Sudan Tribune

April 30, 2016 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese government on Saturday commended what it described as a positive response from members of the international community after formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU).

South Sudan's minister for parliamentary affairs Bashir Gbandi (thenile)

“We welcome with open heart and mind as the government the support of the international community. There have been positive statements from different countries and international organizations after the return of the first vice president and after the formation of the transitional government of national unity", the parliamentary affairs minister, Peter Bashir Gbandi told Sudan Tribune Saturday.

“We are not an island. We are part of the international community”, he added.

The minister was reacting to comments attributed to members of international community which reacted to the formation of South Sudan's TGoNU on Friday.

“Such positive statements shows that it can be an opportunity to work together with our international partners to restore hope of our people in the government and build the nation together”, said Gbandi.

The members of the Troika comprising United States, United Kingdom and Norway, which are the key players and guarantors of peace agreement, issued a statement welcoming the formation of what they referred as the "long-awaited formation" of South Sudan's transitional government. The countries, however, said they were concerned that the new government did not have sufficient women representation in accordance with the 25% quota allocation to women by the constitution.

"While formation of the transitional government is a step forward, with thousands dead, widespread atrocities committed, and millions displaced from their homes during the conflict, this is no time for celebration," the Troika said in a statement issued Friday.

"The fighting must stop, decisive action must be taken to tackle the economic crisis, and there must be full cooperation with the UN [United Nations] and humanitarian agencies to ensure aid reaches those in need; formal and informal impediments must be removed," it added.

The troika member countries vowed to support the TGoNU "if it shows it is serious about working for the good of the country and implementing the peace agreement in full."

Meanwhile the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said the formation of the new government is an "important milestone in the peace process" and urged South Sudan's leaders to establish all institutions of transition.

He also urged the country's warring parties to immediately cease all hostilities.

Canada's foreign affairs minister, Stéphane Dion said his country welcomed the new government and hailed it as an "important step" toward national reconciliation.

“Most urgently, every possible step must be made by the national leadership to put an end to persistent conflict across the country and to give humanitarian agencies unfettered access to those in dire need of assistance," Dion said.

Dion added it is crucial that the government move quickly to establish accountability measures to end South Sudan's cycle of violence and impunity.

The European Union said the new government is a "welcome development" which is long overdue. "Now the leadership must work to deliver peace and security, as well as humanitarian access for the people of South Sudan," the EU said, through its commissioner for humanitarian affair.

The EU said it would support the new government if it works to end persistent conflict, abuse of civilians, violations of international humanitarian law, and corruption.

"The worsening humanitarian situation and the suffering of the people of South Sudan have reached extreme proportions," the EU said.

"Restrictions on access continue to impede humanitarian operations. The EU expects the Transitional Government to uphold its obligation to respect independent and unhindered humanitarian assistance."

Pete Walsh, country director for Save the Children said the new government is a "golden opportunity" for the country to devote itself to children's education for boys and girls.

"The formation of the TGoNU is not an end in itself – it's the beginning of hard work to reverse the physical and psychological injuries inflicted on millions of children," Walsh said.

He urged the new government to honour provisions of Chapter 3 of the peace deal, which says the parties must allow delivery of humanitarian aid, offer special consideration to conflict-affected persons such as women, children, orphans and release all child soldiers.

(ST)

April 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Five Sudanese military personnel were killed when a military plane crashed in the capital of North Kordofan State El Obied, 588 km south Khartoum on Saturday.

Firefighters put out a fire on the wreckage of a military plane at El-Obied airport on 30 April 2016.

Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) spokesperson Brigadier, Ahmed Khalifa al-Shami, said in a brief statement that the military plane Antonov 26 crashed while landing in El Obied airport due to a technical problem.

“All the crew members including three officers and two soldiers were killed in the accident,” said the statement.

Late 2012, a Sudanese military fighter crashed in El Obied and its pilot was killed instantly.

At the time, SAF said it will investigate the reason of the crash, which happened after fulfilling a military operation; on South Kordofan State where the army fights the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement -North (SPLM-N).

In the same year, three similar accidents occurred.

A Sudanese Armed Force drone crashed in Omdurman. Followed by the death of 12 people when a military Antonov crashed in the same town in October 2012.

32 people, including senior security and military officers and ministers, were killed when an army Antonov 26 hit a mountain and caught fire while landing in Tuldi in South Kordofan State in August 2012.

(ST)

April 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Saturday prevented the Journalists Network (SJN) from holding a symposium to discuss government plans aimed at integrating daily newspapers into a limited number of press institutions.

Veteran Sudanese journalist and analyst Faisal Mohammed Salih speaks to AFP during an interview in Khartoum on May 29, 2012 (File/ AFP)

The director of programmes at Tiba Press Faisal Mohamed Salih told Sudan Tribune that the NISS ordered them over the phone to not host the symposium organized by the SJN without stating reasons.

