Africa

Counting begins in Niger after presidential and parliamentary polls overshadowed by accusations of repression and a row over ID documents.

Burkina Faso's Bertrand Traore scores as Chelsea reach the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 5-1 win against a young Manchester City side .

A Dimitri Payet brace plus goals from Nigeria's Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses help West Ham beat Blackburn to advance in FA Cup.

The Grand Renaissance Dam is under construction on the Blue Nile River in Ethiopia. (Photo AFP/William Lloyd-George)

February 20, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan leader Saturday have agreed to boost relations and reinforce trilateral cooperation in political, security and economic fields.

The crisis over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in 2013 between Addis Ababa and Cairo has finally produced a positive impact on the relations between the three countries, as their leaders are now convinced it better for them to strengthen relations based on common interests.

In a meeting held on the sidelines of a regional economic forum Africa 2016 in Sharam el-Sheikh - Egypt on Saturday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, President Omer al-Bashir and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn discussed ways to develop relations in all fields and tasked their foreign ministers to mull over the creation of an institutional framework for tripartite cooperation.

Speaking after the meeting the spokesperson of the Egyptian presidency Ala Youssef told reporters that the parties discussed the development of relations between the three countries sharing Blue Nile water.

A joint statement issued in Sharam el-Sheikh said the three leaders agreed to create a common fund for the implementation of development projects. Further, they decided to form three political, economic, and social-cultural committees to oversee cooperation between their countries.

Also, it was provided to enhance intelligence and security cooperation in the context of the fight against terrorism, and the training of military and security personnel.

The statement said the three countries agreed to encourage parliamentary meetings and the exchange of visits between the lawmakers in the three nations to "deepening mutual understanding at the grassroots level".

Tensions raised during the past two years between Ethiopia and Egypt over the construction of a dam at 20km from the Sudanese border.

Egypt said the reservoir of this dam is able to hold the whole volume of the entire Blue Nile and threatens its water supply. But Ethiopia said it has no intention to intercept water but to produce 6,ooo megawatts of electricity to cover its needs and to export the rest to neighbouring country.

Sudan's foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters that the issue of the dame was not a crisis over the dam's construction but a "crisis of confidence".

He further reiterated that Ethiopia is committed to the Declaration of Principles which provides that the construction of the Renaissance Dam should not harm the interests of the downstream countries.

(ST)

February 20, 2016 (JUBA) – The United Nations secretary general, Ban ki moon will visit South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) next week, Stephen Dujarric, a spokesperson for the world body, has disclosed.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon (UN)

Over the weekend, the Secretary-General will leave New York for a visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan,” he announced on Friday.

Ki moon, the UN said in a statement, is expected in Goma on 23 February to visit people impacted by the insecurity and humanitarian crisis in the region, including those living internally displaced people's camps.

The UN chief will reportedly be in the DRC capital, Kinshasa for the opening session of the Great Lakes Private Sector Investment Conference and will meet the DRC leader, Joseph Kabila, state officials and activists.

Meanwhile, the secretary general will be in South Sudan on 25 February, where he is expected to meet President Salva Kiir and visit a Protection of Civilians' site that is run by the UN Mission in that country (UNMISS).

This will be the second time the UN secretary general will be visiting South Sudan ever since the world's youngest nation obtained its independence from neighbouring Sudan in July 2011.

(ST)

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The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria has strongly condemned bombings in two Syrian cities earlier today that resulted in more than 100 people killed or injured, including children.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has commended the peaceful holding of elections in the Central African Republic (CAR) this past Sunday, calling for the timely holding of the second round of legislative elections to complete the political transition process.

The main opposition leader in Uganda, Kizza Besigye, rejects the result of presidential polls which saw Yoweri Museveni win a fifth term in office.

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

February 20, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – A group of Eritrean armed men allegedly carried out mass kidnappings from a region in North Ethiopia bordering the tiny Red Sea nation.

