Sudan Tribune

October 26, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's head of the Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan dismissed that any foreign country had paid compensations for victims of terrorism.

Press reports said that Saudi Arabia encouraged Sudan to normalize with Israel and paid compensations to the victims of terrorism, as part of its efforts to increase Donald Trump's chances in the presidential elections.

"The amount of compensation for the families of the victims in the bombings was paid from our own resources, and no country paid it on our behalf," he stressed.

Khartoum had encountered severe difficulties to collect compensations to collect the compensations of terror victims. Officials said that the government bought dollars from the black market and this contributed to the depreciation of the Sudanese pound and the rise in inflation.

Last year, Saudi Arabia and the UAE pledged to pay each 1.5 billion to help Sudan. But in fact, they only gave one billion.

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October 25, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) said its disagreement with the government policies does not affect its commitment to the cohesion of the alliance backing Hamdok cabinet.

Recently, the Sudanese communists criticized the Juba peace agreement and rejected the normalization with Israel.

However, the SCP official spokesperson, Amal Hussein al-Zain told the official news agency SUNA on Sunday that her the leftist party is keen to preserve the cohesion of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) alliance.

"The difference between the party and some allies made some bets that the PCS is working to dismantle the forces of the Declaration of Freedom and Change," al-Zain said.

“The SCP stands and supports any rightful stance or action by the government for the benefit of the broad spectrum of the masses,” she said.

“In return, the party rejected any mistake or any action by the government against the will of the people and the goals of its revolution,” the spokesperson stressed.

The FFC are set to take part in a meeting on the normalization with Israel on Monday afternoon together with the cabinet, the Sovereign Council and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front which will take part in such a meeting for the first time after the signing of the peace agreement.

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October 25, 2020 (NEW YORK) - Sudan is currently embarking on an attempt to mediate between General Thomas Cirillo of the National Salvation Front (NAS) and the Government of South Sudan, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council Thursday last week.

Exiled South Sudanese rebel general Thomas Cirillo poses for a photograph inside his hotel room in Addis Ababa, on April 17, 2017 (Reuters photo)

Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the UN Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa revealed that involvement of the Sudanese government comes in the wake of the ongoing Rome talks mediated by the Sant'Egidio community.

“Authorities in both countries are confident that all outstanding bilateral issues between their countries, including Abyei and resolution of the situation in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile states, will benefit from the friendly relationships and the mutual trust they are now enjoying,” he said.

The UN official commended the strengthening relations between Sudan and neighbouring South Sudan, saying it offers an opportunity for the international community to engage in the two countries.

NAS, however, said reports on Sudan's involvement were not true.

“This statement is not true. NAS is categorically not in contact with Sudan on any mediation. This information is diversionary as well as its purpose. We only know of SSOMA negotiation in Rome under Sant'Egidio. It will be helpful if you can provide us with official statement on this particular matter,” Suba Samuel Manase, the spokesperson for the hold-out group told Sudan Tribune on Friday.

NAS together with its allies in the opposition alliance participated in the third round of talks of the Rome Peace Process between South Sudan Opposition Movement (SSOMA) and the Revitalized Government of National Unity in South Sudan (R-TGoNU), under the auspices of the Sant'Egidio community in Rome from October 9-12.

The third round of the peace process was a continuation of the first and second rounds of talks mediated by the Sant'Egidio community.

Founded in 1968, the Community of Sant'Egidio is a lay Catholic association dedicated to social service provision.

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October 25, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government has begun implementing a national plan to protect civilians in the Darfur region, ahead of the withdrawal of the hybrid operation UNAMID by the end of the year, the foreign ministry said on Sunday.

The tripartite mechanism on the UNAMID held a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the participation Jean-Pierre Lacroix, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Smail Chergui, AU Peace and Security Commissioner.

The meeting intervenes at the end of the meetings of the tripartite technical committee in Khartoum. Also, The two AU and UN officials have to brief a meeting of the UN Security Council on the UNMAID withdrawal by the end of October.

The Sudanese government has repeated its refusal to maintain UNAMID while a new mission prepares to be deployed to support the political transition in Sudan including the implementation of peace agreements.

Also, the transitional government prepared a national plan to protect civilians in the Darfur region when the hybrid peacekeeping forces leave the region.

In a statement released after the end of the meeting, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the government had begun implementing the national plan to protect civilians, practically on the ground, by forming and deploying joint forces to establish security.

"The national plan has been prepared in a comprehensive manner covering all the security aspects," stressed the ministry.

According to the statement, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Sharif Abdallah, told the meeting that Sudan is capable of filling the void left by the UNAMID exit.

He further reiterated the position of his country's to end the mandate of UNAMID to make room for the new United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) and indicated Sudan's willingness to provide needed facilities for the departure of the hybrid mission.

Last June, the UN Security Council extended the UNAMID mandate until the end of 2020 and requested to create coordination with the UNITMAS to determine the modalities and timelines for the handover of responsibilities in Darfur.

In line with the peace agreement of 3 October, a 12,000-strong force including the Sudanese army and the signatory Darfur armed groups will be deployed in the western Sudan region to protect the civilians for 39 months.

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October 25, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - The Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today that his government is sending $5 million worth of wheat to Sudan days after the two nations moved towards normalizing ties in a deal brokered by the United States.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Reuters)

“We are looking forward to a warm peace and are sending $5 million worth of wheat immediately to our new friends in Sudan,” Netanyahu's office tweeted.

“Israel will be working closely with the U.S. to assist Sudan's transition,” it said.

There was no comment from Khartoum on the announcement which would be the first trade-like transaction between the two countries since the 1950s. Sudan still has the Israel Boycott Law adopted in 1958 in effect.

