An eye witness separately told Sudan Tribune that the shooting occurred inside Mathoyoh village, some few kilometers from Bentiu.

Weirial Puok Baluang, a press secretary for the armed opposition appointed governor of Unity state accused government forces of “murdering civilians”, allegations Sudan Tribune could not independently verify.

Baluang said their forces were stationed on the other side of Naam River, further claiming that pro-government forces be held accountable for the incident.

“Today, we received sudden news that three civilians were killed in a shooting instigated by pro government forces. We have been monitoring their usual activities in the area,” he said.

A resident of Bentiu, only identified as Mary, said 70-year old Mun Koy Bayah was seriously wounded and admitted in a hospital operated by the international medical charity, Medicines San Fronties (MSF) in Unity state.

(ST)

January 12, 2016 (JUBA) - Citizens in South Sudan's newly-created state of Warrap
have been requested to turn out in large numbers to welcome their new governors.

Map of South Sudan showing Warrap state in red

In a statement issued Tuesday, the caretaker information minister for Gogrial state, Ariech Mayar Ariech, said the governors of Gogrial, Twic and Tonj states will visit their respective places Wednesday.

“Therefore, all members of three states' public are requested to come out in their huge numbers to receive their heads of governments. As for now, we have deployed handful of journalists/reporters to the welcoming events in term of the news coverage", partly reads the brief statement.

In October last year, South Sudan's leader established 28 states through an order, cited as “The Establishment Order No. 36/2015 AD for creation of new South Sudan states”.

President Salva Kiir, however, issued a separate republican order in December last year appointing governors for the 28 new states created to replace the initial 10.

(ST)

January12, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Sudan Liberation Movement- Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) will present a joint position paper to the Qatari mediator on way to achieve peace in Darfur.

JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim (C) speaks at the opening session of Darfur negotiations flanked by SLM-MM leader Minni Minnawi in Addis Ababa on 23 November 2014 (Photo courtesy of AUHIP)

The announcement was made on Tuesday following a meeting held in the French capital Paris between the Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed bin Abdallah al-Mahmoud, JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim and SLM-MM chairman Minni Minnawi on Monday.

Earlier last week, the two rebel leaders indicated that the meeting was organised on their request to discuss with the Qatari official who co-brokered the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) their demand to open the framework text for negotiations.

"The two sides agreed that the two Movements provide a detailed paper to the Qatari mediation including their vision about the possibility of finding common ground for the peace process in Darfur as soon as possible," said the short statement.

The statement further underlined that the meeting was constructive. It further said that the meeting centered on the peace process in Darfur and the role of the Qatari mediation to achieve a comprehensive peace in Darfur.

The two groups call to open the DDPD for negotiations saying some issues were ignored or not fairly treated, but Khartoum rejects such request.

The Sudanese government proposes they sign the framework document deal stressing it deals with all their claims. After what, they have to discuss security arrangements agreement and join the national dialogue to discuss any further regional or national demands.

During the two round of talks in Addis Ababa in 2014 and 2015, Darfur holdout rebel groups say they want to renegotiate the compensations of the war affected civilians, their security and protection from the armed militias; land ownership, power and wealth sharing.

One of the participants in the meeting told Sudan Tribune that the Qartari minister said the DDPD "is not a revealed book and they are open to new ideas".

his "implies that the document failed to achieve its objectives at least they wished," he further added.

The Paris meeting comes at a time where the African Union's High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) is preparing to hold an informal meeting between the government and the two rebel groups in Addis Ababa.

The DDPD was signed on 11 July 2011 between the Sudanese government and and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) of Tijani al-Sissi. A JEM splinter faction led by Bakheit Abdel- Karim Dabajo (JEM-Dabajo) joined the deal in April 2013.

(ST)

January 12, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Central Bureau of Statistics in Sudan announced that the monthly inflation rate has slightly dropped to reach 12, 58% in December compared to 12, 8% recorded the month before.

A vendor sells vegetables during Ramadan at a local market in north Khartoum August 3, 2012 (REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

The 2015 budget had a target inflation rate of 25% while the IMF projected 12.4% by year end.

