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General : MEPs act as the voice of more than 500 million Europeans at the EU level, but how do they work and how do they organise themselves in the European Parliament? Check out our updated infographic for some basic facts about the Parliament.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : MEPs act as the voice of more than 500 million Europeans at the EU level, but how do they work and how do they organise themselves in the European Parliament? Check out our updated infographic for some basic facts about the Parliament.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Général : En mai 2014, les citoyens européens ont élu leurs représentants au Parlement. Quel est le rôle des 751 députés européens ? À quels groupes politiques appartiennent-ils ? Consultez notre infographie récemment mise à jour pour en savoir plus sur le fonctionnement de la seule institution européenne directement élue.

Source : © Union européenne, 2016 - PE

En Italie, le bilan du séisme qui a frappé le centre de l’Italie hier, mercredi 24 août, continue de s’aggraver, un séisme de magnitude 6,2 sur l'échelle de Richter dont l’épicentre se trouve dans la région de l’Ombrie. La protection civile vient d'annoncer que le bilan s'élevait désormais à 247 morts, ce qui en fait l'un des plus meurtriers tremblements de terre de ces dernières années dans la péninsule. Ce 25 août au matin, la population italienne est donc toujours sous le choc. Des répliques ont encore été ressenties, ce qui ne contribue pas à rassurer les gens.

A török kormány megfelelő bizonyítékokat szolgáltatott az amerikai félnek ahhoz, hogy az érdemlegesen vizsgálni kezdje Fethullah Gülen kiadásának ügyét.

Tovább olvasom

Des années de violence causées par le groupe Boko Haram dans le bassin du Lac Tchad ont entraîné une aggravation de la crise humanitaire, forçant 1,4 million d'enfants à fuir et prenant au piège 1 million d'autres dans des zones difficiles à atteindre, selon un nouveau rapport du Fonds des Nations Unies pour l'enfance (UNICEF) publié jeudi.

Le Conseiller spécial du Secrétaire général de l'ONU sur la prévention du génocide, Adama Dieng, s'est déclaré mercredi soir préoccupé par les déclarations incendiaires faites par des responsables politiques au Burundi qui pourraient constituer une incitation à la violence.

A l'occasion d'une réunion du Conseil de sécurité consacrée à la situation au Libéria, le Représentant spécial du Secrétaire général dans ce pays, Farid Zarif, a souligné jeudi que le pays poursuivait ses progrès en matière de consolidation de la paix dans la perspective des élections prévues en 2017.

Chez ses proches, tous l'assurent : « Nicolas Sarkozy n'est pas du tout candidat par revanche. » 2017 ne serait donc pas une question d'ego pour l'ancien président. Dans sa reconquête, le désormais candidat...

« On n'avait dit que j'allais me faire écraser. Mais à ce point-là... » marmonne Hassen Hammou. Hassen qui ? Son nom ne vous dit sans doute rien. Il figure pourtant parmi les quatorze candidats officiellement...

Les élus du Pôle des réformateurs, l'aile droite du PS, se réunissent aujourd'hui sur une péniche du XIIIe arrondissement de Paris. Jean-Marie Le Guen, un de leurs piliers, exhorte la gauche à regarder...

Voilà qui ne devrait pas adoucir les relations entre Jean-Marie Le Pen et sa fille Marine. Selon nos informations, le président d'honneur du Front national, toujours en disgrâce avec sa benjamine, envisage...

Est-ce parce que le ton de François Hollande à son égard s'est fait moins tendre, cet été ? Pas de rentrée tonitruante pour Emmanuel Macron. Discret, mais loin d'être inactif, le ministre de l'Economie...

Coauteur d'un rapport parlementaire sur « l'islam de France », Nathalie Goulet, sénatrice centriste (UDI) de l'Orne, se désespère du débat sur le burkini.   Le Conseil d'Etat se saisit du dossier...

L'ancienne élue PS au conseil régional d'Ile-de-France est l'auteur de « Silence coupable » (Editions Kero), qui dénonce le déni de la classe politique face à la progression rampante du salafisme.   Que...

Quand un mathématicien de renom, un ancien diplomate, un général (plus d’autres signataires…) décident de publier une tribune sur l’absence de réelle démocratie dans la politique de dissuasion nucléaire de la France….

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August 24, 2016 (JUBA) – A group of armed and unarmed political parties opposed to South Sudan President Salva Kiir's government have resolved to overthrow what they described as the "totalitarian regime” along with supporters, mainly from the Dinka tribe.

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir (Photo: AP/Sayyid Azim)

The resolution emerged at the end of a consultative meeting attended by former agriculture minister, Lam Akol and ex-education minister Peter Adwok Nyaba in Nairobi from 18-20 August on the theme “Towards National Democratic Revolution.”