He added that Tiba Press has the right to host such an event inside its premises without permission from the concerned authorities according to the law.

The move comes two days after a media watchdog said the NISS directed the newspapers to not report about student demonstrations to protest the recent killing of two students.

The symposium titled “Integrating Newspapers: A leap into the Unknown” was supposed to bring a panel of speakers from various newspapers including publishers, chief editors and journalists to discuss the impact of the government plans on their newspapers.

It is noteworthy that senior government officials have repeatedly called on publishers to consider integrating their newspapers in order to receive government support particularly as they suffer from high cost of printing and low circulation.

The government seeks to convince publishers to adopt its plans by mutual consent since there is no law in place that compels them to accept the move, however, disagreements exist among the latter on the proposal.

Also, journalists fear that dozens of their colleagues would be laid off as a result of the integration of the newspapers.

Sudan's constitution guarantees freedom of expression but laws subordinate to the constitution such as the National Security Forces Act of 2010 contains articles that can be potentially used to curtail press freedom and instigate legal proceedings against newspapers and individual journalists.

Sudanese journalists work under tight daily censorship controls exercised by the NISS.

(ST)

April 30, 2016 (JUBA) – The armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) has dismissed as baseless “rumour” allegation that their party's chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, has resigned from the SPLM-IO.

SPLM-IO Chief Negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, speaking to journalists at Juba airport upon his return from Pagak with his team, 22 January 2016 (ST Photo)

The allegation circulated on social media on Saturday could not explain the reason behind the alleged resignation.

Deng has been the SPLM-IO's chief negotiator under the leadership of the newly sworn in First Vice-President, Riek Machar, for two years since peace negotiations with President Salva Kiir's government began in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2014 to end the civil war which erupted on 15 December 2013 in the country.

However, Machar's press secretary, James Gatdet Dak, dismissed the rumours as untrue, but said Deng wanted to take a break from his role as chief negotiator.

“It is not true that H.E. General Taban Deng Gai, Mining Minister, has resigned from the SPLM-IO as rumoured and circulated on social media,” Dak said.

“He just feels that his direct role as Chief Negotiator should come to an end and be replaced with another official,” he added.

Deng, a former governor of the oil rich Unity state, was also appointed as minister of mining in the newly sworn in transitional government of national unity per nomination by Machar.

It was not however clear whether his decision to quit his role as chief negotiator resulted from a frustration to continue leading the opposition's committee.

But Dak told Sudan Tribune that Deng wanted to be given time to establish his new mining ministry.

“He wanted time in order to concentrate on establishment of the Ministry of Mining,” Dak explained.

Deng, he added, therefore decided to resign from the membership of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) as well as from being the chief negotiator for the opposition.

He said the leadership of the SPLM-IO commended him for his role in successfully negotiating the peace agreement until it was signed on 17 August 2015.

(ST)

April 30, 2016 (JUBA) – Amnesty International, a global human rights body, has commended the South Sudan's government for releasing two senior officials who had been under detention since December last year and called on Juba to release 33 others still under detention.

WES governor Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro, pictured in his office on 24 January 2012, has called for peaceful coexistance among communities following rising tensions over federalism (ST)

“This week, we received good news that two men kept under arbitrary detention by the National Security Service in South Sudan, whom Amnesty International has been campaigning for, have been released. The two were part of 35 men that Amnesty International confirmed are being held at the NSS [National Security Service] headquarters in Jebel neighbourhood of Juba,” partly reads a statement from the Amnesty International extended to Sudan Tribune.

The two released this week include former governor of Western Equatoria state, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, who was freed upon arrival to Juba of Riek Machar, first vice president, and Leonzio Angole Onek, a Juba University professor, who was released two days earlier.

Bakosoro was arrested on 22 December 2015 at around 3pm after being summoned to the NSS headquarters in the Jebel neighbourhood. He was kept in incommunicado detention until early March when he was allowed family visits. No charged were filed against him.

Onek, who was arrested on 7 December 2015, on the other hand was released on ‘humanitarian grounds' and without charge by the NSS. Since his arrest, Onek did not have access to a lawyer and did not know why the NSS were holding him.

“The remaining 33 detainees have been denied the right to be brought promptly before a judge and the right to challenge the lawfulness of their detention,” said Nyagoah Tut, a South Sudanese human rights campaigner for the Amnesty International organization.

She said some detainees are being held incommunicado, without any access to family members or the outside world.

“Detainees are fed a monotonous diet, and sometimes only eat once a day. They sleep on the floor and do not have access to adequate medical care. Some have been beaten, especially during interrogation or as a form of punishment. These poor conditions amount to ill-treatment and may also amount to torture in some cases,” she said.

