Africa

June 17, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan president, Salva Kiir, has defended his commitment to combating corruption in his administration, pushing the blame to global community for failure to support his drive to recover public funds stolen and stashed into foreign accounts by former and current government officials and their business associates before and after independence.

President Salva Kiir addresses the nation at the South Sudan National Parliament in Juba, November 18, 2015. (Photo Reuters/Jok Solomon)

President Kiir's Press Secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny, said the president attempted to recover the stolen monies but could not get the need support from the international community.

“The people of South Sudan and President Salva Kiir are the victims of corruption. It is the desire of the president to ensure those stolen money are recovered. This was why he wrote letters to 75 officials to return the money they have stolen and even offered to pardon them. This was a clear demonstration of willingness to combating corruption but the international community did not support this important campaign,” said Ateny on Friday.

The presidential aide was reacting to a report by a United States-based policy advocacy group, the Enough Project, which called on president Kiir to exhibit strong leadership and take bold decision if he were serious to combat corruption.

Enough Project also stressed that the call for global support was not formalized, suggesting lack of seriousness on the part of President Kiir.

Ateny however emphasized that his boss would be the last person in the country to entertain corruption.

He pointed to the sentencing to life imprisonment of officials in the President's office believed to have played a role in the scandal in which 14 million US dollars and 30 million South Sudanese pounds, slipped between the fingers through forgery and impersonation of presidential seals.

The officials who stole the money got approvals from the central bank in the name of security matters at the presidency over the past years.

(ST)

June 17, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani would visit Sudan next July upon an invitation from the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir, said foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour.

President Omer al-Bashir received by the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha on 16 June 2016 (QNA Photo)

Al-Bashir on Friday concluded a two-day visit to the Qatari capital of Doha.

Ghandour, who spoke at the airport upon return of al-Bahsir and his accompanying delegation, said the latter has invited Emir Tamim to attend a celebration on completion of the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), noting that the latter has accepted the invitation.

The Doha brokered the Darfur peace negotiations resulted in the signing of the DDPD by the Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) in July 2011.

The Sudanese top diplomat said that al-Bashir has discussed with the Qatari Emir ways for promoting and strengthening bilateral ties besides coordination in the regional and international issues.

He pointed that the two leaders also discussed the Qatari investments in Sudan and the convening of the Joint Ministerial Committee and the Joint Political Consultation Committee between the two countries, saying the foreign ministers of the two countries have been instructed to prepare for holding the meetings.

It is noteworthy that the Qatari investments in Sudan amounts to $1,7 billion including agricultural, real estate and banking investments.

Ghandour added that the two sides agreed to hold the Joint Ministerial Committee meeting in November, pointing that the meetings of the delegation with the Qatari ministers have discussed issues of common concern.

Al-Bashir was accompanied by the Minister of the Presidency Fadl Abdallah, the Foreign Minister, Finance Minister Badr al-Din Mahmoud and the director of the president's office Taha Osman.

Ghandour further thanked Qatar on behalf of the Sudanese government and people for the huge efforts that it continued to make and particularly with regard to the peace and development process in Darfur.

(ST)

June 17, 2016 (JUBA) – Spokesperson of the South Sudanese First Vice President and leader of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), Riek Machar, said their priority is to restore peace and stability in the country and not to return to violence.

James Gatdet Dak, press secretary of the opposition leader, Machar, was responding to the queries about the request allegedly made by the South Sudanese army (SPLA) of President Salva Kiir's faction that the SPLA-IO should help in fighting those who on Wednesday attacked Raja, state capital of the newly created Lol state.

Gunmen, described as “bandits” and “criminals” by the SPLA, captured Raja on Wednesday morning but were repulsed in the evening by a combined forces of South Sudan army and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), a Sudanese rebel group from Darfur which has a base near Raja inside South Sudan.

Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang, spokesperson of the SPLA of President Kiir's faction, said they have appealed to the leadership of the SPLM-IO to help fight the gunmen in Western Bahr el Ghazal.

But the spokesperson of the SPLM-IO leader said their army's priority was to consolidate peace and not to join in further violence.

“What we recommend is that the focus should be on restoring peace and stability across the country, but not to mobilize forces to renew violence. The priority is to ensure that forces of all parties are cannoned in accordance with the security arrangements. This should also include bringing on board peacefully other armed groups - be they civilians or soldiers - to stop fighting,” James Gatdet Dak told Sudan Tribune when contacted on Friday.

He said until forces of the rival armies of the SPLA-IO and SPLA are assembled and cantoned in specific cantonment areas across the country, it will be difficult to know or ascertain who is still fighting who and for what reason.

