Africa

October 3, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - SPLM-IO condemned statements by the South Sudan Presidential spokesman that his government has political prisoners and stressed they will not compromise over the release of James Dak, the spokesperson of the Movement' leader.

On Monday Ateny Wek Ateny denied the existence of political prisoners in South Sudan. He told Radio Tamazuj that "all political detainees had been released. We have prisoners of war and not political detainees".

Also on Wednesday, Juba released twenty political prisoners but James Gatdet Dak, the imprisoned-spokesperson SPLM-IO's leader was not among them.

Manawa Peter Gatkuoth SPLM-IO Deputy Chairperson of the National Committee for Information and Public Relations told Sudan Tribune they learnt that Dak was told that he is not included in the presidential decree for the release of the political prisoners and detainees.

"This is a serious development and we hope that the government of South Sudan will reconsider its position and release him as soon as possible," Manawa said.

He further said that Dak is "the ideal example for the political prisoner" according to the standards enshrined in international law before to stress that claiming he is not covered by the presidential pardon is a clear breach of the revitalized agreement.

"We appeal to the international community to intervene to secure his release because Dak's imprisonment cannot be subjected to political bargaining," he said.

In November 2016, Kenya arrested and deported James Dak to Juba where he remained in jail until his trial in February 2018. He was sentenced to death on charges of treason and incitement against the government.

Already his lawyer said the trial of the SPLM-IO official was a violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement of 21 December 2017.

Manawa also slammed Ateny's statements denying the existence of political prisoners in South Sudan and described it as "irresponsible statements" that fueling political strife at this critical stage in the implementation of the peace agreement.

He added that the international community should condemn such statements since IGAD, the African Union, the United Nations and the Troika are aware of such arrests and abduction of SPLM-IO members inside the country and in Kenya before their deportation to South Sudan where they are detained.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty reported that two vocal government critics, Dong Samuel Luak and Aggrey Idri, were detained in Kenya in January 2017before the deliver them to the south Sudanese authorities

Also, there is the case of Peter Biar Ajak, a South Sudanese peace activist who was arrested last July.

(ST)

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September 2, 2018 (JUBA) - President Salva Kiir who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the South Sudanese army issued a decree providing to formally change the name of the SPLA into South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF).

President Salva Kiir walks past SPLA reception parade during 6th command council in Juba on July 27, 2017 (ST)

The decision which was announced on Tuesday evening had been adopted on 3 August 2017 by the sixth Command Council Conference of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).

The change meant to mark the effective transformation of the national army from a liberation movement into a professional army.

At the time the conference passed several resolutions in that sense.

The presidential decree read on the official TV station provided that the decision comes in line with the resolutions of the SPLA Command Council Conference.

The SPLA was founded as a guerrilla movement in 1983 and was a key participant of the second Sudanese civil war.

As of 2013, South Sudan military was estimated to have 210,000 soldiers.

The SPLA's change de name intervenes ten days before the start of the implementation of the revitalized security arrangements which include the reunification of the national army before the end of the transitional period.

(ST)

October 2, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The UN Resident Coordinator in Sudan, Gwi-Yeop Son, Tuesday welcomed the temporary unilateral cessation of hostilities by the Sudan Liberation Army – Abdul Wahid (SLA-AW) to allow humanitarian access to civilians in the rebel-controlled areas in eastern Jebel Marra area.

Heavy rains in Wadi Tuliba and Tagulei villages located in an SLA-AW controlled area killed 16 people died as a result of mudslides last September. Following this natural disaster, the SLM/A AW declared a three-month unilateral ceasefire to allow the delivery of emergency and medical assistance to the affected population.

"The United Nations welcomes the unilateral ceasefire by the SLA-AW that enabled the United Nations to provide emergency assistance to about 380 people," said Ms. Son in a statement released on Tuesday.

The statement further said that UN provided relief assistance to 76 affected families (about 380 people), including tents and plastic sheets for shelter, kitchen sets, jerry cans, blankets and mosquito nets, and treated the injured and ill.

On 20 September, UNAMID said a joint team comprising UNAMID and UN Humanitarian Country Team including six doctors, reached the affected area. The first mission assessed the humanitarian situation and provided medical assistance and non-food items to the affected villagers.

While UNAMID reported that 19 people were killed by the mudslides, the UN Resident Humanitarian said 16 people died in the disaster.

The two affected villages are in a mountainous area where access and logistics are complicated by lack of roads and difficult terrain.

The SLM/A is not part of a unilateral cessation of hostilities by three armed groups in Darfur within the framework of peace talks with the government brokered by the African Union.

(ST)

October 2, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Good cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan armies is the key for a strong relationship between the two countries, said Sudan defence minister during a meeting with the South Sudanese army chief of joint staff on Tuesday.

The visiting South Sudanese army chief of staff General Gabriel Jok Riak discussed the implementation of the security arrangement with his Sudanese counterpart Kamal Abdel Marouf al-Mahi following a recent agreement to launch the operationalization of the buffer zone between the two countries last September in Addis Ababa.

On Tuesday, Sudanese Defence Minister Awad Ibn Ouf received General Riak who discussed issues of common interest that serve the security and stability of both countries.

