Sudan Tribune

June 4, 2018 (GENEVA) – United Nations human rights experts have called on states to ramp up measures to safeguard and support human rights defenders at a time when they are coming under increasing pressure globally, adding that civil society's role in the international human rights system is vital.

A general view of participants during the 29th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 3 July 2015 - (UN Photo)

In a statement issued at the end of a meeting initiated by the Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders to mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the experts acknowledged civil society's crucial contribution to promoting human rights and sustainable development, and maintaining peace and security.

The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders met with experts who monitor the 10 core international human rights treaties in New York on 23 May.

It called on human rights defenders and civil society to work more closely with the UN treaty bodies.

“The Treaty Bodies consider any interference, intimidation, abuse, threat, violence, reprisal or undue restrictions against human rights defenders as constituting violations of States parties' obligations towards the realization of the rights set out in the Treaties,” the statement added.

However, the calls reiterates the vital and central role played by human rights defenders to promote and support the application of the fundamental rights enshrined in the core international human rights treaties.

It further contextualizes the importance and relevance of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders, which “reaffirms, is underpinned by, and elaborates binding human rights obligations, including rights set out in the Treaties, and is relevant to the interpretation and implementation of the Treaties".

It urged states to strengthen institutions responsible for safeguarding and supporting the work of human rights defenders, and to amend or repeal any legislation that criminalizes or obstructs the work of human rights defenders.

“This document constitutes a major step forward in the protection of human rights defenders, and underscores the vital role they have in monitoring and reporting to the Treaty Bodies system to ensure States' compliance with international law,” said the Chairperson of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Virginia Brás-Gomes.

“As the global human rights movement faces greater restrictions and increased challenges, human rights defenders more than ever need to be encouraged and protected," she added.

The statement reaffirms that all individuals should be able to engage with the treaty bodies free from all forms of interference, intimidation, abuse, threat, violence, reprisal, or undue restriction.

(ST)

June 4, 2018 (GABORONE/KAMPALA) – The higher education ministries of Botswana and South Sudan signed on 30 May a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of tertiary education.

Botswana's Ngaka Ngaka (right) and Yien Lam Tut after signing a MoU on 30 May, 2018 (Daily News photo)

According to Daily News, Botswana's minister of tertiary education, research, science and technology, Ngaka Ngaka and his South Sudan counterpart, Yien Oral Lam Tut signed the MoU on behalf of their respective nations.

A number of stakeholders and education partners attended the signing ceremony in the Botswana capital, Gaborone last week.

Botswana's education minister acknowledged that South Sudan lacked teachers, vowing to assist the war-torn East African nation.

He said the MoU signed by both countries would help them come up with modalities and guidelines of how to implement the agreement.

Botswana's assistant minister of tertiary education said the East African country was undergoing reconstruction in various aspects and thus needed to be assisted.

We will take pride in a future prosperous South Sudan, said Fidelis Molao, citing youth unemployment as one of Botswana's problems.

He, however, said the MoU would avail opportunities for the two countries to exploit for the betterment of the lives of their people.

Meanwhile, Tut said South Sudan would be pleased if Botswana could offer his country 100 scholarships for vocational education.

He lauded the signing of the MoU, saying it will cement the relationship between the two nations in the tertiary education area.

He said while in the past they used to look to Egypt for tertiary education, they had since spread their focus to other African countries and identified Botswana as an ideal partner in this regard.

A number of South Sudanese students are currently studying at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as at the various institutes of health sciences across the country.

(ST)

June 4, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese ministry of justice denied reports of launching ratification process of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) adding that such operation requires prior consultations within the government institutions.

Recently local press reported that Justice Minister Mashaar al-Doleb told the parliament about the intention of the justice ministry to ratify the CEDAW and that the international treaty has been lodged to the legislative chamber for ratification before the formal signing at the United Nations.

The international bill of rights for women was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1979 but Sudan is among very few states that declined to sign it. Over fifty countries signed and ratified the Convention have done so subject to certain reservations and objections, including the Saudi Arabia which posed three reservations.

"It is not accurate that the ministry has recommended or submitted the treaty to the parliament for ratification," said the ministry of justice in a statement released on Monday.

Further, it added that such matter was not included in the nine-month activities report to the parliament presented by the minister last week.

In a response to a question about the CEDAW, the minister explained the means by which an international treaty enters into national legislation and its right to express reservations with its signature, stressed the statement.

"She explained that the (justice) ministry does not work alone, but such process is done within inter-minstrel bodies," the statement said.

Last Thursday, the European Union Commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management Christos Stylianides welcomed an alleged statement by Sudanese Minister of Justice expressing Sudan's decision to ratify the CEDAW.

