Sudan Tribune

September 22, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese army (SPLA) has announced on Tuesday that the Ugandan People's Defense Forces (UPDF), which have been fighting alongside forces loyal to president Salva Kiir against opposition faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar, will start to withdraw from the country next week.

A contingent of soldiers from the Ugandan People's Defence Force (Photo courtesy of New Vision)

“It has been agreed that up to the 10th of October, the UPDF forces will be out of the country. The timeline of their withdrawal is stated between 27th, up to 10th of October,” Lieutenant General Malek Ruben, deputy chief of general staff for logistics,” announced on Tuesday.

According to the recently signed peace agreement to end the 21-month long civil war, all foreign forces allied to both the government and the opposition sides are supposed to leave the country within 45 days after the signing of the peace agreement.

Besides UPDF, Sudanese rebel forces inside South Sudan will be demobilized and repatriated back to Sudan in accordance with the peace deal.

UPDF came to the country in December 2013 when political differences over reforms within the leadership of the governing Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) turned violent.

The initial objective on deployment of the Ugandan troops was to evacuate Ugandan nationals in South Sudan from the country and provide protection to key installations and institutions, including the airports in Juba and other hot spot areas of the country. However, UPDF later on directly interfered in military combat against the rebels.

The foreign troops' withdrawal from the country was always one of the contentious matters at the start of negotiations, but General Ruben told reporters on Tuesday that the issue was resolved during the discussions at the ceasefire workshop attended by the commanders from the warring sides last week in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa. This is also in accordance with implementation of the security arrangements as provided for in the peace agreement.

Ugandan forces for the past 21 months of the war have been providing partial defence of the national capital, Juba, and the neighbouring Jonglei state's capital, Bor, and have used superiority of their military hardware including air force in which it has been accused of dropping cluster bombs on rebel forces.

The military officer, however, pointed out that Ugandan troops deployed in Western Equatoria state will not be removed, because they are under a separate arrangement.

“The ones of Western Equatoria are not affected within this agreement; it's a quadruple arrangement connecting Central Africa Republic, South Sudan, Uganda and Congo plus the American forces,” he said.

“These are in pursuit of the Regional Alliance Strategic Agreement to pursue the LRA [Lord's Resistance Army],” he added.

(ST)

September 22, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - President Omer Hassan al-Bashir Tuesday has pardoned rebel leaders who participate in the national dialogue conference, and declared a two-month ceasefire in war areas.

Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir (Photo AFP/Ashraf Shazly)

According to the official news agency (SUNA) Tuesday, Bashir issued a republican decree granting general amnesty for the leaders and members of the armed movements taking part in the national dialogue conference. Also, he issued another decree declaring a two-month cease fire in the battlefronts.

The national dialogue conference is scheduled for 20 October 2015.

Several rebel members and leaders including the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) chairman Malik Agar and secretary-general Yasser Arman have been sentenced to death by Sudanese courts.

The two decrees come after a pledge al-Bashir during the opening session of the national dialogue's general assembly last August in which he expressed readiness to declare a two-month cease fire in order to hold the dialogue in a healthy atmosphere and high patriotism.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since 2011 and the armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

Bashir launched the national dialogue initiative in January 2014 but the process suffered major setbacks after the withdrawal of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) and the non-participation of the rebels as well as leftist forces.

The SPLM-N, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) recently expressed willingness to sign a cessation of hostilities with the government for six months if the government commits itself to the pre-dialogue meeting as provided in an African Union's roadmap to facilitate the internal process.

Besides the end of war, the African roadmap includes the implementation of other confidence building measures such as ensuring political freedoms, humanitarian access and release of political detainees and prisoners.

(ST)

September 22, 2015 (WAU) - The health ministry in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state has distributed protein foods to more than 300 malnourished children.

The new women's maternity ward at the Wau teaching hospital in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state was officially opened by president Salva Kiir on 15 July 2014 (ST)

Thomas Gabriel, the outpatient's program manager at Wau teaching hospital, said five distribution centres were established in Lokoloko, Hai Dinka, Jeb Kheer and Bazia Jadid.

The centres have been earmarked to cater for over 300 children lacking food nutrition.

“We at the hospital here are controlling malnourishment, which occurred to children under 6-59 months with an initiative of giving plumy and milk to the children,” he said.

Wau hospital alone, Gabriel further disclosed, currently hosts 154 malnourished children.

He also said that the health ministry was currently introducing health education to the mothers handling children to ensure they handle the distributed items responsibly.

“Plumy nut is an unmixed food, but mainly a multi treatment [administered] to children facing malnourish. We want to tell our people that we are not giving out food but we are giving out treatment to such children. This is because many people are coming in look for plumy nut as food and this is not a case,” Gabriel told Sudan Tribune.

He advised mothers not to sell the plumy nut in markets and instead feed their children.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) funded the program in collaboration with the state government.

(ST)

September 21, 2015 (JUBA) – United Nations (UN) on Monday rang alarm bell over increased death rate among children in the UN protection of civilian site in Unity state's capital, Bentiu where 34 children under 5 years of age died in the first week of September, about 5 deaths a day.

People wait to fill up their water containers at a camp for internally displaced people in Unity state capital Bentiu (Photo: Matthew Abbott/AP)

Spokesperson for the UN secretary general in a press conference on Monday in New York said reports lamented the rapid loss of children in the camp.

"Turning to South Sudan, our colleagues at our Humanitarian Office (OCHA) say that thirty-four children under 5 years of age died from malnutrition in the civil protection site in Bentiu, Unity State, in the first week of September,” announced Stephane Dujarric.

He said the deaths mainly resulted from malnutrition, but added that water and sanitation organizations were stepping up activities to address malnutrition and child mortality in Bentiu.

OCHA said malnutrition remained a major concern across South Sudan, with about a quarter of a million children severely malnourished.

Meanwhile, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) recently launched a joint nutrition scale-up plan, which will see the agencies and their partners assist over two million people – children, pregnant women and new mothers – for the treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition until May of next year.

“Just to give you a scale of the issue: following the recent fighting in central Unity State, we are now housing 112,000 people in our protection of civilians' camp in Bentiu," said Dujarric.

