Sudan Tribune

December 6, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The government of South Darfur State and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) have discussed the planning of IDPs camps to accommodate residents who expressed a desire to settle permanently starting early next year.

Women wait to cast their vote at a polling station at the Abu Shouq camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in El-Fasher, in North Darfur on April 11, 2016 (Photo AFP)

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) has quoted the South Darfur acting governor Sabeel Ahmed Sabeel as saying the meeting between OCHA and his government discussed plans to transform the camps into residential areas for the IDPs who don't wish to return to their original villages.

He pointed out that all arrangements have been made to plan the camps for resettlement of IDPs, saying the relevant UN agencies and the national organizations would be genuine partners in implementing the planning of the residential towns.

Sabeel added his government has carried out the initial surveys on Attash, Diraig, Sereif and al-Salam camps, saying these camps are now ready for planning according to the desire of the IDPs.

He added the voluntary return coordination mechanism, which has been formed and is awaiting approval by the Legislative Council, would be responsible for overseeing all voluntary return matters and requirements.

The government seeks to dismantle IDPs camps that have been established in areas around the capitals of Darfur's five states since the eruption of the armed conflict in the region.

Since the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur in July 2011, the government constructed several villages and vowed to support IDPs who return to their home areas.

However, the displaced complain that the security situation remains the same pointing to the government militia saying they continue to attack them and grab their land.

UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in Darfur conflict since 2003, and over 2.5 million are displaced.

(ST)

December 6, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A United Arab Emirates (UAE) warship on Wednesday has arrived at Port Sudan naval base on the Red Sea to participate in the first joint military exercise between the two countries.

Dubbed “Coasts Heroes 1”, the exercise is the first of its kind within the framework of the military cooperation protocols between the two countries which also include training and exchange of experiences.

According to the official news agency SUNA, the Sudanese and UAE's army commanders have received the warship “Jebel Ali 5” upon arrival at the northern port of Port Sudan.

It is noteworthy that the military exercise has kicked off last Sunday at Gabait military base in the Red Sea State with the aim of strengthening military relations between the two countries.

The commander of the Coasts Heroes 1, Brigadier General Amir Youssef, had previously said the first phase of the exercise includes the theoretical work while the second phase contains the field work involving the participation of soldiers and equipment.

He added the exercise comes according to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries last May which provides to conduct the first exercise in Sudan this year and the second in the UAE in the middle of next year.

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

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

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

However, in January 2016, Sudan severed ties with Iran after an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran amid a row over the execution of a Shiite Muslim cleric.

(ST)

December 6, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan's government on Wednesday urged regional leaders involved in the revitalization forum to ensure all armed and non-armed opposition unite to end the country's nearly four-year conflict.

S. Sudan cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomoro (Photo KT Press)

The cabinet affairs minister, Martin Elia Lomuro said the coalition government is ready to participate in the revitalization forum, but stressed that it was important if the regional leaders unite the various opposition faction so that there are two views to be harmonized.

“It is the expressed view of the government that the revitalization forum should harmonize the views of the stakeholders. The views of the government are clear. They are expression of commitment to ending war and it is in this context that council of ministers made it clear during the consultation with IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] foreign ministers that it is important they unite the opposition so that they also have clear views,” Lomuro said Wednesday.

He further added, “If the views are clear, then it will be possible to talk and narrow down positions and it would be easy to harmonise. And that will be the only way to end this [war] situation”.

According to the minister, IGAD rescheduled the launch of the high-level revitalization forum to 15 December in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

In June, a summit of IGAD heads of state and government decided to convene a meeting of the signatories of the South Sudan peace agreement to discuss ways to revitalize the peace implementation. During the June summit, it was agreed that all groups be included in the discussion aimed at restoring a permanent ceasefire.

IGAD unveiled the timetable for the revitalization forum with South Sudanese leaders and the citizens, which ended on 17 October.

The South Sudanese government earlier warned that the revitalization forum by the regional bloc, which mediated the 2015 peace deal, should not be another platform for negotiations of the peace accord between the two factions to the conflict.

Over a million people have fled South Sudan since conflict erupted in December 2013 when President Kiir sacked Machar from the vice-presidency. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced in South Sudan's worst violence since it seceded from Sudan in July 2011.

(ST)

December 5, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan is set to reinstate its power transmission system to light up the capital, Juba, an official said Tuesday.

Kapoeta power plant. Eastern Equatoria, South Sudan. Feb 4, 2011 (ST)

The minister of dams and electricity, Dhieu Mathok said power transmitted by South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC) is to be revived.

"We are planning to test the electricity operation network on Dec. 16-17, and if things go well automatically we are going to operate the machines by Dec. 23," Mathok told reporters on Tuesday.

Plans, he said, are also underway to introduce prepaid connections and meters to enable SSEC maintain and stabilize supply of power.

"We have adjusted the power tariff, examined the tariff and found out that it was one of the reasons the power supply collapsed. We have revised the tariff to be in uniform within the region like Uganda, Kenya [and] Ethiopia," said Mathok.