Nyagoa added that this 33 number of the known detainees however represents a mere fraction of people being detained by NSS and other security forces such as the military in South Sudan.

(ST)

April 29, 2016 (NEW YORK) – United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, has commend the parties to the conflict, turned peace partners in South Sudan for the formation of a long-awaited transitional government of national unity (TGoNU).

Ministers of the Transitional Government of National Unity swearing in on 29 April 2016 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

“The Secretary-General welcomes the appointment today by President Salva Kiir of the Ministers of the Transitional Government of National Unity, consistent with the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan of 17 August 2015,” partly reads a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

The statement said the UN chief was pleased to note that President Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar have achieved this “important milestone” of the peace process which the two leaders signed in August 2015 to end 21 months of civil war.

He urged them “cease immediately all hostilities” and to swiftly complete the establishment of all institutions of transition.

The Secretary-General also commended the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) chair, President Festus Mogae, and the African Union High Representative, President Alpha Omar Konare, for steering the peace process forward.

He also reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to support all South Sudanese in restoring peace, stability and prosperity in the country.

The top leader of the world body has called on the larger international community to remain actively engaged in the peace process and provide the necessary support to the full and timely implementation of the Peace Agreement.

(ST)

April 29, 2016 (KAMPALA) – Religious leaders from South Sudan's Presbyterian, Catholic, Anglican and Seven Day Adventist churches have conducted a joint prayer on Friday in Ugandan capital, Kampala, calling for reconciliation and healing among South Sudanese people.

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)

Stephen Liet Machot, a pastor from the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan, said the gathering was organized as thanksgiving to God for bringing peace in South Sudan. He said many South Sudanese were forced into exile due to two and a half years of conflict in the country.

Pastor Machot said the role of the church should play was participating in realizing a lasting peace and reconciliation among leaders in the country.

“Our role as the church we pray for peace, unity and reconciliation and we will preach that to people that reconciliation and unity is very important for the development of South Sudan,” he said.

He believed it is a collective responsibility of every South Sudanese to make sure stability is restored through dialogue between politicians and the communities who are hard hit by the conflicts.

“Let's come together, unite ourselves as one country, one nation and we can be together in the peaceful and the unity so that we can move forward for reconciliation, development and the healing of the nation,” said pastor Machot.

He also called on the people to refrain from divisions, adding that the formation of transitional government of national unity meant that South Sudanese have become one, despite the deadly war which erupted on 15 December 2013.

Pastor James Baap on his part also called on South Sudanese to stop using social media as a platform to spread hate messages, urging them to focus on peace and love for one another.

“My message goes to those who are on internet who preach bad word. We need to minimize our bad words so that for the peace to come into our hearts and the country,” he added.

He said the war had left big scars in the society, but he urged citizens to forget and put God in all everything and to forgive those who wronged them.

John Yual Guth, chairperson of Nuer Christian Mission Network of South Sudan said peace is the only tool that can unite South Sudanese.

“We need to reconcile at the grass root level, from churches level…all our communities need to have reconciliation in the real sense,” he said.

He said the formation of transitional government is the last hope for peace in South Sudan and urged South Sudanese to embrace peace and unity.

(ST)

April 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - A Sudanese media watchdog said Friday that the security service directed the newspapers to not report about student demonstrations to protest the recent killing of two students .

Students throw stones during a confrontation with the antiriot policemen in the University Street as they protest over government plan to transfer the premises of the University of Khartoum outside the capital, on Wednesday April 13, 2016.

Two students Mohamed al-Sadiq of Omdurman Ahlia University and Abu Bakr Siddiq of Kordofan University were killed during violent clashes between government and opposition supporters respectively on 27 and 19 April.

Following what, the opposition supporters Thursday and Friday organized several protests in different universities accusing the security services of targeting pro-opposition student groups and called to overthrow the regime.

Sudan's Journalists' Association for Human Rights (JAHR) on Friday issued a statement saying that the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) had directed the newspapers on Thursday to not cover the student protests that erupted in Khartoum.

The press was ordered "to not publish any news reports that can promote violence, feed unrest and chaos or prejudice the ongoing investigation in the case of Omdurman Ahlia University student," JAHR said.

The local watchdog further said the directive contained direct threats to the press. It added that the NISS however mentioned that the government has no intention to close the universities, except in the case of absolute necessity to protect properties.

The Sudanese opposition parties condemned the death of the two students and called to protest against the government.

The leader of the National Consensus Forces (NCF) Farouk Abu Issa on Friday released an audio message through the social media calling on the Sudanese to demonstrate against the regime and to protest the death of the students.

On a similar move, the leader of the National Umma Party (NUP) Sadiq al-Mahdi issued a statement calling on the Sudanese people to take to the street to protest against "tyranny and corruption without violence or sabotage."