Separately, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sent 67,000 tons of wheat to Sudan today to be allocated to mills in Khartoum and other states, Sudan's official news agency (SUNA) said today.

The wheat shipments are part of an agreement reached this week during a visit by a joint US-Israel delegation to Khartoum to iron out details of the deal by which Sudan agrees to normalizing ties with the Jewish state in return for political and economic incentives chiefly removing it from the list of states that sponsor terrorism.

Sudanese officials told Sudan Tribune that part of the agreement involves $50 million worth of wheat from U.S., UAE & Israel to be dispatched immediately.

Yesterday, the U.S. also announced $81 million in humanitarian assistance to Sudan.

“[T]he day after the Republic of Sudan joined the historic Abraham Accords brokered by President Trump and made peace with the State of Israel, the United States announced $81 million in humanitarian assistance for the people of Sudan as they confront ongoing severe challenges related to a deteriorating economy, the global pandemic, and the worst floods in more than a century,” read a statement By Acting USAID Administrator John Barsa.

“This new funding brings U.S. humanitarian assistance to the people of Sudan to over $436 million for Fiscal Year 2020, including more than $33 million to support the Sudanese response to COVID-19” he added.

This week the US President Donald Trump moved to rescind Sudan's terrorism designation and also hosted a conference call with Netanyahu, Chairman of Sudan Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) Abdel-Fatah al-Burhan and Sudanese Prime Minister Abdulla Hamdok.

"The leaders agreed to the normalization of relations between Sudan and Israel and to end the state of belligerence between their nations. In addition, the leaders agreed to begin economic and trade relations, with an initial focus on agriculture," a statement issued by the White House said following the call.

"The leaders also agreed that delegations will meet in the coming weeks to negotiate agreements of cooperation in those areas as well as in agriculture technology, aviation, migration issues and other areas for the benefit of the two peoples".

Israel along with the U.S. "also committed to working with their partners to support the people of Sudan in strengthening their democracy, improving food security, countering terrorism and extremism, and tapping into their economic potential".

The Sudanese foreign ministry confirmed the upcoming visit of an Israeli delegation to sign joint cooperation agreements on agriculture, commerce, economy, aviation & immigration.

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October 9, 2020 (JUBA) — South Sudan will introduce a new currency in a bid to control the hyperinflation in the country and the collapse of the exchange rate, the government announced on Friday.

Speaking to reporters during a briefing about the outcome of the cabinet weekly meeting, the government spokesman and Information Minister Michael Makuei advised South Sudanese to deposit their money in the banks instead of holding it at home.

"So the cabinet has decided that the currency should be changed so that anybody who does not take the money to the bank is left out and will lose it," said Makuei.

"This is an advice to those who are holding money, South Sudanese money in their houses to hurry it to the banks now so that you avoid queuing up when the time comes for exchanging the currency," he added.

The minister said the decision to introduce a new currency was taken on the light of reports to the Council of Minister made by the governor of the central bank and representatives of the commercial banks about the financial situation in the country.

South Sudan which imports basic commodities and food from neighbouring countries has suffered an acute shortage of hard currency following the reduction of crude oil production and the sharp collapse of oil prince.

The dollar is selling for 500 South Sudanese pounds in cash transactions by traders in the black market in Juba, while the official rate remains at 160 pounds.

The cabinet chaired by President Salva Kiir formed a committee including the cabinet affairs minister, ministers of finance, trade and higher education as well as the central bank governor and representatives of commercial banks to set up a plan to harmonize the national economic policy.

The committee should submit its proposals to the next cabinet meeting with seven days, stressed the government spokesman.

It is not clear if the costly currency change process will be immediately or gradually implemented.

Makuei pointed to the need to produce food at home, saying that the country still importing potatoes and onions while the country has a very fertile land that just needs to be cultivated.

The government is expected to announce a series of measures to promote food production and to accelerate efforts to increase oil production.

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October 9, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - Yasir Arman, deputy head of the SPLM-N led by Malik Agar and head of the SRF advance delegation, said that they will hold meetings in Khartoum with the government to harmonize the peace agreement and the transitional constitution, before the return of the alliance leader next November.

Khartoum witnessed yesterday a public meeting in the Freedom Square marking the return of the government negotiating delegation and the SRF advance to Khartoum after the conclusion of the peace talks in Juba.

The event was addressed by the Chairman of the Sovereign Council, the Prime Minister besides the heads of the government and SRF negotiating teams.

The orators emphasized that the signing of the peace agreement on October 3 is a realization of one of the revolution's slogans and a kick start to complete the programme of the transitional period.

In statements to Sudan Tribune, Yasir Arman renewed his happiness at his return to the country for the third time since the revolution and confirmed the arrival of the movement's leaders on November 3.

He revealed that his delegation would hold a series of meetings with the relevant committees to harmonize the text of the peace agreement and the constitutional document.

He said there is a clear way to harmonize the agreement with the text of the constitutional document and it was mentioned in the text of the peace agreement.

He stressed that the peace agreement will add great additions to the constitutional document, as it deals with vital issues that have not been addressed in the transitional constitution. Among these additions, he pointed to the issues of displaced persons, refugees, the system of government, issues of land, wealth and security arrangements.

"According to the text of the implementation matrix, the harmonization must take place within 10 days from the date of the signature, which took place on October 3," he added.

The peace agreement provides that if the text of the peace agreement contradicts the constitutional document, the text of the agreement shall prevail over the document.

Arman praised the international and regional support that the agreement finds, noting that the Arab League signed the agreement as a guarantor, joining the African Union, United Nations, European Union and the Troika countries.

