Sudan Tribune

February 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Following the resignation of Ethiopian prime minister, Sudan Saturday has postponed a tripartite meeting including Egypt on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) which was due to be hosted by Khartoum next week.

Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn (Allafrica)

Last Thursday, Hailemariam Desalegn unexpectedly resigned from his position saying he wanted smooth political reforms in Ethiopia. On Friday, Addis Ababa imposed the state of emergency in the country for six months.

"In response to a request by the Ethiopian side, it was decided to postpone the tripartite meeting on the Renaissance Dam, which was to be hosted by Khartoum at its technical and ministerial levels on February 24 and 25, to a later date to be agreed upon by the three countries," said the foreign ministry spokesperson.

Ambassador Garib-Allah Khidir further said the meeting was decided during a meeting between the Egyptian and Sudanese presidents and the Ethiopian prime minister, held on the sidelines of the African Union summit last month.

The foreign affairs and irrigation ministers and the directors of security and intelligence services of the three countries had to take part in this meeting not only to discuss the stalemated talks on the GERD impact on Egypt and Sudan shares of water but also the recent allegations of Egyptian plot with Eritrea to destabilize the two countries.

"Political developments after the resignation of the Ethiopian Prime Minister and the ongoing arrangements for the appointment of his successor have led the brotherly Republic of Ethiopia to request the postponement of the meetings until the election of a new Prime Minister," said the statement.

The Ethiopian government, which is accused by right groups of clamping down on the opposition parties and restricting freedoms, has released since January over 6,000 political prisoners before to engage in political reforms to be announced in the upcoming weeks.

In a second separate statement, the foreign ministry said the Sudanese government is confident in the "wisdom of the Ethiopian leadership and its ability to achieve a smooth transition" after Desalegn's resignation

It further expressed its support to Addis Ababa to preserve the unity, cohesion and peace among all its components.

(ST)

February 16, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour and Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan have agreed to begin discussions on Sudan removal from the U.S. list of states sponsor of terrorism, said a statement released by the foreign ministry in Khartoum on Friday.

Ghandour and Sullivan held a meeting in Germany on the sidelines of the 54th edition of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), a major global forum for the discussion of security policy.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Garib Allah Khidir. said the two senior diplomats discussed means of developing relations between the two countries.

"The two sides agreed on the beginning of the second phase of the dialogue, which aims to remove Sudan from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism and address debt and address common concerns," Khidir further said.

Minister Ghandour reiterated Sudan's commitment to continue the implementing the five tracks and called on the US administration to continue its efforts to remove obstacles to money transfers for Sudanese banks, he said.

In October 2017, Washington decided to lift economic sanctions on Sudan in line with a five-track framework reached by the countries in December 2016. Khartoum, accordingly, authorized humanitarian access to civilians in Darfur and unilaterally declared a cessation of hostilities in Darfur, the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

The two countries agreed to resume talks on the normalization of bilateral talks and the lift of remaining sanctions particularly its designation as a state sponsor of terrorist groups. the measure is crucial to get a debt relief and allow Sudan to get international aid to build its economic infrastructure.

In November 2017, Sullivan was in Khartoum the second phase of the normalization process and pointed to the need for reforms on human rights and religious freedom. Also, the two countries also agreed to engage in written exchanges between the two countries for Sudan's removal from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Different sources say the lawsuits filed against the Sudanese government over the attack on USS Cole may be one of the issues raised in the bilateral talks as the families of the Cole sailors sued Sudan and courts condemned Khartoum to pay over 300 million dollars for them.

(ST)

February 16, 2018 (NYALA) - Head of the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) South Sector office Berhanemeskel Nega said security and stability are the top priority of the Mission in Darfur.

On Friday, a meeting including the government of South Darfur, UNAMID and a number of United Nations agencies was held in Nyala to form a joint committee to develop an integrated plan to tackle issues of voluntary return, peace, security and stability.

During the meeting, Nega pointed to the need to coordinate efforts and develop the plan, saying it is a crucial move toward achieving peace and stability in Darfur.

He added the plan would also assist to deliver services to the voluntary return areas before the arrival of the IDPs.

“We would work with the government and the UN within the framework of stability and development and our efforts would focus on developing a practical plan according to specific timings,” he said

Nega said the Mission's focus is now on peacebuilding and stability in Darfur in general and peacekeeping in Jebel Marra, calling to include leaders of the IDPs and native administration in the joint committee.