Also, U.S. Embassy in Khartoum on Friday asked its citizens to exercise caution in light of anti-government demonstrations and violence at several universities in the Sudanese capital..

" As a result of ongoing unrest, the Embassy is exercising heightened caution by temporarily restricting Embassy staff from the vicinity of the affected universities," said a message sent by the Embassy to the American nationals in Khartoum.

During the past weeks, Khartoum has been the scene of student anti-government protests after statements by a government official about to sell Khartoum University land.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

April 29, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – Eritrea and Ethiopia have respectively continue to become Africa's leading jailers of journalists, according to a new survey released Thursday by an independent watchdog.

A Sudanese journalist covers her mouth with a piece of paper bearing the word 'NO' during a hunger strike held by journalists in Khartoum on November 4. 2009

The US-based Freedom House said governments of the two east African countries continue to show little tolerance to dissent and as a result have the highest number of imprisoned journalists in sub-Saharan Africa.

Despite the release of 10 imprisoned journalists in 2015, the report said Ethiopia continued to repress all independent reporting, and remained the second-worst jailer of journalists in sub-Saharan Africa, after Eritrea.

The report noted for the Journalists in East and Southern Africa suffered from a sharp increase in political pressure and violence in 2015.

In the midst of Burundi's political crisis in May, which stemmed from the president's pursuit of a third term, nearly all independent media outlets were closed or destroyed. The loss of these outlets, especially radio stations that had been the main source of information, resulted in a dearth of reporting on critical issues. Extensive intimidation and violence against journalists by the regime of President Pierre Nkurunziza and his supporters drove many into exile.

According to the report for East Africa, the run-up to early 2016 elections in Uganda featured an increase in harassment of journalists attempting to cover opposition politicians. In Kenya, greater government pressure in the form of repressive laws, intimidation, and threats to withdraw state advertising resulted in a reduction in critical reporting on President Uhuru Kenyatta and his cronies.

Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan. South Sudan, Somalia and Djibouti were listed amongst the last 20 African countries designated by the group as not free Media.

According to the group, Press freedom saw decline to its lowest point in 12 years in 2015, as political, criminal, and terrorist forces sought to co-opt or silence the media in their broader struggle for power.

Sudan and Egypt were also listed amongst world countries which has suffered biggest decline in press freedom in the year 2015.

The survey showed that only 13% of the world's population (fewer than one in seven people) enjoy a free press where coverage of political news is robust, the safety of journalists is guaranteed, state intrusion in media affairs is minimal, and the press is not subject to onerous legal or economic pressures.

41% of the world's population has a partly free press, and 46% live in not free media environments.

The varied threats to press freedom around the world are making it harder for media workers to do their jobs, and the public is increasingly deprived of unbiased information and in-depth reporting.

“Steep declines worldwide were linked to two factors: heightened partisanship and polarization in a country's media environment, and the degree of extralegal intimidation and physical violence faced by journalists” it said.

Ghana, previously the only free country on the continent's mainland, suffered a status decline to Partly Free.

Founded in October 1941, Freedom House is a US-based non-governmental organization (NGO) that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom, and human rights.

The group is a US Government funded independent organisation which conducts surveys on political rights and civil liberties in 195 countries around the globe.

(ST)

April 29, 2016 (YAMBIO) – The authorities of Tombura county have restricted the United Nations Missions in South Sudan (UNMISS) from accessing the area.

An honour guard of Rwandan peacekeepers welcomes the Secretary-General at the UNMISS Tomping Base, Juba May 6, 2014 (Photo UN)

UNMISS officials wanted to handover to the county administration the Multi-purpose Community Centre which was built using Quick Impact Project money and supported by UNDP.

A team of UN Agencies and UNMISS left Yambio for Tombura on Monday with the aim to conduct awareness on UNMISS mandate and the peace agreement signed by the government of South Sudan and armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) and to handover the portal and proceed to Source Yubu to access the humanitarian situation.

When the team reached in Tombura, the county commissioner, Abdalla Juma Baziangungu, said he was not aware about the visit of UNMISS and UN Agencies to his county and he could not therefore allow them to do their activities.

He gave order to security forces to restrict the team not to conduct their activities and they should not move or interview the local community on human rights issues or activities of security organs in the county.

But with the presence of UNDP regional Director and Head of Field Office in Western Equatoria, the Commissioner only allowed handing over of the community portal where he commended UNMISS for constructing the centre with the money from Quick Impact.

Speaking on phone to John Bosco, a citizen of Source Yubu, who fled conflict to Tombura town, he expressed his disappointment over the restriction imposed on UNMISS and other non-governmental organizations.

