Sudan Tribune

April 30, 2018 (JUBA) - Ten aid workers detained last week outside Yei have been released and handed over the to the Red Cross announced the South Sudanese rebels in a statement released late on Monday.

Lam Paul Gabriel SPLM-IO spokesperson said the release came after a directive issued Sunday from the group's leadership to release the "10 aid workers that entered the SPLA IO controlled area without any clearance".

"It has been confirmed this afternoon the 30/04/2018 at about 2:50 PM that, the ICRC in coordination with Lt. Gen. Wesley Welebe and the Division 2B Commander Maj. Gen John Mabieh Gaar picked up the Aid workers and are safely on their way to Juba," said Gabriel.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in a statement issued from Geneva, confirmed the release of the ten aid workers.

"The South Sudanese aid workers were transported by ICRC aircraft from an area around Yei to the capital, Juba," said the ICRC.

Last Saturday the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) condemned the abduction of ten aid workers around Yei town in Central Equatoria, working for UN agencies and NGO's and urged their immediate release.

The move was seen as a violation of the peace and the cessation of hostilities agreements, which demand unimpeded access for humanitarian aid workers in South Sudan.

However, Gabriel blamed the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) for not coordinating with them saying this is the second time they detain aid workers who enter into the SPLM-IO controlled-areas without clearance and called for close coordination on this respect.

"The SPLA IO on several occasions advised UNOCHA field coordinator to coordinate with our humanitarian wing by providing notice of their movements and activities in advance, unfortunately, it is not forthcoming" he stressed.

On 15 April, the SPLM-IO released seven aid workers with the South Sudan Health Association (SSUHA) who had been detained in the Central Equatoria.

At the time, the rebels said they captured the aid workers after discovering two South Sudanese security agents deployed in the rebel-held areas as humanitarians deployed to "carry out hostile surveillance".

Gatwich Tap Nyuot's issue

The rebel official also denied "baseless" reports about the execution of a South Sudanese aid worker detained in the Greater Upper Nile region.

"The Leadership of the SPLA IO is strongly refuting the accusation trending social media alleging that Dr Riek Machar has authorized the execution of Mr. Gatwich Tap Nyuot who is termed to be an ICRC local staff arrested by SPLA IO in Akobo".

Nyuot "is an agent of the regime and not an Aid worker in anyway," he added.

However, he said the detainee will be investigated and tried.

(ST)

April 29, 2018 (KAMPALA) - The Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) has condemned in the “strongest” terms possible the recent attacks on innocent civilians South Sudan's counties of Leer and Mayendit.

Thousands of civilians fleeing violence seek shelter at a UN compound in Jonglei state capital, Bor (Photo: UNMISS/Hailemichael Gebrekrstos)

CPJ's executive director, Tito Anthony said the attacks violated the cessation of hostilities agreement the nation's warring parties signed.

“Leer and Mayendit [counties] are under the control of the armed opposition (SPLM-IO). If there are any attack, then it the government forces attacking,” Tito said in a statement issued on Sunday.

He accused government forces of attacking and displacing civilians instead of protection them as mandated by the country's constitution.

“I call on the CSTAMM [Ceasefire Transitional Monitoring Mechanism] to take note of the attack on civilian. It is both violation of cessation of hostility and violation of international humanitarian law,” he said.

The CPJ official urged the international community to impose punitive measures against violators of the ceasefire agreement.

Meanwhile, the United Nations said a surge in violent clashes in Unity, Jonglei and Central Equatoria regions is having a devastating impact on thousands of civilians and humanitarian agencies trying to provide desperately needed assistance to vulnerable people.

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said it is deeply concerned at the intensification of fighting in areas such as Nhialdiu, Mayendit, Rupchai, Thaker, and Mirinyal, in the vicinity of Leer and Bentiu in the Unity region, as well as around Motot and Akobo in Jonglei.

"Innocent civilians are being caught in the crossfire, including many women, children and elderly people," said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, David Shearer.

"Our teams on the ground are reporting incidents of killing, sexual violence, homes being burnt to the ground, cattle raiding, and the looting of hospitals and schools,” he added.

According to the UN, over 30 humanitarian workers have been relocated over the past two weeks because it is too dangerous for them to operate in the midst of the escalating conflict.

Thousands of people have reportedly fled into swamps and bushy areas without access to the much-needed aid, including food, clean water and medical care.

"This surge in violence is causing immense suffering and harm to civilians and the ability to provide humanitarian support," said David Shearer.

"It is at odds with the cessation of hostilities agreement that was signed just a few months ago. We urge the warring parties to lay down their guns, put the interests of the people first, and work together to build lasting peace," he added.

The senior UN official also said the upcoming round of peace talks at the high level revitalization forum is dependent on all warring parties committing to stop the fighting and to come together in good faith.

"Political leaders must demonstrate they are willing to compromise and resolve this conflict which is causing terrible harm to their people," he stressed.

(ST)

April, 29th,2018

Mike Pompeo
Secretary of State
US Department of State
Washington, DC 20520
USA

Dear Secretary Pompeo,

On behalf of the desperate people of Darfur enduring an unacknowledged genocide, the Sudan Liberation Movement is heartened that the statement issued on April 27th by your spokesperson Heather Nauert, called for a cessation of violence in the Jebel Marra region of Sudan and for immediate access to both international and local humanitarian organizations to render sorely needed assistance, as the plight of untold numbers of civilians is only more severe by the day. We are grateful that the United States of America under the current Trump administration is expressing a greater, active interest and concern for the well being of the people of Darfur, in sharp contrast to the previous Obama White House, that while having pledged to end the tragedy of Darfur, in our painful experience did precious little to bring about any tangible change and offered only hollow lip service.

With all due respect, however, we take exception to the recent State Department communique, de facto, presenting a false equivalency between aggression by the Sudanese Armed Forces, paramilitaries and worst of all the former, Janjaweed militias, now rechristened the Rapid Support Forces, long waging war on their own people with a bestial ferocity, thoroughly well documented by every leading human rights watchdog organization on earth, and those whom are duty bound to resist them by force of arms, to spare a defenseless civilian population from extermination.

