Sudan Tribune

August 19, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), on Friday, said that one of its combatant died from tuberculosis (TB) in his cell at a prison in Khartoum, and accused the Sudanese authorities of refusing to provide the needed treatment to the prisoners of war.

Two JEM members attend their trial session in the city of Omdurman, Sudan Aug. 20, 2008 (File photo/AFP)

A statement by JEM Office of Prisoners and Detainees said the prisoner Mustafa Ismail Adam, died of TB on Thursday in his cell at al-Huda prison, north of Omdurman, where he was detained in a section of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS).

The rebel group said the deceased and others were captured after al-Nikhara battle in South Darfur on 26 April 2015.

"Since that date, the government authorities did not allow the prisoners to communicate with their families, provide them any therapeutic services or bring them to trial," said the group adding that about five prisoners have died from torture and ill-treatment, as well as 29 prisoners infected with TB

"They are on deathbed," stressed the statement.

In April 2015, the Rapid Support Forces militia defeated JEM fighters in South Darfur. At the time, President Omer al-Bashir travelled to al-Nikhara to celebrate their victory. Also, JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim admitted the defeat and the capture of his combatants.

An unofficial statistics released by the National Dialogue mechanism estimate that 93 prisoners from the rebel groups have been convicted, in addition to other rebels detained after several battles.

JEM called on "the United Nations, the African Union, the Red Cross and other international groups working against torture to intervene and put pressure on the Sudanese government "to save the lives of the rest of the prisoners in the prisons, transfer those who are ill to hospitals, allow them to communicate with their families and bring them to trial and lawyers to defend them."

(ST)

August 19, 2016 (WAU) – Mayor of Wau town municipal council in South Sudan's newly created Wau state, Akol Akol Ajith, said the security situation in Wau town has returned to normal following, owing it to the newly appointed governor, Andrea Mayar Acho.

SPLA forces patrol the street of Wau town on May 16, 2016 (ST)

He said the security organs operating in the town have been doing their level best throughout the night during their patrols.

“Since the incident of June 25, 2016, the town of Wau did not again witness any insecurity; the situation is normal but only what remains now is hunger, the remaining insecurity is now caused by thieves, those who are stealing at night,” said Ajith.

“Our civilians are now enjoying their night hours, if there is any gunshot at night, these are our night patrol dealing with the night robbers, therefore, our people should not panic,” he said.

The official further added that civilians who fled and were seeking shelter and protection at the United Nations compounds, in churches and schools have now started returning to their homes, indicating the security situation is stable.

“I want to tell our residents in Wau town that those who are at the UN and in the church are just going there during the day of receiving their food ration, nobody now [is] sleeping in these places; they are just going there to receive their food,” he said.

He further said that many of those who fled to UNMISS are people have lost their belongings and depend on the UN to provide them with basic necessities.

He also said the state government has done enough in protecting the civilians' lives by offering strong security against robbers at the residential areas.

(ST)

August 19, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir said he would step down from the presidency and remains away from politics at the end of his term in 2020.

President Omer Hassan al-Bashir (AFP photo)

Al-Bashir who came to power through a coup d'état in June 1989 will have ruled Sudan for 31 years by the year 2020.

In an interview with the Egyptian weekly, Al-Ahram, published on Friday, he said he would not run for a third mandate. "This a final position, God willing .. I ruled for two mandates that will end in 2020 and will not extend it, and the constitution will not be changed."

"I have spent more than twenty years and this is more than enough in Sudan. People want new blood and new impetus to continue construction and development processes," added, the 72-year president.

"We have a party and constitutional institutions and whoever is appointed as chairman of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) certainly would be a candidate for the (Sudan's) presidency," and added, "And then I'll leave the presidential residence and stay away from the world of politics."

The NCP Shura Council, in October 2014, choose al-Bashir again to be the party's candidate for the presidential elections of April 2015, in spite of his pledge earlier to not run for the office of President again.

Bashir is the first sitting head of state ever to be indicted in 2009 by the war crimes court, International Criminal Court (ICC).

His case contributed to the international isolation of the country which is hit by economic sanctions.

(ST)

August 19, 2016 (JUBA) - United Nations headquarters in New York has revealed that its peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo airlifted the former First Vice President, Riek Machar, from the South Sudan-DRC border and transported him into the interior part of Congo on Wednesday.

Machar speaks on a mobile phone after an interview with Reuters in Kenya's capital Nairobi July 8, 2015

The UN said the Congolese government has been taking care of the opposition leader who is “exhausted” after five weeks in the bushes around the capital, Juba, and walking towards the DRC border.

The UN spokesperson, Farah Haq, said in a daily briefing to journalists in New York on Thursday that Machar was located in the border of South Sudan and DR Congo by the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO).