The community of Source Yubu has not received any humanitarian assistance due to the wave of the insecurity and bad road to the area.

UNMISS have been visiting Tombura county to conduct their activities and also visit Nagero county without restriction so that the mandate is realized in South Sudan.

Tombura county experience fighting between the government forces and armed youth last year in Source yubu where at least eight people were killed from both sides and shops and houses were looted, burnt and destroyed.

(ST)

April 29, 2016 (KAMPALA) – Religious leaders from South Sudan's Presbyterian, Catholic, Anglican and Seven Day Adventist churches have conducted a joint prayer on Friday in Ugandan capital, Kampala, calling for reconciliation and healing among South Sudanese people.

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)

Stephen Liet Machot, a pastor from the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan, said the gathering was organized as thanksgiving to God for bringing peace in South Sudan. He said many South Sudanese were forced into exile due to two and a half years of conflict in the country.

Pastor Machot said the role of the church should play was participating in realizing a lasting peace and reconciliation among leaders in the country.

“Our role as the church we pray for peace, unity and reconciliation and we will preach that to people that reconciliation and unity is very important for the development of South Sudan,” he said.

He believed it is a collective responsibility of every South Sudanese to make sure stability is restored through dialogue between politicians and the communities who are hard hit by the conflicts.

“Let's come together, unite ourselves as one country, one nation and we can be together in the peaceful and the unity so that we can move forward for reconciliation, development and the healing of the nation,” said pastor Machot.

He also called on the people to refrain from divisions, adding that the formation of transitional government of national unity meant that South Sudanese have become one, despite the deadly war which erupted on 15 December 2013.

Pastor James Baap on his part also called on South Sudanese to stop using social media as a platform to spread hate messages, urging them to focus on peace and love for one another.

“My message goes to those who are on internet who preach bad word. We need to minimize our bad words so that for the peace to come into our hearts and the country,” he added.

He said the war had left big scars in the society, but he urged citizens to forget and put God in all everything and to forgive those who wronged them.

John Yual Guth, chairperson of Nuer Christian Mission Network of South Sudan said peace is the only tool that can unite South Sudanese.

“We need to reconcile at the grass root level, from churches level…all our communities need to have reconciliation in the real sense,” he said.

He said the formation of transitional government is the last hope for peace in South Sudan and urged South Sudanese to embrace peace and unity.

(ST)

April 29, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan president, Salva Kiir, has appealed for global support, arguing there should be no reason to hold assistance after forming transitional government of national unity.

Thousands of people wait for food aid in the hot sun near the air drop zone in Leer, South Sudan, in July 2014 (Photo AFP/Nichole Sobecki)

“The people who were saying that you cannot be supported unless you form the transitional government of national unity, if they have agents here, they should report back to them that the government has been established,” said president Kiir after overseeing the swearing in of cabinet ministers.

The president spoke on Friday at the first meeting attended by two of his deputies, Riek Machar and James Wani Igga.

He asserted it was time for foreign governments and international organizations to provide financial assistance to the new government so that it helps implement the peace deal.

The transitional government of national unity brings together politicians from the government and the armed opposition under the overall leadership of the first vice president, Riek Machar, who has been at war with President Kiir for two years.

The cabinet also includes non-armed opposition forces, led by Lam Akol Ajawin and Martin Elia Lomoro.

Speaking at the same function, the first vice president, Riek Machar, said the new government must deal with violence if the peace was to be realized by the general population, regardless of obstacles.

"If our people feel in Juba that they cannot walk by night, even if we preach peace to them, they say, 'we don't see it,” said Machar who appointed 10 senior ministers and 2 junior ministers in the cabinet.

(ST)

April 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The spokesperson of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) said the Sudanese army has resumed its airstrikes against Um Serdiba area and several villages in Hiban area in South Kordofan.

Children in South Kordofan's town of Kauda take cover from a passing Antonov in a makeshift bomb shelter in 2012 (Photo: Peter Moszynski)

Last March, the Sudanese army said its troops captured Um Serdiba, "the main rebel stronghold in Kadugli sector", and Musharaka area. Al-Maradis, El Lipo, Kutna, Ugab, Karkakaia, and El-Biri. But the SPLM-N claimed they repulsed the attacks.

Arnu Ngulutu Lodi in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday said that a a (Sudan Air Force) Antonov plane dropped six bombs on Um Serdiba on Monday, stressing the attack caused panic among the residents and destroyed their property.

He added that similar plane dropped 17 barrel bombs on several villages around Hiban on Tuesday killing a number of cattle heads and destroying residents' property.

Lodi pointed the Antonov plane dropped 4 bombs on Nyakma, 6 bombs on Hagar Bago, 3 bombs on Auru and 4 bombs on Hiban.