Also, a Sudanese radical Islamic preacher Mohamed Ali al-Gazouli, last Saturday criticized the minister of justice for the alleged statement about the signing of the CEDAw saying it violates the Islamic law.

Speaking Monday at a meeting on the prohibition of female gentile mutilation in the country, Minister al-Doleb voiced her support for the signing of the CEDAW with reservations to the dispositions that contravene the Islamic law.

(ST)

June 4, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and Chad have agreed to enhance security cooperation and promote economic, social and political relations on the joint border area.

On Monday, the governor of West Darfur state Hussein Yassin Hamad has discussed with a delegation from the Chadian consulate in El-Geniena ways to promote bilateral cooperation in all fields.

Hamad pointed out that the next period would witness extensive contacts between West Darfur and Chad's border regions to implement recommendations of the border development conference which was held recently in El-Geniena.

He stressed the need to implement all agreements pertaining to border trade and combating smuggling as well as the social, cultural and sports cooperation.

Chadian president Idriss Deby (R) shakes hands with his Sudanese counterpart, Omer Hassan al-Bashir, at a meeting for the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) in N'Djamena on 16 February 2013 (Photo: Ibrahim Adji/AFP/Getty Images)

For his part, the representative of Chad's consulate in El-Geniena Jakata Moxie stressed his country's keenness to support joint work and promote security and stability on the 750-kilometre borderline between West Darfur and Chad.

Last April, the Sudanese-Chadian border development conference was held in West Darfur State capital, El-Geniena.

The two-day conference discussed a number of papers covering the economy, security, trade, social, cultural, media and sports cooperation between the two sides.

In January 2010, Sudan and Chad signed a normalization agreement ending a long history of mutual hostility in which both sides provided support to each other's insurgents.

The joint border force has been deployed along the joint border in 2010 in line with a deal to stop support to rebel groups and cross-border attacks.

Last year, the two countries announced their intention to expand the deployment of the joint force to include counter-terrorism and disarmament.

(ST)

June 4, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The government of Central Darfur has stressed the security situation is stable across the state particularly in Jebel Marra area, denying rebel reports about continued fighting in the area.

SLM-AW fighters on guard during a visit by UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari to Fanga Suk village, in East Jebel Marra, West Darfur, on 18 March 2011 (Photo: Reuters)

Since last March, reports emerged from Central Darfur state about the resumption of clashes between the government's forces and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) led by Abdel-Wahid al-Nur which is not part of the regional and international efforts to end the 15-year conflict in Darfur.

Also, Darfur hybrid peacekeeping force has reported "low-scale skirmishes" in Jebel Marra area between the government forces and the SLM-AW fighters.

However, governor of Central Darfur state Mohamed Ahmed Jad al-Sid on Monday denied the existence of military operations in Jebel Marra, describing reports about continued clashes in the mountainous area as “tendentious”.

He renewed his government's commitment to the unilateral ceasefire, saying security organs are pursuing some remnants of the SLM-AW in order to impose the state authority and secure the farming season and voluntary return of IDPs and refugees.

The governor underlined the security situation is completely stable, pointing to testimonies of the UNAMID and the Political Counsellor at the US embassy in Khartoum who recently visited Jebel Marra.

He added the UN has praised the flow of humanitarian aid to Jebel Marra via the various crossings which are protected by the Central Darfur government.

On 13 May, a Sudanese official told Sudan Tribune that more than 1500 troops including militiamen of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been deployed in Kass locality of South Darfur in order to attack the SLM-AW positions in Jebel Marra.

The sources said additional sources have been massed in Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur to take part in the military operations.

The Sudanese government and three armed groups including Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), SLM - Minni Minnawi and SLM-Transitional Council have declared a unilateral cessation of hostilities in Darfur. The SLM-AW is not part of the measure which aims to enable aid workers to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians in the war affected areas.

In April 2016, the Sudanese army launched a comprehensive offensive on the rebel-held areas in Jebel Marra but stopped its operations under the U.S. pressures and after signing a framework agreement for the lift of economic sanctions.

The UNAMID has established a new temporary base in Golo to enhance the protection of civilians in the Jebel Marra but the new site is not yet fully operating.

Jebel Marra, which spans over three states including North, Central and South Darfur, is located in a water-rich area that is characterised by a mild climate.

The Sudanese army has been fighting armed groups in Darfur since 2003. UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in the conflict, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

(ST)

June 4, 2018 (JUBA) - A convoy of international peacekeepers patrolling in the Unity region came under direct attack when they were inspecting the security situation in Leer area, said the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Monday.