(ST)

September 21, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese armed opposition faction led by former vice-president and first vice-president designate, Riek Machar, has accused forces loyal to president Salva Kiir of committing further violations to the permanent ceasefire deal they signed in August to end the 20-month long civil war in the country.

Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) at Jonglei's Bor airport in January 2014 (AFP)

Opposition leader's press secretary, James Gatdet Dak, on Monday said government troops attacked opposition-held territories and civilian settlements including Thoonyor in Leer county of the oil-rich Unity state.

“Soldiers of Salva Kiir have continued to attack our bases in a clear violation of the ceasefire. They attacked areas in Leer county in Unity state including Thoonyor payam, displacing civilians in the area,” Dak said in a statement on Monday.

He however said government forces were repulsed, but declined to provide details of casualties.

Dak also said fighting had been going on in Western Equatoria state in Mundri and Maridi counties, further accusing the government of launching offensive against their bases and civilian settlements.

President Kiir and opposition leader, Machar, signed a peace agreement in August and instructed their forces to stop fighting in observing the ceasefire.

Senior officers from the rival parties have held a week-long workshop in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on the ceasefire deal and security arrangements, but could not agree on the size and composition of forces and joint integrated police that should remain or be deployed in the national capital, Juba.

Dak blamed the government for the failure to strike a deal, saying the Juba's suggested size of the force in the capital was contrary to the provision in the peace deal.

“The peace agreement clearly provides for demilitarization of Juba and other state capitals. However, the government demands an army division or brigades to be stationed in the capital. This is contrary to the security arrangements provision,” he said.

“The agreement talks of demilitarization, but the regime wants even more forces in the capital,” he added.

He said the opposition wanted a small size of joint integrated police of all categories and armed forces to guide the presidency, barracks, bases and warehouses in the capital.

Observers said the government has taken advantage of the loopholes in the IGAD Plus compromise peace agreement which failed to determine the size and composition of such forces as part of the signed document.

It is not clear when the parties will resume the workshop so as to agree on the security arrangements or whether IGAD mediation will try to come in and impose another compromise, as the implementation of the agreement will likely run behind the schedule.

(ST)

September 21, 2015 (BOR) - Forgiveness, trust building and reconciliations were among the key pillars for peaced discussed during this year's international peace day marked in South Sudan's Jonglei state capital, Bor on Monday.

Jonglei governor John Kong speaking in Twice East county July, 24, 2015 (ST)

The event, organised by South Sudan council of churches with support from the United Nations Development programme (UNDP), was attended by several government officials, humanitarian agencies' representatives and the local residents.

The international peace day, is globally celebrated on 21 September each year. In South Sudan this year, South Sudan council of churches organised peace day celebrations in the provincial capitals of Torit, Yambio, Malakal, Kuajok, Rumbek, Juba and Bor.

The United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, in a statement, called for human rights to peace, demanding an end of impunity that prevailed around the world.

He urged South Sudan's warring parties to lay down their weapons and observe global ceasefire.

Alois Sikuka, a security specialist at UNDP, conveyed Ki-Moon's message to the public.

“Stop the killings and the destructions and create space for lasting peace”, partly noted the UN secretary general's statement read to the public gathered in Bor.

Sikuka also urged the people of South Sudan to work for sustainable peace collectively.

“Here in South Sudan, that we now have peace agreement that has been signed, the observance of international day of peace provides valuable opportunity to remind ourselves that only join efforts can lead to sustainable peace in the country," he said.

Further added the UN official, "The task of implementing the agreement and working toward lasting peace can only be achieved through long term collaborations among all South Sudanese citizens and institutions across existing device”.

The governor of Jonglei state John Kong, advised the public to desist from words likely to derail peace, citing the use of hate speeches and comments capable of slowing down the government's efforts to achieve total peaceful co-existence among communities.

“This problem started with a words, bad words that brought people to fighting”, said Kong, in reference to the start of the South Sudanese crisis in mid December 2013.

"Even when there is ceasefire, if bad words are being used, ceasefire will not work. That is why we are here to support our president, in his efforts of making peace”, he added.

Kong advised the population to work for the interest of South Sudan and not individually.

James Aguer, a council of churches official, said peace would transform South Sudan's negative culture of war.

“We have great concerns about fundamental challenges that could prevent us from achieving the nation we desire, let each and every one plays his or her role in making peace, transforming the negative culture of war, hatred and mistrust into culture of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and unity”, Aguer told the gathering in Bor.

“Peace is the most precious thing in the life of every human being. We people of the RPSs, we were having and still have so many definite ideas about the nation we hope to build. We have a vision that our nation shall be a country of peace, unity, togetherness and love for all and not tribalism”, he said.

(ST)

September 21, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The director of Emergency Management & Humanitarian Work at the Sudanese Ministry of Health tendered his resignation and withdrew from a committee tasked with receiving wounded Yemenis after verbal altercations between the health minister of state Sumaya Idriss and staff at southern Khartoum hospital following the arrival of a second plane carrying Yemenis injured in the ongoing conflict.

Injured Yemeni in Khartoum hospital (Ashorooq TV)

Sudan has so far received three planes carrying 285 wounded and 130 of their family members amid reports on a fourth one in transit.

According to an informed source who spoke to Sudan Tribune the crisis erupted last Wednesday between the state minister and senior officials at the ministry and medical personnel at the hospital who were called in after the take-off of a civilian plane carrying new batch of wounded Yemenis without coordination with Sudanese authorities.

The source said that the medical staff rejected the manner by which the state minister addressed them and a clash ensued after which Idriss directed all the medical staff to be thrown outside the hospital.

But the director of Emergency Management & Humanitarian Work Ahmed Mohamed Zakaria and director of the hospital management at the Ministry of Health in Khartoum state Youssef Tibin rejected the order saying it goes against the rules and regulations.

The staff eventually left the hospital on their own and were joined by the hospital director Dr. Mahjoub Fudaili in an act of solidarity.

On Thursday morning, Zakaria who heads the ministry's largest department, officially announced his resignation and withdrawal from the committee on wounded Yemenis.

