Sudan Tribune

May 23, 2016 (YEI) - A leading civil society entity in South Sudan's Yei River state has expressed concerns over the increasing presence of soldiers who move with guns among the civil population in Yei town.

South Sudanese SPLA soldiers are pictured in Pageri in Eastern Equatoria state on August 20, 2015 (Photo AFP/Samir Bol)

Centre for Democracy and Development raised the matter this week.

Felix Dara, the organisation's program manager said the presence of the army in town largely explains the rampant cases of insecurity, lootings, harassment, intimidation and even killing of innocent civilians.

Last week, a soldier shot and wounded an international medical doctor in Yei. Sr. Veronica Rackova later died at a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

"It is very unfortunate to see that our SPLA [Sudan People's Liberation Army] soldiers who are meant to protect the lives of the people turned the guns on to civilians is very pain full, ” Dara told Sudan Tribune.

He demanded that the army be relocated out of Yei town to enable the authorities track down those criminals intimidating and killing civilians.

"We equally demand that the army except the joint patrol force must be relocated outside the town. They are really causing a security threat to the people of this town. We have a number of cases of people being arrested, intimidated and time has come for all these forces to be out of the town”, stressed Dara.

The officials further urged the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) to speed up allocation of cantonment areas for all the armed forces to enable smooth implementation of the peace accord.

"We equally demand that the security arrangement within the provision of the compromise peace agreement needed to be operationalized especially the issue of cantonment sites and this will enable the authorities to identify who these bandits are,” said Dara.

Meanwhile the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yei, Erkolano Ladu Tombe urged the government, especially the army commanders, to ensure that soldiers under their command are controlled and guided.

“We need security. Security of lives, not security of things, animals, goats, trees and land. And we are telling the security to arrest those people who go out of hand, otherwise you security will be failing in your service to the people and the nation in securing the lives of the people”, he said.

“To the army commanders”, he added, “Don't let soldiers just go about robbing and killing people on the road. You our commanders command our soldiers and please control and punish them when they abuse civilians whom they are supposed to keep safe. Our government should keep the nation in peace; don't let the nation go into pieces [again]”.

The deputy governor of Yei River state, Abraham Wani vowed to ensure that soldiers who undermine the laws are brought to face books of law.

"Yei River County with a team of lawers have started the investigation and these soldiers will face the law accordingly”, he said.

May 24, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and China signed, Monday, an agreement to construct the first nuclear powerhouse in the east African country.

Members of the Chinese delegation for the first meeting of the joint energy cooperation commission in Khartoum on 23 May 2016 (Photo SUNA)

The framework agreement to develop peaceful uses of nuclear energy in Sudan was inked following the first meeting of the China-Sudan Joint Energy Cooperation Commission in Khartoum.

In December 2012, Sudan announced an agreement with China to build a research nuclear reactor, with the approval of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

According to a government official at that time, the reactor aimed to conduct research and scientific applications, and to encourage the use of atomic energy. Sudan carries out 10 projects with the help of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency.

The Sudanese Ministry of Water Resources and Electricity has started the actual preparations for producing power using the nuclear energy in cooperation with the Sudanese Atomic Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as the first nuclear plant is expected to be built in 2020.

The visiting Chinese delegation for the joint energy cooperation meetings is chaired by Nur Bekri, Director of the Chinese National Energy Administration, while the Sudanese side is chaired by the Minister of Finance Badr al-Din Mahmoud.

Speaking after the signing of the framework agreement, Mahmoud said the two sides agreed to discuss the problems that energy production is facing in Sudan and to reach effective solutions.

He added that they will also work to solve challenges facing the new projects, especially Al-Foula electricity plan and the transmission network in South Kordofan.

The government says the lack of funds and economic sanctions impede its efforts to extend electricity service and cover areas in Darfur and South Kordofan.

President Omer al-Bashir met the Chinese delegation on Monday, and discussed bilateral ties and means of bolstering them further.

Al-Bashir directed following the meeting to develop cooperation with China in areas of economy and trade, and expand it in fields of oil, gas, renewed energy, agricultural and industrial investment and infrastructure, said a statement issued following the meeting.

China has invested more than $20 billion in Sudan mostly in the oil sector during the past two decades. Beijing provides low-interest loans and weapons transfers in return for oil.

Minister Mahmoud said they reached an agreement with China to strengthen oil capabilities, to build new facilities and additional oil exportation ports on Red Sea.

Also, they agreed that Chinese companies will explore oil in new blocks, and increase the production of existing fields, besides an agreement for gas exploration and production.

The minister announced that the Chinese oil investments in Sudan have reached 17 billion dollars.

Speaking at the joint meeting; the Minister of Oil and Gas, Mohamed Zayed Aw, said that Sudan exploited only small amounts of its oil reserves, and called on China to increase its investment in the oil sector.

On his part, the Minister of Water Resources, Irrigation and Electricity, Mutaz Musa, pointed out that the ministry is implementing 155 electricity projects with china at a cost of 10 billion dollars.