In a statement released after the incident, the UNMISS said the attack took place in Rubkway, about 20 km north of Leer town when the convoy, which was heading to Thaker in Mayendit County, stopped briefly to interact with a civilian.

According to the Mission, nobody was harmed or injured by the assailants and no damage was caused to the vehicles.

"UNMISS strongly condemns this attack against its personnel and calls on all parties to respect the freedom of movement of UN personnel carrying out their mandate, and to cooperate with the peacekeepers as they work to protect civilians; monitor human rights; create a conducive environment for delivery of humanitarian aid, and support efforts to restore peace," said the UNMISS.

The statement didn't identify the attackers but indicated that the patrol was dispatched to the area following reports about villagers fleeing Leer area amid increasing violence against civilians.

Government forces had been accused in the past of attacks on local populations as they are suspected of supporting the rebel fighters.

"The Mission continues to engage with local authorities and to urge the warring parties to stop the fighting and adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by all parties just over five months ago," further said the statement.

Last year, the UN Security Council condemned an attack against the UNMISS in Leer on 3 May 2017.

The Council recalled that individuals, who, directly or indirectly, engage in attacks against UN missions, other peacekeeping operations or humanitarian personnel, may be designated for targeted sanctions.

(ST)

June 3, 2018 (KAMPALA) - The Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) has strongly condemned the South Sudanese embassy in Uganda for obstructing a public debriefing on South Sudan's peace talks that was held at Cavendish University in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

The High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) at the African Union Hall, Addis Ababa (Getty)

The weekend public dialogue was being organized by civil society groups in the context of the ongoing high-level revitalization forum.

CPJ's executive director, Anthony Tito said the embassy officials should have instead supported the peace process, instead of frustrating efforts aimed at bringing an end to the peoples' suffering.

“As a civil society organization, we don't need a permission from South Sudan embassy to carry out an event or to conduct a workshop or any sort of activity that we need to carry out, therefore we will not seek permission from the embassy to carry our activity,” said Tito.

“I wonder since when embassies are allowed to restrict civil society activities in the diaspora, besides that 98% of South Sudanese living in Uganda are refugees and are under the care of office of Prime Minister and United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees,” he added.

South Sudanese, Tito stressed, deserve to know what is taking place during the peace process mediated by the regional bloc (IGAD).

“The refugees are human, they need to be updated on the progress of the talks, but I wonder what the South Sudanese government who is part of negotiation team does not want refugees and others to know the development of talks,” said Tito.

The human rights official, however, said the diaspora civil society would continue with the engagement of South Sudanese in Uganda on the importance of peaceful co-existence and brotherhood.

The second round of the IGAD-led High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) ended last week without any deal after the warring parties rejected a proposed power sharing deal developed by IGAD is yet to announce the next date for the negotiations.

South Sudan plunged into war in December 2013, barely two years after independence from Sudan, after a disagreement between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar deteriorated into a military confrontation.

Tens of thousands have been killed by the fighting between troops loyal to Kiir and forces loyal to Machar. The conflict has also left a quarter of the country's population of 12 million either internally displaced or as refugees in neighbouring countries.

(ST)

On 30th May 2018 (JUBA) – The Chinese ambassador to South Sudan, He Xiangdong met the South Sudanese first Vice President, Taban Deng Gai to discuss the cooperation the between the two countries.

During the meeting, Gai praised South Sudan's good relations with China, lauding Beijing for its long-standing support and generous help for the young nation.

The senior South Sudanese official also expressed his expectation for further progress in pragmatic cooperation between the two nations.

Rebecca Joshua Okwaci, Minister of Roads and Bridges also attended the meeting between Gai and the Chinese ambassador.

On his part, however, Xiangdong said the Asian nation attaches great importance to developing friendly relations with South Sudan.

“China is willing to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in infrastructure construction and other fields,” he said.

Added the envoy, “China hopes South Sudan to realize peace and stability at an early time and will always be a sincere and reliable partner of South Sudan in its peace and development process”.

Meanwhile, the two leaders exchanged views on further implementing the fruits of Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and details of infrastructure projects.

(ST)

June 3, 2018 (ADDIS ABABA) - The regional bloc (IGAD) has set June 30 as the deadline for face-to-face talks between the two South Sudan warring leaders, President Salva Kiir and former first vice-president, Riek Machar.

During the 62 extra-ordinary IGAD council of ministers' session in Ethiopia on Friday, foreign affairs ministers from IGAD member states said Kiir and Machar must resolve their differences for the good of the citizens of Africa's youngest nation, who have been nursing conflict since December 2013.

A communique issued by IGAD indicates that the ministers of foreign affairs have been tasked to consult the Heads of State in order to fast-track the face-to-face talks between Kiir and Machar before the 31st African Union meeting takes place.

“IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government to consult with members of the Assembly on the convening of an Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Assembly and a face-to-face meeting between H.E. SalvaKiirMayardit and H.E. Dr. RiekMachar before the 31st Summit of the Assembly of the African Union to be held on July 1-2, 2018 in Noukakchott, Mauritania," noted the communique.

IGAD ministers also regretted that efforts to resolve the South Sudan conflict, including the August 2015 comprehensive agreement on cessation of hostilities, have not been honoured by the main actors fuelling the South Sudan conflict.

“The IGAD Council of Ministers urges all the South Sudanese Parties to seize this opportunity to negotiate in good faith and make real compromises based on the Bridging Proposal on outstanding issues,” the communique noted.

South Sudan plunged into war in December 2013, barely two years after independence from Sudan, after a disagreement between President Kiir and his former deputy Machar deteriorated into a military confrontation.

Tens of thousands have been killed by the fighting between troops loyal to Kiir and forces loyal to Machar. The conflict has also left a quarter of the country's population of 12 million either internally displaced or as refugees in neighbouring countries.

(ST)

June 3, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Salah Gosh, National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) Director, made an unannounced visit on Sunday to Cairo for talks with the President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

In a short statement released after the meeting, the Egyptian presidency said that Gosh transmitted to al-Sisi al-Bashir congratulations on the beginning of his second term after his re-election last month.

"The meeting discussed the close bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries and means of enhancing them in the light of current regional challenges," further said Bassan Radi, the presidential spokesperson.

No further details were made public on the matters discussed in the meeting. But Gosh visit to Cairo came few days after a visit to Cairo of the new Sudanese Foreign Minister al-Dirdiri Mohamed Ahmed who was also received by President al-Sisi on 29 May.

The two countries last year agreed to enhance security cooperation between the two countries on the border control cooperation, as Libya is a source of security concerns for both countries.

Gosh's visit to Cairo came after the signing of a border security agreement between Chad, Libya, Niger and Sudan.

(ST)

June 3, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The European Parliament called on the Sudanese government to commute the death sentence on Noura Hussein and requested the EU Commission to observe human rights when it engages cooperation projects in Sudan.

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

Last May, a Sudanese court sentenced Noura Hussein, 19 years, to death for killing her husband who raped her following a forced marriage. Her husband's family refused to accept financial compensation.

The case raised international solidarity with the teenager female who had been forced into marriage at the age of 16. Also, it shed again the light on the difficult woman situation particularly Sudan remain among few countries that refuse to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly.

The European Parliament "Deplores and condemns the sentencing to death of Noura Hussein Hammad; calls on the Sudanese authorities to commute the death sentence and fully take into account the fact that Ms Hussein was acting in self-defence against the attempt by a man and his accomplices to rape her," says a resolution adopted on Thursday 31 May.

It was reported the young girl had been held down by the brother of her husband, a relative and a third person to assist her husband to rape her. The next day he tried again to rape her but she stabbed him to death.

During an emergency debate on Noura Hussein situation on Thursday 31 May, the EU lawmakers pointed that the imposition of the death penalty against clear evidence of self-defence constitutes "arbitrary killing" in line with the international standards.

While Hussein's lawyers have formally appealed the ruling, an international campaign to get the sentence overturned received over million signatures in addition to the support of high-profile figures including actors Mira Sorvino, Emma Watson and Rose McGowan, model Naomi Campbell and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

The EU Parliament recalled that the government of Sudan has the obligation to guarantee a fair trial and to take the necessary measures to ensure Hussein's protection.

The resolution called on the Sudanese government to ratify the Convention against Torture (CAT) and CEDAW.

Furthermore it "strongly requests that the EU and its Member States ensure that the implementation of projects with the Sudanese authorities observe the ‘do no harm' principle, which would rule out cooperation with actors responsible for human rights violations".

The EU is currently funding EUR 275 million - projects in Sudan, through the European Development Fund (EDF), the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and the Instrument contributing to Security and Peace.

Khartoum also hopes that the EU resumes its development and economic support to Sudan which has been stopped after the coup d'etat that brought general Omer al-Bashir to power in June 1989.

CONTINUING WORRY

Speaking at the EU Parliament urgency debate, European commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management Christos Stylianides, expressed concern over the case, adding that the human rights situation in Sudan "constitutes a continuing worry" for the European Union.

The case of young lady "brings to the forefront many of the country's complex and interrelated human rights problems ranging from sexual violence, child and forced marriage to the continuing use of capital punishment," he stressed.