The source said Zakaria's resignation will negatively impact the process of receiving wounded Yemenis as he was handling this dossier since its inception and worked through the challenges of accommodating the injured and requesting private hospitals to take in some with the Saudi government picking the tab.

(ST)

By Juma Mabor Marial

Sometimes, one gives up on public affairs when the nation has ended up on a road to nowhere. This is the conclusion I made when I stopped writing and concentrated on my private businesses. I deliberately stopped writing to avoid putting myself into loggerhead with those who thought I might have been infringing on their authority.

But even as I was busy with my private businesses, I didn't neglect my civic duties of sharing with colleagues and other like-minded intellectuals the challenges and wrong path our nascent country was taking. I didn't however shared a lot on the on-going conflict and it dynamics or the peace negotiations basically on the assessment I had made and against the experiences and the difficulties those who contributed faced as most of them were easily branded as rebels sympathizers or government mouth-piece. It was and it is still a risky venture to undertake and that is why I decided to remain neutral at least until the objectivity and rationalism is restored.

This may not be the topic of discussion but I thought about this disclaimer because I wish to once again share with the public my reaction to the recent State of the Nation/Union Address by the President of South Sudan, General Salva Kiir. For some of us who may not be familiar with the meaning and objectives of the State of the Nation/Union Address, I want to share a little bit on the theory before we could move on to the content and analyst the strengths and weaknesses of the recent State of the Nation/Union Address by the President.

A State of the Nation/Union Address (SoN/UA/) is a political model in which the President reports on the status of the nation. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the President to outline his or her national agenda and national priorities. It is here that the President can recommend any measures that he or she believes are necessary and expedient.

The SoN/UA is often broadcast to inform the nation about its present economic, political, and social condition. It is also a vehicle for the President to summarize the accomplishments and plans of his/her programme of government both for a particular year and until the end of his/her term of office.

In the United States of America, the President address a joint session of the United States Congress, typically delivered annually. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the President to outline his or her legislative agenda (for which they need the cooperation of Congress) and national priorities. The address fulfills rules in Article II, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, requiring the President to periodically give Congress information on the "state of the union" and recommend any measures that he or she believes are indispensable and convenient. During most of the country's first century, the President primarily only submitted a written report to Congress. With the advent of radio and television, the address is now broadcast live across the country on most networks.

In several countries, state of the nation address are criticized by various sectors for being too ostentatious and flashy, with politicians and media personalities treating the event as a red carpet fashion show. One Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago blasted the organizers and called the event a "thoughtless extravagance" where "peacocks spread their tails and turn around and around, as coached by media in a feeding frenzy."

This criticism is too heavy to be replicated in South Sudan or one risked other consequences, but let us now moves back to the situation and critically looks at the state of the union address of our President. Unlike in the United States of America and many other countries of the world, the State of the Nation/Union Address of the President of the Republic of South Sudan is not delivered through the legislature or given on a specified calendar date. This may be by design or default.

It is unfortunate that, the few technocrats that controls the timetable of the President sits and decides any weekend that the President should address the nation on this date and rush the announcement to the media thus obliging everyone to anxiously wait for what the surprise state of the nation address would deliver. This can of course not be blamed on these secretaries in the office of the President but it should be blamed entirely on the framers of the Transitional Constitution and the legislators for not having thought it important to incorporate a specific calendar date for the state of the nation address as an integral provision of the supreme law and other enabling legislations.

Their attempt to cater for this event is vaguely articulated under article 78 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 which states that ‘the President may personally or by a message, address the national legislature or either of its houses. The national legislature or either of its two houses shall accord priority to such request over any other business. The President may also request the opinion of the national legislature or either of its two houses on any subject matter'.

This is the highest ambiguity that any constitution would allow because the letter and spirit of this provision is to the extent that, its gives the President the privilege and the freedom to call on parliament any time he deems fit and appropriate to address the nation, i.e. If the state of the nation address is to be given through the parliament. Again, if one look at article 101 (t) of the Transitional Constitution on the functions of the President, this is where you would find the proviso on the annual state of the nation address but whether this one is being implemented is another glaring question because for instance, how many state of nation address did the President made since South Sudan gained independence, one would likely suggest four on approximate but whether they were four or more is another area that need research. But that is not the issue of contention here; the question is the substance of what the context of the State of the Nation/Union Address that the President has been giving and is yet to be giving entails.

Having said this, one would not be surprise by the substance of what the content of the address entails as it is prima facie a rush and unplanned event where some note takers thinks it is just but a bullet point exercise that is not worth wasting time to prepare. Throughout his state of the nation address, the President has continued to keep the nation (citizens) glued to the televisions and their ears fixed on the radios waiting for something that never come at the end of the day.

In his recent state of the nation address, the President was expected to inform the nation (citizens) about the relationship with the foreign and diplomatic community and affirm whether the gaps that were apparent have been bridged after he signed the peace agreement, people were also eagerly waiting to hear the security status of the country and what are the developmental and infrastructural plans for the country, the commitment to peace agreement and the challenges and achievements that the government is able to report. He was also expected to talk about the economy.

The President didn't do much in all the above areas except that he spent his entire time talking about the Compromised Peace Agreement that he had signed and reiterates his insistency on a number of reservations that he made when he signed the pact. This is not a bad elaboration to have been made by H.E. because, as the head of state, he must share his commitment on the peace by enlightening the citizens on the deal and ask them to support him in the implementation in order to have a sustainable peace in the country.

The President scored highly on this item and he was applauded crossed the country and around the world for this statesmanship. Those who assisted him from his office on the literature and philosophy in giving the world and the people the assurances of his commitment to peace were equally appreciated. However, it was unfortunate to realize that, the state of the nation address was only organized to talk about the signed peace agreement and left out other crucial issues like the state of our foreign relation as a country, our development master plan, the achievements that the President and his government might have made despite the strife in the country, the infrastructural plans, the economic status and the challenges that the nation faced as a result of the conflict and other external factors.

