Sudan Tribune

September 29, 2016 (JUBA) – A one-week campaign in the South Sudanese capital dubbed “Clean Up Juba” attracted more than 500 residents.

Volunteers at work after the launch of the Clean-Up campaign in Juba, September 22, 2016 (Albert Gonzalez Farran/Oxfam)

The campaign, which was jointly conducted by Oxfam, the UN Children Fund (UNICEF) and Juba City Council aimed at raising awareness on responsible waste management needs.

Speaking at the campaign launch, the mayor of Juba city, Stephen Wani Michael challenged citizens to always ask themselves what part they played to stop cholera.

“My policy is to see that basic services are delivered to the people. Fighting against cholera is a collective effort, and it starts by keeping our environment and water clean,” he said.

The campaign is reportedly part of Oxfam's cholera response and cements its commitment to the people of Juba to improving environmental management in the city.

“Juba is our city and we all need to work together to maintain it for the health and well-being of each other,” said Kenyi Alison, Oxfam's Public Health Team Leader.

“This clean-up is the first step towards creating a clean and healthy environment where we can all live,” she added.

Oxfam has reportedly been providing ongoing support to Juba City Council in addressing waste management issues, by providing rubbish collection trucks, information, interactive public campaigns as well as household visits.

(ST)

September 29, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese government under the leadership of President Salva Kiir has slammed the former First Vice President, Riek Machar, for declaring resumption of armed struggle against the “regime” as an alternative action to bring true peace to the country.

President Kiir speaking through his spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny, in a response statement on Thursday rejected the new position of the leader of the armed opposition faction of the SPLM-IO, saying there is no place in South Sudanese politics for those who wish to take part through the barrel of the gun.

“Riek Machar will never be a peacemaker. Indeed, he has a long history of turning to war to force his demands on the peoples of South Sudan,” said the presidential spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny,

Meanwhile Machar's replacement, Taban Deng Gai, described the decision of his predecessor and the man on whose behalf he negotiated the August 2015 peace agreement to end the two years of violent conflict with the government as unacceptable. He asked the Sudanese government to “shut him up” and stop him from inciting violence.

Gai viewed himself as “a peace lover and described Machar as “a violent man.”

“Anybody who is a peace lover has a great future ahead of him, but Riek Machar has been a violent man from 1991, 1998, 2013, and 2016. I think he should have a new approach now. If he denounces violence and becomes a peaceful person like me, like Salva Kiir, there is a role for him," said Gai at a roundtable discussion hosted by the Council's Africa Center in the United States.

He said the call to arms was “unacceptable” and urged Machar to remain in exile until when he can return as a peace lover to participate in elections, rather than pushing for violence as a way to bring peace.

Gai's controversial ascendance to power in July is viewed by Machar's supporters as a conspiracy between him and President Kiir to “cooperatively” dismantle the August 2015 peace deal which the president signed with a long list of reservations and warned of difficulty to implement it.

The opposition leader was pushed out from Juba in July during the renewed violence between his bodyguards and forces loyal to President Kiir.

He called for deployment of a third party force to Juba to provide protection or else wage an armed resistance to change the situation.

(ST)

September 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - South Sudan made a formal protest to Khartoum for hosting the former First Vice President Riek Machar, a diplomat said on Thursday.

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar addresses a press conference in his private residence in Addis Ababa, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. (Photo AP/Mulugete Ayehe)

South Sudanese Deputy Head of Mission to Khartoum Kau Nak Maper told Sudan Tribune on Thursday that the Embassy handed a protest letter to the foreign minister over the conditions of Machar's hosting in Khartoum.

"The protest came on the background of the political activity carried out by Machar, and through which he declared the armed resistance against the government of Juba," Maper said.

Following a three-day meeting in Khartoum the SPLM-IO Political Bureau under the leadership of Riek Machar announced they opted for the armed struggle in order to establish a democratic regime in Juba.

Juba had been reassured by the Sudanese authorities that Machar is in Khartoum for humanitarian reasons, indicating he receive medical care.

The South Sudanese diplomat said the Embassy has not yet received a response from the Sudanese government to the protest note. However he pointed out that the lack of response would not lead to escalation or a crisis in the bilateral relations.

"The issue will be discussed during the meetings of the joint security committee between the two countries, which will is taking place in Juba nowadays," he revealed.

Last Monday, South Sudan's Ambassador to Khartoum Mayan Dut Waal, said he was surprised to see the Sudanese government allowing Machar to declare war against his government. And called to ban his political activities against Juba.

On the same Monday, Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghanodur stressed that Sudan wouldn't serve as a launching pad for any armed opposition activities against South Sudan.

24 hours later he told Al-Jazeera TV that the rebel leader would leave Sudan in the near future without further details.

"The hosting of former South Sudanese First Vice President Riek Machar in Sudan is temporary, as he is now admitted to a Khartoum hospital and will leave the country soon," he said.

(ST)

September 29, 2016 (JUBA) - General Dau Aturjong, a high ranking military officer who abandoned government at the height of the civil war in 2014 and joined rebellion, has returned to the South Sudanese army (SPLA).

