Africa

July 16, 2016 (JUBA) – An expert writer on Sudan and South Sudan, Professor Eric Reeves, has apologized for posting a message which predicted that a coup was to be staged in Juba on Monday, 11 July 2016.

Eric Reeves. (Photo: sudanreeves.org)

Reeves, a US citizen, on 10 July posted and tweeted a message, saying that he had sufficient evidence that South Sudan's First Vice President, Riek Machar, was going to lead a coup on Monday, 11 July, 2016, to overthrow President Salva Kiir's government.

The message immediately attracted fierce criticism from Machar's spokesperson who accuszed him of trying on false allegation to incite further violence which already erupted on Friday, 8 July, at the Presidential Palace in Juba.

In his response on Thursday, 14 July, on a post on his website, titled, “A Retraction: Concerning Riek Machar and a possible coup in Juba,” Professor Reeves said he apologized for his “irresponsible” message.

“I am herewith retracting my brief Web posting of July 10, 2016, specifically the claim that there was sufficient evidence in my possession to characterize the situation in Juba and elsewhere in Sudan reflecting an incipient coup, led by Riek Machar. The evidence as I had and have it is insufficient to justify such a characterization, and I deeply regret posting without fuller evidence in hand,” Reeves further wrote on Thursday.

“It was irresponsible, and I accept that characterization,” he added.

Reeves however said a lot of information he had based his prediction on were coming from Juba.

“A great deal of what I referred to was information coming from sources on the ground in Juba, particularly the nature and specifics of the violence that engulfed the city,” he said.

(ST)

July 15, 2016 (JUBA) – The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, has called on the South Sudanese warring parties and peace partners to demilitarize the national capital, Juba, as one of the measures in ensuring protection of their leadership and to avoid return to violence in the capital.

In a meeting in Kigale, Rwanda, on Friday, with South Sudanese government officials, Ban Ki Moon, also called on the leadership of the new country not to further escalate fighting across the country.

In a statement released by his office on Friday, Ki Moon, also called on the government to stop targeting United Nations personnel and premises or their properties.

He also threatened further sanctions targeting individuals seen to be obstructing implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement signed by President Salva Kiir and opposition leader, Riek Machar.

The UN chief said the new sanctions would include arms embargo to be imposed on South Sudan, adding that he had already recommended this action to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

He made the comments while meeting President Kiir's Special Envoy, Nhial Deng Nhial, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deng Alor Kuol, where he urged the leaders to promote dialogue rather than violence.

“The Secretary-General voiced his deep concern and disappointment over the recent fighting in Juba and in other locations, further aggravating an already dire humanitarian situation and compromising the implementation of the agreement for the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan. He expressed outrage at the untold suffering inflicted upon the people of South Sudan,” said the statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

“The Secretary-General urged President Salva Kiir and 1st Vice-President Riek Machar to show true leadership and to live up to the aspirations of their people to peace and security,” it said.

He underlined the need for the parties to uphold the cessation of hostilities and to resume dialogue as the only way to sustainably address the crisis in their country.

"The Secretary-General called on the South Sudanese stakeholders to agree on practical steps to demilitarize Juba,” the statement said.

He strongly condemned the impediments to the freedom of movement and attacks against United Nations staff, assets and premises. He called on South Sudan to provide full security and access to the United Nations and to its Peacekeeping Mission.

He also emphasized the gravity of the situation and expressed the hope that the leaders would bear greater responsibility for their people.

“He asked the Special Envoy to relay his messages to the South Sudanese President.”

(ST)

July 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM)- The Sudanese government Friday revealed the postponement of a visit by the African Union Mediator Thabo Mbeki to Khartoum for consolations on peace in the Sudan

AUHIP's Thabo Mbeki talks to reporters after a meeting with Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir on national dialogue in Khartoum on 10 September 2014 (SUNA)

Sudanese Government Spokesperson and Information Minister, Ahmed Bilal Osman, didn't elaborate on the reason behind the adjournment but said the postponement is due to internal conditions related to the government.