Sudan's economy was hit hard since the southern part of the country declared independence in July 2011, taking with it about 75% of the country's oil output.

The Sudanese pound has lost 100% of its value since South Sudan's secession, pushing inflation rates to record levels given that country imports most of its food.

The East African nation which became a net importer of oil after the partition is benefiting from the sharp drop in crude prices worldwide weak demand and rise in supplies.

Ordinary citizens however continue to complain from cost of living increases that impaired their access to basic commodities.

Last month, the Sudanese government expected that growth rate would increase this year and imports would decrease due to the falling crude prices.

(ST)

January 12, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudanese parties to the peace agreement signed in August 2015 will on Thursday for the first time reveal names of national ministers they have nominated to compose the membership of cabinet for a transitional government of national unity, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) announced on Tuesday.

SPLM-IO Chief Negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, leader of advance team, with David Deng Athorbei, chairman of national committee, hold a press conference in Juba airport upon arrival on Monday, 21 December 2015 (ST Photo)

In meeting on Tuesday with participation of all partis to the peace agreement chaired by JMEC chairman, former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae, the parties also agreed to allow unimpeded humanitarian access to all parts of the country.

The government, SPLM in opposition, former detainees and other South Sudan political parties selected their respective ministerial portfolios last week. The exercise, seen as a breakthrough in implementing the peace agreement, was done through consensus.

The parties have not yet nominated their officials who will fill the selected positions of institutions, but this would now happen on Thursday.

“The Parties committed to naming their ministers for the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) by 14 January 2016, and that the TGoNU would be formed by 22 January 2016, as provided for in the implementation calendar issued earlier by JMEC,” said a statement from JMEC extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.

“Additionally, the Parties committed to the expeditious convening of the Strategic Defence and Security Review Board, to begin the vital process of security sector reform and transformation provided for in the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan,” the statement added.

TGoNU will run for thirty months as a coalition government before elections will take place at the end of the transitional period in 2018..

JMEC added that the transitional government of national unity will be sworn in on 22 January, 2016.

Former vice-president and first vice-president designate, Riek Machar, is expected to return to the national capital, Juba, for formation of the government. It however remains unclear whether his forces will be deployed in the capital for his security before his arrival.

(ST)

January 12, 2016 (JUBA) – Former chief administrator of Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), David Yau Yau, has abandoned his South Sudan Democratic Movement (SSDM) Cobra Faction to join the ruling party of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) in order to participate in the power sharing drawn from the peace agreement the government signed with opposition factions.

Greater Pibor Administrator and head of SSDM/A Cobra faction David Yauyau seen in Juba on May, 20, 2014 (AFP)

Yau Yau, flanked by military, political and community members of the SSDM cobra faction who signed a peace agreement with the government in May 2014, declared his decision at the SPLM general secretariat on Monday in Juba.

“As of today, 11th January 2016 in Juba, Monday onwards, we have become members fully in the SPLM,” said Yau Yau.

“We are ready to participate, we are ready to partake, we are ready to share (power) and we are ready to contribute to the development in South Sudan,” said the former rebel commander.

President Salva Kiir dropped Yau Yau last month from the newly created Buma state leadership and instead appointed Baba Bedan Konyi as governor for the new state transformed from GPAA.

Tension increased in Pibor area with Yau Yau loyalists claiming that the population was disappointed by appointment of Konyi. President Kiir hosted a meeting for two days early last week in the State House to dialogue with members of the Murle tribe – one led by Yau Yau and another faction by the new governor Konyi.

Yau Yau attempted to join the SPLM before appointment of the new governors was announced last month in a bid to take the job but the process was delayed, SPLM sources told Sudan Tribune.

“So fully we are SPLM members, and we are SPLA, especially the military part,” Yau Yau told reporters after holding a closed door meeting with SPLM top political officials in Juba.

His military wing, the Cobra Faction, was integrated into South Sudan army, the SPLA, in accordance with the May 2014 peace agreement. Yau Yau, a former Bible student with no military background before, has been made a military general, only five years after forming his armed rebellion in Jonglei state in 2010 following defeat in local elections. He accused the SPLM of electoral fraud.