General Dau Aturjong (ST)

Aturjong defected to the armed opposition movement led by South Sudan's former vice-president, Riek Machar, but has now rejoined the army and also instructed his forces Aweil to follow him without conditions.

What prompted the ex-rebel commander to switch sides remain unclear, with his supporters claiming he responded to call from the community to forget the past and open a new political page.

Other, however, claimed Aturjong failed to secure a high ranking position within the armed opposition leadership, during the selection and recommendation for officials to occupy high level positions, including in cabinet, upon returning to the capital, Juba.

In an attempt to assure the public of his reconciliation with the army chief of staff, General Malong Awan, the duo travelled to Aweil, the former administrative headquarters of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state and held a community meeting to announce the abrupt decision.

While addressing the community, Aturjong said he abandoned the armed opposition for government and returned to the community in order to work for peace and reconciliation among the population.

“There have been who have been asking me what I was doing with Riek Machar and what did I get from him. I tell them I was not going for a position. There was a reason for which I went and I have now returned because I have accepted the call of the community and today mark my return. It is a happy day. It is an historic day for the people of Aweil and our message is that we want to work together, we want unity,” said Aturjong.

He likened his decision to switch allegiance from the armed opposition to the government side to cleanliness of a person who cleans his own house thereby attracting other people to follow suit.

Meanwhile, Awan said the former rebel commander was a “liberator” known by everyone in the area, but decided to join rebellion due to “grievances” and other “political disappointments”.

“It is indeed a very important day for the people of Aweil as General Dau has said it correctly, because in reality General Dau is one of the people who were in the struggle. Everybody knows him. He was just absent because of a certain disappointment which we don't want to go back to it. And he has come back without any condition,” Awan told the community.

He said Aturjong was in the community to assure the people that he was ready to work with government in the struggle to restore peace.

“So that is why we have just taken this day to be for him in Aweil to talk to his people and to be seen by his people that he is just among us and he is highly welcome,” stressed Awan, who later held Aturjong's hand as they waved to the public to signify reconciliation.

(ST)

September 28, 2016 (JUBA) – Over 15,000 South Sudanese refugees arrived in Faradge and Aru in Haut-Uele and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, following a resurgence of violence in South Sudan, aid agencies said.

South Sudanese refugees fleeing violence in their home country wait to be transported to Uganda's Arua district settlement camp on 6 January 2014 (Photo: AFP/Isaac Kasamani)

Neigbouring Congo has been experiencing an influx of refugees into Aru territory in Ituri, close to the border with South Sudan, since October 2015.

Currently there are 27,250 registered South Sudanese refugees in the territories of Faradge and Aru in Haut-Uele and Ituri provinces, according to aid agencies.

Much as the new arrivals of South Sudanese refugees have received little humanitarian assistance, those in Ituri reportedly lack food, shelter, and medicine.

There are also fears that the security situation in South Sudan could remain volatile over the coming months, amid reports that fighting could intensity between government and opposition forces across the country, including across parts of Central and Western Equatoria states thus forcing people to flee into the DRC.

Aid agencies, including the United Nations, say refugees would be in need of psychosocial support as grave human rights abuses, including a high incidence of sexual violence, have been reported in South Sudan since conflict escalated in July.

Meanwhile, authorities in the DRC on Friday handed over more than 300 South Sudanese Refugees to Uganda and UN refugee agency (UNHCR) representatives.

The South Sudanese had sought refuge in DRC, but lack of resources and poor governance systems prompted Congolese authorities to hand them over to Uganda.

The violence in South Sudan, aid agencies say, has forced more than 195,000 people to flee the country since 8 July, bringing the number of South Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries to over 1 million. In South Sudan, over 1.6 million people are internally displaced and another 261,000 are refugees from Sudan, DRC, Ethiopia and CAR, according to latest figures from the UN refugee agency.

(ST)

September 28, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - U. S. officials Wednesday said that U.S. sanctions on Sudan do not include private and remittance humanitarian aid to the eastern African country and encouraged transactions with Khartoum within the framework of many authorizations and licenses.

The US imposed comprehensive sanctions on Sudan in 1997 (US Embassy in Khartoum website)

Sudan has been under U.S. sanction since 1997, so financial institutions and banks are very careful when it comes to transaction and business in connection with this country.

After a severe punishment of $9 billion on the BNP Paribas in May 2015, many institutions stopped banking transfers and transactions fearing sanctions.

In a bid to clarify the situation, the Department of State organized a workshop in New York on September 19, 2016 attended by foreign and domestic financial institutions and members of the private sector U.S.-Sudan Business Council.

Addressing the workshop, U.S Special Envoy For Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth "voiced the U.S. Government's hope that existing authorizations and licenses, many of which are humanitarian in nature, would be used to their fullest to benefit the people of Sudan."

According to a statement released by the Department of State on Wednesday, Booth further said the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury which is tasked with the administration and enforcement of economic and trade sanctions can help them to understand what is permitted or prohibited.

"Above all, Ambassador Booth encouraged banking institutions to ask OFAC, the agency that administers U.S. economic sanctions on Sudan, for guidance on specific transactions, stating, “When in doubt, ask!”, said the statement.

