Africa

November 14, 2015 (BOR/ADDIS ABABA) – A South Sudanese armed opposition (SPLM-IO) official has dismissed claims that their forces carried out an attack at a village in Twic East county of the country's largest state.

Rebel fighters protect civilians from the Nuer ethnic group (not seen) walk through flooded areas to reach a camp in UNMISS base in Bentiu, Sept. 20, 2014 (Photo AP/Matthew Abbott)

The county commissioner, Dau Akoi said at least 20 people, mainly women and children, were killed during Friday's attack by rebels in Maar village.

“It is a disaster, two young kids were killed, and eight women of various ages, and 10 men. There is evidence that the attacked was carried out by the rebels of Riek Machar in the area. We could tell from the dead body of one of their fighters. He is a Nuer man,” he told Sudan Tribune by phone.

Among those killed, the commissioner said, was a local chief whose name was withheld.

“This is a violation of the peace agreement signed by the government and the rebel movement,” he said, urging the East African regional bloc (IGAD), African Union and the international community to intervene in the matter.

But the armed opposition leader's spokesperson, James Dak refuted allegations that their forces attacked a village Twic East county Friday.

“We are not responsible for the reported attack in Twic East county. There is no reason for us to attack civilians in villages. Our forces have not attacked anybody in the area,” he told Sudan Tribune Saturday.

Meanwhile, Dak welcomed the arrival of the assessment team into South Sudan's Unity state. The team, composed of members of the United Nations Security Council and IGAD visited Leer county on Friday to assess the human rights violations in the oil-rich region.

The assessment team, he said, also visited opposition held territories in the area to acquaint themselves with the recent human rights violations committed by South Sudan's warring parties. Dak, however, claimed government forces were on offensive in violation of the ceasefire, targeting both bases of opposition forces and civilian settlements in the area, resulting to death of dozens and displacement of thousands last week.

(ST)

November 14, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) - South Sudanese armed opposition fighters (SPLA-IO) led by former vice-president, Riek Machar, said they welcomed the declaration of the youth fighters in Western Equatoria state, known as the Arrow Boys, to join the opposition forces in the country.

Arrow Boys seen here in May 2010, patrol a village in south Sudan in an attempt to defend themselves from attacks LRA rebels (AFP)

The Arrow Boys, according to opposition leader's spokesman, commanded by their leader, Alfred Karaba Futiyo Onyang, have declared joining the SPLA-IO and vowed their allegiance to the leadership of the SPLM-IO.

“SPLM/SPLA welcomes the Arrow Boys in Western Equatoria state under the command of Alfred Karaba Futiyo, in their recent declaration to join the Movement,” said James Gatdet Dak, in a statement he issued on Saturday.

The commander of the arrow boys, Futiyo, also told Sudan Tribune that over 10,000 armed youth composing the arrow boys under his command from various communities in Western Equatoria state, have on Thursday declared joining the SPLA-IO.

Opposition leader's spokesman, Dak, welcomed the decision of the defection by the arrow boys and blamed the government of President Salva Kiir for pushing the youth fighters into making the decision.

He said the government was not committed to peace and had been carrying out attacks against the SPLA-IO and other armed groups in the country.

Last week, clashes occurred between the South Sudanese army (SPLA) and the Arrow Boys in Tombora area, resulting to killing of Tombora commissioner by suspected elements from the government forces, when they were ambushed on their return from a peace mission in an attempt to reconcile the government forces and the armed youth fighters.

Dak also said government forces have continued to attack opposition's bases in the oil rich Unity state.

(ST)

November 14, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's embassy in Cairo has submitted a memo to the Egyptian foreign ministry inquiring about mistreatment of Sudanese nationals in Egypt by police and national security.

Sudanese ambassador in Cairo Abdul-Mahmoud Abdul-Halim

There were media reports that several Sudanese citizens who arrived in Cairo for various reasons said that police and security services have stopped them on public streets and seized their money.

Sudan's Consul General in Cairo Khaled El-Shiekh told al-Youm al-Tali newspaper Saturday that the consulate submitted a memo to the Egyptian foreign ministry inquiring about the recent search and detention campaigns carried out against the Sudanese nationals.

He disclosed the consulate received complaints from several Sudanese who have been detained after they exchanged amounts of US dollars to Egyptian pounds without getting receipts.

