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Les associations s’inquiètent de voir leurs actions « menacées » par des baisses de subventions.

Cette recension a été publiée dans le numéro d’été de Politique étrangère (n°2/2017). Antoine Bondaz propose une analyse de l’ouvrage de Jieun Baek, North Korean’s Hidden Revolution: How the Information Underground Is Transforming a Closed Society (Yale University Press, 2016, 312 pages).

Jieun Baek s’attache à analyser l’impact d’un accès croissant à l’information sur la société nord-coréenne. Sa thèse principale est que cette « révolution cachée » déstabilise en profondeur le régime nord-coréen. Alors que les récents événements ont tourné les projecteurs sur le problème nucléaire et balistique et le risque de frappes préventives américaines, cet ouvrage a le mérite de nous rappeler la tragédie humaine en Corée du Nord.

La spécificité de l’ouvrage, et son principal intérêt, sont qu’il repose sur de nombreux entretiens réalisés avec des transfuges nord-coréens en Corée du Sud et aux États-Unis. La démarche s’inscrit dans la tradition des livres de témoignages, à l’instar de Les Aquariums de Pyongyang (2000) de Kang Chol-Hwan et Pierre Rigoulot, ou de Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea (2009) de la journaliste du Los Angeles Times Barbara Demick. Il offre une perspective unique sur l’intérieur du pays et souligne les évolutions sociales telles que vécues par les transfuges. Les portraits et scènes de vie touchent, notamment la ­mention des kotjebis, ces enfants des rues apparus lors de la famine du milieu des années 1990.

Comme dans tout ouvrage se basant sur des témoignages, plusieurs ques­tions se posent, d’autant que la méthodologie des entretiens n’est pas clairement présentée. La première est celle du potentiel biais de l’auteur qui réalise des entretiens très personnels, avec des transfuges pour la plupart présentés comme étant devenus des amis. La deuxième tient à l’intérêt scientifique du témoignage de transfuges ayant fait défection au début des années 1990 pour comprendre la situation actuelle. La troisième se pose quant à leur représentativité, malgré la diversité de leurs profils : ils viennent pour la plupart des provinces frontalières de la Chine.

L’ouvrage conserve un intérêt évident en ce qu’il documente avec précision les moyens d’accès à l’information des Nord-Coréens, ce que l’auteur appelle « la révolution de l’information », mais aussi le système de contrôle et de répression chargé de limiter cet accès. On découvre ainsi successivement les réseaux clandestins permettant aux transfuges d’aider leur famille restée en Corée du Nord, la forte exposition de la population aux séries et films sud-coréens, le rôle des ONG sud-coréennes, le rôle parfois plus ambigu des associations religieuses, etc.

Cependant, et allant partiellement à l’encontre de la thèse initiale, certains transfuges rappellent que le problème principal du pays n’est pas tant l’accès à l’information que la peur qui hante chaque Nord-Coréen, ainsi que l’attachement véritable à un pays, à un réseau social et à un ancrage local qui limitent de fait toute opposition au régime. On retiendra notamment le témoignage du jeune Jeong Gwang, qui explique de façon pragmatique pourquoi la grande majorité des Nord-Coréens ne considère même pas la défection comme une possibilité.

Une grande qualité de l’ouvrage est enfin d’aborder la question de l’économie souterraine dans le pays, traitée ici sous l’angle de la vie quotidienne, ce qui n’est pas sans rappeler les travaux du Peterson Institute for International Economics. Sont ainsi mentionnés, tour à tour, le rôle crucial des marchés informels, les jangmadang, leur dépendance très forte aux trafics avec la Chine, leur impact sur la jeune génération, etc.

Antoine Bondaz

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August 13, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Security authorities Sunday released the former leader of the opposition Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) Ibrahim al-Sheikh and another leading member after nearly a month of arbitrary detention without charge.

Al-Shiekh and the SCoP Secretary General Abu Bakr Youssef Babikir were arrested by the NISS on July 19 as they were returning from Sheikh Yaghout village, White Nile state, to support Darfur students who resigned from the university to protest the detention of their colleague.

The release of the SCoP leading members was announced in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune by the spokesman Mohamed Hassan Arabi saying that Sheikh and Babikir were released on Sunday evening, "without trial or any other judicial proceedings."

"The arrest came after a solidarity visit to Darfuri students who resigned from Bakht Al-Ruda University who were in Sheikh Yaghout area to protest against the systematic discrimination against them."