The blood-spattered record of the RSF as the spearhead of Khartoum's genocidal policy in Darfur, is not a matter for debate, it is an empirical fact. Upon closer scrutiny the RSF's conduct reveals a casual penchant for atrocities and crimes largely perpetrated against unarmed men, women and children.Mass murder of civilians, the routine use of torture, rape en masse of women and girls of any age, summary executions, kidnappings and forcible disappearances, the wanton looting of villages then put to the torch, the poisoning and disabling of water wells, the destruction of food supplies and the killing of livestock, these are all hallmarks of the RSF, little more than thugs and brigands in uniform with a license to murder.

We would also point out, that contingents of the same RSF are serving as vassal troops for Riyadh as part of the Saudi led coalition in the Yemeni War, where having active genocidaires in the ranks of the coalition, must do little for moral ascendancy. In all fairness and objectivity, the soldiers of the Sudan Liberation Army, whom act only in self-defense, can in no instance be equated as equally morally and physically culpable as the RSF and the Sudanese Army, for the upsurge in violence. Attacker and defender are not interchangeable. The communiqué was entirely silent on the Sudanese Air Force having of late introduced chemical warfare in Darfur. The SLA does not have Antonov bombers nor Hind helicopter gunships, nor does it make war on civilians.

The communique also makes no mention, that the recent Sudanese military offensive in the Jebel Marra, which the SLA were able to repulse, was launched without any provocation and as ever regime forces drew first blood by focusing the brunt of their effort against civilian population centers, prompting the displacement of many tens of thousands of new internal refugees. The SLA does not engage in offensive operations, rather it protects liberated territory, as the sole guarantor of physical security for civilians and responds only when attacked or is clearly subject to imminent attack.

Moreover, repeatedly, to their great shame, peacekeeping troops from the combined African Union-United Nations UNAMID force have stood idly by and failed to intervene as civilians were slaughtered and villages razed to the ground. UNAMID is always on the scene, when the bodies are being counted and seldom takes a proactive role. We recognize that UNAMID is a poorly resourced force, severely understrength, and still burdened with a weak mandate, rather than the more appropriate peace enforcement warrant, we have consistently urged to no avail. We also are left bewildered, in light of the recent offensive, that the UN Secretariat has cited an improved security climate as cause to further reduce UNAMID boots on the ground by forty percent, but then the UN stopped counting the butcher's bill in 2008 at 300,000 fatalities, when the number of graves we've dug is now twice that grisly calculus. With no insult intended it verges on unwitting dark parody that the communique requests UNAMID be given unhindered access to the conflict zone, in of itself exposing UNAMID's inherent weakness, just as the call for safe passage to humanitarian efforts, excludes noting Khartoum's entrenched strategy of maintaining a deliberate humanitarian aid blockade in place as a tool of war.

The SLA is not preventing the flow of urgently needed humanitarian supplies to render assistance to a wretched civilian population plagued by hunger, disease, a dearth of potable water and a near total absence of medical supplies and medical staff, instead, it begs for such relief, which it would not impede. The SLA also remains disposed to cooperate with UNAMID, were UNAMID to undertake its duties in earnest, nor does the SLA take hostile action against UNAMID and is forbidden to do so in its own code of conduct.

We understand that the language of diplomacy is measured and calculated and seldom reflects a pure candor given the objectives that underline sometimes conflicting policy directives, complex strategic concerns and guiding national interests, especially now in a juncture in history with multiple, pressing global crises, where we are but one page turning. We live in the true, imperfect world, and grasp that there is little genuine altruism to be found in the power dynamics of geopolitics. We cannot lament this overmuch as it is reality.

We know all too well, the bulk of the international community, cares little for the fate of Darfur, or South Kordofan, or Blue Nile State or East Sudan, all enduring a relentless assault by the military and hardline Islamist dictatorship led by Omar al Bashir, the only sitting president on earth indicted by the International Criminal Court for Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide and War Crimes, now enjoying increased albeit tempered rehabilitation by both the United States and the European Union, where Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, together with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Qatar in particular, is the prime sponsor and enabler of the Khartoum regime, which also benefits from strong backing from Russia and the People's Republic of China. At the United Nations Security Council, the people of Darfur and Sudan as a whole enduring an oppressive, brutal and corrupt tyranny, are orphans without a voice and little recourse. And if one considers the composition of UNAMID, the African Union is also largely deaf to our pleas and more often than we would wish, a pliant tool for al-Bashir to act with impunity. The same may be said of the Arab League.

In this vein, perhaps the greatest asset in our possession, of benefit to you, is our lucidity and our deeper grasp of the true nature of events in Sudan and the machinations of the regime in Khartoum, its intentions, its masterful duplicity and the long term harm, you are unwittingly doing to your own self interest in the larger region and continent of Africa as a whole, with clear repercussions for your own security and linkages to the strategic question of containing the threat of Salafi extremism and terrorism, where we are natural allies, though you do not yet acknowledge us as such. If you will not be moved by moral considerations to put an end to genocide, which stains all of humanity, we urge you to consider better, that we fight the same enemy.

We are victims of state terror perpetrated against us by a fundamentalist Islamist and militarist dictatorship, that despite its pledges to cease harboring, enabling, cooperating with and promoting Salafi terror groups, has in the shadows continued its partnership with the worst possible nihilist elements of Wahhabi extremism to wreak havoc across Africa and the Middle East.

Since you were formerly director of the Central Intelligence Agency, surely you will be aware that Khartoum has retained its close ties to various Islamist militias in Libya and helps to fund them and benefits from them through the vile illicit trade in human trafficking, selling our brethren in the modern-day slave trade. Khartoum has neither severed ties with elements of either the Al Qaida terrorist franchise nor DAESH, though it says otherwise.

And how would we know? They are among those that wage war upon us, in the ongoing process of dispossessing us from our ancestral lands and a policy of Arab resettlement. For this very reason, we cannot comprehend why during the Trump administration's tenure and the previous Obama White House both, sanctions were lifted on the basis of Khartoum's cooperation on counter-terror efforts, which we liken to assigning the fox to guarding the chicken coop.