He said that his government will fund the $10 billion projects from multiple sources, adding that the five-year plan includes power plants and dams.

(ST)

May 23, 2016 (WAU) - The newly-appointed commissioner of Kwajeina county in South Sudan's Wau state, Barjuok Ucu said unity and security would form his top priorities.

Kwajeina county commissioner Barjuok Ucu on May, 23 2016 (ST)

Speaking exclusively to Sudan Tribune on Monday, Ucu urged the people to unite in order to champion developments in the region.

Kwajeina county, its commissioner revealed, mainly consists of three payams. The include, Kwajeiina centre, Mbili and Alur.

“Unity is what makes up peace, development and stability. After unity is guaranteed, then we will start the construction of the area to know the resources in the area,'' said Ucu.

The commissioner called on communities in Kwajeina to unite and distance themselves away from clan practices.

“If we are united as people of Kwajeina county, we shall overcome the challenges facing the development of the new county because in Kwajeina, we have natural resources, including stones and forestry,” he further stressed.

During the interview, the commissioner appealed to the state ministry of agriculture to expedite training of tractors experts to help boost agricultural production in the county.

A plan, he said, was in place to establish secondary schools for the people of Kwajeina

(ST)

May 23, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan's newly appointed national minister of Petroleum in the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), Dak Duop Bichiok, has said his ministry is working to ensure that the oil production in the country should increase by July 2016.

New Petroleum Minister, Dak Duop Bichiok (L), pictured with former Petroluem Minister Stephen Dhieu Dau (R) in handing over ceremony, Juba, May 8, 2016 (ST photo)

Oil production in South Sudan reduced significantly from the beginning of the two years of the civil war when almost all the oilfields in Unity state were shut down as well as some others in Upper Nile state.

It reduced from over 300,000 barrels a day in 2013 to about 165,000 barrels per a day in 2014 at the peak of the war.

The reduction of the oil production, which the nation depended on for 98% of its budget, coupled with reduction in global oil prices, has resulted to lack of revenues to run the government.

Minister Dak told Sudan Tribune on Monday that he has set up a team of 21 members to work on the process to increase the oil production.

He also said the team will kick off with the implementation of the reform and review in the oil sector as stipulated in the August 2015 peace agreement.

“We have formed a technical committee of 21 members chaired by the Under-secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum, Engineer Mohamed Lino, to work out plans for reform and review in the oil sector,” Minister Dak said.

He added that the review process will include oil companies operating in the country.

He took over the petroleum ministry from his predecessor, Stephen Dhieu Dau, in accordance with the executive power sharing in the peace agreement which has given the petroleum ministry to the opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO).

Minister Dak, a veteran politician, was formerly a national minister in Khartoum before the split of South Sudan from the rest of the Sudan in 2011. He was also governor of Upper Nile state for several years.

(ST)

May 22, 2016 (MALUALKON) - The governor of South Sudan's Aweil East state, Deng Deng Akuei has, in an administrative order, sacked Manut Yel Lual, a powerful tax collector who had been operating as an independent tax collector from the state ministry of finance and local government structure.

Map detail showing South Sudan's border state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal

Deng's order, which came into effect 1 April, did say whether Manut would be reinstated.

Manut, a relative of South Sudan army chief, Paul Malong Awan, has been the officer in charge of Warawar peace market for over a decade collecting millions of pounds in taxes day on goods and services from Sudan.

The money collected, sources however say, has never been used to provide basic services to local people but allegedly collected and divided with collectors and Awan.

Several attempts to remove Manut by successive governors have allegedly been blocked by Awan as taxes generated from markets are used to finance local projects.

This explains why former Northern Bahr el Ghazal state governors, including Mareng Akuei Ajou, Madut Biar Yel, Kuel Aguer Kuel, Salva Chol Ayat and Akot Deng Akot who all had the opportunity to remove Manut never succeeded the SPLMA army chief of staff often prevailed in his defence.

Until now, it remains unclear what eventually persuaded Awan to approve the removal of Manut from the taxation docket from which he has allegedly married more than 30 wives.

Many, however, say the need to generate revenues to finance operations of the 28 new states created by President Salva Kiir last year, may have led to Manut's removal.

(ST)

May 23, 2016 (EL-GENEINA) - Eight people were killed and four others injured Sunday in a retaliatory attack by unidentified gunmen on a mosque in a village located 10 km. east of West Darfur state capital, El-Geneina.

Relatives mourn next to bodies wrapped in shrouds outside hospital before a group funeral ceremony following a revenge attack on a mosque on May 23, 2016 in El Geneina (Photo ST)

Eyewitnesses said that 8 worshipers were killed and 4 others seriously injured when gunmen opened fire in a mosque in Azrini area during the sunset prayers following the killing of a militia man in an altercation with a local resident in the market place.

Following the incident, the government of West Darfur deployed large military reinforcements on the streets of El-Geneina to prevent further protests that could lead to the spread of chaos.