According to the memo which was seen by Sudan Tribune, the consulate pointed the Egyptian foreign ministry didn't respond to a similar memo it submitted on November 1st.

The memo pointed that bad treatment by police and national security has recently increased against Sudanese nationals, saying that conduct is unacceptable and inconsistent with the deep ties and agreements signed between the two nations particularly the four-freedom agreement.

El-Shiekh said he visited the Sudanese detained in various police stations in Cairo, adding the prosecution office noted the measure was not only intended for the Sudanese but it applies for all foreign nationals in Egypt.

Meanwhile, Sudan's foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq told reporters Saturday that the Sudanese embassy in Cairo has clear directives to look after the Sudanese nationals and make sure they are being well treated.

He said they are confident that Egypt's foreign ministry would investigate the issue, stressing the strong ties between Khartoum and Cairo would enable them to overcome any misunderstanding.

(ST)

November 14, 2015 (JUBA) - The United States aid arm (USAID) has extended the International Organisation for Migration [IOM]-USAID Abyei Rehabilitation Initiative funding until 2018.

Abyei residents line up to receive humanitarian assistance (Photo: Tim McKulka/UNMISS)

Started in January 2013, the programme was designed to mitigate the risk of conflict and promote recovery in Abyei Administrative Area, a territory of more than 10,000 square kilometres contested by Sudan and South Sudan.

The initiative, officials said, came into effect in response to unmet needs related to armed conflict, displacement and longstanding intercommunal tensions in the disputed oil-producing region. Its first phase reportedly focused on reconstructing infrastructure in Abyei town, much of which was destroyed in the May 2011 armed attack.

Abyei's unresolved status means the region still require support to uplift and improve facilities like roads, schools, hospitals and other services.

According to IOM, the programme shifted its focus toward reinvigorating economic activity in Abyei and improving access to livelihood and educational opportunities in mid-2014.

“With the support of partners, IOM and USAID conduct vocational and informal livelihood trainings, teach business skills and English literacy, and engage students in peacebuilding and conflict mitigation activities,” it said.

The trainings reportedly place strong emphasis on supporting women and youth, representing the first educational opportunities for many students.

Since its inception, 670 people have reportedly completed the training courses. Over next two years, IOM and USAID will reportedly continue to focus on expanding livelihood opportunities, infrastructure projects and peace building activities, as well as improving the agriculture and livestock sectors in the disputed region.

(ST)

November 14, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The legislative council of Sudan's Northern State will discuss an urgent issue regarding claims that Chinese companies have buried radioactive nuclear waste in the desert during the construction of the Merowe dam.

Media reports have recently quoted the former director of the Sudan Atomic Energy Commission (SAEC), Mohamed Sidig, as saying that 60 containers with toxic waste were brought to Sudan together with construction materials and machinery for the building of the Merowe dam.

Sidiq claimed that 40 containers were buried in the desert near the dam construction site while another 20 containers have been left out in the open.

The head of the services committee at the legislative council in the Northern State, Ali Hassan Betaik, told Sudan Tribune that the state parliament will discuss an urgent issue he raised about the reports on the burial of nuclear waste in the state.

Betaik stressed the council will discuss the issue on Monday, pointing that the government of the Northern State is making efforts to protect the residents and preserve the environment.

He noted that his committee had previously sought to get scientific opinions on the causes of the widespread of some diseases in the state such as cancer and kidney failure, underscoring the government is keen to detect the reasons behind the spread of such diseases in the region.

He pointed that residents of the Northern State are concerned about the measures put in place to protect the environment particularly after the start of the traditional gold exploration activities which pose a serious ecological threat.

It is noteworthy that the Merowe dam, which is located near the Nile's fourth cataract, was completed in 2009 by Chinese, French, and German companies, and largely funded by China.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

November 14, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) -The number of South Sudan refugees crossing borders to Ethiopia due to the armed conflict at home has saw a significant decline during the recent weeks, a UN refugee agency official told Sudan Tribune on Friday.

Ethiopia has witnessed a huge influx of South Sudanese refugees since conflict erupted in the young nation in December 2013 (AFP)

Kisut Gebregzabiher, UNHCR's senior public information officer in Addis Ababa, said currently an average six South Sudanese refugees arrive at Ethiopian borders per day a sharp decline compared to previous months where large numbers of refugees had been recorded on daily bases.