Stylianides who was in Khartoum in October 2017 pledged to continue to closely follow the case of Noura and raise it with the Sudanese authorities.

"The EU will continue to make use of the different means at our disposal to promote and protect girls' and women's human rights in Sudan," he further said.

He welcomed a statement by the Sudanese Minister of Justice last week to ratify the CEDAW.

(ST)

June 3, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Qatari government on Sunday has renewed support for the resumption of Darfur peace talks on the bases of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

Qatari Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah bin Ahmed al-Mahmoud chairs the 11th meeting of the the International Follow-up Committee for DDPD Implementation in Khartoum on May 9, 2016 (ST Photo)

On Sunday, the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir discussed with the Special Envoy of the Qatari Minister of Foreign Affairs for Combating Terrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani ways to resume Darfur peace talks.

In press statements following the meeting, Al-Qahtani said the meeting discussed the various tracks of peace talks and ways to convince the holdout groups to join the process.

He stressed Qatar's support for the resumption of the talks on the basis of the DDPD, expressing hope these efforts would contribute to complete the peace process and achieve security in the region.

For his part, the Presidential Envoy for Diplomatic Contact and Negotiation for Darfur Amin Hassan Omer said the meeting discussed development programmes in Darfur as well as the resumption of peace talks.

He revealed a meeting would be held soon with the African Union representative to discuss the completion of the peace process and convince holdout groups to join the DDPD.

Omer pointed out that the recent meetings in Berlin were meant to reach a joint agreement on the resumption of the peace talks, saying they would focus on discussing IDPs and refugees return and stability in the region.

Last April, delegations representing the Government of Sudan, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi ended two-day discussions in Berlin without signing a pre-negotiation agreement.

The two sides say willing for a negotiated settlement but failed to agree on how to proceed. The government put on the negotiating table the DDPD, but the armed groups say they want a new process on new bases, not this framework text signed in July 2011 with other former rebel groups.

The holdout groups including the JEM and SLM-MM refused to sign the DDPD in July 2011 and called to open the framework agreement for talks.

Other groups like the Sudan Liberation Movement - Abdel Wahid (SLM-AW) have declined to join the process and rejected its outcome.

The African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki proposed a holistic process to end the armed conflicts and produce political reforms in Sudan.

During the year 2015-2016, talks between the government and the SLM-MM and JEM failed to reach a tangible result despite international efforts to bring together the opposition groups and to narrow the gaps between them and the government.

Germany and the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) signed a deal to facilitate the two-track process for a comprehensive peace agreement in Sudan. Berlin already organised a number of meeting in this respect.

Last February, the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (PSC) urged the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to make progress in the resolution of Darfur conflict during the upcoming three months.

The Sudanese army has been fighting a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003. UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in the conflict and over 2.5 million were displaced.

(ST)

June 3, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Ethiopian Ambassador to Khartoum Mulugeta Zewdu on Sunday said 65% of the construction works of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) have been completed.

In statements to the official news agency SUNA, Zewdu said Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt would soon celebrate the completion of GERD construction.

He pointed out that the three countries managed to overcome their contention, saying all fears would disappear when the three parties reach a technical agreement on the dam.

The Ethiopian Ambassador underscored the three countries would benefit from the GERD.

Last month, Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt have agreed on contentious issues pertaining to the technical impact studies and options for filling and operating the GERD.

The agreement was reached in a meeting of the ministerial committee on the GERD including foreign affairs and water ministers and heads of security and intelligence services of the three countries in Addis Ababa.

The agreement provides to send a letter to the consultant including observations and questions of the three countries on the introductory technical report and to discuss the response at the meeting of the national technical committee in Cairo.

Egypt in the past refused to accept queries from Sudan and Ethiopia on the terms of reference presented by the consultant firm.

But the most important point that the three countries agreed to set up a joint technical team - 5 members from each country- to study the filling of the GERD reservoir and operating the dam. Egypt withdrew its proposal to resort to the World Bank on the matter.

The move is seen as a major concession from Egypt ending an over a year-old outstanding issue. Ethiopia and Sudan strongly rejected the proposal, insisting they can resolve differences without involving a third party.

Also, it was agreed to hold two meetings in Cairo on 18 and 19 June. The first meeting would be held between the national technical committee and the consultant while the ministerial would meet to approve the introductory report after receiving the response of the consultant.

Following the Cairo meetings, the consultant would begin to prepare the social, ecological and economic impact studies as well as the hydrological study pertaining to the scenarios for filling the lake and operating the dam.

Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia in March 2015 signed a declaration of principles on the dam project that tacitly approves the dam construction but calls for technical studies aimed at safeguarding the water quotas of the three riparian states.

