Sudan Tribune

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

December 19, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – At least 75 people have so been killed during the weeks of protests that are taking place in Ethiopia's Oromia region against the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa's expansion plan, Human Rights Watch said Saturday.

A group of protestors carry placards in support of Oromia region (Opride.com)

Since last month, students from Ethiopia's largest ethnic group, Oromo, have been protesting against the controversial “Addis Ababa Integrated Development Master Plan” proposed by the central government to expand Addis Ababa to parts of Oromia region.

The majority of those protesting have argues that the expansion plan will lead to large scale evictions of several farmers from their ancestral lands.

They also fear their land will be grabbed without appropriate compensation.
Presently, an estimated two million people, mostly farmers live in the Oromia region areas that have proposed by the government for expansion.

Hundreds of farmers have also joined the protest, which continues in larger parts of the region amid fears it could spread to other parts of the country.

The Ethiopian government has earlier acknowledged that only five of the protesters were killed following the ongoing clashes with security forces since began on 12 November in western Oromia regional state, but the rights body says 75 people died.

“Police and military forces have fired on demonstrations, killing at least 75 protesters and wounding many others, according to activists”, is said.

According to Human Rights Watch, the Ethiopian government on December 15 announced that the protesters had a “direct connection with forces that have taken missions from foreign terrorist groups” and that Ethiopia's Anti-Terrorism Task Force would lead the response.

“The Ethiopian government's response to the Oromia protests has resulted in scores dead and a rapidly rising risk of greater bloodshed,” said Leslie Lefkow, the deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

It accused Ethiopian security forces of using excessive lethal force.

“While police have the responsibility to maintain order during protests, they should only use force when strictly necessary and in a proportionate manner”, it said, calling for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The human rights group further urged authorities in Ethiopia to support prompt, independent investigations into the events in Oromia region, including by the United Nations and African Union (AU) human rights experts on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

Governments and intergovernmental organizations, including the AU, should raise concerns about the excessive use of force against protesters and call on Ethiopia to respect fundamental human rights in its response to the protests, the rights entity said.

“Ethiopia's security forces seem to have learned nothing from last year's protests, and, instead of trying to address the grievances that are catalyzing the protests, are shooting down more protesters,” said Lefkow.

He added, “Concerned governments and institutions should call on Ethiopia to halt its excessive use of force and stop this spiral into further violence”.

The government accuses some of the protesters of having links with some anti-peace forces including with Ginbot-7, an exiled opposition movement which had long been designated by Addis Ababa as a terrorist entity.

“The government's labeling of largely peaceful protesters as ‘terrorists' and deploying military forces is a very dangerous escalation of this volatile situation,” stressed Lefkow.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian police said Friday that it seized from Addis Ababa bus station weapons which were being transported to unspecified place.

Last week, Ethiopian security forces detained 10 members of Ginbot-7 who they claimed were allegedly deployed by arch-rival Eritrea to carryout terrorist attacks on the public and government development institutions.

They were arrested some few days before a hand grenade attack at Ethiopia's biggest mosque in the capital last week left 24 people wounded.

(ST)

December 18, 2015 (BOR) - The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has distributed 16 wooden canoes to boost an estimated 400 fishermen in South Sudan's Jonglei state.

Fishermen in Mayen village loading boats for distribution, December 17, 2015 (ST)

The donation was part of efforts to improve fishing in the capital, Bor.

One of the major fish producing states along the River Nile, Jonglei lacked fishing equipment, preservative boxes and good landing sites, which were identified as major challenges in region before NRC came in to support the local fishing communities.

“We are giving boats because we have seen huge needs for them. These people are doing fishing but they have challenges and we have identified they don't have boats which they can use for fishing”, said David Machar, a food security officer with NRC.

The agency had planned to distribute a total of 16 boats with carrying capacities of at least half tone, depending on whether it was dry or wet fish.

Distribution of the boats started from Akuak and Mayen villages at the riverside to Gakyuom in Bor and expected to reach Kolnyang in a few days.

According to NRC's plan, one boat would serve 25 fishermen involved in the activity. In total, 400 beneficiaries would receive 16 boats at the end.

Before the South Sudan crisis erupted in December 2013, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) distributed small canoes to the population in Jonglei through its partners. Many of the boats are, however, idly lying in areas like Likuangule town in Pibor county.

Adeng Ngong, the chief of Mayen village said his people would be able to access far fishing grounds and catch lots of fish using the distributed canoes.

“With these canoes in hands, we will be able to take our nets for fishing to places we never reached before, this will increase our catch”, said Ngong.

Meanwhile some of the locals also said they would easily use the boats to ferry people to the other side of the river in case another conflict breaks out.

South Sudan is traditionally a cattle-dominated economy. However, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the fishing sector, if fully developed, could give 80,000 South Sudanese employment and enough food to eat while exporting fish could reportedly earn the world's youngest nation an estimated half a billion dollars annually.

(ST)

December 18, 2015 (WAU) - Fire on Friday has burned down more than five hundred water plastic pipes in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state.

WBGS firemen train their hoses during a fire at an open storage area of plastic pipelines in Wau, on December 18, 2015 (ST Photo)

The plastic pipelines have been used by the state ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Cooperation Development for connecting clean water supplies into resident's homes in Wau town, the state capital.

General Gregorous Thiepdit Akol who is a state commissioner for civil defence [Fire Brigade] was at the scene when the fire engulfed the area. He told Sudan Tribune that the outbreak of the fire was caused by street children, adding that firemen could not respond on time due to lack of water tanks for firefighting.