Arabi stressed that the arrest did not have a reason, but "clearly reflects the regime's rejection of any genuine political action from the (opposition) parties to reach out the masses".

He further pointed to the lack of freedoms and continued repression in the country saying that their release is a temporary measure "because we will not stop to be with the masses and among them".

The opposition party organises regularly awareness campaigns and protests in the country. last June the security service arrested nine of its members conducting an information campaign to raise awareness about preventing the spread of cholera.

(ST)

August 13, 2017 (JUBA) - The Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ), a South Sudanese human rights entity has welcomed the release of political prisoners by the Juba government, stressing that the move fulfilled the amnesty pardon President Salva Kiir earlier declared.

President Salva Kiir addresses the nation from the State House on September 15, 2015, in Juba (Photo AFP/Charles Atiki Lomodong)

South Sudan released at least 30 political prisoners since President Kiir declared an amnesty in May this year to facilitate national dialogue and help end the civil war, a senior security official said last week.

Jalban Obaj, director of legal affairs at the Internal Security Bureau told the state-owned television (SSBC) on Thursday that the prisoners were set free at different times since the declaration of the amnesty.

CPJ's coordinator, Tito Anthony, said the decision by government showed goodwill towards the revitalization of the 2015 peace accord.

"The releasing of political prisoners is a good step, but the government should consider releasing SPLM-IO [South Sudan's armed opposition] spokesperson James Gatdet Dak because he is too is a political prisoner,” Tito told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

The outspoken official urged South Sudan government to open its arm in order to bring lasting peace to the civilians in the young nation, through engaging the armed opposition for peace talks.

"The next step should be ending the war in country and negotiation with the armed opposition of Dr Riek Machar and the newly formed movements like NDM [National Democratic Movement], NSF [National Salvation Front], among others,” he further stressed.

The rights body called on South Sudanese authorities to reconsider their stand against individuals detained in the country, while stressing the need for government to respect peoples' rights as well as end illegal detention of those accused of supporting rebellion.

"Detention is a violation of the human rights of the individual [and] therefore the government must consider compensating the prisoners because of their rights to remedy,” Tito further told Sudan Tribune.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the presidency, Ateny Wek Ateny said the release of political detainees demonstrated Kiir's good will.

Freeing of the detainees without any precondition also demonstrated that Kiir was determined to resolve the country's civil war, Ateny was quoted saying last week.

South Sudan's civil war is a conflict in South Sudan between forces of the government and opposition forces. In December 2013, President Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar and ten others of attempting a coup d'état.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and over two million displaced in the country's worst-ever outbreak of violence since the young nation seceded from Sudan in 2011.

(ST)

The United Nations and the Security Council today condemned the attacks against camps of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali in Douenza and Timbuktu on Monday, which resulted in the deaths of one UN peacekeeper, a Malian soldier and a member of the Malian gendarmerie, along with six Malian contractors.

August 13, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has sent a congratulatory message welcoming the re-election of the incumbent Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying the victory was a testament of trust the coalition government has earned from the Kenyan people.

“Under your leadership, Kenya has remained key regional economic, peace and security partner. The people of South Sudan are particularly grateful for your contribution to restoring peace in our nation”, said president Kiir in a congratulatory message dated August 12, 2017, to President Kenyatta.

Kiir assured his commitment to continue to extend collaboration and deepen historic relations for mutual benefits of the citizens of the two countries.

“Your victory is a testament of the trust that the Jubilee coalition has earned from the people of Kenya and their appreciation of the efforts made toward the development of your country during the last five years,” the congratulatory message read.

On Friday, Kenya's electoral commission announced that President Uhuru Kenyatta had won the election by 1.4 million votes. Also, international observers said the vote on was fairly fair, as the local observers supported the results.

But Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga contested the results and called for a strike to protest it. He further accused the ruling party and security forces of "spilling the blood of innocent people".

In a related development, Kofi Annan Former U.N. Secretary General, who Annan mediated during a post-election crisis a decade ago, called on Kenyan political leaders to be "careful with their rhetoric and actions" and urged opposition leader Raila Odinga to pursue any complaints about the vote in court.

Odinga has rejected the results, claiming massive fraud, and said he will not go to court to challenge them.

Press reports say the death toll from the electoral violence reached to at least 24 people

(ST)

August 13, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on Tuesday will head a high-level delegation on a three-day official visit to Khartoum, said the Sudanese Presidency.

