Sudan Tribune

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

March 15, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – Two international right groups have urged the United Nations Human Rights Council, to pay very close attention to the human right violations allegedly committed in Eritrea.

A general view of participants during the 29th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 3 July 2015 - (UN Photo)

While delivering a statement on Monday before the UN Human Rights Council, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project expressed concern over the deteriorating human rights situations and on the conditions of political prisoners.

The UN's report says the Eritrean regime continues to commit systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations that may constitute crimes against humanity.

In 2014, the UN established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate rights abuses in the secretive East African nation and assigned Sheila Keetharuth of Mauritius as its Special Rapporteur.

The Commission of Inquiry was meant to pave the way to establish accountability for the gross rights violations however that was difficult as Eritrea closed its doors and authorities decline to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur.

The UN council's special Rapporteur then accused the Eritrean government of ignoring the Council's demand for the government to facilitate unrestricted access to visit the country and provide information necessary for the fulfillment of its mandates.

The two rights group said, large numbers of Eritreans are fleeing the country to escape life-long military service and denial of their fundamental rights.

According to the groups, authorities in Eritrea tolerate no independent media outlets and have been holding dozens of journalists and activists incommunicado for years.

A the occasion, RSF stressed the importance of renewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and the Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea, which has been gathering valuable information on the situation in the country.

The two non-governmental entities also urged the Council to demand that the Eritrean government provide proof of life of those detained and that it free all journalists, political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.

“We also urge the Council to renew the Special Rapporteur's mandate, and to demand that the Government provide proof of life of those arrested and release all journalists, political prisoners and prisoners of conscience” said a joint statement of the right groups.

Recently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea assured the UN Council of his country's commitment to human rights and human dignity as a "top priority" and of its full engagement in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a process which offers the international community an opportunity to inspect how well individual states are complying with international human rights law.

Despite the pledge, however, it was disclosed that there exists lack of commitment from regime in Asmara.

“Reporters Without Borders and the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project further express concern by the gap between His Excellency's description of the situation in his country and the systemic, widespread and grave human rights violations documented by the Special Rapporteur and the Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea” the groups said.

Referred by right groups as the North Korea of Africa, the reclusive Red Sea nation is one of the world's most repressive nations.

Currently there are some 10,000 political prisoners in atrocious conditions in different prison facilities across the country where they remain subjected to different forms of abuses. The government uses arbitrary arrest and detention without charge to crush all opposition and to silence any sort of dissent.

Opposition parties are banned and there is no single opposition party which functions in the country. Moreover, anyone who attempts to challenge President Isaias Afeworki or criticises his government will be jailed without trial in the most harsh conditions.

(ST)

March 16, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, has issued a republican order appointing members of legislative assembly for a newly created Latjor state in implementation of the new 28 states he created in October last year.

South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir, says regional leaders are not doing enough to quell rebellion in the country, which erupted in mid-December last year

This comes after the unilateral decision to divide up the country and expand the constitutionally recognized 10 states to 28, despite signing a peace agreement to end 21 months of war with armed opposition and other stakeholders on the basis of 10 states in August 2015.

President Kiir issued order number 130 on 25 February, 2016, appointing 21 members of parliament after several months of consultations among communities members and party officials in the area about criteria to be followed for the selection and which of the parties to be represented in the parliament.

13 members of parliament, according to the order, are nominees of the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) faction allied to President Salva Kiir and 7 other members from come from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) faction allied to the First Vice President designate, Riek Machar.

One member, bringing the total number of legislators to 21 members, was appointed to represent natives of the area residing abroad in recognition of their contributions in various ways in the area.

Governor Peter Lam Both, speaking at the swearing in ceremony during election of speaker of the new state parliament on Wednesday, said his state welcomes any citizen from any corner of the country to stay and live in the area, regardless of whether they are from West and Eastern Nile states or from other states in the country.

Latjor State Information Minister, Peter Hoth Tuach, commended Governor Both for exhibiting exceptional leadership and said he expressed optimism that the parliament and the executive would harmoniously work together to sensitize citizens about the significance of peace, unity and reconciliation.

LATJOR PARLIAMENT ELECTS ITS FIRST SPEAKER

Parliament of a newly created state of Latjor, curved from Upper Nile state, Wednesday has elected its first speaker of parliament.

Tuach has revealed that members of the Latjor State Legislative Assembly have elected Chuol Dep Kier as the speaker of the newly established parliament.

“South Sudan's Latjor State Legislative Assembly members have unanimously elected Hon. Chuol Dep Kier as Speaker of The House and Hon. Tut Simon Kor as Deputy Speaker as well,” Tuach revealed on Wednesday.

He congratulated the two top parliamentary leaders on their elections. Tuach however did not say where the elections took place, either in the national capital, Juba, or in Nasir, the new capital of the state.

Kier previously served as deputy speaker of Upper Nile state parliament before the 2013 crisis in the country.

Latjor state is inhabited by the Jikany Nuer section in Upper Nile region. Its capital, Nasir, has been a contested town between government troops and forces of the armed opposition faction led by the first vice president designate, Riek Machar.