Were you to see the SLA and the soldiers of our closest allies in the Sudan People's Liberation Movement North, as a coalition of moderate Sufi Muslims and moderate Christians as well as the many practitioners of animism and folk religions, all seeking a secular democracy, where we are all deigned apostate heretics worthy of death by the Wahhabi Mullahs in Khartoum, for our ecumenical tolerance and spiritual beliefs, as your friends, you would have 90,000 rifles in the same fight.

But the final counsel we may offer in this communiqué is that Washington is misreading the changing tide in larger Sudanese society, the people of Sudan collectively are tired of enduring al Bashir's Islamic brand of fascism and the callous kleptocracy that now sees them in the street clamoring for bread in their tens of thousands voicing their dissent openly, where their exhaustion over many decades of institutional abuse and misrule is turning to rage. Neither be assured that the integrity of the Sudanese Armed Forces is inviolate, there are rumblings in the military as well, from the rank and file to even within the highest echelons of the command structure.

The past is prologue and we urge Washington expand its breadth of view on Sudan and focus more incisively on the ailing condition of the Sudanese regime, a doomed regime in state of accelerating collapse, that means regime change is inevitable and looming. The West collectively badly misread the advent of the Arab Spring, but Washington now has an opportunity to side with the national opposition and not an illegitimate dictatorship, headed on inexorable course for its Gaddafi moment, if it can better read the coming of the Sudanese Spring.

Thus, in addressing the most powerful diplomat of the most powerful nation on earth and leader of the Free World, Mr. Secretary, we hope you will forgive us for expressing ourselves without any artifice. We are weak and poor as you are mighty and strong and our only weapon to prevent our extinction, is our will to resist our annihilation alongside with our unyielding determination to forge a pluralist, free, secular, democratic Sudan and at last be free of the subjugation and horrors we have endured for far too long, so a brighter future may emerge for the generations to come. We rose up, as your own forefathers could no longer submit to the absolutism of the British Crown in 1776, having reached our own point of no return long ago. Our obligation is to the living but the ghosts of our six hundred thousand dead, also implore us to endure our struggle for justice and freedom, no matter the tears we must still shed.

Out of our respect for American democracy, which we uphold as the pinnacle of our ambitions, to build a free society to mirror your own in our own cultural context, we offer to you our friendship and beseech you to regard events in Sudan in a new light and bring your dynamism to bear to forge a mutually beneficial relationship with common goals and shared ideals of fair play and the God given right for self-determination and freedom from fear.

We cannot participate in a non-existent and purely illusory “peace process” punctuated by artillery and air bombardments, the use of chemical weapons, an unceasing scorched earth policy that sees our people slaughtered and dots our landscape with burning villages, nor will we stop hearing the screams of our people tortured in al Bashir's dungeons, ignore all the mass graves that feed the soil of Darfur or the haunted stare of all our women and girls that have been gang raped. As with al Bashir's stated intent to aid counter-terrorism, the vast majority of the participant factions in the so-called peace process, are paper figures, irrelevant on the ground both politically and militarily, or otherwise in other instances co-opted and subservient to Khartoum, where neither camp musters any credible support from the civilian population.

All of Sudan is clamoring for change and the SLM together with the SPLM-N is the very vanguard of this change, alongside the bulk of our brave university students, an intelligentsia unwilling to endure the quashing of free expression any longer longing to break free from the shackles of authoritarianism that imprison an entire nation, where every Sudanese that has buried a loved one murdered by the regime, and every empty stomach, will now ensure the march to freedom to fulfill the destiny of the Sudanese people. You have a chance now, excellency, to choose what path you will walk upon, if you are on the correct side of history, then you will find no truer friends than us, if you will indeed choose freedom and justice over an expedient alliance with the evil of genocide and dictatorship.

To quote from your own revolutionary Founding FatherPatrick Henry for us there is only one choice. “Give me liberty or give me death.” I humbly thank you for allowing me to write you so candidly. If we may be of service to you, please know the SLM and SLA would not hesitate to come to your aid and we are open to direct dialogue.

Sincerely,

Abdul Wahid al Nur, Chairman Sudan Liberation Movement and Commander in Chief Sudan Liberation Army

By Duop Chak Wuol

It has been more than four years since the civil war broke out in South Sudan, numerous pacts have been violated, and the international community seems to have no practical solution to help resolve the conflict. There are other possible approaches that, if used reasonably, could force the rival parties to compromise and sign a deal. However, the notion that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is the only entity capable of resolving South Sudan's civil war is logically absurd.

Ghanaian Professor George Ayittey once coined the phrase “African solutions to African problems.” Empowered by Ayittey's expression, African leaders took the phrase to be a validation of their autocratic leadership styles. The phrase became prevalent among African leaders, with some lashing out at Western powers and making bold accusations against them. The problem was that these leaders used Professor Ayittey's expression in a fallacious way. These leaders use Ayittey's idiom to advance their tyrannical ideas in total disregard of the true meaning of the phrase.

The people of South Sudan badly need peace to return to their country. But the idea that East African countries should be the only ones to find a peaceful solution to South Sudan's civil war is simply a depraved idea and cannot produce any good results unless IGAD ceases its pro-Juba activities. Any sound-minded person would contend that Ayittey's phrase was not meant to legitimize African dictatorships; rather it was coined deliberately to perhaps provoke African leaders to change their mentalities aimed against their citizens, learn how to reasonably resolve their nations' internal conflicts, and change their perceptions of foreign powers by using African peace techniques to resolve their internal skirmishes. What the East African leaders should also know is that Dr. Ayittey's idiom was not meant for African leaders who want to be territorial defenders just for the sake of being territorial. The expression was invented to force African leaders to think rationally, especially when dealing with conflicts or matters of national importance. Sadly, this is not the case when it comes to South Sudan's situation.