In June 2017, the UN Security Council extended the UNAMID mandate for another year and redefined its mandate to play a double role.

In Jebel Marra, the force has to continue to protect civilians and ensure the delivery of emergency relief. In the other areas of Darfur, the mission has to focus on stabilising the situation.

For his part, South Darfur's police director Balla Mohamed al-Hussein called to provide the police with temporary caravans until an integrated plan was completed.

On the other hand, the director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF

) called to update South Darfur's 2016 plan with the participation of the aid groups.

The director of the World Food Programme (WFP), for his part, expressed readiness to support the plan in areas of voluntary return, education and livelihood.

(ST)

February 16, 2018 (JUBA) - The Troika countries Friday urged the parties to the IGAD-mediated High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) to do more on the outstanding security and governance arrangements in order to reach a meaningful agreement.

The High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) at the African Union Hall, Addis Ababa (Getty)

The Ethiopian-led mediation team decided to suspend the second phase of the revitalization process and pledged to reconvene the discussions within two or three weeks according to the Ethiopian News Agency.

“Our common endeavour in consultations must continue so as to maintain the momentum.” said the Ethiopian state minister of foreign affairs Hirut Zemene who was speaking to reporters on behalf of the chairperson of IGAD council of ministers.

For their part, the Troika welcomed the parties' constructive efforts to conclude a deal but stressed that more concessions are needed to make sustainable progress towards peace

"The Troika calls on all parties to reconvene as soon as possible, without preconditions, to address the important security and governance arrangements that are essential for peace," said a statement released by the three facilitators of the process after the suspension of the talks.

In return, they advised the parties to set as priorities the separation of powers, dispute resolution and reconciliation mechanisms, service delivery, and accountability.

"We call on the parties to develop practical security arrangements that end violence and build confidence, and set out a realistic path to broader security sector reform," stressed the joint statement of issued by the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Norway.

The South Sudanese government on Thursday rejected a proposal calling to establish a collegial leadership body including four vice-presidents led by President Salva Kiir. Also, the opposition groups called the removal of President Kiir during the transitional period saying he hinders the implementation of the peace agreement.

With the failure of the parties to reach a deal on a permanent ceasefire and transitional security arrangements, the mediators strongly advised the parties to review their positions and come up with ideas to close the prevailing gaps.

Also, the Troika, which includes two permanent members of the UN Security Council urged the parties to honour their pledge to not resume the fighting and to observe the cessation of hostilities agreement reached last December.

"We take note and support the intention by IGAD and the African Union to identify and impose consequences on those undermining peace as soon as possible and we stand ready to support them in their efforts," they further said.

The peace guarantors further recalled the need to release the political prisoners and prisoners of war saying this measure is part of the signed cessation of hostilities agreement.

"The parties must also allow unfettered access for Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) monitors and for humanitarian assistance and aid workers responding to Africa's worst humanitarian crisis" it added.

(ST)

February 16, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Popular Congress Party (PCP) has called on President Omer al-Bashir to release 411 protesters who were detained during the recent demonstrations against austerity measures.

Since the release of the 2018 budget last month, peaceful protests erupted in a number of Sudanese states leading to the killing of a high school student in West Darfur State and detention of hundreds of opposition activists across the country.

In a press release seen by Sudan Tribune, PCP political secretary Al-Amin Abdel-Raziq has demanded President al-Bashir to interfere to release all political detainees.

He also appealed to the newly appointed director of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Salah Abdallah (aka Gosh) to start his era by emptying the prisons of all detainees.

Abdel-Raziq on Thursday visited the member of the Central Committee of the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) Siddig Youssef who was recently released after spending three weeks in detention.

The PCP official demanded Gosh to widen the margin of freedoms and allow political parties to exercise their political, constitutional and legal rights.

He added the PCP agreed with the National Consensus Government, President al-Bashir and the Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Salih to implement the outcome of the national dialogue conference.

Abdel-Razig further said the release of detainees is a political right for them and for all Sudanese according to the constitution and outcome of the national dialogue.