The new state, according to the August 2015 peace agreement between president Kiir and opposition leader Machar, will be governed by the opposition faction along with another oil rich Unity state.

President Kiir, when appointing governors for the new 28 states, however told the governors of the states curved from Upper Nile and Unity to be ready to vacate their seats once the opposition group nominate their governors for the states.

(ST)

March 16, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan's national army, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), has distanced itself from reports charging that some of its soldiers and officers have been grabbing land in and around Juba in a manner indicative of the practice having become an official policy of the government and the army.

SPLA soldiers in Malakal, capital of the battleground oil-state of Upper Nile on 15 May 2014 (Photo AFP/Ivan Lieman)

Deputy chief of general staff for operations, Lieutenant General James Ajonga Mawut, said on Wednesday that land grabbing, either by any officer or soldier, was not a policy of the general command of the SPLA or the government of the republic of South Sudan since inception as regional government in 2005.

“We have said time and again that these allegations of land grabbing, which some people have been trying to associate with SPLA has not been our practice. It is not the policy of the SPLA as the army of South Sudan to grab land. If there are individual soldiers and officers involving in this practice, we ask members of the general public and particularly those affected by the unruly and unfriendly behaviour to quickly bring up the matter to the attention of our relevant offices at the general headquarters,” General Mawut said in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

“I am sure the deputy chief of general staff for administration and finance would be able to handle it. I am sure he would work to find an appropriate office to look into these allegations and take appropriate measures to address the matter if it is established that those involved are active SPLA members,” he assured.

Mawut also confirmed reports that a joint military command from the Republican Guards known as Tiger Division, under the overall command of Major General Marial Chanuong, together with the guards of General Thomas Cirillo, have forcefully recovered land previously and illegally grabbed by some SPLA elements in Buduge village located east of Rejaf at the outskirts of the national capital, Juba.

The village is a home to the deputy chief of general staff for training, Lieutenant General Thomas Cirillo.

The commander of presidential guards force division, General Chanuong, last week visited the area and reportedly ordered the arrest of the ring leaders for what he described as irresponsible act that would have nearly caused an eruption of a bloody conflict between the members of ethnic Bari from the area and those from Dinka ethnic group who illegally attempted to acquire and own the land in the area.

It remains unclear how the issue developed and escalated to a high level tension between the two communities. Sources have been giving conflicting accounts. Military sources say the problem surfaced after General Thomas Cirillo, himself an ethnic Bari, reportedly protested the act at a meeting with the top SPLA generals, including the chief of general staff, Paul Malong Awan, at the general headquarters in Bilpham, north of Juba town.

It was reportedly in this meeting where General Cirillo was allegedly seen displaying his anger at the manner in which people have moved into his village and warned he would leave the army and go to the bush to fight against land grabbing.

As a result of his anger and threats, the army command instead decided to launch an operation against the land grabbers, who reportedly come from the Dinka ethnic groups of Bor and Padang.

(ST)

March 16, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on security cooperation between the two countries.

Director General of the Sudanese Police First Lieu. Gen. Hashim Osman al-Hussein (SUNA Photo)

The MoU, which was signed on the sidelines of the seventh edition of the International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR) in Abu Dhabi, aims to promote cooperation in the fight against crime besides exchange of experiences in areas of training, information and best police practices.

The MoU was signed by the Director General of the Sudanese Police First Lieu. Gen. Hashim Osman al-Hussein and the UAE's Under-secretary of the Ministry of Interior Lt. Gen. Saif Abdallah Al-Sha'far.

Sudan appears to have managed to achieve a breakthrough in ties with UAE after a long period of strained relations over Khartoum's close ties with Tehran.

UAE is in a long-standing territorial dispute with Iran over the three Gulf islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunb.

Iran refuses international arbitration over the dispute and insists that its sovereignty over the islands is non-negotiable.

Last year, Sudanese authorities ordered the closure of Iranian cultural centre in the capital Khartoum, and other states in a move which was seen as gesture to the Arab Gulf states.

Earlier this week, the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir expressed hope that Sudan could join the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), describing Sudan's relationship with all leaders and peoples of the Gulf States without exception is excellent.

(ST)

March 16, 2016 (EL - GENEINA) - Unidentified armed group has killed a Chadian commander from the Joint Sudanese-Chadian border patrol forces late night on Tuesday in West Darfur state.

Chadian army officer Maj. al-Nur Abdel-Karim (ST Photo)

A security source in West Darfur state capital, El-Geneina Wednesday told Sudan Tribune that Maj. al-Nur Abdel-Karim, commander of Baida area, 70 km. south west of El-Geneina was killed by masked gunmen while on patrol in Al-Duh area, 3 km. west of Baida.

He added that the gunmen seized the commander's Land Cruiser vehicle, saying the stolen car broke down in Rigl Al-Harazaya area between the localities of Baida and El-Geneina.

