Sudan Tribune

Amb Telar Deng

The events that led to the 2013 dissolution of cabinet can be traced back to the deep mistrust that fermented back in 1991 when leaders failed to close ranks. After the 1991 Nassir declaration, President Salva Kiir Mayardit did not see eye to eye with Dr. Riek Machar. He had developed a strong dislike for him because he believed that Rebellion was not to be rewarded. On January 6th, 2002, after vigorous negotiations, the declaration for reunification of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) was signed in Nairobi.

Upon signing of the declaration for reunification of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) Dr. John Garang de Mabior the co-signatory to the declaration travelled to Yei where he held the leadership council meeting. They discussed and approved a document that allowed Dr. Riek Machar back as the 3rd in command.
Throughout the discussions, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, then a commander, who was evidently furious, demanded that the matter be subjected to voting and indeed it was but unfortunately the ballot went in favor of Dr. Riek Machar. James Wani without bitterness accepted to take the fourth position in the hierarchy of the SPLM. However, this order didn't go down well with Kiir.

Later on after Dr. John Garang's death, President Salva took the leadership of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, subsequently; Riek and Wani were second and third in command respectively in the SPLM hierarchy. In 2008 convention, Salva and his group wanted to replace Riek as the 1st deputy chairman of the SPLM with Wani Igga and Taban Deng Gai to replace Pagan Amum as the secretary general of the SPLM. This cemented Kiir and Riek's sour relations for the second time.

Through the strenuous efforts of the elders, Moulana Abel Alier, general Joseph Lagu, amongst others from Warrap, the planned efforts to change the leadership were averted and status quo was maintained in order to avoid the disintegration of the party. This was the beginning of the power struggle from within the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.

With all these turn of events from the year 2002 to 2008, Salva felt that within the government and within the party, he could not consult either Riek or Pagan on any matters including formation of cabinet.

On the 5th of March 2013, attempts were made to reconcile Salva and Riek in a meeting that was chaired by Deng Alor and attended by Wani Igga, Kosti Manibe, John Luk, James Kok Ruea, Paul Mayom Akech, Pieng Deng Majok and James Hoth Mai. The attempt to reconcile Kiir and Machar failed. What transpired was that Riek declared to challenge President Salva Kiir in the upcoming SPLM convention and Pagan also declared his intentions to be a candidate for the chair of the SPLM. Since there was no headway, the meeting was adjourned. It was to be reconvened at a later date, but this never happened. With all this opposition, Kiir realized he was under serious political challenge from Riek and Pagan within the party. This then made Salva take his first step; he withdrew of his delegated powers from Riek as the vice President of the Republic of South Sudan. He went ahead and cancelled the national reconciliation process that was chaired by Riek Machar and he reconstituted it and gave it to the church leaders.

Salva realized that he could not form the cabinet without assistance from his vice president and Secretary general of the Party, he decided to reinstate un-officially the Politico-Military high command with the membership of himself (Salva), Wani Igga, Daniel Awet Akot and Kuol Manyang. The four avoided all party and government structures and went ahead with their plans and conducted series of meetings.

It was at those meetings that the President made most, if not, all political decisions. Consequently, in 2013, it is this group of the four members of the defunct Politico-military High command that made all the decisions to dissolve the entire cabinet and appointed a new cabinet to the exclusion of those Salva suspected to be against him or who seemed to be allies of Riek.

After all these, Riek Machar, Pagan Amum and everyone else who was relieved off their constitutional posts played their cool with the intention of making a comeback in the national convention that was to be held in December.

The convention was held and Riek and those who were alleged to be his allies, raised a few issues of contention. These were issues that President Salva Kiir and his allies and Dr. Riek Machar and his allies could not agree on.

The issues of contention were:
1. The method of voting either show of hands or secret ballot.
2. The chairman of the party who is Salva Kiir should not appoint five percent of the total members of the convention. Riek wanted this to be scrapped out.
3. The deputy chair should be elected by the convention instead of being nominated by the chair to the national liberation council for approval. Riek wanted this to be subjected to the convention and not at the whims of the chair to appoint him and not to appoint him.

On the 14th December 2013, the national liberation council deliberated on these three contentious issues. Salva Kiir and his allies outwitted Riek by mobilizing members of the national liberation council to defeat any proposal from Riek and allies Therefore Riek and allies were defeated. On the 15th December, Riek and his allies boycotted the meetings of the National liberation council. After the boycott, the rest of us and the public woke up to gunshots at about 10:15 pm. The rest remains history.