Osman expected that Mbeki would visit the country within two weeks to discuss the African Union brokered Roadmap Agreement, and the talks peace between the government and the armed movements.

Last March, the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and the Sudanese government signed a framework agreement calling to stop war in Blue Nile, South Kordofan states, Darfur region, and to engage in the national dialogue process.

However, the opposition groups invited sign the peace plan - Justice and Equality Movement, National Umma Party, Sudan People's Liberation Movement -North and Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi -refused to sign the roadmap, saying it acknowledges the government controlled dialogue conference and would lead to reproduce the regime.

Osman said that Mbeki would also meet with Sudan's Higher Coordination Committee of the National Dialogue known as (7+7) , besides the ongoing efforts to persuade the opposition forces to sign the African Union-brokered road map for peace in Sudan.

Earlier this year, Mbeki who seeks a holistic solution in Sudan encouraged the Future Forces of Change (FFC) a new coalition mainly formed of Islamic opposition groups to negotiate with the government in order to joint process.

However the alliance of Left groups which is member of the opposition Sudan Call umbrella refuses to negotiate with Khartoum, unless it accepts their conditions.

QATARI AND GERMAN EFFORTS

In the meantime, the Popular Congress Party (PCP) Political Secretary Kamal Omer disclosed that the African mediation, Germany and Qatar have made intensive contacts with chairman of the National Umma Party Sadiq al-Mahdi and the three armed groups in the past few days to persuade them to join the road map.

Omer told Ashorooq TV Friday that all the holdout groups are invited to participate in the process to reach a national consensus on the national issues.

The leader of the National Umma Party Sadiq al-Mahdi recently said he expects that the “Sudan Call” forces would respond positively to the Roadmap after Eid Al Fitr holidays, a matter that could pave the way for them to sign it.

The Sudan Call groups are expected to meet next week in the French capital, Paris.

(ST)

July 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The first batch of Sudanese evacuees from South Sudan has arrived in Khartoum on Friday, said minister.

Sudanese women and children disembark a plane after arriving at the airport in Khartoum from Juba on July 15, 2016 (AFP Ashraf Shazly Photo)

Last week, fighting erupted in South Sudan's capital Juba between followers of President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, the former rebel leader who became vice president under a deal to end a two-year civil war.

The violence, which has killed hundreds of people, broke out as the world's newest nation prepared to mark five years of independence from Sudan on July 9.

In response to the mounting pressure from the international community, the rival leaders have unilaterally declared cessation of hostilities to stop the fighting.

An airplane carrying 76 people including women, children and elderly among 400 Sudanese stuck in Juba has landed in Khartoum airport at noon on Friday.

State Minister of Cabinet Affairs Jamal Mahmoud told reporters at the airport that the first flight was assigned to the families and the elderly people, pointing that four other flights would respectively arrive on Friday night and Saturday.

He added that Sudan would run three to four flights daily to evacuate its nationals from South Sudan, pointing to the continued efforts of the Sudanese embassy in Juba and the ad hoc committees to secure and evacuate all Sudanese citizens.

Mahmoud pointed that South Sudan's government has shown considerable cooperation in this regard, denying that any Sudanese was injured during the bloody clashes.

He further said that the number of Sudanese nationals who registered for evacuation in Juba and the rest of cities has exceeded 3,000 people, pointing the evacuation process was carried out in coordination among police, security organs, expatriates body and the Sudanese embassy in Juba.

The Sudanese minister revealed that some governments have asked Sudan to allow them evacuate their nationals in South Sudan via Khartoum airport.

(ST)

July 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government on Friday said it would conduct the sixth population census in April, 2018.

A Sudanese girl holds the guide of Sudan's 5th Population and Housing Census outside her home in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on April 22, 2008 (AFP)

The fifth Sudan Population and Housing Census was held in April 2008. Its results showed the population at 39.15 million, with 21% (8.26 million) living in the South Sudan before the independence.

The director general of Sudan's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Yassin Abdin, said the exercise would cost $50 million, pointing that 40,000 census officials and enumerators would be mobilised to carry out the exercise across the country.