He said that the peace agreement should be used to renew the transitional period, reviewing all that has been done, and forming a homogeneous transitional bloc for change from its three components: the civilians, the military and the armed groups.

Also, Arman welcomed the meeting of al-Hilu and Hemetti in Juba saying it represents a step forward towards a comprehensive peace in Sudan and expressed hope that al-Nur would join the ongoing efforts for peace.

"We hope that 2020 will be the year to silence guns in Sudan," he said.

Arman stressed that peace is the greatest success of transitional government during its first year.

He further stressed on the need to consolidate relations between Sudan and South Sudan to promote peace and stability in the two countries and the region.

"The cohesion between the two countries should constitute a model to be followed in Africa to resolve disputes between neighbouring countries," he added.

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October 8, 2020 (WASHINGTON) – South Sudan's President Salva Kiir may have been commended for his successful mediation in Sudan's conflict, but his own management of affairs in the world's youngest nation has largely been “disastrous”, a leading political activist said.

President Kiir waves hand to greet the Sudanese during the signing ceremony of Sudan democratic transition deal on 17 August 2019 (Reuters Photo)

In an op-ed published in The Washington Post on Thursday, Peter Biar Ajak said under the leadership of Kiir, quality of life has deteriorated.

“South Sudan cannot address its enormous challenges and thrive with Kiir in charge. Any hope for a better future lies with finding a rapid path to credible elections, which will finally allow the South Sudanese people to vote for leaders of their choice,” he said.

An estimated nearly 400,000 people in South Sudan lost their lives following the outbreak of a civil war in mid-December 2013, while millions were displaced internally and into the neighboring countries.

According to the activist now living in exile, Kiir has shown little interest in implementing the revitalized peace agreement reached in September 2018.

“Although it brought many of the warring factions back to Juba, Kiir's unwillingness to deliver on the specific commitments within it, the merging of warring militias into a national army, the reconstitution of the parliament and the establishment of sub-regional governments has created great risks of a new conflict emerging,” he argued.

The activist blamed the South Sudan leader for the inter-communal violence in many parts of the country, weak economy, rampant corruption practices and numerous cases of human right violations.

“South Sudan cannot improve the quality of life for its people with Kiir in power. He knows that the South Sudanese people will never reelect him in free, fair and credible elections. He sees conflict, endless negotiations to nowhere and severe repression as the only way of maintaining his grip on power,” further wrote Biar.

He added, But if the people can finally vote, they will undoubtedly send him home and elect visionary leaders who will rebuild South Sudan and restore enduring peace, development and human rights for all its people,”.

Last week, African leaders gathered in South Sudan's capital, Juba to witness the signing of the Juba Peace Agreement, which promises to end decades of conflict in Sudan's Darfur, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile regions. The agreement, brokered by Kiir, is yet another milestone in Sudan's gradual transition to peace and democracy.

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October 8, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Thursday pledged its full support to a new solutions initiative by governments of Sudan and South Sudan for over 5 million citizens of their countries who live in exile or as internally displaced people.

Displaced South Sudanese wait in line for food at the Dzaipi transit centre in Uganda (Photo: F. Noy/UNHCR)

The Initiative was reportedly announced at UNHCR's Executive Committee in a meeting of the two foreign ministers chaired by High Commissioner, Filippo Grandi.

“Today marks a great leap forward for long-awaited solutions for Sudanese and South Sudanese people as both governments agreed today to address the needs of refugees and IDPs. We whole-heartedly support the Initiative to rally more international support for solutions,” said UNHCR's Representative in Sudan, Axel Bisschop.

UNHCR also welcomed the support the solutions initiative was receiving from the start, including from the European Commission.

The meeting to launch the initiative was attended by international partners, including the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The regional bloc will lead the process to prepare a dedicated high-level meeting on solutions early next year.

All parties reportedly agreed that key factors for success will be the participation of refugees, IDPs, and returnees in the process, full regional engagement and contributions by other UN actors.

A first preparatory meeting will take place in Khartoum this month.

“The agreement can positively change the lives of over 1.8 million Sudanese displaced in their country and 700,000 who live in exile in the region,” stressed Bisschop.

“UNHCR stands ready to fully support solutions, with our expertise, presence and operational capacities across Sudan, from the Kordofans to Darfur,” he added.

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October 8, 2020 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese military court on Thursday sentenced at least 24 government soldiers to jail over rape and looting.

The soldiers, who were also dismissed from the national army, were found guilty of rape, looting as well as selling military equipment, obtained jail sentences ranging from two to 14 years in detention.

The military court tried 35 soldiers accused of rape and looting in Yei River county, but 11 of them were acquitted for lack of evidence.

"What we have done today is an indication that the SSPDF do not condone crimes against civilians and the government," SSPDF spokesperson, Lul Ruai Koang told reporters on Thursday.

Meanwhile, South Sudan army chief of general staff, General Johnson Juma Okot said SSPDF is committed to fighting criminality within the army.

According to the presiding judge Joseph James Mayen, the soldiers can, however, appeal their sentences within 14 days.

South Sudan laws provide for protection of women and girls from sexual abuse and exploitation and gender-based violence, including rape, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

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October 8, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government said that the implementation of peace agreements requires huge resources amounting to at least $ 7.5 billion.

In line with a peace agreement signed with the armed groups, the government is committed to allocating a huge amount of money for the development of the war-affected regions.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Finance organized a workshop to discuss "Peace Development Projects" with the participation of most of the federal ministers, some state governors and state government secretaries, to prepare the implementation matrix of these projects.