Fierce fighting is taking place in the Nuba Mountains area of South Kordofan following a large-scale campaign launched by the government army against rebel positions.

South Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile state have been the scene of violent conflict between the SPLM-N and Sudanese army since 2011.

Last December, negotiations between Khartoum and the SPLM-N stalled after the government delegation insisted that the objective of talks is to settle the conflict in the Two Areas, while the SPLM-N team has called for a holistic approach to resolve ongoing conflicts across Sudan.

(ST)

April 29, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government said it would address the phenomenon of terrorism through dialogue and intellectual work besides implementing administrative and executive measures.

Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir (AFP Photo/Ashraf Shazly)

The Under-secretary of the ministry of Guidance and Endowments Hamid Youssef Adam, who spoke on the sidelines of the International Conference on Terrorism and sectarian extremism in Africa, said Sudan is confronting sectarian terrorism through the power of thoughts and dialogue, pointing the phenomena poses serious danger to Islam and the African peoples.

He told the official news agency (SUNA) that Sudan has a moral obligation towards 650 million Muslims in Africa which requires the government to mobilize all regional and international Islamic institutions in order to address this problem.

Adam added that the danger of extremism and terrorism in the African continent is in its early stages and could be avoided and brought to an end, pointing that a proposal was made to hold the conference periodically in order to review and follow up on the implementation of its recommendations.

He stressed that all participants called for developing detailed plans to implement the recommended strategies on the African and international levels.

For his part, the head of the Sudan Religious Scholars Committee (RSC) Mohamed Osman Salih called for developing objective studies and scientific researches to confront the sectarian extremism, stressing the need to implement the outcome of the specialized conferences through executive and administrative measures.

He added that such measures would reflect the peaceful nature of Islam, calling for the importance to return to the moderate Sunni Islam.

The conference was organized by the Sudanese Ministry of Guidance and Endowment in collaboration with the Muslim World League (MWL) between 28 to 29 April in Khartoum.

Addressing the opening session of the conference, President Omer al-Bashir said the enemies of Islam continued to link Islam to terrorism with the aim of depicting it as a violent and merciless faith.

He urged the conferees to come up with resolutions that would lead to practical solutions for the continent to avoid such dangers and encourage co-existence and tolerance among its peoples.

Presence of the extremist Islamic State (ISIS) in Sudan has made the headlines in March 2015 after several medical students from Sudanese origins fled the country to join the group.

Also, dozens of the Sudanese young people have been killed in incidents relating to the extremist group in Syria, Iraq and Libya.

Sudan was placed on the United States terrorism list in 1993 over allegations it was harbouring Islamist extremist working against regional and international targets.

In June 2015, the US State Department released the 2014 terrorism report maintaining Sudan's status as a state sponsor of terrorism and mentioning the existence of certain terrorist groups in the country as well as links between Khartoum and some of these organizations.

(ST)

April 29, 2016 (JUBA) – The newly appointed South Sudan's ministers of the transitional government of national unity have been sworn in on Friday, a day after they were appointed.

Ministers of the transitional government of national unity swearing in on 29 April 2016 (Photo Moses Lomayat)

The country saw the swearing in of cabinet ministers appointed on Thursday in preparations to complete formation of the transitional government of national unity, ending months of uncertainty.

Thirty full cabinet ministers and seven deputy ministers took oath of office in a function presided over by President Salva Kiir and his two deputies, Riek Machar and James Wani Igga.

Kiir urged the newly appointed ministers to put the interest of the nation first in the execution of their duties.

He enjoined new ministers to make good use of the opportunities provided to them to serve their nation, and reminded them that their appointments were based on trust and confidence

The new cabinet is a mix up of old and new faces. They took three oaths of office, secrecy and allegiance, administered by the Chief Justice, Chan Reec Madut.

Speaking at the occasion, Kiir thanked the officials for accepting the positions to be part of a team that he said will, by God's grace, bring the country to prosperity that “most people think will be a far-fetched dream.”

“Nothing is beyond the reach of God and nothing is beyond His reach. If you have faith in God, with His support, there is nothing that you cannot achieve in this world,” said Kiir while emphasizing on institutional cooperation in the delivery of services to the people.

This comes after President Kiir on Thursday evening dissolved his cabinet and formed the new one in compliance with the August 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.

The head of state, according to the broadcast by the state owned South Sudan television on Thursday, appointed 16 full ministers, 4 deputies from his group and 10 senior ministers and 2 deputies from armed opposition under the overall leadership of the first vice president, Riek Machar.

Two full ministers and one deputy from the group of former detainees, two full ministers from other political parties with one deputy were also appointed.

(ST)

April 27, 2016 (Gogrial) - Authorities in Kuajock, the capital of a newly created Gogrial state, home to President Salva Kiir, have conducted a door-to-door pursuit of unlawful firearms and alcoholic drink in the town on Tuesday.