Abdin, who made the announcement on Friday, urged civil society organisations, government officials and citizens to effectively participate in the process in order to achieve more accurate and comprehensive results.

According to Abdin, the sixth population census would include Sudanese and non-Sudanese people residing in the country besides all demographic groups regardless of gender, age, tribe, ethnicity or political and social status.

“The population census would be based upon the bases of equal rights and duties and it will cover all people residing in Sudan without distinction,” he said .

He added the population would also include Sudanese people who are temporarily absent from the country provided they have no other families abroad, saying that expatriates could also be covered showing reasons for their migration and countries where they reside.

Last year, President Omer al-Bashir issued a decision providing to conduct the sixth population census in April 2018.

According to the decision, the process will be supervised by the Higher Census Council headed by the first vice-president who will be seconded by the cabinet minister and the director general of the CBS.

In line with the presidential decision, regional census committees would be formed at the state-level. They will be headed by the governors while CBS regional directors are appointed as rapporteurs.

The fifth population census was held in April 2008. Its results showed the population at 39.15 million, with 21% (8.26 million) living in South Sudan before its independence.

The first census in Sudan was conducted in 1955 and followed by three others in 1965, 1983 and 1993.

Sudan's current population is estimated at 34 million people.

July 15, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - A higher committee for following- up the situations of the Sudanese nationals in Juba has announced the start of evacuation process as of Friday, citing the deterioration of security concerns in the neighbouring country .

Aid workers from different Non-Governmental Organizations in South Sudan arrive at Wilson airport in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from Juba. (AP Photo)

Bloody fighting erupted recently between forces of President Salva Kiir and troops loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar.

Last Monday, a Sudanese technical evacuation committee urged the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir to issue a decision to evacuate the Sudanese nationals from South Sudan.

The committee announced that more than 2000 Sudanese nationals have registered their names in the Sudanese embassy in Juba demanding to return home voluntarily.

The Secretary General of the Sudanese Expatriates Affairs Organ, Haj Magid Siwar, expected the launch of three flights per day to evacuate Sudanese from Juba.

Siwar said that there are thousands of Sudanese nationals in Juba working mainly in the trade business.

The head of communities and migration department at the Sudanese Expatriates Affairs Organ Al-Rahid Abd al-Latif said in a press statement that the first batch consists of 257 people.

Abd al-Latif said that the chargé d'affaires at the Sudanese embassy in Juba Osama Abdel Bari affirmed completion of coordination with all the concerned bodies.

Abd al-Latif quoted the chargé d'affaires as saying that the guarantees necessary for the arrival of the Sudanese nationals in Juba to the airport have been arranged. He added that priority would be given to the families and children and the elderly.

Abd al-Latif has earlier said that the number of the Sudanese nationals in South Sudan is around 50.000 persons, among them 3000 facing difficult situations and willing to return home.

He added that some of the Sudanese nationals in Juba went to the house of the ambassador, seeking protection during the recent clashes.

In the meantime, the political sector of Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) held exceptional meeting on Thursday to discuss the developments of the situations in South Sudan.

The meeting gave directives to the NCP organizations secretariat to coordinate the efforts of the national organizations in order to receive the returnees, the refugees and those who flee the fighting in South Sudan and providing with the needed support.

(ST)

July 15, 2016 (JUBA) - Soldiers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), the official army of South Sudan, have invaded the World Food Programme's (WFP) main warehouse in the country's capital, Juba, and looted all food items found in it.

The circumstances under which the soldiers invaded the warehouse remained unclear. The official spokesperson of the army did not make any comment on the situation.

Some military sources claimed they carried out the action because they were told the warehouse was used for storing different military supplies, including food items for armed opposition loyal to First Vice President, Riek Machar.

"The information was received from the command was that the warehouse was used as the main store for military supplies belonging to the SPLA-IO [Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition]. We were told it was not a warehouse for relief items. The command said they were military supplies which we should capture and destroy them," said a military officer on Friday who was part of the operation.