Precisely, the President was expected to assure the citizens that his decision to append his signature on the Compromised Peace Agreement (CPA) has improved the foreign relations of South Sudan and her international friends, he was also expected to give a rough summary of what his government has achieved despite the on-going conflict, talk about the northern corridor project, the EAC engagement, the cooperation agreement with Sudan, the implementation by his government of the GPAA peace agreement, the improvement on the healthcare, education and infrastructural development. The President should have also taken it as his government achievement the declaration of cease-fire even if it is being sabotaged by the enemies of peace. He should have informed the nation of his government short and long-terms plans. The recently pasted vision 2040, what it entails in terms of development, infrastructure, education, healthcare systems, democracy, security and other well-fare issues.

After that the President should have talked about the challenges that his government is facing in its attempt to deliver services to the nation and this is where it would have been convenient for him to justify his calls for the nation to support him in the implementation process so that the country can return to stability and redefine its destiny. Again because the organizers of this event thought it was just a breakfast activity, they made the President, someone I have always considered a Wiseman and hold with highest respect repeat himself over and over again on one item called the implementation of the peace agreement.

My ultimate discontentment came about when the President came to the end of his address with regard to the state of our economy and informed the nation that and I quote; ‘I know some of you wanted me to talk about economy, but I decided not to talk about it purposely because I know, even if I talk about it [economy], we will just be discussing it here, but there is nothing that can be done about it'. This is where he scored NIL, as a President, you are like a doctor, a teacher, a father in the house and everything. You may be aware of the difficulties and the challenges just like all of us knows that the economy of the country has nearly collapsed but the last person to declare that is the President because like a doctor, you cannot tell the patient that the disease is incurable less you risk them taking their lives before you leave that room, as a father, you cannot tell your children that, I know you are hungry but there is no food and therefore, you have to live with it.

I know the President was giving this statement from the position of honesty but what he should have known is that there is more to his office than just being honest, he didn't have to express himself in the negative but rather, he should have turn it positive by informing the nation that, he is aware of the economic difficulties the country is facing as a consequent of the conflict and the only way out would be for all the citizens to join him in implementing the agreement that he has signed with the rebels as this will enhance improvements in the economic sector.

This statement would not mean doing something about it but rather, it will help in restoring hopes among the citizens and that is why the Presidents are called the fathers of the nations because they are the symbols of hope for the nation even in situations where the people are in despair. The President should have realized what his actions and his statements could do when he signed the peace agreement on 26th August, 2015, the market reacted positively to this development and a dollar that was exchanging at 17 SSP in the black market lowered to 11 SSP just in a matter of hours, this is doing something about fragile economic situation because economy usually reacts to political developments. His statement that there was nothing that could be done about the worsening economic situation open flood gates for unscrupulous business practitioners to abuse the market and after that day, the dollar that was trading at 14 SSP shot up to 16 SSP while the local shopkeepers increased their prices by 40 % and when asked about why they are doing that, they would simply reply, ‘there is nothing we can do about it'.

It is not surprising though that our President is not known for motivating the citizens in the situation of despair for instance, when the first graduation ceremony was made in the University of Juba early this year, the President told the grandaunts that they should not hope for being absorb into the government since there are very few positions in the government. This was not to encourage them to be job creators because he felt short in declaring that aspects, instead, he was telling them that there was nothing his government could do about the high rate of unemployment even as most of them graduates into the job market.

Summed up together, it is unfortunate to conclude that, the recent State of the Nation/Union Address by the President just like many other statements that he gives in public occasions failed to meet the threshold requires by an ideal state of the union practice. Most importantly, the President and those who organizes these functions with him must also understand that the hopes and expectations of the people of South Sudan are usually anchored upon their office and anytime they come out to say something in form of the state of the nation address, people eagerly anticipates a solution to a number of challenges that are facing them and for the President to declare that there is nothing that can be done about something like economy is suicidal and to some larger extent an absolute declaration of despair.

Finally, I can't blame the President so much because he cannot do all by himself but my disappointment goes to those who are in his office, they should be the ones to read the minds of the public and advice the President to tailor his state of the nation address in such a comprehensive manner as to cover all the aspects regarding the country's political and socio-economic situation. They should also advice the president to usually gives assurances and guarantees where the citizens are about to give up. These are the tasks for which they are being paid and maintained otherwise, if they allow the President to speaks the way he did in the recent state of the nation address, then, they could be deliberately sabotaging his relationship with the citizens or altogether ineptitude. I don't know which one of these is relevant but a serious investigation must be made on those two scenarios.

The author is an advocate. He is reachable at jummabor@gmail.com

September 21, 2015 (JUBA) - Chol Thon, caretaker governor of Upper Nile state has issued a gubernatorial decree on Monday dissolving his entire cabinet and appointing new deputy governor.

The map of Upper Nile state

Governor Chol, according to the executive order following his last cabinet meeting with state ministers and heads of independent commissions, relieved Philip Gwyne from his position as the deputy governor and replaced him with Dak Tap Chol as the new deputy governor.

The new deputy governor, according to caretaker state information minister, Peter Hoth Tuach, was the former Nasir county commissioner from 2010 to 2014 when he was relieved from his position and given another assignment as the new minister of physical infrastructure and rural development in the previous government of Simon Kun Puoc.

The new state government will however last for only three months as it will be again dissolved and reconstituted in accordance with the peace agreement in which the opposition group will take the governorship and form a new state government.

In the new arrangement, the government will take 46% of the state ministerial positions while the opposition group led by Riek Machar will take 40% and the remaining 14% will be divided between the former detainees and political parties.

(ST)

September 21, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - President Omer Hassan al-Bashir would soon announce new measures to promote efforts for creating conducive climate to ensure success of the national dialogue, said the ruling party

Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir has called on political parties to participate in national dialogue aimed at stimulating a reform plan announced earlier this year (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

Following its meeting Monday, the ruling National Congress Party's (NCP) leadership office renewed the government readiness to engage in talks with the rebels in areas under their control in South Kordofan and Blue Nile to achieve a permanent and comprehensive peace.

NCP deputy chairman and presidential assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid told reporters following the meeting that the leadership office was reassured on the ongoing arrangements for the official inauguration of the dialogue conference on October 10th.

He said the leadership office has endorsed decisions of the dialogue coordination body known as 7+7 regarding the agenda and the opening session of the national dialogue conference.