As the events unfolded, it became very evident that there was a power struggle within the party and the government. The prime movers of the said power struggle were, President Kiir, the Secretary General Pagan Amum and his then Vice President Dr. Riek Machar. The differences they had polarized the government, the public and the party and it was no longer cohesive. President Salva Kiir and allies believed that it was a power struggle, However Riek, Pagan and allies maintained that it was not a power struggle. To them it was about the nature of state, democracy and the rule of law.

I have noted that I have on many occasions been blamed for misadvising the President on dissolution of cabinet then, yet I, like many of you learnt of the same when it was already too late. Importantly, the main issues raised by the parties that were formed after the incident have never raised the dissolution of cabinet as their reason for opposing Salva Kiir but they raised issues such as lack of democracy, proper governance, the rule of law in the country, nature of state and other issues that are in the public domain.

After I left the country for my assignment in Russia, there have also been quite a number of issues that have been dealt with contrary to the constitution and the August 17th, 2015 peace agreement. I will list just but a few that we all know:

1. The creation of 28 states (which are now 32), the government-led delegation to Addis peace talks in 2015, objected to Riek's suggestion on formation of 21 states (this was based on the 21 Districts during the British colonial rule) and argued that 10 states are maintained. This was then signed and incorporated into the peace agreement but as soon as they left Addis Ababa, the President went and decreed into law the creation of the 28 states.

2. Currently the council of states is responsible for the creation of the counties. The local government act stipulates that the President creates the counties and then in consultation with the Local government chair then issues a warrant of establishment. By default the council of states was allowed to exercise powers that are not stipulated in the local government act. The powers that the council of states in this respect has are only two. These are name of the county and the map of the county
3. In the August 2015 Peace Agreement that was signed, the President appoints ambassadors and other senior diplomatic representatives to foreign countries as proposed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and approved by the council of ministers but as it stands currently, President Salva Kiir Mayardit appoints, deploys and dismisses ambassadors and senior diplomats on his own volition. This has brought conflict between the President and the minister of foreign affairs who made a decision to stay out of South Sudan as the President has usurped all his powers.
4. The civil service act is being violated. The President dismisses and appoints under secretaries without due procedure as stipulated in the civil service act.
Is it still Telar Deng advising the president to violate the August 17th, 2015 agreement, the Constitution, the local government act and the civil service act and other violations of the rule of law?

April 18, 2018 (JUBA) – Members of the United Nations Security Council Committee, established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan, were briefed by the Panel of Experts on South Sudan in connection with the Panel's final report, which was submitted in pursuance of paragraph 2 of resolution 2353 (2017).

The UN Security Council votes unanimously to impose sanctions on those blocking peace in South Sudan (Photo: UN/Devra Berkowitz)

During the deliberations, held on 11 April, the Committee reportedly considered the Panel's findings with respect to the political and security situation in South Sudan; violations of human rights and international humanitarian law; obstruction of humanitarian and peacekeeping missions; and arms procurement and the implementation of the sanctions measures in war-torn South Sudan.

The Committee also considered recommendations set out in the Panel's final report, partly read a statement Sudan Tribune obtained.

The Committee, it further stressed, also received a briefing by the Office of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, which provided updates on developments in South Sudan since the last briefing by the Special Representative to the members in March last year.

However, it was noted that while the young nation was facing the conflict for the fourth consecutive year, violations against children had increased considerably compared to the preceding two years.

The UN had verified over 1,000 incidents of all six grave violations against children, affecting close to 1,400 children in South Sudan.

During the 11 April meeting, the recruitment and use of children by all parties in South Sudan's conflict, was assessed to be endemic.

“The office concluded that children were not just used on an ad hoc basis to temporarily boost military capacities of parties to the conflict or to provide services,” the statement noted, adding that children of South Sudan were the very fuel of the war, abused in a systematic and sustained manner which enabled the war effort to continue.

The world's youngest nation has been mired in conflict between the government of President Salva Kiir and rebels led by Riek Machar, the country's former first vice-president since mid-December 2013. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced almost over 2 million people from their homes, including over a million refugees who have fled into neighbouring nations

(ST)

April 18, 2018 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese presidency has dismissed as propaganda reports alleging presidential adviser on military affairs, Daniel Awet Akot has been placed under house arrest, causing speculations and warning such actions could spark unrest.