“This fire which burns many pipes was caused by the street children and we the fire fighters did not respond on time. This is because we lack fire [fighting] water tanks in Wau. We have only one which is at the airport,” he said.

“This time, we have our water tankers on the way from Dubai, they may arrive in the country as soon as possible,” he said.

The plastic pipe lines were assembled in open space for some years without being connected to supply water to residents. Many more others have also been lying idle in some parts of the town since 2010 after the ministry launched the project to connect homes in the town with clean water but the project stopped due to lack of funds.

After the project stopped, the ministry was unable to reassemble its many carters across the town with trucks left in open spaces due to lack of fuel while other needed mechanical repair.

One of the off-road trucks which was used for transporting the pipe line was also gutted in the fire.

The site project manager now said the ministry was preparing to open a court case against the damages and loss in the fire.

Firemen had been more blamed for their negligence if such incidents occurred. Last year, fire consumed stores at the University of Bahr el Ghazal, burning more than 1000 mattresses used by students.

(ST)

December 18, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's dialogue body known as 7+7 has stressed that the national dialogue conference won't be extended saying it would wrap up on January 10th.

Sudan's President Omer al-Bashir and his Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby (L) listen to the national anthem during opening session of Sudan National Dialogue conference in Khartoum October 10, 2015. (Photo SUNA)

The government-led national dialogue conference was inaugurated in Khartoum on October 10th amid large boycott from the major political and armed opposition.

Member of the 7+7 mechanism Faisal Hassan Ibrahim described the conference as a new phase in Sudan's political life, saying it offers an opportunity to arrive at common principles that lead to the advancement of the Sudanese nation and promote its ties with the regional and international community.

He stressed in a press conference Friday that the meeting of the political and armed groups to discuss Sudan's issues including the constitution would create an effective political system that overcomes crises and challenges facing the nation in areas of freedoms, economy, governance, identity and peace and unity.

Ibrahim pointed out that the general secretariat of the dialogue conference has documented the minutes of the sessions by audio and video, saying this high degree of transparency has enhanced its credibility among the skeptics.

He stressed that there is no intention to extend the dialogue conference, saying it is expected to wind up on January 10th, 2016.

Ibrahim pointed that several opposition activists have arrived in Khartoum to participate in the conference including Taragie Mustafa, expecting that several members of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) would soon join the conference.

“The national dialogue [conference] which is being currently held Khartoum coincides with the anniversary of Sudan's independence. The dialogue recommendations would represent the true meaning of the independence,” he said.

For his part, the secretary general of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) and member of the 7+7 mechanism Kamal Omer said the conference had faced the challenge to achieve political consensus in order to resolve the country's crises, noting the conference would reach an agreement on a permanent constitution.

He said the ongoing dialogue would achieve security and stability in the country, saying the holdout parties have missed the opportunity to participate in the conference.

Omer further described the dialogue conference as the “true independence” of Sudan, saying dialogue would continue until it achieves the national consensus.

The rapporteur of the general secretariat Omer Haydar for his part reviewed the deliberations of the six committees of the conference, pointing the participants included 80 political parties, 29 armed groups and 48 national figures.

He said the committees have so far discussed 420 working papers besides listening to several lectures by academics and experts on the various issues of the dialogue.

(ST)

December 18, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese president Salva Kiir has finally agreed to receive all the 609 members of the advance team of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of former vice-president, Riek Machar, and directed all the state governors and chief administrators in the country to enlighten the citizens about the peace agreement and the coming of the advance team as well as to prepare for their reception in the national capital, Juba and in the states.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (L) exchanges signed documents with rebel leader Riek Machar in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha on 21 January 2015 (AFP)

The change of mind came days after the chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), Festus Mogae, former president of Botswana, served the two warring parties with timetable for the implementation of the first phase of the peace agreement signed in August to end 21 months of civil war.

Mogae in the timetable scheduled for the return of all the 609 members of the SPLM-IO advance team, dividing them into three groups, with the first group of 150 to be led by the chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, followed by another group of 150 and the last group of 309, all to return to Juba within a period of two weeks.

Information and broadcasting minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, who was vocal about objection to the return of the more than 600 cadres of SPLM-IO, however on Friday said president Kiir agreed to receive all the members of the advance team in show of commitment to the full implementation of the peace agreement.

“The president of the republic in the meeting of Wednesday with the state governors and senior members of the SPLM [Sudan People's Liberation Movement] affirmed commitment of the government to implement the agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the republic of South Sudan. He asked the governors and members of parliament to enlighten the citizens in their constituencies and states and to also prepare and receive members of the advance team of the SPLM-IO once they are in the country,” Lueth told reporters on Friday.

The government's spokesperson said Juba had been ready to receive the advance team of the opposition from the time the two parties completed security arrangement workshop at the venue of the talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and agreed to move to the country for implementation of the agreement.

“The government has been ready to receive the advance team of the SPLM-IO since November. They were supposed to participate in the first meeting convened by Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission but they decided not to come and instead the list of advance team which keeps changing every day,” said Lueth.

He said the delay in the coming of the advance team of the SPLM-IO had nothing to do with the government.

“They are the ones who know why they are not coming so that we come and start with the implementation of the agreement here. We have concluded negotiations already. What is left is the implementation,” he added.

The minister blamed the delay in the return on the lack of readiness by the SPLM-IO. He did not however come up again with the demand previously put forward by the government that they only wanted 30 members of the advance team instead of the over 600.