“We have undergone an extraction operation and so he is currently in the care of the authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” said Haq in New York on Wednesday.

He said Machar was "treated" by the MONUSCO for illness he did not disclose. He said Machar's wife and ten other military generals have been given to the care of DR Congo government.

Machar's officials said their leader is doing fine but had “exhausted” from being in the wilderness for 40 days, walking on foot.

They said he will speak to the media in the next few days as he establishes contacts with leaderships of IGAD, AU and UN. The opposition leader whom they also consider as the legitimate first vice president in South Sudan is also expected to tour the IGAD member countries to share views on the way forward.

He fled Juba last month following street battle which started at the palace on 8 July and in his residence on 10 July between his small number of troops and huge number of forces loyal to President Salva Kiir.

(ST)

August 19, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan's security operatives have imposed restriction on media coverage of successful escape into Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of the armed opposition leader and the first vice president, Riek Machar.

Reporters Without Borders has condemned the seizure of copies of 11 newspapers in a week by Sudanese security officials (AFP)

Machar left South Sudan over fears for his safety after government forces mounted a military offensive hunting for him after he fled the capital Juba when fighting broke out between 8-11 July. President Salva Kiir later sacked him as vice-president and replaced him with Taban Deng Gai, one of his senior officials in his movement before falling out with him after failing appointment of oil ministry.

South Sudanese government which had been on the offensive, trying to hunt him down in the bush where he had been hiding said on Friday that it was not aware of Machar's whereabouts.

“[No] one knows where he is, whether he left South Sudan or still inside the country. Those who say he left the country should be the ones you should talk to,” information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, told reporters on Friday in Juba.

He was reacting to media reports quoting United Nations sources in the Democratic Republic of Congo and at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York about the departure of Machar from South Sudan and his subsequent arrival to Congo on Wednesday.

Minister Lueth also said the changes, in which the president appointed Taban Deng Gai in place of Machar was an internal matter of armed opposition leadership and it was up to them to decide whether or not to welcome Machar and resume his position at the presidency as the first vice president when he returns.

“The government has nothing do with the changes in leadership of the SPLM-IO, whether Riek Machar comes back or not, that is an internal issue of the IO,” said Lueth.

Media covering Machar's departure from the country where troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and his army chief of general staff, Paul Malong Awan, tried to kill Machar in attacks since last month in and around Juba, have been questioned by the security personnel to say the source of information

Observers and security analysts are keen to underline that the motive of restricting media coverage about the departure of Machar from the country is to deny the public knowledge of his departure from the country.

Machar's departure is viewed a failure by government forces instructed to hunt him, many of whom claimed he was barricaded and it was a matter of time before he could surrender or get killed.

(ST)

August 18, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The foreign ministry Thursday said it requested the interior ministry to send a delegation to address the situation of Sudanese illegal migrants stranded on the Italian-French border.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Gharib Allah Khidir (ST Photo)

Several hundreds of Sudanese migrants are now stopped on the French border after their arrival by boats from Libya. Paris says it is up to Italy assess their asylum claims.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ambassador Gharib Allah Khidir said they asked the interior ministry to dispatch urgently a delegation to Rome to identify Sudanese migrants and to provide them with the needed papers before to repatriate them back to Sudan.

The move comes after a demand by the Italian government through the Sudanese embassy in Rome to identify its nationals before to return them to Sudan, al-Khidir added.

Italy complains of the French refusal to receive some of illegal migrants arriving from Africa.

In line with Schengen zone agreement, people can move freely within the European countries, but governments can tighten border control in exceptional circumstances.

Earlier this year, Sudan accepted to cooperate with the EU efforts to fight illegal human trafficking.

Smuggling gangs have taken advantage of Libya's instability to run a lucrative business and put at risk vulnerable people who seek better life.

(ST)

August 18, 2016 (TORIT) – James Lomilo, a teacher at Hope for South Sudan primary school in Eastern Equatoria state was on Monday killed and his body dumped in a forest.

The map of Eastern Equatoria state in red

The deceased, an eye witness said, was last seen on Sunday afternoon after church service in Kapoeta town.

The decaying body [of Lomilo] was found some meters away from the school in the forest near to the school premise in Kapoeta town, said Peter Lopeyok.

Police have reportedly launched investigations into the murder.

The school head teacher, Jenifer Losike Lokai described the Lomilo as a punctual and humble teacher in his profession.

The late was one of the full time trained teachers in Hope for South Sudan School in for over three years,” she stressed.

Police officers on duty at the school, however, declined to comment on the matter.

(ST)

August 18, 2016(BOR) – Over 900,000 SSP was saved by Jonglei state government after a screening exercise, involving removal of ghost workers and absentees from payrolls.