During the past years, several banks said the regime of sanctions is very obscure and unclear, as they do not necessarily have the qualified staff in their branches to deal with this situation in their day-to-day activity.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Andrew Keller, attended the meeting. he led the U.S. delegation, consisting of representatives from the State Department, the OFAC, and the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security.

Keller said the purpose of the workshop is to explain the extent of permissible business activities, which include commercial transactions.

During the one day seminar, the American officials explained "the jurisdictional limits of U.S. sanctions for transactions which do not involve U.S. goods or have a U.S. nexus".

Also, Keller underlined that "non-commercial, personal remittances and humanitarian assistance" are authorized under the Sudan sanctions program.

“Effective sanctions are not just about the sanctions target feeling the pinch, they are also about making sanctions relief palpable,” Keller stressed.

Agriculture equipment and services are excluded from Sudan sanctions, Washington also allowed exports of personal communications hardware and software. Further, the US Treasury Department removed the private Bank of Khartoum from a blacklist of Sudanese entities.

The workshop was attended by the Governor of the Central Bank of Sudan Abdel Rahman Hassan Hashim who addressed the workshop.

Earlier this year Sudan's Minister of Finance Badr al-Din Mahmoud, said his government is not affected by the sanctions as it deals with other currencies but not the dollar.

He further called to explain the American sanctions on Sudan to the commercial banks saying Sudanese people are the most affected by this programme..

(ST)

September 28, 2016 (JUBA) – Deputy Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs and former leader of Murle armed Cobra Faction, David Yau Yau, has met President Salva Kiir in Juba on Wednesday, a day after his deputy declared resumption of armed rebellion against the government.

Members of the South Sudan Democratic Movement/Army (SSDM/A) faction march in Gumuruk on 13 May 2014 after their leader, David Yau Yau, signed a peace deal with the South Sudanese government on 9 May 2014 in Addis Ababa (Photo: AFP/Samir Bol)

General Yau Yau, who was appointed deputy minister of defence in April after joining the ruling SPLM party in January and left his South Sudan Democratic Movement/Cobra (SSDM/Cobra) faction which he formed after losing in local elections in 2010, said he was still loyal to the president although his former deputy has defected with their forces.

Yau Yau said the meeting with President Kiir was an assurance of his loyalty.

“I came with all Murle elders to inform His Excellence the President that we have not defected from him. Those people who left are just individuals and do not represent us,” he told reporters after meeting in the State House, known as J1.

Yau Yau's former deputy, Lieutenant General, Khalid Botrus Bora, has announced his defection from the government of President Kiir on Tuesday in Nairobi, Kenya. Botrus accused the government of failing to honour the provisions of May 2014 agreement that promised appointment of a presidential advisor for SSDM/Cobra and administering of Pibor county.

Pibor is currently a state called Boma but SPLM governor, Baba Medan Konyi, was appointed to head it in December. Yauyau previously led the Greater Pibor Administrative Area from 2014 to December 2015 before it was upgraded to a state.

Yauyau did not give details of the meeting but observers say it is a show of loyalty to President Kiir who is facing numerous rebellions against his government.

DIALOGUE WITH DEFECTORS

Meanwhile, South Sudan's government under the leadership of President Kiir has slammed the defection, saying there is need to dialogue with the defected officers and forces of the Murle ethnic group. They also asserted that the issues behind the decision could have been addressed through peaceful dialogue.

Acting government spokesman, Akol Paul Kordit, told reporters on Wednesday that the reasons cited in the press statement by the defected commanders of the Cobra faction could have been addressed through peaceful dialogue instead of taking up arms to wage a destructive war against innocent people.

“We just learnt this development in the media where we obtained their statement but the things they raised, like the issue of presidential advisor and the construction of the roads do not need a rationale person to take up arms to kill people and destroy properties. These are things which could be addressed through peaceful dialogue. They do not need taking up arms and go to the bush,” Kordit told reporters, saying the government was ready to talk to the defected commanders.

The official claimed more than 80% of the agreement has been implemented. He cited the creation of the greater Pibor Administrative Area, detachment of the area from Jonglei state and attached to the office of the president with the status of a state and the subsequent appointment of the chief administrator.

The creation of the 7 counties was one of the provisions which he said had been successfully implemented in accordance with the provisions of the agreement.

Another area where the agreement has been honoured and successfully implemented, Kordit further claimed, was in the area of integration and promotion of the three commanders to the rank of lieutenant generals and 5 major generals and several brigadiers and colonels into the ranks and files of the Sudan People's Liberation army (SPLA).

He was reacting to the statement announcing defection of the top commanders in the Cobra Faction in which they accused the government under President Kiir to have not honoured key provisions.

Signed by General Khalid Boutros, the statement called for joining efforts with other armed opposition groups, probably the SPLA-IO under the leadership of former First Vice President, Riek Machar, to remove the government of president Kiir from power and to rebuild the nation.

“By this statement, the SSDM/A is announcing that it shall from today join the struggle against the authoritarian tribalistic regime in Juba,” the statement seen by Sudan Tribune reads in part.

“Being conscious of the need to unify the ranks of all the forces opposed to the regime, SSDMA/Cobra shall immediately enter into serious dialogue with the like-minded patriotic forces already in the field of combat with the aim of cooperation, coordination or merger. Any dispersion of efforts shall only serve this ruthless regime and should not be allowed,” said General Boutros.