He also said the opposition forces in Bahr el Ghazal region as well as in Equatoria and Upper Nile regions have been strictly following directives from the top command to abide by the permanent ceasefire, pending establishment of their cantonment areas.

Dak added that the SPLA and any other armed groups should do the same by observing the ceasefire.

SPLA on Wednesday said they were attacked by a group of “bandits” in Raja town and called on the SPLA-IO to help fight the gunmen, despite earlier denial that the opposition forces existed in Bahr el Ghazal region.

However, SPLA-IO did not send in forces to fight against the unknown gunmen.

(ST)

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By Steve Paterno

In theory, the war in South Sudan ended with the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity. However, the recent deadly skirmishes, particularly in the towns of Kajo-Keji and Raja, will make one think otherwise.

There are several compounding reasons for such sad events, which often result into lost of lives, destruction of properties, and destabilization of the country.

First, Dr. Riek Machar, a militia leader, currently First Vice President, after committing mass murder, hyped his rebellion of two years old by over promising his supporters with most upper positions in government, since he believes he would be automatically the president through his tribal magician prediction of twentieth century.

Unfortunately, amidst the hype, he is being glorified by the international community, praised by his tribal loyalty, and overly misunderstood by the opportunists.

So, when the South Sudanese Compromised peace was signed, the reality began to show. The tribal rebellion of militant Dr. Riek Machar that was centred and was so confined and was on a verge of defeat in the so-called Greater Upper Nile is now popping up in Greater Bahr-el-Ghazel and Greater Equatoria.

Machar never fulfil the pledge he made to his opportunistic supporters. He is accused of being not just tribalistic, but practicing nepotism into the core; in a country that needs unity so much at the moment. In simple words, his opportunistic supporters are saying: he is running the militia outfit as a family affair. His Ex-wife, Angelina Teny, is the top adviser. The one called Gen. Taban Deng Gai, who is Angelina's cousin is top political leader, and he is the overall boss. It must be noted that the trio grew up in the same household of Angelina's father, who was a teacher and undertook Machar under his armed when Machar came from the village for studies.

Since, then, Machar has subjected the people of Nassar and the whole Nuer tribe for senseless war for his ascendancy to power. There is now ongoing serious talks among Nuer intellectuals who recognize the sovereignty of South Sudan to stop Machar antagonism and sense of betrayal.

Another issue that is needed to be underlined is that since Machar declared cantonment of his troops in Greater Bahr-el-Ghazel and Greater Equatoria, the sleeper cells ignited in these regions, but unfortunately for them, they have no positions or they actually lost the positions which Machar once promised them. Now they are continuing with the war, while peace is given a chance.

It is now the responsibility of the government to deal with such outlaw groups, for Machar to contain them, and then for the so proposed hybrid court to note their atrocities; under whose command they are operating, and take actions or there will never be justice and accountability or peace in the country.

South Sudan stability is within grasp of its people, but it is time to identify the spoilers, especially those with long track record and stem them out. And the South Sudanese people, with their determination will fulfil such a long-lived dream of freedom, equality and prosperity.

June 16, 2016 (KHARTOUM)- The Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Thursday arrived in unannounced visit to Doha where he held talks on bilateral relations with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani .

Al-Bashir is accompanied in his two-day visit to Doha with a high-level delegation including the ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance.

Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told the official news agency SUNA that al-Bashir and Tamim discussed the bilateral relations and regional issues, especially in the Arab region.

Ghandour further said the Sudanese ministers held bilateral meetings with their Qatari counterparts, where they tackled ways to improve bilateral relations.

Head of the Information Department at the Sudanese Presidency Obai Izz-al-Din said the visit of President al-Bashir to Doha during the month of Ramadan reflects the deeply-rooted ties between the two countries.

The visit is also recognition to the continuous Qatari efforts to support the peace process in Sudan, he added.

Qatar supported the peace process to end Darfur conflict and facilitated the two-year process with the armed groups that ended by the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) with the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) in July 2011, and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)-Dabajo in April 2013.

Doha which chairs the International Follow-up Committee for DDPD Implementation continue to facilitate talks with the holdout groups and seeks to bring them to join the framework document.

However, Khartoum still seeks Doha financial support to its economy and hopes to see more Qatari investments in the east African country.

The spokesperson of the Sudanese presidency said the talks will review joint coordination on regional issues, peace process and the development in Sudan.

The Qatari Ambassador to Khartoum Rashid al-Nuaimi said the visit comes in the context of the distinguished relations between Sudan and Qatar.

Al-Nuaimi has referred to the Qatari efforts to support peace in Darfur through the committee of follow-up the implementation of the Doha Peace Document besides the efforts to persuade the non-signatory movements to join the peace process.