“The PCP renews the call for the release of the remaining 411 detainees particularly the sick and women,” he added

The PCP, founded by the late Islamic leader Hassan al-Turabi, splinted from the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) since 1999 and joined the opposition ranks since that time but it supported the national dialogue process declared by al-Bashir in 2014 and participated in all its forums.

Following a heated internal debate over participation in the National Consensus Government which was formed in August 2017, the PCP took part in the executive and legislative branches of the post-dialogue government.

(ST)

February 16, 2018 (JUBA) - Peace talks between South Sudanese warring parties have been suspended on Friday after 11 days of discussions on the security and constitutional and governance matters without tangible progress.

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

The parties shall reconvene after a short recess may be within a week as the mediation will prepare a new paper based on the different positions expressed on the different matters discussed during the second round of talks from 5 to 16 February.

In its position paper, the opposition groups demanded exclusion of President Salva Kiir from the transitional government, casting doubts on his commitment to the implementation of the signed agreement.

“President shall not lead the transitional government because of his successive violation of ARCSS (Agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the Republic of South Sudan) and its eventual abrogation” announced the group, according to the position paper seen by Sudan Tribune.

The nine groups announced the demand which remains unclear how the mediation team would handle what government delegation described as a “non-starter”.

Despite all these demands, the Ethiopian State Minister of Foreign Affairs Hirut Zemene praised the positive spirit demonstrated during the past 11 days and expressed hope it would continue in the next session.

"A permanent ceasefire and transitional security arrangement are needed to find a common ground for the finalization of a comprehensive agreement at the next phase of peace talks," Zemene added.

She pointed that the recess time should be used to overcome the outstanding issues to reach a lasting peace agreement.

However, Juba rejected the demand of opposition groups to evict President Kiir from power in the transitional period.

“They are just wasting their time and resources. That demand is a non-starter. They should not have thought of it if they did not intend to waste time and resources”, a presidential adviser on decentralization affairs and intergovernmental linkage told Sudan Tribune on Friday when reached to comment on the new development from the venue of the peace talks.

Tor Deng Mawien said government delegation went to adds Ababa, Ethiopia to participate in the revitalization of the peace agreement and not a new negotiation to decide on the leadership formation.

“Our delegation went to participate in the revitalization forum which was the agenda. It was not renegotiation. The revitalization does not mean renegotiation. What people are hearing is total nonsense. People are things which have nothing to do with revitalization,” said the angry presidential aide on Friday.

The 2015 peace agreement which the regional bloc is trying to revitalize recognize Salva Kiir the head of the government with Riek Machar as the first vice president but clashes at the presidential palace in July 2016 introduced new arrangement.

Taban Deng Gai, following the clashes which forced Machar to flee Juba, was hurriedly appointed as a new replacement, despite opposition rejection of the process.

The new IGAD proposal suggests the government takes 50% of the transitional government, while the other opposition groups would have 49%. There would be a President with four Vice Presidents overseeing clusters concerning Governance, the Economy, Infrastructure and one Vice President overseeing the Human Development and Social services cluster.

The Transitional National Legislative Assembly would be restructured and reconstituted to a house of 400 members including members from the 2010 southern Sudan, two former detainees while the balance of the members shall comprise of the incumbent representing – 55% and the opposition taking 45%.

The committee has also recommended for establishment of the security sector. The proposal is subject to amendment, changes, acceptance and rejection

(ST)

February 2, 2018 (WASHINGTON) - The United States is reportedly set to announce an arms embargo against South Sudan on Friday, a week after its ambassador to the United Nations made a similar call.

Arms and light weapons have been used by both warring parties in South Sudan to commit abuses (Photo courtesy of SSANSA)

Sources, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the US State Department is due to make the announcement on Friday morning.

Last month, the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley called for an arms embargo on South Sudan after its warring parties failed to honour a ceasefire agreement signed late last year in Addis Ababa.

Addressing the United Nations Security Council on 24 January, Haley criticized the President Salva Kiir-led Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) of failing to lead efforts to end the civil war.

“The time has come to acknowledge the hard reality – that the leaders of South Sudan are not just failing their people, they are betraying them,” Haley told the 15-member Security Council.

"I urge my fellow Council members to support an arms embargo. This isn't punishment. Nor is it a meaningless gesture. It is something we can do to actually help the people of South Sudan – to slow the violence, slow the flow of arms and ammunition, and protect innocent lives," she added.