WFP confirmed in a report on its website that warehouse has been ransacked but did not say the identity of the group. The area in which the warehouse is located however falls under exclusive control of the government forces after armed opposition forces changed their headquarters following days of intensive fighting in which several lives and properties have been lost.

Government soldiers were seen carrying stolen food items on their heads and shoulders while others used private and military vehicles to ferry away the looted items, some of which were seen being sold in Gudele 2 market, located west of the town.

The warehouse, according to the report of the WFP, was holding one month of life saving food items for 220,000 people before the fighting erupted.

Joyce Luma, head of the WFP in South Sudan, said the looting by the South Sudanese army loyal to President Salva Kiir, occurred after they have already provided food assistance to thousands of displaced people sheltering at the protection of civilian sites manned by the United Nations in the country in two separate camps.

(ST)

July 15, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan's First Vice President, Riek Machar, said the fighting that erupted between his bodyguards and President Salva Kiir's forces at the J1 Palace or State House on Monday, 8 July, in the national capital, Juba, was calculated to kill him.

Machar in his first public statement to the BBC Focus on Africa on Friday after abandoning his base in the outskirts of Juba early this week said he is “around Juba” but would neither disclose his location nor return to the town to meet President Kiir until the security issues were addressed.

He was responding to the call by President Kiir to meet him. Machar however said he feared for the lives of his officials and for himself after the incident, adding he was also worried about the safety of his ministers currently inside Juba.

“We have a pending meeting, he as president and me as vice president. And also if it were a normal situation, we would meet, but the incident that took place on the 8th [July] in the State House is a very despicable incident, where there was a shootout, and a dog fight, when we were in a meeting,” Machar told the BBC.

“To me that was a calculated plan to kill me,” he said.

Machar's comments confirmed earlier statements from his spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, who said shortly after the fighting erupted at the palace that the attack on “Machar's bodyguards” was intended to “harm” or “arrest” him. The media official said he suspected that the plan was to scare Machar away from the palace compound and then get killed in crossfire if he tried to leave the palace so that the perpetrators would deny knowledge of how he died.

However, Machar decided to remain in the palace until he was escorted by a combination of his force and those loyal to President Kiir. But on Sunday, his military base and residential area was attacked and his house bombed, resulting to relocation of the base.

The First Vice President who also leads an opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) said he was willing to return back to Juba but after a third force is deployed in the capital to take charge and ensure safety and no return to violent confrontations. He said he could not trust President Kiir's assurance to protect him and his officials.

“That is why the IGAD Council of Ministers decided that there should be an intervention force, third force, that be deployed in Juba and Juba be demilitarized,” he said.

The opposition leader also condemned the Friday's arrest and beating of his party's secretary general, Dhieu Mathok Diing, who is also minister of Energy and Dams. Machar said he immediately called President Kiir after receiving the news that his minister was beaten at Crown Hotel, adding that President Kiir denied knowledge of what had happened.

The transitional government of national unity, Machar said, is “fragmented and split”, adding that there was need to address security issues in Juba and return the situation to normalcy.

He said he was waiting for the outcome of a proposed meeting in Juba of the chiefs of defence forces from the region on how to tackle the security of Juba.

(ST)

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July 14, 2016 (WAU) – Authorities in Wau's main referral hospital have dismissed as misleading reports alleging that the medical facility had been closed to visiting patients.

The admission room at Wau teaching hospital, July 14, 2016 (ST)

The acting Minister of Health in Wau state, Awadhia Yakub told Sudan Tribune that, despite patients not turning out for treatments at Wau teaching hospital, the medical institution was fully in operation.

She said since last month's outbreak of violence in Wau, many patients and doctors deserted the hospital, but had now started returning to their duty stations, despite the few patients in there.

“We in the ministry of health and concerned organisations are working together to offer health services to those in need,” said Yakub.

The minister, however, said the security situation in town was calm and called upon citizens to return to their homes, in addition to urging all nurses and doctors who deserted to immediately resume work.

“The POCs [Protection of Civilian Camps] where people are living are not friendly with the lives of the children [and] therefore, there is a need for those living at the camps to return home,” she stressed.