He called on the people, especially his ethnic Murle, to take up arms to wage a popular struggle to restore peace and unity of South Sudan.

“We call upon all the masses of our people to close ranks behind the struggle to rid themselves of a regime characterized by oppression, tribalism, corruption and anarchy to install instead a national democratic state that addresses the twin issues of national-building and state-building,” the statement said.

(ST)

September 28, 2016 (JUBA)- The State Department has strongly condemned South Sudan's armed opposition leader's call for armed resistance against the government, describing it as "inexcusable".

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar addresses a news conference in Uganda's capital Kampala January 26, 2016 (Reuters photo)

Rebel leader, Riek Machar issued a statement saying his armed opposition would re-organize to “wage a popular armed resistance against the authoritarian and racist regime of President Salva Kiir,” raising fears young nation could plunge into a renewed civil war.

This came in a resolution passed by the political bureau meeting convened on Saturday in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, under the leadership of Machar, also commander-in-chief of the rebels, who spoke for the first time since leaving Juba.

The State Department spokesman, John Kirby, however, said violence would never resolve the ongoing armed conflict in the world youngest nation.

"We find it inexcusable that he would continue to promote armed resistance," said Kirby, adding "It indicates a lack of concern for the well-being of the South Sudanese people, many of whom continue to struggle just to survive and just as much want to see peace."

Machar, the country's former first vice president, fled the capital, Juba in July after his forces violently clashed with those loyal to President Salva Kiir; an incident that left more than 200 soldiers dead.

Kiir, citing his former deputy's absence, later sacked Machar and named ex-rebel negotiator Taban Deng Gai as first vice president.

The armed opposition faction said it had dismissed all its senior members, including Gai, who are part of the coalition government.

Article 2 (d) of the resolution passed by the armed opposition's political bureau, “Called for reorganization of the SPLA (IO) so that it can wage a popular armed resistance against the authoritarian and fascist regime of President Salva Kiir in order to bring peace, freedom, democracy and the rule of law in the country.”

The group, in their resolution, also accused President Kiir's regime of allegedly attempting to “assassinate” the leadership of the armed opposition when fighting erupted at the presidential palace in July.

The opposition group, however, said they were for peace and to “resuscitate” it, calling for rapid deployment of regional forces in order to salvage the peace agreement signed in August 2015.

They claim both the peace accord and the transitional national unity government have collapsed in its absence as a peace partner. In August last year, a peace deal was signed by both Machar and Kiir, but fighting has put the accord at risk of collapse.

“(The SPLM-IO) call on the international community to declare the regime in Juba a rogue government,” the resolution reads in part.

It urged those monitoring the peace deal to suspend their activities.

Barely five years after its independence from neighbouring Sudan, South Sudan descended into civil war in December 2013. Tens of thousands of South Sudanese civilians were killed and more than 2 million displaced.

(ST)

September 28, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan police has blamed intensive shootings on Tuesday night in the suburb of the capital, Juba, on criminals, claiming that no casualty was also reported.

Residents of Thonpiny and Munuki were scared when shooting started at about 10pm local time and lasted for at least 20 minutes.

South Sudan's police spokesman, Brigadier General, Daniel Justin Boulo, said the shooting was an attempted robbery.

“Those were some criminals trying to rob people at night and they were engaged by security forces,” said Boulo when contacted for comment on Wednesday.

Boulo said an investigation is underway to establish any loss from the house attacked by “criminals” but indicated that no arrest has been made. He said no person was injured.

But residents of Munuki said there was apparent exchange of fire and movement of vehicles.

“It started like two men exchanging fire and then there many people involved,” said Munuki resident John, declining to use his second name.

“Ten minutes after [the shooting started], some vehicles came and the fighting intensified,” he added.

Robberies are common in Juba but rarely involved exchange of fire between security forces and the criminals. South Sudan police blame the robberies on “unknown gunmen” but residents suspect security forces of violent stealing in the town.

Also the checkpoint at Jebel was attacked twice this week by armed men suspected to be members of the opposition group of the SPLA-IO. Authorities however described them as unknown gunmen.

(ST)

September 28, 2016 (BOR) - Over 80 heads of cattle were stolen from Bor west county in South Sudan's Jonglei state by suspected Murle men, officials said.

Cattle keeper Abraham Thon stands in front of some resting cows outside Bor, the capital of South Sudan's Jonglei state, on 20 September 2014 (ST)

The attack reportedly occurred days after the government and community representatives from both Boma and Jonglei states held a consultative peace meeting in Bor town to end cattle rustling and child abductions.

The commissioner of Bor West county, Simon Thon Ayuen, said the “criminals” were those opposed to the peace process.

“The prime suspects are from Boma state. They came took some cattle and they are heading towards Boma state. The youth of the county are now pursuing them”, he said.

There were, however, disparities in number of cattle stolen. For instance, while the commissioner said 400 heads of cattle were stolen, multiple eyewitnesses estimated the numbers of the stolen cattle to be between 80 and 90.

The incident, Ayuen stressed, will not block the ongoing peace process.