Eritrea, which borders Sudan and Ethiopia, has been dubbed the North Korea of Africa (HRW)

Multiple sources told Sudan Tribune Saturday that a group of armed men allegedly dressed in Eritrean army uniforms crossed borders to Ethiopia and forcibly kidnapped over 80 young Ethiopian miners who were mining gold in Tigray regional state

The kidnapping were carried out earlier this month at Kafta-Humera district in Tsirga Girmai locality.

The abducted were among the estimated 400 traditional gold miners who had long been engaged in traditional gold mining activities near the Ethiopia - Eritrea shared border.

When contacted by phone, Hagos Tesfamichael, a gold miner himself, told Sudan Tribune that the gunmen whose numbers were yet to be verified surrounded a group of gold mining workers and threatened to open fire against them if they attempts to escape.

Tesfamichael said he had seen the helpless miners forced to cross the Eritrean territory via Mereb River at gunpoint.

Once they reached at Mereb River in to the Eritrean side, said Tesfamichael, some of the miners considered escaping, but were immediately shot dead.

As a result one was shot dead immediately while many others were wounded, he said.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the first since 2012, when Eritrean soldiers similarly crossed borders to Ethiopia and kidnapped over 100 miners in the region.

The armed men are said to have been speaking Eritrean Tigrigna and are believed to be members of the Eritrean Army or a group allied with the regime in Asmara.

Ethiopia has routinely accused Eritrea of orchestrating a number of cross-border attacks and mass kidnapping using Ethiopian rebels it harbors, an accusation Asmara denies.

Ethiopian officials' weren't immediately available for comments over the alleged attacks carried out on its soil.

The Horn of Africa's nation has previously carried out attacks on targets inside Eritrea to what Addis Ababa says is a proportional measures to Eritrea's continued aggression including to cross-border kidnappings targeting foreign tourists.

In 1998, the two neighbors fought a two-year long war over their disputed border which has claimed the lives of at least 70,000. The row over their border remains unresolved and forces of both sides regularly engage in lower-scale skirmishes.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

February19, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – Ethiopia and Kenya have reportedly offered to send helicopters to the war-ravaged Somalia to support the African Union Mission (AMISOM) forces who are currently fighting the al-Qaida allied Al-Shabaab militants.

Russian-manufactured MI-24 helicopter (Daily Telegraph)

Sources at the AU said the two nations offered to deploy undisclosed numbers of attack and transport helicopters to reinforce the fight against Al-Shabaab.

In 2012, the United Nations Security Council approved 12 military helicopters to AMISOM, but these aircrafts have not yet been delivered, hence hindering the AU forces' operation.

AMISOM, which for long been calling on UN for the deployment of the promised helicopters has accused the world body of giving little attention on the matter.

AMISOM says the regional force's military operation against al-Shabab has been hindered by shortage of helicopters and blames the UN for the lack of air support.

As well as lack of helicopters, poor command structure, lack of coordination and underfunding are also among factors affecting AMISOM operation and further exposing it to series of deadly raids on its bases.

Ethiopia's and Kenya's helicopter offer to AMISOM is in line with the UN Security Council resolution 2036 of 2012, according to the African Union.

According to AU, the AMISOM deployment model requires contingents to deploy with their own equipment which will then be compensated by the United Nations via a logistical support package to African Union Mission in Somalia.

The helicopters will mainly be used to dislodge Al Shabaab militants from areas around strategic towns,to carry out attacks at remote areas as well as for logistical support and medical evacuation.

In 2012, Uganda deployed four helicopters to AMISOM in Somalia –the first aircrafts for the AU mission however three of the Ugandan army Mi-24 helicopters were crashed on the night of August that year while en-route to Kismayo to combat the Islamist militants.

What caused the crash of the three helicopters remain mysterious but AMISOM has blamed bad weather in the Kenyan highlands where they went down.

Formed in 2007, AMISOM was deployed to Somalia to help protect the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu from a violent Islamist group al-Shabaab which had been in control to most pat of the country including the capital, Mogadishu, after emerging in 2005.

The continental body's troops pushed Al-Shabab out of the capital in 2011 and supported the weak Somali government to expand its control into larger parts of the country.