In December 2016, the Barrack Obama administration attempted to convince the UN to back an arms embargo against South Sudan.

However, while there is no US weapons trade to South Sudan, arms continue to flow into the young nation through neighboring states from countries in Eastern Europe, a source told Reuters on Friday.

In March last year, a UN panel of experts called for an arms embargo on South Sudan after it emerged that its government was spending oil revenue on weapons as its citizens faced starvation.

The call was, however, opposed by China and Russia, insisting regional nations must play a key role in resolving South Sudan's war.

South Sudan descended into war in mid-December 2013 when Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup. The conflict has forced more than two million people to flee their homes.

(ST)

February 1, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - With the establishment of a new base for Darfur peacekeepers in Golo, Amnesty International has called Thursday to give them unfettered access to protect civilians in Jebel Marra.

The international rights group praised the signing of an agreement to open a Temporary Operating Base (TOB) in Golo, Jebel Marra, in the context of UNAMID's reconfiguration with a special focus on the mountainous area to protect civilians due to the presence of non-signatory armed group and government militiamen in the area.

"This long-overdue agreement between UNAMID and the Sudanese authorities is a positive first step towards protecting the people of Darfur against further violations by the armed forces and their allied militias," said Amnesty.

"However, the Sudanese government must ensure that UNAMID peacekeepers are guaranteed unfettered access across all of Jebel Marra to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid once the base is operational," it added.

The human rights group pointed to the government campaign in Jebel Marra against the Sudan Liberation Movement Abdel-Wahid in 2016 saying civilians suffered "the unimaginable horror" by the government troops and militias.

“UNAMID must use this opportunity to publicly report on all allegations of crimes under international law and human rights violations committed by any party to the conflict in Darfur, especially in the Jebel Marra area,” said the statement.

In September 2016, Amnesty International accused the government of carrying out 30 chemical weapons attacks in the Jebel Marra. "These brutal attacks left an estimated 200 to 250 people dead and scores more with horrific injuries," the group said.

Despite the government denial and the right groups maintains it has "credible evidence of the shocking use of what are believed to be chemical weapons, against civilians", but the matter remains without investigation.

(ST)

February 1, 2018 (JUBA) – National staffs of Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) South Sudan have vowed to continue with their strike as they demand increase in salaries as well as better working conditions.

An external view of KCB Buluk branch in Juba, South Sudan. Dec. 7, 2011 (ST)

The chairman of the national staff association, Paul Ajok Garang said the demand has been driven by rise of commodity prices in markets.

The Kenyan-based bank employs more than 200 national staffs.

“After this unfruitful dialogue, we the association body later resolved to continue with the strike since their dialogue with the bank's management has been unsuccessful,” Garang told Sudan Tribune.

“We are still on strike, we had a big assembly yesterday and the strike is still ongoing. We have not agreed on anything,” he added.

The staff demand follows the devaluation of the country's currency.

“We are demanding for our rights because the standard of living in Juba is becoming costly, and our children are not studying and we cannot continue with life this way” Garang said.

“We want the management of KCB bank to look in to our issue so that they give us commensurate payment so that we continue to support our families,” he added.
A few local staffs and mainly foreign workers could be seen working at the bank's headquarters in Buluk when Sudan Tribune visited it.

The management of the bank could not immediately comment on the matter.

In February, 2016, KCB employees laid down their tools demanding a pay increment of 600% in line with the local currency devaluation.

The bank has operated South Sudan since 2006, with its branches initially spread all over the young nation. Last year, KCB closed down many of its branches, citing economic hardships due to the ongoing conflict.

(ST)

February 1, 2018 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations Security Council said it remains concerned by the by the presence of 2.7 Sudanese displaced in displacement camps in Darfur region and called on the conflict parties to create a conducive environment for their return to areas of origin.

In a presidential statement issued on Wednesday, the 15-member body welcomed the improvements in the security situation, "the ongoing absence of armed clashes" between government forces and the armed groups, and the extension of unilateral cessations of hostilities by both sides.

It also praised the humanitarian throughout Darfur and the return from Chad and the Central African Republic of more than 5,000 refugees in recent months.

However, “The Security Council reiterates its demand that all parties to the conflict in Darfur create the conditions conducive to allowing the voluntary, informed, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons,” further said a Presidential Statement on Wednesday.