According to the minister, they will cut fuel costs as the consumption will drop from 6 million liters to 2 million liters of fuel, a move that will save about 4 million liters of fuel for operating generators daily.

He further said that more electricity supply needed to light up Juba and other parts of the young nation will be boosted by the ongoing construction of new power plant along the River Nile worth 100 Mega Watts that is expected to conclude by August next year.

In October, South Sudan and neighbouring Uganda reached an understanding in an agreement that will see Kampala extend electricity to South Sudan's border towns of Kaya and Nimule. The deal is in line with the East Africa Community Power Pool Agreement that calls on all member states to connect electricity to each other.

South Sudan, according to the electricity minister, has the lowest electricity consumption per capita in Sub-Saharan Africa compared to Uganda's current electricity consumption of about 900MW.

However, as of March 2017, Uganda was reportedly exporting 51.1 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Kenya, 14.94MW to Tanzania and 0.27MW to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Also, besides Karuma (600MW) and Isimba (183MW), the landlocked East African country reportedly boasts of many other mini-hydropower plants, which are expected to add between 100MW and 200MW to the national grid.

South Sudan, statistics from African Development Bank (AfDB) show, has the lowest per capita electricity consumption in Africa, with a per capita consumption of between 1 to 3 kWh, compared to an average in Sub-Saharan Africa of 80 kWh. This is reportedly due partly to the underdeveloped energy infrastructure in the young nation, which has been severely impacted by decades of conflict.

According to a 2013 data, only 1% of South Sudan reportedly has access to grid electricity, due to the low level of power generation and the insufficient distribution network. Also, only 4% of urban areas are reportedly connected to power, but these areas are subject to load shedding and forced power outages.

(ST)

December 5, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The British Ambassador to Sudan Michael Aron reportedly has pledged to work for a joint diplomatic action to support four Sudanese newspapers seized by the Sudanese security service for more than a week on daily basis.

British Ambassador to Sudan Michael Aron (Reuters Photo)

Aron on Tuesday met with the editors in chief of Al-Tayyar, Akhir Lahza, Al-Jarida, and Al-Watan as the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) confiscated the printed runs of the four dailies for the eighth day.

On Monday, the four journalists reached out the Prime Minister's Office, the Parliament, the NISS headquarters, the Union and the Press and Publications Council, a government body, to protest against the unjustified seizures of newspapers.

Sources close to the meeting told Sudan Tribune that the British ambassador sought to understand the reason behind the 8-day seizure who is behind the decision, the NISS or a political official. Also, he wondered if the confiscation would continue or would be stopped.

The sources further said Aron promised to discuss the matter with the ambassadors of the European Union and the United States to consider issuing a statement on this respect.

The same sources confirmed that the ambassador promised to discuss the issue with the ambassadors of the European Union and the United States, and expected a statement in this regard.

The British ambassador promised to register visits to the damaged newspaper headquarters after Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour returned from a planned visit to London.

The confiscation of the printed edition is feared by the newspapers because it means a significant loss of money and affects their fragile economic conditions.

However, the media department of the NISS on Tuesday evening reached the editors-in-chief of the affected dailies and reassured them that they would not be confiscated, according to several sources.

The Sudanese government vowed to respect press freedom in line with the National Document endorsed by the National Dialogue Conference last year. But this recommendation and others related to religious freedom are not yet implemented.

(ST)

South Sudan's former deputy finance minister, Mou Ambrose Riiny Thiik (courtesy photo)

December 5, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan still owes neighbouring Sudan, from which it seceded in July 2011, up to $1.3 billion as part of a 2012 deal both nations inked to end their disputes over oil matters.

The South Sudanese ex-deputy finance minister, Mou Ambrose Thiik told Reuters prior to his removal from the ministerial post on Friday last week that the figure was equivalent to eight years worth of oil revenues for South Sudan.

South Sudan got the lion's share of the oil when it split from Sudan in 2011, but it's only export route is through Sudan, giving Khartoum leverage and leading to ongoing pricing disputes.

Since its independence, however, South Sudan has relied on oil for all incomes, a situation that has significantly compounded ongoing political and economic instability due to the fall in crude oil prices.

In 2012, South Sudan halted its oil production after it failed to agree with Sudan on payment for pipelines to export crude from its oilfields.

But after series of negotiations, South Sudan agreed to pay $3 billion to Khartoum following an agreement both countries signed in 2012.

South Sudan, according to the former deputy finance minister still owes Khartoum $1.3 billion of the amount agreed upon in 2012.

Meanwhile, South Sudan said on Monday that it hopes to reap from the global rise in oil prices to uplift an economy weakened by nearly four years of civil war that led to a halt in the nation's oil production.

"The oil market is appreciating now very well the oil price is going up its 65 dollars a barrel and yet in South Sudan, it's something we need to celebrate because our economy is driven by oil. We are going very well in the oil industry," Petroleum minister, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuot told reporters in the capital, Juba.

According to the Petroleum minister, members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), as well as non-OPEC states, have agreed to continue with the oil control to stabilize the market.