The same source stressed that the joint force failed to capture the culprits due to poor weather conditions but later apprehended five suspects and they are currently under investigation.

Sudan and Chad established a joint force in January 2010 to monitor their borders within the framework of a normalisation process after long years of proxy war in Darfur and eastern Chad.

The joint force faced immense difficulties particularly with regard to actions of rebel groups and carjacking bands from both countries.

Also, the conflicting Misseriya and Salamat tribes in the bordering town of Um Dokhon accuse some Chadian soldiers within the joint force of being biased toward one of the parties which led to the killing of a Chadian soldier and injury of two others in November 2013.

(ST)

March 16, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan government troops and its armed opposition forces violated the permanent ceasefire five times, between 28 December 2015 and early March, the Ceasefire and Transitional Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM), said.

Government's top negotiator Nhial Deng Nhial (L) exchanges a signed ceasefire agreement with the head of the rebel delegation Taban Deng Gai Addis Ababa, ((Photo Reuters-Birahnu Sebsibe)

The country's main warring parties had reported eight incidents of clashes between them, but the CTSAMM could not confirm three cases.

“But both parties were implicated in the violation reports that were tabled today in the meeting,” Ruth Feeney, CTSAMM's strategic communications officer told reporters in Juba after a meeting attended by representatives from both sides.

The CTSAMM, Feeney said, confirmed that the warring factions have clashed in Western Equatoria, Western Bahr El Ghazal and in the Greater Upper Nile region.

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), the body mandated to oversee the implementation of the peace agreement, will name the party responsible for the ceasefire violations, she said.

Feeney also observed that the CTSAMM was facing some problems, specifically hinged on the restrictions imposed on their movement.

“Every day, the MVT faces restriction on the freedom of movement. So it is actually an ongoing thing, we are not having difficulties in one area or another. Across the board, we are facing restrictions on our movement, which does not comply with chapter two stipulations,” she said.

The official was optimistic that the parties' continued disagreement on cantonment areas will not frustrate implementation of the peace deal.

“I don't think so,” said Feeney, adding “But the groups [government and opposition] should declare the numbers of soldiers and weaponry to help in monitoring and verification of ceasefire violations”.

The peace agreement aimed to end the 21 months of war in the South Sudan conflict and to form a Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), which will run the country for two and a half years at the end of which a general election shall be conducted.

(ST)

UNAMID's Police Advisers from Sortoni, North Darfur, interact with the newly displaced seeking refuge in the vicinity of the Mission's team site On 27 January 2016 (UNAMID Photo)

February 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese foreign ministry reiterated its commitment to allow aid worker to reach affected civilians in Darfur adding that the denial of humanitarian access in Central Darfur state is a temporary measure imposed by the ongoing military operations in Jebel Marr area.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kamal al-Din Ismail, told reporters Sunday that the ban on the movement of aid groups in Central Darfur has been enforced in several areas according to the conditions of the military operations.

"But this ban is linked to a temporary situation on the ground," Ismail further asserted.

"According to our information there is no blockade or restriction on humanitarian groups in the region unless there are (military) operations. And this a safety measure aiming to protect aid workers and their properties," he added.

The ongoing fighting between the Sudanese army and the Abdel Wahid faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM/AW) in Darfur area of Jebel Marra since 15 January displaced over 38.000 civilians from the more than 60 villages, UN agency estimate.

Aid groups have been barred from reaching civilians in the war affected zones in Central Darfur where the government troops are currently concentrating their action on what they call the "latest pockets" of the groups fighters.

Speaking about the humanitarian situation in Central Darfur state, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the number of the IDPs is unclear as they are not allowed to reach war affected areas.

"The most recent government figures indicate that about 1,000 people have arrived in Guldo and Thur towns from Jebel Marra, however, indications suggest that the number of new IDPs may be significantly higher," said OCHA in its weekly bulletin of 14 February.

(ST)

South Sudanese civilians flee fighting in an United Nations base in the northeastern town of Malakal on February 18, 2016, where gunmen opened fire on civilians sheltering inside killing at least five people. (Photo AFP/Justin Lynch)

February 21, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan government on Friday said it will soon dispatch a high profile of investigation team to the oil rich Upper Nile state's capital Malakal and Western Bahr el Ghazal state's capital, Wau, to investigate the recent inter-communal clashes which left dozens killed in the towns.

The announcement came hours after the national council of minister's urgent meeting on Friday over the report of rampant insecurity in the two states when clashes between Shilluk and Dinka displaced persons inside Malakal's United Nations camp was allegedly joined by soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA). Also Dinka armed youth backed by SPLA also target members of Fertit tribe in Wau, killing a number of them.

Speaking to media in the national capital, Juba, on Friday, South Sudanese government's spokesperson, Michael Makuei Lueth, said the council of ministers meeting came up with a discussion of sending investigation committees to the two states to investigate the incidents.

“As the government is waiting for the UN report on how the clashes started inside Malakal UN IDPs protection site, yet there [is] an investigation delegation dedicated to go on the ground to investigate these problems,” Makuei told journalists in Juba.