Remember, IGAD was initially given the lead role in the peace talks before China, Nigeria, South Africa, AU, Troika countries (the United Kingdom, Norway, and the United States) and European Union (EU) were added as part of the peace process. However, its peace attempt failed. The addition of these countries led to the formation of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development-Plus (IGAD-Plus), which was formed to not follow in the footsteps of the credibility-tainted IGAD. What the South Sudanese want is for the EU, Troika, South Africa, China and Nigeria to explain to the people of South Sudan why they are being silenced, causing IGAD to play a role that will never bring peace to the young nation.

The absurdity of IGAD's involvement in peace negotiations is that it engages as a separate entity and at the same time acts as part of the IGAD-Plus. This is not what IGAD-Plus was formed to do. IGAD-Plus was formed to work as a unified bloc to better address South Sudan's conflict. IGAD-Plus should restore people's faith in the peace process because their current pursuit of a purely IGAD club is merely advocating for Juba's regime, and some of its members are clearly complicit in the war.

Besides, the people of South Sudan believe that the Ugandan and Kenyan Presidents are allies of South Sudanese President Salva Kiir. For instance, the Ugandan and Kenyan governments are members of IGAD and are known supporters of South Sudan's government. Based on this fact, one could conclude that Kampala and Nairobi would never do anything that would allow Juba to cede power because Ugandan and Kenyan companies are benefiting from the war. The two nations work days and nights to ensure that any peace deal that would limit Kiir's hold on power fails in IGAD. A nation cannot facilitate an arms sale to Kiir's regime and then claim to be impartial. A nation cannot also receive millions of dollars from Kiir and claim to be neutral. This is exactly what Uganda and Kenya do while playing the peace card. This is undeniably a classic case of investment in Kiir's atrocious regime.

IGAD failed the people of South Sudan and deserves to be blamed for allowing the war to drag on. The bloc failed because of Uganda's and Kenya's immoral investment in South Sudan's atrocities. In theory, if the bloc was serious about peace in the country, it would achieve it by working out a deal that is fair to both sides. Several of IGAD's leaders keep making empty promises by claiming that South Sudan's war only needs East African or African solutions. But this is not what these leaders have been doing. These regional leaders have not been searching for a solution to bring an end to the conflict — in fact, they have been busy trying to convince South Sudanese leaders to accept Kiir's cruelty. IGAD's concept of wanting to be the only lead player in peace negotiations is not a plausible idea. The approach simply allows the bloc to lead the South Sudanese and the international community into believing that IGAD is working for peace when the opposite is the case. What is ironic about this is that the bloc purposely abandoned its original claim that South Sudan's conflict only needs East African solutions by cunningly trying to sell its pro-Juba ideas to rebels and other parties to the conflict. It has been more than four years and the people of South Sudan still have not seen any East African solution that can resolve the war. It is time for the African Union and the international community to take over the peace process and tell IGAD that South Sudan's atrocities are not for sale.

IGAD is no longer a trusted entity — it is a Uganda-run project. What the bloc is doing in the revitalization talks is simply trying to accommodate rebel and opposition leaders by giving them positions of power and then enabling Kiir to keep running the country. This was evident when the bloc issued a pro-Juba communiqué, announcing IGAD's plan to relocate South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar to a country outside the East African region and shamelessly calling it a “lifting of Machar house arrest.” It is unreasonable to think that creating jobs for people who oppose Juba's regime will solve the problem. The South Sudanese do not oppose Kiir's regime because they want positions. The people of South Sudan simply decided to take arms against Kiir's regime after he killed innocent civilians in Juba who have nothing to do with his political madness. The ongoing civil war was a carefully planned project — a project designed to purge any potential South Sudanese leaders who would pose a threat to Kiir's tyrannical leadership. The people of South Sudan know very well that Salva Kiir and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, premeditated the conflict. IGAD must stop its nonsensical attempt to try to protect Kiir by deliberately proposing pro-Juba peace proposals. If the East African regional bloc does not change its current stance on South Sudan, then the international community should prepare for a long, perhaps never-ending suffering of the South Sudanese. IGAD's anti-SPLM-IO behaviour must stop — the people of South Sudan have had enough of its buffoonery.

The author can be reached at duop282@gmail.com

April 29, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir says he is mentally fit and not sick, despite reports to the contrary, which he descried as a political propaganda.

South Sudan's presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny (AFP)

Kiir, who spoke through his press secretary, said he is fit, in good health and carrying out his constitutional mandate.

“The president is in good health and fit to continue to lead this nation. If he is sick, the government will come out and tell the people of South Sudan of his health. But now there is no problem,” Ateny Wek Ateny told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

“What Dr. Mawien [Mawien Akot] said is a lie. It is not true”, he said.

Mawien, a South Sudan-Canadian physician said the young nation faces a “dysfunctional system” and Kiir is “detached from his advisers and generals”.

“The president is in sound mind, but he could be under influence. I treat most of the generals and most of them are so sick. Even when the president appears in public, he is not in sound mind and physical appearance,” said Mawien.

“The president is not in his mental and physical capacity to rule the country. What he says are not his words”, he further added.

Mawien, who claimed he worked at the presidential health unit, accused some people around the South Sudan leader of drawing money from the war-torn nation in “fraudulent” ways.

(ST)

April 28, 2018 (JUBA) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Sunday said the government forces have resumed attacks on their position in Yei River State in Central Equatoria.

The map of Western Equatoria in red

"Today from about 8:30 am Juba regime forces at their artillery base in Ronyi, 4 miles Yei-Kaya road aimlessly and heavily shelled SPLA-IO territories in and around Mugwo and Otogo payams in Yei River County," said Wayi Godwill Edward, a rebel spokesperson in the region.

Edward added that to indiscriminate shelling took place following an announcement at local radio on Saturday saying the army would conduct a testing exercise of their artilleries on Sunday morning.

On Friday and Saturday, the UN peacekeeping operation in South Sudan and the Joint monitoring body condemned the increase of violence in the country in violation of the ceasefire agreement signed in December 2017.

The two agencies said the fighting intensified in Unity, Jonglei and Central Equatoria pointing to the devastating impact on thousands of civilians and on humanitarian agencies.