Jonglei state governor, Phillip Aguer speaks during the independence occassion July 9, 2016 (ST)

The process, an official told Sudan Tribune, started three months ago.

According to the state secretary general, Mawut Achiek, not less than 250 employees whose names were found on payrolls, but not presence at work places, were screened.

“We are saving 300,000 SSP. This had been going to individuals' pockets in the state. We have also identified not less than 250 ghost names. These are people, who are no longer there, or they had never existed and there is no scientific evidence to proof their employment in the first place”, Achiek told reporters in the state capital, Bor.

The state government, he said, inherited a huge workforce when the province was controversially divided into four states, namely Fangak, Eastern Bieh and Boma.

The other three states went away with workforce of less than 3,000 employees in total, leaving new Jonglei state with over 5,000 employees alone, stressed Achiek.

Meanwhile, the state government said it was not determined to fully reduce the workforce to a reasonable number that would easily be manageable financially.

(ST)

August 18, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Council for the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (NCDDR) revealed that 4718 former rebel combatants have been demobilized in 2015 while 4,003 others were integrated into the civic institutions.

Members of the Sudan Liberation Army disembark from their vehicle in Susuwa, north Darfur, May 15, 2006. (Reuters)

Sudan's Council of Ministers on Thursday has approved the NCDDR's 2015 report presented by the Minister of the Presidency Fadl Abdalla.

In press statements on Thursday, the Council of Ministers spokesperson, Omer Mohamed Salih said the disarmament and demobilizations are basic requirements for achieving peace, saying the process was funded by the Ministry of Finance, Zakat (ulms) Chamber besides foreign funding from Japan and Spain.

He pointed the ex-fighters have been accommodated in agricultural, mineral and water harvest projects, saying the Council of Minister hailed the NCDDR efforts to integrate the combatants into the civil life.

In 2013, Sudan and South Sudan agreed on joint cooperation in the areas of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, community security projects and control of small arms as well as promoting peace building between border communities.

Last December, the government said it has completed the first stage of a plan aimed at collecting heavy weapons from Darfur.

Speaking to the parliament in February, minister of interior Ismat Abdel Rahman, said the proliferation of armaments in Darfur remains "a security worry". He further pointed that millions of small arms are in the hands of Darfur citizens.

The Sudanese army and its allied militias have been fighting a number of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

(ST)

August 18, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese government has welcome a decision by the government of neighbouring Sudan, from which the young nation seceded in 2011, not to be one of troops contributing countries to be deployed as a regional protection force.

A SPLA soldier stands in front of a vehicle in Juba on December 20, 2013. (Photo Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

The Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour Tuesday reiterated his government's decision to not take part in the UN-backed African force that would be deployed in Juba. But he expression Khartoum's willingness to participate in any regional mechanism to mediate or reconcile the warring parties.

South Sudan's Presidential advisor on Security Affairs, Tut Kew Gatluak, told Sudan Tribune that the government has not yet received the names of the countries in the region which have expressed readiness to contribute troops and so would not be able to comment on media reports about countries suspected to contribute troops to be deployed to the country.

“We have not received the names of the countries in the region which will contribute troops. There were only allegations which we cannot confirm and make comments on them because they are not official,” he said.

“But yes, we have now heard that two countries, Uganda and Sudan, will not contribute troops. Such decisions are sovereign decisions and we welcome them,” Gatluak added.

The comments come after several government officials in Juba said the government would not have welcomed the return of the Sudanese army in any capacity in the country, equating it to invasion.

Recently, Sudanese officials disclosed that they declined a Western request to approach directly the South Sudanese parties in order to end the conflict.

Khartoum hosts many South Sudanese politicians who are asked to not to exercise political activities against Juba government.

(ST)

August 18, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - United Nations Secretary-General,Ban Ki-moon, Thursday has urged the Sudanese government and rebel groups to resume talks to reach a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Ban Ki-moon (Photo UN)

Last week, four groups from the opposition umbrella Sudan Call including the National Umma Party (NUP) and three armed groups; Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N), Sudan Liberation Movement - Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) had signed the Roadmap Agreement for peace and dialogue brokered by the African Union.

The peace plan provides that the Sudanese governments and rebel groups should engage in talks to reach agreement on a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access before the Sudan Call forces join the government-led national dialogue.

However, on Sunday following six days of talks in Addis Ababa, the armed movements and the government negotiating teams failed to conclude a deal on the security arrangements and humanitarian access prompting the mediation to suspend the talks indefinitely.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday, UN Secretary-General Spokesperson said Ban Ki-moon was disappointed that the Sudanese parties failed to reach an agreement on a cessation of hostilities in Darfur and the Two Areas.

The UN chief has strongly urged the government and the armed groups “to resume negotiations, abide by the Roadmap Agreement, and refrain from any attempt to escalate the conflict in Darfur and the Two Areas”.