“We are now waiting for the UN report because the fighting took place inside their civilian's protection camp of which government was incapable to intervene, therefore we need to have a clear report on the matter,” said Lueth.

For Wau town, he added, it was worth mentioning that the incident happened while the state governor was in Juba, “therefore, the national government is ready to go and investigate the matter.”

Fighting erupted on Wednesday night and continued on Thursday between Dinka members and Shilluk inside Malakal civilians protection site of UN camp calming 18 lives while 90 wounded. Members of the Nuer were later on involved in the clashes when their members were also killed by the Dinka and their tents burned.

While on Thursday morning in Wau town clashes occurred between armed youth of the Dinka ethnic group and youth from Fertit ethnic group. The national army (SPLA) was accused of shooting dead two young girls as they allegedly sided with the Dinka youth who attacked the Fertit tribesmen.

WAU DEPUTY GOVERNOR ACCUSED

In the connection to Wau incident, state deputy governor, Major General Andrea Dominic was arrested by national security on Thursday and transferred to Juba on Friday for investigation.

According to Lueth, Andrea was arrested in connection to disagreement over the SPLM-IO members who were wounded in battles last week and were admitted to Wau teaching hospital “illegally.”

“The wounded of [SPLM]IO were brought to Wau hospital by some citizens. From there, the army got information that the wounded people from IO were at the hospital. The army went to the hospital and moved them to the army hospital,” Lueth explained.

“But the deputy governor went to the army hospital and brought the wounded people from the IO to the Wau hospital again and also admitted some into his house for treatments,” he said.

Depending on the tone Lueth was using, it seemed the government charged the deputy governor of their newly created state of Wau as supporter of the SPLM-IO.

(ST)

February 21, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – The main armed opposition faction led by the first vice president designate, Riek Machar, said the country will revert to the 10 states as provided for in the August 2015 peace agreement should the South Sudanese parties not agree on a number of states to be created, an official said.

Counting officers, who were part of a referendum commission, count votes in Abyei on 30 October 2013 (Photo: Reuters/Andreea Campeanu)

Government's spokesman, Michael Makuei Lueth, on Sunday said the government wants a referendum to be conducted by the people of South Sudan in order to determine the number of states, adding that Juba will not revoke the presidential decree for creating the 28 states until the outcome of the referendum.

In reaction to the proposal by the government, the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) said the proposal was not necessary and had no legal backing.

“The peace agreement has been signed based on the constitutionally recognized 10 states at the time of signing in August 2015,” said James Gatdet Dak, opposition leader's press secretary, when contacted on Sunday whether or not the SPLM-IO would approve the referendum proposal from the government.

“Also the recent IGAD communiqué has called for establishment of an inclusive boundary commission with membership of all the parties to the peace agreement. The commission will determine the number of states and basis for their creation within one month from formation of a Transitional Government of National Unity. In case of disagreement the parties will revert to the 10 states as simple as that,” Dak added.

He said the peace agreement has not provided for referendum to be conducted in determining the states, challenging the government for what he said had been their “fluctuating positions” in their approach to the states of the country.

Dak further reminded that the government rejected their proposal to create 21 states based on colonial districts when the parties were negotiating in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, and never came up with a counter-proposal of the number of states. They never mentioned their desire to create 28 states so that the parties could discuss it during the negotiations, he added.

He also said the government did not consult the people or ask for a referendum first when it suddenly decreed 28 states in the name of “popular demand” five weeks later after President Salva Kiir signed the peace agreement based on the 10 states.

The opposition official further said it was unnecessary to hold an expensive nationwide referendum in the face of the political and economic crisis in the country, adding it would not only be a misplaced priority or further obstacle to the implementation of the peace agreement, but also an “unnecessary burden” on the people of the country with collapsing economy.

He said the best course of action is for the government to abide by the peace agreement and the recent IGAD communiqué.

The alliance of 18 South Sudanese political parties led by Lam Akol, the former detainees and the international community have also called on President Kiir to suspend the creation of the states until the parties come to a consensus, saying the decision has contributed to the inter-communal violence in the country.

(ST)

February 21, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese government is considering whether to attend a “strategic consultative meeting” that seeks to end war and achieve democratic reforms in Sudan with some opposition and armed forces next month, said the government spokesperson.

A group photo after the signing of the agreement on national dialogue and constitutional process on 5 September 2014 (Photo courtesy of the AUHIP)

Several days ago, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North (SPLM-N) and the Sudanese ruling National Congress Party (NCP) said that the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) had extended an invitation for a meeting to discuss issue of peace and constitutional reforms in Addis Ababa between 16 to 18 March.

In statement to the semi-official Sudanese Media Center (SMC) Sunday, Information minister and government spokesperson Ahmed al-Balal Osman said that his government had received the invitation and is studying the matter before to take a decision .

Osman further said it is agreed that the "government will participate if the meeting was about (peace) negotiations but if it is for the national dialogue, the 7+7 mechanism will take part in it, stressing" that the government's position and its agenda for the negotiations remain unchanged.