The Joint Monitoring Evaluation Commission (JMEC) asked the ceasefire body (CTSAMM) to investigate the attacks and also urged to release 10 aid workers abducted around Yei town.

The SPLM-Io urged the CTSAMM to immediately probe the attack and hold accountable the perpetrators of the attack, underscoring it represents a clear breach of the cessation of hostilities.

(ST)

April 29, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) led by Malik Agar said government forces on Saturday attacked its positions in the Blue Nile for the second time in less than a week.

Since two years the government and rebel group committed themselves to a unilateral cessation of hostilities in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan encouraged by the regional and international mediators and facilitators.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday, the SPLA-N Agar General-Staff Command said the government militia Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday launched a 10-hour attack on its positions in Soda area and Al-Jaghb area in Jebel Ban.

The SPLM-N Agar stressed its forces repelled the two attacks, killing 8 including the commander of the attacking force and destroying 4 vehicles in Al-Jaghb.

The Movement attached a document belonging to Captain Tariq Gibril Mohamed from the intelligence of Ingessana sector of the Sudanese army.

The statement further accused the attackers of committing crimes against the civilians saying large numbers of children, women and the elderly were forced to flee to the mountains to seek protection.

The SPLM-N Agar called on the guarantors of the cessation of hostilities including the African Union, the United Nations and the Troika countries to condemn the government and hold it accountable for the repeated breaches of the ceasefire in the Blue Nile.

It is noteworthy that the Jebel Ban is an extension of the gold-rich area of Kalgo which is part of the Ingessana Hills, about 32 kilometres south of the Blue Nile state capital of Ed Damazin.

Since April 2015, the Sudanese army launched repeated attacks against Jebel Kalgo to retake the control of the mountainous area which is considered a strategic area for the SPLM-N Agar.

Meanwhile, the official Facebook page of the RSF said the armed forces and the SRF troops liberated four areas in the Blue Nile including Goia Al-Jadida, Goia Al-Gadima, Kabadaik and Jeko.

It pointed out that the government forces inflicted heavy losses in lives and equipments on the “mercenaries”, saying further details would be revealed later.

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

(ST)

April 29, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - A delegation from the United States Congress has arrived in Khartoum Sunday on a three-day visit upon an invitation from the speaker of the National Assembly Ibrahim Ahmed Omer.

Sudan's national assembly (FILE)

According to the official news agency SUNA, the U.S. legislators would meet with Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Salih and, the parliament speaker and the national dialogue mechanism.

The delegation would also meet with human rights groups and activists, businessmen, civil society organizations and the United Nations agencies operating in Sudan.

Last October, the U.S. Administration permanently lifted 20-year-old economic sanctions against Sudan citing positive actions on humanitarian access and counter-terrorism

However, Washington left other sanctions in place for the time being, including those against individuals with arrest warrants related to atrocities committed during the conflict in Darfur.

Also, it didn't remove Sudan's name from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Sudanese officials insist on the need to remove Sudan from the list of terror states, pointing that the country cannot benefit from the debt relief and international development aid without this measure.

But Washington insists on the need to improve Human rights, religious freedom and other freedoms in a way to create a conducive environment for the opposition group to take part in the ongoing constitutional process after the signing of a peace agreement with the armed groups.

The two countries are engaged in a five-track process towards the full normalization of relations.

(ST)

April 29, 2018 (KAMPALA) -The Former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailermarian Desalegn said President Salva Kiir should resign and cede his place for the young generation to achieve peace and to end the suffering of South Sudanese people.

Desalegn unexpectedly resigned on 15 February 2018, saying he hoped to end years of unrest and political turmoil in his country, after ruling the country for six years.

The former premier who also was the chair of the East African bloc IGAD that mediating the peace process made his remarks at The Ibrahim Governance Weekend organised by MO Ibrahim Foundation held in Kigali Rwanda on Saturday.

Speaking about the need for peace in South Sudan he regretted the non-implementation of the IGAD-brokered peace agreement by the South Sudanese leaders.

"Immediately after my resignation, I asked them 'Please would you resign because you failed to resolve the problem in South Sudan?" He said, according to a video of his remarks obtained by Sudan Tribune.

Then he was asked if he had said that to President Salva Kiir he answered: "Yes, I talked to all".

"Leaders have to come to their senses to their mind and they should somehow leave so they give power to new young leadership that can continue to the next step," he added.

The former Ethiopian leader, however, said everybody has to help to end the war in South Sudan including the African Union an United Nations

"The UN should take aggressive action," he emphasised.

The statements reflect the mindset of IGAD leaders about the South Sudanese conflict.

Ethiopia is very impacted by the ongoing conflict in South Sudan as the region Gambella, which border the troubled country is inhabited by a Nuer clan and fears that rebels who are from the same ethnic group bring their instability.

Speaking about Ethiopia, the former prime minister said he resigned because his country has a problem of addressing multi-ethnic society, and there is a need for deep reform. " So I said, I have to set aside myself in order to achieve these deep reforms".

“The main problem in African politics is people stick to power. And I wanted to show that it is possible that you can leave while having power as a citizen in my country," he stressed.

(ST)

April 28, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir said his country's support to Eritrea is contingent upon the latter's keenness to serve joint interests of the two countries.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir (L) meeting with Eritrean president Isaias Afewerki in Asmara January 16, 2013 (Ashorooq TV)

Speaking during a meeting of the Popular Call-up for the Development of the eastern Sudan State of Kassala, al-Bashir pointed to the distinct relations with Eritrea, saying Khartoum has supported Asmara in the past and will continue to support the Eritrean people.

He underscored his government's keenness to strengthen ties with the neighbouring countries, saying the joint borders must become points to serve mutual interests not to ignite wars.

Frustrated by the rapprochement between Cairo and Asmara, last January, Khartoum accused the two neighbours of backing unidentified opposition groups. The Sudanese government further closed the border deployed thousands of troops.

The internationally isolated government in Asmara was not happy with the development of a close alliance between its arch-foe Ethiopia and Sudan, but Khartoum blamed Eritrea for refusing its repeated efforts to mediate the conflict and create a regional cooperation area.