Gatkuoth, however, admitted that oil production declined due to ongoing civil war, but says efforts underway to improve the output.

According to South Sudanese officials, production in the past reached as high as 350,000 bpd but fell after a dispute with Sudan over fees for pumping South Sudan's crude through Sudan's export pipeline, which led South Sudan to halt production in 2012.

War-torn South Sudan depends 98% on oil revenues to fund its annual budget.

(ST)

December 4, 2017 (JUBA) – The four Kenyans who had been imprisoned in war-torn South Sudan since 2015 have been released.

Kenyans detained in South Sudan with their ambassador in Juba (NTV photo)

Kenya's President Salva Kiir had negotiated for the release of the four from South Sudan with his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir.

On 29 March, 2015, the four Kenyans working in South Sudan were arrested for alleged involvement in corruption at South Sudan's presidency, tried without lawyers and sentenced to 72 years in jail.

The four who worked at Click Technologies Limited, include Boniface Chuma, Ravi Ghaghda, Antony Keya and Anthony Mwadime.

South Sudanese authorities on Tuesday accepted to finally release the four Kenyans who are expected to return home on Wednesday.

The four Kenyans were jailed on suspicion that they conspired with others steal money from the office of the South Sudanese president.

Kenya's foreign affairs ministry launched an appeal after the families of the accused Kenyan nationals complained that the accused persons were being held in war-torn South Sudan without trial.

The families defended the four men against the accusation that they were involved in a cross-border money scam saying they were simply selling phones and computers for the South Sudanese government official said to have been the mastermind.

(ST)

December 5, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Khartoum Court of Appeals on Tuesday issued a ruling upholding the death sentence against the university student Asim Omer for the alleged killing a policeman during protests last year.

Last September, Khartoum North Criminal Court found Omer guilty of premeditated murder of a police officer and sentenced him to death by hanging.

The Khartoum Court of Appeals on Tuesday issued a ruling supporting the conviction of a 21-year-old university student and member of the opposition party.

He accused of killing an anti-riot policeman who died after a hit by a Molotov cocktail during the student protests in April 2016.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) on Tuesday has warned of carrying out the death penalty against the student.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Tuesday, the SCoP expressed confidence on his innocence, vowing to resist the court ruling until all rights to appeal have been exhausted.

The SCoP said he is facing a “political charge”, warning against serious consequences if the death sentence is executed.

“Our promise to Omer is that he will come out free and honoured against the will of the executioners who know with certainty that causing a little harm to him would ignite a far-reaching sedition,” read the statement.

(ST)

December 5, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese opposition umbrella National Consensus Forces (NCF) has announced the boycott of the 2020 general elections underscoring its commitment to overthrow the regime.

Sudanese opposition leader Farouk Abu Issa arrives at court for a hearing in his trial in Khartoum on 23 February 2015 (Photo: AFP/Ebrahim Hamid)

The leader of the rebel Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N Agar), Malik Agar, has recently called the opposition groups to consider participation in the upcoming elections

Agar call has stirred controversy among the opposition ranks as the Communist Party and the Broad National Front have rejected it while the Sudan Call alliance is expected to decide on it soon.

On the other hand, the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) welcomed Agar call, describing it as a real shift in the positions of the armed opposition regarding the peaceful transformation of power.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Tuesday, the NCF said it is going forward with executing its plans to achieve the popular uprising through the peaceful means that the Sudanese know and develop daily.

The opposition alliance stressed rejection for any calls to a political settlement that keeps in place the regime and its political and economic policies.

“At the same time, we announce our boycott of the elections which the regime and its allies are preparing to hold in 2020,” read the statement

The NCF pointed out that it is exerting every possible effort to build the broadest popular front to overthrow the regime and run the transitional period.

Meanwhile, the NCF chairman Farouq Abu Issa said his alliance wouldn't accept to participate in a new “farce” in the name of the general elections.

The opposition group calls to overthrow the regime of President Omer al-Bashir through popular uprising.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Abu Issa criticized their previous alliance with the Sudan Call, saying that alliance caused his personal illness.

However, he pointed to ongoing contacts with the Sudan Call, saying the latter notified them of their rejection to participate in the 2020 elections.

The NCF which gathers mainly centre-left and leftist parties reject to take part in the African Union-brokered process to end the war and achieve democratic reforms. It includes the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP), the Arab Ba'ath Party (ABP), Nasserite Socialist Party (NSP) and the Unified National Unionist Party (UNUP).

The Sudan Call, which is favourable to a negotiated solution, includes the National Umma Party (NUP) and rebel umbrella of Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) factions, and the Civil Society Initiative (CSI).

The NCF was a member of the Sudan Call but pulled out following their rejection of the African Union-mediated Roadmap Agreement which leads to join the national dialogue "without giving needed guarantees to meet and implement the dialogue's requirements".

(ST)

December 6, 2017 (JUBA) - The Jieng (Dinka) Council of Elders (JCE) has denied playing any negative role in the conflict, questioning rationality behind calls for its dissolution.