Last year an average rate of up to 2,000 refugees per day had been crossing borders to Ethiopia to escape fierce fighting between the South Sudan government and SPLM armed opposition group led by Riek Machar.

The decline was observed after the signing of the compromised peace agreement last August between the two warring factions ending the nearly two-year long conflict in the youngest nation.

Last week, the two warring parties signed an agreement on final security arrangement which would lead for the two sides to fully implement the final peace agreement and form transitional government before mid January 2016.

Ethiopia currently hosts the largest number of South Sudanese refugees who fled home to escape violence.

Sudan Tribune was told that currently Ethiopia hosts nearly 290,000 South Sudanese, other than those tens of thousands who fled to Ethiopia before eruption of the latest conflict.

South Sudan refugees are currently being sheltered at camps in Gambela region bordering South Sudan.

Last year, Ethiopia was forced to open new camps to cope up the huge influx of South Sudanese refugees.

Although the decline in influx could be taken as a sign of improved security in the country but the UNHCR official said still few numbers of refugees continue to stream in to Ethiopia out of fear of renewed violence and food insecurity.

Although the final peace deal is signed between the two conflicting parties, exiled South Sudanese doubt the signatory parties would take a firm commitment to translate the agreement in to practice.

A number of south Sudanese communities continue to urge the parties to implement the agreement faithfully.

South Sudan's Gaajiok community in Kenya has called on the two principals (President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar) to abide by the terms of the peace deal and demonstrate a genuine political will to implement the peace agreement.

In a statement sent to Sudan Tribune, Gaajiok community chairperson in Kenya Bang Tut urged all the parties who contributed to the peace talks, to take the implementation process a serious matter.

“As the citizens of the country we are very desperate of peace. We are yearning for peace” Tut said adding “you need to implement this peace as your obligation”.

The conflict in South Sudan erupted in mid-December 2013 between forces loyal to Kiir and those backing former vice president Machar.

The violence which quickly spread across the country killed tens of thousands of people and forced an estimated two million flee their homes.

(ST)

Welcoming the adoption by the Security Council of a new resolution yesterday strongly condemning the ongoing killings and human rights violations in Burundi, a group of UN independent experts has expressed outrage at the situation and warned that the central African “is going towards an unacceptable path of atrocities.”

In the wake of more than two dozen attacks against aid workers and their facilities in the past months, the top United Nations relief official in Mali, Mbaranga Gasarabwe, today condemned the increasing violence against humanitarian organizations in the strife-torn country and warned that such attacks are violations of international law.

After new reports of sexual exploitation and abuse surfaced against troops of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), the head of the operation, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, strongly condemned the alleged incidents and announced that multifunction team would be dispatched to the location to gather the facts.

The United Nations Security Council today called on all parties in Burundi to engage in peace talks, warning of further action against those who incite more violence in the Central African country, where a recent upsurge has threatened hard-won stability after decades of ethnic strife and could lead to “potentially devastating consequences” for the entire region if it persists.

Two Libyan humanitarian workers affiliated with aid agencies were released on 7 November after being held captive for five months, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the country, Ali Al-Za’tari, said today, welcoming their release.

November 11, 2015 (NEW YORK) - The special representative of the United Nations secretary-general on sexual violence in conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura has commended senior officers from South Sudan's armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) for signing explicit undertakings to prevent conflict-related sexual violence.

South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar looks on during an interview at his residence on August 31, 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Photo AFP /Zacharias Abubeker)

"54 commanders reportedly made the commitment in Pagak, South Sudan on 31 October. These included Lieutenant General John Buth Teny, one of the highest ranking SPLA-IO Commanders, as well as three Major Generals, six Brigadier Generals, 13 Colonels, 10 Lt. Colonels and 20 Majors.

According to the UN, the undertakings, which are a central element of an action plan of SPLA-IO to combat sexual violence, focus on accountability, timely and rigorous investigations, cooperation with military justice authorities, and protection of victims and witnesses, judicial actors, humanitarians and service providers.

“These undertakings mean that each senior officer takes individual responsibility as well as command responsibility for his troops, and publicly declares that he will hold each soldier accountable for sexual violence crimes,” said Bangura.

“This is an encouraging step towards the protection of women, children and men of South Sudan from such crimes," she added.