Last month, Eritrean information ministry accused Sudan and Qatar of establishing a military training camp for an opposition group led Eritrean Islamist Mohammed Jumma.

Also, Asmara claimed that Doha provided Sudan with three Mig fighters and funding a joined Sudanese Ethiopian force deployed along the border with Sudan.

However, Khartoum denied the accusations saying they are just “fabricated and unfounded claims”.

(ST)

April 28, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Member of the government delegation to the Two Areas talks Abdel-Rahman Abu Median said large numbers of Sudanese refugees have returned to the Blue Nile from Ethiopia.

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

Abu Median disclosed refugees have voluntarily returned to their original areas in Kurmuk, Gisan and Wad Al-Mahi due to the stable security situation in the state.

According to him, the Blue Nile authorities are providing the basic needs for the returnees including food, shelter and healthcare.

He also pointed to government efforts to integrate the returnees into their communities and engage them in the development projects, saying the returnees file was given special attention from the concerned bodies.

Last week, the commissioner of Bau county of the Blue Nile State Abdel-Ghani Digais said his county is witnessing the voluntary return of displaced persons as well as refugees from Ethiopia and South Sudan.

He pointed out that 1700 refugee families have arrived in Madeem and Khor Maganza areas besides 3000 families in Moreek area and 3000 families in Falti area.

Also, the governor of the Blue Nile State Hussein Yassen Hamad last January said 13,000 out of 55,000 Sudanese refugees have returned to their home areas from Ethiopia.

(ST)

April 27, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese and Ethiopian senior military officials discussed in Addis Ababa a bilateral defence protocol signed between the two countries and agreed to activate the joint border forces.

A road leading to Ethiopia-Sudan border (Photo Jamminglobal.com)

The agreement was announced in Khartoum on Friday following the end of a two-day meeting in Addis Ababa between the military delegations chaired by the army chiefs of staff of the two neighbouring countries.

The two armies reaffirmed their readiness for full solidarity to ensure border security, exchange of information and curb uncontrolled groups, combating smuggling, human trafficking, arms and drugs trade, and transnational crimes, said a statement released by the official news agency SUNA.

"The two sides, also, agreed to activate and re-energize the joint border forces to maintain security and stability, as well as cooperation in the fields of joint training and exchange of experiences," said the statement.

"The military chiefs of staff of two countries signed the minutes of the meetings and recommendations ahead of its enforcement," it further stressed.

Last January following the deployment of Sudanese troops on the border with Eritrea, there were reports about the deployment of Ethiopian troops along the border with Eritrea from the Sudanese and Ethiopian sides.

Also, since several years Ethiopia and Sudan boosted security cooperation between the two countries. Khartoum handed over rebels and opposition activists to Ethiopia and Addis Ababa banned any rebel activity from the border area with Blue Nile state.

Last January, The Nile State and Ethiopia's Benishangul-Gumuz region agreed to deploy a joint border force to secure the border area and prevent goods and arms smuggling.

(ST)

By Yasir Arman*

On the 26th of April 2018, General Bashir, who is indicted by the ICC, has committed genocide and war crimes, is leading a genocidal government that stands against all the values of the United Nations and has displaced over 6 million Sudanese internally and as refugees, has awarded the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ms. Marta Ruedas, the First-Class Order of the Two Niles in appreciation of her service in Sudan from August 2015 to April 2018.

What an ironic and bizarre situation is taking place! The very president who is wanted by the international system and who cannot step into the door of the headquarters of the United Nations in New York is the one granting an award to a representative of the United Nations, the very organization that referred him to the ICC and has taken tens of resolutions against him and his regime.

From her side, Ms Marta was quoted as saying, “It is a great honour to be granted this award from H.E. the President of Sudan and it has been an equal honour working in and for Sudan over the past three years.” It is an unfortunate statement from someone who represents an organization that is tasked with serious humanitarian obligations and protection of civilians. What a message to send to millions of displaced Sudanese! What a message to send to the families of millions who have perished as the result of war crimes and genocide in Sudan and South Sudan by General Bashir! What type of a “great honour” is being expressed here by the representative of the United Nations?!

I have personal experience during the peace talks with Ms Marta, who has always sided with the Sudan government against the aggrieved marginalized Sudanese populations. That alone and her long silence explains why she has received this award and why she feels honoured by an award from an indicted president.

Many previous United Nations officials have been expelled and harassed by the very same president and his government who awarded Ms Marta, including two of her predecessors and the former representative of the Secretary-General, Jan Pronk. Some UN officials decided to resign as in the case of Aicha Elbasri, who was the spokesperson of UNAMID in Darfur. This raises the question of what services Ms Marta has rendered to the government that made General Bashir so happy to give her an award of the First-Class and at whose expense.

The United Nations has a critical role to play in protecting civilians and advancing the course of peace, human rights and democracy in Sudan that will definitely require different capacity and personnel other than Marta to do this job. We are counting on the new Secretary General of the United Nations and his representative in Sudan, given their solid political backgrounds, to adopt a different approach when it comes to Sudan, especially in the war zones of Darfur, the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile.

* Arman is the deputy chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North led by Malik Agar.

April 27, 2018 (WAU) - During a visit to Wau on Friday, South Sudanese Vice President James Wani Igga said national dialogue is the only way to end war renewed call for the armed groups to join the internal process.

South Sudan's vice-president, James Wani Igga, speaks at the opening of the national reconciliation and peace conference in Wau on 2 September 2014 (ST)

Officially launched in May 2017, the national dialogue initiative is regarded as a forum and process through which the people South Sudan shall gather to redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, redefine citizenship and belonging, as well as restructure the state for national inclusion.

The SPLM-IO led by Riek Machar rejects the national dialogue process saying the priority should be given to the implementation of the 2015 peace agreement including the ceasefire and humanitarian access to the civilians in the war-affected areas.

Addressing a public rally organised by the state authorities Wani Igga called on the people of South Sudan particularly armed opposition groups to lay down their weapons and join the ongoing peace process inside the country.