“He reiterates that there can be no lasting alternative to a negotiated settlement and stresses that a cessation of hostilities is the first, indispensable step towards achieving this goal,” the statement added.

The Secretary-General expressed appreciation for the important role played by the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) which brokers Sudan's peace, the hybrid peacemaking mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and his Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan to bring about a lasting peace in Sudan.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

(ST)

August 18, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese opposition faction led by the former First Vice President, Riek Machar, said they have cut off Taban Deng Gai, the new First Vice President, from all the areas controlled by the opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), including from its headquarters of Pagak in Upper Nile region.

“Honourable Taban Deng Gai will not set foot in the SPLM/SPLA (IO) controlled areas across the country, including the General Headquarters of Pagak,” said James Gatdet Dak, official spokesperson for Machar, the leader of the opposition faction, SPLM-IO.

“Let him deceive President Salva Kiir in Juba by claiming that he is also a leader of the organization called SPLM/SPLA (IO). He may get away with the deception in Juba because the two of them seem to be so desperate and are comfortable with mutual deception. The President may not bother to ask him about who is actually in charge of the SPLM-IO controlled territories in the country, including the General Headquarters, Pagak. But the reality is that he is alone leader with no grassroots support or base. He is a defector to President Kiir,” he added.

He said Gai can only visit President Kiir's controlled areas, adding he is in reality part and parcel of the faction led by the President after his recent defection from the SPLM-IO.

Dak added that a directive was already issued by the leader of the SPLM-IO, Riek Machar, dismissing and cutting off Gai, not only from his previous contacts with the SPLA-IO army, but also with the civil administrations of the SPLM-IO in the states and counties they control.

He said Machar is in full control of the civil administrations and the entire army of the SPLM-IO faction, and that Gai only "defected" with his bodyguards and some of the SPLM-IO politicians “who were only after positions in the government and not for the reform agenda in the country.”

SURRENDER NOT COHESION

Dak also described the current working relationship between the new First Vice President, Gai, and President Kiir as based on “surrender and conspiracy to avoid reforms in the country” but not about the claimed cohesion in the presidency.

“Their working relationship now is based on the fact that Honourable Taban Deng Gai has surrendered while President Salva Kiir has embraced him for a mutual conspiracy to avoid reforms and accountability in South Sudan. It is about compromising and abrogating the August 2015 peace agreement. So it is never based on cohesion to do the right thing as they claimed,” he claimed.

The opposition leader's spokesman was responding to comments from the presidency that their working relationship had gone well without Machar in the implementation of the peace agreement.

He further argued that with the current situation to destroy the peace deal by scrapping its important provisions, the country would never implement reforms, further claiming that the two leaders have already begun to dismantle some of the mechanisms that are crucial for ensuring that reforms are implemented.

The declaration to immediately begin integration of SPLA-IO, although Gai has no force to integrate, he said, is an indication of the desire to avoid implementing security sector reforms which was necessary before the amalgamation of the forces can take place.

For instance, Dak further argued that Gai has surrendered to President Kiir the position of the speaker of the transitional national legislative assembly which was very crucial for driving the reform agenda among the lawmakers in the country.

This came after President Kiir insisted that he was the one to select the speaker of parliament. Previously, Riek Machar wanted the position to be contested by the two factions and the winner takes it.

“See how he has surrendered the position of the speaker. We in the opposition wanted to contest for this seat because it is crucial for driving the needed change and passing reform laws in the parliament. We would have won the speakership position if it was contested democratically. We had huge support from within President Kiir's members of parliament who wanted us to spearhead the change. This is the reason President Kiir did not want democratic election for the position. But now Honourable Taban Deng Gai has simply surrendered this important position. It means he is not for change but only interested to maintain the status quo,” he said.

“We will not however become magnanimous at the expense of scrapping provisions in the peace agreement and nipping reforms in the bud. We will ensure that the situation is corrected and the country goes for reforms in various sectors in order to move forward,” he added.

He also said Machar remains the legitimate First Vice President of South Sudan, despite his recent “illegal” replacement by President Kiir.

The opposition leader has reportedly relocated to another neighbouring country after a month of fighting with President Kiir's forces who reportedly hunted for him in the bushes around Juba, following clashes in the capital which involved his small number of forces.

Dak claimed that Machar was relocated for his safety and in order to have access to the rest of the world and the media.

(ST)

August 18, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudanese national army, known as the Sudan People's liberation Army (SPLA), has denied any connection to the death of up to 46 people, including Commissioner of Mayendit county in Unity region. 30 others were injured in an attack.

Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang, SPLA spokesperson, is seen at a containment site outside of the capital Juba on April 14, 2016. (AFP Photo)

“The SPLA forces in the area have nothing to do with these allegations. We heard about them but when we contacted our forces and verified, we found out they were not a party to that incident. It was just a smear campaign by anti-peace elements and those who would like to tarnish the image of the SPLA for political reasons," said SPLA spokesperson, Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang when reached to comment on the development on Thursday.

The military officer, however, confirmed that Mayendit county commissioner and 45 others were killed in an attack carried out by armed elements on 8 August. He did not identify the group and under whose command and areas in which they operate in the region.

Local officials claimed that attackers wearing SPLA uniforms attacked Rubkuai, the administrative headquarters of Mayendit during which they killed 46 people including the commissioner.

Sources claimed about 24 SPLA soldiers and 22 civilians including the commissioner and two women were killed in the incident in which about 6,430 heads of cattle were also taken by the attacking force.

The attackers came from Koch county in neighbouring Northern Liech State. This occurred after the government-appointed Koch county commissioner, Gordon Kuony, asked the Southern Liech government for reinforcement from Northern Liech authorities in response to repeated skirmishes.

It was not clear whether Koch county commissioner had joined the opposition faction led by Riek Machar, former first deputy to President Salva Kiir.

(ST)

August 18, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Two Darfur groups have attacked the African Union High Implementation Panel- (AUHIP) which brokers Sudan's peace talks and accused it of siding with the Sudanese government.

JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim (C) speaks at the opening session of Darfur negotiations flanked by SLM-MM leader Minni Minnawi in Addis Ababa on 23 November 2014 (Photo courtesy of AUHIP)

After a series of talks in Addis Ababa between 9 to 14 August, the Sudanese government, Sudan Liberation Movement–Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) failed to sign cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements in Darfur.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the AUHIP said the obstacles in the negotiations arose when JEM and SLM-MM “re-opened numerous issues that had previously been agreed and others which contradicted the Roadmap Agreement”.

The Panel further said the rebel groups refused “balanced options” the mediation proposed on the location sites of fighters and mechanisms for the monitoring of humanitarian assistance.

“While the Government accepted those proposals, the introduction of new issues by the JEM and SLM-MM, inevitably broke the negotiations,” emphasized the AUHIP.

In response, JEM and SLM-MM stressed they entered into these negotiations in good faith and were prepared to make every effort towards reaching an agreement on cessation of hostilities, saying the government didn't share their commitment to achieve an agreement.

Also, they regretted that the AUHIP had incorrectly blamed them for the failure of talks, “while vindicating the Government”.

“The AUHIP's statement was incorrect, however, due to the fact that they did not take the opportunity to fully discuss with SLM-MM and JEM proposals and modifications made by them to the most recent draft agreement before adjourning the talks or before releasing its statement,” said the two groups in a statement extended to Sudan tribune on Thursday.

The statement pointed that JEM and SLM-MM were prepared to move the negotiations forward and conclude a reasonable agreement, saying the government, however, insisted upon unreasonable positions regarding the disclosure of forces, humanitarian mechanisms, and the release of POWs.

“Additionally, the Government insisted on referencing selective resolutions irrelevant to the cessation of hostilities agreement,” read the statement which was signed by SLM-MM Chief Negotiator Trayo Ahmed Ali and JEM Chief Negotiator Ahmed Tugod Lissan.

“Instead of making efforts to budge on the government's intransigent positions, the mediation adopted the government position with regard to POWs, [fighters] locations, humanitarian mechanisms and arbitrary selection of [African Union] resolutions and blamed the parties that demonstrated the highest degree of flexibility and objectivity,” they added.

JEM and SLM-MM added they have demonstrated their good faith “not only by our signing of the Roadmap Agreement, but also by our having twice declared six-month unilateral cessation of hostilities with our colleagues in the Sudan Revolutionary Front”.

“We have remained continuously willing to sit with the Government of Sudan to negotiate a cessation of hostilities for the benefit of the people of Sudan, and we engaged in this last round of talks in the hope that we would conclude such an agreement,” read the statement.

The two groups pointed that the government negotiating team insisted on making the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) the basis for negotiations, saying the cessation of hostilities talks has nothing to do with the DDPD.

“That was one of the barricades that prevented the conclusion of a cessation of hostilities agreement,” said Ali and Lissan.

JEM and SLM-NN underlined they remain committed to the process and hopeful that further negotiations will move forward successfully.

“We look forward to not only swiftly achieving a cessation of hostilities agreement, but also to promptly move forward with the implementation of the Roadmap Agreement,” the statement further reads.

The Sudanese army and its allied militias have been fighting a number of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

Doha facilitated the Darfur peace negotiations which resulted in the signing of the DDPD by the Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) in July 2011. Also, a dissident faction of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) joined the DDPD in April 2013.