Daniel Awet Akot (ST)

The presidential adviser on security affairs. Tut Kew Gatluak denied that Akot is under house arrest, saying he was unaware of the top aide's detention.

“I am not aware of this allegation. I spoke to Gen Daniel today and he did not indicate he has been arrested”, Gatluak told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

The presidential press secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny also denied the allegation, saying Akot is working normally and nobody has ever tried to raise security details around his residence or anywhere.

It was not immediately clear what sparked the speculation and attempts to reach the presidential aide failed he could not easily be reached on his known phone contacts.

Sources, however, attributed the speculations to comments in which he protested the manner the government under President Salva Kiir has been managing the affairs of the nation since becoming an independent from neigbouring Sudan.

The top aide admitted that the government was not functioning, citing non payments of the government employees by the state for more than six months now.

Akot, also a leading member of the faction of the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement under president Salva Kiir was speaking during the funeral ride of late Morwel Abergut in Juba on Friday evening during which he urged people of Greater Lakes State to abandon all government positions and go back home to cultivate and focus on farming.

He urged his people to stop working against each and unite as Lakes State citizens.

This is the first time a Member of SPLM/A High Command came out clearly against Juba Administration. Awet who hails from Gok state formerly one of Greater Lakes state counties was furious while addressing a large crowd from Greater Lakes state.

(ST)

April 18, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese government accused Darfur armed group of rejecting all the compromises proposed by the international mediators to reach a declaration of principles paving the way for peace talks to end the 15-year conflict.

On Tuesday evening the delegations representing the Government of Sudan, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi ended two-day discussions in Berlin without signing a pre-negotiation agreement.

The two sides say willing for a negotiated settlement but failed to agree on how to proceed. The government put on the negotiating table the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, but the armed groups say they want a new process on new bases, not this framework text signed in July 2011 with other former rebel groups.

Amin Hassan Omer, the head of the government delegation issued a statement on Wednesday morning saying the two movements refused all the proposals made by the mediators and were determined to impose some conditions before the negotiations.

The two groups their positions, "although the government had agreed to all the propositions drafted by the mediation," said Omer. "It is clear that the brothers on the other side are not yet ready to go through the peace process with all its benefits," he further said.

Minnawi, on Tuesday, said the government delegation insisted on the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) as the only basis for negotiations and rejected the proposals and concessions they made in order to break the stalemate.

ACCUSING FINGER TO THE AFRICAN UNION

For his part, JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim Wednesday reiterated that the government's insistence on the DDPD as the basis for the talks led to the failure of the meeting.

He further said the statements of AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Smail Chergui on Darfur peace process encouraged the government to harden its position and "significantly contributed to the failure of the talks".

Ibrahim said the government adopted this tough position thinking that the African Union now raises a big stick and the armed movements are forced to accept what is dictated on them.

Following a meeting held on 20 February 2018, the Peace and Security Council said concerned by the "unnecessarily prolonged" process for peace in Darfur.

The Council further pointed to "the lack of commitment on the part of the non-signatory Darfur armed movements" and urged them to engage discussions with the government on the basis of the Doha Document for peace in Darfur (DDPD).

(ST)

April 18, 2018 (JUBA) The authorities in South Sudan have shut down the BBC's FM relay stations in the capital, Juba and in the town of Wau.

The decision, an official said, was taken after the London-based radio ignored requests to pay arrears, despite a reminder in January.

“On 22 January 2018, the minister [of information] wrote to them [BBC] cancelling the agreement and informed BBC to pay SSBC [South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation] all the arrears and come to negotiate the new agreement with SSBC, the media Authority and NCA [National Communication Authority], but after a month, they started giving conditions,” Magok Chilim, the director of SSBC said.

He threatened to sue the BBC should the broadcaster not pay its bill.

The BBC, in a statement, said it regret the decision to stop broadcasting "its news services to an audience of more than 400,000 in South Sudan”.

The broadcaster, however, said it was working hard to reach an understanding with South Sudan authorities to restore the service.

South Sudan, Reporters Without Borders said, still faces challenges, like censorship and harassment, which needed to tackled. In 2016, South Sudan ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, falling 26 places since the start of a civil war in 2013.

(ST)

April 18, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Ambassadors of the European Union (EU) on Wednesday have expressed concern about the situation of the people in the disputed Abyei region.