He stressed that the only way to bring peace in the country is everybody should embark on the national dialogue process launched by President Salva Kiir.

“The importance of this national dialogue, that dialogue will bring unity, cooperation, and transformation and reforming of the country's economic and political structures,” said the South Sudanese vice-president.

He also said the dialogue process would pave the way to achieve national unity which is the best remedy to combat hatred, nepotism and tribalism.

"Without unity, we can't do anything and that is why we have to fight against them (first),” said Igga.

The vice-president Igga urged all the displaced persons who sought refuge at the UN protection of sites to return to their home areas to produce their food and contribute to the national economy and development process.

(ST)

April 27, 2018 (WASHINGTON) - The United States said "deeply concerned" by the recent fighting in Jebel Marra, calling on the Sudanese warring parties to stop the fighting and to allow unfettered humanitarian access to civilians affected by the recent clashes in the mountainous.

In a statement released on Friday U.S. State Department Spokesperson said they have "credible reports" the about attacks on Jebel Marra villages resulting in thousands of newly displaced civilians after the resumption of hostilities between the government forces and the Sudan Liberation Movement -Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (SLM-AW).

"We call on all sides – the GoS forces, SLA/AW, and armed tribal groups — to immediately halt their provocative actions and violent responses," said US State Department Heather Nauert.

"In addition, the government should permit immediate and unhindered access by the United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), UN Country Team elements, and national and international humanitarian agencies to the areas where violence is taking place, as well as to displaced populations," Nauert further said.

The Sudanese government and three armed groups including Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) SLM - Minni Minnawi and SLM-Transitional Council have declared a unilateral cessation of hostilities in Darfur. The SLM-AW is not part of measure which aims to enable aid workers to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians in the war affected areas.

The holdout rebels issued several statements about the clashes accusing government forces of attacking their positions. However, authorities of Central Darfur state said they seek to secure routes adding that the rebels are looting civilians and commercial convoys.

Following the security improvement in Darfur, the United Nations and the African Union decided to cut the peacekeepers deployed in the region but reinforced UNAMID presence in Jebel Marra and establish a new basis in Golo to protect displaced persons there.

Nauert called on Darfur authorities to cooperate with the peacekeeping mission to establish Jebel Marra Task Force. Also, she urged the parties to " take immediate steps towards a comprehensive peace process".

(ST)

April 27, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Finance Minister Mohamed Osman al-Rikabi has discussed with the U.S. Assistant Treasury Secretary the removal of Sudan's name from the list of states sponsors of terrorism.

The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank Group Spring Meetings in Washington, has also discussed the cancellation of Sudan's foreign debt.

In press statements upon his return from Washington on Thursday, al-Rikabi expected Sudan's name to be lifted from the terror list soon.

“We held separate meetings with the World Bank group and the U.S. Treasury Department besides the UK Department for International Development where we discussed issues facing the African continent and ways to provide funds for it,” he said

Al-Rikabi also pointed to his meeting with the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State John Sullivan, describing the meeting as fruitful and successful.

The Sudanese minister said he demanded Sullivan to speed up the process for removing Sudan's name from the terror list and normalization of relations between the two countries.

He added a meeting was held with some U.S. businessmen and banks with the participation of representatives from the Bank of Khartoum, saying they discussed ways to open branches for US banks in Sudan as well as urging correspondent banks to deal with Sudanese banks.

Al-Rikabi further pointed to his meeting with the Deputy Managing Director at the IMF, saying they discussed challenges facing the Sudanese economy including the lifting of Sudan's name from the terror list and the debt relief.

In a report released in December 2017, the IMF estimated that Sudan's external debt reached $ 52.4 billion or 111 percent of GDP.

The international body repeatedly underscored the need to remove Sudan from the U.S. terror list to benefit from debt relief.

Last October Washington permanently cancelled the 20-year economic sanctions on Sudan opening the door for the normalization of bilateral relation and removal of remaining sanctions on the east African country particularly its removal from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

Washington is involved in a five-track engagement process with Sudan towards the full normalization of relations.

The five-track process includes the fight against terrorism, Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Sudan's role in the peace process in South Sudan, Sudan's peace and the humanitarian situation in the Blue Nile andSouth Kordofan states.

(ST)

April 27, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir on Thursday said the permanent constitution would be approved by the elected parliament following the 2020 elections.

On Thursday, al-Bashir met with the parliament speaker Ibrahim Ahmed Omer who handed him over the parliament response to his address before the National Assembly earlier this month.

In a press release following the meeting, al-Bashir said the “next legislature would approve the permanent constitution according to the recommendation of the national dialogue”.

“But that doesn't prevent from holding broad discussions on the constitution in order to prepare a draft to be presented before the next parliament to approve it and then it would be presented to the Sudanese people in a referendum,” he said

The Sudanese president said the various branches of the government need to work in harmony to face the existing challenges.

He described the participation of the various political forces in the executive and legislative powers as “significant success”, saying it comes in implementation of the national dialogue's recommendations.

Al-Bashir further said cooperation among the various government branches would continue until the 2020 elections, saying these elections would lay the foundation for a new era of political practice.

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

In October 2016, the political forces participating in the national dialogue concluded the process by signing the National Document which includes the general features of a future constitution to be finalised by transitional institutions.

However, rebel groups and opposition parties refused to join Khartoum process as they demand the government to end the war and ensure freedoms in the country ahead of the dialogue.

(ST)

April 27, 2018 (JUBA)- Rival forces in South Sudan conflict have resumed offensives in Upper Nile region, forcing humanitarian organisations to relocate some members following a surge in violent clashes in Unity, Jonglei and parts of Central Equatoria.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) issued a statement confirming resumption of the offensives, pointing out that having a devastating impact on thousands of civilians and on humanitarian agencies trying to provide desperately needed assistance to vulnerable people.

The mission expressed deep concern at the intensification of fighting in areas such as Nhialdiu, Mayendit, Rupchai, Thaker, and Mirinyal, in the vicinity of Leer and Bentiu in the Unity region, as well as around Motot and Akobo in Jonglei.