Al-Nuaimi has described the Sudanese-Qatari relations as distinguished and witnessing big progress in terms of bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian fields.

On his part, the Sudanese Ambassador to Qatar, Yasir khidir, said the Sudanese-Qatari relations will discuss pushing these ties ahead, promoting the joint cooperation and coordination on all regional and international arenas.

The talks reviewed the significant Qatari investments in Sudan in areas of agriculture, mining and infrastructure, Khidir said, adding that the parties will also review the signed agreements and Qatari investments in Sudan.

Last April, Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid met in Doha with Qatari investors and called to invest in agriculture, mining, oil and tourism sectors.

Also Qatar in the past pledged to invest up to $2 billion in Sudan, including purchase of government bonds issued by the African nation. But it only received one billion.

The Qatari investments in Sudan worth 1.7 billion dollars and include, real estates, agriculture and the banking.

(ST)

June 15, 2016 (RUMBEK) - Authorities in South Sudan's Western Lakes state say calm has improved to the region.

Map detail showing South Sudan's Lakes state in red

The local government and law enforcement agency, Benjamin Makuer said local residents are engaged in agriculture and operating local businesses.

Makuer said the recent suspected revenge killing was the only insecurity incident recorded and security agents were instructed to bring the suspected person to face justice.

“The only incident happened on Sunday whereby police officer, Deng Mangar Gurke was killed. I had to search all options to bring the murderer to face justice and all security agents are doing their work to bring that suspected person who killed policeman Deng Mangar Gurke,” he said.

The local government minister, however, congratulated the Western Lakes population for working toward restoring calm.

Meanwhile schools in Wulu county, located south of the Western Lakes capital, Rumbek have finally been reopened.

Inter-communal clashes had forced Rumbek East county residents to flee into Wulu county, occupying the school.

But minister Makuer disclosed that those who fled during inter-communal to Wulu returned to their homes of origin.

The county education director, William Koji, said the school premises sheltered the displaced from Rumbek East county.

He equally admitted that a large number of those displaced started returning to their homes after a peace agreement was signed to bring the communities together.

Earlier this year, however, communities in Rumbek East agreed to peacefully end their deadly conflicts over cattle raids and bride wealth and agreed they would live together.

(ST)

June 16, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan will soon embark on fresh registration aimed at screening foreign national to identity criminals who will be deported, an official disclosed.

Alfred Ladu Gore (Photo from his page on Facebook)

The country's internal affairs minister, Alfred Lado Gore, said neighboring countries that “boasted” of having exported outlaws to the new country should prepare to receive them.

“Very soon we will announce the registration of all aliens in this country because we want to screen them,” said Gore.

“Those with professions will be taken [and allow to remain in South Sudan] but those in the category of criminals, those with records of crimes and those who are called sex workers will all be deported,” he added.

South Sudan borders are open for any foreigner entering the country. Officials say foreign nationals in South Sudan constitute nearly half of the population in the young nation.

He said specific groups of foreigners should prepare to leave.

“We don't want sex workers to come and destroy our future. We want you to continue seeing your future,” he stressed.

The minister said the South Sudanese population lacked jobs because of the large numbers of foreigners in the country.

“In anyway, there is no country where more than half of the people are from outside. I have learnt that there are 3 to 4 million foreigners in South Sudan and they are in every corner of this country. We will reach them and those we don't want shall be shown exit and have to go,” he said.

In 2013, then minister of interior Aleu Ayieny Aleu expelled foreign commercial cyclists, saying they exacerbate crimes. Unfortunately criminal activities are on the increase.

(ST)

June 16, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The leader of the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) travelled Thursday morning to the Ethiopian capital to take part in meetings of the opposition groups and the international envoys for Sudan over the Roadmap Agreement.

Three armed groups including the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Sudan Liberation Movement Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) ,Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and the National Umma Party (NUP) last March refused a plan for peace brokered by the African Union chief mediator Thabo Mbeki, saying it would reproduce the regime.

Omer al-Digair (ST Photo)

The international community continues to exert efforts in a bid to bridge the gaps and bring them to ink the Roadmap Agreement, considering it represents a good opportunity to end war in Sudan and to open humanitarian access to the needy in the war affected areas.

The holdout groups say they reject the roadmap because, among others, it excludes their allies in the opposition and because they want an inclusive process. Nonetheless, they accept to continue discussions over the peace plan with the African mediation and the international facilitators.

However, their allies of the left parties, gathered in the National Consensus Forces (NCF) declined to participate in such meetings over the peace negotiations, saying they are not concerned by the dialogue with the regime.

Nonetheless, a NCF member, the SCoP, in the early morning of Thursday released a statement saying that its leader Omer al-Digair has just travelled to Addis Ababa to participate in a consultative meeting of the Sudan Call forces to be held on Thursday evening.