Ambrose Riiny Thiik, the JCE head told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that his group was not the problem but a force looking for how best the conflict in the country could be resolved without importing foreign interest in the name of regime change.

“There are people calling for the Council to be disbanded. Such voices are acting out of emotions. They are not rational. They have no basis and it is clear from the way they make the demands that they do not know what they are talking about," said Thiik.

"There is freedom of association in the constitution. So what they are saying is that the President should violate the constitution for them to come out against and start making their accusations against every person they wanted to act. This is what it means,” he further added.

The Dinka tribal body has been accused of ruling the country and taking decisions in its regular meetings aiming to ensure the tribe control over the country. They are also allegedly playing the role of arbitration body to settle the inter Dinka differences and to cement the group's cohesion.

The former chief justice said his group was working around the clock to ensure peace and stability return to the country through peaceful means, not by the use of violence to affect the change.

“The stance of the Council has always been clear. The changes others are advocating should not be through violence. The power belongs to the people of South Sudan and it is the people to decide who they want to be the president. They voted for the current president in 2010 and it is through the same process that we say in the council that people should be allowed to make their judgment again. It should be done through shortcuts for some people to get to the power. No. it is never done that way and this is what the council is very clear in the process. It is never done that way. Replacement of the government through illegal means has never been a good thing. It sets a bad precedent,” he explained.

The head of the tribal group was reacting to voices through national dialogue subcommittee which went to Uganda last month to gather views on how the conflict should be resolved. The views expressed at consultative meetings with refugees in northern Uganda had called for disbandment of the council, accusing it of having played a negative role in the eruption and continuation of the current war.

Deng Dau Malek, head of the national subcommittee for refugees said through a statement released to the public upon conclusion of the consultations with refugees that one of the demands of the refugees was the call on the government and president Salva Kiir in particular to disband the Dinka council of elders.

(ST)

By Abdirahman M Dirye

On November 13, Somaliland presidential election held peacefully; voters queued long lines in the capital Hargaysa to cast their vote for their favourite future leader, and it was a turning point for our small nation of Somaliland in limbo for decades since its inception in 1991. The elections by far was the fairest and freest election in the continent ahead of Kenya and sometimes South Africa—the North Africans had seen one or two presidents in their whole lifetime—Somaliland has chosen its fifth president and power has been transferred peacefully—the irony is that the president of Somalia Farmaajo who went to the UAE to cancel multimillion investment in Berbera seaport city to create jobs for multitudes of jobless youth aiming at the Med risky voyage, willy-nilly congratulated the nation he and his suffering people most hated after the world admired the vibrant democracy in action in full view of the entire world to see it! Somaliland is both an African and Muslim country, two characters widely believed to be inherently incompatible with democracy.
Muse's second speech disappointed the vampire vermin diaspora and his greedy backers who intended to use him as a tool for massive embezzlement as they did to the outgoing president, so far so good, he displayed the true leadership traits: aggressive, decisive, and effective. “You'll regret your votes, don't inflate your expectations on me! Sometimes I displease you” delivered Muse in front of his fans, in other words, Muse burnt bridges behind to rebuild a nation in dreams in tatters: economically devastatingly.
President-elect Muse Bihi won landslide victory of not less than 50 % of the total casted votes; it wasn't without controversy. The main opposition party Waddani called the result “widely rigged” but the ruling party responded “it's an unsubstantiated allegation!” Waddani presidential candidate following his days of silence and no-response-state, speculation what might happen to people of Somaliland if he boycotts the election outcome, had worried the people but he elaborated his stand on it “I am sacrificing my personal ambition for the sake of my nation to avoid bloodshed of my people” this historic address from a great minded leader Iro of Waddani opposition party reassuring the region of the Horn of Africa and the entire world that Somaliland at crossroad passed the last enormous challenge to face ever and will remain safe forever. This remark disappointed Somaliland's fifth column and other external arch foes awaiting a war breakout so that our girls rushed to everywhere in the world and become open game.

Iro's historic concession for the sake of his nation reminded me as a pessimist national when American senator regretted the massacred Jews in the Holocaust out of political negligence by the free world “if I could talk to Hitler, all this (the bloodbath of the Jews) could be avoided” expressed George the junior the former US president to Knesset of the Israeli parliament during his last visit to the State of Israel. Remember words matter. Imagine if Iro insisted on a rigid position about the election result regardless the harm his words can do to his people and the globalized world of which insecurity of one part affects the rest. Somalilanders walk a tightrope amidst of sleeping cells of criminality and live in fragile peace. A slip of a tongue can launch a deadly conflict but Somalilanders, unlike Somalis, know to smartly navigate the shark-infested sea safely.
The president-elect's first speech broadcasted on the national television was one of unity and reconciliation, to the election campaign polarized nation; it was a step in the right direction.