The signing took place at the SPLA-IO base of operations in South Sudan, following a workshop related to prevention and response to conflict-related sexual violence organized by the Office of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, together with the Senior Women Protection Adviser from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The commanders undertakings reportedly reinforce the commitment expressed by the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar in a Communique on preventing conflict-related sexual violence in South Sudan, issued on 18 December 2014.

The engagement with PLM-IO, the UN said is undertaken in the framework of Security Council resolution 2016 (2011) on sexual violence in conflict.

Meanwhile, the UN special representative also urged South Sudan government to engage in a similar process, in line with what is within the joint communique on conflict-related sexual violence between the government and the UNsigned by President Salva Kiir last year.

(ST)

November 11, 2015 (BENTIU) - South Sudan remains engulfed in a spiral of violence – with clashes in southern and central parts of the oil-rich Unity state having “intensified with grave consequences for civilians”, leaving at-risk populations food insecure and vulnerable to diseases, the United Nations humanitarian agency (OCHA) has warned.

A view of the Protection of Civilians (POC) site near Bentiu, in Unity State, South Sudan, which houses over 40,000 IDPs 25 August 2014 (Photo UN/JC McIlwaine)

"The agency, in its latest bulletin, said is has with its partners managed to reach some towns in central Unity state and Western Equatoria state, and are assisting internally displaced people (IDPs) with health, water, sanitation and hygiene.

A $2.6 million contribution from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), it said, made it posssible to tackle the Cholera disease and that its outbreak was under control. OCHA's report cautioned that the ongoing rainy season could worsen situations.

The report, obtained by Sudan Tribune, warned that Malaria, another water-borne disease, is the primary cause for morbidity and mortality in the country and is continuing to spread, with cases doubling and quadrupling compared with the same period in 2014.

Meanwhile, the UN, its partners and South Sudan government is reportedly assisting a multi-sectorial malaria task force and scaling up distribution of mosquito nets and information dissemination on malaria prevention.

However, an additional $4 million is urgently needed to ensure the availability of malaria drugs and diagnostic tests, as well as social mobilization and logistical coordination.

According to the report, civilians have also suffered the grave consequences of killings, sexual violence and forced displacement. Food insecurity in these hard-hit regions has deteriorated and has seen a 4/5 increase compared to the same period last year.

“It is inspiring to witness the efforts our colleagues are making on the front line,” John Ging, OCHA's head of operations, who recently visited South Sudan, said in the report.

"The international community must continue to support these efforts, and stand in solidarity with those who have been the victims of conflict for far too long,” he added.

(ST)

November 11, 2015 (BOR) - The East African regional bloc (IIGAD) that mediated South Sudan compromised peace agreement between government and its armed rebel group in South Sudan conducted a public awareness about peace implementation modalities.

An extraordinary session of the IGAD heads of states meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 10 June 2014 (IGAD photo)

Willfred Obaga, who heads the Jonglei monitoring team, urged the the people of South Sudan's Jonglei state to understand the contextually of the peace deal signed in Addis Ababa by rebel leaders on 17th August and in Juba on 26 August by the government.

“The success of this peace is in the hand of each citizen in South Sudan”, said Obaga.

He said the Transitional Government of National Unity would be formed by the IGAD national constitution amendment committee, formed 21 days after the deal was signed.

“The Transitional Government of National Unity will govern for 30 months, and will be responsible for implementation of peace agreement, power sharing ratios to government, SPLM-IO, G10 and opposition parties, clusters of ministries to be shared and how composition of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States," added the official.

The Transitional Government of National Unity will provide relief, resettlement and protection for IDPs, facilitate the process for national reconciliation, carry out the making of a permanent constitution, work with IGAD-Plus member states and organizations.

It will also, among its other core funtions, reform public financial management and devolve more powers and resources to the country's states as well as counties.

The country will have 30 ministries, shared in the ratios of 53% to government, 33% to tje armed opposition, 7% to SPLM-former detainees and 7% to the other political parties.

The ministries are divided into governance cluster(10 ministries) economic cluster(13 ministries) and Service delivery cluster (7 ministries.

HYBRIB COURT

According to the agreement, African Union would form hybrid court for South Sudan to look into the recent findings of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan.

The court will have jurisdiction over the crimes committed since December 2013, including war crimes and other serious crimes such as rape and sexual violence.