Currently Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti and Burundi contribute troops to the AU Mission in Somalia.

(ST)

February 20, 2016 (ZALINGEI) - Governor of Central Darfur state Ga'afar Abdel-Hakam Saturday has vowed that the Sudanese army would destroy the last bastions of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-AW) led by Abel-Wahid al-Nur in Jebel Marra within the next two days.

Central Darfur governor, Jaafar Abdel Hakam (Photo SUNA)

Since last January, Sudanese army and its allied militias carry out a large scale military operation in Jebel Marra areas on the positions of SLM-AW. The government accuses the rebel group of attacks on civilians and commercial convoys.

Earlier this month, the Sudanese army claimed clearing armed rebels from 17 areas in Jebel Marra and called on civilians in the area to return to their villages and resume a normal life.

Abdel-Hakam, who addressed a meeting of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in the capital of Central Darfur state, Zalingei Saturday, said that large numbers of rebels have fled Jebel Marra following their defeat while others died or joined the peace process, stressing the army will pursue and defeat the rebel remnants in Sroring area soon.

In a statement seen by Sudan Tribune Saturday, Abdel-Hakam called on the rebels to join the peace process and abandon the SLM leader, saying the latter would soon return to Sudan alone.

He added that the government welcomes any move by the rebels towards peace, stressing however that the army wouldn't hesitate to defeat the rebels and secure the country.

Abdel-Hakam pointed to the security stability in Central Darfur state during the past two years, saying the stable security situation enabled his government to accomplish major development and services projects.

He called for further cooperation among the various components of the community in order to encourage the government to provide more services.

The fighting in Jebel Marra has forced over 44,000 people to flee the area said OCHA office in Sudan last week. The UN body said 31,000 IDPs are now in North Darfur and 13,000 moved to Central Darfur.

(ST)

February 20, 2016 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese president Salva Kiir has issued a statement strongly distancing himself from this week's armed confrontation involving forces allied to his government in the two regions of Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile.

President Salva Kiir addresses the nation from the State House on September 15, 2015, in Juba (Photo AFP/Charles Atiki Lomodong)

President Kiir, according to a statement bearing his name, which was extended to Sudan Tribune by his spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny, condemned the attack in Wau and Malakal, saying what occurred was without the consent of his office .

“I condemn in the strongest terms possible the recent deadly clashes which occurred in Malakal and Wau between government and Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) forces”, said Kiir

The government and the armed opposition leadership, according to the presidential statement, have committed themselves to cessation of hostilities and no longer at war with each other to carry out offenses to inflict and cause atrocities on the lives of innocent civil population in the country.

“Both the government and SPLM-IO have committed to cessation of hostilities and are no longer in a state of war. All parties are coordinating efforts to restore full peace and stability to South Sudan”, the statement adds in part.

He commended police of the United Nations for alleged quick intervention to restore peace and tranquility in the camp under its responsibility in Malakal.

“I commend the UNMISS police for quickly intervening and restoring calm. UNMISS police is legal authority within its jurisdiction to maintain protection of civilians site and act within their mandate. As partners, the government is ready to cooperate with UNMISS through our local authorities to de-escalate tension and ensure that the perimeter of the compound remains secure”, said Kiir.

The local authorities in Wau, according to the presidential statement, have restored order and are working to identify and investigate true perpetuators.

“In Wau, our local authorities have restored order and are diligently working to investigate the true perpetuators of these attacks and reconcile the feuding communities. My government remains committed to the full implementation of the peace agreement and as such is preparing for the transitional government of national unity as soon as Dr.Riek returns to Juba”, said the South Sudanese leader.

The president called on the citizens to remain peaceful and tolerance during transitional period and called on peace partners, specifically the intergovernmental authority on development partners to support efforts to secure and maintain peace as it is the crucial elements of implementation of the deal which he and armed opposition leader, Riek Machar signed in August 2015.

(ST)

February 20, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The chairman of the rebel Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) Malik Agar has appealed to the international community to put pressure on the Sudanese government to achieve comprehensive peace in the country.