On Wednesday, the NCP had issued a statement welcoming the invitation but withdrew it several hours later. Sources said, the statement had not been approved by presidential aide and government chief negotiator Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid who is also the NCP deputy chairman.

Hamid in a press conference Thursday referred to the SPLM-N's statement about the meeting saying the armed group is not willing to discuss peace. The rebel group had called to mobilize the Sudanese street to bring the government to accept a comprehensive and inclusive peace.

In October 2015 President Omer al-Bashir who is also the chairman of the dialogue committee directed the 7+7 committee to meet with the signatories of Addis Ababa agreement on the national dialogue on 5 September 2014.

Sudan Tribune has learnt that the invitation was extended to the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), National Umma Party (NUP) and Sudan Liberation Movement - Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM).

The three forces didn't yet issue a formal decision on their participation but they are discussing some points about the nature of the meeting and its purpose with the mediation.

The NUP which is a political opposition party does not see why to be involved in discussions about security arrangements. Also some rebel groups want their political partners being involved in the meeting.

(ST)

Febuary 21, 2016 (JUBA) – The governor of South Sudan's Wau state, Elias Waya Nyipuoch announced on Sunday his long-awaited list of cabinet members.

Nyipuoch, in gubernatorial order number 17, appointed six ministers and three advisors.

The governor appointed Kon Victor Dimo minister for Finance, Maka Bushra Mohamed (Information, Communication and Technology), Angelina Anthony Ubur (Local Government) and Awadhia Yacub Munsur (Education Science and Technology).

Others appointed were Pasquale Dongo (Physical Infrastructure), Santino Uyu (Agriculture), while the health ministry has been reserved for the armed opposition.

Meanwhile, the governor appoined Taban John Gou as his advisor on political affairs, Bibaina Mario on peace and reconciliation and Madut Ngu Akuek as advisor on security.

(ST).

February 21, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese peace partners have agreed to suspend the work of the national constitutional amendment committee until when the transitional government of national unity is formed without constitution, asserting it would use the peace agreement as the basis for running a new government.

SPLM-IO Chief Negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, leader of advance team, with David Deng Athorbei, chairman of national committee, hold a press conference in Juba airport upon arrival on Monday, 21 December 2015 (ST Photo)

The constitutional amendment committee, according to a statement released for public information with the approval of representatives of the stakeholders, has unanimously decided to suspend its activities after disagreements emerged when the key stakeholders failed to reach a consensus on the outstanding issues in the constitutional amendment process.

The national constitutional committee is one of the institutions mandated by the August 2015 peace agreement which president Salva Kiir and the leader of armed opposition, Riek Machar, as well as other stakeholders have signed and agreed to review the 2011 transitional constitution of South Sudan. The parties would incorporate the provisions of the deal so that it becomes the legally binding supreme law of the country during the transitional period of thirty months as stipulated in the peace deal.

The committee comprising representatives of the government, armed opposition, civil society organisations, faith based groups and other political forces who are the stakeholders in the agreement have unanimously agreed to suspend its work after several disagreements.

The committee said they completed phase one of its work and activities which were about reviewing all the articles of the entire constitution to assess compatibility with the peace agreement.

They were unable to reach consensus on a number of issues including the fate of 28 states, number of presidential advisers which are not in the peace agreement as well as who should chair the first session of the transitional parliament to allow members to elect parliamentary leadership.

Other issues include how a parliamentary seat should be filled in the event it falls vacant due to any circumstances.

The members of armed opposition and other stakeholders prefer filling of parliamentary seats which had fallen vacant through election but the government preferred direct appointment by the president.

These four issues, according to the statement, would be addressed by the transitional government of national unity based on the spirit and directives spelt out in the recent communique of the council of ministers of the member countries of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

“Once the four matters are resolved, the committee shall be directed by the new government to proceed to incorporate the agreed versions of the then contested provisions. That will take only half a day,” the statement extended to Sudan Tribune by the committee reads in part.

Formation of transitional government is expected to be done in mid-March due to the delays in the implementation of the security arrangements in Juba, a priority preceding phase in the peace deal.

(ST)

February 21, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan Liberation Movement- Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) condemned a statement by the U.S. State Department saying that the rebel group initiated attacks on the government troops in Darfur area of Jebel Marra.

SLM-AW rebels look on during a visit by former joint special representative Ibrahim Gambari to West Darfur's Fanga Suk village in East Jebel Marra on 18 March 2011 (Photo: Reuters)

In a press statement Thursday, the US States Department spokesperson, John Kirby, said the “United States is deeply concerned about the increased violence against civilians and the grave humanitarian situation in and around Jebel Marra, Darfur”.

''Initial attacks by the Sudan Liberation Army-Abdul Wahid opposition group on Sudanese armed forces prompted a response by Sudan's military that included aerial bombardments despite the UN Security Council demand that Sudan cease offensive military flights over Darfur,''. Kibry further said.

In a communiqué issued on Saturday, the rebel group strongly rejected the "the baseless and unfounded accusations" saying it is "clear and unambiguous act" of “give the victim a bad name and victimize him more policy”.