In September 2016, French engineering consultancy Artelia and BRL groups have been selected to undertake the dam impact studies. The U.K.-based law firm Corbett & Co was selected to manage the legal affairs of the tripartite committee.

The multi-billion dollar dam is being constructed on the Blue Nile, about 20 kilometres from the Sudanese border, and has a capacity of 74 billion cubic meters, and is expected to generate electrical power of up to 6,000 megawatts.

Egypt is concerned that the dam could reduce its quota of 55.5 billion cubic meters of the Nile water, while the Ethiopian side maintains that the dam is primarily built to produce electricity and will not harm Sudan and Egypt.

(ST)

June 3, 2018 (JUBA) - Ex SPLA chief of staff warned South Sudan president against insult and exposure of classified information, threatening to retaliate if he and his aides continue to damage his reputation.

S Sudan's President Salva Kiir is received by former Chief of General Staff of the SPLA Paul Malong Awan at the airport in Juba March 6, 2015 (Reuters)

"This is to inform President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his men, especially his Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny that they should cease from hurling insults at me and exposure of what they called sensitive and classified information to the public about the state matters and any other matter deemed so," said Paul Malong in a statement released on Sunday.

Last week, President Kiir said opposed to the participation of the Awan-led South Sudan United Front (SSUF) claiming that his former close friend was opposed to the peace agreement.

In return, Awan disclosed that in their meetings it was Kiir who was not refusing to sign the peace agreement. He added the president was backed by his information minister Michael Makuei Lueth.

Since, people circulated a message from Kiir's spokesperson, Ateny to a friend where he describes Awan as a corrupt man and pointed to the stepson of Gen Paul Malong, Lawrence Lual who is also known as the Young Tycoon.

Malong advised his former friend Kiir to direct his aides that " their loose lips ought to be zipped or else they will be attracting serious retaliatory statements".

He further said that if Kiir or his aides say anything in the future he would retaliate.

"Now that he is publicly exposing things he deemed classified, he ought to watch out that I will do the same to his satisfaction," he stressed.

Awan was the SPLA chief of staff from 24 April 2014 to 9 May 2017. During these three years, he reorganized the army and recruited thousands of militiamen to defend the regime of President Salva Kiir.

However, he was accused by the security service of seeking to overthrow the president, a claim he denies.

(ST)

May 31, 2018 (MAYOM) - Heavy clashes occurred on Thursday between two South Sudanese army factions in Mayom county, leaving dozens dead and several others wounded, a resident said.

The map of Unity state

James Makuey a resident of the area has told Sudan Tribune that the fighting was between forces loyal to South Sudan army Gen. Buay Rolyang and a group allied to Mathew Puljang in Mayom.

“As we speak now, fighting is still going on and so many people have died,” he said, adding that a number of civilians have been injured.

Another resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attack on Buay's residence caused a split within the military.

“The fighting has stopped for a while, but all forces from both sides are within the town. No one was defeated and it seems they are waiting for reinforcement somewhere,” he said.

The military has not officially reacted to the latest fighting in Mayom county.

The Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM), in a new report, said South Sudan army and rebels massacred civilians, burned children alive and gang-raped women, despite a ceasefire agreed upon in December last year.

The 14 CTSAMM are yet to be publicly released despite pledges by regional leaders to have violators of the ceasefire accord punished.

However, both the South Sudanese government and rebels dismissed the report.

Tens of thousands have been killed in South Sudan's war, which began in December 2013 with fighting been soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and Machar, an ethnic Nuer. More than 3 million people have been displaced due to the civil war, while aid agencies say about 5 million people are food insecure.

(ST)

May 31, 2018 (LEER) - Thousands of people are fleeing for their lives amid a sharp escalation in fighting and attacks on civilians in the Leer and Mayendit counties of South Sudan over the past month, the international medical humanitarian, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said, calling on all armed actors to stop the violence against the local population.

South Sudanese civilians flee fighting in an United Nations base in the northeastern town of Malakal on February 18, 2016, where gunmen opened fire on civilians sheltering inside killing at least five people. (Photo AFP/Justin Lynch)

Survivors, MSF said in a statement, reported incidences of gang rapes, mass killings, villages looted and burned, and food reserves and possessions destroyed. MSF mobile clinic teams are providing basic medical care to communities that they can reach and have treated 41 survivors of sexual violence in the past month alone.

"People are running away from the ruthless violence of the warring parties," said Akke Boere, MSF operational manager.

"They are caught between the front lines, and are themselves the target of attacks. Many tell us of neighbors and family members killed," he added.

The ongoing clashes are forcing thousands of civilians to seek refuge in the bush, swamps and islands, with some people fleeing repeated attacks, the agency said.