Since several years, JEM led by Gibril Ibrahim and the SLM-MM led by Minni Minnawi have engaged in peace talks with the government under the auspices of the African Union.

However, SLM-AW led by Abdel-Wahid al-Nur is not part of the African Union mediated peace talks. The rebel group rejects negotiating a peace agreement with Khartoum government, unless the government militias are disarmed and displaced civilians return to their original areas.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

August 18, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – An Ethiopian court on Monday charged 23 South Sudanese refugees over the premeditated slaying of 10 Ethiopian civilians in Gambella region, where tens of thousands of South Sudanese refuges are currently sheltered.

In April, a vehicle belonging to Action Against Hunger, a non-governmental organization, which was being driven by an Ethiopian employee, killed two South Sudanese children around Jewi refugee camp in Gambella.

The vehicle was on humanitarian mission.

But in retaliation, a group of South Sudanese refugees attacked innocent Ethiopians who reside around the camp, killing 10 of them yet they had no connection with the incident.

According to contents of the charge sheet readout by prosecutors in Ethiopia's high court on Monday, the perpetrators planned to attack in advance and carried out “gruesome” murder in reprisal for the tragic car accident.

“On April 21, they used sticks and shovels to carry out gruesome killings," read the sheet.

"The 10 victims were all innocent Ethiopian civilians who were only employed as construction workers at the site,” it added.

The dead included two Ethiopian women and eight men who were working around the camp. The incident led to riots have around camp, retaliatory attacks and more casualties.

The 23 South Sudanese defendants appeared in court on Monday and their next hearing is due to resume on 13 October.

Gambella currently shelters more than 270,000 South Sudanese refugees of whom over 221,000 of them have arrived following the conflict which erupted in their home country in December 2013.

The April killings come on the heels of the violent cross-border raids carried out by ethnic Murle gunmen from South Sudan who killed 208 people.

The gunmen also abducted over 100 Ethiopian children and looted over 2,000 livestock.

Weeks later, dozens of the kidnapped children were recovered and returned home after South Sudan deputy Defense Minister who is also member of Murle tribe; David Yaw yaw in collaboration with regional administrators and clan leaders made negotiation with the abductors.

Earlier before negotiations start, Ethiopian defense forces were deployed at the common border to carry out cross-border military operation to rescue the abducted children.

(ST)

August 17, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan has welcomed the interest of a group of companies from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar to invest in mining sector in the country.

Gold bullion blocks pictured at a gold refinery in Khartoum on 11 October 2012 (SUNA)

On Wednesday, the Minister of Minerals, Ahmed Sadiq al-Karouri, discussed with the Gulf companies their interest to invest in mining sector in Sudan.

In a press statement after the meeting, al-Karouri, said that his ministry is keen to support all Arab and Gulf companies to invest in the mining.

“We have very simple requirements for investing in minerals and all procedures are done at the Ministry of Minerals,” he said.

Al-Karouri stressed that there are no restrictions on gold exportation, pointing that the investing companies can export all the gold they produce.

The Sudanese minister further pledged to facilitate all the procedures for the investors from Qatar, U.A.E and Saudi Arabia.

Last July, al-Karouri said Sudan expects to produce 100 tonnes of gold in 2016, pointing it would become Africa's second largest and among the world's top ten producers by the end of the year.

In April, the Ministry of Minerals said that Sudan's production of gold has risen by 3 percent compared to 2015.

Near 70% of the country's gold production in 2015 was produced in the River Nile State. The traditional mining represents 90% of gold production in Sudan.

Sudan currently ranks third in gold production behind South Africa and Ghana but aims to land in the first place by 2018.

Gold has become one of Sudan's largest exports which partially compensated for the loss in oil revenues, which accounted for more than 50% of income until 2011 when South Sudan seceded, taking with it most of the country's oil reserves.

Sudan approved a law to regulate traditional mining by granting licenses and specifying areas to work in to protect them from hazardous conditions and smuggling.

It is believed that traditional mining employs more than a million Sudanese but it is still difficult to obtain credible data.

(ST)

August 17, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – The African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) called on the Sudanese negotiating parties to reassess their positions following the failure of a recent round of peace talks on Darfur and the Two Areas.

After a series of talks in Addis Ababa between 9 to 14 August, the Sudanese government, Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) Sudan Liberation Movement–Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM), Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) failed to sign cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements.

AUHIP mediators, UN special envoy and the Ethiopian government sought in vain to bridge the gaps between the negotiators to reach a humanitarian truce and to move towards discussions of other confidence building measures ahead of an inclusive constitutional conference.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the mediation said “extremely concerned” by the failure of the talks, saying it stalled the momentum generated by the signing of the Roadmap Agreement by the armed groups and the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) on 8 August.