What can be expected of the president-elect?
In 2010, when the outgoing president Silanyo came office, I wrote an article about how he and his team will rule the country for the next seven years or more, much of what I said in the article proved prophetic! The massive corruption, and the mismanagement of the state contract, the nepotism and cronyism. But this time, I will try to view Muse Bihi the president-elect through democratic process as an individual who has pros and cos and politically matured with the passing time and I try to judge him fairly as much as I can with my ‘biased' eyes perhaps. Is he the man of 1994, the emotional, the sentimental at the behest of cruel statesmen who are much older or more seasoned ones than him? The answer emphatically is big NO. During the last five years, he endured power struggle and faced life tests when the president provoked him to know exactly who Muse Bihi is. His first speech in post-elections sounded very much unifying leaving no room for a doubt. “Not only Kulmiye (his ruling party) won but entire Somaliland has won). Said he. Before the elections many local politics commentators including myself thought of him as a troublemaker, vengeful who would take the country back to 1991 or even beyond when the wars were the norm. But so far so good; his conciliatory short address to the nation inspired his rivals and fans alike.

His old colleagues have high expectations in him that he'll lead the nation better than his aged predecessor victimized by his family and tribe who ruled Somaliland on his behalf using him as a rubber stamp. Muse Bihi will dismiss the vermin ministers, tackle the massive corruption the economic cancer that paralyzed the nation's economy: the ongoing looting of the nation's public purse, common theft of state money, enforce the rule of law, and fight militancy and radicalism, and form a lean government to wisely utilize the national budget, bring Buhoodle, the last remaining outpost, under Somaliland's control. In realpolitik, much of the electioneering slogans “the law is upheld” “no longer a pushover to anybody” are not fulfilled in the post-power games but will he keep his some of his promises? I really doubt if the Jeegaan dispute will arise.

Jeegaan or bi-tribal ‘holy' alliance of Habar Jeclo and Sacad Muse tit for tat or mere luck enabled Muse Bihi to secure power. Each tribe sends its candidate in every ten years. The outgoing president tested successfully with the ruling party having an icon of two hands in glove only death can depart us mood. This clannish structure, Silanyo's greatest legacy, born out of paranoia against a certain tribe will soon lose its taste and weaken the nation's resilience in the time of the enormous challenges ahead. ‘Hostile' tribe perceived by some sister clans need to build trust and love relationships extending peaceful hand to fearful smaller clans in Somaliland, heal the old wounds, and mend ties. Otherwise, Somalia's air forces and an army under buildup from Turkey and other Western countries that trains Somali cadets in and out of the country will relaunch deadly attacks against it when Somaliland is losing its highly trained ex-commandoes to unnecessary replacements.

Somaliland lacked effective leadership it had before the outgoing president fell sick therefore the socioeconomic hardships intensified immediately. During Siilanyo-led administration, the local currency lost 50% of its value against the dollar—5000 shillings during Silanyo's predecessor to 12,000 Somaliland shillings in his reign. Life toughened for millions of Somalilanders cursing the elder economist who under his leadership, life became out of the frying pan into fire. Millions of heads of camels perished in hellish famine in the East never seen before. IDPs knocked every door in Burco or elsewhere.

Will the president-elect Muse Bihi Abdi able to turn over apart from his honeyed remarks can't be harshly judged until time and space are given to him? Only time will tell but the status quo isn't sustainable because Somaliland soon or later heads into Somalia's style political disintegration unto fiefdoms and brutal sheikhdoms of midget presidents with nominal power over their claimed territories.

Dirye is a Somaliland Writer based in Hargaysa, email, mrdirye@gmail.com or twitter account @mrdirye

November 27, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese opposition said the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on Monday has arrested two opposition activists without giving reasons.

In a statement seen by Sudan Tribune, the opposition umbrella National Consensus Forces (NCF) said the NISS arrested a member of the coalition general assembly and leading figure at the Unified National Unionist Party Mohamed Abdel-Wahab.

According to the NCF, Abdel-Wahab was detained after he was summoned to the NISS office in North Khartoum, holding the security authorities responsible for his health conditions.

The opposition alliance demanded the NISS to release Abdel-Wahab immediately, saying he suffers from diabetic foot ulcers.

Meanwhile, political activists said the NISS has arrested a d member of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) Orwa al-Sadiq after he was summoned to the NISS office in Khartoum's twin city of Omdurman.

(ST)

By Steve Paterno

The IGAD mediators are already creating hurdles in their desperate attempts to revitalize South Sudan peace agreement.

First, they ran out of credible opposition leaders, hence, they have to either invent new such leaders or resuscitate the most irrelevant ones to bring them back to life. They are going just after about anyone, particularly those they find to be opposing the government and assigning them to stakeholders. It is so funny that it looks as if they are intending to conduct a referendum or some sort of a national dialogue.

Unfortunately, though, those mediators have just found out the armed militias they randomly collected hold as many divergent views among themselves than they share anything in common. Since there is no unified leader among those armed groups, the mediators attempt to hand pick a new single leader for these splinter armed groups is seriously backfiring. Each one of those warlords stands for himself. After all, it is IGAD, which propelled them as individuals to have high seat in the front table. Why give up such a suitable seat after the elevation?