SPLM secretary for political affairs, Antipas Nyok, received Yau Yau on Monday in the national secretariat.

“We are very grateful that today comrade David Yau Yau is here with all the political and military leaders who were there with him in the Cobra Faction, and they have declared their full intention of joining the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) under the leadership of Comrade General Salva Kiir Mayardiit,” said Nyok.

Reporters were not allowed to ask questions during the press briefing and it remained unclear what new role Yau Yau may be playing in the party or government.

(ST)

January 11, 2016 (EL-GENEINA) - The death toll of El Geneina violence increased to twelve people, as the Sudanese authorities ordered to investigate the incident.

IDPs camp with their belongings outside the premsies of W Darfur state government on January 10, 2016 (ST Photo)

A security force on Sunday opened fire on hundreds of internally displaced persons who stormed the premises of the West Darfur state government to protest attacks by pro-government militiamen in Moli village located 20 km south of El-Geneina.

Following condemnations and conflicting reports on the number of the people who are killed at the incident, a local official Monday admitted that at least 12 denied in the riot.

In statements to the private channel Ashorooq TV, the commissioner of Nyala County al-Taher Abdel Rahman Badre Eddin said 12 people have been killed and others were wounded on Sunday and Monday.

The statements come as the Minister of Justice Awad al-Hassan al-Nur decided to set up a committee to probe the incident. The investigation body which is head by a judge, will include officials from the interior, defence ministries, and security services.

The text of the ministerial decision provides that the committee should submit its report within a week. The committee members will take oath before the minister on Tuesday.

The incident was also discussed at a meeting of the High Security Committee headed by Vice-President Hasabo Abdel Rahman.

Reports from El-Geneina say the funerals were organized Monday, where the victims were buried.

UNAMID CALLS FOR RESTRAINT

In a statement issued Monday they hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) called to avoid escalation after Sunday's incident in order to reach end the unrest.

The hybrid mission voiced concern about the "continued tension" in El Geneina town and around Moli village, pointing it has been receiving reports about the

"UNAMID calls on the government authorities to exert their utmost efforts to contain the situation and investigate the incidents".

"UNAMID emphasises the importance of restraint by all parties and stands ready to assist the state authorities as well as the Darfuri people in their efforts to arrive at a peaceful resolution of the situation" said the statement.

The villagers fled Moli after attacks on their by armed pastoralists on 9 January. The gunmen accuse the former of killing one of their relatives and demanded them to pay blood money (diyya) or to surrender his killer.

The affected IDPs moved into El Geneina and demonstrated outside the premises of the state government before to storm the building, leading to the closure of schools and commercial businesses in the town.

WIDE CONDEMNATION

The killing of displaced people by the security forces in El-Geneina has drawn wide condemnation from the opposition groups which denounce the targeting of innocent civilians by the government troops and militiamen.

In the meantime, the rebel Justice and Equality Movement(JEM) issued a second statement on Monday signed by the chairman's adviser Mahgoub Hussein who called for an urgent international investigation.

"The Movement considers the "massacre" of El Geneina, as a war crime. The President and the pillars of his regime should be held accountable for it. And, we call on the international community to provide international protection for Darfur people," Hussein said in a statement to Sudan Tribune.

For his part , deputy chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) Abdul Aziz al Hilu has expressed his wonder about what he called the silence of the international and regional communities , the UNAMID in particular, with regard to the incidents . He said al-Genaina had twice come under a state of lawlessness in 15 days.

Hilu urged, in a statement received by Sudan Tribune, each of the AU and the UN to shoulder their responsibility of protecting civilians as stipulated in the International Humanitarian Law and the UNAMID mandate.

He called upon the youths in Darfur and Sudan at large to head towards the SPLA /N training camps to prepare themselves for the protection of their citizens.

Also, the New Justice and Equality Movement (NJEM), led by Mansour Arbab, has also deplored the incident that targeted people from his tribe Massalit, considering what had happened as "a crime".

The NJEM, which recently joined the national dialogue conference, has called upon the dialogue's 7+7 mechanism to give this issue due concern.