South Sudan, Africa's newest nation, is one of poorest countries in the world with the worst indicators of development, health and education.

(ST)

July 14, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - New Arab League Secretary General Thursday reaffirmed the support of the regional body to a Sudanese initiative for Arab food security to be discussed during the upcoming summit.

Ahmed Aboul-Gheit

Ahmed Aboul Gheit was in Khartoum where he met with President Omer al-Bashir. The former Egyptian foreign minister discussed with the Sudanese leader his initiative for food security which will be among the agenda of the Arab summit in Nouakchott.

The Arab League leaders will meet in the Mauritanian capital on 26-27 July. Also the meeting will discuss the fight against terrorism in the region.

Following a meeting with Bashir, Aboul Gheit announced his unlimited support to the food security project, saying all the Sudanese initiatives for the next Arab summit will receive the necessary attention from the Arab League and his person.

He said that the Arab League prepared a report on Bashir's initiative for Arab food security and a draft resolution on this respect will be submitted to the summit to find a mechanism to fund the project

Since three years, al-Bashir proposed to the Arab leaders to invest in his country infrastructures and enter into strategic partnerships with Khartoum to secure Arab food supplies.

Arab countries are among the world 's biggest importers of grain, import two-thirds of its sugar needs, most of the meat and milk needs, all of its tea, a significant portion of its oils, fruits and vegetables needs in light of the increasing population.

Concerning South Sudan request to join Arab League as observer, Aboul-Gheit said that AL Charter does not allow that, but he pointed that he is trying to convince Arab countries to give South Sudan the status of “special observer”.

He further stressed that he would report to Arab Ministerial Council in September on South Sudan.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Obeid Mohamed, on his part, pointed that Sudan welcomes Aboul-Gheit visit to Sudan and supports his appointment as AL secretary general.

“Sudan supports AL secretary general and will cooperate with him to enhance the Arab body,” said Obeid.

Obeid further added that Aboul-Gheit has briefed al- Bashir on AL efforts to address the challenges that face Arab countries.

Sudan joined the Arab League 19 January 1956, ten days after independence from Anglo-Egyptian rule.

The Arab League has 22 member states as of 2016. The Arab League was founded in Cairo in 1945 by the Kingdom of Egypt, Kingdom of Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syrian Republic, Transjordan (Jordan from 1946) and North Yemen (later becoming Yemen).

(ST)

July 14, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese security forces are deliberately blocking people from leaving the country in violation of their right to freedom of movement, Amnesty International has revealed.

Aid workers from different Non-Governmental Organizations in South Sudan arrive at Wilson airport in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from Juba. (AP Photo)

The organization said it has received reports from two charter companies that National Security Service officers have ordered them not to carry South Sudanese nationals, particularly men.

A non-governmental organization has also reported that their South Sudanese staff was prevented from boarding a flight to Entebbe, Uganda.

“This arbitrary conduct by the South Sudanese security forces is totally unacceptable. South Sudan must respect people's right to freedom of movement, including the right to leave their own country,” said Elizabeth Deng, Amnesty International's South Sudan Researcher.

“It is absolutely critical that both parties to the conflict do not obstruct safe passage of civilians fleeing to places of refuge both inside and outside of the country,” she said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

Juba international airport is packed with security personnel who block men from taking flights to other countries, resulting to detention of many of the passengers who were seen thrown into security vehicles and driven back into town.

Sources said security personnel are only allowing their relatives or friends to board planes.

Thousands of South Sudanese people have reportedly also gathered at the country's southern border of Nimule, seeking to enter into Uganda, but they are also being prevented from crossing over.

Juba airport was reopened on Tuesday after a ceasefire was announced to end days of fighting between rival armed forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President, Riek Machar, which left hundreds of people dead and thousands displaced.

Charter and evacuation flights have been leaving since the airport reopened, but commercial flights have only resumed on Thursday, but freedom of movement to other countries has not yet been eased.

IGAD, the East African regional bloc, had earlier called on the South Sudanese government to reopen the airport to reactivate resumption of flights.