As things stand, the IGAD mediators also found out that the armed groups have no real headquarters after they lost Pakak. The mediators are trying to establish Akobo as the headquarters of the armed militias, but the divisions among the groups are not making such attempt as an easy feat. So, some of those armed militias may just have to be accommodated at the hotels in faraway foreign lands.

Even more fraudulent in this process is that IGAD mediators went out of their ways and audaciously invented fake opposition groups. The case in point is that of Gathoth Gatkuoth Hothnyang. Hothnyang was formerly a general under Riek Machar's rebellion. He then split from Riek Machar, citing lack of leadership and direction. He went on to form his own opposition outfit known as Federal Democratic Party (FDP). As a result, he negotiated his way back to the government and subsequently joined SPLM-io under the leadership of First Vice President Taban Deng Gai. Since, then Hothnyang has been serving as Minister of Labor under the Transitional Government of National Unity. Despite these glaring facts, the IGAD mediators yet, picked Hothnyang out and want him to represent a different opposition group, which is virtually non-existence.

Such egregious acts call into question the credibility of the revitalization process. Therefore, the IGAD mediators need to review its approaches and adopt a more practical means in resolving the conflict in South Sudan. Unless they are not serious.

Steve Paterno is the author of The Rev. Fr. Saturnino Lohure, A Romain Catholic Priest Turned Rebel. He can be reached at stevepaterno@yahoo.com

November 27, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, (aka Hametti) Monday confirmed the arrest of Darfur tribal leader Musa Hilal accusing him of involving in a foreign conspiracy against Sudan.

RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, (aka Hametti) (SUNA photo)

Heavy clashes erupted on Sunday between the SRF and Hilal's Border Guards Forces (BGF) at his headquarters in Mistiriyha, North Darfur state.

Hametti told the official news agency SUNA that Hilal and three of his sons, as well as a number of his aides, were captured; stressing the RSF director of general supplies Brigadier Abdel-Rahim Gumma and a number of RSF elements have been killed during the clashes.

He pointed out that Hilal has been handed over to the competent authorities in Khartoum, accusing him of involving in a foreign conspiracy against Sudan.

According to the RSF commander, a foreign national holding advanced and modern communication devices was arrested alongside Hilal which affirms involvement of foreign parties in destabilizing security and stability in Darfur.

He stressed the government would proceed with the implementation of the disarmament campaign to defeat the outlaws, saying the RSF would continue to carry out its work to impose the authority of the state.

Hametti further underscored the situation in Mistiriyha is now stable and under full control, saying the RSF continues to carry out its duties.

Meanwhile, Sudan's State Defence Minister Ali Mohamed Salim on Monday confirmed Hilal's arrest, saying the security situation in Mistiriyha is stable.

He told reporters at the National Assembly that Brigadier Abdel-Rahim Gumma and nine RSF elements have been killed during the clashes, denying civilian causalities.

Last August, the Sudanese authorities launched a six-month disarmament campaign to eliminate illegal weapons in the conflict-affected areas in Sudan, particularly in Darfur region.

The higher committee for the collection of weapons and unregulated vehicles started the forcible phase of the campaign in all the states of Sudan on 15 October.

On 11 October, 10,000 RSF militiamen arrived in North Darfur to contribute to establishing security in the troubled state and support the mandatory phase of the disarmament campaign.

However, Hilal refused to cooperate with the disarmament campaign and also rejected a government demand to merge his BGF militia with the RSF.

The tribal leader announced his readiness to confront government forces militarily if they attempt to disarm his militia forcibly.

Musa Hilal was designated by the US State Department in 2004 as one of the top Janjaweed leaders running a terror campaign against civilians in Darfur. However, the security agencies gradually distanced their activities from the tribal leader who formed the BGF.

He was angered by the formation of the RSF because the government promoted Hametti who was one of his aides to command this new militia, a move that he considers as a direct threat to his tribal authority.

Hilal left the capital Khartoum in mid-2013 and retreated to his hometown of Mistiriyha along with his troops and continued blasting the government and the ruling National Congress Party.

In 2014, Hilal's troops seized control of western localities in North Darfur state including Saraf Omra, Kutum, Kebkabiya, Al-Seraif, and El Waha.

The tribal chief announced the establishment of administrations in these localities, naming his forces Sudanese Revolutionary Awakening Council (SRAC).

(ST)

November 27, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Reports emerging from North Darfur state on Monday say that Musa Hilal, a tribal leader and head of the Border Brigades Forces (BBF) has been arrested by the Sudanese government militia Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after the murder of one its commander on Sunday.

Musa Hilal BGF leader (ST photo)

On Sunday the official news agency, Suna reported the death of RSF director of general supplies Brigadier Abdel-Rahim Gumma in Mistiriyha, home area of Musa Hilal.

RSF spokesperson told Suna that Gumma had been killed when he went to Mistiriyha to investigate an ambush on two vehicles transporting BBF elements arrested within the framework of the forcible arms collection campaign

"A force led by Brigadier Abdel Rahim Gumma moved to the scene of the attack and killed all the outlaws, and captured a number of them. The commander of the mobile force was martyred along with nine martyrs," he said.