The SLM-AW "did not initiated the attacks on Jebel Marra," further stressed the statement, pointing that Washington seeks normalize relations with the Sudanese government.

"U.S State Department wants to find an excuse to its administration's dealing with a pariah state like Sudan and therefore; it must criminalize SLM/A".

Since last January, the government forces launched a large scale offensive on the Sudan Liberation Movement - Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW) positions in Jebel Marra, accusing the rebels of looting and attacking civilian, military and commercial convoys in the area.

The Sudanese officials also refused to stop the military operation saying the group is not part of the peace process.

The U.S. statement Department said the attacks have forced “73,000 people to flee their homes, and thousands more are trapped in the conflict zone of Jebel Marra without access to aid”.

In addition it called on both the Government of Sudan and the armed movements of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) to re-commit to their cessation of hostilities declarations for Darfur and in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

Sudanese government this week announced the extension of the national dialogue and called on the political and armed opposition groups to join the process.

SLM-AW rebels, refuse to join the African Union brokered peace talks. They demand the government to repair first the consequences the 13-year armed conflict unilaterally, after what peace talks can discuss the root causes of the crisis.

The State Department said that there is no military solution to Sudan's internal conflicts and urged the Sudanese parties to work with the African Union mediators to end the hostilities and allow humanitarian access to civilians in the war affected areas in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile.

Washington also urged the Sudanese government to create an environment conducive to the participation of armed groups and other political opposition parties in “a comprehensive and inclusive national dialogue that addresses systemic governance issues in Sudan”.

Last October, the Sudanese government has inaugurated an internal dialogue conference but main opposition groups and armed movements refuse to take part in it 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.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) in South Kordofan and Blue Nile since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

(ST)

February 21, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) said its fighters repulsed the nineteenth government attack against the strategic area of Jebel Kolgo, 30km south west of the Blue Nile state capital of Ed-Damazin.

A SPLA-N rebel soldier, in South Kordofan (AFP)

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Sunday, SPLM-N official spokesperson, Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, said their fighters in the second front in the Blue Nile Saturday repelled a major government attack against Jebel Kolgo, pointing that the battle between the two sides continued from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm.

He added that the government forces suffered huge losses in lives and military equipments, stressing the attacking forces have been dispersed.

According to Lodi, 200 government soldiers and officers were killed in the clashes including a brigadier general, a major and two second lieutenants, pointing that nine Land Cruiser vehicles and a tank have been destroyed.

He added that the SPLM-N also seized 3 RPG-7, 7 PKM and 24 Kalashnikov rifles besides a vehicle loaded with supplies and weaponry, saying one SPLM-N fighter was killed and two others injured.

The Sudanese army spokesperson was not reachable for comment.

Jebel Kolgo lies in a rough terrain and is considered an important location for the SPLM-N.

The fighting between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N fighters in Blue Nile started in September 2011 three months after the start of hostilities in South Kordofan state.

In November of last year, the warring parties failed to strike a cessation of hostilities deal.

(ST)

February 21, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudanese government has come out with a proposal seeking to conduct a referendum to determine the number of states through which the country should be governed in a move which is not provided for in the peace agreement it signed with opposition factions in August last year.

A man (L) poses for photographs after voting, inside a polling station located in a school during a referendum in the town of Abyei October 28, 2013 (Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

Speaking at a public briefing organized by Alwatan Arabic daily newspaper over the weekend in the national capital, Juba, information and broadcasting minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, said the government would not revoke the decision of the president to create more states unless a nationwide referendum is conducted to determine the number of states.

The government official spokesperson was reacting to a criticism at the Sunday occasion by the secretary general of the communist party in South Sudan, who questioned the basis of the creation of 28 states.

Ismail Suleiman, secretary general of communist party challenged the government, saying there was no criteria by the government to create more states and that it should be revoked and return the country to be governed through 10 states which are constitutionally recognized by the agreement and 2011 transitional constitution.

“If you look at how this issue of 28 states came out, you see that nothing was followed. There were no criteria used. Some people just decided to go to the president and told him to create more states and he did it because these are the people who are close to him,” said Suleiman.

“But that is not how the country should be run. He is not the president of individuals. He is the president of the whole country and when there is something to be done for the country, the whole nation should be consulted so that the views of the people are heard because this is about their affairs. It is not about individuals,” he further charged.

In an attempt to defend the decision of the president, minister Lueth claimed the decision was made because it was a popular desire and the government was now ready to allow the people to decide on the number of states they wanted.

The minister claimed that the government led by President Salva Kiir and armed opposition of SPLM-IO led by Riek Machar were on the same page on creation of more states but differed on the number of states to be created.

“We have to be very clear. The SPLM-IO had not dropped its proposed [of] 21 states as it is claimed by others. When the SPLM-IO members of the advance team came to Juba, they sent the list of 21 members going to 21 states. If the SPLM-IO talks of 21 states and the government created 28 states, then all of us have agreed on the creation of states,” Lueth explained.