On Monday, thousands of people gathered in front of El-Geneina Teaching Hospital after the dead bodies were transferred to the morgue to identify the causes of death.

Also, traders at El-Geneina commercial market shut down their shop in protest against what they described as “barbaric” killing of the worshippers.

One of the victim's relatives by the name of Omer Idris told Sudan Tribune that two gunmen on a motorcycle engaged in an altercation with a local man, saying the latter stabbed the two men killing one of them immediately and injuring the other.

He added that angry gunmen subsequently attacked the mosque during the sunset prayers to avenge the killing of their fellow tribesman, saying they killed 6 worshippers and injured 4 others before fleeing.

UNANIMOUS CONDEMNATION

The local government, tribal leaders and rebel groups in Darfur condemned the attack on civilians by the gunmen. Several statements described it as a “clear violation of human rights” and called to implement international measures to protect Darfurians.

The governor of West Darfur Khalil Abdalla Mohamed has condemned the incident saying his government has put in place strict security arrangements to prevent further spread of violence.

He praised the role played by the Native Administration to control the situation, revealing that a committee headed by a minister has been formed to follow-up on the developments.

Also, the paramount chief of Masalit tribe and head of the local administration in the state Saad Abdel-Rahman Bahr al-Din said the incident is more dangerous than the armed rebellion.

Bahr al-Din called on the federal government to support West Darfur state to tackle the root causes of the violence.

The New Justice and Equality Movement (NJEM) said that the continued attacks against the residence are considered “systematic and deliberate genocide” by the government's militias and paramilitary forces that work to protect the regime.

The rebel group which is led by Mansour Arbab, a Massalit from West Darfur, vowed to respond strongly to the attack and called upon its supporters to join the struggle in defence of the land, honour and people's lives.

Meanwhile, the leader of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) Abdel-Wahid al-Nur has condemned the attack and held the government fully responsible for the “heinous crime”.

In a statement issued Monday, al-Nur denounced the silence of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and saying its inaction could be described as “collusion”.

The Sudan Liberation Movement Minni Minnawi in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune condemned the attack and called on the international community implement the decisions previously endorsed to "stop the crimes against humanity in Darfur".

"We will not let these crimes go without accountability and will revenge from these criminals tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and we will not put the weapon until justice prevails throughout the country," said Minnawi.

(ST)

“”
May 23, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, said he would not want another war with his first deputy, Riek Machar, but warned that talks to cancel the 28 states he unilaterally created would mean the opposition faction was not ready for peace.

President Salva Kiir speaks during the inauguration of the new SPLM premises in Juba on 15 November 2013 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

He also said he would not tolerate another internal conflict within the new unity government, asserting he would do the best within his power to consolidate peace and stability after the return of his main political rival, Machar.

“This country cannot afford another war, not even for one day,” President Kiir told his supporters comprising senior military officers and high profile politicians who had accompanied him to his ranch in Luri area, located a few kilometres west of the national capital, Juba town.

The head of state retired to Luri on Sunday where he held an informal consultation with his inner circles over contentious matters in the implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement which his administration is yet to find a solution with the armed opposition faction under Machar.

Luri is an area which hosts the president's cattle farms as well as the location where special forces and heavy weaponry, including helicopter gunships have been stationed for the defence of the capital.

According to a presidential aide, President Kiir consulted his group in the area on how to deal with the issue of 28 states and cantonment of opposition forces in Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal regions.

He accused the opposition factions in the unity government of wanting to suspend the 28 states, arguing that the opposition faction of SPLM-IO under the leadership of Machar was not interested in peace and stability.

"They come asking about the issue of states. They want us to cancel the order of the states, will people accept, will they accept these states to be cancelled. I think these people are not interested in peace and stability," said Kiir, according to one of his aides who accompanied him on Sunday to his farm.

The president said the opposition was also talking about suspension of the 28 states and “their backers have joined them.”

He accused unnamed foreign powers and organizations of having failed to honour their words and pledges to provide financial support after he formed the unity government with Machar.

“They [donors] used to come and say they would provide support when the transitional government of national unity is formed. Now the government they wanted is formed, they have come up with other excuses. They are saying we should cancel the 28 states and to allow Riek to have cantonment sites for his forces in Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria,” President Kiir lamented.

“Do you know where they have these forces they [SPLA-IO] want to be allowed to have assembling points in Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria?” he asked.

Opposition faction under the leadership of Machar said the argument by President Kiir's group in refusing cantonment areas for opposition forces in Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal regions was an attempt to deny the SPLA-IO a national outlook in the country.

On donors not coming forth with financial assistance, the opposition argued that the donors might be waiting to see progress in the implementation of the peace agreement by resolving the issue of the number of states, cantonment of forces and reconstitution of national parliament as well as formation of state government, among others.

They also accused the President's faction of trying to incite the people, particularly his supporters, to enter into conflicts in defence of the 28 states by always referring to the people not to accept the suspension of the states.