In her remarks to the meeting, the Finance Minister Heba Mohamed Ali stressed on the need to unify the matrix and requested the states and federal ministries to determine the projects of utmost and urgent importance to be implemented in the first stage, such as the return of displaced persons to their areas, in addition to medium and long-term projects.

"The implementation of peace requirements need huge resources amounting to at least $ 7.5 billion, which must be provided over the next ten years," Mohamed Ali further said.

She pointed out that the agreement contains several protocols. Under the protocol of wealth sharing, the Ministry of Finance has to ensure that its economic policies - in the areas of the general budget, economic planning, investment and international cooperation - will be compatible with the goals and spirit of the peace agreement.

Under the peace agreement, the government is committed to paying $300 million to the Darfur Development and Reconstruction Commission immediately after the signing of the peace agreement. Also, it should annually pay $1.3 billion over ten years to the Peace and Development Support Fund in Darfur.

Similar funds should be allocated to the other regions in the southern and eastern part of the country.

The minister pointed out that the economic planning includes balancing national and state revenues and diversifying their sources, establishing development funds, improving natural resource management, ensuring the national character of development projects, grants and loans, and updating reconstruction and development studies to achieve positive discrimination in the less developed regions.

One of the main drivers of the conflict in Sudan is the systematic economic and development marginalization, especially in the countryside, and the failure to distribute the country's wealth in a fairway.

The achievement of sustainable peace all over Sudan depends entirely on addressing the fundamental problems that caused wars and conflicts, the minister stressed.

She said that the role of the Ministry of Finance will not be limited to the planning but includes mobilizing resources through the general budget, financial, regional and international institutions, friends and partners of Sudan, in addition to coordination with the United Nations Integrated Transition Support Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).

Further, "the finance ministry has to improve the investment environment to attract the local and international private sector to work in the less developed regions," she concluded.

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October 8, 2020 (JUBA/KHARTOUM) - The Vice Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo "Hemetti" met in Juba on Thursday with the leader of the SPLM-N Abdel Aziz al-Hilu paving the way for the resumption of peace talks this month.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement withdrew from the negotiations on August 20 to protest against Hemetti's leadership of the government negotiating delegation, accusing him of being involved in war crimes in South Kordofan and Darfur.

In press statements after the meeting, Hemedti and al-Hilu declared that the purpose of the meeting between them is to break the deadlock and restore confidence between the two parties for the sake of peace in Sudan.

They affirmed that they would resume talks after holding workshops in line with the Addis Ababa Agreement between Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and al-Hilu to discuss all obstacles and enhance efforts to achieve just peace in all parts of Sudan.

Hemetti expressed his happiness to meet al-Hilu in Juba, adding that the meeting was friendly and positive in favour of the cause of peace, resumption of negotiations, and achieving security and stability for our people in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

"What happened between us passed away like a summer cloud"; he said alluding to the SPLM-N withdrawal from the talks in August. "We are, in fact, brothers, and our interest is the interest of our country. I also appeal to the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement, Abdel Wahid al-Nur to join the peace process."

"I assure Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu that the new Sudan is based on confidence because the old situation is no longer present. I promise you that you will not be stabbed from behind (as before) and we affirm our readiness to achieve peace and achieve the slogan of Freedom, Peace and Justice," he asserted.

He thanked the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and the Chief Mediator Tut Gatluak, for making this meeting possible.

The SPLM-N al-Hilu said in a statement that the two parties affirmed "returning to the negotiating table, with a new approach based on organizing workshops that discuss obstacles and reinforce efforts aimed at achieving a just peace in all parts of Sudan".

In a short speech, al-Hilu stressed the importance of the meeting to break the deadlock.

He further described the meeting as "friendly and positive, and paves the way for continuing negotiations in order to achieve peace, stability and build a new Sudan"

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and al-Hilu signed an agreement last September providing to hold extensive and informal consultations between the SPLM-N and the political and military component of the transitional authority over the SPLM-N's demand to separate religion from the state.

Once an agreement is reached on the relationship between the state and religion, the two sides enter into formal peace negotiations that address the other political and military agendas.

For his part, the chief mediator Tut Gatluak said the Sudanese government and the Movement are committed to returning to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

He stressed that al-Hilu and Hemetti committed themselves to achieve peace in Sudan and that this may happen today or tomorrow, but what matters is the continuous pursuit of peace.

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October 7, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - The U.S. Envoy for Sudan, Donald Booth, discussed with the leaders of Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) the country's removal from the terror list parties in separate meetings on Wednesday.

Booth who is currently in Khartoum after attending the signing of peace agreement with armed groups in Juba for talks with the government officials and the ruling coalition alliance.

He met with the head of the executive office of the Unionist Alliance and Omer al-Digair of the Sudanese Congress Alliance.

Babiker Faisal said that they discussed several issues particularly the removal of Sudan from the list of countries supporting terrorism, the current economic conditions, as well as internal political developments and the peace process.

"We met with the U.S. envoy to Sudan at the party headquarters in Khartoum. We informed him about the continuing (devastating) economic impact of Sudan's inclusion on the terror list," he told Sudan Tribune after the meeting.

Sudanese are frustrated by the long process of Sudan's delisting and the recent developments in Washington about the normalization of relations with Israel and demands of some lawmakers to pay compensations for victims of 9/11 attacks.

Faisal said that the meeting also touched on separating the process of removing Sudan from the blacklist from normalization with Israel, noting that the envoy did not comment on this matter.

The unionist leader affirmed that the discussion with the U.S. envoy was "frank and transparent, especially as Sudan made appreciative efforts to rescind its name from the terror list and fulfilled all the required conditions."

On Tuesday 6 October, the Sudan Joint Review Committee of the U.S. Department of State held a meeting with the participation of the Political Under Secretary David Hale but no the statement was issued about the outcome of the meeting.