Opposition leader's spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, when contacted on Friday confirmed that the leadership of SPLM-IO received information through IGAD indicating the government had agreed to the return of the whole team to Juba and states.

“Yes, our leadership received through IGAD a verbal no-objection response from the government to receive the whole team of 609. We however still wait for a written document from the leadership of the government stating their acceptance to receive the team,” he told Sudan Tribune on Friday.

He however said the East African regional bloc, IGAD, which has been facilitating the travel of the team, was yet to put some final touches on the logistical and procedural arrangements, including travel documents and clearance of visas for the members from Pagak, the SPLM-IO headquarters.

He could not confirm the date on which the first group will travel to Juba, but added “this can happen on Sunday or early next week.”

(ST)

December 18, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese finance minister has downplayed calls on him to resign from his position after announcing reforms to float exchange rate as part of attempts to fix the struggling war induced economy in the country.

David Deng Athorbei (ST File Photo)

Minister David Deng Athorbei in an announcement he made on Tuesday together with the governor of the Bank of South Sudan, Cornelio Koryom Mayik, stressed that the new reforms would benefit the country in the long run, but admitted short term shocks that will affect low income citizens.

“What is important now is not what others are saying, including those calling for resignation. What is important is to enlighten our people about the benefits which will come from the implementation of these reforms to the country,” Athorbei told Sudan Tribune in an exclusive interview on Friday.

Athorbei argued that the reform would harmonise the foreign exchange rate in the market, despite higher rate, and allow everybody to access hard currency without preferential treatment.

The reform has abandoned a fixed foreign exchange rate in favour of floating foreign exchange, allowing market forces of demand and supply to determine the value of South Sudanese pound against foreign currencies.

After the announcement local and foreign banks in the country immediately increased the exchange rate to 20 South Sudanese pounds per a dollar and the fuel price suddenly skyrocketed to 22 South Sudanese pounds per litre, tripling the price.

The decision to further devalue the local South Sudanese currency through floating exchange has received mixed reactions, with many ordinary people and critics of the government describing it as “inappropriate and untimely.”

Adigo Onyoti, leader of the opposition Sudan People's Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) in the national legislative assembly argued that the reform could lead to more suffering of the people.

“I don't really know how this decision will benefit the people. I don't know how it will work. They are talking of long run but will the people who will die as a result of this decision wait,” asked a furiously looking Anyoti when asked what he thought of the decision on Friday.

“People will die and if they die then who they (those in government) think will benefit. So for them it means people must die so that it becomes beneficial. I have never before [heard] about a policy which advocates death of the people first. I have never heard even from prominent thinkers who have discovered and came out with many theories that they have such a theory,” added Anyoti.

The opposition leader in parliament told reporters that minister of finance and economic planning, Athorbei, and the governor of central bank of South Sudan, Mayik, have failed the people and so they either resign from their positions or should be removed by a presidential order.

“You have thousands of people who are not working. They are going to be affected by this. Thousands of people have low income. Our people are going to suffer more because of the lack of studying,” he said.

However, some economists and experts supported the move to float the exchange rate, saying South Sudan was unable to sustain the fixed rate due to lack of US dollars, leaving them with no option but to float it.

(ST)

December 18, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) wrapped up a three-day informal meeting and agreed to resume discussions soon.

Presidential assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud and SPLM-N SG in a private discussion at the venue of peace talks on November 22, 2015 (ST Photo)

Last November the two warring parties in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan failed to reach cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements, as the five-day talks showed that important gaps persist in the positions of the two sides.

In a bid to bridges the gaps, the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) organized a three-day round of informal talks between the two sides from 16 to 18 December where the two sides debated on how to overcome their differences.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, the spokesperson of the SPLM-N negotiating team Mubarak Ardol said the two sides were not able to reach an agreement on the main outstanding issues.

“However they laid out their positions on those issues openly and seriously and agreed to hold a second informal meeting at the earliest time for further deep discussions and allow each side to consult with its allies in order to achieve comprehensive peace,” he said

According to the statement, SPLM-N chief negotiator Yasir Arman said in statements following the meetings that this round of talks was characterized by openness and transparency, pointing to the issues and the manner by which the talks were conducted.

He underlined the need to achieve several goals including the comprehensive peace, participation of all political and armed groups in the dialogue and provision of food, peace and freedoms.

The statement further said the talks were marked by the discussion of the national issues besides issues pertaining to the Two Areas, adding the two sides discussed the comprehensive peace and the participation of all parties in the dialogue besides the security and political arrangements in the Two Areas.

Ardol noted the informal round of talks underscored the importance to end the war in the Two Areas and Darfur simultaneously and to allow the participation of all parties in the dialogue in order to achieve national consensus besides addressing the issues pertaining to the Two Areas and arriving at a national agenda to unify the Sudanese people.

The government delegation didn't yet issue any statement about the three-day meeting, but sources close to the meeting said the presidential assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud repeated the same positions announced last November.

The African Union mediators propose to government and rebel groups to sign a cessation of hostilities agreement and to reach a deal over the humanitarian access to the needy in the war zones.

The two agreement are part of confidence building measures, the AUHIP intend to implement paving the way for the participation of the rebel groups and holdout opposition groups in the national dialogue conference.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan since 2011.