People displaced by the fighting have now gone for more than four weeks without adequate shelter, clean water or food, and little access to medical care. The most vulnerable people, such as children and pregnant women, are at great risk of contracting diseases.

"In our mobile clinics, we are seeing medical issues directly related to the living conditions, including acute watery diarrhea, respiratory and skin infections and musculoskeletal disorders, with patients suffering from muscle or joint pain," said Georgina Brown, MSF medical coordinator in South Sudan.

"The rainy season may worsen the situation considerably."

Attacks against health care facilities are reportedly also cutting off communities from much-needed medical assistance. In two locations where MSF works, medical supplies were looted and property destroyed.

The number of people that MSF is treating for sexual assault is very worrying, according to Brown. In one village, MSF treated 21 survivors of sexual violence in 48 hours, and a few days later, MSF treated 20 survivors in another area.

"We know many survivors don't receive any treatment," said Brown.

"People are still hiding in the bush and swamp areas because they're afraid of the ongoing violence, and so they don't have access to basic services, including health care. Until the violence calms down, we can't reach these people to give them the treatment they need," she added.

The current fighting, according to MSF, is the latest episode in the violence that has raged in Leer and Mayendit counties for several years. The warring parties have repeatedly targeted the civilian population and forced them to flee without shelter, food, water or medical care.

(ST)

May 31, 2018 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has proposed a meeting between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar takes place before the 31st summit of the African Union assembly duel on 1 and 2 July in Noukakchott, Mauritania.

President Salva Kiir greets First Vice President Riek Machar before to start a meeting at the South Sudanese presidency in Juba on 3 June 2016 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

The IGAD Council of Ministers, in a communiqué issued following its extra-ordinary summit in Addis Ababa on Thursday, said a final decision be made on the effective participation of the armed opposition leader on the peace process.

It will be the first time the two rival South Sudanese leaders will be meeting face-to-face since the July 2016 clashes in the capital, Juba.

The second round of the IGAD-led High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) ended last week without any deal after the warring parties rejected a proposed power sharing deal developed by regional bloc and IGAD is yet to announce the next date for the negotiations.

Meanwhile, foreign ministers from the regional bloc have directed mediators to develop a full revitalized text of the 2015 peace agreement, which it said should be endorsed by the IGAD Council of Ministers and submitted to the summit for the final approval.

The IGAD Council of Ministers, in the communiqué, also proposed that punitive measures be taken against violators of the ceasefire deal for approval of its Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

It further decided to submit its request to the IGAD Assembly to delegate the Council to decide on actions to be taken against violators of the ceasefire deal on the assembly's behalf.

The IGAD Council of Ministers, however, said it will work closely with the IGAD-Plus nations to realize the objectives of the HLRF process.

South Sudan plunged into war in December 2013, barely two years after independence from Sudan, after a disagreement between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar deteriorated into a military confrontation.

Tens of thousands have been killed by the fighting between troops loyal to Kiir and forces loyal to Machar. The conflict has also left a quarter of the country's population of 12 million either internally displaced or as refugees in neighbouring countries

(ST)

Salah Shuaib

The international community's keen focus on allowing al-Bashir's regime to be part of the formula for solving Sudan's crises will sooner or later prove wrong. Al-Bashir's unwillingness to faithfully implement the country's previous political accords is still existing as a severe obstacle for Sudan's comprehensive peace.

As blaming the opposition for not having a will for political reconciliation, the Sudanese president has succeeded in deactivating all peace accords signed by him and his opponents, and thus he had exhausted most of his tactical experiences in keeping his adamantly destructive policies alive.

In fact, the Sudanese opposition groups are not lacking the desire to achieve a stable peace in the country through negotiating the regime. But they rather lack a practical mechanism that deters the regime's systematic manipulation of these accords that are sponsored by the international community itself.

Certainly, after signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), all the country's political forces engaged seriously to reconcile with the regime's aggressive past and to build a new Sudan. The change forces made, for the sake of the country's unity, concessions on many of their fundamental demands to help in creating sustainable peace. Instead, al-Bashir's regime, then, succeeded in bolstering its evil intentions to destroy the opposition forces' capabilities rather than building solid foundations to accommodate them as partners for making a better Sudanese future.

For more than half a century, the Sudanese people had been struggling against the dictatorships that have spoiled all opportunities of making the country progressing in all its societal realms. The opposition forces, before three decades, realized the necessary need to defeat this Islamist tyranny, which has adopted a religious ideology that divided the country into two parts, damaged the state's economic and social structures, and initiated war as a means for giving legitimacy to the junta.