In a press release on Sunday, the presidential press office said the Ethiopian premier would discuss with President Omer al-Bashir ways to promote bilateral ties between the two countries as well as the regional and international issues of common concern.

Desalegn will also meet with Sudan's First Vice-President and Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Salih.

According to the press release, the visiting premier on Thursday would deliver a lecture on the situation in the Horn of Africa at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum.
He will also attend a cultural display and visit some industrial installations in Sudan.

The delegation accompanying the Ethiopian Prime Minister includes Minister of Government Communication Affairs Office, Negeri Lencho, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity, Sileshi Bekele, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, Berhane Gebrechristos, and State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hirut Zemene.

Sudanese-Ethiopian relations have witnessed remarkable development in the various political, economic, cultural and military fields in recent years.

The two countries are engaged more and more in joint economic projects particularly in the border areas for the benefit of the people from the two sides.

Last April, the two sides signed a number of joint agreements to promote economic relations and strengthen ties between the two countries. Also in February, they signed multiple agreements to further boost up cooperation on a range of development activities.

Also, Khartoum provided support for the Ethiopian government which constructs a dam on the Blue Nile.

In October 2016, the two countries signed in Addis Ababa a memorandum of understanding providing to enhance joint security and military cooperation between the two neighbouring countries to fight terrorism.

(ST)

August 13, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has unveiled that for him peace and political stability should be achieved through two tracks, saying the situation in the young nation has become embarrassing.

Kiir developed his vision for peace during a meeting with the Dinka traditional leaders from his home state of Gorgrial where over 30 people were killed during inter-communal clashes.

The head of state said he and the First Vice President Taban Deng Gai have developed two ways to end the conflict and return the country to peace.

"The national dialogue was one way to end the war. The other, he adds, is the reconciliation and reunification of the SPLM leaders while the regional revitalization forum provides a supplementary role."

He further urged the armed opposition groups to stop fighting and join the national dialogue, saying the country and the people deserve peace, security and stability in order to rebuild their lives after years of destruction.

“When you look at the current situation and look at the cause of the liberation struggle, you wonder why people should continue to suffer after fighting to gain independence. These are the questions we get and this is the reason why this senseless war should stop. And indeed it must top,” he told the Dinka elders at his residence in Juba.

He stressed that his government is implementing the peace agreement and the current situation will be overcome.

“The formation of the government has been completed and the cooperation of the ministers in the government has been encouraging. We want this spirit of cooperation to extend to all the states so that peace and harmony are realised at the grassroots level," he said.

He further pointed to the recent clashes among the Dinka Youth groups in Gogrial saying "There should not be fighting among communities like you are doing in the state."

"It has to stop," he stressed.

He urged the tribal leaders to promote peace among their communities and to brief their people about the government efforts to end the war and bring stability in the whole country.

"As you go back, help the state government in sensitization and mobilization efforts to enlighten the people about the importance of peaceful dialogue. As the transitional government of national unity, we have decided that stopping this war is the priority and we have clear plans to stop it," he reiterated.

(ST)

August 13, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - The Border Guards Force (BGF) in Darfur's five states has refused to be merged with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) saying it wouldn't cooperate with a government plan aiming to collect illegal weapons.

Last month, Defence Minister Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf announced a plan to reorganise the “forces supportive” of the Sudanese army. The step means to implement the recommendations of the national dialogue providing to integrate all the militias to the Sudanese army.

Also, Vice-President Hasabo Mohamed Abdel-Rahman and head of Darfur Disarmament Higher Committee on Friday winded up a five-day visit to Darfur's states to implement a government plan to collect illegal arms from individuals and tribes.

Haroun Medeikhir, the spokesperson for the Sudanese Revolutionary Awakening Council (SRAC) in Darfur headed by the tribal leader, Musa Hilal, told Sudan Tribune Sunday that traditional leaders and BGF commanders in Darfur's five states have met Saturday in Misteriya area in North Darfur to discuss the two issues.

He said the meeting, which was chaired by Hilal, has categorically rejected the merger with the RSF, pointing it also refused to hand over arms unless the collection process is carried out through a committee agreed upon by everyone.

Medeikhir added the proposed committee should include the interior and defence ministries besides the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), saying the committee must then sit with the traditional leaders to discuss the implementation of the plan.

“Those who have been delegated to collect the weapons are unqualified [to carry out the task],” he said.

