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Si certains en doutaient encore, l'entrée en lice de Nicolas Sarkozy dans la course à la primaire de la droite et du centre se précise. Le toujours président des Républicains n'est pas officiellement candidat,...

August 1, 2016 (ZALINGEI) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on Monday has arrested at least 21leaders of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the locality of Nirtiti, Central Darfur state following a meeting with the United States Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth, said IDPs official

On July 26, the American envoy started a visit to Darfur states to assess the security and humanitarian situation on the ground particularly in Jebel Marra area.

Deputy Chairman of IDPs and Refugees Association Adam Abdalla Idris told Sudan Tribune that the NISS is now making intensive efforts to arrest dozens of IDPs leaders after it accused them of providing Booth with misleading information pertaining to the security and humanitarian situation in the region particularly in areas of east Jebel Marra.

He added that several IDPs leaders have disappeared from sight for fear of being arrested by the NISS, pointing the latter has a list including names of all IDPs who met with the American envoy.

According to Idris, a security source disguised as an IDP has attended the meeting with Booth and submitted a report including details of the meeting to the NISS.

Idris pointed that the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID), human rights groups operating in the area and the IDPs have provided identical reports to the American envoy including numbers of those killed in the recent clashes in Jebel Marra besides numbers of the newly displaced persons and the rape incidents.

“The humanitarian situation is at its worst particularly after food and drug supply have stopped besides the lack of blankets and other basic necessities” he said

He added that the American envoy will likely delay his visit to South Darfur state in fear of subjecting dozens of IDPs to harassment and detention by the NISS.

UN agencies estimate that more than 120,000 people have been displaced by the fierce clashes which occurred since last January between the government army and the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) led by Abel-Wahid al-Nur.

Jebel Marra, which spans over three states including North, Central and South Darfur, is located at a water-rich area that is characterized by mild climate.

On 12 April, the Sudanese army declared Darfur a region free of rebellion following the capture of Srounq area, the last SLM-AW stronghold in Jebel Marra.

JEM CONDEMNS IDPs DETENTION

Meanwhile, the rebel Justice and NEW Equality Movement (NJEM) has denounced the detention of the IDPs in Central Darfur state, demanding the international community and the UNAMID to defend the civilians against what it called “the brutality of the Sudanese security authorities”.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday, NJEM spokesperson Adam Abdel-Rahman Yahia said that five IDPs leaders have been detained by the NISS from Jadid market in the locality of Nirtiti following their meeting with Booth.

“The IDPs and the families of the detainees are in a state of acute anxiety and horror in fear of the continued pursuit [by the NISS] against the IDPs leaders and some individuals inside the IDPs camps” the statement read

NJEM warned against the dire humanitarian situation in light of the absence of the humanitarian aid groups, calling on the U.S. government, Amnesty International and all rights group to immediately interfere to locate the detained IDPs and ensure their safety.

It described NISS's move as a dangerous sign that affirms the continued government violations in Darfur, pointing to the suspicious silence of the international community.

The statement further held the UNAMID responsible for the ongoing events in Darfur, accusing the mission of failing to protect civilians.

(ST)

Myanmar Civil Societies Core Group on ASEAN: National Process Workshop

August 1, 2016 (JUBA) – The United Nations has expressed concerns over the renewed clashes between South Sudan's warring factions in the Equatorian and parts of Upper Nile areas, saying these continued actions are in violation of the peace agreement, which the country's main rivals and other parties signed in August last year.

Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) jump off the back of a truck while on patrol in the capital, Juba, following the December 2013 outbreak of violence (Photo: Reuters)

“The UNMISS [UN mission in South Sudan] calls on all parties to return to their bases and allow the movement of humanitarian aid to affected areas,” it said in a statement.

According to the world body, tensions persisted in the capital, Juba, but no firearms were found in a search operation conducted at its protection of civilian site over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the United States has warned those taking actions threatening the peace, security, or stability of South Sudan, and those responsible for attacks on civilians or United Nations premises, saying they may be subjected to sanctions under UN Security Council Resolution 2206 (2015).

The US, in a statement issued Saturday, also condemned in the “strongest” terms the continued fighting in Equatorian region and other areas of South Sudan in recent days.

“We call for an immediate halt to combat operations and full compliance with the ceasefire declared on July 11 and in the peace agreement,” said Mark Toner, the deputy spokesperson of the Department of State.

The Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and the African Union issued similar concerns on the matter.

According to the U.S, the “short-sighted” actions of South Sudan's leaders in recent weeks have exacerbated an already intolerable humanitarian crisis as large portions of the country are facing emergency levels of food insecurity.