The Sudanese Congress Party condemned the killing of civilians and called to respect freedom of expression.

"Demonstration and peaceful expression of opinion is a natural right of any group that feels injustice or calls for a right," said the opposition party in a statement on Monday.

(ST)

January 11, 2016 (JUBA) – President Salva Kiir has vowed to leave the fate of 28 states he unilaterally created on 2 October to those who will continue to oppose them, insisting that he had not violated the peace agreement he signed with opposition parties on the basis of the constitutionally recognized 10 states in South Sudan.

President Salva Kiir speaks during the inauguration of the new SPLM premises in Juba on 15 November 2013 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

The comment he uttered during the closing session of the extraordinary convention of his ruling faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), did not however clarify what he meant to “leave.”

“Many people have been blaming the government and myself that we have violated the agreement. But I always tell them that we have not violated the agreement. This is a demand of the people and they have been asking for it for a very long time,” president Kiir told the gathering at the convention on Saturday.

“And in any case, if we have now agreed to implement this agreement, if Taban [Deng] comes and tells me then now you revoke this 28 [states], I will stand in front of the people here and I will tell them that this is what Comrade Taban is saying that I have to revoke [that] the order of your 28 states. And then I will get down and go. I will leave the work to Taban,” he said.

The head of state was making the comments in direct reference to the opposition faction of the SPLM-IO led by former vice president, Riek Machar, who shall become the first vice president of transitional government in accordance with the peace agreement.

Taban Deng Gai, chief negotiator, who represented the SPLM-IO at the request of South African Deputy President, Cyrill Ramaphosa, only for opening and closing sessions of the convention by the faction of the SPLM in government, earlier warned that the issue of the 28 states was an obstacle to peace implementation.

“Comrades, let us be very careful with the 28 states,” Gai told the SPLM convention during his remarks at the Freedom Hall in Juba.

He said the peace agreement was signed on the basis of the 10 states and should not be tempered with for now until the right time when the matter can be collectively tackled during the transitional period.

Gai also cited conflicts which may arise between communities over boundaries and lands taken from them and given to others, particularly to neighbouring Dinka communities from which the president hails.

Representative of the former detainees, Deng Alor Kuol, also called on the government to abide by the peace agreement based on the 10 states, but further called on the parties to “reconcile” the 28 with 10 states.

It was not however clear what president Kiir meant when he vowed he would leave the work or responsibility of the states to the opposition and leave.

Observers close to the decision making of the government's inner circles ruled out his resignation if defeated in the matter, saying it could be an indication of lack of cooperation to come between the peace factions and of serious hurdles ahead in the implementation of the peace deal as rival leaders may be backed by proponents and opponents of the 28 states.

Kiir argued that the 28 states have been a long-time demand of the people of South Sudan, despite his government's rejection of the similar demand from the SPLM-IO during the peace negotiations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in which the opposition proposed creation of 21 federal states based on the old colonial districts in the country.

The SPLM-IO at the time argued that federalism and creation of more administrative units closer to the people was a long time demand of the people.

The government at the time argued that it was not time to create more states or establish a federal system of governance, citing lack of resources to run the new more state governments. The opposition was forced by the IGAD mediation to sign the agreement on the basis of the current 10 states with the provision that the system of federalism and creation of more states would be dealt with during constitutional making process by a transitional government of national unity.

However, about 40 days after the signing of the agreement in August 2015, the government decided to unilaterally create 28 states, contrary to the provisions in the peace deal.

Opposition factions in the country including civil society organizations and regional and international bodies reacted in condemnation of the action as a violation of both the transitional constitution and the peace agreement.

President Kiir has so far gone ahead with further implementation when the national legislature endorsed the amendments to create the 28 states and the president appointed governors for the new states.

Former president of Botswana, Festus Mogae, chairman of the highest overseer body in the peace deal, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), on Friday said the matter over 28 states had become a “complicating factor” and his office would therefore concentrate on formation of a transitional government of national unity at the center in Juba and leave the conflict over the states unresolved for now.