“No one convicted shall be exempted from criminal responsibility on account of his or her official capacity as government official or elected official. Individuals indicted or convicted by HCSS will not be eligible for participation in the government of national unity or its successor governments”, the agreement stipulates in part.

A host of lawmakers, , government officials and civil society actors attended the event.

(ST)

November 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour held talks with his Maltese counterpart prior to the opening of a major migration summit that brought leaders from the African continent and the European Union (EU).

Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour (L) shaking hands with Malta's foreign minister George William Vella November 11, 2015 (Malta MFA)

At his meeting with Ghandour, Malta's foreign minister George William Vella referred to the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the field of migration following a previous visit to Khartoum by a Maltese delegation in 2012.

According to a press release by the Maltese foreign ministry, Ghandour gave a detailed overview of the complex migration scenario in Sudan with the country being both a country of origin and of transit.

The two sides also agreed that Libya was central to an effective mitigation of the migration situation in the Mediterranean.

On bilateral relations, the two ministers identified the sectors of education, training and institution-building upon which tangible cooperation could be established in the immediate term.

Vella underlined the need for Khartoum and Juba to fully implement the security and economic agreements relating to the normalization of relations between the two countries.

Ghandour is leading Sudan's delegation to the summit as Malta is member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which has two arrest warrants outstanding for president Omer Hassan al-Bashir.

There was confusion earlier today on Sudan's level of attendance as the official summit participants' list was empty from any Sudanese official.

The EU is expected to offer African states a range of aid as well as easier visa access and lower costs for migrants sending cash home in return for help to curb migration into the European bloc, including by taking back illegal immigrants.

(ST)

November 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - A huge fire broke out at the Quran University in Khartoum on Wednesday morning, after a Molotov cocktail attack by Darfurian Students who protested against tuition fees.

black smoke rising from a building of the University of Quran in Omdurman as two people spray water trying to control fire on 11 November 2015 (ST Photo)

Since 2013, the federal authorities and the Darfur Regional Authority agreed that only sons of refugees and displaced persons are eligible for the exemption of tuition. But several Darfurians student unions regularly contest this decision.

Student from Darfur region protested at the University of Quran in Omdurman twin's city of Khartoum on Wednesday morning demanding to be exempted from tuition fee in line with the Abuja and Doha peace agreements.

The protest took place as the university administration rejected their claim, saying that the exemption cannot cover all the students from the western Sudan region.

Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that some students thrown Molotov cocktails on the University campus causing the fire.

They added that the fire reached many buildings including the dean office, the teachers' offices, some halls and libraries. The police then cordoned the university and evacuate the students from the campus.

In a statement issued after the incident, the ministry of interior accused unidentified Darfurian students of causing riots at the university.

''A limited number of Darfur students had caused riots at the faculty of education of university of Quran."

The ministry further explained that three offices, the deanship faculty office, lecture hall and one of the financial offices have been burnt down.

"When the university's administration was asked about the cause, it reported that the fire was caused by some Darfur students who were protesting against the administration refusal to grant them exemptions of tuition fee,'' said the statement.

Meanwhile, an university official who asked for anonymity said that the campus was set on fire at 6:00 AM and continue for long time before the arrival of firemen.

He further revealed that the university board was called for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the incident.

(ST)

November 11, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese will continue feeling the pinch of the current economic meltdown unless the conflict completely subsides, an official warned.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir voices his reservations before signing a peace deal in the capital Juba, South Sudan Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015. (Photo AP/Jason Patinkin)

"There is no magic that will revive the economy. It is important to implement the people's will in a peaceful manner for the sake of the country”, the finance minister, David Deng Athorbei told Sudan Tribune Wednesday.

Before war broke out in the young nation nearly two years ago, South Sudanese Pound was relatively stable against the United States Dollar, trading at about 4SSP for a dollar.

Athorbei saidvPresident Salva Kiir was determined to stop the war and restore stability.

“He [Kiir] is determined, really determined to stop this war", said Athorbei, while stressing the South Sudanese leader's commitment to end the suffering of the population.

The minister's remarks followed the coutry's vice president's warning directed at officials perceived to be playing a negative role towards implementation of peace agreement in fear of losing political positions if the deal is implemented to leave the young nation.

“Over 99% of our people want peace. So if you have your own personal interest that makes you unwilling to accept peace, you better go to another country”, he told a forum reviewing the country's education sector in the capital, Juba on Tuesday.