Policeman destroying beer and Shisha in Gogrial State (ST Photo)

The operation targeted homes, residents, bars and other public places inside Kuacjok town that restricted public movement till midday on Tuesday. Soldiers and police as well as security personnel in civilian dress controlled the traffic but no abuse reported during the search of alcohol and firearms.

Police commissioner of Gogrial state, Major Gen John Akot, said that the search was empowered by a council of ministers resolution number 4 that bans alcohol sell and illegal firearms in the town.

He instructed forces of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and all other organized forces to comply with the order that bans carrying of firearms in town and directed all men in uniform to leave their arms in checkpoints if they needed to enter Kuacjok town.

“The local order is implemented accordingly – the local order is banning illegal firearms, drinking of alcohol and smoking of shisha in the town,” he said.

The police commissioner said during the search rifles and hand grenades were recovered with several pieces of ammunition.

“We managed to confiscate 19 AK47 guns and 5 pistols, including one hand grenade,” he said, adding “Our colleagues who are in the SPLA I advise them to leave their arms in the barrack when they come to the town – if you are coming from Juba on a mission.”

Kuacjok municipal Town Mayor, John Akol, confirmed that their searches resulted into confiscation of items that were destroyed in a public ceremony at the main police station.

Akol said that join security forces will continue to patrol the town day and night to maintain law and order.

“Completely we are not ready to have present of shisha and alcohol in this town- we are warning anyone to stay away with her or his alcohol or shisha outside Gogrial state,” he said.

The police chief added that if anyone violated the order the person must face law with fine of three thousand South Sudanese pound.

(ST)

March 19, 2016 (JUBA) - Abiem Community leadership in the defunct Northern Bahr el Ghazal state of the newly created Aweil East state has announced removal and replacement of the chairperson of the community, Sultan Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol from his position.

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

The community leadership, according to the statement which Sudan Tribune has received, cited long time absence from the area as the reason for removal.

Phillip Gong Awier was named as the immediate replacement. Awier was the immediate deputy of the leadership elected in 2015 under Sultan Abdel Bagi Ayii Akol, a former presidential advisor on peace, border and traditional affairs.

The dismissed Akol is a prominent and controversial community figure. He was one of the militia commanders who fought alongside the Sudanese armed forces against the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) during the second civil war between the north and south which took more than two decades and ended with the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) in January 2005.

Akol later became part of the other armed forces under the overall command of late General Paulino Matip Nhial, who signed a 2006 Juba declaration. The deal allowed the forces under Nhial, including forces associated with Akol, to be integrated into the SPLA.

In 2010, Akol displayed dissatisfaction with the performance of president Salva Kiir after accusing him of failing to listen to him and acted on his advice on matters related to the affairs of the country.

Akol then left Juba for Khartoum where he joined ranks and file with several armed dissident groups, including General Peter Gatdet Yakah and late General George Athor Deng, who had taken up arms against the government.

The group accused Kiir of allegedly having rigged elections, displayed dictatorial tendencies and failed to effectively control with efficiency to manage the affairs of the country thereby leading to rampant corruption and insecurity.

Akol was later convinced by his community elders and returned to Juba where he met with President Kiir but was not given any assignment.

In 2015, he was selected as the community leader of his Abiem East community, replacing late General Alfred Deng Aluk. He thereafter travelled to Khartoum for medical treatment. In Khartoum, however, one of his closest sons to him, Hussein, again started releasing statements indicative of dissatisfaction with the system under President Kiir.

The statements have therefore received mixed reactions and some people started interpreting them to mean another rebellion in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, though there has not been formal declaration.

While this was not cited as the reasons for change of community leadership, observers say this may have been one of the reasons which prompted Akol's dismissal from the leadership in order to dissociate other members from his activities and pre-empt any suspicious links to him.

(ST)

An elderly woman receives cooking oil at an emergency food aid distribution in the village of Estayish in Ethiopia's northern Amhara region, February 11, 201 (Photo Reuters/ Katy Migiro)

March 18, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Ethiopian government on Friday has appealed for more food assistance as the Horn of Africa's nation faces the worst drought in decades.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said his country is seeking of more international support because of the hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighbouring countries it hosts.

According to aid agencies, the conflict in neighbouring South Sudan, which causes huge influx, is also among factors causing a worsening food insecurity situation.

Ethiopia has witnessed a huge influx of South Sudanese refugees since the outbreak of violence in South Sudan in mid-December 2013.

Currently over 280,000 South Sudanese refugees mainly women and children are being sheltered at camps in Ethiopia alongside local communities.

Recently, Ethiopia's refugee agency has launched an urgent appeal for food aid to assist hundreds of thousands of refugee's particularly South Sudanese refugees.