Last month Secretary of State Michael Pompeo told the Senat his administration is preparing to delist Sudan during his month of October.

In a separate meeting, the visiting U.S. diplomat also met with the head of the Sudanese Congress Party, al-Dugair to discuss the political situation in the country.

In a statement released after the meeting, the SCoP said they discussed the current political situation in the country and the challenge facing the country including the peace process.

The meeting also discussed removing Sudan from the blacklist and U.S. support for the transition in Sudan.

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October 7, 2020 (JUBA) – Trinity Energy, a South Sudanese oil marketing firm on Wednesday announced plans to construct a $500 million crude oil refinery in the Paloch oil fields of Upper Nile State.

South Sudanese soldiers at an oil refinery in Upper Nile state (AFP)

The refinery, an official said, will provide the region with refined oil.

"The idea is to build a scalable refinery that will eventually reach the size of 40,000 barrels per day. That is our plan," Robert Eric Mdeza, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Trinity Energy said on Monday.

He further revealed that the firm, which controls about 40 percent of the country's oil market, also plans to build a 50 million liter storage capacity of refined products along Juba-Bahr-el-Ghazal highway.

"We will refine it right near the sources and find the market. One market is obvious is South Sudan, next door is Ethiopia, Sudan and the surrounding countries are the potential market,” stressed Mdeza.

According to the official, the marketing firm would seek ways to partner with banks to finance the construction of the refinery project.

Oil production is crucial for South Sudan to recover from years of civil war that devastated the economy. While the nation is estimated to have the third-biggest reserves of the commodity in sub-Saharan Africa, production of about 170,000 barrels a day is less than half the output before fighting broke out in December 2013.

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October 7, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese authorities announced, on Wednesday, the resumption of activities at the southern section of Port Sudan on the Red Sea after its closure last Sunday by Beja protesters.

The Sudan Ports Corporation (SPC) resumed activities at Port Sudan after an agreement with the representative of the Supreme Council of Beja Chiefdoms and a representative of the Central Police Headquarters Lt Gen Sadiq Ali Ibrahim.

Last Sunday, demonstrators protesters Southern Port Sudan to express their rejection of a peace agreement the government signed with some Beja factions in Juba.

The Governor of the Red Sea State, Abdallah Shangari, stated that the agreement to open the port was based on several points "centred on reaching positive results for the Eastern Sudan Track in the Juba negotiations".

Shangari was alluding to their demand to no implement the peace deal struck with the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) within the framework of the comprehensive peace agreement in Juba.

The police official stressed that the agreement included some measures to prevent impeding the activities of the port, such as the sit-in should be held far from the port gate, and not to block the arrival of workers and the circulation inside the port, under the supervision of the police.

In a meeting held in Khartoum on Tuesday, the Security and National Defence Council said that it had taken decisions to prevent disruption of activities of Port Sudan facilities or roads in eastern Sudan.

The legitimacy of the Beja Council has been contested by three Beja groups. Also, the government seeks to peacefully contain the political obstruction exerted by some tribal leaders who reject the appointment of a new governor in Kassala State and the peace deal for East Sudan.

In a speech at a ceremony held in Juba on Wednesday, Osama Said the head of Beja Congress called for negotiations with the opponents to the peace agreement to "avoid bloodshed and to promote security and community peace".

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October 7, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - The South Sudanese government said that the unification of the armed forces in the country will be effective in November of this year.

The unification of the armed groups with the government army of South Sudan had to be achieved during the first six months of the pre-transitional period after the signing of the revitalized peace agreement.

However two years after the signing of the agreement, the matter is still pending due to the lack of resources and international support for the costly process.

The deputy head of Sudan's Sovereign Council Mohamed Hamdan Daglo "Hemetti" on Wednesday met in Juba with First Vice-President Riek Machar, and the South Sudanese Presidental Advisor for Security Affairs Tut Gatluak to discuss the implementation the revitalized peace agreement.

"Concerning the implementation of the security arrangements, the forces (of the armed groups) have been gathered in training camps. They will be graduated within a month from now and integrated into the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF)," said Gatluak in statements to the media after the meeting.

"On the political side, the government has been formed, and the formation of state governments is imminent," said the presidential aide according to a statement released in Khartoum by the Sovereign Council.

He added that the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement is moving towards its goals to achieve security and stability in South Sudan.

On 12 September 2018, the parties to South Sudan peace process signed a final peace agreement in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in the presence of the heads of state of the East African Development Authority (IGAD) which mediated the talks.

On Tuesday Hemetti was received by President Kiir o discuss peace implementation in South Sudan.

"Several factors have delayed troops' training, including the lack of weapons due to the arms embargo imposed on South Sudan," he said after the meeting.

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October 7, 2020 (JUBA) - The African Development Bank (AfDB) has called for proper utilization of non-oil revenues during the revitalized transitional period for South Sudan to achieve economic growth.

Speaking in the capital, Juba on Tuesday, Benedict Kanu, AfDB Country Manager for South Sudan appealed to financial institutions in the country to be transparent and accountable to the public.

He was speaking during a ceremony organized by the Finance ministry to welcome Patrick Magoya, a Tanzanian national who has been appointed to head South Sudan National Revenue Authority.

For his part, Alain Noudehou, UN humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, said proper public financial management is important for the prosperity and development of the war-torn East African nation.

"Managing public financial management in South Sudan is very key for the country's ability to recover and the country's own development going forward. When you talk about public financial management, there are two parts. One part is how you generate revenue; the other part is how you spend it. Either way, you have to do it in a way that is transparent, efficient and effective," he said.