“The political situation in South Sudan underlying the current civil war is a contradiction, as well as a struggle, between narrow ethnic sectarianism represented by President Salva Kiir and Jieng [Dinka] Council of Elders (JCE) on the one hand and South Sudan nationalism on the other hand,” partly reads a seven-page dossier from the group.

“The parties to the Consultative Meeting have to cooperate and coordinate efforts in all spheres of the struggle to overthrow the totalitarian regime in Juba,” it added.

While, Nyaba represented the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) loyal to former first vice president Riek Machar, Akol represented National Democratic Movement (NDM) which he formed after resigning from non-violent Democratic Change party last month.

The other politicians who attended the meeting were Clement Juma Mbugoniwia from the People's Revolutionary Movement/Army (PRM/A), Juma Zackaria Deng of Western Bahr El Ghazal Group (WBG Group), Fr Joseph Otto (Eeastern Equatoria Group), Justin Joseph Marona, Pasquale Clement Batali and Dominic Akwai Henry Bahgo.

Describing the meeting's resolution as a “blueprint” towards removing “totalitarian regime in Juba,” the politicians insisted that the peace agreement signed by President Kiir and the armed opposition leader in August last year should remain on course.

“We insist that the resuscitation of ARCISS [Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan] must be contingent on […] the Regional Protection Force under the banner of the UN should be deployed to take charge of the security all over South Sudan to create an environment conducive for free political discourse on the future of the country,” further noted the document.

They group appealed to the people of South Sudan to join them in liberating the country.

“We appeal to our people to lend it their full support and call upon the other political organizations and groups that could not take part in this dialogue to join us in future discussions. We must unify our ranks to save our country from imminent collapse,” stressed the group's paper.

In the document, however, the opposition parties outlined the major economic, political and social reforms that will be taken once President Kiir's government was overthrown.

It still remains unclear as to how the opposition politicians intend to achieve these goals

(ST)

August 24, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on Wednesday discussed with the United States Secretary of State John Kerry bilateral relations between the two countries and recent developments in Sudan and the region.

John Kerry (R) shakes hands with the Sudan's FM Ibrahim Ghandour as they pose for photos at the Palace Hotel in New York, October 2, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Stephanie Keith)

The meeting, which took place in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, comes two days after the American top diplomat met with the five foreign ministers from the regional bloc IGAD to discuss the situation in South Sudan.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, Sudan's Foreign Ministry said Ghandour briefed Kerry on the progress of the national dialogue process, pointing to the participation of the political, societal and armed forces in order to reach national consensus that achieves security and stability in the country.

It added the meeting also discussed the outcome of the recent peace talks between the government and the opposition Sudan Call forces in Addis Ababa, pointing to the obstacles that hampered talks on Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

A six-day round of talks from 9 to 14 August between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) on the Two Areas had stalled over humanitarian access.

Also, the Sudanese government, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) led by Minni Minnawi failed to sign a cessation of hostilities in Darfur after the parties disagreed on how to determine the sites of the rebel fighters.

According to the press release, Ghandour stressed his government is determined to resume negotiations to reach a cessation of hostilities that paves the road to complete the national dialogue and achieve stability and national consensus.

It pointed that Kerry expressed his country's keenness and support for the national dialogue, mentioning the importance of Sudan's role in addressing regional issues.

On Tuesday, Sudan's Presidential Assistant and head of government negotiating team for the Two Areas talks Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid briefed the acting U.S chargé de Affairs in Khartoum Ambassador Stephen Koutsis on the outcome of the recent round of peace talks

Following the meeting, the U.S diplomat said he discussed with Hamid the bilateral relations, the situation in the Two Areas and Darfur. Also, he reiterated his government readiness to back the African Union-led efforts to achieve peace in Sudan.

“U.S government is ready to help the parties to reach peace agreement,” he said.

It is noteworthy that the US Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth has led the international efforts to convince the opposition to sign the Roadmap Agreement and engage in the peace talks with the government.

Washington imposed economic and trade sanctions on Sudan in 1997 in response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights abuses. In 2007 it strengthened the embargo, citing abuses in Darfur which it labelled as "genocide".

Also, Sudan has been on the US list of countries supporting terrorism since 1993, for allegedly providing support and safe haven for terrorist groups.

(ST)

August 24, 2016 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese government under the leadership of President Salva Kiir say they wished their peace partner and ex-First Vice President, Riek Machar does not return to Juba and assume his position in the coalition government.