In a statement at the end of a two-day visit to the region, EU Ambassadors said the “objective of the visit was to examine the political, security, development and humanitarian situation on the ground”.

“The European diplomats held meetings with the leaders of Ngok Dinka and Misserya and Dinka Agok, representatives of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), the UN Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) and other UN agencies and NGOs” read the statement

“During their stay, the European diplomats visited Todach and Agok. They had a walk around the Amiet common market and visited projects related to health and the empowerment of women” added the statement

According to the statement, “the European diplomats agreed that there is a need for improved basic services especially in the areas of water, education, health and rule of law”.

It is noteworthy that the EU delegation included ambassadors of the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Sweden, Norway as well as the Special Envoy of Norway to Sudan and South Sudan.

Ownership of Abyei, a border region disputed by Sudan and South Sudan, remained contentious after the world's youngest nation split from Sudan in 2011.

There is no joint administration between Sudan and South Sudan, as the Ngok Dinka refuse the formation of Abyei Area Administration and the Legislative Council. Instead, they call to hold a referendum without the Sudanese pastoralist Misseriya.

Now there are two committees one for the Misseriya appointed by the Sudanese government and another for the Ngok Dinka appointed by Juba government.

On 27 June 2011, the Security Council, by its resolution 1990, responded to the urgent situation in Abyei by establishing the UNISFA.

UNISFA's establishment came after Sudan's government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) reached an agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to demilitarise Abyei and let Ethiopian troops monitor the area.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) provides that the contested territory remains part of the north until the organisation of a referendum determines its fate.

The difference over who will participate in the referendum prevents the two countries from holding the agreed referendum.

However, the Dinka Ngok organised a unilateral referendum from 27to 29 October 2013 to say they want to join the Republic of South Sudan.

Khartoum, Juba, the African Union and the international community refused to recognise the outcome of the vote.

(ST)

April 18, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said his country wouldn't accept any proposal to hold a referendum or allow joint administration for the disputed Halayeb triangle.

Speaking to the lawmakers on Wednesday, the Sudanese top diplomat renewed his country's non-negotiable right to full sovereignty over the region, saying the dispute should be settled either through negotiations or international arbitration.

He pointed out that Sudan recalled its ambassador to Cairo in response to the escalatory moves taken by Egyptian authorities to blur the Sudanese identity of the disputed region.

Ghandour stressed that Halayeb is an integral part of Sudan and that it remains a priority of the foreign policy, stressing their keenness to exercise a policy of restraint and non-escalation in order to preserve the eternal relations between the two countries and peoples.

He expressed hope the bilateral talks during presidential meetings or within the higher, quadripartite and political consultations committees would lead to an agreement on the issue.

The border triangle area of Halayeb, Abu Ramad and Shalateen, which is a 20,580 km area on the Red Sea, has been a contentious issue between Egypt and Sudan since 1958, shortly after Sudan gained its independence from the British-Egyptian rule in January 1956.

The area has been under Cairo's full military control since the mid-1990's following a Sudanese-backed attempt to kill the former Egyptian President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak.

Egypt continued to reject Sudan's repeated calls for referring the dispute to international arbitration.

In April 2016, Cairo refused a demand by the Sudanese government to hold direct talks on Halayeb and Shalateen or to accept the referral of the dispute to the International Court of Arbitration.

The international law provides that the agreement of the two parties is needed to arbitrate a dispute with the tribunal.

In July last year, Sudan filed a notice with the UN, claiming that Egypt is occupying the triangle, and refusing to claim any rights for a third party.

In the same month, Cairo announced it would start oil and gas exploration in the Red Sea province, including the Halayeb triangle.

(ST)

April 18, 2018 (WASHINGTON) - In Phase II of the ongoing engagement with Sudan to normalize of relations, The United States will focus on the need for more progress in human rights and religious freedom in the east African country, said the State Department.

Last March a bipartisan group of 57 U.S. Congressmen wrote to John Sullivan Deputy Secretary of State who is tasked with the Sudanese file urging not to remove Sudan from the list of states supporting terrorism and normalize relations before to end the war, restore freedoms and human rights.

In a letter dated 16 April 2018, seen by Sudan Tribune, the State Department Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Mary Waters reassured the congressmen telling them the U.S. administration shares their goal.

"We agree that more progress is needed and are working now to design a "Phase 11" framework for our engagement. The Administration is considering including specific requirements along the lines of what you suggested in your letter, especially with regard to human rights, including religious freedom," wrote Waters.