SPLM-N chairman Malik Agar (C) poses for a picture with Abdel Aziz Al Hilu (R) and Yasir Arman (L) (photo SPLM-N)

In a message on the occasion of the United Nations World Day of Social Justice (WDSJ), Agar urged the regional and international community and the concerned bodies to continue to focus on issues of injustice in Sudan.

He demanded the international community to have the courage to confront the injustice exercised by the Sudanese government against its people, asking it to meet its commitment towards the Sudanese communities affected by the injustice.

Agar said the Sudanese youth, women and opposition forces were subjected to various forms of injustice by the regime, urging them to build on those commonalities to reform or change the regime in order to achieve justice and democracy.

He said that change is “inevitable”, pointing the SPLM-N was pushed by the systematic injustice to engage in war with the regime, noting they recognize the dangers of the armed resistance and its negative impact on people's lives and the economy.

South Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile state have been the scene of violent conflict between the SPLM-N and Sudanese army since 2011.

Last December, negotiations between Khartoum and the SPLM-N stalled after the government delegation insisted that the objective of talks is to settle the conflict in the Two Areas, while the SPLM-N team has called for a holistic approach to resolve ongoing conflicts across Sudan.

Agar added the SPLM-N opted for the comprehensive peaceful settlement approach following 50 years of injustice in Sudan, saying the peaceful solution is crucial to build a society that is based upon social justice, human rights and democratic values.

The SPLM-N leader accused the President Omer al-Bashir of compromising the interests of the Sudanese people to avoid criminal prosecution while on the other hand pretends to fight against terrorism.

It is worth to mention that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued two arrest warrants for Bashir in 2009 and 2010 charging him with war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity in Sudan's western region of Darfur.

Agar accused unnamed circles in the international community of appeasing Bashir and his regime for his cooperation in the fight against terrorism, describing those circles as “corrupt”.

It is worth to mention that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued two arrest warrants for Bashir in 2009 and 2010 charging him with war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity in Sudan's western region of Darfur.

Agar further urged the international community to condemn the Sudanese regime, saying Sudan deserves peace, dignity, freedom, human rights, unity in diversity and the good governance.

Agar said that the conflict in Sudan would only be brought to an end by the true comprehensive national dialogue, saying that dialogue begins by ceasing hostilities and allowing access humanitarian access to the war-affected areas.

He said that dialogue can't be held while the government is shelling the same people involved in the dialogue, pointing to human rights abuses, media censorship and political detainees.

Agar added that the agenda of the ongoing internal dialogue was put by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) to achieve specific objective, saying it would neither bring the war to an end nor achieve permanent peace.

The SPLM-N leader further pointed the internal dialogue wouldn't improve the deteriorating economy or offer and answer to the question of how Sudan should be governed and hence will never achieve social justice.

The internal dialogue conference was inaugurated in Khartoum on October 10 th, 2015 amid large boycott from the major political and armed opposition.

The political forces members of the opposition alliance National Consensus Forces (NCF) and other parties refuse to take part in the dialogue conference before the creation of a conducive environment and the implementation of specific confidence-building measures provided in a roadmap proposed by the African Union mediation team.

Some significant political parties, such as the National Umma Party, the Reform Now Movement and the Just Peace Forum, that approved the process in the beginning. But later they suspended their participation, criticizing the government refusal to postpone the general elections and the lack of political freedoms.

Also, the major armed movements in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile refrained from participating in the dialogue conference citing similar demands.

(ST)

February 19, 2016 (JUBA) — The governor of South Sudan's newly created state of Jonglei, Col. Philip Aguer has appointed his deputy, two ministers and an advisor.

Jonglei State Govornor Philip Aguer (AFP Photo)

Aguer appointed former law enforcement minister, Peter Wal Athiu as his deputy, former parliamentary minster, Susan Lith Aluong as education minister and Col. Ayom Mach as Jonglei's new finance minister.

The former commissioner of Bor county, Agot Alier Leek was appointed state legal advisor. All the officials appointed hail from Bor county in South Sudan's Jonglei state.