According to Hamid, the meeting approved the entire moves made by the 7+7 committee including its decision that dialogue must be an exclusive Sudanese process and should be held inside the country.

“No [opposition] party will participate in a preparatory meeting outside Sudan as long as the those parties are present inside the country and allowed to carry out their [political] work,” he added.

It should be mentioned that the Sudanese government and the 7+7 committee reject the preparatory meeting proposed by the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) to facilitate the dialogue.

Hamid further said that the meeting underscored the need to continue efforts and contacts to secure participation of all political forces in the conference including those outside Sudan.

He pointed out that the meeting approved decisions of president Bashir to declare a cease fire and offer the necessary guarantees for the rebel leaders to participate in the dialogue inside Sudan.

On August 20th, Bashir said he is ready to declare a two-month ceasefire in Blue Nile, South Kordofan states and Darfur region and renewed his offer of amnesty for the rebels who are willing to join the national dialogue.

Also, last week, the rebel umbrella Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) expressed its willingness to sign a cessation of hostilities for six months in the Blue Nile, South Kordofan and Darfur.

The Sudanese army has been fighting Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since 2011 and the armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

Al-Bashir proposed in January 2014 to hold a national dialogue to end armed conflicts and to reach a political consensus on a permanent constitution in Sudan.

The imitative was welcomed by the opposition Popular Congress Party (PCP), National Umma Party, Reform Now Movement. However, the NUP and RNM decided to suspend their participation following the arrest of the NUP leader Sadiq al-Mahdi in May 2014.

Since the NUP and RNM joined calls by the alliance opposition National Consensus Forces (NCF) and the SRF to create a conducive environment through the end of war, release of freedoms and liberation of political detainees.

(ST)

September 21, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The European Union (EU) has pledged to provide basic food, shelter and drugs to the needy in the conflict areas in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) next Thursday.

Ambassador Tomas Ulicny (Photo courtesy of the EU)

EU ambassador to Khartoum, Thomas Ulicny has sent a congratulatory message to the Sudanese people on the occasion of Hajj (pilgrimage) and Eid al-Adha, saying “I extend my greetings and congratulations to all those who are performing Hajj and celebrating Eid al-Adha”.

“Muslims celebration of Eid al-Adha is a commemoration of the willingness of Abraham, peace be upon him, to sacrifice his son and thus it is a good opportunity for providing food to those who are less fortunate,” he added.

He expressed hope that God accepts prayers on this occasion and brings lasting peace, reconciliation and forgiveness not only to Sudan but also to South Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen.

The EU envoy further hoped that their efforts reach those who are in need “for our humanity before our care”.

Meanwhile, the deputy joint special representative for the hybrid peacekeeping in Darfur (UNAMID), Abiodun Oluremi Bashua, urged the Sudanese people in a message on the occasion of Eid al-Adha to draw lessons of peace and sacrifice from the story of Abraham and his son.

“The road to peace is fraught with obstacles, difficulties, tests and sacrifices and peace won't be achieved unless everybody shows sincere intentions and resolve,” he added
He described the progress which has been made in the internal dialogue in Darfur as a positive step towards achieving peace, stability and development in the region.

Bashua added they still hope that a comprehensive national dialogue will take place, pointing that recent meetings of the rebel umbrella Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) in Paris has given new breath for achieving peace in Darfur and throughout Sudan.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

September 21, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) –The Addis Ababa electrified light railway network officially commenced operation Sunday, head of Ethiopia Railways Corporation (ERC) said.

The secretive Red Sea nation, bordering Sudan and Ethiopia, has been dubbed the North Korea of Africa (HRW)

Getachew Betru said a 17-kilometers long portion of the railway stretching from the north to the south of the capital started producing services to tens of thousands of residents.

"A remaining 17-kilometer long route, stretching from East to west part of the capital will begin providing service next month," he told reporters in Addis Ababa Monday.

Trial operation, the official said, had been taking place since February this year, courtesy of a number of qualified personnel who had been receiving training overseas.

According to Getachew, the minimum tariff to a transport distance covering 4 kilometers is 2 birr ($0.096), while the cost for 17km covering a whole journey is 6 birr ($0.193).

Payment system of the railway service will reportedly involve both cash and electromagnetic card that has to be used when boarding and getting off.

Getachew said services would be provided to the public under huge government subsidy.

“If there are many loopholes, we are ready to identify and address in due course. We will make strong supervision in areas where movement of people is high”, he stressed.

The new rail transport network is expected to ease the huge public transport problems in one of the world's most populace city.

When contacted by Sudan Tribune, however, some Addis Ababa residents expressed delight after seeing the long-awaited railway system become operational.

Most of them said previously, they had to wait for up to half an hour or more to catch a bus or taxi, but with the start of the rail transport, they would now be able to arrive at their respective work places or schools on time.

Ethiopia's rail way, which is the first urban light rail transit system in sub-Saharan Africa reportedly has the capacity to transport 15,000 passengers per hour in one direction.

The Ethiopian government is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to build modern transport systems to support development. With an average annual 11% economic growth, Ethiopia is one of the world's ten fastest growing economies.

Ethiopia which intends to be a regional power exporter however is recently being hit by severe power blackouts.

But officials told Sudan Tribune that the electric power for the railway is directly connected to the main grid and blackouts won't affect route of trains.

The US $ 475 million double track electrified light rail transit project was launched by China's Eryuan Engineering Group in January 2012 under a contract signed in June 2009.

China's Export-Import Bank provided loans to cover 85% of the project while the remaining 15% was financed by the Ethiopian government.

Meanwhile, Arkebe Equbay, special adviser on economic affairs to the Ethiopian prime minister said Ethiopia was planning to build Africa's first Railway Academy.

According to government official, the aim is to build up qualified expertise in the field of railway engineering to run the railway projects now being undertaken in Ethiopia.

The railway academy will be built at the cost of $39.3 million using funds secured from China.

“The Academy would be an important element in accomplishing the goals of the Growth and Transformation Plan II”, said Arkebe.