There are however fears that serious conflicts may emerge between factions in the national government over the fate of states in the country.

(ST)

January 11, 2016 (JUBA) - The two high ranking South Sudanese police officers sacked from their positions through a presidential directive over the weekend have welcomed the president Salva Kiir's decision, describing it as a "normal administrative practice".

Former Police Inspector General Pieng Deng Kuol (Photo File EPA)

The former inspector general of Police, Pieng Deng Kuol and his deputy, Andrew Kuol Nyuon said their dismissal falls within the constitutional mandate and prerogatives of the president who makes changes when necessary.

"My family and myself have welcomed the changes. It is a normal administrative practice everywhere in the world. The president has the right to make changes if they are deemed necessary for the interest of the nation", Kuol told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

He said he is ready to accept any assignment in any capacity in the nation.

"We are part of the system and when it is decided that changes should be made, we should be the first to welcome and provide support. General Andrew Kuol and I are waiting to welcome our new colleagues. We will work with them where our support is required", said the ex-police chief.

Meanwhile, Nyuon expressed delight for having been granted an opportunity to serve as deputy inspector general of police in the country.

"First I congratulate the president of the republic of South Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit for the trust he had in me and my colleague General Pieng Deng Kuol when he appointed us. I also would like to thank him for appointing our new colleagues so they can now take over from where we stopped. I also congratulate our new colleagues on their appointments. I assure them of my support whenever they need it,” said Nyuon.

He further added, “This is our country and we must all work together for delivery of better services to our people. The work of the police is to maintain law and order and to protect citizens and their properties. This work cannot be successfully achieved without the support of all of us".

The South Sudanese president sacked several top police generals, two days after his government lost the ministry of interior to the armed opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of the country's former vice-president, Riek Machar.

Kuol and his deputy were replaced with Makur Arol and Biel Ruot respectively, according to a presidential decree read on the state-owned South Sudan Television SSTV.

The order did not, however, explain why the changes were made especially at the time the South Sudanese government and the armed opposition faction are expected to form a transitional government of national unity.

The docket of the ministry of interior, according to the selection of ministerial positions conducted last Thursday, will be occupied by a nominee of the opposition faction of SPLM-IO, which will recommend a new inspector general to command the police force in the world's youngest nation.

Kuol previously served as deputy chief of general staff for finance and administration in South Sudan's army (SPLA) before being removed from active military service in 2013 and put on reserve list of senior military officers who have been awaiting reassignment. His former deputy was one of the longest serving high ranking police officers in different capacities until his appointment to serve as the deputy inspector general of police.

(ST)

January 11, 2016 (WAU) – Five people, including a woman, were killed in South Sudan's newly-created Wau state over the weekend, police officials told Sudan Tribune Monday.

In one incident, a South Sudanese army (SPLA) officer reportedly shot dead a Sudanese businessman operating in Wau town Friday night.

The deceased, only identified as Kamish, was killed at Hai Kalbario area in Wau town.

A police prison officer was also killed, in another incident, by unknown gunmen in Natabo village, located in the western part of Wau town.

In Jur River county, a Ugandan was killed in Udici payam following an incident, which involved a missing girl believed to have committed suicide by jumping into a well.

“This made the family [of the girl] to look for somebody to go and search into the well. A Ugandan volunteered himself to go into the water but in the process of pulling him into the well by the roof, it cut off and he fell and drowned immediately,” said an eye witness.

Wau police said they have launched investigations into what actually caused the death of the Ugandan national who volunteered to the family of the girl who allegedly drowned.

Meanwhile, two Ugandan lumbering at Bahr-Akol forest in Udici payam were murdered by unknown gunmen and their bodies were brought to Wau's main teaching hospital.

“They were captured in the morning and were hand-tied before execution,” said a police officer, adding that Criminal Investigation Department personnel are probing the matter.

(ST)

January 11, 2016 (JUBA) –President Kiir also praised the unity of his ruling SPLM party after signing its basic documents in Juba over the weekend, saying there is a “new tune and spirit of unity.”