Igga said the implementation of the peace deal with the armed opposition leadership under his predecesor would end random shooting, killings and robberies in the country.

The absence of war, he emphasized, would also allow the South Sudanese government to give priority to restore security and improve availability of food to the nation's citizens.

(ST)

November 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) said it has received an invitation from the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to resume talks on the Two Areas next Wednesday in Addis Ababa.

SPLM-N secretary-general Yasir Arman (Photo: Reuters)

On Tuesday, the AU officially announced that talks on security arrangements between the Sudanese government and the rebel groups in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states and Darfur region will be held on 18 to 19 November.

In press statements extended to Sudan Tribune Wednesday, SPLM-N secretary general Yasir Arman welcomed the resumption of talks on the humanitarian cessation of hostilities, reiterating that his group would only accept a comprehensive solution and a cessation of hostilities from Blue Nile state to Darfur region.

Arman, who is also the SPLM-N chief negotiator, said they received the AUHIP invitation for the tenth round of talks with the government, stressing the two sides will discuss a cessation of hostilities for humanitarian purposes.

“We welcome the invitation particularly as it pertains to the right of civilian population for humanitarian assistance and the refusal of the Sudanese government for that right over the past years is considered a war crime,” he said.

He added that their delegation would head for the talks with an open mind and heart in order to reach an agreement on delivering humanitarian assistance and ceasing hostilities.

The border states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile state have been the scene of a violent conflict since 2011 when fighting broke out between the SPLM-N and Sudanese army.

Nine rounds of talks between the two sides have stalled over issues pertaining to the security, humanitarian and political arrangements.

SPLM-N chief negotiator expressed hope that the upcoming round of talks would dissipate the negative climate created by the government's ongoing summer campaign in northern Blue Nile and its significant military reinforcements in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

He also condemned the government ban on travel of the leaders of the “Sudan Call” forces to Paris to attend the meeting of the alliance, saying the ban coincides with the repeated government statements on dialogue and the escalation of the arrest campaign against opposition activists.

Arman further directed harsh criticism to the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) leaders, saying they send large troops to combat zones while simultaneously speak about the peaceful solution at the government-led dialogue conference.

He stressed that the NCP refuses the national dialogue preparatory meeting and also rejects the participation of the opposition alliance of the National Consensus Forces (NCF) and the original dialogue body known as 7+7 which signed the Addis Ababa agreement in September 2014.

“We are now [meeting] in Paris and we will send a clear message about the unity of the opposition [forces] and the need to develop the “Sudan Call” [charter],” he added

The opposition “Sudan Call” forces include the rebel umbrella Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), National Umma Party (NUP), NCF and the civil society organizations.

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

However, the Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir last month instructed the 7+7 committee to meet with the signatories of Addis Ababa agreement including the SRF and the NUP.

The SRF and the NUP from one side and 7+7 committee from the other side signed an agreement on identical terms with the AU High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) “on the national dialogue and constitutional process” on 5 September 2014.

APPEALING TO SAUDI ARABIA

Meanwhile, Arman said his movement rejects the decision of Saudi Arabia to fund the construction of three water dams in the River Nile and Northern states.
Last week, Sudan and Saudi Arabia signed a framework agreement to fund the building of Kajbar, Dal and Al-Shiraik water dams.

Following the signing of the deal, Sudan's finance minister Badr al-Din Mahmoud disclosed that Saudi Arabia has committed to invest 1.7 Billion U.S dollars for the dam projects.

Arman called upon the Kingdom to refrain from funding those projects, saying the dams would be built against the will of the Sudanese peoples particularly the population in the River Nile and the Northern states.

“Those dams represent a cultural genocide and they would wipe out a precious part of Sudan's history … they [dams] were being rejected by the residents of the area who lost martyrs [in the protests] against [the construction of the dams],” he added

He said that Sudan's land must not be offered as a guarantee for any foreign loans, stressing that interests of the Sudanese people must come first.

SPLM-N secretary general stressed the Sudanese regime will be gone soon, saying it represents all forces hostile to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States.

“Those nations [Gulf States] have no interest in supporting this regime because it would be against the desire of the Sudanese people,” he said.

He added the Sudanese regime is involved in the ongoing war in Libya and part of the plots against neighbouring countries, saying it is the Sudanese people who will remain in place and the regime would eventually be removed.

(ST)