“The people of South Sudan should have the opportunity to build their country and pursue their aspirations in peace,” said Toner, further adding, “Instead they are facing the further untold suffering of continued conflict”.

A recent report from the UN gave horrific accounts of civilian killings and a rise in the number of government soldiers in uniform raping and gang raping women and girls who have taken refuge in UN protection of civilian sites.

The world body, for instance, documented about120 cases of sexual violence in South Sudan in the last two weeks.

“Those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other violations of international humanitarian law - including those who order or incite violence, or encourage or contribute to the commission of crimes - will be held accountable,” said Toner.

Washington, in a statement, also reminded all parties that the peace agreement provides that the Hybrid Court for South Sudan will have jurisdiction over violations of international law committed during the transitional period, including those committed during the ongoing violence.

Last month, skirmishes between force loyal to President Salva Kiir and those allied to ex-rebel leader Riek Machar in the capital, Juba left over 270 soldiers dead.

The recent wave of violence, the UN says, has displaced over 40,000 civilians.

(ST)

July 31, 2016 (YAMBIO) – The governor of Gbudue, one of South Sudan's new states has reappointed the former commissioner of Tombura county, months after his sacking.

Gbudue state governor Patrick Zamoi speaking to journalists at in Nzara airstrip March 4, 2016 (ST)

Patrick Raphael Zamoi's decree re-appointing Charles Babiro Gbamisi as the new county commissioner was read on the state-owned Yambio Fm over the weekend.

Babiro was appointed by former governor, Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro after the 2010 general elections, serving as commissioner of Tombura county for five years before his removal by the current governor in January this year to the dismay of the masses,

Simon Gbiafuko, a youth from Tombura, lauded Babiro's re-appointment, describing the latter as developmental-oriented.

According to Gbiafuko, Babiro did a lot of developmental activities more than any other previous commissioners of Tombura county during his term which includes water network supplying the residential, local electricity using generators to light the town and above all he cooperated and worked together with the community.

“I am very happy to hear the breaking news that our commissioner Charles Babiro has been reappointed to assume his office again because people of Tombura county were not happy for his removal,” he told Sudan Tribune over phone from Tombura.

The re-appointment Babiro, sources say, did not come as a surprise the people owing to his record on effective service delivery in the community, while others claimed the community declined to propose names for the post and wanted Babiro re-appointed.

(ST)

Lam Akol, chairman of South Sudan's main opposition party (AFP/Samir Bol Photo)

August 1, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – Leader of the South Sudan's National Alliance parties and chairman of the Democratic Party (DC), Lam Akol Ajawin, said he has resigned from all his party and government positions to protest government's lack of commitment to the peace agreement.

Akol said the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) is “dead” and will, from now on, join with the “like-minded” to “broaden” an opposition “outside Juba” to tackle the ongoing situation in the country.

“This is to inform the public that I have on the 28th of July tendered my resignation to the National Alliance as Minister of Agriculture and Food Security in the Transitional Government of National Unity (TgoNU) and also as their representative in the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC),” said Ajawin in a press statement he issued on Monday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

He was nominated to the positions by the alliance of 17 political parties in the country.

“These positions were necessitated by the implementation of the Agreement for Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan signed in August 2015. There is no more a peace agreement to implement in Juba. President Salva Kiir has dealt it a final blow with his actions since the first week of jolly culminating in the military attack on the first vice president, dislodging him from Juba and invoking his absence to fill his position with a person of his choice in the name of SPLM-IO. One cannot with a clear conscience serve under such a regime,” he said.

He said he could no longer work with the party of president Kiir in the unity government, charging that President Kiir and his acolytes did not hide their rejections of peace agreement.

“He has been putting obstacle after obstacle on the way of its implementation and violating it with impunity. He cited creation of 28 states, refusing to implement security arrangements, stalling reconstitution of the transitional legislative assembly, preventing the ceasefire and transitional security arrangement monitoring mechanism from carrying out its duty to observe and report on ceasefire violation,” he added.

The opposition leader accused President Salva Kiir of abrogating the August 2015 peace deal, adding that appointing Taban Deng Gai to replace Riek Machar, leader of the armed oppositon faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), was meant to destroy the peace accord.

“The violent events that took place in Juba in the first week of July were pre-meditated and well planned. The SPLM-IO's small force was provoked into an uneven confrontation,” he said.