The opposition faction also argued that the people were never consulted when the 28 were unilaterally decreed into being.

The outcome of the Luri's informal consultation between the president and his confidants was not however revealed to the media.

(ST)

May 23, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - A member of Sudan's dialogue committee known as 7+7 has said that the general assembly of the dialogue would be held on October 10th with the participation of the willing political parties and armed groups.

Sudan's President Omer al-Bashir and his Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby (L) listen to the national anthem during opening session of Sudan National Dialogue conference in Khartoum October 10, 2015. (Photo SUNA)

The internal dialogue conference was inaugurated in Khartoum on October 10th, 2015 amid large boycott from the major political and armed opposition.

Member of the 7+7 committee Bishara Gumaa Aru has expected the dialogue general assembly would be held between Eid-ul-Fitr (breaking of the fast) and Eid-ul-Adha (festival of Sacrifice).

He told Sudan Tribune that the general assembly has been delayed to ensure its success, saying the dialogue process would determine the future of Sudan.

“We decided to slow down [the process] in order to make the national dialogue more inclusive,” he said.

The dialogue conference subcommittees has concluded its work and submitted its recommendations to the general secretariat last February in the absence of the major political parties and armed groups.

The recommendations would be presented before the general assembly for final approval.

Aru added that if the holdout groups refused to join the dialogue, “we might hold the general assembly on October 10th with the participation of the willing parties”.

“The general assembly would be held with the participation of those who seek to achieve the national interests not the individual ambitions … dialogue is for the nation not for the sake of the personal interests,” he said.

Political forces members of the opposition alliance National Consensus Forces (NCF) and other parties refuse to take part in the dialogue conference before the creation of a conducive environment and the implementation of specific confidence-building measures provided in a roadmap proposed by the African Union mediation team.

Some significant political parties, such as the National Umma Party, the Reform Now Movement and the Just Peace Forum, that approved the process in the beginning.

But later they suspended their participation, criticizing the government refusal to postpone the general elections and the lack of political freedoms.

Also, the major armed movements in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile refrained from participating in the dialogue conference citing similar demands.

MEETING WITH THE FFC

Meanwhile, Aru said the 7+7 committee and the opposition Future Forces of Change (FFC) would hold a third meeting on Tuesday, saying the meeting would discuss ways to make the dialogue more inclusive.

He refused the proposal of the FFC to make the dialogue conference a step towards a more inclusive process, describing it as “incorrect and politically immature”.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Friday, FFC political secretary Hassan Rizq said his alliance sees that the outcome of the dialogue conference must be merged with proposals of the holdout opposition in order to reach joint recommendations.

Aru described the dialogue conference as “huge work”, saying the discussions among the participating political parties and armed groups had extended for four months and tackled crucial issues.

He further described the recommendations of the conference as “historic document”, saying they would offer the FFC with several options to join the dialogue.

Aru also said the meeting with the FFC would also discuss ways to ensure the success of the Roadmap Agreement brokered by the African Union mediation.

Last March, the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and the Sudanese government signed a framework agreement calling to stop war in Blue Nile, Darfur, and South Kordofan and to engage in the national dialogue process.

However, the opposition groups, Justice and Equality Movement, National Umma Party (NUP), Sudan People's Liberation Movement -North (SPLM-N), and Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) refused the roadmap saying it acknowledges a government controlled dialogue conference and would lead to reproduce the regime.

(ST)

May 23, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan's main referral hospital, has been without power for seven consecutive days, as medical practitioners used candles and torches to aid work.

A female patient with a broken leg gets moved past an injured man on the floor at the emergency ward at the Juba Teaching hospital, which has a shortage of beds, on 19 July 2012 (Photo: Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

The country's ministry of finance, health and electricity and dams is yet to officially explain the cause of the current power crisis.

Workers at Juba Teaching hospital confirmed said the power problem at the facility has persisted for about a week.

Unconfirmed reports say for doctors to carry out an emergency operation on patient in a critical condition, relatives would be asked to provide fuel to run the hospital generator during an operation.

This situation, officials said, had never ever occurred in the institution's history.

A medical source told Sudan Tribune on anonymity that medical personnel had to use oxygen cylinders for patients who needed oxygen and candles to light some general wards as they do not have fuel to run the generators.

The hospital's sensitive areas such as the Neonatal intensive care unit that utilizes incubators for the premature babies and the operating theatres have been affected by the power failure because the hospital lacks backup generators.

The main referral institution has since failed to secure fuel to run its standby generators.

Meanwhile, health ministry officials say their counterparts at the finance, petroleum, and the electricity and dams ministries were notified about the problem, but no action has been taken.

(ST)

May 6, 2016 (JUBA) – A senior media official in the office of the First Vice-President, Riek Machar, has downplayed media reports of security tensions in Juba between bodyguards of the top leaders in the country.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir (C) poses for a picture after the government swearing in with his first deputy Riek Machar (R) and second deputy James Wani on 29 April 2016 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

Some media outlets have reported that security tensions occurred since Wednesday between Machar's bodyguards and those of the President, Salva Kiir, which prevented the first vice-president from going to his office.