“The Panel strongly urges each Party to reconsider any position that has impeded progress on the implementation of the Roadmap Agreement to which they are committed,” said the AUHIP.

The African Union mediation further said it “will await a demonstration of leadership and vision from the Parties”, stressing that the process of the Roadmap, “holds the strongest hope for achieving the stability and democratic transformation of Sudan”.

The Sudanese government and opposition groups accused each other of hampering the peace process. However, this time the mediation also seemed keen to give it version on the situation.

On Darfur talks, the AUHIP said the obstacles arose when JEM and SLM-MM “re-opened numerous issues that had previously been agreed and others which contradicted the Roadmap Agreement”.

The Panel further said the rebel groups refused “balanced options” the mediation proposed on the location sites of fighters and mechanisms for the monitoring of humanitarian assistance.

“While the Government accepted those proposals, the introduction of new issues by the JEM and SLM-MM, inevitably broke the negotiations”.

On the Two Areas, the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N only disagreed a limited part of the humanitarian assistance the rebels demanded to transported through Asosa Ethiopia.

The mediation said it proposed to “entrust the provision of humanitarian assistance to the United Nations, and that the UN should be allowed to determine, on the basis of its assessment of the needs”.

However the two parties rejected this proposition as the government said it was “inconsistent with the sovereign prerogatives, while the SPLM-N maintained its demand for the guarantee of limited humanitarian assistance through Ethiopia”.

(ST)

A case sufficiently exposed, squarely tabled but evasively torpedoed with ulterior motives

By Trayo Ahmed Ali

As Sudan National Dialogue "roadmap" (proposed by the AUHIP Panel) was signed in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on August 8 - 2016, the motion was set off for negotiations on different tracks and the parties geared up busy fixing their positions. Here, this Sudanese social media reporter (Mr. A. B. Gamal) covering the events gave his version of account on the prevailing mode and positions of the parties delegates that let the mediator, to finally postpone the talks. In it, the writer detected Sudan government behaviour, described and likened to that of a "three-time-divorced-woman" !!

Mr. Gamal informs his readers that the "tactics" that always used by such a "thrice-divorced-woman" and the techniques she applies usually involve "tricky" rules including deception, denial, foul play, blackmailing, corrupting, crookedness, fabrication of facts, massaging of figures, character assassination and others including "yelling" and "walling". All emanate from the beneath of her cunning "yellow smiles".

Furthermore, Mr. Gamal explains that such a woman, skilfully applies "old fox techniques". She does a multiple and simultaneous negotiations with all the parties and at the same time". As her focus has always remained on how to return back to the "House of Obedience" (as defined in Sharia law) the writer says, she always gives major concessions to her original husband, tricks the "Ajaweed" (jurry in the definition of Islamic traditions), fools the "Myhalek" and deprives her "abandoned" children.

She gives a yellow smile to her "Al-muhalel" (the temporary husband used to legitimise the process of remarrying and be discarded at later stage). In between She finger points and constantly pore baseless accusations against the real victims (her abandoned children she got from different husbands - and who usually turn rebel as the result of mistreatment).

In his write up Mr. Gamal, while, figuratively give signals on who represents the "Muhalel" and the "original husband", he clearly identifies that the NCP government represents the "thrice-divorced-woman", the movements represent the "abandoned children turned rebel", and the mediator obviously represents the good-will "Ajaweed".

As a stake-holder, participant actor and negotiator who puts "humanitarian concern" above any other consideration, I found Mr. Gamal "theory" pretty fitting analogue that exposes "Who behaved how" and "who adopted what positions" in this all important exercise.

Indeed it was so oddly enough to see the bizarre the way it was. As the movements attempted to square the issues, the government turns around to triangulate the squares. It was clear that when the movements move a head one step forward, the government moves two steps backwards !!!

Now, let us zoom into the scene.

* Humanitarian Negotiations: The scope, the Issues and positions

It was strictly negotiations on Cessation of Hostilities (CoH). Meaning it is an "a political" or a de-politicised issue by nature ruled by international standards. The The Movements negotiators accordingly abided themselves by to the dictates of this phase of humanitarian negotiations, singled out core issues around which the Cessation of Hostilities anchored, defined and presented as follow:

1- Humanitarian Aid "mechanisms" shall be established to only monitor and report the flow of humanitarian assistance and the protection of civilians by establishing an "Overseer" mechanism. The government (with no sensible argument) flatly rejects movement's proposal.

2- The Movements argued that their forces (at this stage) can only be confined within their "areas" of presence or operations. The government insists on confiding movements forces into "cantonments" termed as "locations" or "sites" !!!

3- The Prisoners of War "PoW" be released as a gesture to show "good faith"was the Movements position. The government flatly rejects the idea to the point of denying the mere presence of such "PoWs".