“Innocent civilians are being caught in the crossfire, including many women, children and elderly people,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, David Shearer. “Our teams on the ground are reporting incidents of killing, sexual violence, homes being burnt to the ground, cattle raiding, and the looting of hospitals and schools," he further said in a statement seen by Sudan Tribune.

The statement further added that There has been gunfire overnight near UNMISS' temporary operating base at Leer and Ghanaian peacekeepers are on high alert to protect an influx of 600 internally displaced people who have sought sanctuary from the violence in recent days. This brings the total number of IDPs at the Leer base to around 1100. A small number of displaced people have also arrived at the UN protection site at Bentiu and more are expected.

More than 30 humanitarian workers have been relocated over the past two weeks because it is too dangerous for them to operate in the midst of the escalating conflict. Thousands of people have fled into swamp and bush areas without access to much-needed aid, including food, clean water and medical care.

“This surge in violence is causing immense suffering and harm to civilians and the ability to provide humanitarian support,” said David Shearer. “It is at odds with the cessation of hostilities agreement that was signed just a few months ago. We urge the warring parties to lay down their guns, put the interests of the people first, and work together to build lasting peace.”

“The success of the upcoming round of peace talks at the High-Level Revitalization Forum is dependent on all parties committing to stop the fighting and to come together in good faith. Political leaders must demonstrate they are willing to compromise and resolve this conflict which is causing terrible harm to their people,” he said.

(ST)

April 26, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan Liberation Movement-Transitional Council (SLM-TC) said on Thursday that their fighters have clashed with the government forces in Jebel Marra confirming reports about military operations in the mountainous areas of Central Darfur States.

Recently the SLM- Abdel Wahid al-Nur said the government militia are attacking their position in southeastern and northern Jebel Marra. But the government official spoke about operations to secure the routes and stop harassment of civilians by the holdout rebels.

SPM -TC chairman Elhadi Idriss Yahya told Sudan Tribune that their group "has dealt with government attacks in the north and east of Jebel Marra".

However, he said they are no coordination with the SLA-AW fighters pointing the latter are based in the western part of Jebel Marra.

The SLM-TC splinted several years ago form the SLM-AW and its fighters carried out coordinated attacks with the SLM- Minni Minnawi in North and East Darfur states in May 2017.

The SLM-TC spokesperson Nurraldine Kouki, reaffirmed the group readiness to abort government second plan to commit "genocide and operate a comprehensive demographic change in Darfur".

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Thursday, Kouki said that government militias early this month burned the villages of "Vina and Duwa" and other areas in southern Jebel Marra after what they burned this week the villages of "Aru, Lugu, Malmal, Saliya, Tukmah, Kaya, Sankara, Kitti, Durkuru, and Ja'ahora "in northern Jebel Marra.

"The assault still taking place and faced by the resistance of the movement's forces amid the continued silence of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)," he said.

The rebel spokesperson further said the UNAMID should "assume the responsibility for genocide and demographic change". He further added hybrid mission "is repeating its failed experience and its inability to protect defenceless civilians, as happened in Rwanda in the 1990s".

UN secretary-general in his report to the UN Security Council last March mentioned military confrontation in Jebel Marra but said the operations continued to be limited to pockets of the Jebel Marra.

The SLM-TC which refuse to negotiate with Khartoum before to achieve a number of conditions similar to those posed by the SLM-AW issued a joint statement with JEM of Gibril Ibrahim and SLM-MM on 3 February extending a unilateral cessation of hostilities until 30 April.

(ST)

April 26, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The governor of South Darfur State Adam al-Faki Thursday repeated threats that his government is determined to dismantle Kalama camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and threatened to arrest the camp's leaders who are accused of inciting the residents to reject returning to their areas of origin.

South Darfur governor Adam al-Faki (ST Photo)

Despite the improvement of the security situation in Darfur region, the displaced people remain in the IDPs camps, pointing to the continued insecurity and attacks by gunmen. They also ask for financial compensations, and to provide them with basic services.

But government officials accuse rebel supporters inside the camps of manipulating the IDPs and use them as a political expression of their demands and to sabotage the government's plans to end the conflict.

Addressing a group of IDPs who accepted to return to their villages in Dgraiss area, 25 km south of Nyala on Thursday, al-Faki said that his government would close Kalma camp within the framework of a presidential plan to dismantle Darfur camps before the end of 2018.

He further said the security forces would conduct a weapons collection operation within the coming weeks in the troubled camp of Kalma which was described in the past as a "rebels' hideout".

The governor stressed that the security forces would arrest wanted individuals and called on the IDPs to return to their areas and evacuate the camps before the launch of the operations of dismantlement.

The Sudanese government and the UN agreed to not force the IDPs to return to their area of origin and vowed to work together to create the necessary conditions for the voluntary return.

Concerning the Kalma camp, which is one of the largest in camps Darfur and home of around 100,000 people, the government, UNAMID and the leaders of the camp agreed not to forcefully collect weapons without prior consultations with the peacekeeping mission or the IDPs representatives.

Until now, no weapons search has been implemented inside the camp despite the conduct of similar operations in different camps in the whole Darfur region.

The governor said his government is now preparing prison cells in the famous Suakin Prison in eastern Sudan for 300 persons for those who resist the government policies.

He further advised the returnees not to listen to those who incite them to resist the voluntary return programme.

Sudanese security forces killed several residents of Kalama camp during a visit of President Omer al-Bashir to their area in September 2017.

The Kalma camp was the theatre of bloody clashes between the supporters of the holdout rebels and those who joined the Doha peace process in 2010.

Also in August 2009, the camp witnessed one of the most bloody clashes between the residents and the Sudanese security forces that resulted to the death of some 30 people and many others wounded.

Mohamed Issa Solbang, humanitarian secretary of Kalma camp committee denounced the statements of Governor al-Faki.

"The state government plans to commit again genocide and crimes against humanity," he told Sudan Tribune on Thursday evening.

Issa stressed that the displaced people are more interested by the voluntary return than the government but the lack of security forces them to remain in the camps.

(ST)