Machar since his swearing in into office 10 days ago on Tuesday last week has not yet started work in his official office, and has been doing his official meetings at his residence of Jebel Kujur in the outskirts of the city, about 5kms away from the presidential palace.

However, his press secretary, James Gatdet Dak, downplayed the report, saying unfinished preparations of the first vice-president's office caused the delay.

“There is no security tension in Juba as reported in the media. What I know is that the office for the First Vice President is being arranged,” Dak said.

He however added that despite the lack of office, Machar also comes to office for official government's meetings, including the council of ministers meeting.

“He has been coming to the government's premises for important meetings. On Thursday he also chaired an induction workshop for the new transitional cabinet, and on Friday he co-chaired with President Salva Kiir the first sitting of the new cabinet,” he added.

Dak further explained that as soon as the office for the first vice-president and his staff is availed, he will officially begin to work in it.

MACHAR MEETS CHINESE ENVOY

Meanwhile Dak said Machar on Thursday met with the Special Envoy for South Sudan from the People's Republic of China, Ambassador Zhong Zianhua, and discussed the role the Chinese government should play in supporting the implementation of the Peace Agreement in South Sudan.

“The meeting focused on the need for the Chinese government to support priority projects on peace and security in the country as well as services delivery to the needy people in South Sudan,” he said.

He said Machar reiterated the importance of doubling efforts by the Chinese government as a development partner to South Sudan to help the country in restoring peace and stabilizing the economy.

Machar, he said, appealed to the Chinese government to allocate to South Sudan some of the 16 billion US dollars China has earmarked for Africa.

On his part, the Chinese Special Envoy, Zianhua, expressed his country's readiness to play a great role in the implementation of the peace agreement and in the stabilization of the country's security and economy.

(ST)

May 6, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's dialogue mechanism known as 7+7 has dismissed the memorandum submitted by national figures to President Omer al-Bashir as “elitist” and said the president is committed to implement the outcome of the dialogue conference.

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)

Last week, 52 national figures including former Prime Minister Al-Gizouli Dafallaa revealed that they handed over a memo titled the National Initiative for Peace and Reform to the presidency calling on Bashir to establish a transitional government to address the national crises and make structural change in the system of governance.

However, member of the 7+7 committee and secretary general of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) Kamal Omer has criticized the memo, describing the signatories as “limited elite”.

He pointed that President Bashir has pledged to implement the outcome of the national conference.

“It [ the memo] is vague and it deals with minor issues such as the executive power while the national dialogue which is the largest political project since independence has discussed all governance issues,” he said.

Omer told the semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) that the memo calls for forming a government of technocrats with unclear tasks while the national dialogue recommended a government of national consensus, saying the time for the technocratic governments is over.

“We can't get a head of the national dialogue and allow a group of people to submit a memo which includes issues that have been discussed at length in the dialogue conference”, he added

He renewed their commitment to the national dialogue saying they wouldn't allow any party to circumvent its outcome.

“We had enough of the memos and views of the elitist groups” said Omer

HOLDOUT GROUPS AND DIALOGUE

For its part, the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) disclosed that the 7+7 mechanism has reached understandings with some of the holdout groups to join the national dialogue.

NCP deputy chairman and presidential aide Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid said the general secretariat of the dialogue conference has prepared the draft document of the recommendations.

He told the SMC that arrangements for holding the general conference would start soon, saying the participants would discuss the recommendations and the proposed national document.

Hamid added that the dialogue process is still ongoing in order to bring in the largest number of the holdout opposition to agree on the national constants, saying the 7+7 mechanism managed to convince new forces to join the dialogue.

The internal dialogue conference was inaugurated in Khartoum on October 10 th, 2015 amid large boycott from the major political and armed opposition.

Political forces members of the opposition alliance National Consensus Forces (NCF) and other parties refuse to take part in the dialogue conference before the creation of a conducive environment and the implementation of specific confidence-building measures provided in a roadmap proposed by the African Union mediation team.

Some significant political parties, such as the National Umma Party, the Reform Now Movement and the Just Peace Forum, that approved the process in the beginning.

But later they suspended their participation, criticizing the government refusal to postpone the general elections and the lack of political freedoms.

Also, the major armed movements in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile refrained from participating in the dialogue conference citing similar demands.

(ST)

May 6, 2016 (KHARTOUM) -Sudan's foreign ministry Friday said the tripartite team tasked with developing an exit strategy for the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) would start a visit to Darfur's five states on Monday.

Peacekeepers from the hybrid African Union-United Nations operation in Darfur (UNAMID) patrol the damaged and empty Labado village in South Darfur on 10 December 2013 (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

A tripartite working group including the Sudanese government, African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) has been set up in February 2015 to develop an exit strategy for the UNAMID from Darfur.