(ST)

December 18, 2015 (RUMBEK) - The caretaker governor of South Sudan's Lakes state Matur Chut Dhuol has sacked the commissioner of Cueibet county, Isaac Mayom Malek, Rumbek East county's Martin Matian Ayuon and George Kuac Dhieu of Yirol West.

Lakes state governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol (ST)

Dhoul, in a decree issued Wednesday, also empowered the executives directors of the three counties to immediately act until new appointments were made.

The decree came into effect on 6 December, but no reason provided for Dhuol's decision.

Malek was Lakes state's longest serving commissioner since 2010 while his Yirol West and Rumbek East county counterparts were both appointed in 2014.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

December 18, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Eritrean government has referred to the Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea (COIE) as unwarranted political witch-hunt against the Red Sea nation.

Eritrean president, Isias Afewerki (AFP Photo)

Asmara's reaction comes after the “Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea” has recently issued invitations to “interested individuals, groups and organizations” to submit alleged human rights violations, “including where these violations may amount to crimes against humanity perpetrated in Eritrea since its independence.”

But the Eritrean reacted negatively charging that the action by the commission of inquiry was instead serving a political agenda against the government.

“This act constitutes yet another campaign of unwarranted witch-hunting of Eritrea by an entity which has clearly opted to instrumentalize human rights to serve political agendas,” the Eritrean government said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

The CoIE is tasked by the Human Rights Council to investigate alleged violations of human rights in Eritrea. The Commission's mandate has been extended for one year to June 2016.

Recent reports by the commission revealed gross human rights violations in the East African nation including some violations which may amount to crimes against humanity.

The latest statement issued by the Eritrean government accused the CoIE of being afflicted by political bias and a litany of procedural flaws in the manner that it carried out its “investigative mission” from the outset.

The UN inquiry has held the regime in Asmara responsible for systematic, widespread and serious human rights violations that have created a climate of fear.

The accusations by the commission including possible crimes against humanity could subject Eritrean political and military officials to indictment at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Angered by the commission's report issued in June, Eritrea has elucidated parts of the reports it said were flawed.

Among the major anomaly Eritrea argued was the resolutions by the commission it said were adopted in an under-handed manner to serve overriding political agendas of certain countries.

It stressed the resolutions were mainly tabled and co-sponsored by Somalia and Djibouti.

Asmara said “Somalia and Djibouti were prodded to do so to give an African semblance to an exercise that was in reality led behind by certain powers.”

The three-member commission is chaired by Mike Smith (Australia), with Victor Dankwa (Ghana), and Ms. Sheila B. Keetharuth (Mauritius), who also serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea.

The statement further went on to accuse the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea of having a personal history of “biased and subversive involvement” in the affairs of a sovereign nation.

“She was hand-picked for the job in spite of her compromised political stance and obvious conflict of interest” the statement said, adding “she was appointed to the COI; an explicable act bound to corrode the neutrality, objectivity and credibility of that new fact-finding body.”

The reclusive Eritrea nation has given deaf-ears to a number of requests by the UN commission of inquiry to visit Eritrea forcing the panel to collect information from asylum seekers.

The last COI's report was based on a year-long process that involved 550 interviews and 160 written submissions. Eritrea however argues the process lacks rigorous validation for its veracity.

Referred by right groups as Africa's North Korea, a east African nation, Eritrea, is amongst the world's worst oppressive nations.

Currently there are an estimated up to 10,000 political prisoners languishing in the country's “notorious” prison facilities. Most are reportedly in prison without any charges.

According to UN report, Eritrean government is using a “rule by fear” policy to maintain grip on power.

“It is not law that rules Eritreans, but fear,” said Sheila Keetharuth, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea.

“Rule by fear - fear of indefinite conscription, of arbitrary and incommunicado detention, of torture and other human rights violations must end,” she said.

The government systematically silences anyone who is suspected of intentions or attempts to question or dares to criticize government policy.

President Isaias Afwerki has been in rule since the country gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993.

There is neither any functioning opposition party in Eritrea nor has ever been an election since independence as the tiny East African nation remains turned into one party state.

(ST)

By Steve Paterno

Thus far, the implementation of the compromised South Sudan's peace deal is at standstill. Most benchmarks for the implementation are not met or rather simply ignored. Many hurdles stand on the way, and among which, problems associated with the coming of SPLM-io advance team to Juba. Rumors of arrival of this team are running amok over the last few weeks as proposed dates for their coming keep shifting. Disagreement among the parties involved and logistical hindrance seem to be real issues behind this saga.

The government continues to stress that for the process to move smoothly, only specified figure of individuals who are assigned designated task from the io need to be sent to Juba in order. This is so as to ease the management of their logistic as well as their security and wellbeing. The whole point behind this insistence is that there are still outstanding issues, which are required to be thrashed out to pave way for the formation of a transitional government. The members of io in their parts are fiercely fighting each other over as to who should not be left out from the list of those to be repatriated to Juba. Meanwhile, the mediators are coerced to comply with the demands of members of io who keep steeping up and insist that their names are included among the list of those to be repatriated. That is why their number keeps on increasing by the day.

Nevertheless, what are really happening in io camp is saddening to say the least. And those are actually the much more contributing factors in the implementation process.

First of all, the io is virtually disorganized, without any semblance of structures or command center. Their members are scattered all over, with some juggling from one hotel to another, and moving from different to another. Others are shouting their guts out from the comfort of their living rooms in Diaspora. And also there are those wandering in the bushes of South Sudan. In order for them to assemble in one point is a logistical nightmare.