In October 2017, Washington announced the end of the 20-year embargo on Sudan in line with the "Five Track Engagement Plan", in which Khartoum agreed to a cessation of hostilities with the armed groups, opened unfettered humanitarian access in the conflict-affected areas, agreed to support efforts for peace in South Sudan and developed cooperation with the U.S. to counter terrorism in the region.

The two countries said they would soon resume discussions on the normalization process, as Khartoum, from its side, feels the limited benefit of the lift of economic sanctions without its removal from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.

Waters told the Congressmen that in the upcoming phase of the normalization process Washington intends to use "the United States' unique leverage" to bring the Sudanese government to adopt and implement "meaningful reforms" but also to "mark progress" in order to end the armed conflicts in Darfur and the Two Area.

"This engagement also ensures, in line with the Administration's priorities, that Sudan abstains from ties with North Korea, and assists with the United States' counterterrorism efforts," stressed the letter.

The State Department senior official further said they are prepared to address any regression by the Sudanese government on the agreed issues.

"We have been clear with Sudan that we expect no backsliding in progress to date," she said.

The diplomat didn't specify if they plan to remove Sudan from the U.S. terror list as Khartoum requests.

The next round of bilateral talks will be held in Washington as Sullivan was in Khartoum last November 2017 after the lift of sanctions.

(ST)
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April 17, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan on Tuesday vowed not accept the overhaul of its security and governance sector, contrary to demands made by opposition parties ahead of the upcoming talks.

South Sudan's vice-president, James Wani Igga (Photo: Larco Lomayat)

Addressing reporters in the capital, Juba on Tuesday, South Sudan's Vice President, James Wani Igga said the opposition's demand to dissolve the army and police is likely to destabilize the country.

"They want as soon as they have signed the agreement, institutions like the army must be dissolved, but if we dissolve the army right from that day then any wolf from any part of the world will just enter South Sudan to create anarchy," Igga said.

"Our intention as in the former agreement is to carry out institutional reforms where we will have the rebel army integrated into the system on the basis of regional inclusivity and balancing," he said.

The opposition, on Friday, said they wanted the country's 32 new states dissolved and the war-torn nation to be run on the old system.

Igga, however, said returning to the former states would breed public discontent and force some disgruntled people to rebel.

The senior official opposed calls by the various opposition groups for South Sudan President Salva Kiir to resign upon, insisting the latter was directly elected by the South Sudanese people in March 2010.

He instead appealed to the international community and the various opposition groups to consider plans for conducting fresh elections at the end of the interim period so enable smooth transfer of power.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013, after political dispute between President Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to fighting mostly between Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.

The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital, Juba, forcing Machar to flee.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than three million.

(ST)

April 17, 2018 (JUBA) - 207 child soldiers are to be released in South Sudan, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

Child soldiers sit with their rifles at a ceremony held on 10 February 2015 as part of a disarmament campaign overseen by UNICEF and partners in Pibor (AFP)

“The released children will be reunified with their families and will be given months' worth of food assistance and psychosocial support, along with the opportunity to go to school,” the agency noted.

Since a civil war broke out in South Sudan, over 19,000 children may have been recruited by all sides of the nation's conflict, UNICEF said.

According to UNICEF, 19,000 children were recruited into armed conflict by the warring sides since the start of war in 2013, 2,342 were killed or maimed, 3,090 abducted, and 1,130 sexually assaulted.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013, after political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to fighting mostly between Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.

The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital, Juba, forcing Machar to flee.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions that have sought refuge in neighboring countries.

(ST)

April 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) said more than 260 aid groups are currently operating in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan States.

Children fetch clean water from ICRC water points in Muglad, Southern Kordofan State (ICRCJ. Guitter/file Photo)

In press statements on Tuesday, HAC acting commissioner Ahmed Mohamed Osman said they visited the IDPs areas in South Kordofan and provided them with the necessary aid.

He pointed out that Sudan is open to receive assistance for the needy population, saying there are 160 aid groups in South Kordofan and more than 100 groups in the Blue Nile.

According to the acting commissioner, these aid groups transfer and distribute assistance to the affected in a sustainable manner.

He added the government is delivering the assistance via the airports and seaports according to the agreed upon humanitarian tracks.

Immediately after the first arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sudan's president Omer al-Bashir in March 2009, Sudan expelled 13 foreign aid groups from Darfur accusing it of collaborating with the war crime courts.