The Council also underlined that improvements in the security situation have not translated into a "commensurate reduction" in the level of human rights violations and abuses, such as sexual and gender-based violence, and serious violations against children, perpetrated with impunity.

The UN body reiterated its support for the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) as a viable framework for the peace process, urged the implementation of the Land Act and provisions related to compensation and the creation of a conducive environment enabling the return of IDPs and refugees.

Regarding the armed group, the presidential statement "demands that the non-signatory armed movements refrain from impeding the implementation of the DDPD and encourages UNAMID and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) to continue to engage fully in support of the implementation of the DDPD".

Furthermore, the Council pointed to the African Union roadmap and urged all parties to "make immediate progress on the implementation of the Roadmap, including the signing of a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian assistance agreements (...), and further urges the non-signatory armed groups to sign it without delay".

Referring to the recent reduction of the peacekeeping troops deployed in Darfur, the statement said it was “still too early to reach conclusions on the full impact of the hybrid mission's reconfiguration.

With phase two of UNAMID's reconfiguration due to begin on 31 January, the Council said it supported a recommendation by the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the Secretary-General for a review – prior to the renewal of UNAMID's mandate in June – that would consider a new mission concept with adjusted priorities reflective of trends and the situation on the ground.

(ST)

February 1, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested more leading opposition members following a series of protest during last January against the rising prices, said a statement issued by the Opposition Forces released on Thursday evening.

During the day, NISS arrested Fadlallah Burma Nasser, deputy head of the National Umma Party (NUP), and Saleh Mahmoud, a member of the Central Committee of the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP), said the statement.

At about 9:30 pm on Thursday, February 1, 2018, a force of the security forces raided a meeting of leaders of the opposition forces in Almanshia neighbourhood, Khartoum and arrested the head of the National Alliance Party Kamal Ismail, the secretary-general of the Republican Party, Asma Mahmoud Mohammed Taha, and the lawyer Mohammed Al-Hafiz, further said the statement.

"Another NISS force at the same time arrested the spokesperson for the Sudan Call Forces, Mohammed Farouk, at his home," added the opposition coalition against austerity measures, describing their arrest "as a punishment for peaceful protests against hunger".

Opposition sources say the different political parties intend to elaborate a comprehensive plan to increase the popular mobilization and to extend it to other areas.

Observers in Khartoum say the opposition is encouraged by the relative good mobilization in the demonstration of 31 January protest in Khartoum North in comparison with the two previous protest of 16 and 17 January.

Earlier last January, the NISS arrested the leader of the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP), SCP Political Secretary Mohamed Mukhtar al-Khatib, NUP Secretary General Sara Nugdalla and two NUP leading members Ibrahim al-Amin and Mohamed Aldoma.

Different sources in Khartoum said the SCoP former leader Ibrahim al-Sheikh actually was not arrested but the security service ignores his whereabouts. They add the NISS arrested his daughters to interrogate them about their father.

(ST)

February 1, 2018 (JUBA) - The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) Deputy Chairperson, Lt. General Augostino Njoroge has called on the business community in South Sudan to take on their critical role of being key drivers in the growth of the economy and in the quest for peace in the country.

Government officials, church leaders, students, businessmen in Yambio town in South Sudan's Western Equatoria state protest against the occupation of Abyei by Sudan's northern army on Monday. May 23, 2011 (ST)

He made the remarks at the closing of a two-day workshop on the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) organized by JMEC and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Juba on Wednesday.

“I cannot over-emphasize the critical role that the business community have played and continues to play in driving sustained growth within South Sudan”, said Njoroge.

“As the country emerges from conflict, you will find yourselves being called upon to improve and widen that role as you create job opportunities, broaden trade, and contribute to the overall economic well being of the population”, he added.

The two-day workshop that had 80 participants drawn from different businesses and companies in Juba, was a presentation of the various chapters of the ARCSS.

Njoroge said the discussions held over the two days would enable the participants to find out ways and opportunities in which they can engage in a more inclusive and participatory way in the implementation of the peace agreement going forward.

“I am confident that you appreciate the modest progress that has been made, the huge challenges that we continue to face together, and what you as representatives of the business community can do better to support the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), JMEC, and all other institutions and mechanisms to deliver on their mandate”, he stressed.