Secondly, it is reported that those who are residing in Pagak compare their livelihood to” hell on earth.” Pagak, a mere village is completely devoid of any basic amenities that can make life suitable. Those individuals who once thrived on living on hotels paid by government are now sharing their tiny tents with encroaching snakes, deadly scorpions, and uninvited insects. To think of a shower is to imagine of a luxury. Food is so scarce that they ought to be stolen from relief agencies. The suffering is real. For these individuals, coming to Juba and with the prospect of getting accommodated in hotels is a real bailout and a means of rehabilitation of livelihood, not an opportunity to implement the peace agreement. This is actually the real reason behind the huge number of the team. This could also explain the infighting among the io as all want the bailout and rehabilitation from enduring what they describe as “hell on earth.”
Thirdly, the so-called io advance team is predominantly composed of civilians, mostly from the Diaspora. In another words, the Diaspora civilians hijack the show, since, the fighting commanders are sidelined. Such deliberate exclusion of fighting commanders from participation will further down the road implicate the implementation process and can even have a repercussion of a national scope.

These, compounded with other factors are real impediment for the implementation of the peace process. The repatriation of io members must be a gradual process that takes a life of its own. The process must take place in accordance to the agreements the parties agree on.

Steve Paterno is the author of The Rev. Fr. Saturnino Lohure, A Romain Catholic Priest Turned Rebel. He can be reached at stevepaterno@yahoo.com

December 17, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The leadership of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) announced it has agreed to the recent timetable submitted to the warring parties in South Sudan by the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) to carry out activities towards formation of the transitional government of national unity which should run the country for the next 30 months.

Taban Deng Gai, head of delegation of the armed opposition faction led by the former vice-president Riek Machar, and the three mediators arrive to attend a special consultation meeting in support of the IGAD-led South Sudan peace process in Khartoum on 12 January 2015 (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

“Reference to your letter with Ref: JMCE/c/c/2015M/8 dated 14 December 2015 and your letter dated 15 December 2015, I am hereby informing your esteem offices that SPLM/SPLA (IO) fully agrees to the compromise plan: numbers and timetable on the arrival of the Advance Team to Juba and States of South Sudan. The timetable and days of departure from Pagak, South Sudan and arrival to Juba, South Sudan may change once GRSS give us the clearance to go Juba and other logistical arrangements are in place,” said SPLM-IO chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, in a letter addressed to the chairman of JMEC, Festus Mogae.

“The first group to arrive to Juba shall include the Chief negoatiator, SPLM/SPLA (IO) representatives and Support Staff to JMEC/JMCC/NCAC/CTSAMM as well as our team for selection of the TGoNU Ministerial portfolio,” further reads the letter, dated 17 December, extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

Officials of the opposition faction however said the first group of the team will not travel to Juba as previously thought, as they have been waiting for written clearance from the government as well as putting final touches on the logistics for the transportation of the 609 advance team members approved by JMEC and IGAD.

They said the first group of 150 may travel in the "next few days."

(ST)

December 17, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan's state-owned Nile Petroleum company has announced that the recent decision by the Central Bank of South Sudan has forced them to impose new higher prices of fuel, increasing the retail sale three times higher to 22 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) per a litre.

A long line of motorists wait to fill up at Runway petrol station in Western Bahr el Ghazal capital Wau on 12 September 2014 (ST)

“You are all kindly notified effectively today the, 17th December, 2015 Nilepet new fuel rates shall be as follows: 1. Whole Salve rate (one truck) is 20 SSP per litre; 2. Depot is 21 SSP per litre; 3. Retail rate is 22 SSP per litre,” Nilepet said in a circular sent out on Thursday, a copy of which obtained by Sudan Tribune.

The instructions to increase the fuel prices was sent out to all fuel station managers in the country by Chol D. T Abel, the director general of downstream Nilepet.

The new development comes only three days since South Sudan central bank announced free floating of the South Sudanese pounds against foreign currencies, prompting further devaluation of the South Sudanese pounds with 20 SSP to 1 US dollar in the banks.

South Sudanese top officials of the central bank and the ministry of finance and economic planning said they were forced to float the currency due to lack of US dollars in the reserve and the decrease in oil production because of the two-year old violent conflict in the country.

Before the 15 December 2013 war erupted the official rate of the exchange was 2.9 SSP per 1 dollar and the price of fuel was only 6 SSP per litre, which has now jumped to 20 per litre according to the new announcement.

“Please note this change has been sparked by the Central Bank of the Republic of South Sudan,” Nilepet official Chol further explained to the public in his order on Thursday.

Following announcement of realignment of local currency exchange rates, fuel stations and other shops remained closed in Juba and other major towns for the last three days, prompting the Nilepet management to act.

However, the decision of the central bank has been welcomed by several international economists and think-tanks organizations in Juba, particularly due to the fact that those who poses dollars, such as international organizations will buy dollars at ease with high rate.

“South Sudan's decision to float its currency is much welcome, in light of deteriorating oil prices and the exhaustion of reserves,” said International Growth Centre (IGC), a London-based research group working in South Sudan in a statement on Thursday.

Keith Jefferis, an IGC Consultant and former deputy governor of the Central Bank in Botswana said “the exchange rate is arguably the most important price in an economy especially for an open economy country like South Sudan, and maintaining the fixed exchange rate was clearly unsustainable.”

Jefferis had authored an IGC report for the government of South Sudan in October.