President Salva kiir(C) FVP; Riek Machar (L), and VP, Marilyn, raise their hands after swearing in ceremony of Machar on April 26, 2016. (Photo Lomayat Moses)

Senior officials allied to President Kiir on Wednesday announced willingness to fully implement the August 2015 peace agreement which the President Kiir signed with the opposition leader, Machar.

Presidential advisor on decentralization and intergovernmental linkages, Tor Deng Mawien, described the implementation of the agreement to be moving at rapid speed with the appointment of Taban Deng Gai as the replacement of Machar after he was unilaterally removed from his capacity as First Vice President by Kiir due to his absence.

“Anybody who has been following the turns of events and the level of movement would appreciate the speed at which the president has demonstrated his commitment to implementing the peace agreement because he has now found a partner. General Taban Deng Gai has demonstrated willingness to working collaboratively with the president to implement the peace agreement so that to move the country forward. This is what is very important. It is not who occupies which position,” Mawien, a relative and a strong political ally of President Kiir, said during an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune.

Mawien said it was now time for the region and the international community at large to extend a helping hand and work together with the current transitional government of national unity as recommended by the outcome of the communique of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

“With such changes taking place within the presidency, where there is now a better working relationship, the region and the international community should take advantage of this new spirit and the working environment of cooperation to come out and extend support to implement the agreement,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gordon Buay, one of the senior representatives at South Sudanese embassy in the United States, claimed that the world was now accepting the appointment of Gai because they have realised that it was not easy for president Kiir to work together with Machar.

“The entire world is convinced that Riek Machar cannot work together with President Kiir given the incident of July, 8, this year coupled with December, 15, 2013. Therefore, the world accepted Taban Deng Gai to implement the peace [agreement] with President Kiir simply because bringing back Riek Machar to Juba to the Presidential Palace is like lightening a match near kerosene or benzene. The result is fire, fire, fire, fire, fire and fire,” Buay told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday from Washington DC.

He claimed further that the world leaders have reached a logical conclusion that Riek Machar has no place in the transitional government of national unity because he is purportedly “a combustible product that can easily explode and kill people.”

Gai, on the other hand, he described, is like “an air condition that cools the room. He is the right person to work with President Kiir to cool South Sudan.

However, both IGAD communiqué and United Nations Security Council's resolutions criticized the replacement of Machar as “inconsistent” with the peace agreement and called for reinstatement of Machar to his position as First Vice President.

Observers are keen to underline that the speed at which the assembly reconstitution and after the replacement of Machar suggests there was an underground conspiracy to remove him from office and replace him with someone who would not stick to implementation of the key provisions in the deal.

President Kiir himself announced at the opening of the assembly that the delay was due to petty political differences and lack of better working relationship between him and Machar at the time.

He declared he would from the time of opening the assembly work collaboratively with Gai to implement the agreement. Gai declared at the inaugural function of his appointment that there was no need for two armies in the country and president Kiir was the only existing commander in chief in the country.

(ST)

August 24, 2016 (JUBA) – A peace conference between rival communities of Dinka Bor and the Murle aimed at ending child abduction, cattle raiding and creating harmony in two regions of South Sudan's Jonglei state is in the offing, an official has disclosed.

The map of Jonglei state in red

The commissioner of Bor county, Isaac Mamer Ruuk said the governor of Jonglei state Philip Aguer and his counterpart for the newly-created state of Boma, Baba Medan Konyi both agreed to bring traditional chiefs and political leaders together in a week's time.

“On August 30, 2016, we are going to have a peace conference either in Gumuruk or Pibor,” he said in reference to main towns inhabited by members of the Murle tribe.

Also expected to attend the conference is the country's deputy minister of defense and veterans affairs David Yau Yau who is popular among the armed cattle wrestlers.

The conference, according to the commissioner, would also involve issues of child abduction and how to stump out crimes between the two neighbouring communities.

“We want the communities to interact amongst themselves through trade and other activities,” he told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

“We have a plan that after peace conference, the traders doing the business between the two states will be escorted by organized from Boma State until the reach safely into Jonglei State and back” he added.

Planned efforts to reconcile the two communities has been welcome by several citizens.

“We can't live as enemies if we want peace and delivery of basic services in our greater Jonglei state,” John Chol posted on the social networking site Facebook.

Currently, there are no business activities between Pibor and Bor. Cattle traders from Pibor travel directly to Juba by-passing Jonglei state. The two communities of Dinka Bor and Murle often trades accusations of cattle raiding, child abduction and deadly attacks on their villages but local officials have not initiated any grassroots peace conference.

However, if the proposed peace initiative commences later this month as planned, it will be the first time the rival communities directly discuss their differences in 15 years.

The first ever peace conference held in 2001 resulted into four years of tranquility in the area.

(ST)