The international community should be entirely aware that the Sudanese people's struggle to obtain national democratic governance is inseparable from the worldwide popular movements to achieve freedom. The whole world knows that Al-Bashir's crimes have led the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant against him and his inner circle for their direct involvement in genocide and other forms of violations towards millions of civilians.

Besides that, his regime has contributed to endangering global peace by harbouring, supporting and training terrorist groups. Last but not least, the international community knows, too, that Al-Bashir's oppression has led millions of Sudanese to flee abroad while paving room for his brutal militias to sustain his corrupt regime.

No doubt, the critical obstacle to solving Sudan's crises is the ideology of political Islam, which aims to establish the Islamic rule in a multi-nation state. International partners, therefore, should support all forces of the Sudanese opposition to help create a democratic Sudan, rather than rewarding the regime for its tactical manoeuvring.

The soft-landing approach to end Sudan's problems, which is adopted by some international powers, is somewhat helping Al-Bashir's regime that is about to fall now due to its severe economic and political crisis. It will only be a stab in the heart of any Sudanese freedom-fighter whose only hope is to get rid of the worst totalitarian system in our planet today.

The international community has indeed noticed that all Sudan's signed peace accords have included essential items for political reconciliation that can end the war, separatist trends, and violations of human rights. The CPA constitution was comprehensive enough to accommodate aspirations of Sudanese people for a better life.

But unfortunately, Al-Bashir's deliberate neglect of implementing this regionally and the internationally sponsored document has led to escalating war in the conflict zones, increasing the number of displaced persons and refugees, and deteriorating living conditions in the country.

Also, the destruction of civil service structures, the intensification of ethnic and political injustice, and the deepening of the country's social problems were part of Al-Bashir's apparent mismanagement of the CPA.

Now, because of the regime's depletion of the state's treasury, two systems have been emerging in Sudan. There is a hidden system that Al-Bashir sustains with a full budget, where resources are exploited by all members of the Sudanese Islamic Movement (SIM) while the old formal state's system is running with limited resources for health, education, security, and development.

It should thus be clear that any efforts to put an end for the fragmentation of the Sudanese ethnical components should consider toppling the regime by radical change, which will preserve Sudan's territorial integrity.

There is no value to reforming the situation in Sudan in the existence of Al-Bashir's regime. For all these facts, the international community should not disappoint the people of Sudan, who place great hopes on it to support its quest for freedom, peace, and democracy.

The writer is a Sudanese journalist; he can be reached at salshua7@hotmail.com

May 31, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan's former humanitarian affairs and disaster management official Thursday has dismissed as baseless and misleading information reports claiming he had switched political allegiance and rebelled.

Joseph Lual Acuil Lual, said reports alleging he rebelled prompted him to make a clarification.

“I Joseph Lual Acuil Lual do hereby write this statement for immediate release that I have no support or allegiance to either the SPLM-IO (Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition) led by Dr Riek Machar or the (opposition) South Sudan United Front (SSUF) led by former army chief of staff, Gen. Paul Malong Awan,” said Lual through a statement released to the public on Wednesday.

The former cabinet minister said he has s always been in Juba where he remained a strong member and support of the government under the leadership of President Salva Kiir.

“I have always and will always remain a strong member SPLM-IG (Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Government). I am always in Juba based in my house. Therefore, I refute all allegations as false and baseless misleading information. No one should take them as true," he added.

Currently serving as the member of the council of states and member of the national dialogue committee, Lual denied any link to rebels under the former First Vice President, Riek Machar and later joined the faction under the leadership of the former army chief of staff, Paul Malong Awan.

(ST)

May 31, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Thursday complained that his country is still is still under economic embargo and deprived of international debt cancellation for political reasons.

In remarks delivered before Khartoum state government, the Sudanese president thanked Arab and Islamic financial institutions, brotherly countries particularly China and Turkey for their support to Sudan.

"Sudan is still under economic embargo, heavily indebted and deprived of the international debt-relief program for political reasons. Also, it is deprived of concessional financing facility provided by international institutions," he said.

Despite the lift of economic sanctions last October, Sudan is still designated a state sponsor of terrorism together with Iran, Syria and North Korea.

Washington admitted Sudan's cooperation in its counterterrorism efforts but maintains the east African country in the terror list hoping to use it to put pressure on Khartoum to sign peace agreements with the armed groups, ensure freedoms, achieve democratic reforms.

The two countries announced several times their readiness to resume talks on the normalization of bilateral relations but till now no meeting takes place.

The Sudanese president pledged to provide the needed funding for Khartoum state's service projects.

After the adoption of drastic austerity measures in the budget of 2018, the Sudanese pound fell to a record low on the black market and the inflation hit new records.

(ST)