Since then, the activities of foreign aid group in Darfur are strictly controlled and more organizations were evicted through the years.

Sudan refuses to allow new aid groups to work in the region.

The government also banned the access of foreign groups to the rebel-held areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states as well as the establishment of camps for the displaced civilians, stressing the experience of Darfur camps should not be repeated in the two states.

(ST)

April 17, 2018 (JUBA) - The spokesperson of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Tuesday has dismissed as "fake" reports claiming he has been suspended from his assignment.

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

Ateny Wek Ateny said the social media reports were a creation of “rumour mongers to create disharmony at the South Sudanese presidency.

While Ateny denies social media reports, sources at the presidency told Sudan Tribune that there is a feeling within the presidential palace that Ateny should be replaced with someone with technical knowledge of the job.

The sources confirmed that Ateny Wek is still officially occupying the job and he has not been suspended or sacked from his duties.

However, "there has been a general feeling from among senior officials here at the presidency that the work which comrade Ateny Wek is doing requires someone with technical knowledge of the job," said a high ranking official who spoke on conditions of anonymity.

The sources further stressed that Ateny "was picked from activism for a political reason" no more.

The presidential spokesperson is blamed for not observing a number of guidelines when he deals with sensitive issues. Officials at the presidency say he does not understand that he speaks on behalf of the president.

He was also accused of interfering in the attribution of the information minister who is the government spokesperson.

Other officials at the presidential palace described all these issues as "professional jealousy" saying the president is satisfied with him and the audience understands that when he speaks he does not fully represent President Kiir's opinion.

(ST)

April 17, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan peace revitalization talks have been postponed sine die, announced the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) in a short statement released on Tuesday.

The opening session of the revitalization forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, December 18, 2017 (ST)

Last March, the IGAD Council of Ministers agreed to resume Phase II of the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) on 26 April. It was also decided that the Special Envoy had to hold consultations meetings with the process's parties and stakeholder to narrow the gaps on governance and security arrangements.

In a meeting held in Juba on Tuesday, IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan, Ismail Wais informed the JMEC of the postponement of the peace revitalization forum.

"The new dates will be communicated by the Office of the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers in due course," said the statement without further details.

For its part, the IGAD did not release a statement to announce the indefinite postponement.

Until Tuesday 17 April, nine days before the resumption of the forum, the IGAD special envoy met only with the civil society stakeholders to the HLRF. No other meeting was announced with the government or the opposition groups.

Further, several opposition parties formed the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) requested be consulted as one entity and blamed the mediation for ignoring their position paper in its last draft of propositions.

In reaction, Juba government threatened to hold general elections if no deal reached. While, the leader of the main armed opposition group, Riek Machar, wants to be authorized to take part in the forum and to be the region after the end of his confinement.

Different between the parties remain huge on the issue of governance especially composition and structure of the transitional government; number and size of states and composition of the Parliament.

On the security arrangements, the participants to the forum diverge on the timeframe for reintegration/unification of forces and approach to the formation of one national army; security for Juba during the Transition; demilitarization of civilian centres; cantonment of forces and Security sector reform or establishment of new security services.

(ST)

April 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday said it would engage in a deep dialogue with the opposition forces during the next period.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir has called on political parties to participate in national dialogue aimed at stimulating a reform plan announced earlier this year (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

In press statements on Tuesday, NCP deputy chairman of political sector Mohamed al-Mustafa said some holdout political parties have expressed desire to address national issues particularly ways to end the war and achieve peace.

He pointed out that the stated desire of the holdout parties would pave the way for holding an inclusive and deep dialogue that doesn't exclude anyone.

In October 2016, the political forces participating in the government-led 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.

The National Consensus Government (NCG) was installed in May 2017 to implement the outcome of the dialogue conference.

The opposition groups boycotted the national dialogue because the government didn't agree to a humanitarian truce with the armed groups and due to its refusal to implement a number of confidence-building measures aiming to create a conducive environment in the country before to hold the inclusive dialogue.

(ST)

April 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The parties to Berlin talks on a pre-negotiation agreement for peace in Darfur have failed to strike a deal paving the way for a political process to end the 15-year conflict.

Minni Minnawi the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) told Sudan Tribune late on Tuesday that the two-day meeting wrapped up without an agreement on a declaration of principles that opens the door for a cessation of hostilities and the start of political talks.