“We are still committed to peace, but anti-peace agents are still doing this. We must take care of these criminals on both sides before we reach the final peace agreement,” said the commissioner.

He further added, “Authorities in Pibor have to wait for these criminals, when they reach, they have to be captured and detained, and the government may immediately report back to our government”.

The Boma state governor, Baba Medan, told Sudan Tribune said he was aware of the stolen cattle, but did not hint on how the criminals would be traced.

He accused some elements in both Boma and Jonglei state of allegedly working very hard to disrupt the peace process.

Medan named some government officials and prominent people in both states as being against the peace process.

There are fears among the public about the fate of the ongoing peace initiative between the two states in the wake of the recent defection of former top cobra officials like Khalid Boutros, among others.

(ST)

September 28, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Five Sudan Call groups have decided to cut organizational ties with the opposition umbrella National Consensus Forces (NCF) following mounting differences over participation in the African Union-led peace process.

Leaders and delegates of the Sudan Call forces pose in a collective picture at the end of their meeting outside Paris on November 13 2015 (ST Photo)

Last week, the NCF suspended membership of five Sudan Call groups including the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP), Sudanese Baath Party (SBP), Center Alliance Party (CAP), Sudanese National Party (SNP) and Sudanese National Alliance (SNA).

“Since last February, the above mentioned parties, participate in the meetings of the Sudan Call and take a number of decisions on the relationship with the Sudan Call without consulting with the NCF,” said the NCF.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, the five parties said their decision to “cut organizational ties with the NCF” came after objective and transparent deliberations, noting they seek to avoid unnecessary disputes that could further divisions among opposition forces.

The press release stressed commitment to coordinate with the NCF on the mutually agreed upon issues, saying the two sides should focus their efforts to fight against the corrupt and tyrannical regime.

It added the Sudan Call groups decided to be part of the NCF in order to promote the unity of the opposition work and expand the resistance front.

The Sudan Call, which was established in Addis Ababa on 3 December 2014, includes the NUP and rebel umbrella of Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF), the NCF and the Civil Society Initiative (CSI).

Since several months, the NCF has been divided over its participation, within the framework of the Sudan Call, in the negotiations for a peaceful settlement to end war in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states and Darfur region and a national constitutional dialogue conference.

While the five groups were willing to take part in the political process alongside the armed groups and National Umma Party (NUP), the other forces including the Sudanese Communist Party say they want the Sudan Call to focus on the regime change agenda and popular uprising.

They believe that the current process would not bring democratic change in Sudan but would be a repetition to previous peace agreements and reinvigorates the regime of President Omer al-Bashir.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

September 28, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday said large numbers of South Sudanese refugees have continued to cross into neighbouring Ethiopia.

A South Sudanese refugee with her child on one of the buses that moved volunteers from the flood-prone Leitchuor and Nip Nip refugee camps in western Ethiopia (Photo courtesy of the UNHCR)

The month of September, the agency said, recorded rising flows of South Sudanese refugees fleeing due to renewed fighting in parts of the young nation.

The new arrivals, according to UNHCR branch office in Ethiopia, include large numbers of unaccompanied children. The UN refugee agency said 29,769 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Gambella, Ethiopia since 3 September 2016.

The new arrivals, the majority being women and children, cite fear over the renewed fighting in its Upper Nile State areas of Nasir, Maban, Mathiang and Maiwut.

Other refugees said food insecurity coupled with on going fighting over the spread of the conflict to the Jonglei State (Ayod, Akobo, Fangak and Uru) is also a major factor forcing South Sudanes flee their home country.

64% of the total new arrivals are children. Out of the registered new arrivals, 3,188 are unaccompanied and separated children.

The new arrivals, mostly originating from the Upper Nile State (80%) and Jonglie State (17%), reported to have fled from insecurity, recruitment and food shortage in war torn South Sudan.

According to UNHCR officials, an average of 1,000 South Sudanese asylum-seekers arrive on a daily basis to the Pagak Transit Centre in Ethiopia's Gambela region

“Of this population, 12,756 refugees have been registered (level 1) and relocated to Jewi, Kule and Tierkidi refugee camps. 4,406 have been registered and awaiting relocation” UNHCR said

While over 12,600 have received wristbands and are awaiting registration around the border town of Pagak.

The refugees currently at Pagak and camps said they were crossing the border through Burbiey before having found their way towards Pagak.

“UNHCR is seeking alternate solutions to prevent further congestion at Pagak as well as to facilitate relocation to camps directly from the Barbiey” the UN refugee agency said.

Several aid agencies, like UNHCR, are reportedly constructing emergency shelters.

So far over, 1,700 emergency shelters have been constructed in Jewi and Tierkidi camps.

As of 26 September, Ethiopia hosts more than 311,000 South Sudanese refugees, including more than 12,000 awaiting registration.

Most of the new arrivals originate from Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity states.

Sudan Tribune has reliably learned that of the total $113.8 million appealed by UNHCR for the situation in Ethiopia, only 10% has so far been secured.