The limited supply of United States dollars from the Central Bank has meant that only a few people could access dollars at the official rate of 3 SSP to the dollar, while the vast majority of the people were left to source dollars in the black market at a rate nearly six times the official rate.

The differential access to dollars at the official rate distorts the market, and created an opportunity for those with access to dollars at the official rate to engage in “round tripping,” IGC said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

Richard Newfarmer, country director of the IGC's programme in South Sudan, said that allowing the banks to buy and sell dollars at market rates will free more dollars, benefiting more those who posses dollars.

“People who have dollars will now be willing to exchange their dollars through the banks, thereby allowing the banks to meet the needs of their customers, including importers and individuals with dollar deposits,” said Newfarmer.

It is not clear if the government will also issue prices for other commodities in the market after releasing the price of the fuel.

The sudden fuel price increase seems to be the first bite among expected "shocks" in the market due to the floating of the exchange rate.

(ST)

December 17, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday that the government will not initiate a new round of subsidy cuts on fuel until they see further drops in global oil prices.

Sudanese oil workers at one of GNPOC fields in South Kordofan (file photo Asawer oil company)

Oil prices have fell from their three-digit figures to around $36 per barrel which offered huge reprieve to energy importers such as Sudan.

The state minister of Finance and Economic Planning Abdel-Rahman Dirar affirmed that the government will continue to subsidize fuel to meet demands of the local market but that in the event of more decline in oil prices it will be scrapped entirely.

He added that when the government is assured that the private sector has the ability to provide fuel to the consumer at reasonable prices, they will liberalize the price of fuel.

Dirar said that money saved from oil prices drop will be used to finance productive sectors and allocate another part to low-income families and social programs.

The official stated that a 20% increase in salaries of government employees in 2016 will be paid for by savings from lower oil prices.

Last week, the Minister of Finance was reportedly quoted as announcing fresh subsidy cuts in the 2016 budget year. But the ministry later denied its intention to do so.

The Sudanese cabinet approved the draft 2016 budget in a five hour session chaired by President Omer al-Bashir.

Scores have been killed in several Sudanese cities in protests that erupted in September 2013 after the government partially lifted fuel subsidies.

(ST)

By Ban Ki-moon

Seventy years ago, the United Nations was created from the ashes of the Second World War. Seven decades later, in Paris, nations have united in the face of another threat – the threat to life as we know it due to a rapidly warming planet.

Governments have ushered in a new era of global cooperation on climate change – one of the most complex issues ever to confront humanity. In doing so, they have significantly advanced efforts to uphold our Charter mandate to "save succeeding generations".

The Paris Agreement is a triumph for people, the environment, and for multilateralism. It is a health insurance policy for the planet. For the first time, every country in the world has pledged to curb their emissions, strengthen resilience and act internationally and domestically to address climate change.

Together, countries have agreed that, in minimizing risks of climate change, the national interest is best served by pursuing the common good. I believe it is an example we could gainfully follow across the political agenda.

The victory in Paris caps a remarkable year. From the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction to the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, from the historic Sustainable Development Summit in New York to the climate conference in Paris, this has been a year in which the United Nations has proven its ability to deliver hope and healing to the world.

Since my first days in office, I have called climate change the defining challenge of our time. That is why I have made it a top priority of my tenure. I have spoken with nearly every world leader about the threat climate change poses to our economies, our security and our very survival. I have visited every continent and met communities living on the climate front-lines.
I have been moved by suffering and inspired by the solutions that will make our world safer and more prosperous.

I have participated in every United Nations climate conference. The three Climate Summits I convened mobilized political will and catalyzed innovative action by governments, business and civil society. The Paris Action Agenda, along with the commitments made at last year's Climate Summit, show that the answers are there.

What was once unthinkable is now unstoppable. The private sector is already investing increasingly in a low-emissions future. The solutions are increasingly affordable and available, and many more are poised to come, especially after the success of Paris.

The Paris Agreement delivered on all the key points I called for. Markets now have the clear signal they need to scale up investments that will generate low-emissions, climate-resilient development.

All countries have agreed to work to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius and, given the grave risks, to strive for 1.5 degrees. This is especially important for the nations of Africa, Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries.

In Paris, countries agreed on a long-term goal to cap global greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible in the second half of the century. One hundred and eighty-eight countries have now submitted their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, which show what they are prepared to do to reduce emissions and build climate resilience.

Currently, these national targets have already significantly bent the emissions curve downwards. But, collectively, they still leave us with an unacceptably dangerous 3 degrees Celsius temperature rise. That is why countries in Paris pledged that they will review their national climate plans every five years, beginning in 2018. This will allow them to increase ambition in line with what science demands.

The Paris Agreement also ensures sufficient, balanced adaptation and mitigation support for developing countries, especially the poorest and most vulnerable. And it will help to scale up global efforts to address and minimize loss and damage from climate change.

Governments have agreed to binding, robust, transparent rules of the road to ensure that all countries do what they have said they would do. Developed countries have agreed to lead in mobilizing finance and to scale up technology support and capacity building. And developing countries have assumed increasing responsibility to address climate change in line with their capabilities.

In acknowledging this historic achievement, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the leadership and vision of the business community and civil society. They have highlighted both the stakes and the solutions. I salute them for their outstanding display of climate citizenship.

Now, with the Paris Agreement in place, our thoughts must immediately turn to implementation. By addressing climate change we are advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Paris Agreement has positive implications for all the Sustainable Development Goals. We are poised to enter a new era of opportunity.