In its meeting on 18 April in Khartoum, the tripartite team decided to conduct field visits to Darfur before to start a gradual and smooth exit from the restive region.

Sudan's foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq said the team would visit Darfur's five states between 8 to 16 May to see the ground realities, saying it would submit a report to the joint mechanism at the end of the visit.

He added the team would also hold a meeting in Khartoum on 23 May to approve the outcome of its visit to Darfur, saying the joint mechanism would also discuss other issues pertaining to the UNAMID's performance and exit from Darfur.

Al-Sadiq expressed hope that the outcome of the tripartite team work would be included in the report that will be presented by the United Nations chief Ban Ki Moon to the UN Security Council in early June.

It is noteworthy that the UN linked the full withdrawal of the peacekeeping operation from Darfur region with signing of a ceasefire agreement within a peace agreement where the protection of civilians can be ensured.

The hybrid mission has been deployed in Darfur since December 2007 with a mandate to stem violence against civilians in the western Sudan's region.

It is the world's second largest international peacekeeping force with an annual budget of $1.35 billion and almost 20,000 troops.

UN agencies say there are nearly 2.5 million displaced persons in Darfur, despite the signing of peace agreement in Doha in July 2011.

(ST)

May 6, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan's newly-appointed minister of irrigation and water resources, Mabior Garang de Mabior was on Friday ordered out of the country's first cabinet meeting since the formation of the Transitional National Unity Government (TGoNU).

Mabior John Garang de Mabior (File photo MC Clatchy Newspapers)

Garang said the expulsion order came from President Salva Kiir over his "inappropriate" dressing.

The youthful minister said he was in shock “after being kicked out by Salva Kiir from the first sitting of the council of ministers for being inappropriately dressed.”

Garang had appeared the meeting, held weekly, in a black suit, white shirt and black bow tie, a day after ministers undertook an induction workshop where they were informed of protocol for meetings, including dress codes, which were not specified.

Garang, however, insisted that focusing on one's clothing was a distraction from real issues the young nation faces.

“There is no fuel in Juba and people are still in UNMISS [UN mission in South Sudan] PoCs [Protection of Civilian sites]," he posted on his Facebook page.

There was no immediate reaction from the presidency over the bizarre cabinet incident.

(ST)

May 5, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) said it will continue military operations to on the positions of the rebel Sudan People Liberation Movement- North (SPLM-N) in South Kordofan.

SAF Chief of General Staff, Ltd General Emad al-Din Adawi,

The Sudanese army and allied militia since more than three months carry out the traditional summer military campaign on the rebel controlled areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

The two warring parties have claimed victories, as the peace process is stalled and there is not prospect for a political solution.

Speaking to the troops of the 14th Infantry Division in Kadugli on Thursday, SAF Chief of General Staff, Ltd General Emad al-Din Adawi, said that the army will continue the summer military operation against what he called “SPLM mercenaries”.

Adawi further said the armed forces are “capable of forcing the rebels to accept the option of peace by the force of arms”, and pledged to continue operations until peace is achieved.

The Sudanese general reiterated the government seriousness to reach peace pointing to the signing of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) brokered “Roadmap Agreement” last March.

He added that SPLM-N refusal to sign it demonstrate their unwillingness to reach a peaceful settlement for the conflict.

Since 2011, Sudanese Armed Forces is fighting the SPLM-N fighters in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Some 12 rounds of talks between the government of Sudan and SPLM-N failed to achieve peace.

The Commander of the 14th Division, Major-General Yasir al-Atta, said that SAF have retaken the control of several strategic areas from the SPLM-N.

“SAF will prevail for the sake of peace and securing the homeland, after what the people South Kordofan state would enjoy peace and stability,” Al-Atta further said.

(ST)

May 5, 2016 (KAMPALA) – Students from South Sudan's Unity state, currently studying in Uganda, have sent series of condolences to two fallen heroes from the region.

Last week, Dhiaydor Tutroal, the Leek Nuer spiritual leader and Gideon Jageah, a high profile member of Unity state's traditional court and council of elders passed on.

Kel Tap Jock, the chairperson of the students' union in Uganda, sent condolences on behalf of the students.

“As a body that represents Unity state sons and daughters in Uganda, we cannot withstand the state of depression we are going through after we received sad news,” he said.

Jock described the fallen leader as “guiding guitars” that fought for the reconciliation and restoration of trust for the peaceful coexistence of the Unity state population.

“We ask God to protect and maintain the few ones who are still surviving for the welfare of our country,” stressed Jock.

The student leader urged members of the union to stay united and ensure they maintain the legacy left behind by the two fallen heroes who stood for justice.

(ST)

May 5, 2016 (JUBA) – People residing in the South Sudan capital, Juba have asked the newly formed transitional unity government to help improve the high costs of living.