(ST)

September 28, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Wednesday said the implementation of the national dialogue outcome would require the parliament to approve limited legal and constitutional amendments during its coming session.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir listen to the National anthem during opening session of Sudan National Dialogue conference October 10, 2015 (REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

Following his meeting with the speaker of the National Assembly Ibrahim Ahmed Omer on Wednesday, al-Bashir urged legislators to get ready to incorporate the outcome of the dialogue into the constitution and the laws, saying the nation will witness intensive and important political work during the coming period.

He pointed out that incorporation of the dialogue's recommendations would require making limited constitutional amendments, saying those amendments will be introduced to the parliament in its coming session.

Last year, Sudanese lawmakers approved three controversial constitutional amendments introduced by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) amid the protests of opposition MPs who did not take part in the vote.

The first bill allowed the president to appoint governors who will no longer be elected through universal suffrage. The second transformed the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) into regular force to legitimise the creation of its militia the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Finally the third reform was the inclusion of Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) in the constitution.

Al-Bashir further stressed the need to endorse the outcome of the national dialogue by consensus during the dialogue conference in order to develop the national document which would constitute the basis to draft a permanent constitution for the nation.

In January 2014, al-Bashir called on political parties and armed groups to engage in a national dialogue to discuss four issues, including ending the civil war, allowing political freedoms, fighting against poverty and revitalising national identity.

Launched on 10 October 2015 for three months, the dialogue process was initially expected to wind up in January 2016 but it was delayed until October 10th.

The opposition groups refuse to join the process and call on the government to implement a number of confidence building measures aimed to create a suitable atmosphere for dialogue. But the government refuses their claims.

(ST)

September 26, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Monday has reiterated his call to holdout political and armed opposition to join the national dialogue and renounce war.

In January 2014, al-Bashir launched the national dialogue initiative in which he urged opposition parties and rebels alike to join the dialogue table to discuss all the pressing issues.

But the initiative faced serious setbacks in wake of the government's refusal to create suitable atmosphere in the country leading several major participants to pull out. The dialogue conference was inaugurated in on October 10th, 2015 amid large boycott from the major political and armed opposition.

Al-Bashir, who received the recommendations of the societal dialogue on Monday, said Sudan is on the threshold of a new era characterized by harmony, love, peace and national reconciliation.

He vowed to implement the recommendations and include it in the comprehensive national document following the end of the dialogue conference on October 10th in order to achieve national and societal peace.

The Sudanese President pointed the national document will contain the recommendations of both political and societal dialogue besides the outcome of the state reform program.

“The national document would constitute the essential foundation upon which we will build the future of the country, draft a permanent constitution and achieve political stability and comprehensive renaissance,” he said.

Al-Bashir stressed the societal dialogue document has contained opinions of all components of the Sudanese people, pointing to the efforts made by the committees to represent a common national view on the desired objectives.

He pointed that the societal document has overcome all differences among Sudanese people to achieve societal and peaceful coexistence, describing it as a unique and unprecedented experience in Sudan's history.

For his part, the chairman of the national committee for the societal dialogue Hussein Sulieman Abu Salih said they produced a document that could serve as a new social contract.

(ST)

September 26, 2016 (JUBA) – Opposition forces in Western Equatoria region have rejected calls by the newly appointed controversial First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai, to assemble in cantonment areas the forces of the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), saying they are loyal to their leader, Riek Machar.

In a statement issued on Sunday, seen by Sudan Tribune, the commander of the SPLA-IO forces in the area said they did not rebel in order to be simply cantoned but to resolve the underlying problems prevailing under the leadership of the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.

“The approval of the cantonment areas for Greater Equatorial region will never bring peace because Cantonment is not the real grievance that made us to go to the bush, and fight against the regime of SPLM under the leadership of Salva Kirr,” party reads the statement signed by Brigadier General John Sunday Martin, SPLA (IO) 3rd Brigade Commander, Division 9 based in Western Equatoria.

He said Machar remains the recognized First Vice President and the leader of the armed opposition, warning that any security arrangements implementation or the transitional government of national unity without his participation will not be accepted.

“We will neither accept any transitional Government without Dr. Riek Macher being part of it, nor accept cantonment areas in Greater Equatoria without Dr. Riek Macher being part to the Transition Government,” the statement declared.

“The Government of Salva Kirr and Taban Deng with their International partners must know that, the SPLM-IO forces in Greater Equatoria Region remained royal to the leadership of Dr. Riek Macher and therefore, we are not going to these Cantonment areas, but will continue to fight with objectivity of ousting the regime of SPLM-IG that is manifested by corruption, tribalism, dictatorship, injustices and lack of political will to bring an end to the sufferings of the innocent souls in South Sudan.”

The senior military officer of the opposition faction was responding to the calls by government leadership to assemble in cantonment areas members of the SPLA-IO in greater Equatoria region.

The government last week announced it had identified up to four cantonment sites in Equatoria region.

(ST)

September 26, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on Monday has said that his country wouldn't serve as a launching pad for any armed opposition activities against South Sudan.

Ibrahim Ghandour (Photo Suna)

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday, Ghandour said "Sudan is a key member of the tripartite committee set up by the regional block IGAD to follow up the implementation of South Sudan's peace agreement".

"Sudan wouldn't allow any armed opposition to be launched from its territory against South Sudan," he said, pointing his country continued to play an essential and active role in all regional and international initiatives aiming to achieve peace in the newborn nation.