(ST)

July 14, 2016 (JUBA) - The Nuer community in Uganda have condemned renewed fighting in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, between two rival forces from Friday and Monday, describing it as violation of the August 2015 peace agreement.

The community members said the recent violence in the country is likely to increase more suffering for local citizens and places the country to uncertain future or “great danger.”

They also blamed the international community in general and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in particular, that mediated the peace process, for not monitoring its implementation and putting pressure on violators.

Stephen Bar, chairman for the Nuer community in Kiryandongo resettlement camp in Uganda, told Sudan Tribune that what had happened in South Sudan this week was threatening the peace agreement.

"This indicator shows the collapse of long lasting peace agreement that was almost to be implemented, we put all [the] blame on…UNSC, IGAD, AU, TROIKA and JMEC," he said.

He criticized the chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) for not playing an effective role in safeguarding the peace deal.

The failure to demilitarize Juba city before arrival of first vice president, Riek Machar, and the delay in establishing contentment areas of the opposition's SPLA-IO forces in greater Bahr El Gahzal and Equatoria regions is a setback to peace.

They also accused the SPLA forces allied to president Salva Kiir of allegedly starting the war in Juba and of targeting civilian sites who took refuge in UN camps.

"We blamed the government of president Salva Kiir's forces, for using heavy artilleries shelling and helicopters attacks, which has resulted into the death of 8 civilians and wounded 65 others," Bar said.

Koang Gatwech, a senior adviser for Nuer community in Uganda, has also blamed the international community for allegedly watching the crimes being committed by government and failed to act immediately.

"The targeting of two SPLM/SPLA-IO officers by military intelligence and national security by the government of president Salva Kiir on 2th-5th July 2016 at the hand of JMEC, with in the same month on 7th two arrival forces clashed at Gudelle Checkpoint the area of Lou clinic and resulted into death of five Soldiers from government side, JMEC and others partners without quick intervention," he said.

He said the fights between president Salva Kiir bodyguards and first vice president unit forces during a meeting conducted on Friday, 8 July, in presidential palace of J1 was a total failure of leadership in the country.

"The losses of life on our dear sons from both sides, as well as fighting continued up to checkpoint Jebel Kujur which is a cantonment site of SPLM/SPLA-IO is a clear violation of peace," he added.

The group also added that the failure to commemorate the fifth anniversary of independence of the country was regrettable to the South Sudanese people.

"Instead to celebrate the joyful day we were trapped into conflict, this has made us all unhappy with current situation which includes ethnicity [based] targeting," he said.

(ST)

July 14, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, has dismissed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation after the minister attended regional body meeting that resolved to send extra troops to South Sudan in aftermath of renewed conflict last week.

irino Hiteng (ST Photo)

Cirino Hiteng was fired in a presidential decree read on state-owned TV, the South Sudan Broadcasting Cooperation ((SSBC), on Tuesday.

The presidential order did not give any reason for relieving Hiteng who rejoined cabinet in April in the transitional government of national unity in accordance with the peace agreement that ended 21 months of conflict.

The relieved minister was appointed on Former Detainees (FDs) ticket as part of three men ministers for their party. The other position held by FDs is Hiteng's boss, Foreign Affiars Minister, Deng Alor Kuol and Transport Minister, John Luk Jok.

The decision to dismiss Hiteng by President Kiir has not been publicly condemned by FDs leadership but their supporters have criticized the move as violation of the peace agreement. President Kiir has no power to dismiss a minister who does not belong to his party unless recommended to him by the leadership of that particular party.

Hiteng represented South Sudan in Nairobi on Monday during an extraordinary meeting of the ministers of IGAD countries. The gathering discussed the latest eruption of conflict in South Sudan.

The regional body, which brokered the peace agreement between the government of President Kiir and First Vice President, Riek Machar, issued a communique that threatened military intervention in the new nation.

President Kiir has reacted against the proposal, saying he did not want to see in his country's soil even a “single” foreign soldier besides the current United Nations peace keepers.

However, thousands of Ugandan foreign troops were seen on Thursday crossing into South Sudan and matching towards its capital, Juba.

(ST)

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