The First Undersecretary in the Finance Ministry, Garang Majak said he is optimistic the new team at the national revenue authority will address challenges in revenue collections.

"We know very well, we are facing a lot of economic challenges. But with the new team, they will make sure that sufficient and effective mechanisms are designed to collect sufficient revenues to make sure that we prioritize our financial obligation, our financial services to the government and to the people of South Sudan," he said.

The economy of South Sudan is one of the most oil-dependent economies in the world. This is despite being endowed with a lot of natural resources, including very fertile agricultural land and a vast number of livestock of over 60 million cattle, sheep and goats.

Over the years, however, political instability, poor governance and corruption continue to hinder the development of the young nation.

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By Mahmoud A. Suleiman

What has been achieved from the finally signed Sudanese peace agreement in Juba is a treasure, because its price was the loss of innocent civilian lives and the irreparable destruction of livelihood in various regions of Sudan Using a pickaxe to demolish it by the Notoriously Damned regime of the National Congress Party (NCP) led by the genocidal criminal and the fugitive from the international justice Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir, who today is in Kober prison awaiting his extradition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands with his criminal entourage to join with his ilk from the world's thuggish criminals. Furthermore, Saturday the third of October 2020 is a remarkable date that remains in the record of the achievements of the people of Sudan. It is Noteworthy that the Month of October reminds us of the Glorious October 21, 1964, Glorious Revolution in which the people of Sudan were able to overthrow the regime of General Ibrahim Abboud and restored democratic rule to Sudan.
International Press releases described the final signing of peace in Juba by Sudan's government and rebel groups as a landmark deal. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/10/3/sudans-government-rebels-set-to-sign-landmak-deal
Furthermore, other international press described the Juba Peace Deal as a chance that impacts on the Sudanese fragile Transition.
HTTPS://WARONTHEROCKS.COM/2020/09/A-CHANCE-FOR-PEACE-THE-IMPACT-OF-THE-JUBA-PEACE-DEAL-ON-SUDANS-FRAGILE-TRANSITION/
On the same theme, other mass media questioned as to what extend did the residents of the "war cities" in Sudan say about the Juba Peace Agreement? https://www.alrakoba.net/31458995/%d9%85%d8%a7%d8%b0%d8%a7-%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%b3%d9%83%d8%a7%d9%86-%d9%85%d8%af%d9%86-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d8%b1%d8%a8-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%88%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%b9%d9%86-%d8%a7-2/

International Press seems to have been following the responses of the holdback rebel groups during the festive of signature of the final signing of the Sudanese Peace Agreement in Juba by reporting the comments of the leader of one of the armed movements as follows: “Abdel Wahid Mohamed Nour says that the Juba Agreement deepens the crisis and will not solve it”. https://www.alrakoba.net/31459018/%d8%b9%d8%a8%d8%af-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%ad%d8%af-%d9%85%d8%ad%d9%85%d8%af-%d9%86%d9%88%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d8%aa%d9%91%d9%81%d8%a7%d9%82-%d8%ac%d9%88%d8%a8%d8%a7-%d9%8a%d8%b9%d9%85%d9%91%d9%82-%d8%a7

The Peace Agreement signed in the City of Juba on Saturday the third of October 2020 is legitimate property of every Sudanese citizen irrespective of his or her regional, ethnic affiliation.

With the final signing of the Sudanese peace in Juba, the capital of the state of South Sudan, the Sudanese people will have closed the file of futile wars and opened the file of development, prosperity, decent living and progress for all the people of Sudan in villages, towns, cities and the capital, Khartoum and the countryside without exclusion/ discrimination, because this peace is not the monopoly of anyone. Rather, it belongs to all the members of the Sudanese people who have been afflicted by the absurd fire of wars since the dawn of independence of our country Sudan from the Condominium Colonization more than sixty years ago.

GRATITUDE
During these unique historical moments, the people of Sudan extend their gratitude to Mr Tut Galwak, the man of peace, and the rest of the team that is with him. Moreover, one hardly can find suitable words or phrases to commend our highly respected comrade South Sudan President General Salva Kiir Mayardit, and his government and the people of the Republic of South Sudan.

While we are Congratulating ourselves and thanking the Sudanese people in general, and the peoples of the marginalized regions in particular on the occasion of signing final peace agreement of Sudan, in Juba, the capital of the brotherly/sisterly state of South Sudan, we paying Congratulations to the Sudanese people for signing the peace agreement., we have compassion on the souls of the martyrs of the Sudanese nation since the dawn of the departure of the British Colonials; the last martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom, peace and justice, looking forwards to this historic day. Sadly, we miss them and their memory will remain forever, we pray for their souls. And moreover, we hope speedy recovery for the wounded and injured, freedom for detainees to return to their families, and a safe return of the missing ones.

Despite the absence of the two rebel leaders, Abdulaziz Al-Hilu and Abdel-Wahid Muhammad Ahmed el-Nour from the historic occasion to sign the peace agreement in the Capital of the Republic of South Sudan Juba, the Sudanese people were happy and jubilantly dancing in Juba and in Khartoum, rejoicing the coming of the much-needed peace which will silence the humming sound of guns and cannons. Yes, this peace agreement though seems incomplete to some of the Sudanese people but it is, a very important step in the eyes of the majority who lived the atrocities of the wars and will definitely put an end to the war and open a new page in the history of Sudan. This finally signed Sudanese Peace Agreement in Juba has been reached after arduous consultations and discussions between the rebel groups and the mediators as well as the facilitators that lasted more than a year in Juba where serious discussions over the aspects of the Sudanese problem with full transparency and determination of the Sudanese parties to reach a just and sustainable peace, ending the wars and fighting between the people of the country and the efforts of the mediators, they reached this historic achievement. Peace of Juba turned the page of war and confirmed that peace comes with serious dialogue, desire, will and determination, peace of Juba, the victory of the people's will, by achieving the second pillar of the 19th December 2018 Glorious Revolution slogan.