Sudan's top diplomat underscored his country's keenness to achieve peace in South Sudan, saying peace can't be achieved in the two Sudans unless it was achieved in the other country.

He said that Sudan under the leadership of President Omer al-Bashir was the first country to recognize the independence of South Sudan, pointing to the joint history and interests between the two nations.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan on July 9th 2011 following a referendum on whether the semi-autonomous region should remain a part of the country or become independent. 99% of the southern voters chose independence.

Relations between the two nations soured after South Sudan's independence following a series of disputes over a number of issues, particularly accusations of support to rebel groups.

Ghandour's statements come two days after the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) led by South Sudan's former First Vice President, Riek Machar, declared war on the “regime” in Juba under President Salva Kiir.

This declaration came in a resolution passed by the political bureau meeting convened for three days in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, under the chairmanship of Machar, also commander-in-chief of the SPLM-IO.

The armed opposition further called for reorganization of the SPLA-IO so that it “can wage a popular armed resistance against the authoritarian and fascist regime of President Salva Kiir in order to bring peace, freedom, democracy and the rule of law in the country.”

Also on Sunday, South Sudan's former Minister of Agriculture, Lam Akol, announced formation of a new rebel faction, saying his aim is to overthrow by all means the government of South Sudan under the leadership of President Salva Kiir.

South Sudan descended into civil war in December 2013. Tens of thousands of civilians were killed and more than 2 million displaced.

In August last year, a peace deal was signed by both Machar and Kiir, but fighting in Juba put the accord at risk of possible collapse.

(ST)

By Dr. Abdulkarim Seid

At a glance, wetlands – large expanses of swamps – seem like public nuisances, a waste of space; occupying prime land which could otherwise be turned into sprawling shopping malls, hotels or theme parks devoid of any green.

Indeed, several wetlands in the Nile Basin have undergone degradation due to multiple contributing factors; settlements and urbanization by an ever growing population, reclamation and conversion for agriculture. Other factors are upstream infrastructural development, over-exploitation by local communities and climate change.

Wetlands represent about five percent of the total basin area and are concentrated in two areas: the Equatorial Lakes region and the Sudd area in South Sudan. The Sudd wetlands – the most extensive wetland system in the Nile Basin – are highly variable in size, averaging roughly 30,000 square kilometres, but extending up to as large as 130,000 square kilometres during the wet seasons. The Nile Delta north of Egypt, once an area of lush natural wetlands, has now been almost entirely converted into agricultural land.

The majority of these transgressions have gone largely unpunished while encroachment on wetlands continues to flourish. However, this ‘honeymoon' usually ends at the onset of the rainy seasons when nature fights back. The difference here is that the dry season is often characterised by light showers, which hardly pose a threat to populations settled in the lowlands. It is a different story when the heavy rains begin, though.

With the advent of climate change and variable weather patterns, there has been a noticeable increase in floods in the Nile Basin. Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda have all witnessed El Nino rains in recent months that swept chunks of property and lives with their deadly force. It is perhaps at such times that many people realise the advantages of wetlands in absorbing excess water in the environment.

These factors threaten the intrinsic hydrological and ecological link between these wetlands and River Nile including its overall health and life. This is exacerbated by inadequate knowledge and experience for mainstreaming wetland conservation and for making full use of ecosystem services in the planning process.

Wetlands are crucial mainly because they act as a buffer for floods. They absorb the excess water or run off in the environment and release it systematically while causing no harm to the neighbourhood. However, when these wetlands are threatened, they implode with no escape route for the large amounts of water. Hence, floods run riot and cause destruction of the surroundings. Wetlands are also valuable ecosystems that play an important role in maintaining environmental quality, sustaining livelihoods and supporting biodiversity.

The wide range of animal and plant species wetlands support, provide an ecosystem that services in the form of fisheries, fuel-wood, timber, medicines, providing high ecological, cultural and economic value through recreation and tourism. Wetlands also exert significant influence on the hydrological cycle, altering flood flows, maintaining low flows and ground water recharge.

In light of these challenges, the Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat is spearheading a wetlands project and forum whose focus is on strengthening the technical and institutional capacities of the riparian States for sustainable management of trans-boundary wetlands and wetlands of trans-boundary relevance in the Nile Basin such as the Sudd, whose extensive network affects annual flows of the Nile in downstream countries.

Interventions include building strategic and demand-driven knowledgebase on trans-boundary wetlands for informed planning and development of river basins; facilitating wetlands management planning for sustainability of the Nile Basin trans-boundary wetlands and wetlands of regional significance.

The expected benefits cannot be overemphasised; improved water security through tapping on restoration and conservation of wetlands ecosystem services; enhanced livelihoods security for largely local population groups whose livelihoods heavily depend on wetlands ecosystems. Let us all remember to save wetlands.

The author is head of water resources management at Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat.

September 25, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The head of the African Union United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Sunday called on the Sudanese government to allow humanitarian access to the affected civilian in Jebel Marra.

UNAMID chief Martin Uhomoibhi, made his call during a visit to Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur State. Also it comes after report about recent hostilities in western Jebel Marra between the government forces and rebels of the Sudan Liberation Movement-Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW).