He further pointed an accusing finger to the government delegation saying "they insisted on the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) as the only basis for negotiations".

Also, he said the government refused all the proposals and concessions they made in order to break the stalemate.

The head of the government delegation Amin Hassan Omer was not reachable for comment.

The parties are expected to release more statements explaining their positions on the talks.

Among the armed groups, the talks included the SLM-MM and the Justice and Equality Movement of Gibril Ibrahim.

JEM and SLM-MM refuse to negotiate a peace agreement on the basis of the DDPD instead they propose to open several issues already dealt in the framework text and to add the national matters like freedoms and human rights.

Ina addition to German officials, the meeting was attended by the head of UNAMID who is also the joint chief mediator, the African Union, the United Nations special envoy and the Troika countries including a four-member delegation from the Office of the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan.

(ST)

April 16, 2018 (JUBA) – The European Union (EU) Council is ready to apply all appropriate measures to those obstructing the political process in war-torn South Sudan, according to its conclusions adopted on Monday.

The opening session of the revitalization forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, December 18, 2017 (ST)

The Council, in its conclusion, agreed that that 2018 is a critical year for securing peace in South Sudan, as the term of the transitional government of National Unity as set out in the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) comes to an end.

“While ARCSS remains the basis for the process, the discussions must reflect the reality on the ground,” notes the Council's statement.

The Council also reaffirmed the EU's deep concern at the continued fighting and grave violations and abuses of human rights that have inflicted horrific levels of human suffering and left the country in ruins.

In the conclusions, it noted, the EU urged all parties to the negotiations to put the nation's future and needs of its people first.

It also urged all parties to the conflict in South Sudan to immediately cease fighting and participate in the peace process in good faith.

The General Secretariat of the Council is a body of staff responsible for assisting the European Council and the Council of the EU. Its work is reportedly to help organise and ensure the coherence of the Council's work and the implementation of its 18-month programme.

South Sudan has been mired in conflict between the government of President Salva Kiir and rebels led by Riek Machar, the country's former first vice-president since mid-December 2013. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced almost over 2 million people from their homes, including over a million refugees who have fled into neighbouring nations

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April 16, 2018 (AWEIL) – Authorities in South Sudan's Northern Bahr el Ghazal state arrested dozens of former army chief of staff, General Paul Malong Awan's allies in the latest move to suppress his activities.

Former South Sudan army chief of staff, Gen Paul Malong Awan (Juba24 News)

Those arrested on Sunday, sources told Sudan Tribune, included the state assembly speaker, Deng Ayom as well as five other lawmakers.

The commander of South Sudan Patriotic Movement (SSPM), a rebel movement in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, Santino Manut, said those arrested are Awan's allies believed to be part of his rebellion.

He said Anguet Anei Ajuong, a woman MP, is among the arrested lawmakers.

Others are Aweil Urban MP, Santino Mayuat Ngong, former minister of water resources and irrigation, Bakheit Garang, former county commissioner of Aweil West Garang Kuach Ariath, and the state secretary general and former Aweil town mayor, Simon Tong Deng.

Officials from the national security services allegedly carried out the arbitrary arrests.

Last week, Awan announced the formation of the South Sudan United Front (SSUF), arguing that his movement was the only means through which he would work with compatriots to "arrest the carnage" in the war-torn country.

He accused President Salve Kiir of building a nation where total impunity is the order.

Relations between Awan and President Kiir deteriorated after the former was sacked from his post as army chief of staff in May 2017 and placed under house arrest for fear he would start a rebellion.

The ex-army chief was freed in November following mediation led by members of the JCE. The agreement refrained him from going to his home-town of Aweil in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal state but was allowed to travel to any East Africa country.

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April 16, 2018 (JUBA) - In a report to the Security Council, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said sexual violence in South Sudan remains characterized in 2017 with marked political and ethnic undertones

"In almost all recorded cases, the perpetrators and victims came from rival ethnic groups, with the physical violence often accompanied by verbal insults levelled against victims on the basis of their identity and presumed allegiance," reads the report

However, it said the UN peacekeepers in the war-ravaged country were not able to document all the cases due to the severe restriction of access to the conflict-zones and relocation of affected persons to other regions or foreign countries.

Nonetheless, UNMISS in 2017 documented 196 cases of conflict-related sexual violence including rape (88), gang rape (63), abduction for the purpose of sexual assault (31) UNMISS and attempted rape (14).