Despite the absence of the two rebel leaders, Abdulaziz Al-Hilu and Abdel-Wahid Muhammad Nour from the historic occasion to sign the peace agreement in the Capital of the Republic of South Sudan Juba, the Sudanese people were happy and jubilantly dancing in Juba and in Khartoum, rejoicing the coming of the much-needed peace which will silence the of the humming sound of guns and cannons. Yes, peace was not complete as the Sudanese people wished, but this peace, despite its defects, is an important step in the eyes of some and will end the war and open a new page in the history of Sudan. We congratulate all the Sudanese people for signing the peace agreement that was signed today in Juba, the capital of the State of South Sudan.

After consultations and discussions that lasted more than a year in Juba, discussing the aspects of the Sudanese problem with full transparency, with the determination of the Sudanese parties to reach peace, ending the wars and fighting between the people of the country and the efforts of the mediators, they reached this historic achievement. Peace of Juba turned the page of war and confirmed that peace comes with serious dialogue, desire, will and determination, peace of Juba, the victory of the people's will, by achieving the second pillar of the revolution slogan (peace). It is true that there are comrades from the armed struggle forces who did not sign in Juba, including the two major movements, Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North led by Abdulaziz Al-Hilu, and the Sudan Liberation Movement army commanded by Abdul Wahid Muhammad Ahmad al-Nur, they are part and parcel and essential components of the comrades who have taken up arms and contributed into the Sudanese revolution and an essential part of this peace. As it is understood, they are not against the Juba Peace Agreement, but they have their reservations despite most of their demands were written and taken record of them in the Final Juba Peace Agreement signed between the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) and the transitional Sudanese government. It is strongly belied that the two holdouts are expected to catch up with peace in the near future. with the ongoing efforts of the mediators and facilitators with the continuation of the dialogue and further consultations with them, they will soon join peace, and this peace belongs to all the Sudanese people and is protected by the Sudanese people, and whoever wants to obstruct this peace or wants to promote or trade in the absence of the Abdel Wahid and Al-Hilu movements to obstruct the peace process will find himself face to face with the Sudanese people.

The squabbles between the Sudanese armed movements, whether belonging to the Darfur region or in other regions, in addition to the policies of the defunct regime of the National Congress Party (NCP) and its genocidal ousted President played evil tactics to delay the reaching to a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace during the past 17 years of war for the case of the Darfur region.

It is not surprising that some of the armed movements have missed the event of the final signing of the Sudanese Peace, which took place in the capital of the sisterly state of South Sudan on Saturday the third of October 2020, in the presence of the regional and international circles that represented by the African Union (AU), the European Union(EU), the Arab League, the United Nations (UN), and of course the presence of the head of the transitional period of Sudan, represented by General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, and the transitional Prime Minister, Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, but unfortunately two leaders of the armed struggle movements were absent from the unique occasion, Abdul Wahid Muhammad Ahmed al-Nur, head of the Sudan Liberation Movement and Army from Darfur, and Commander Abdulaziz Al-Hilu The leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Army in North Sudan, while attended and signed the final peace agreement, the Sudan Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Dr. Gibril Ibrahim Muhammed and the Sudan people's Liberation Movement, the leadership of General Malik Agar, and the head of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) , Dr. Al-Hadi Idris, also attended the head of the Sudan Liberation Movement and Army, Minni Arku Minnawi and the rest of the representatives Armed movements.

The Sudanese Peace has been finally signed in Juba as the first of the most important steps to return Sudan to the right path. Protecting and implementing Juba peace is the responsibility of every Sudanese citizen and it requires great efforts locally, coupled with regional and international assistance.

Those Sudanese components who suffered the scourge of the absurd wars of attrition will be sending their heartfelt thanks to the people of South Sudan, the government of President Salva Kiir, the United States of America, the Republic of Chad represented by Marshal Idriss Déby Itno, the European Union (EU), the state of Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, the Arab League, formally the League of Arab States, the African Union (AU), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and all those who contributed to the peace process in Sudan.

It is noteworthy that the upcoming stage after the signing of peace is considered a stage of tireless work for the building of what has destroyed by wars and providing the means of stability. Thus, the Sudanese government and its people must all strive and work hard with honesty and full force in cities, rural areas and camps for the internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees to remove the effects of wars and destruction, and to build and reconstruct what the war has destroyed. The slogan will be: “With peace and stability, we build Sudan and fulfil the hopes of the coming generation. AND WE WILL KEEP Chanting Welcome to peace and silence to the sound of weapons and cannons!

We pay the warmest congratulations on signing the dream of Sudan (peace), a dream that was fulfilled with the determination and wisdom of our leaders in the Sudan Revolutionary Movement and Front.

The proud people of Sudan are the people who have been very patient with the ravages of injustice, persecution and displacement, and have suffered from wars and their woes. Now has come the hour of salvation from the painful bitterness of the past. The hour of work has come, the hour of hope, development and safety has come.

The history of our country has witnessed wars imposed on it, whose effects intensified every day, and brutal repression reaped innocent souls in the Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile and Darfur, and millions of Sudanese people have suffered from miserable living conditions due to the financial and administrative corruption of the gangs of the defunct regime.