During his visit, Uhomoibhi met the state officials and discussed the humanitarian situation in the areas. He urged them to allow aid groups to reach the needy population affected by the conflict.

OCHA weekly bulletin reported that between five thousands to 12.500 people mainly women and children have arrived in IDPs camp of Nertiti North, citing aid groups and community leaders there.

Central Darfur government and SLM-AW admitted last week clashes in western Jebel Marra.

Last April the government declared Jebel Marra free of rebels however, local authorities say they are clearing the mountainous areas from the remnants of the insurgency.

(ST)

September 25, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's dialogue body known as 7+7 committee will meet on Monday to reach an agreement on pending issues such as the creation of Prime Minister's post and the term of the national consensus government.

Members of the national dialogue general assembly and President Omer al-Bashir attend the third session of the internal process in Khartoum on August 20, 2015 (Photo AFP/Ashraf Shazly)

National dialogue general assembly will convene on the 10th of October to agree on a national document that will serve to establish a permanent constitution for Sudan.

Launched on 10 October 2015, the dialogue process was initially expected to wind up on 10th January. But the opposition groups have refused to join the process and called on the government to implement a number of confidence building measures aimed to create a suitable atmosphere for dialogue.

The 7+7 committee meeting to discuss 15 contentious issues in the recommendations of the national dialogue was delayed from Sunday to Monday

A member of the Quartet committee assigned to reach consensual solutions on the outstanding issues, Tadjadine Bechir Niam, said the committee met on Sunday and reached satisfying results that would strengthen the consensus on 13 of the contentious issues.

In statements to Sudan Tribune following the meeting, Niam said he and Hamid Mumtaz of the ruling National Congress Party represented the government, while the opposition is represented by Amin Banani and Mohamed al-Alem. He added their committee will submit its reports to the Committee on Contentious Issues, headed by the leading member of the Popular Congress Party, Kamal Hassan Omer.

“If the two committees fail to reach an agreement, the issues would be referred to 7+7 national dialogue committee. If no deal has been struck at this level, then the contentious matters would be referred to the National Dialogue General Assembly for voting on the 10th of October,” said Niam.

He further pointed that the main pending issues include the creation of the Prime Minister's post, issues related to National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), term of the transitional National Consensus Government and the mechanisms to implement National Dialogue Document after the general assembly.

Niam further pointed that Presidential Assistant, Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid, will brief the meeting of the 7+7 national dialogue on Monday on the National Dialogue Document.

NATIONAL SOCIETAL DIALOGUE

In a related development, the general assembly of the national society dialogue will meet on Monday to hand its final document to President Omer al-Bashir. The document would be aligned with the recommendations of the political dialogue.

Some forces of the national dialogue have expressed reservations saying they would not accept the outcome the national societal dialogue which was announced by President al-Bashir before launching the national dialogue in January 2014.

According to the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA), the national societal dialogue document has covered 11 sectors that include identity, equipments of national consensus and mechanisms of popular participation.

(ST)

September 23, 2016 (BENTIU) – A South Sudanese official has expressed dismay after a United States senator described the country's First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai as a leader "lacking consistency in representation".

President Salva Kiir Mayardit greets state minister Lam Tungwar Kueigwong in Juba where he received a delegation led by Unity State deputy governor Mabek Lang to discuss the security situation there on Friday 25 September 2015 (ST Photo)

Lam Tungwar, a minister in Northern Liech, one of South Sudan's new states, claimed the senator interfered with Gai's ethnic background.

“This is a vague statement, unprofessionally fake, unfounded and a baseless accusation. The senator used a major street jargon that shouldn't be entertained by all nationals in South Sudan,” said Lam.

He said the humiliation of the first vice president was “disappointing”.

“Gen. Taban Deng Gai comes from the constituency of Northern Liech state and particularly from Jikany sub-clan of Nuer community and it's very unfortunate to see foreigners who strongly meddle in our local affairs and lower themselves to encourage ethnicity through a statement like this,” the minister told Sudan Tribune.

He urged the U.S. official not to interfere in the affairs of the world's youngest nation.

“America is a country of immigrants and a country of multi-ethnicity and colours. It is astonishing to hear a complete senator talking about a person whose nationality is clear and is not questioned by any of his countrymen and women. Who is [Benjamin] Cardin to question the vice president about his constituency?” he asked.

Lam said he was optimistic the new vice president will bring peace.

Gai, a former chief negotiator for the armed opposition faction, replaced Riek Machar as first vice president, after the latter fled the young nation's capital in July.

Last week, the State Department says the United States is pledging nearly $133 million in additional humanitarian assistance to South Sudan's refugees and internally displaced people.

The aid comes amid discussions over whether the U.S. should cut its aid to the country trying to recover from a violent civil war.

The U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, last month, said his country's humanitarian assistance to South Sudan will not continue forever if its leaders "are not prepared to do what's necessary for their people."

More than one million people have fled South Sudan since fighting broke out in December 2013, and over 1.6 million people have been internally displaced. Tens of thousands have been killed in the young nation.

The U.S. has given $1.9 billion in aid to South Sudan since its civil war started in 2013.

(ST)