As Governments, business and civil society begin the mammoth project of tackling climate change and realizing the Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations will assist Member States and society at large at every stage. As a first step in implementing the Paris Agreement, I will convene, as requested by the Agreement and by the Convention, a high-level signing ceremony in New York, on 22 April next year.

I will invite world leaders to come to help keep and increase momentum. By working together, we can achieve our shared objective to end poverty, strengthen peace, and ensure a life of dignity and opportunity for all.

The writer is Secretary-General of the United Nations

December 17, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour revealed that the recent tripartite meeting on Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam (GERD) held in Khartoum last week has achieved positive results but that it was withheld from the media.

Sudan's foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour (SUNA Photo)

The ministers of water and foreign affairs in Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia concluded the talks last Saturday which were widely believed to have failed to bridge the differences particularly between Ethiopia and Egypt.

Ghandour nonetheless expressed hope that these “positive” results could soon be articulated in the form of an agreement that satisfies all sides during the meeting scheduled to be held in Khartoum later this month.

He emphasized in an interview with Egypt's Middle East News Agency (MENA) that the negotiations are tough, explaining that water is a matter of national security for any country and that "everyone's job is to make sure that National Security is preserved for all of us".

“Sudan has stressed that it is neither a mediator nor neutral or biased, but we are owners and partners", Ghandour said and pointed out that Sudan seeks to protect the rights in Egypt and Ethiopia as well.

“We emerged [from last week's meeting] to agree on another meeting which was after we tabled some of the principles and requirements assigned to the technical committees .. which we agreed at the same time that we will not mention to the press," the Sudanese official said.

Ghandour explained that media sometimes tend to report things by putting them out of context.

He recalled that the Declaration of Principles signed by the three presidents last March in Khartoum confirmed that no party should be negatively affected by the dam.

"This is the principle of which we are discussing ways to affirm it through an agreement through an accord submitted to the political leadership," Ghandour said.

When asked about his level of optimism, the foreign minister said "I am not saying that I am optimistic or pessimistic but the spirit that I have witnessed suggests that we can agree in the next tripartite meeting in Khartoum".

The GERD, scheduled to be completed in 2017, will be Africa's largest hydroelectric power plant with a storage capacity of 74 billion cubic meters of water.

Egypt has repeatedly expressed concerns that filling and operating the dam on the Blue Nile will negatively affect Egypt's water supply, while Ethiopia has rejected those claims.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

December 17, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan's Nuer community in Uganda say they were blocked from holding a program to commemorate the second anniversary of mass slaughter committed in Juba against ethnic Nuers in mid-December 2013.

Nuer traditional cultural dancers on Sunday at Bentiu Indepedent stadium in Unity state. 10 November 2013 (ST)

The commemoration program was initially scheduled to be held on 15 December, but officials from the South Sudanese embassy in Kampala, collaborating with the chairman of some pro-government Nuers reportedly cancelled the commemoration program.

In an email correspondence to Sudan Tribune, the leadership of the Nuer community claimed Ugandan police ordered the community to cancel the commemoration meeting and allegedly even threatened to arrest the entire community members.

“The Uganda police (Captain) came to shine Hotel and closed the gate and tell people that they received a call from military attaché in south Sudan embassy by the name Gai Chatim Puoch who told them that the date of 15 December has been changed to 16 December which is in their claim, was the day which the failed coup of Dr. Riek Machar was controlled”, the Nuer community said.

Following the incident, the chairman of the Nuer community in Uganda, Stephen Gai Kak Gai, formed a group of nine members to meet Gai Chatim puoch, the military attaché at South Sudanese embassy in Kampala to address the issue.

The community, however, claimed embassy officials refused to cooperate and a meeting to amicably settle the case for the community to proceed with the commemoration failed.

“Chatim failed to understand the claim and said that he would remain loyal to the government and would not entertain the objectives of SPLM/SPLA-IO”, said Kak.

According to the Nuer leadership in Kampala, Chatim, at a meeting held at Fang Fang Hotel admitted he could not help Nuer Community to go on with the commemoration.

Chatim claimed the planned 15 December commemoration contradicts the objectives of the government that termed the event as a failed coup and the memorial event would rather be held on December16.

The group strongly condemned the interruption during the mourning of over 20,000 Nuer civilians who were killed in Juba during the early days of the conflict, which triggered after president Kiir accused his former deputy of staging a coup, an allegation he denies.

Members of the South Sudan's Nuer community across the world marked the 15 December event.

(ST)

December 17, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - A Faction of the rebel Sudan liberation Movement/the Second Revolution (SLM-2ed R), that fights the Sudanese government in Darfur , has joined the Sudan Liberation (SLMJ) Movement For Justice and sent a delegation to participate in the ongoing National Dialogue Conference.

Sudan Liberation Movement Justice leader Taher Hajer (L), SLM Unity leader, Abdallah Yahia (C) and Abu Al Gasim Imam leader of SLM- 2edR after the alliance agreement in July, 2014 (ST)

The two group's leaders Abul Gasim Imam and al-Taher Hajer, respectively, had accompanied Chadian President Idriss Deby when he visited Khartoum on October 10 to attend the opening session of the dialogue conference.

In a statement issued Thursday the SLM-2ed R said it had sent a delegation to the National Dialogue Conference to explain its views on how peace can be achieved in Sudan and how the country's crisis can be resolved.

The statement said the movement's delegation was led by Abdel Latif Abdallah (Bargi), the SLM-2ed R deputy chairman.