4- Returning of international Humanitarian NGOs expelled from Darfur to fill the gap. The reason, as the movements argued was to fill the gap by assisting the UN agencies. The government opposed to the idea and argued that "Sudanese" NGOs are fit to carry out the job.Meaning the "HAG" (government humanitarian arm of the National Intelligence and Security).

5- Foreign militia be controlled. The movement argued that to create conducive environment for humanitarian operation the "Foreign" militia operating in Darfur be controlled and monitored. The government refused the proposal on the ground that the issue is part of "final" Ceasefire arrangements.

6- UNAMID to be engaged. The Movements suggested that the UNAMID (as a UNSC mandate backed mission) and has forces on the ground shall be entrusted to establish the CoH mechanisms and chair its mechanisms. The government objects and argue that the UNAMID is weak, not neutral, incapable and can not be trusted to carry out the job.

The only issue the government suggested and insisted on it is for the movements to join the DDPD as it stands without changing comma!!! Even here the movements argued that such issue can only be discussed and agreed upon in due course (at the phase of political negotiations when it starts).

Under these circumstances and scheme of things where the opinions are so divergent and the government kept displays nothing but "irrational" intransigence, whether such talks could have had made any meaningful progress to address the much needed humanitarian requirements or not, is a matter of stating the obvious. On it I do rest my case to the good judgement of the reader.

The writer is a leading member of the Sudan Liberation Movement - Minni Minnawi. He is also the humanitarian secretary of the rebel alliance Sudanese Revolutionary Front. He is reachable at : tmotoy60@gmail.com

August 15, 2016 (KAJO-KEJI) - At least 1100 soldiers who reportedly defected from South Sudan People Patriotic Front (SSPF), a rebel groups based in South Sudan's Western Equatoria state, have allegedly joined Gabriel Changson Chang's South Sudan Army Forces/ Federal Democratic Party (SSAF/FDP).

Gabriel Changson Chang (ST Photo)

Brigadier Gen. Dahab Dobuol Gew told Sudan Tribune from an undisclosed location in South Sudan that they have switched sides from Charles Kasanga after accusing him for signing an agreement with the government.

“We are no longer anymore with SSPF, but we have decided to join the South Sudan Army Forces under commander-in-chief of Changson Lew,” he said.

Dobuol said the common cause of taking up arms against the government was the betrayal by Kasanga, who they believed accepted an offer after series of negotiations with the South Sudanese government.

He however said they are coordinating with the SSAF/FDP chairman to form a coalition fighting group to restore peace and democracy among the people of South Sudan.

“Our decision to split out from the SSPF was that we see our members were lured into fake cheating by the government after forgetting of why they picked up the guns to fight President Salva Kiir's dictatorial regime”, said Dobuol.

According to the official, the murder of civilians during the mid-December 2013 outbreak of conflict in the capital, Juba was the main reason why they took up arms to bring change in the whole country.

The groups say they would maintain different armed forces apart from the SPLA-IO, adding they would only cooperate towards fighting president Kiir forces, but with different commands of authority.

“We as South Sudanese factions who rose up against the Juba regime will be fighting for common agenda and shall continue with process of struggle until we restore peace in the country,” he stressed.

Dobuol said the allied forces to SSAF/FDP are present in Western, Eastern and Central Equatoria states.

A group of SSAF/FDP politicians led by Gen. Gathoth Gatkuoth surrendered this year, but were dismissed from the party by Changson, who accused them of striking a dialogue with the Juba government without his notice.

(ST)

August 17, 2016 (TORIT) – The union of drivers in South Sudan' Eastern Equatoria state have cautioned vehicle drivers from plying Torit -Kapoeta road due to increasing insecurity.

A bridge between Juba and kajo-Keji road (sshada)

The union chairman, Kamal Al Nine said the decision followed frequent attacks by unknown gunmen on innocent passengers using road, which links the two state capitals.

According to Kamal, two people have been killed and seven injured on the last one week on the same road.

There is no security on the road, you can't risk taking passengers who could be hurt or killed on the road since there will be no help by authorities, said the union leader.

“No vehicle will move from here. We also called Torit and informed authorities that no vehicle should leave since the road is not secure. Anybody who wants to travel, let him do it on his or her risk because there is no security,” he stressed.

The government in Namorunyang, one of South Sudan's controversially created states, equally admitted facing challenges facing the passenger s and the business communities using the main road linking the two states.

Meanwhile, the state minister for local government, Joseph Lokai has advised all passengers and drivers to reduce their movements until the road was deemed secure.

He further urged the business communities to opt for alternative routes linking Chukudum, Kenya and Ethiopia instead of relying on the road that connects Torit to Kapoeta.

(ST)