“We only differ on the number but opened for increment and this can be done through participation of the people. There will need to be a referendum so that the people themselves decide at the referendum the number of states they want,” he said.

Lueth added that if they decide to increase the number or reduce then that will be decided by the outcome of the referendum,” said Lueth.
He said he believes the people will demand more states instead of reduction.

During the peace negotiations in Addis Ababa, SPLM-IO proposed creation of 21 states based on 21 old colonial districts with their historical boundaries. The government however refused creation of more states, saying it was not time to create more states or to establish federal system of governance.

However, 39 days after signing the August 2015 peace agreement based on the 10 states, the government unilaterally decreed creation of 28 states. The decision attracted condemnation from opposition and international community which called for the government to suspend their operationalization until a boundary commission agrees on the number of states and their boundaries.

According to a communiqué released by IGAD, which mediated the peace agreement, if the parties will not agree on the number of states, they will revert to the 10 states.

However, there is no provision for a referendum in the peace agreement.

(ST)

The Grand Renaissance Dam is under construction on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia. (Photo AFP/William Lloyd-George)

February 20, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan leader Saturday have agreed to boost relations and reinforce trilateral cooperation in political, security and economic fields.

The crisis over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in 2013 between Addis Ababa and Cairo has finally produced a positive impact on the relations between the three countries, as their leaders are now convinced it better for them to strengthen relations based on common interests.

In a meeting held on the sidelines of a regional economic forum Africa 2016 in Sharam el-Sheikh - Egypt on Saturday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, President Omer al-Bashir and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn discussed ways to develop relations in all fields and tasked their foreign ministers to mull over the creation of an institutional framework for tripartite cooperation.

Speaking after the meeting the spokesperson of the Egyptian presidency Ala Youssef told reporters that the parties discussed the development of relations between the three countries sharing Blue Nile water.

A joint statement issued in Sharam el-Sheikh said the three leaders agreed to create a common fund for the implementation of development projects. Further, they decided to form three political, economic, and social-cultural committees to oversee cooperation between their countries.

Also, it was provided to enhance intelligence and security cooperation in the context of the fight against terrorism, and the training of military and security personnel.

The statement said the three countries agreed to encourage parliamentary meetings and the exchange of visits between the lawmakers in the three nations to "deepening mutual understanding at the grassroots level".

Tensions raised during the past two years between Ethiopia and Egypt over the construction of a dam at 20km from the Sudanese border.

Egypt said the reservoir of this dam is able to hold the whole volume of the entire Blue Nile and threatens its water supply. But Ethiopia said it has no intention to intercept water but to produce 6,ooo megawatts of electricity to cover its needs and to export the rest to neighbouring country.

Sudan's foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters that the issue of the dame was not a crisis over the dam's construction but a "crisis of confidence".

He further reiterated that Ethiopia is committed to the Declaration of Principles which provides that the construction of the Renaissance Dam should not harm the interests of the downstream countries.

(ST)

February 20, 2016 (JUBA) – The United Nations secretary general, Ban ki moon will visit South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) next week, Stephen Dujarric, a spokesperson for the world body, has disclosed.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon (UN)

Over the weekend, the Secretary-General will leave New York for a visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan,” he announced on Friday.

Ki moon, the UN said in a statement, is expected in Goma on 23 February to visit people impacted by the insecurity and humanitarian crisis in the region, including those living internally displaced people's camps.

The UN chief will reportedly be in the DRC capital, Kinshasa for the opening session of the Great Lakes Private Sector Investment Conference and will meet the DRC leader, Joseph Kabila, state officials and activists.

Meanwhile, the secretary general will be in South Sudan on 25 February, where he is expected to meet President Salva Kiir and visit a Protection of Civilians' site that is run by the UN Mission in that country (UNMISS).

This will be the second time the UN secretary general will be visiting South Sudan ever since the world's youngest nation obtained its independence from neighbouring Sudan in July 2011.

(ST)

O

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

February 20, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – A group of Eritrean armed men allegedly carried out mass kidnappings from a region in North Ethiopia bordering the tiny Red Sea nation.

Eritrea, which borders Sudan and Ethiopia, has been dubbed the North Korea of Africa (HRW)

Multiple sources told Sudan Tribune Saturday that a group of armed men allegedly dressed in Eritrean army uniforms crossed borders to Ethiopia and forcibly kidnapped over 80 young Ethiopian miners who were mining gold in Tigray regional state

The kidnapping were carried out earlier this month at Kafta-Humera district in Tsirga Girmai locality.

The abducted were among the estimated 400 traditional gold miners who had long been engaged in traditional gold mining activities near the Ethiopia - Eritrea shared border.

When contacted by phone, Hagos Tesfamichael, a gold miner himself, told Sudan Tribune that the gunmen whose numbers were yet to be verified surrounded a group of gold mining workers and threatened to open fire against them if they attempts to escape.

Tesfamichael said he had seen the helpless miners forced to cross the Eritrean territory via Mereb River at gunpoint.