Jonglei was divided into Western Bieh, Eastern Bieh and Boma states in a decree , which South Sudan's President Salva Kiir publicly issued in October last year.

The governor did not, however, indicate when he would appoint other ministers, majoritu of whom are expected to hail from Twic and Duk counties. A speaker of the state assembly, currently held by Peter Deng Aguer who comes from Twic East county is to be appointed from Duk county as part of an agreed power sharing deal between counties.

Aguer's attempt to appoint a member of the armed opposition as his deput reportedly met stiff resistance from Bor leaders who dismissed the move as being unnecessary.

According to the peace agreement signed in August 2015 between government of President Kiir and former vice president, Riek Machar, Jonglei was one of the states where the opposition would appoint a deputy governor and 40% of the executives.

MIXED REACTIONS

The new appointments got mixed reactions public, with many questioning why old faces appeared in cabinet, yet it was an opportunity for new ones.

"We did not want to see former ministers coming back again this time [because] they never did anything good in the past", Daniel Deng Bol, a teacher, told Sudan Tribune.

"The ministry of education would not survive this time, we wanted a positive chance, but now that Suzan Lith is brought in, she will not do things that would favour us as teachers of this state", he continued.

Others, however, argued that the new governor should have appointed people who were not members of the state legislative assembly.

Some residents also blamed the governor for appointing Ayom to head the finance ministry, yet the post favoured close allies from Twic East county.

All the new appointees were from Bor county, while the remaining positions, including five other ministerial positions, are to be taken up by qualified and trusted individuals from Duk and Twic East counties.

(ST)

Two Serbian captives are confirmed to have died in Friday's US air strikes against the Islamic State group in western Libya, Serbia says.

Former Prime Minister Faustin Touadera is elected president of the Central African Republic, provisional results in the run-off show.

By Steve Paterno

In a most accelerated expediency process to implement an imposed peace pact, Salva Kiir, President of South Sudan Republic appointed Riek Machar as the country's First Vice President—albeit, in absentia and in accordance with the peace accord. The presidential decisive move is applauded by all as a step forward toward the implementations of the peace process. The gesture supposed to witness Riek Machar assuming his newly assigned position followed with the long awaited formation of transitional government.

Such step in actual sense, followed by the phase withdrawals of South Sudanese troops out of the capital Juba as well as other critically important measures of confidence building.

Nevertheless, Riek Machar reactions leaves much in doubt as to how the accord could be implemented without him never ever taking crucial part. In a surprising move, Machar yet again demands for more concessions from the government and international community so as in order for him to assume his assigned position stipulated by the peace agreement.

In a desperate move, Machar screamed victim that his bodyguards must be first transported to Juba before he ever steps foot in that town he so hopelessly wants to rule. In response, the so-called Troika aka international community agreed to help in transporting his bodyguards to Juba.

The most simple, not so fundamental questions about such ambiguous demand about the invisible bodyguards of Riek Machar are: Where are they? What are their level of readiness? How long will it undertake to facilitate their transportation and subsequent deployments? And so on...

Intriguingly, Riek Machar, a chief tribal militiaman is as much confused just like his henchmen, also known as the 'advance team' in Juba—his representatives whom he sent ahead of him in Juba, but seems to have lost touch with one another, because none have objectives anyways.

In his own illusion, Machar further requested more demilitarization of not just Juba, but all the major cities throughout South Sudan, a process that will perpetually held South Sudan in suspense as a hostage for ransoms to Riek Mahar continuous demands, while the country disintegrate, into tribalism. Machar's so-called 'advance team' in Juba, who seems to have already fallen out from him are quickly signaling contradicting messages against him, and such contradictions demands better perspectives, because they are evolving into layers outlined below:

1) Taban Deng Gai Group: Taban Deng Gai is a head of Riek Machar 'advance team' to Juba, but a rather notorious character with a long history of treachery against the struggle of the people of South Sudan. His current position now is to just form transitional government and get over with, a decision, which prompts a fallout with Riek Machar.

