May 29, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese army (SPLA) spokesperson dismissed as “lie” report by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) that Juba soldiers fired at UN peacekeeping mission in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile state.
The UN said one of its peacekeepers was wounded on Thursday in the oil-rich Upper Nile state's capital, Malakal, when SPLA soldiers fired at its civilian protection site on Thursday.
“The mission is deeply concerned that despite reassurances given by both parties, such an incident occurred this afternoon and reiterates its strong call upon all the parties to respect the sanctity of UN installations and staff,” Stephane Dujarric, a UN spokesperson, revealed in New York.
However, SPLA spokesman, Col. Philip Aguer, frustrated by the report said it was a lie, but added that a preliminary investigation only established that soldiers shot randomly in Malakal town on Thursday, several kilometres away from UNMISS base.
“It [the alleged wounding of UN soldier] was later discovered to be a lie,” said Aguer, speaking to Sudan Tribune by phone.
“It [the shooting] was not near the UNMISS camp. It was inside Malakal town,” he said.
But Aguer insisted that there was nobody even injured in Malakal town among the SPLA or civilians.
Civilians sources sheltering at UNMISS base in Malakal however said that eight civilians were injured inside UNMISS camp including two peacekeepers when elements of the SPLA soldiers fired at the civilians sheltered in the UN facility. No death case was reported.
There are 30,410 civilians in Malakal's UN protection of civilians sites (PoCs) according to the UNMISS.
(ST)
May 29, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir received a letter from the Libyan Prime minister , Abdullah al-Thani, dealing with the political developments in the neighbouring country.
The official news agency SUNA said Bashir received Friday evening an special envoy of the Libyan prime minister, Nouri Mohamed Beit Almal, who handed him a message from al-Thani.
The president ''expressed interest in the content of the letter, stressing Sudan's desire to assist and continue cooperation with Libya. He looks forward to meet with all parties in a dialogue to stop the conflict and reach solutions restoring stability in Libya,'' said the agency.
Following a visit of the Libyan prime minister to Khartoum in October 2014, Sudan announced that Libya's rival governments accepted Bashir's initiative for reconciliation and dialogue, announcing that Libya's neighbouring countries meeting will be held in Khartoum.
However, earlier this month, the Sudanese government disclosed that the United Nations (UN) has asked for its help to convince the warring Libyan parties to sign an agreement it drafted to resolve the crisis in the north African nation.
On Thursday 28 May, the United Nations special envoy Bernardino Leon said that the rival governments had agreed on 80 percent of an accord and negotiators were working on the remaining 20 percent,
Since August 2014, Libya has two governments and parliaments since Tripoli was seized in a coalition of Islamist groups while the internationally recognized government is based in Tobruk. Qatar , Sudan and Turkey are accused of supporting this alliance.
There are also Jihadists groups linked to the extremists of The Islamic State based the eastern city of Derna.
In press statements after the meeting, Beit Almal said his government appreciates the growing interest showed by president Bashir to bring security and stability in Libya.
He further said he congratulated the Sudanese president for his re-election on the behave of the Libyan people and government.
(ST)
May 29, 2015 (NYALA) - Aid groups in South Darfur state have warned against increasing numbers of orphans and displaced persons due to tribal conflicts and the ongoing war between the government army and the rebel groups since 2003.
The national aid group Solidarity for Relief and Development (SRD) on Thursday has launched the first festival for adopting 5000 orphans and providing their families with the basic means of production.
SRD secretary general, Amir Hussein Abdel-Rigal, said they aim to increase the number to reach 10,000 adopted orphans by the end of the year, noting his group continued to offer other services including drinking water projects and building of mosques.
He pointed out that they provide services in various Sudanese states, adding that orphans festival is being launched for the first time in South Darfur.
Abdel-Rigal said they also launched the “Million Subscriber” initiative to support orphans across the country, pointing that subscribers only contribute a monthly donation of one Sudanese pound (SDG).
He called for renouncing tribal violence in Darfur in order to reduce the number of orphans in the restive region, saying that tribal fighting is the major source of orphanhood in South Darfur.
“We want Darfur to enjoy stability, peace and prosperity instead of tribal conflicts and fighting which [are the main cause] for the existence of vast numbers of orphans,” he added.
The humanitarian aid commissioner in South Darfur, Jamal Yousif, for his part, praised efforts of the SRD, pointing the great confidence won by the latter from the donors would enable it to provide valuable services for the orphans.
A source within the social welfare ministry in South Darfur told Sudan Tribune that the state was unable to determine the total number of orphans due to limited financial resources, saying that tribal fighting and the armed struggle are the main causes responsible for existence of thousands of orphans.
The same source pointed that a preliminary study showed that the state is a home for more than 4,000 orphans, stressing that numbers of the homeless is constantly growing which requires finding solutions to prevent further exacerbation of the situation.
The government forces conducted a brutal counter-insurgency campaign following the start of a rebellion in Darfur 2003.
UN agencies estimate as many as 300,000 people have been killed and almost 3 million were displaced.
Also tribal fighting has intensified in four of Darfur's five states during the past two years leading to thousands of deaths and injuries and forcing over 300,000 people to flee their homes.
(ST)
May 29, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudan's presidency has downplayed reports of insecurity in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, dismissing claims of rebel presence in the region.
This comes a day after renegade Gen. Dau Atorjong told Sudan Tribune his forces had captured strategic areas in the state, citing Aweil West and Aweil North counties, Nyinboli and other key areas.
But the presidency, in a statement issued Friday, said the rebels' claim aimed at misleading citizens and the international community
“We want to inform our citizens and to whom it may concerns that Northern Bahr El Ghazal State did not concede any territory to the rebels, nor did it experience any serious fight with the rebels,” it said.
“What has transpired, however, was the column of rebels' intelligent reconnaissance moving to explore targets in NBGS [Northern Bahr el Ghazal state], but it felt into government ambush and two of the rebel officers were taken captive,” added the release.
According to the presidency, the prisoners of war taken by the government forces from the rebel forces of Gen. Atorjong were 2nd Lt. Mou Garang Diing and Sgt. Major Kerbino Bol Marik Ken and they the duo were now in the Division 3 Infantry headquarters' custody.
“The Division 3 Commander's Major General Santino Deng Wol is now arranging with the Chief of General Staff to bring the two captives to the SPLA General Headquarters for further investigation,” stressed the statement issued by the country's presidency.
It further said the rebels who escaped capture were currently on the run, but they are being pursued by the national army attached to Division 3.
“We therefore would like to appeal to our citizens in NBGS to remain calm and focused while the SPLA forces are doing their national duty. Rumors of the utopian rebel advances must be discarded, if rebels are to be deprived of the ability to manufacture lies,” it noted.
(ST)