Imam has, however, told Sudan Tribune that he will not return to Sudan unless he signs a peace deal with the government.

He added that they have the same position as the SLMJ.

The SLMJ of al-Taher Hajer, last Tuesday sent a delegation led by its deputy chairperson Abdallah Abdel Karim to take part in the dialogue conference.

The Sudanese Government is doing its best to involve as many splinter rebel groups in the dialogue which was ,so far, shunned by the major opposition parties and armed movements .

In Khartoum, SLMJ announced it was ready to sign a peace accord if all the national dialogue resolutions and recommendations are implemented.

At a press conference Thursday the movement's deputy chairman Abdel Karim said the big issues being discussed in the dialogue conference represent the major objectives of his movement.

“That is why we have decided to attend,'' he said.

He said they were taking part in the dialogue at a government invitation carried to them by the Chadian president.

“We are here to join the Sudanese forces in the discussion of national matters and not to negotiate with the government,'' he said.

He reaffirmed that his movement was still at war with the government , adding "we did not sign a peace nor a ceasefire agreement with the government, so far.''

He said his movement was the strongest movement in the field in Darfur at the moment .

”The proof for this is that we did not go to any foreign capital .We are operating within Sudan,'' he said, ruling out any split in the movement's higher echelons.

Sudanese government says they crushed rebel groups in the western Sudan region and rebel group no longer have any military activities.

(ST)

December 17, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government said preparing to repatriate some 800 Sudanese asylum seekers back to Sudan from Jordan where local authorities decided to expel them.

Sudanese tents are pitched outside the U.N. refugee agency headquarters in Amman, Jordan to press demands for resettlement to a third country, on December 2, 2015 (Photo AP/Raad Adayleh)

Reports from Amman, say the Jordanian police on Wednesday 16 October forcefully moved the Sudanese who were camping in front of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office there to the airport to process them for deportation.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that "dozens of Jordanian police arrived with around 14 buses at about 4 a.m. on December 16, and ushered all the Sudanese from their protest camp tents into the buses".

In Khartoum, the Sudanese foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq told reporters that the government is awaiting the green light of the Jordanian authorities to send air-planes to repatriate the Sudanese nationals.

Al-Sadiq further expressed his government rejection of indecent treatment of the Sudanese that Jordan decided to deport from its territory.

"Jordan has the right to not give them residence permit but it has no right to abuse them," he said.

An international journalist who went to the airport told HRW she saw 30 to 40 children among the Sudanese set for deportation.

Jordanian government spokesperson Mohamed al-Momani told the CNN Arabic Service, that the deportation decision Wednesday was in coordination with the Sudanese authorities, adding the deportees do not fit the refugee definition.

"They entered (in Jordan) for treatment in the country but not as refugees. Also the UNHCR does not give them the refugees status. So they do not fit with the refugee definition," al-Momani said.

The UNHCR estimates that there are some 4,000 Sudanese asylum seekers in Jordan.

Sudanese used to travel for treatment in Jordan as they get easily an entry visa to the country.

(ST)

December 17, 2015 (YAMBIO) – Opposition forces allied to the armed faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar, have accused South Sudanese army (SPLA) of attacking their position on Wednesday in Western Equatoria state.

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

In a statement signed by Brigadier General Henry Malesh Jioce Louis, chief operations officer in the area, he said the attack took place on 15 December.

“The fighting took place in between Maridi and Rasura, around 12:15PM on 15/12/2015 till 4:30PM, 16/12/2015, our forces were in defensive position and we crash[ed] them and destroyed 5 of their cars,” partly reads the statement, dated 17 December, extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

He also accused forces of the Ugandan People's Defence Forces (UPDF) stationed in Western Equatoria state of allegedly involving in the attack, fighting on the side of president Salva Kiir's government.

He added that their forces in the area, known as Nerran Division of SPLA-IO, will exercise their right to fight back should the government forces and UPDF troops carry out further attacks on their locations.

Sudan Tribune could not independently verify the claimed incident by the opposition forces.

The group announced last month that it had joined the opposition faction under the leadership of former vice president and expressed commitment to the implementation of the peace agreement signed in August by the warring parties.

(ST)

December 17, 2015 (JUBA) –The forthcoming extra-ordinary meeting of South Sudan's ruling Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) party due early next year will also involve members of the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO), a top official disclosed.

Jemma Nunu Kumba at a meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, November 12, 2013 (NBI photo)

The acting SPLM secretary general, Jemma Nunu Kumba told reporters that all party members who participated in the 2008 convention will be invited.

“The FDs (former detainees) are already here [Juba] and are invited as well as the SPLM in opposition to attend the extraordinary meeting on January 7th 2016,” she said.

“All members who participated in the second convention of the SPLM in 2008 will attend,” she added.

The country's ruling party held its first convention in 1994 while the group was still engaged in armed struggle with the Sudanese government in Eastern Equatoria state.

The SPLM announced an extraordinary meeting for November, but postponed it for early December before pushing it to January. The party split into the SPLM in Opposition headed by ex-vice president Riek Machar, former political detainees under the leadership of SPLM secretary Pagan Amum and that in government led by President Salva Kiir.

President Kiir chaired Thursday's meeting, also attended by SPLM states chairpersons and governors as well as other members of political bureau and national ministers.

The South Sudanese leader, sources told Sudan Tribune instructed state governors to receive “any number of advance team” sent by SPLM in Opposition, a shift from 30-member delegation earlier announced by information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth.

(ST)