2) The Equatorian Group of SPLM-io: This is a group consisted of few desperate individuals from the Greater region of Equatoria who hastily embraced the rebellion of Riek Machar with a hope of gaining higher positions in government. They found it the difficult way. Their recent press conference held in the capital Juba not only implicates Riek Machar, but further highlights the divisions under the people under his control.

3) Troika aka International Community: The international community has as much to praise for as well as to blame for when it comes into the current predicament South Sudanese are facing. The international community projected much hope for a wrong groups, it seems. Answers demanded??
In short, as a way forward, a clear theme is emerging:

1) Festus G. Mogae, Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), proposes that Riek Machar must report to Juba for the reasons which are not only limited to the bulleted points below:
· His so-called bodyguards are being transported to Juba
· He has already advance team in Juba
· He must assume his duties
· He must show his commitment
· He must not be an obstacle or otherwise
· ETC

2) President Salva Kiir commitments are as follows:
· Welcoming of Riek Machar to Juba by taking extraordinary measures to make such appointment
· Hosting Riek Machar advance team in Juba
· Withdrawing SPLA out of Juba
· Dislodging loyalists from positions of powers to give in to Riek Machar's loyals
For a better perspectives, when Riek Machar orchestrated a coup to overtake Juba, he was under illusion that he had more tribal militias allied to him to overthrow the government overnight. As it turned out, Machar barely escaped the city, saving his neck in the process.

The facts, remain, Juba in particular, and South Sudan in general remains under a full control of a legitimate government of the Republic of South Sudan under President Salva Kiir who rules in accordance with the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan 2011, Amended 2015; ARCISS, and Arusha Agreement to unit SPLM.
In conclusion, South Sudan is seeing the light in the end of the tunnel.

South Sudanese civilians flee fighting in an United Nations base in the northeastern town of Malakal on February 18, 2016, where gunmen opened fire on civilians sheltering inside killing at least five people. (Photo AFP/Justin Lynch)

February 20, 2016 (NEW YORK) – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), European Union (EU) and Troika countries (United States, United Kingdom and Norway) have condemned the recent killing of civilians inside a United Nations camp in Malakal which hosts over 47,000 of internally displaced persons (IDPs). They accused government forces of taking part in the attacks on Shilluk and Nuer communities in the camp.

In a strong-worded statement on Friday, the UN Security Council also accused members of the South Sudanese government's forces for involving in the fighting which initially broke out between members of the Dinka and Shilluk ethnic groups inside the camp.

“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the violence committed by elements of the Shilluk and Dinka communities, which erupted in the protection of civilians site in Malakal, South Sudan on February 17 and continued on February 18, resulting in over 18 deaths and 50 injured,” the statement extended to Sudan Tribune said.

“The members of the Security Council were particularly alarmed by credible reports of armed men in SPLA uniforms entering the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) camp and firing on civilians, and the looting and burning of tents,” it said.

It said the Security Council condemned in the “strongest terms all attacks and provocations against civilians and the United Nations by armed actors, including SPLA soldiers,” and reminded all parties, including government security forces, of the civilian character of the protection of civilian sites in South Sudan.

The statement called on the South Sudanese government to “swiftly investigate” this attack, with the assistance of UNMISS, and bring the perpetrators to justice, saying this crime may constitute a war crime.

“The members of the Security Council stressed that attacks against civilians and UN premises may constitute war crimes, and those involved could be potentially subject to sanctions as authorized under resolution 2206 for actions that threaten the peace, security or stability of South Sudan,” it further warned.

The Council reiterated their full support for UNMISS, as mandated by the Security Council in resolution 2252 (2015), and urged all parties to facilitate UNMISS' freedom of movement and access.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of those who were killed as a result of the violence.

EU, TROIKA CONDEMN THE VIOLENCE

Meanwhile the European Union (EU) and Troika countries (US, UK, and Norway) issued separate statements on Friday condemning the violence in Malakal's UNMISS camp.
“The Heads of Mission condemn the outrageous attacks on civilians that occurred starting Wednesday within the United Nations' Protection of Civilians site in Malakal, South Sudan, carried out by elements that are still to be determined. These attacks killed at least 18 civilians, including two humanitarian workers, wounded ninety and led more than 25000 to flee their shelters to secure areas off the site,” the EU statement partly reads.