The call for emergency assistance came as Ethiopia struggles to feed millions of its citizens affected after a drought induced by an El Nino weather phenomenon.

Ethiopia currently hosts over 730,000 refugees mainly from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan.

Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA), a local implementing partner of UNHCR says the refugees mainly those from South Sudan, are in a critical state as the national refugee agency has run short of supplies of food for the refugees.

UNHCR officials told Sudan Tribune that although the refugee agency appealed for 280 million US dollars, donors however have funded only 8% of it.

According to Aid agencies, more than 10 million Ethiopians need urgent food aid and more than 1.4 billion US dollars is needed to deal with the crisis.

Meanwhile, the Ethiopian government said Friday that the drought has no effect on the construction of Ethiopia's massive dam Project; the Grand Renaissance Dam Ethiopia is building in the Nile River.

The Office of National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation on the Construction of said “the drought has no adverse effect on the construction of the dam”.

Media and Communication Directorate Director with the Office, Hailu Abrham, told a local media that Ethiopia is intensively engaged in the completion of the GRED despite El-Nino's effect on the country.

Hailu added that Ethiopians are contributing a lot for the construction of the dam by defying the El-Nino effect.

Currently, the construction of the 4.2 billion dollar massive dam project is at half-way mark.

Slated for completion in 2017, what would be Africa's largest dam will have power generation capacity of 6,000 MWs.

(ST)

March 18, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday appointed a south African diplomat as special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan.

Nicholas Haysom, head of UN mission in Afghanistan speaks to journalists following a Security Council meeting on December 2016 (UN Photo)

Nicholas Haysom will succeed Haile Menkerios, ''to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedication and commitment,'' said a statement released by the office of the UN chief's spokesperson.

Haysom who has focused on democratic governance, constitutional and electoral reforms, reconciliation and peace processes, served as the principal adviser to the Mediator in the Sudanese Peace Process from 2002 to 2005.

Until recently, he was UN special envoy for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) since 2014 and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of UNAMA since 2012.

From (2007 to 2012) he served as Director for Political, Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Affairs in the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General. Also he was the Head of the Office of Constitutional Support for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) (2005 to 2007).

During his work in the South African government Haysom was involved in the Burundi Peace Talks as chair of the committee negotiating constitutional issues, from 1999 to 2002 under the facilitation of the late former President Nelson Mandela

(ST)

March 18, 2016 (MOROBO) - A multi-purpose agricultural farmers' vocational training centre has been launched in South Sudan's Morobo county of Yei River state on Friday, with government officials and farmers commending the project as a tool to improving productivity in the area.

(ST Photo)

The facility is aimed at improving crop production, education, sanitation, health and environmental management skills. The project is funded by an Italian international group for technical cooperation with developing countries (ACAV).

The organization's South Sudan program manager, Pierluigi Florretta, said the project will support more than 200 farmer cooperative groups in Morobo and Yei River Counties, adding the centre will also help in building the capacity of youth to towards fighting dependency syndrome.

“What you have in front here is a working progress in order to establish a vocational school, the vocational school which has been a need is going to be a centre for training youth and giving them opportunity to come out [of] poverty and start a job,” Florretta said.

However Taban Samuel, a farmers' representative, called on the organization to introduce poultry, fishery and bee keeping to the farmers in the area.

“We are hoping that poultry keeping be introduced for us to reduce importation of chicken from somewhere. If there could be fishing, then we could produce and people consume from here. Thirdly if bee keeping is brought nearer then it will take root very well,” Samuel suggested.

Meanwhile, Yei River state agriculture minister, Huda Michael Laila, appreciated the Italian government in supporting human resource development in the state and South Sudan at large. She said no need for South Sudanese to go to Uganda in search of vocational studies.

“We are going to stand with this facility and our partners together so that this vocational centre train our youth, women and men so that that at the end of the day we shall not send our children to Uganda because we now have a vocational centre,” she explained.

On his part, Morobo county commissioner, Toti Jacob, added that the facility will assist the Government and the community to train drop out students in the area, revealing the county has planned to expand areas of crop production to more than 30 hectors of land this year.

“In my work plan for this year, I have planned to cultivate 30 square of land so that we can push out what we call hunger in the region. I believe with the presence of this facility in my area, it will help to improve farmer's skills as well as instilling new skills to the drop out students in the area,” said commissioner Jacob.

The Italian regional minister for research and university, youth policy and development cooperation, Sara Ferrari, on the other hand has asked the government of South Sudan to prioritize human resource and agricultural development as key sectors for economic growth.

“South Sudan is rich and blessed with natural resources and human resources, it's time for the government and the people to sit down and think ways forward towards developing [the] country. We as donors are ready to support developing countries in all areas of development,” she said.

(ST)