File picture from the 6th SPLM Polituro on 14 January 2010 where SPLM chairman Salva Kiir (R) greets SG Pagan Amum (L) as his deputy Riek Machar stands besides him (photo SPLM)

The SPLM delegates at the extraordinary convention adopted the constitution and manifesto that incorporated the Arusha Reunification Agreement. The accord signed in Tanzania in January 2015 denied President Kiir powers to nominate 5% of the delegates to national convention and ensured that votes in the SPLM shall be by secret ballot as opposed to the traditional show of hands.

“Today [Saturday] when you leave this hall, I want you to speak a new language and a new tune so that we come together,” he said.

The extraordinary convention was boycotted by both the armed opposition faction, SPLM-IO, and former political detainees, SPLM-FDs, but their representatives, Taban Deng Gai and Deng Alor Kuol, respectively, attended the opening and closing ceremony on Thursday and Saturday.

Also, the SPLM extraordinary convention adopted a new flag for the party with red as the official colour for the party.

President Kiir insisted that the outcome of the convention was binding over all members of the SPLM in government, SPLM IO and former detainees, despite the boycott by the two opposition factions.

“These outcomes have given me new energy, inspiration and dedication to serve our people with the knowledge that I have a solid support from you,” Kiir said.
Bol Makueng, the SPLM information secretary and deputy minister of education in the national government, said the “SPLM factions are now united again.”

“There is no more FDs (former detainees) and IOs (SPLM in Opposition). We are one party for one nation once again,” said Makueng.

However, other SPLM factions said reunification was not yet achieved, saying there is need to revisit the Arusha agreement and to collectively work on the basic documents.

(ST)

January 11, 2016(Khartoum)-The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monday announced the end of the ordeal of 289 Sudanese traditional miners who were detained in Algeria for several months .

Workers break rocks at the Wad Bushara gold mine near Abu Delelq in Gadarif State, Wad Bushara on 27 April 2013 (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

It said the miners will be flown into Khartoum by charter plane next Sunday.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir had raised the issue of the detention of the Sudanese miners with his Algerian counterpart during their summit meeting in October.

President Boutafliqa had promised to free the miners who illegally entered his country in search of gold.

The Foreign Ministry's official spokesman Ali al-Sadiq told reporters his ministry had exerted tremendous effort to free and transport the miners to Sudan.

He said the Sudanese diplomatic mission in Algiers had received a list of the detainees from the Algerian Foreign Ministry , dispatched some of its staff to listen to the detainees in jail in order to verify that they were Sudanese.

He said his ministry has coordinated with its Algerian counterpart to assemble the detainees in one place in a bid to bring them back to Sudan.

He extolled the response of the Algerian President to President Bashir's request to free the miners.
ST

January 11, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The United Nations independent expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan, Aristide Nononsi is expected to return to Sudan within a few months to assess the situation of human rights in the country particularly in Darfur and South Kordofan.

UN independent expert on the human rights situation in Sudan Aristide Nononsi (UNAMID)

Last October, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) extended the mandate of the Independent Expert for another year under its agenda item 10 on technical assistance and capacity building, and refused to take into account calls to monitor violations in the east African nation.

Sudan's minister of justice and head of the Advisory Council on Human Rights (ACHR) Awad al-Hassan al-Nour expressed readiness to receive Nononsi, pointing to the importance of coordinating the visit effectively in order to ensure its success.

He stressed that Sudan would carry out its commitments towards human rights, calling upon the international community to meet its obligations by offering the technical support to the Sudanese government according to the agenda item 10.

“Sudan has met much of its national obligations towards promoting human rights [situation],” he said.

Al-Nour's statements came a day after several protesters have been allegedly killed by the security services in the capital of West Darfur, Al-Ginaina.

Meanwhile, the special rapporteur for the ACHR Yasir Sid Ahmed Monday said the Independent Expert would visit Darfur and South Kordofan, noting he would also attend several workshops and forums pertaining to peace, rights of women and children and people with disabilities.

He added that Nononsi would be briefed on the outcome of the national dialogue conference.

It is worth to mention that Sudan would present its report to the UNHRC in February so as to be discussed in May.

(ST)