The EU also accuses South Sudanese government's forces for involving in the attack against the civilians and called for investigation into the incident.

“The Heads of Mission, while awaiting the outcome of the formal investigation by CTSAMM, call on the Government of South Sudan to investigate and respond to credible reports that its forces were involved in these attacks, which may constitute war crimes,” it said.

EU further urged all forces in the vicinity to exercise restraint and refrain from any activity that could risk escalating the situation.

The EU delegation and heads of mission which signed the statement included Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, The United Kingdom and the Heads of Mission of Canada, Japan and Switzerland.

Troika countries (US, UK, and Norway) also condemned what they said was “credible reports” that government troops took part in the massacre of the civilians inside the UN compound.

“We, the Heads of Mission of the United States, United Kingdom, and Norway (Troika), condemn in the strongest terms the violence that occurred at the UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) protection of civilians (PoC) site in Malakal,” Troika statement says..

“We are particularly concerned by credible reports of the role the Sudanese People's Liberation Army (SPLA) forces stationed outside the UNMISS camp played in escalating and contributing to the violence,” it said.

The statement further called on the government of South Sudan to “immediately conduct an investigation of this violence to identify those responsible, including SPLA forces,” in order to bring perpetrators to justice and prevent similar incidents anywhere in South Sudan.

They also caled for unhindered access for UNMISS and the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring Mechanism to conduct their own independent investigation of the incident.

They also blamed President Kiir's government for unilaterally creating 28 states, which they said impacted on the current violence in the region, and called on President Kiir to suspend the 28 states until further review.

“The tragic events in Malakal demonstrate the destabilizing impact of the issuance of the 28 states decree without local consultation, which has stoked community tensions over fears of a loss of land rights. We call on President Salva Kiir Mayardit to abide by the IGAD Council of Ministers Communique of 31 January 2016 and suspend further implementation of the decree until review by an inclusive, participatory boundary commission,” the Troika statement further reads.

They called on the parties to implement the security arrangements for the national capital, Juba, so as to form a transitional unity government.

“As the Troika continues to engage with South Sudanese parties to implement terms of the August 2015 Peace Agreement, we use this occasion to call for calm and restraint from all parties, including the Government of the Republic of South Sudan, the SPLM-IO forces near Malakal and elsewhere.”

“At this moment, we urge all parties not to fall into the deadly trap of retributive violence, but rather recommit to full and speedy implementation of the August 2015 agreement,” said.

TENS OF THOUSANDS DISPLACED

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says up to 26,000 more people may have been displaced by the Malakal fighting inside the UNMISS camp.

Preliminary information indicates 18 people were killed and more than 90 wounded, but there are fears that the number may increase as members of the Nuer civilians also got killed inside the camp.

A number of civilians remain in very critical conditions. Two clinics, run by the International Organization for Immigration (IOM) and International Medical Corps (IMC), were looted. Some 4,000 displaced Dinka fled to Malakal town, while tens of thousands of Nuer and Shilluk IDPs sought refuge at the UNMISS.

“We have received reports that some 26,000 internally displaced people have fled into the UNMISS base, but we are unable to confirm the number given the fluidity of the situation,” UNHCR report says.

According to government sources, IDPs who fled to Malakal town have found safety in churches and schools. Médecins Sans Frontières confirmed that 18 people have been killed, including two of their staff.

Fire has heavily damaged the POC site, it said, with food, shelter and water being the priority needs currently as children and the elderly are
among the most affected.

(ST)

February 19, 2016 (JUBA) – Lawmakers in the South Sudan's national parliament representing Shilluk tribe have accused the United Nations peacekeeping mission of the country of “leaving helpless civilians” to the mercy of attackers on Wednesday and Thursday in Malakal town, capital of the oil rich Upper Nile state.