Ethiopia's five year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP I) has been completed earlier on September and the second five year GTP is launched during which the horn of Africa's nation intends to accomplish a number of massive projects including Africa's largest power plant project. The country intends to join middle income countries by 2025 however some economists say it is an over ambitious plan.

(ST)

September 21, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudan's rival parties to the conflict have concluded a one week long ceasefire workshop without reaching consensus over contentious matters to sign a deal and form a joint command as part of the security arrangement.

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar, second left, looks across after shaking hands with South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, center-right wearing a black hat, after lengthy peace negotiations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Monday, Aug. 17, 2015 (Photo AP/Mulugeta Ayene)

Both representatives of the two warring sides cited differences over the size of the protection force required to remain at the national capital, Juba, with the government proposing at least an army division between 10,000 and 18,000 soldiers should be deployed to remain in Juba during the transitional period.

Armed opposition officials say such arrangement amounts to militarization of the capital in violation of the provisions of the agreement which demands the demilitarization and deployment of joint police.

These divergences of the views about transitional security arrangement at the workshop led to the failure of the armed opposition representatives to sign a deal on the implementation matrix of the permanent ceasefire agreement in Addis Ababa last week because it failed to demilitarize the capital, Juba.

General Dau Aturjong Nyuol, deputy chief of general staff for training and the overall commander of the opposition forces in Bahr el Ghazal region, blamed the government for intransigence at the workshop to reach a consensus to sign a security arrangement matrix on the implementation of permanent ceasefire.

“The team that went to the workshop from Juba was either not ready for a consensus or was not given the opportunity to read the document (peace agreement). If you read the agreement, you find that it is clearly stated that Juba will be demilitarised. It will not have more forces but now these talks of protection force of 5,000 soldiers and 3,000 integrated police. This is not demilitarisation,” General Aturjong, who was part of the leading opposition commanders at the workshop, said on Monday.

He explained during an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune that demilitarisation means taking the army away from the capital city and not deploying more forces contrary to the provisions of the peace agreement.

However, the senior opposition commander revealed the parties in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, have agreed on the withdrawal of all foreign forces in the country by October 10, despite disagreement on the nature of the Joint Integrated Police Unit and the number of presidential guards.

The foreign forces targeted and which will now have to leave or stand down include Uganda People's Defence Forces who were deployed in Juba after the outbreak of fighting in December 2013 to shore up President Kiir's government under a special arrangement with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni.

Others are the Sudanese Revolutionary Forces (SPLM-North) that are also fighting the Khartoum government in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile and the Dafur-based rebels, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the Sudan Liberation Army-Minawi (SLA-MM) and SLA-AW led by Abdul Wahid.

The agreement however exempts Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) based in Yambio, Western Equatoria state, because they had been deployed in 2010 as part of the African Union Joint Force to pursue Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army.

PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS

On the issue of the presidential guard, the government delegation had demanded 17,000 presidential guards but Riek Machar-led rebel movement rejected the number arguing that it was too high and that the shared presidential guards could be about 2,000 to 3,000.

Observers say the government had taken advantage of the loophole in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Compromise Peace Agreement which did not give the numbers, leaving it for the partners to negotiate. The earlier proposal had provided that President Kiir retains 265 presidential guards while the first vice-president-to-be Machar was supposed to have 195 guards.

These latest agreements were arrived at a workshop on security arrangement that was convened by IGAD in Addis Ababa from September 13-17.

General Aturjong argued that while the government side believes that the police unit will comprise small group of 1,000 to guard the civilians in Juba only, the rebel movement believes that there has to be a new police body where both sides contribute equally depending on the overall number agreed on.

Speaking to the state owned South Sudan Television on Friday the information minister Michael Makuei Lueth said the government delegation that went to Addis Ababa last week to attend the workshop on the implementation of a permanent ceasefire had returned with information that the rebels had refused to sign the security arrangements but other representatives of former detainees had signed.

“Yesterday (Thursday 18) the delegation that went to the workshop came back yesterday to inform us that the agreement on the implementation of the permanent ceasefire was signed by the government delegation and the former detainee delegation, and the rebels rejected the signing of the agreement. So the ball is now in the court of IGAD and the rebels,” he said.

(ST)

September 20, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A former adviser of Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir described the country's situation as worse after the national dialogue initiative rolled out in January 2014.

Chairman of the Reform Now Movement (RNM) Ghazi Salah al-Din al-Attabani

The head of the Reform Now Movement (RNM) Ghazi Salah al-Din al-Attabani said in an op-ed for Sudan Tribune titled 'Sorry pal! we may be barking up the wrong tree' that Bashir made “extravagant promises” during his address to the nation that month which became known as the " leap" speech.

“He overused the newfangled word leap, denoting reform, change, or transformation,” said al-Attabani who split from Bashir's ruling party in late 2013.

“Despite the enigma shrouding the speech, making it open to different interpretations, we all embraced the message calling it constructive and timely. What happened in the next twenty months was an anticlimax,” he added.

Al-Attabani said that twenty months later “the situation is worse”.

“The four crises besetting the nation -the war, economy, foreign relations, constitutional reform- show no sign of abating. The government has decided to throw its own party. Following its trademark technique, it decided to have its own national dialogue. The idea is to maintain intellectual discipline and keep control over the proceedings”.

“A unique opportunity presented itself on 5 September 2014, when delegates from government parties, opposition, and armed groups signed an accord in Addis Ababa, under the auspices of the African Union Panel AUHIP. The ball was in the penalty area waiting for the striker, but the latter had other plans”.

He recalled similar dialogue initiative in Kenana in 2008 aimed at discussing Darfur conflict.

“No one cared to send a decent invitation to the armed groups to attend. The result: an impressive gathering and a comprehensive final report. In the next few days hardly anyone remembered a thing of what the Kenana Conference produced, least of all the armed groups who were conspicuous by their absence”.

“It was a classic case of the dog barking up the wrong tree,” the opposition figure said.

Bashir announced on August 20th his willingness for a two-month ceasefire in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states and Darfur region in order to hold the dialogue in a "healthy atmosphere".

This week the umbrella group of Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) offered to sign a cessation of hostilities for six months in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states and Darfur region provided that Khartoum be committed to the inclusive dialogue process and accept the pre-dialogue process.