The SRAC spokesperson said the meeting called for holding reconciliations in Darfur, demanding the release of the detained leaders from Rizeigat and Ma'alia tribes.
He described the ongoing arrest campaign in the region as an attempt to “dismantle the Arab tribes”, calling for unity of the latter to face these challenges.

Medeikhir stressed the BGF is on high alert in anticipation of any emergencies, denouncing the intimidating rhetoric used by the Vice-President during his visit to Darfur.

The BGF consists mainly of the notorious Janjaweed militia members that fought Darfur rebels along with Sudanese army. It was drawn mainly from the nomadic Arab tribes of the area and blamed for much of the killing in the Darfur conflict.

Later, the government also formed the SRF from the same Arab tribes. However, the Sudanese parliament last January passed the RSF Act which integrates the militia in the Sudanese army and provides that its commander is appointed by the President of the Republic.

Hilal has been hostile to the RSF leader, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, (aka Hametti) who was one of his lieutenants and tribal followers before to be the appointed commander of the RSF.

He fears that Hametti contests his tribal leadership as leader of Al-Mahameed tribe, a branch of the Rizeigat ethnic group.

The border guards include some 3,000 militiamen from Al-Mahameed.

(ST)

En Allemagne, la campagne électorale a véritablement démarré ce week-end à six semaines des prochaines élections, avec en vedette, Martin Schulz. Le challenger d'Angela Merkel était l'invité des chaînes de télévision publique ZDF et privée RTL. Un seul débat entre les deux principaux candidats est prévu pour le 3 septembre.

Chinese DF-41 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

In our series of letters from African journalists, veteran Ghanaian journalist Elizabeth Ohene reflects on her lack of passion for dogs.

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) has awarded a new contract to oil field equipment supplier Spectro Scientific for the provision of fluid analysis equipment and support to the US Navy.

The US Navy has successfully carried out its first at-sea aircraft launch and recovery tests on-board the newly commissioned Ford-class aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

BAE Systems has submitted its bid to the Australian Government for the SEA 5000 Future Frigate programme.

A number of developments suggest that South Asia’s political geography will be restructured in the medium to long term. The main external drivers are infrastructure projects – first and foremost the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – which open up new development opportunities for many countries in the region. At the same time relations between India and Pakistan, which were are the heart of any analysis on South Asia, are becoming increasingly decoupled. The already weak South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) may become even less important and is likely to be replaced by new cooperation formats.

Als Präsidentschaftskandidat verstörte Donald Trump die Regierungen Japans und Südkoreas, indem er ihnen angesichts der Bedrohung durch Nordkorea nahelegte, sich selbst mit Nuklearwaffen zu verteidigen. Nun plant Nordkorea, vier Raketen in Richtung der US-Pazifikinsel Guam abzuschießen. Präsident Trump fordert, solche Drohungen zu unterlassen – andernfalls werde Amerika mit »Feuer und Wut« reagieren. Statt kriegerischer Rhetorik ist aber Diplomatie notwendig, um eine Deeskalation und einen Dialog mit dem nordkoreanischen Machthaber Kim Jong-un herbeizuführen. Pjöngjang hat erhebliche Fortschritte bei der Entwicklung von Nuklearwaffen und Raketen erzielt. Nun steht Washington vor der Frage, wie es auf die wachsende Bedrohung des eigenen Landes durch Nordkoreas Atomraketen reagieren soll. Die Handlungsoptionen der USA und ihrer Verbündeten sind allesamt nicht gut und höchstens langfristig erfolgversprechend.

Eine Analyse der technischen und politischen Implikationen von „hack backs“

Au Danemark, le mystère reste entier depuis la disparition jeudi soir d'une journaliste suédoise qui effectuait un reportage dans le sous-marin artisanal le plus grand au monde, accompagnée de son propriétaire et inventeur danois. Il a été placé en détention provisoire pour « homicide involontaire ».

Les principales Organisations humanitaires non gouvernementales suspendent leurs opérations de sauvetage de migrants en Méditerranée. La marine libyenne a annoncé jeudi 10 août la création d'une zone de recherche et de sauvetage au large de ses côtes, interdite sauf autorisation aux navires étrangers et en particulier aux ONG qui patrouillent pour secourir les migrants. Après Médecins sans frontières et Save the Children, l'organisation humanitaire allemande Sea Eye a également décidé ce dimanche 13 août de garder ses navires au port, la sécurité de ses équipes n'étant plus garantie.