New internally displaced persons living in big tents in a UN base in Malakal (Photo Beatrice Debut/MSF)

At least 18 civilians died, according to reports by the medical charity, MSF (Medicines Sans Fortier) but the legislators put the death toll at more than 20 and seventy others injured.

Reading a prepared statement to reporters in parliament on Friday, Onyoti Adigo Nyikwac, the leader of minority in parliament said government backed militia group from Dinka Padang carried out the attacks on civilians sheltering in the protection of civilians (POC) sites managed by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

“However, to our dismay, the civilians were left helpless by the UNMISS protection unit who [are] reported to have run away leaving the civilians being killed and wounded inside the UNMISS protection centres and their tents burnt to ashes,” said Adigo.

UNMISS forces are widely being criticized by the people in South Sudan as caring only for their well-being and benefits instead of applying their Chapter Seven mandate to protect the vulnerable displaced civilians including those under their protection in the camps.
There have been many incidents in which civilians within the premises of the UNMISS POCs have been killed by elements of the government forces, such as in Bor and in Juba.

UNMISS said on Thursday that the fighting erupted between Dinka Padang and Shilluk youths, using machetes and small arms. The peacekeepers did not specify what triggered the clashes. The six Members of Parliament (MPs) on Democratic Change (DC) party tickets, the main opposition in the national parliament, said the cause of the clashes are unknown.

“There has been tension recently between the Dinka and Shilluk civilians inside the protection sites in Malakal but we don't know what exactly led to this fighting,” said Andrew Okony Ayomo, DC lawmaker representing Malakal South and Panyikango county when asked at the news briefing in Juba on Friday.

The MPs called for “inclusive investigation” to establish the cause of the fighting.

“We urge the national government and UNMISS to quickly intervene and form an inclusive investigation team to go to Malakal for fact-finding,” said Adigo, adding that the team has to include officials from the government as well as opposition.

Dinka youth on Thursday morning, the second day of the violence, entered the camp with guns allegedly given to them by elements in the government and began shooting at members of Shilluk and Nuer civilians inside the UNMISS camp.

The MPs described the clashes at POC manned by UNMISS as attack on the peace and demand explanation from the government and UN authorities how guns infiltrated the civilians camp.
(ST)

A family stands beside the burnt granary store in Western Equatoria's Tombura County on 19 Feb 2016 (ST Photo)

February 19, 2016 (YAMBIO) - A woman with her three children have been burnt to death and hundreds of houses set ablaze by wildfire set by unknown person in South Sudan's Tombora county of Western Equatoria state.

Commissioner of Tombura county, Abdalla Juma, told Sudan Tribune on Friday that the incident which occurred on the same day was the “worst situation ever” in his county where people have witnessed a woman with her three children dying and hundreds of houses getting burnt down.

“This is the worst and bad situation ever people of Tombura county have experienced from wildfire which four people in a family died instantly and houses burnt.” Juma said.

The commissioner said he visited the man who lost his wife and three children and also some of those who lost their properties during the incident which occurred on the road to Source Yubu. The county has no fire-fighters to put off the fire whenever such incidents occur.

The wildfire erupted at midday which he said, they believed, someone tried to burn the bushes in his/her garden to clear it for cultivation and spread to the area and caused the destruction, saying hundreds of people are left without shelter and food.

Rukoo Abakundo, the man who lost his wife and three children, while speaking to Sudan Tribune on phone from Tombora described it a “disaster” which had befallen his family.

“A disaster has happened to be burning my wife and all my children, all my properties and I don't know how I am going to survive after this,” Abakundo said.

Tombura County is one of the areas with fertile land and thick forests which the citizens cut during dry season as to prepare ground for planting crops during rainy season. In most cases wildfire burn houses and cause destruction every year if the farmer doesn't clean around their garden before burning.

No humanitarian assistance has been given to the victims by the government nor non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies since the wildfire destroyed properties.

Citizens who are government employed have not received their salaries since January due to the allegation that the salaries of the civil servants in the county were looted last month my armed group.

(ST)