The government said it is still deliberating over the offer before announcing an opinion.

Beside the rebels, several major opposition parties remain outside the dialogue and particularly the National Umma Party (NUP) and the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP).

(ST)

September 21, 2015 (JUBA) – Government of South Sudan said the reason president Salva Kiir will not travel to New York to attend summit by the United Nations General Assembly is because he has been treated like a "school boy" by the world body and will instead delegate his deputy, James Wani Igga, to represent him at the event in protest.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (AFP)

The UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, on 10 September officially informed the rival leaders in the South Sudan's 20-month long civil war, president Kiir and armed opposition leader, Riek Machar, to attend a high profile summit of the UN General Assembly on 29 September by heads of states and governments from around the world.

The opposition leader, Machar, announced he would lead his delegation and attend the New York summit.

However, government's minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, told Sudan Tribune last week that president Kiir will not travel and will rather delegate his deputy to attend the world summit on South Sudan. He fell short of explaining the reason behind the decision.

But information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, on Friday revealed to reporters in Juba that the decision was made in protest of how their president was being treated by the world body, complaining that the world has reduced president Kiir to a “school boy.”

He also said president Kiir was given a short notice to travel to New York, despite the information which indicated that there was a gap of 18 days between the notice and the day of the summit in New York.

"You cannot just invite a president and give him short notice like a school boy to come and attend your meetings,” Makuei angrily told reporters in the capital, Juba.

The minister also predicted that it would be difficult for the United States government to give visas to many of the president Kiir's officials who may travel with him to the UN summit as another reason for the protest in order to avoid “embarrassment.”

"Going to America, as you know is a problem, in terms of visa. Yes they can give the president the visa, but they can obstruct the going of others who are accompanying the president. So in order to avoid all this embarrassment, the vice-president James Wani Igga is going to attend," he stressed.

The summit will be the first high profile world meeting of top leaders to galvanize support to the full implementation of the peace agreement signed in August by the warring parties in South Sudan.

Opposition leader, Machar, also said he would meet president Kiir in New York on the sidelines of the UN summit to be organized by the UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon. It is not however clear whether this meeting will take place if president Kiir will not travel to attend the world gathering on South Sudan.

Observers have argued that by refusing to attend the UN summit on his country in New York, president Kiir will be making yet another diplomatic mistake similar to the time he refused to sign the peace agreement on 17 August in Addis Ababa.

Other sources, however, speculate that the president had been reluctant to leave South Sudan in fear of anti-peace senior political and military leaders who might overthrow him in his absence and wants to monitor the situation at home.

(ST)

September 20, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's international cooperation minister Kamaleldin Hassan has praised the development projects that the Italian government is implementing in the countr,y pointing that such support is needed for peace and regional stability.

International cooperation minister Kamaleldin Hassan (SUNA photo)

On Sunday, Hassan received the Italian ambassador to Sudan Fabrizio Lobasso, and discussed with him the development projects that Italy is implementing in Eastern Sudan.

The Sudanese Minister "expressed his appreciation for the excellent Italian expertise (in the development) field, not just in the bilateral context but also through its leadership in implementing important European programmes," said a statement extended to Sudan Tribune by the Italian embassy in Khartoum.

He further said that the Italian projects are instrumental for the social stability as they aim to improve difficult conditions of vulnerable people and contribute to establish the necessary condition for political stability.

Earlier this month, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced that Italian government granted 600,000 euro for an Integrated Food Security and Livelihoods Project (IFSLP) that will target 7.500 households in Kessala and Red Sea states.

Ambassador Lobasso said that Italian support to the Sudanese people aims to achieve productive projects in the sectors of health and rural development. he added that a special focus is given to the eastern Sudan region .

Sudanese officials criticize the humanitarian assistance provided by different western nations, saying this money can be used to fund sustainable food and development projects.

During its six-month rotational presidency of the European Union in 2014, the Italian government worked to launch the EU-Horn of Africa Migration Route Initiative aka Khartoum Process, which aims to tackle trafficking of migrants between the Horn of Africa and Europe.

(ST)

September 20, 2015(BOR) - The grassroot reconciliatory approach to achieve peace has proved a reality as cross-border cattle trading activities between communities in Uror and Ayod counties on South Sudan's Jonglei state have greaty improved, an official said.

Hundreds of patients listen to Jonglei state officials visiting Ayod - 26.08.2010 (ST)

According to the Uror county commissioner, Mabior Bol, hundreds of cattle arrive daily at Duk county border from both Ayod and Uror as Nuer tribesmen search forfor potential markets.

The booming trade activities, he disclosed, extends upto Panyagoor in Twic East county.

Mabior, in an interview with Sudan Tribune, confirmed that cattle trading was a major step in realising the real meanings of reconciliation and forgiveness in communities.

“We from the state here as the commissioners of Jonglei state we started peace process on the ground since February last years. Now between the greater Bor areas and the areas of Lou Nuer we have no problem”, the commissioner said Saturday.

“Now the Nuer come from Ayod and Uror to sell their cattle in Duk and go back with food items for their families. Everything they eat now comes from Dinka Bor areas. This made them understand that the war was not about Dinka Bor, it means peace on ground will be 100 percent reachable without violent”, stressed Mabior.

The Uror county commissioner, howver, blamed the Lou Nuer white army fighters of their continued attack on the government forces in the oil-rich Upper Nile and Unity states.

“You hear that the white has crossed to Malakal and Bentiu. They are, maybe part of the fighters who violated peace several times”, Mabior claimed, further alleging that some senior rebel generals were still using the white army to help them fight government forces.

(ST).

September 20, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The minister of state at the Sudanese Ministry of Justice Ahmed Abu-Zeid cleared the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia from any abuses saying that their formation is on voluntary basis and were trained and incorporated into the army.

RSF troops in camouflage and draped with ammunition show off the spoils from a major clash with the rebel (JEM), in Nyala 13 May 2015 (Photo AFP/Ashraf Shazly)

Abu-Zeid, who returned home from Geneva where the UN meetings of Human Rights Council are taking place, told Sudan news agency (SUNA) that the government has shown great interest in the Darfur in terms of development and justice through the rule of law, reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.