In the first hours of Monday, reports from Mistiriyha claimed that Hilal had been killed. However different sources say Hilal was arrested and transported to El-Fasher

The detained tribal leader "is now flying to Khartoum in a military plane" a Sudan Tribune journalist said in a short message sent from the capital of North Darfur, El-Fasher.

Initially, the Sudanese authorities had to hold a press conference in Khartoum after his arrival but it has been cancelled without details.

Musa Hilal, the Mahameed tribal leader and head a tribal militia that took part in the counterinsurgency campaign, refused the merger of his BBF militiamen in the RSF which is now part of the Sudanese army.

Sudanese officials asked him to hand over the weapons of his militiamen but he also refused. He further declined tribal mediation to resolve the issue with the government.

The tribal leader was accused of seeking to get the support of the Libyan general Khalifa Haftar who controls the eastern parts of the north African troubled country. Also, he is accused of establishing contacts with Darfur armed groups.

More details to come during the day.

(ST)

November 26, 2017 (PARIS) - The leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Gibril Ibrahim has called on the Sudanese opposition forces to take advantage of recent statements by President Omer al-Bashir hostile to the U.S. and Gulf countries to topple down his regime.

"By his request for protection from Russia and the establishment of military bases to protect from the United States, al-Bashir has blown the efforts of his government staff to normalize relations Khartoum and Washington and improve relations with the Gulf States," said Ibrahim in a meeting with Sudanese journalists and activists in Paris on Sunday

He further called on the Sudanese opposition take advantage of the situation created by Bashir's statements to overthrow the ruling regime, and considered it as a challenge for the opposition to "seize the opportunity to mobilize people and to take to the street against the regime.

He pointed out that the statements created a great "audacity" among Sudanese to express their rejection for his regime, pointing to what was written by Mubarak al-Kouda, a Sudanese Islamist figure, who called on the president to step down.

"If we do not use the situation properly and do a lot of work in the opposition to bring down the regime, we will miss a great opportunity for our people and we only have ourselves to blame," he stressed.

Sudanese were surprised by the sudden volt face operated by the President al-Bashir and many wondered what happened to trigger this change. Several explanation were proposed to explain his statements.

Ibrahim said they received reports sg that John Sullivan U.S. Deputy Secretary of State informed the government that Washington does not want to see al-Bashir running for presidency in 20202.

Al-Bashir does not want to leave office because his political immunity protects him against the arrest warrants of the war crimes court (ICC) in La Haye, he further said.

Sudanese foreign minister told reporters after al-Bashir return from Russia that the Sudanese president in his speech about Russian protection intended to highlight U.S. efforts at the UN Security Council to stop Sudan's gold exportation.

Al-Bashir returned to Khartoum on Friday evening from Russia after a two-day work visit where he met with his counterpart Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, he asked Putin to protect his country against U.S. diplomatic efforts against his country at the UN Security Council.

(ST)

November 26, 2017 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir has warned officials at the foreign affairs ministry against nepotism and tribalism.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (AFP)

President Kiir made these remarks during the inauguration of a new conference facility at the foreign ministry in the capital, Juba Friday.

The conference facility was built with aid from the Chinese government.

“Any recruitment to the ministry must be opened to the public to provide opportunities to all qualified South Sudanese,” said Kiir.

“This thing [recruitment] should not be done under the table so that only sons and daughters of the ministers get the opportunity to be employed,” he added.

The South Sudanese leader also directed the foreign affairs ministry to downsize the numbers of foreign missions as well as service staffs.

“I direct the leadership of the ministry to reduce the number of diplomats as per the cabinet resolution to a manageable seize, considering our financial situation,” the South Sudanese leader said, citing the economic crisis facing the East African nation.

There are more than 1,000 people employed by South Sudan's foreign affairs ministry abroad and in the country, a senior ministry official said.

(ST)

November 26, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Popular Congress Party (PCP) has criticized recent remarks by President Omer al-Bashir against the U.S. saying it casts spiky shadows on Sudan's foreign policy.

During his recent work visit to Russia, al-Bashir asked President Vladimir Putin to protect his country from the United States. He also accused Washington of planning to divide Sudan into five states.

Al-Bashir's surprising statements came a month after President Donald Trump decided to repeal 20-year-old economic sanctions on Sudan. Also, American and Sudanese officials agreed to resume talks on the remaining sanctions.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Sunday, PCP external affairs secretariat said they were surprised by the president's remarks, pointing out that the PCP as a partner in the Government of National Accord wasn't aware of these remarks.

It stressed that its firm position which was also agreed on in the National Dialogue is that relations among nations are based on mutual respect in accordance with international treaties and covenants.

“Al-Bashir's remarks represent a new direction in the government foreign policy and it casts spiky shadows on the previous foreign strategies and policies which involved painstaking efforts to break the isolation imposed on the country” read the statement.