The people of Sudan at this juncture hope that the signing of Sudan's peace in Juba to achieve a comprehensive implementation to address all of the Sudanese crisis, because it is believed that there is the necessity of uniting the ranks and mobilizing energies to develop and achieve the aspirations and longings of the Sudanese people, and this seems to have been achieved on Saturday the 3rd of October 2020. We cannot but beseech the Almighty to sponsor this agreement and pledge to his care.

We also ask the forces that signed the agreement to accelerate the pace of joint action and activate its mechanisms to implement the slogans of the glorious December 2018 Revolution: (Freedom, Peace and Justice). We hope to see this gigantic agreement fully and effectively implemented on the ground.

We send our heartfelt greetings and congratulations today to our righteous martyrs, on top of them the martyr of duty late Dr Khalil Ibrahim Muhammed and his compatriot colleagues among them the martyr Jammali Hassan Jalaladdin and as well to our wounded, the missing and to their families.

Glory and eternity to the martyrs of the revolution and the speedy healing for its wounded The Juba Peace Agreement for peace in Sudan was signed on Saturday the third of October 2020, and despite some radical reservations in some political forces and armed rebels, it will not prevent an individual from being optimistic about it. As the British leader Winston Churchill has been reported to have said that he is optimistic because everything except optimism is useless. The optimism of the people of Sudan is in the midst of the evils of our instinct for survival. Churchill also said if you find yourself wading in Hell, you continue to wade through, and in it, you will be saved!

Ome would like to bring at the end of this article the transcript of the United Nations Secretary-General's video message at the signing ceremony of the Juba Peace Agreement: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2020-10-03/secretary-generals-video-message-the-signing-ceremony-of-the-juba-peace-agreement António Guterres, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations said:
“The signing of the Juba Peace Agreement signals the dawn of a new era for the people of Sudan. It is a milestone on the road to achieving sustainable peace and inclusive development. I commend the signatories for working towards the common objective of peace, despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I also commend the Government of South Sudan for its role in facilitating the negotiations during these challenging circumstances. Today's ceremony has special meaning for the people of Darfur, offering hope for a more peaceful and prosperous future. The United Nations has been proud to support the Darfur track of the talks through the UN–African Union Mission in Darfur.

Now it is critical that the agreement translates into tangible improvements in people's lives. As we look ahead, we know that achieving an inclusive, comprehensive and country-wide peace requires all parties at the table. I call on the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North Abdelaziz Al-Hilu to fully engage in negotiations — embracing the opportunity presented by the recent signing of the agreement on principles alongside Prime Minister Hamdok in Addis Ababa. I also call on the Sudan Liberation Army Abdul Wahid Al-Nur to immediately join the peace process. Ensuring successful implementation will require sustained commitment and collaboration of all parties for the well-being of the people of Sudan. The United Nations looks forward to supporting this historic journey towards peace.
Thank you. https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2020-10-03/secretary-generals-video-message-the-signing-ceremony-of-the-juba-peace-agreement

Dr. Mahmoud A. Suleiman is an author, columnist and a blogger. His blog is http://thussudan.wordpress.com/

September 29, 2020 (KHARTOUM) -The Sudanese army on Tuesday launched the destruction of 300,000 illegal firearms collected during disarmament campaigns in the country over the past years.

The operation was carried out on Tuesday in Hajar Alasal military base of the Nile State about 200 km north of Khartoum in presence of Lt Gen Ibrahim Jabir Ibrahim, a member of the Sovereign Council, Gen Ibrahim Yassen Defence Minister, Idris Dafa Allah Interior Minister and a number of ambassadors as well as representatives of international and regional organizations.

Ibrahim Jabir said that the army carried out three phases of the disarmament which culminated in the destruction of 300,000 unlicensed arms.

He further said that the fourth phase of the forcible arms collection will be accompanied by very strict measures to prevent the possession of guns or ammunition except by the regular forces.

Thousands of firearms collected over the past three years were destroyed in a controlled explosion by the army to launch the destruction campaign.

In August 2017, the Sudanese government launched a six-month disarmament campaign to eliminate illegal weapons in the conflict-affected areas in Sudan, particularly in Darfur region.

The proliferation of illegal arms ignited intercommunal clashes and displacement of civilians in Darfur.

Jabir called on the international community to provide Sudan with needed technical support, especially that Sudan is a vast country surrounded by many countries, which requires coordination with it, as he said.

For his part, Major General Abdel Hadi Abdallah Osman, the rapporteur of the Higher Committee for Weapon Collection, said that the cost of the first three stages amounted to $40 million, and called on the international community to contribute to the next stage.

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September 28, 2020 (KHARTOUM) - The Transitional Sovereign Council of Sudan denied any change in the leadership of the government negotiating team the SPLM-North, led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu.

In a statement on Monday, the council denied reports that the deputy head of the Sovereign Council and the head of the government negotiating delegation, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, "Hemetti", had been removed from the negotiation team.

"This report is completely inaccurate," stressed the statement.

The statement further said that the media also, claimed that the military component of the Council agreed to separate between the state and religion.

“The Sovereign Council wants to make it clear that this issue has not been at all discussed in the High Peace Council meetings and that the Council is not concerned with it,” further said the statement.

Last August, the SPLM-N al-Hilu withdrew from the peace talks saying the Hemetti who is the general commander of the Rapid Support Forces was not neutral and is not qualified to lead the negotiation delegation.

The rebel group went further to demand his removal from the leadership of the government negotiating delegation before to resume talks with the government delegation.

Regarding the separation of religion and state, the peace talks between the government and the SPLM-N al-Hilu had been suspended for several months because of the latter insistence to include the secular state in the peace talks.

Hamdok and al-Hilu, on 3 September, reached a joint agreement providing to hold informal talks on the separation between the state and religion before the resumption of formal peace talks.

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