He pointed to a workshop organized by the special Darfur crimes prosecutor in Geneva that was attended by a large number of interested parties and human rights monitors in which he refuted the allegations of mass rape committed in the village of Tabit in North Darfur.

The prosecutor explained that Darfur saw the deployment of more prosecutors and mobile courts in line with the government's plan to achieve stability and development.

Abu-Zeid also noted that they informed the human rights organizations that RSF are not existing as a separate force.

The RSF, which is widely known as the Janjaweed militias, were originally mobilized by the Sudanese government to quell the insurgency that broke out in Sudan's western region of Darfur in 2003.

The militia was reactivated and restructured again in August 2013 under the command of NISS to fight the alliance of rebel groups from Darfur region, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states following joint attacks in North and South Kordofan in April 2013.

Abu-Zeid also denied imposing restrictions on the freedom of expression and pointed out that the government does not own the media or newspapers which at times are highly critical of state policies.

The official acknowledged however that some newspapers are suspended when they violate the Press and Publications Law.

(ST)

September 20, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) on Sunday has seized print runs of Al-Khartoum daily newspaper.

Members of Sudanese Journalists Network (SJN) hold banners outside the National Council for Press and Publication (NCPP) premises in Khartoum in protest against repeated seizure of newspapers, on May 26, 2015 (ST photo)

Several journalists working for Al-Khartoum said that NISS was likely punishing the newspaper for publishing a cartoon ridiculing the government-led dialogue process.

It is worth mentioning that NISS has carried out a confiscation campaign against the newspapers since last Friday despite the promises made by the dialogue body known as 7+7 to take measures to create conducive climate including stopping arrests, lifting of censorship on newspapers and allowing public and personal freedoms.

NISS has seized copies of Al-Sudani newspaper on Friday and Saturday from the printing house for publishing a report on water pollution and a series of columns by the newspaper's chief-editor criticizing the arrest of the female journalist, Hiba Abdel-Azeem who made the report.

However, the confiscation of the print runs of Al-Khartoum newspaper represents a rare precedent because it was likely due to publishing a cartoon in the front page.
The caricature depicts the NCP in the form of a man struggling to reach the dialogue which was drawn in the form of a woman and saying “I love dialogues to death”.

Cartoonist Hashim Karouri who draw the caricature told Sudan Tribune that he meant to send a message saying that the ongoing dialogue is futile because it is fully controlled by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

He said that the Al-Khartoum has adopted a new editorial policy allowing cartoons to appear in the front page which is considered a rare move in Sudan's local newspapers.
Al-Karouri added that he doesn't belong to any political party, saying he takes the side of the Sudanese people who suffer from the spiraling cost of living and the differences among politicians.

He demanded the government to magnanimously accept the free criticism, saying “we don't mean to offend anybody but we speak a language understandable to the ordinary citizens”.

Sudan's constitution guarantees freedom of expression but laws subordinate to the constitution such as the National Security Forces Act of 2010 contains articles that can be potentially used to curtail press freedom and instigate legal proceedings against newspapers and individual journalists.

Sudanese journalists work under tight daily censorship controls exercised by the NISS.
Journalists say that NISS uses seizures of print copies of newspapers, not only to censor the media but also to weaken them economically.

September 20, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's dialogue coordination committee known as 7+7 has welcomed the willingness of the rebel umbrella Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) to sign a cessation of hostilities for six months in the Blue Nile, South Kordofan and Darfur.

3rd meeting of the national dialogue national assembly in Khartoum on Thursday 20 August 2015 (Photo - SUNA)

SRF factions including the Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North (SPLM-N) Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the SLM- Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) held a series of meetings in Paris from 10 to 14 September dedicated to the SRF roadmap for peace and national dialogue in Sudan.

The three rebel groups expressed their readiness to sign a cessation of hostilities for six months in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states and Darfur region provided that Khartoum be committed to the inclusive dialogue process and accept the pre-dialogue process.

Following a meeting held on Sunday, the 7+7 committee issued a statement emphasizing the need for holding an exclusive Sudanese dialogue on the bases of its roadmap approved in August 2014, the Addis Ababa agreement with the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) signed in September 2014 and the committee's statement on the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) resolution 539 in August 2015.

“We welcome the announcement by the armed movements in Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile to a cease fire in appreciation for president [Omer al-Bashir] decision in August 2015 to offer amnesty [for the rebels] and to declare cease fire”, the statement read.

On August 20 th, Bashir said he is ready to declare a two-month ceasefire in Blue Nile, South Kordofan states and Darfur region and renewed his offer of amnesty for the rebel who are willing to join the national dialogue.

The dialogue body further called on all the warring parties to immediately sign a cessation of hostilities agreement in order to protect civilians, provide humanitarian assistance and create an environment conducive for holding the national dialogue.

Also, it called for holding a meeting to discuss the necessary requirements for the participation of the arms bearers in the national dialogue, and praised the supportive role played by the African Union, friendly neighbouring nations and the international community to achieve peace and stability in Sudan.

Political and armed holdout groups refuse to join the dialogue process under the current conditions, asking first to stop war, allow humanitarian access to civilians in the rebel held areas and to ensure political freedoms.

Meanwhile, the political secretary of the opposition Popular Congress Party (PCP) and member of the 7+7 committee Kamal Omer Abdel-Salam said in a press statement Sunday the meeting of the dialogue coordination body underscored the need to intensify contacts to bring in holdout opposition and rebel groups.

“It [the committee] also stressed the need to visit several states in the region to brief them on the developments of the dialogue and ask them to mediate to convince the armed movements and [opposition] parties to participate in the dialogue,” he added.

He told Sudan Tribune that delegation from the 7+7 committee will visit Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and Uganda to ask for their mediation to convince the holdouts to join the dialogue process.

Abdel-Salam also said that several heads of states and ambassadors will be invited to attend the official inauguration of the national dialogue on October 10th.

Regarding complaints of newspapers against repeated confiscations by the security services, Omer said they seek to protect freedoms until the current laws were amended, noting that dialogue's regulations state that the judiciary is the guarantor for liberties.

(ST)