The PCP added al-Bashir's remarks were likely a reaction to the conditions dictated by Washington during the recent visit of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan to Sudan.

However, the statement didn't elaborate on the conditions dictated by Washington on Khartoum, saying the PCP hasn't had the chance to meet with the American diplomat.

The statement underscored the need to implement the National Dialogue outcome in order to avoid foreign dictations and conditions.

“The country was adversely impacted by the previous foreign policies until the National Dialogue called for the establishment of an independent and balanced foreign policy agreed by all components of the Sudanese people and won the respect and appreciation of the international community,” read the statement.

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 Government of National Accord which was formed in May, the PCP took part in the executive and legislative branches of the post-dialogue government.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

November 26, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - A newly-released report, entitled, “Promoting the African Internet Economy” has highlighted how the greater use of the internet and digitization of the traditional economy will spur economic growth in the African continent.

RCS-Communication Ltd. has selected a solution by Airspan Networks for a 4G WiMAX network deployment in South Sudan (itnewsafrica)

Many African countries, the report says, have made significant progress towards creating an Internet sector, with broad reforms that focus on increasing broadband availability.

“There have been further successes within countries in developing online platforms, fostering growth of local companies and increasing the incentive to go online,” says a new report launched by the Internet Society, a global non-profit dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution and use of the internet on Saturday.

The report examines internet adoption and use by companies and governments throughout the region, identifying barriers that must be overcome to create an internet economy that delivers innovative services, job opportunities and income growth across the continent.

Both businesses and citizens can benefit from an internet economy. Businesses across all sectors gain access to a global marketplace of billions of people, and citizens in both rural and urban areas benefit from enhanced educational and training opportunities and access to new job possibilities.

The report also outlines what needs to be done for Africa to take full advantage of the digital opportunity offered by the Internet. It highlights local successes as well as broader challenges, offering recommendations for policymakers in Africa to adopt.

“The Internet economy presents a major opportunity for Africa. However, Africa needs a secure and reliable Internet infrastructure that users trust in order to bringing large and small businesses online, along with governments and other social services,” said Dawit Bekele, Africa Region Bureau Director for the Internet Society.

The Internet Society in collaboration with the African Union recently introduced internet infrastructure security guidelines for Africa to help the African Union member states strengthen the security of their local internet infrastructure, through actions at regional, national, Internet Service Provider (ISP) operator and organizational levels.

In Kenya, for instance, the internet economy represents 3.6% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and in other developing countries 1.3% of GDP comes from the Internet economy.

The McKinsey Global Institute predicts that in addition to contributions to GDP , the internet will deliver productivity gains across Africa. These productivity gains across six key sectors: financial services, education, health, retail, agriculture and government are projected to be valued at between US$148 billion and $318 billion by 2025.

However, a thriving internet economy in Africa could be put at risk by the increasing number of Internet shutdowns in the region. In 2016 alone, there were at least 56 shutdowns of the Internet around the world. These shutdowns affect individuals and organizations that depend on the Internet for their daily lives and have negative effects on the economy.

“In addition to the economic costs, Internet shutdowns also affect trust. If people don't know whether they will have connectivity, they can no longer rely on that connectivity to build Internet-based businesses. This will affect entrepreneurs in greatest need of digital-led innovation for their own future, and the future of the Internet economy in Africa,” added Bekele.

The Internet Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the open development, evolution and use of the internet. Working through a global community of chapters and members, the Internet Society collaborates with a broad range of groups to promote technologies that keep the internet safe, secure and advocates for policies that enable universal access.

(ST)

November 26, 2017 (JUBA) – At least 171,000 civilians and their host communities have benefitted from the recent expansion of HIV/AIDS services conducted by the United Nations migration agency (IOM).

IOM and partners help Jamam camp residents board buses to Kaya (photo credit: IOM)

“The expansion of services is a crucial development in South Sudan, where internally displaced persons, such as those living in the PoC [Protection of Civilian] sites, are among key populations that are considered to be at higher-risk of contracting HIV/AIDS,” said Salma Taher, IOM's Global Fund Project Officer.

Last year, according to IOM, along with tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS was one of the leading causes of mortality in the PoC sites, where people are often unable to access to health facilities outside the sites due to safety or weak infrastructure.

However, it stressed, since the roll out began at protection sites in Bentiu, Malakal and Wau, in July, IOM said it had tested 213 people, with 16 testing positive and enrolling in antiretroviral treatment.

With timely diagnosis and antiretroviral treatment, the life expectancy of HIV-positive patients has been proven to improve substantially, for about an additional 10 years, a recent study shows.

“The new comprehensive services are made possible for the broader public visiting the sites, rather than previously just services for pregnant mothers,” the agency further said in a statement.

It further added, “Moreover, HIV/AIDS awareness-raising campaigns are carried out, and hundreds of peer counselors are being trained across the country”.

Mental health and psychosocial support are also provided to people living with HIV/AIDS and those affected by gender-based violence.

This expansion of health services is a joint effort by the IOM, the UN Development Fund, and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculous and Malaria.

(ST)