Motorcycles line up for hours to get fuel before it runs out July 18, 2012 in Juba, South Sudan. (Getty)

South Sudan's new Transitional Government of National Unity faces an uphill task of reviving a largely oil-dependent economy to support its annual budget.

The oil sector, which accounts for over 90 per cent of government revenues, has been badly affected the recent war, in addition to the decline in oil prices on world markets.

Commodity prices also shot up due to the devaluation of the local currency, South Sudanese pound, which has gravely impacted on the transport sector in the country.

The most affected are importers of food items and general household goods who have to deal with sharply increased prices to bring in goods from its neighbouring countries.

Oyet William, a commercial cyclist in the South Sudan capital, has to toil daily in order to fend for his family. His business has been badly hit by the high fuel prices.

“People are suffering always and that is how life goes on. In the case of food, if you go to a hotel, you will find a plate at 35 pounds and in some places it is 30 pounds,” Oyet says.

Initially, he adds, one would only pay just 5SSP for a plate of food.

Aisha Peter, a tea vendor in Juba, is also facing the country's economic pinch.

“For sure, life in Juba is hard, without a job, you cannot survive and so one has to do a small business to let kids get food, we are doing this because children have to school and get food,” she told Sudan Tribune Thursday.

The conflict, which broke out in 2013, has negatively impacted on the nation's citizens, including pushing the country to the brink of famine with 5.8 million people, nearly half of the population, in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, a joint United Nations assessment report recently-showed.

South Sudan, one of the world's poorest nations, has worst indicators on health, development and education.

(ST)

May 5, 2016 (JUBA) - Members of parliament in the newly created Aweil state (Northern Bhar el Ghazal) have rejected a proposal by the state minister of finance seeking to raise household taxes from natives of the area, despite many struggling to make a living on daily basis.

Aweil politicians at community meeting in Juba on 1 Nov. 2012 (ST)

The state authorities, according to president Kiir at the time of announcing the order in October 2015, were to generate revenues from the local people to be able to fund their operations.

However, with people being unable to make a living for themselves, it puts to question how the authorities would sustain their operations and how it would achieve the objective for which the new administrative units were created.

In most areas of Bahr el Ghazal region, and particularly areas adjacent to neigbouring Sudan, civilians due to hunger and insecurity have massively crossed into Sudan where they have been put into concentration camps as refugees and fed by humanitarian organizations.

Speaking in an interview with Sudan Tribune from Aweil town on Thursday, the head of parliamentary affairs committee responsible for information, Benson Opuothmalo, said the decision of the parliament to suspend taxing civilians was born out of the fact that the citizens would not pay because of hunger.

“The decision of the house was made in recognition of the situation facing our people. This year is a very bad year. The citizens are struggling to make a living. If it were a good year, the house of course would have examined the proposal to see how the areas and projects requiring funding through local revenues would be used and how much was required,” said Opuothmalo.

“But because this is a bad year, we told the minister of finance to suspend and leave the house collections until the situation improved. When the situation improved the house collections will resume. This was only what we have done in the assembly,” he further explained.

Aweil state is one of the controversial 28 states which came into existence as a result of presidential order creating more administrative units despite signing the peace agreement on the basis of 10 states.

The new state was curved out of five counties, some of which became states of their own. Others were merged with counties from other states to form another state in fulfilment of presidential establishment.

Aweil state is formed out of an amalgamation of Aweil south, Centre and areas around Aweil town, the capital of the new state.

The counties of Aweil West and North have been merged with Raja which was a county under Western Bahr el Ghazal state to form a new Lol state.

Aweil East, which was one of the five counties forming the defunct Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, became a state of its own.

The new states are yet to receive a budget and have continued to operate on a shared budget previously meant for 10 states, making it difficult to provide services to the people.

Finance State Minister, Garang Majak, welcomed the decision of the house but further argued that the government has the right to raise taxes from household to provide basic services to the people.

Majority of the 28 states have no budget and the newly appointed governors and their commissioners have been asking the citizens, also seen poor, to contribute to the new governments so that they buy vehicles for officials as well as cater for other operational necessities.

(ST)

By Gordon Buay

Politics is NOT only a dirty game as the saying goes. It is also a game where allowing your opponents to cock their guns to should you is considered a fetal mistake. A smart politician is someone who hangs his opponents before they hang him.

Dr. Riek Machar should learn from late Meles Zenawi who foiled a political coup against him in 2000 by 16 members of the TPLF party. Right now, the jobbists who did not get the ministries of milk and honey are using a new tactic Riek Machar should not ignore. There are two dangerous characters of the SPLM-IO who have started bribing and mobilizing the educated class of the IO against Dr. Riek Machar. If Dr. Riek Machar ignores these political mosquitoes and allows them to infect his Movement with the Malaria parasites, the symptoms will be fetal.

The 1st VP should borrow from Meles Zenawi and dismiss the jobbists from their positions before they hang him. The politics of positions in South Sudan always ends up in violence. The SPLM-IO jobbists who openly came out to oppose Dr. Riek Machar should be purged by the 1st VP if he wants his rule to be stable.