The JMEC official further encouraged the participants to view their roles as not simply to generate economic activities within the country but also to help in sensitizing the people on the dire need for peace and good governance.

“It is my hope that you will use the knowledge you have acquired during this workshop to build a strong, independent, business sector that will be a strong voice in persuading the parties to the Agreement to honor their commitments and fully implement the Peace Agreement”, he emphasised.

(ST)

February 1, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government and the SPLM-N led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu Thursday handed over their proposals on an agreement to end the fighting in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile States.

Mbeki speaks to participants at the inaugral session of Strategic Consultations Meeting in Addis Ababa on 18 March 2016 (AUHIP Photo)

The two delegations resumed talks for a cessation of hostilities agreement in the Two Areas for the first time since 16 months when they failed to sign a humanitarian cessation of hostilities agreement in August 2016. The SPLM-N delegation, at the time, demanded that 20 % of the emergency relief be delivered directly to the rebel-controlled areas from Ethiopia.

This time, the mediation delinked between the truce and the humanitarian assistance. This round of talks is only about the end of hostilities.

According to the official news agency SUNA, the chief mediator and head of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki received the proposal of the two parties.

On Friday, the mediation will present a draft agreement to the parties based on their proposal and they will start discussions on the basis of their initial positions.

The government delegation spokesperson Hassan Hamid said Mbeki told the two parties the mediation would study the two proposals and would present a harmonized one at a meeting to start at 10 am on Friday.

The Sudanese government officials have emphasised that this 14 round of talks would begin from where the talks had stopped during the past round. They added the discussions this time should focus on the remaining 15% of the agenda as they had agreed on 85%.

Sources close to the talks in Addis Ababa said the government in its paper spoke about a cessation of hostilities paving the way for a comprehensive ceasefire agreement.

Several observers at the venue of the talks said they remain optimistic on the signing of an agreement.

The mediation excluded the SPLM-N Agar from the talks on the cessation of hostilities saying only al-Hilu faction controls the rebel areas in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

(ST)

February 1, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) led by Minni Minnawi has dispatched a delegation to Addis Ababa to meet the SPLM-N al-Hilu over political coordination between the opposition groups.

Delegations from the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N al-Hilu have started Thursday a two-day meeting on a cessation of hostilities agreement.

The SRF sent a delegation including, Ahmed Tugud, JEM chief negotiator, Noreldaem Taha, a leading figure in the SLM-MM and Eltom Hajo of the Democratic Unionist Party- Revolutionary faction.

Reached by Sudan Tribune, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader Gibril Ibrahim confirmed the arrival of the SRF delegation saying their delegation has been tasked with meeting al-Hilu to discuss with him three issues.

"We want to know the position of the SPLM-N from the Two-Track process. Secondly, we seek a clarification on its position from the Sudanese Revolutionary Front. Are they will to reunite the SRF or prefer to coordinate with us? The third point is the position of the SPLM-N al-Nilu from the Sudan Call alliance," he said.

The opposition groups called on the SPLM-N al-Hilu to join them in the Sudan Call alliance at least to, hoping that their unity would consolidate their position in the talks with the Sudanese government for a comprehensive peace and constitutional reforms.

In a meeting held with Sudan Call forces in Khartoum on 2 September 2017, the SPLM-N al-Hilu said committed to the Sudan Call alliance which gathers all the armed groups and the political opposition forces committed to the African Union process.

But in fact the group it remains without contact or consultations with them.

Gibril said the delegation would meet also with the international special envoys present at the venue of the peace talks to explain why they declined to take part in the consultations meeting with the mediation.

The Sudanese opposition groups asked the mediation to postpone to a later date a consultations meeting on the fate of a roadmap for peace in Sudan signed in August 2016.

They further called on the mediation to pressure the government to release Omer al-Digair on the Sudan Call leaders and chairman of the Sudanese Congress Party.

(ST)

February 1, 2018 (NAIROBI) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, and the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock have launched a funding appeal for $1.5 billion to support refugees fleeing the worsening humanitarian situation in South Sudan and for $1.7 billion for its people in need during 2018.

South Sudanese refugees in Gambela, Ethiopia (Photo: South Sudan Consul, Gambela)

The appeal was jointly launched on Thursday in Nairobi, Kenya.