“While Kiir's forces hunt for Dr. Riek Machar to get him “dead or alive” they should be reminded that that will not be the end of the story. The genie is out of the bottle and the last laugh will not be theirs. The people of South Sudan will not stand more of a callous, totalitarian and ethno-centric regime that seems to thrive on the suffering of its people,” he added, with the statement he signed as “former” chairman of the DC party.

It is not clear whether or not the leader of the country's largest non-armed opposition party will forge an opposition alliance with the Machar against President Kiir.

(ST)

Seminar on National Reconciliation, Peace Process, Democracy and Federalism in Shan State

Augusztus 15-ig, 16.00 óráig lehet kérelmet benyújtani települési önkormányzatoknak sport park és/vagy futókör létrehozására. Egy hónapja hogy megnyílt a Nemzeti Szabadidős - Egészség Sportpak Program 2016-os 1,5 millárd forintos kerete, ami nagyon népszerű pályázatnak bizonyult. A program elsődleges célja, hogy országosan népszerűsítése a mozgást, könnyen hozzáférhető, ingyenesen használható, igényes szabadtéri létesítményekkel.

Pályázati szakértőink szerint érdemes élni a lehetőséggel, ugyanis a Vidékfejlesztési Program és a Terület- és Településfejlesztési Program keretein belül megnyíló uniós pályázatok  egyáltalán nem, vagy sokkal rosszabb felételekkel (pl. 5-25%-os önerő) biztosítanak majd lehetőséget sportlétesítmények kialakítására.

Az alábbi űrlapon lehet jelentkezni ingyenes előminősítésre.  Vállaljuk a pályázati anyag papír alapú kidolgozását és a pályázatok személyesen történő budapesti benyújtását.

Airbus has agreed to sell AXIO-NET to Trimble, the company announced on 1 August. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. AXIO-NET provides Global Navigation Satellite System services to several European countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom. ANALYSIS AXIO-NET does not work with any

EVENT At least 1,000 demonstrators protested in Awaday, northeastern Oromo region, Ethiopia, on 31 July, after a government soldier beat a shop owner, local media reported. An Agazi paramilitary unit, predominantly ethnic-Tigray, was deployed to disperse the protesters, resulting in the use of

A group of Argentine Army Aviation officers travelled in late July to the United States to examine and select a batch of surplus UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters that the Argentine government is negotiating to buy, an Army Aviation source told IHS Jane's . Quantities and variants were not disclosed, but

An aircraft repair facility, Avionams, that had been moved to private ownership has been reclaimed by the Bulgarian government, the country's prime minister announced according to a report by the Sofia News Agency published on 2 August. The plant provides servicing for Mi-8/17 and Mi-24 rotary-wing

The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has decommissioned two Haizhui/Shanghai III (Type 062/1)-class coastal patrol vessels. The platforms, with pennant numbers 1271 and 1273, were retired in a ceremony held by the PLAN's East Sea Fleet on 28 July where the vessels were previously based,

AT LEAST 15 people - including four militants, five civilians and a soldier - were killed and 20 others were wounded when Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen militants detonated two suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (SVBIEDs) before launching a small-arms assault on the Criminal

In an effort to allay concerns ahead of the withdrawal of regular troops from Thailand's insurgency-plagued southern border provinces, senior Royal Thai Army (RTA) officials have stressed that the drawdown and related changes in the command structure for counter-insurgency operations will have no

Today's very active Russian navy needs a future equipment programme that can deliver the right ships and submarines, at the right cost, at the right time. Alex Pape considers the sustainability of the navy's equipment plan in meeting this requirement There is something going on in Russia, something

Bangalore-based Wipro Infrastructure Engineering has signed an agreement to acquire Israeli aerospace and defence (A&D) firm HR Givon, it was announced on 1 August. The transaction - the value of which was not disclosed - is subject to approval from Indian and Israeli authorities but is

With the publication of its 2016 Defense White Paper, Japan has expressed "deep concern" over China's actions in East Asia. Released by the Ministry of Defense on 2 August, the 484-page document said the activities of Chinese military aircraft and vessels in the region have been

Lockheed Martin has announced plans to set up a research and development (R&D) facility in Melbourne, Australia. The company said on 2 August that it will invest an initial AUD13 million (USD10 million) over three years into the facility, which will be known as the Science Technology

The US Navy's (USN's) Military Sealift Command's hospital ship, USNS Mercy (T-AH-19), arrived in the port city of Kuantan, Pahang on 1 August, marking the first time that Malaysia has featured as a mission stop in the 'Pacific Partnership' series of humanitarian and disaster response-preparation