There is a Nuer adage that dealing with a man who has money is a very complicated thing. The jobbists who are now against Dr. Riek Machar have money that they can use to buy loyalty of political and military members of the SPLM-IO. If the 1st VP allows them to gain momentum, he would face a lot of problems. The best way for him to deal with them is to hang the jobbists before they hang him.

There is an abundant research which proves that most elites of the liberation movements in Africa who come to towns after the conclusion of the peace end up fighting over positions and sugar. That is now what is happening within the IO. Those corruption lords of the IO who think that they have entitlement to the ministries of milk and honey will fight Dr. Riek Machar for denying them the ministries where they could grab public resources to recover their loses incurred during the war.

What Dr. Riek Machar should do now is to launch a preemptive strike against those corruption lords who are now agitating to topple him. The biggest mistake a politician can make is to allow his enemy to sharpen a knife that will be used to cut his throat. The best strategy is to stop your opponent before sharpening the knife. No one can return a bullet to the shell once it is fired. Scientifically, it is not possible. If Dr. Riek allows his opponents within the IO to mobilize the supporters of the IO against him, he will not be able to control them once they start to slaughter him.

I am really shocked to learn that one of the IO corruption lords took millions of dollars from the international businessmen with the hope that once he got the ministry of milk and honey, he would give those businessmen contracts. Now that the hope of getting such a ministry is zero, the corruption lord would ensure to cut the throat of the 1st VP. In that case, Dr. Riek should hang his enemies before they hang him. That is what I believe he should do to save his rule from being undermined by the political entrepreneurs.

The author is an Ambassador at the South Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

May 5, 2016 (JUBA) - A race to elect a speaker of the transitional national legislative assembly from Equatorian politicians has begun in the South Sudan's capital, Juba, with names being sent to President Salva Kiir.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit speaks to the National Legislature on the occasion of the inauguration of the three years extension of his mandate, on July 8, 2015 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

Four personalities whose names have been forwarded to Presidnent Kiir by the Equatorian caucus on the side of the pre-unity government's faction include David Nailo, Betty Achan Ogwaro, Luka Tombekana Monoja, and Anthony Lino Makana.

Chairman of the Equatoria caucus in the national parliament said he expected Equatorians from all the political parties to sit together to elect the speaker regardless of political affiliations.

Thomas Wani Kundu told Sudan Tribune that the political affiliation of the nominee does not matter as long as the person is from the Equatoria region.

“We need to sit together so that we can get one person… as long as he is from Equatoria,” Kundu said.

The peace agreement signed in August 2015 by President Kiir and opposition's leader, Riek Machar, has given the position of speaker of national parliament to Equatorians to nominate it.

Kundu said the SPLM in Opposition (SPLM-IO) is also expected to present a nominee for the position.

One of the competitors in the Equatorian race for national parliamentary speaker said integrity should be a precondition for selecting the speaker.

Speaking to Bakhita Radio “Wake up Juba” programme, Luka Tombekana Monoja said the candidate to the position should be elected based on merit.

Tombekana urges the competitors to demonstrate pride to the public, saying the citizens have lost hope in both the government and the opposition.

“What we need to see now is restoring the hope of the citizens and stabilizing the economy otherwise our dream is doomed” Tombekana remarked.

The parties to the agreement have not however agreed on the mode of electing the speaker.

(ST)

May 4, 2016 (JUBA) - The United Nations Security Council has called on South Sudan's transitional unity government to end the cycles of violence and fully implement the peace agreement signed by its warring parties in August 2015.

A UN Security Council session in New York (Photo courtesy of the UN)

In a statement to the media on Wednesday, the 15-nation body welcomed the formation on 29 April of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), describing is as “an important milestone” in implementing the agreement.

The TGoNU, it said, should “work together to fully implement the agreement and bring an end to the cycles of violence and suffering, including by adhering to the permanent ceasefire, and by urgently creating the transitional institutions envisioned in the agreement, which are needed to maintain security and build trust between the parties.”

The Council also called on the TGoNU to urgently remove impediments on the ground to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, as there are 2.5 million people displaced from their homes and 6.1 million people in need of such aid.

The Security Council further called on South Sudan government to allow the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) free movement to exercise its mandate, including protection of civilians and investigation of human rights violations, while condemning, in the strongest terms, the attack against the UNMISS compound in Bentiu on 25 April.

Leaders of the world's youngest nation have finally formed the long-awaited transitional unity government, ending over two years of civil war that displaced over 2 million people.

As the two leaders form a unity government, among its first challenges, observers say, will be to overcome mistrust between them. Besides, there are other rebel groups which did not sign the peace deal and this could prove a setback.

Last week, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon welcomed the new unity government, describing it a “new phase” in the implementation of the peace deal.

South Sudan, heavily reliant on oil revenues to fund it budget, is one of poorest countries in the world with the worst indicators on development, health and education.

(ST)