The peacekeeping mission 577 verified cases in 2016.

Regarding the perpetrators of the sexual assaults, the secretary-general said: "The attacks were attributed to SPLA (67), the pro-Taban Deng Sudan People's Liberation Army-in- Opposition (SPLA-IO) (4), the pro-Machar SPLA-IO (7), the South Sudan National Liberation Movement (SSNLM) (1), the South Sudan People's Patriotic Front (SSPPF) (2), militia allied to SPLA (5), militia allied to SPLA-IO (4), the South Sudan National Police Service (1), with the remainder attributed to unidentified gunmen".

In a recent report the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan said that rape, mutilation of sexual organs and other forms of sexual violence were perpetrated against women, girls, men and boys, often in front of relatives, in order to humiliate victims, families and entire communities, or as a form of punishment.

The report pointed that none of the incidents has been prosecuted to date.

The secretary-general said the UNMISS was working last year with the South Sudanese authorities to strengthen accountability particularly to implement the joint communiqué on sexual violence.

The UN mission facilitated training for 310 members of SPLA and 85 officers of the national police to reinforce individual and command responsibility for preventing and addressing sexual violence. It further increased the speed of patrols, including firewood patrols, and establish weapons-free zones around sites for the protection of civilians.

The report also mentioned the ongoing trial of SPLA soldiers charged with crimes, including the rape and gang rape of humanitarian workers housed at the Terrain hotel compound in 2016.

By the end of 2017, there were almost 2 million displaced persons, including 209,898 living in UNMISS sites for the protection of civilians. While two other civilians fled across the border to neighbouring countries.

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April 16, 2018 (JUBA) – The senior leadership of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) and the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) secretariat briefed the visiting African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) delegation on the recent activities in relation to their monitoring activities in South Sudan.

The AU delegation are a five-day visit to the war-torn East African country to urge South Sudanese parties to commit to the resolution of the civil war that erupted in mid-December 2013.

The CTSAMM, according to a statement issued on Monday, gave a brief update on the verification of forces throughout the country and also gave a brief overview on five violation reports which have been recently submitted to JMEC and to the regional bloc (IGAD).

“The visiting delegation thanked CTSAMM for their presentation and also commended the work CTSAMM does in ensuring the security situation is accurately monitored,” it further stated.

The delegation of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) is led by Bankole Adeoye, permanent representative of Nigeria and chairperson of the PSC for this month, the AU said in a statement.

The PSC mission followed the visit by the chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, to South Africa, where he met the exiled South Sudanese armed opposition leader, Riek Machar.

The PSC delegation, the AU said, is expected to interact with all South Sudanese stakeholders, African and international actors, to assess the challenges that are still impeding the implementation of the 2015 agreement on the resolution of the South Sudan conflict.

Deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in South Sudan, the PSC delegation will visit the city of Malakal as part of its field mission.

South Sudan has been mired in conflict between the government of President Salva Kiir and rebels led by Machar, the country's former first vice-president since mid-December 2013. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced almost over 2 million people from their homes, including over a million refugees who have fled into neighbouring nations.

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April 16, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan's army chief of staff said he is unwell, dispelling reports claiming he has died in a hospital in neigbouring Kenya where he was admitted.

The rank of Lt general is pinned on Lt Gen. James Ajong by President Salva Kir, and Vice President James Wani, during the swearing-in ceremony as SPLA general chief of staff on Wednesday 10 May 2017 (ST Photo)

Gen James Ajonga Mawut described the reports circulating on his death as a blessing.

“From onset we would like to state categorically that there is nothing much to worry about and to inform the general public as the members that your son and leader, General James Ajonga. He is responding well and will soon return home to live among his people and continue to discharge his national duties”, a statement released to the public by the family reads in part.

Ajonga reportedly underwent a Kidney operation in a hospital in Cairo, Egypt.

Ubeer Mawut, a brother to the army chief, said they opted for Egypt via Israel after the army chief was denied an entry visa to Germany.

The general was scheduled to fly to Germany for medical attention.

Medical examinations, he said, show that Ajonga has a kidney infection, Ubeer said.

He said the doctors in Cairo successfully carried out the operation.

The military spokesperson, Lul Ruai Koang also confirmed the general's admission in Cairo, but declined to comment on his health.

Ajonga was appointed army chief of staff in May 2017, replacing General Paul Malong.

(ST)