Nearly 2.5 million South Sudanese, the UN said, have fled the country into Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic since conflict broke out in December 2013.

Conflict and insecurity, it says, has also forcibly displaced 1 in 3 of the country's population, either within South Sudan or across its borders.

Inside the country, 7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. The number of refugees is projected to cross the 3 million mark by the end of this year, making South Sudan Africa's largest refugee crises since the Rwanda genocide.

“The human cost of the South Sudan conflict has reached epic proportions,” said Grandi.

“If the war doesn't stop, refugee numbers will rise from 2.5 to three million in 2018. The conflict is purging South Sudan of the people who should be the greatest resource of a young nation. They should be building the country, not fleeing it. For as long as the people of South Sudan await peace, the world must come to their aid,” he added.

Uganda, the largest host with over a million refugees, could end up hosting a further quarter million refugees more, UN estimates show.

According to the world body, nearly 90% of the forcibly people displaced are women and children and nearly 65% are under 18. Women have reported rape and other forms of violence, the killing of their husbands, and the abduction of children during flight.

“The conflict in South Sudan has taken a brutal and deadly toll. Many millions have fled in fear for their lives. They now require our support,” said Lowcock.

“It is in the interest of everyone to continue to provide generous and continuous support to people affected by the crisis inside and outside the country,” he added.

Despite this, funding for the South Sudan refugee crisis remains dismally low, with only 33% of the required funds reportedly sourced last year. The humanitarian response plan for 2017 was 73% funded, allowing the UN and its partners to about reach 5.4 million people

(ST)

January 31, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese security service arrested the daughters of the former leader of the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) Ibrahim al-Sheikh and a number of his relatives on Wednesday, the opposition party said.

The SCoP's information secretariat said the arrest occurred when the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) agents stormed a house belonging to a relative of al-Sheikh in Alsafia neighbourhood, Khartoum North.

The NISS agents "arrested his daughters Shaima and Isra Ibrahim Sheikh, and his relatives Abeir al-Sheikh Abdel-Gadir, Suheir Ali Daifallah and Ahmed Abdel-Rahim Abdallah, and took them to an unknown place," reads a statement released on Wednesday evening.

The opposition SCoP organised Wednesday the third protest against the rising prices in Khartoum North after two protests respectively organised by the Sudanese Communist Party and the National Umma Party in Khartoum and Omdurman on 16 and 17 January.

Several SCoP leadership members including Ibrahim al-Sheikh and its leader Omer al-Digair have been arrested when the government doubled the price of bread and before the first organised on 16 January.

The party stressed that it would not back down from the "fight against injustice and corruption" and urged the Sudanese to continue the protests to "liberate every inch of our homeland from this ruling gang".

The opposition parties declined to take part in a consultations meeting with the African Union mediation on 3 and 4 February to discuss the fate of a roadmap for peace and democratic reform in Sudan.

(ST)

January 31, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan's armed opposition faction has accused government forces of planning to attack their positions around Pagak, a former rebel stronghold and its surrounding areas.

Rebel fighters hold their weapons as they march through a village in rebel-controlled territory in South Sudan's Upper Nile state on 9 February 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

The plan, a rebel spokesperson said, comes in the wake of the arrival into the state of Maiwut governor, Bol Ruach Rom on Wednesday.

A rebel's deputy spokesperson, Lam Paul Gabriel claimed Governor Rom, his cabinet ministers, commissioners and other senior military officials have mobilized forces for possible attacks on their positions.

“A confidential source in Juba confirmed that more reinforcements are underway from Juba with the aim of escorting the commissioners of their counties. It should be noticed that the regime's troops are only in Pagak,” Lam said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

The armed opposition forces, he said, are currently stationed at weigh station, less than a mile away from Pagak town, while the entire Adar state is allegedly under the full control of the rebels.

“Any confrontation arising from this provocation should be blamed on the regime forces,” warmed Lam.

Meanwhile, the armed opposition official called on the ceasefire monitoring body (CTSAMM) to monitor and investigate the movement and possible clashes likely to occur in Adar state.

“The SPLA-IO forces around Pagak are being directed to be alert and ready to defend themselves and the civilians from the regime's anti-peace campaign aimed at derailing the upcoming peace process,” further said Lam.