The SCoP Spokesperson, Mohamed Hassan Arabi expressed hope that "the meeting would be an addition to the national struggle against the regime of the National Congress Party (NCP)".

Arabi further called on the opposition groups to rise to the challenges facing the country, and to unify their efforts to resist totalitarianism and defeat it, rather than wasting time on marginal disputes.

He further stressed that the SCoP is keen to develop the Sudan Call alliance, because it is the most comprehensive frame to coordinate the action of the opposition groups and unite it to achieve change, and face the challenges of the transitional period in the post NCP regime.

The SCoP official said the consultations will discuss the Sudan Call's internal issues particularly the implementation of the decisions of Paris meeting and the local and international political developments.

He further stressed that the meeting has nothing to do with the African Union mediation, as it was rumoured that the opposition will sign the Roadmap Agreement.

Last April, the Sudan Call groups met in the French capital Paris where they reiterated their rejection of the roadmap and expressed readiness for a comprehensive political solution that leads to a just peace, and a full democratic transformation in the Sudan.

They also discussed an organizational structure including a presidential coordination council comprised of ten members who equally represent the five components of the alliance.

But the NCF said they want only a coordination committee open for any force that want to join their peaceful struggle for a regime change in Sudan.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

June 16, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Ethiopian government on Thursday downplayed a claim by Eritrea that the latter has inflicted heavy losses to Ethiopian troops during the weekend clashes along their disputed border.

Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki (Reuters)

In a statement issued today, Eritrea alleged that its Army has killed 200 Ethiopian troops and wounded more than 300 further saying the disclosed figures are conservative estimates.

The statement issued by the Eritrean ministry of information added that Ethiopian forces were “compelled to retreat to locations beyond from where they initially unleashed the attack”

However Ethiopia has immediately downplayed Asmara's claim saying the number of causalities Eritrea alleged to have entailed were only a desperate and cooked up figures aimed to cover the very heavy loss the Eritrean Army suffered.

“This is noting but a belated effort by a shell shocked regime to boost the flailing morale of its few remaining supporters” Ethiopia communication Minister, Getachew Reda, later on Thursday told Sudan Tribune.

“We are not going to be sucked in to a game of numbers because we have achieved our objectives” Getachew said adding “We have no time or interest for morbid excitement”

The Ethiopian Minister has earlier admitted that there would be significant damage on both sides but mainly on the Eritrean side saying the clashes were serious one not just a simple skirmish.

The two rival neighbours on Tuesday traded blame over who first instigated the fresh border fighting that lasted between Sunday and Monday

The fighting took place in Tserona central front, an area about 75 kilometres south of the Eritrean capital, Asmara.

The international community including the United States, the United Nations and the African Union have expressed concern, and called on both sides for maximum restraint as fears swell of a potential an all-out war.

The latest battle is the worst after the 1998-2000 border war which has claimed the lives of an estimated more than 70,000 people.

(ST)

June 16, 2016 (JUBA) - Armed South Sudanese gunmen have killed several officers and soldiers of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), an official army of South Sudan, in the attack targeting government officials in Raja town, which is the administrative capital of Lol state on Wednesday.

An SPLA soldier is pictured behind a South Sudan flag as he sits on the back of a pick-up truck in Bentiu, Unity state January 12, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Andreea Campeanu)

The attack which occurred on Wednesday morning resulted to the brief capture of the state capital by the gunmen.

Senior government officials, including governor Rizik Zechariah Hassan, fled the town for their safety. However, several officers were killed including those in charge of the governor's bodyguards.

The head of gubernatorial guard force, Captain Deng Akuei Diing, is one of several officers and soldiers who have been killed in the attack.

Several others including one of the drivers of governor Hassan have also sustained injuries as they were trying to flee the town amid heavy gunfire.

At least 9 gubernatorial guards, according to several state government officials, have been confirmed killed in the fighting.

Five guards who sustained injuries have been received at Aweil hospital. Others have been received at Nyamellel and Marialbai where they are getting medical attention at local primary health units.

While others are being treated some are reportedly still on their way to where they would be assisted.

Government officials have reportedly returned to Raja on Thursday following the withdrawal of the gunmen who took control of the capital on Wednesday.

There are conflicting explanations as to the exit of the armed fighters. While some said they withdrew voluntarily and government officials had to return after confirming their withdrawal, others said the Darfuri rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) who had a base near the town were asked by the South Sudan army to help in the fight which dislodged the gunmen from the town on Wednesday evening.

No group has claimed responsibility for the assault on the state capital and the government could not identify the attackers only to describe them as “bandits.'

(ST)