Once they reached at Mereb River in to the Eritrean side, said Tesfamichael, some of the miners considered escaping, but were immediately shot dead.

As a result one was shot dead immediately while many others were wounded, he said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the first since 2012, when Eritrean soldiers similarly crossed borders to Ethiopia and kidnapped over 100 miners in the region.

The armed men are said to have been speaking Eritrean Tigrigna and are believed to be members of the Eritrean Army or a group allied with the regime in Asmara.

Ethiopia has routinely accused Eritrea of orchestrating a number of cross-border attacks and mass kidnapping using Ethiopian rebels it harbors, an accusation Asmara denies.

Ethiopian officials' weren't immediately available for comments over the alleged attacks carried out on its soil.

The Horn of Africa's nation has previously carried out attacks on targets inside Eritrea to what Addis Ababa says is a proportional measures to Eritrea's continued aggression including to cross-border kidnappings targeting foreign tourists.

In 1998, the two neighbors fought a two-year long war over their disputed border which has claimed the lives of at least 70,000. The row over their border remains unresolved and forces of both sides regularly engage in lower-scale skirmishes.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

February19, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia and Kenya have reportedly offered to send helicopters to the war-ravaged Somalia to support the African Union Mission (AMISOM) forces who are currently fighting the al-Qaida allied Al-Shabaab militants.

Russian-manufactured MI-24 helicopter (Daily Telegraph)

Sources at the AU said the two nations offered to deploy undisclosed numbers of attack and transport helicopters to reinforce the fight against Al-Shabaab.

In 2012, the United Nations Security Council approved 12 military helicopters to AMISOM, but these aircrafts have not yet been delivered, hence hindering the AU forces' operation.

AMISOM, which for long been calling on UN for the deployment of the promised helicopters has accused the world body of giving little attention on the matter.

AMISOM says the regional force's military operation against al-Shabab has been hindered by shortage of helicopters and blames the UN for the lack of air support.

As well as lack of helicopters, poor command structure, lack of coordination and underfunding are also among factors affecting AMISOM operation and further exposing it to series of deadly raids on its bases.

Ethiopia's and Kenya's helicopter offer to AMISOM is in line with the UN Security Council resolution 2036 of 2012, according to the African Union.

According to AU, the AMISOM deployment model requires contingents to deploy with their own equipment which will then be compensated by the United Nations via a logistical support package to African Union Mission in Somalia.

The helicopters will mainly be used to dislodge Al Shabaab militants from areas around strategic towns,to carry out attacks at remote areas as well as for logistical support and medical evacuation.

In 2012, Uganda deployed four helicopters to AMISOM in Somalia –the first aircrafts for the AU mission however three of the Ugandan army Mi-24 helicopters were crashed on the night of August that year while en-route to Kismayo to combat the Islamist militants.

What caused the crash of the three helicopters remain mysterious but AMISOM has blamed bad weather in the Kenyan highlands where they went down.

Formed in 2007, AMISOM was deployed to Somalia to help protect the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu from a violent Islamist group al-Shabaab which had been in control to most pat of the country including the capital, Mogadishu, after emerging in 2005.

The continental body's troops pushed Al-Shabab out of the capital in 2011 and supported the weak Somali government to expand its control into larger parts of the country.

Currently Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti and Burundi contribute troops to the AU Mission in Somalia.

(ST)

February 20, 2016 (ZALINGEI) - Governor of Central Darfur state Ga'afar Abdel-Hakam Saturday has vowed that the Sudanese army would destroy the last bastions of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) led by Abel-Wahid al-Nur in Jebel Marra within the next two days.

Central Darfur governor, Jaafar Abdel Hakam (Photo SUNA)

Since last January, Sudanese army and its allied militias carry out a large scale military operation in Jebel Marra areas on the positions of SLM-AW. The government accuses the rebel group of attacks on civilians and commercial convoys.

Earlier this month, the Sudanese army claimed clearing armed rebels from 17 areas in Jebel Marra and called on civilians in the area to return to their villages and resume a normal life.

Abdel-Hakam, who addressed a meeting of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in the capital of Central Darfur state, Zalingei Saturday, said that large numbers of rebels have fled Jebel Marra following their defeat while others died or joined the peace process, stressing the army will pursue and defeat the rebel remnants in Sroring area soon.

In a statement seen by Sudan Tribune Saturday, Abdel-Hakam called on the rebels to join the peace process and abandon the SLM leader, saying the latter would soon return to Sudan alone.

He added that the government welcomes any move by the rebels towards peace, stressing however that the army wouldn't hesitate to defeat the rebels and secure the country.

Abdel-Hakam pointed to the security stability in Central Darfur state during the past two years, saying the stable security situation enabled his government to accomplish major development and services projects.

He called for further cooperation among the various components of the community in order to encourage the government to provide more services.

The fighting in Jebel Marra has forced over 44,000 people to flee the area said OCHA office in Sudan last week. The UN body said 31,000 IDPs are now in North Darfur and 13,000 moved to Central Darfur.

(ST)