South Sudan's warring parties are due to resume the peace revitalization process, but both sides are competing for territorial gains prior to the negotiations to end the civil war.

(ST)

January 31, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan's Communication Authority says plans are underway to implement a 5% increase on telecommunication services across the country.

One of South Sudan's largest mobile phone network providers - Zain (ST)

The director general at the authority, Ladu Wani, said the move follows the enactment of the Financial Act of 2017/2018 which recently raised excise duties or sales' tax from 10 to 15%

The new changes, he said, will come into effect from 1 February, 2018.

Wani defended the new changes, saying they were being undertaken on behalf of the government.

“When you are calling with one pound, out of that one pound, you have got 10 piasters that goes to the Ministry of Finance. So now instead of 10 piasters it is going to be 15 piasters”, explained Wani.

He added, “This is the normal procedure everywhere in the world”.

The authority also introduced air transport services, which were reduced from 20% to 15% and insurance charges increased from 5% to 7%.

(ST)

January 31, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The European Union (EU) ambassadors in Khartoum have expressed deep concerns over the continued detention of Sudan's opposition leaders and rights activists demanding their immediate release.

Following peaceful protests against price hikes earlier this month, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has detained dozens of opposition leaders and activists.

Those detained include the political secretary of the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) Mohamed Mukhtar al-Khatib besides members of the SCP Central Committee, Siddig Youssef and Sidqi Kabalo and the chairman of the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) Omer al-Digair.

The NISS also detained the secretary general of the National Umma Party (NUP) Sarrah Nugd Allah as well as two of the party's deputy chairman, Mohamed Abdallah al-Douma and Ibrahim al-Amin.

“The Ambassadors of the resident EU Embassies in Sudan are very concerned by the prolonged detention without charge or trial of a large number of political leaders, human rights activists and other citizens, and by the repeated seizures of national newspapers,” said the EU mission in Khartoum in a press release on Wednesday

The EU Ambassadors called on the Sudanese government to release “all these detainees as soon as possible, to ensure they are not mistreated and to respect the right of Sudanese people to peaceful freedom of expression and association, including freedom of the media”

“We condemn the violence used against peaceful protest and continue to encourage those exercising their fundamental rights to do so peacefully” read the press release

Opposition sources estimate that more than 170 activists have been detained during the protests over the rising cost of living and commodity price.

The EU Ambassadors further stressed commitment to “a stable, democratic and prosperous future for Sudan, for the benefit of its people”.

(ST)

January 31, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese riot police on Wednesday used tear gas and batons to disperse large protests against price hikes and deteriorating living conditions at several areas in Khartoum North.

Since the release of the 2018 budget last month, peaceful protests erupted in a number of Sudanese states leading to the killing of a high school student in West Darfur State and detention of dozens of opposition activists across the country.

The opposition forces on Tuesday called its supporters and the Sudanese people to take to streets and join what they called the “Salvation March” on Wednesday to protests against the recent economic measures.

However, police and security forces since early Wednesday morning cordoned off streets and alleys leading up to the gathering square at Al-Sha'abia neighbourhood in Khartoum North.

Despite the strict security measures, hundreds of demonstrators gathered at a number of areas and marched along the major streets chanting “No, no to high prices, No to the government of hunger” and “Peaceful, Peaceful against the thieves”.

The police and security services attacked the protesters violently using tear gas and batons.

According to opposition sources, more than 10 activists including the member of the Sudanese Communist Party's Central Committee Amal Jabr Allah have been detained.

Meanwhile, videos and pictures circulating on social media have shown similar protests in the cities of Medani and Singa, Gazira State and Zalingie, capital of Central Darfur State.

To quell anti-austerity protests in Khartoum, Sudanese security forces in September 2013 carried out a brutal crackdown on the peaceful demonstration, killing nearly two hundred protesters say human rights groups or 86 people according to government figures.

Opposition forces attribute the deteriorating living condition and economic meltdown to corruption, lack of production policies, and lack of economic reform vision following the secession of South Sudan.

Sudan lost 75% of its oil reserves after the southern part of the country became an independent nation in July 2011, denying the north billions of dollars in revenues. Oil revenue constituted more than half of Sudan's revenue and 90% of its exports.

(ST)