"The Minister of Defense stressed the special relationship between the two countries and pointed out to the importance of communication and exchange visits because the good relationship between the armed forces in the two countries is the entrance to the remaining files of common interest," reads a statement released after the meeting.

Sudan and South Sudan agreed in September 2012 to establish a demilitarized zone on the disputed and non-delimited border to prevent cross-border attacks by rebels groups from both sides. Also, they decided to establish 10 border crossing corridors.

But, its implementation was hampered by the mistrust and rejection of local communities living on the border area such as the 14-Mile Area which is important grazing territory for the Malual Dinka.

According to the statement, General Riak said the Sudanese efforts to narrow the gaps between the South Sudanese parties in the IGAD-led peace process convinced Juba to go ahead in the implementation of the security arrangements and to strengthen relations with Khartoum.

Ibn Ouf and his military aides mediated the talks on the security arrangements during the Khartoum Round of the revitalization forum for peace in South Sudan.

For his part, General al-Mahi said he agreed with his South Sudanese counterpart to implement the recent agreement signed in Addis Ababa before the end of the year in order to pave the way for the deployment of the joint forces on the border.

He added that they discussed cooperation in the fields of joint training and the formation of joint forces.

On Wednesday, General Riak will take part in a meeting of IGAD senior military leaders to discuss the deployment of a joint force to monitor the implementation of the revitalized peace pact.

(ST)

October 2, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government on Tuesday has renewed its commitment to implement the Roadmap Agreement expecting the Two Areas talks with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) to resume within three months.

Mbeki speaks to participants at the inaugral session of Strategic Consultations Meeting in Addis Ababa on 18 March 2016 (AUHIP Photo)

The government and the opposition Sudan Call alliance including the political forces and the armed movements signed in March and August 2016 the Roadmap agreement brokered by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) including several steps towards their participation in a national constitutional process inside Sudan.

However, the parties failed to sign a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian agreements that are seen crucial before to move forward in the roadmap implementation process.

Following the failure of talks for a ceasefire agreement in August 2016, the government held its national dialogue conference without the opposition groups and formed a national consensus government.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) Tuesday has quoted the Minister of Information and government spokesperson Bishara Guma'a Aror as saying peace has become a reality on the ground in the Two Areas and is lacking only the signing of an agreement between the government and the SPLM-N.

He pointed out that no military clashes have occurred between the government and the SPLM-N during the past two years, saying the two sides have adhered to the unilateral cessation of hostilities.

Aror called on holdout groups to join the peace process, stressing his government's seriousness and commitment to achieve sustainable peace, security and stability in the Two Areas and the country in general.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

The talks with the SPLM-N groups to end the conflict in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states are stalled as the African mediators failed to bring the parties to sign a permanent ceasefire and to engage talks on the political issues.

Following the spilt of the SPLM-N in two factions, the mediation sought to hold peace talks between the group of Abdel Aziz al-Hilu and the government in vain.

For the other faction led by Malik Agar, the mediation deals with it within the framework of the Sudan Call opposition umbrella which includes armed groups from Darfur region and political parties.

Also, this process is impeded by the failure to reach a framework agreement for talks on Darfur conflict and the revitalization of a roadmap struck in August 2016 but no longer fits with the political developments.

(ST)

October 2, 2018 (NEW YORK) - The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock has praised Sudan's decision to allow humanitarian access to rebel-held areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

Last week, the Sudanese government said it has accepted a proposal from the UN to deliver humanitarian aid to rebel-held areas in the Two Areas from inside Sudan.

Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed Adam Tuesday told Sudan Tribune that he met with Lowcock on Monday in New York.

He pointed out that the UN official described Sudan's decision as a positive move towards improving the humanitarian situation in the Two Areas.

Adam added he briefed Lowcock on the latest political and humanitarian developments in Sudan and the need to make concerted efforts among the government, the UN and other partners in order to promote peace and stability and to move from emergency relief to reconstruction and development.

According to Adam, the UN official expressed his conviction that humanitarian situation has improved and announced his support to government efforts in this regard.

He also urged donors to increase funding in order to contribute to enhancing the stability and resilience of affected communities.

Meanwhile, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Gwi-Yeop Son, has welcomed Sudan's decision to accept her request to facilitate humanitarian access to the affected population in the rebel-held areas.

“The request is purely humanitarian in nature and is based on humanitarian imperatives. The UN's relief operations will adhere to the humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality” she wrote in a letter to the Sudanese government

Son stressed the UN would monitor the delivery of humanitarian assistance, calling on all parties to facilitate humanitarian access and the delivery of assistance to the most vulnerable people in the Two Areas.

Talks between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access are stalled since August 2016.

The SPLM-N demands to deliver 20% of the humanitarian assistance through a humanitarian corridor from Asosa, an Ethiopian border town.

But the government rejects the idea saying it is a breach of the state sovereignty and a manoeuvre from the rebels to bring arms and ammunition to their locked rebel-held areas in the Two Areas.

The SPLM-N, in November 2016 declined an American proposal to transport humanitarian medical assistance directly to the civilians in the rebel-held areas in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

Also, during the last round of talks from 1 to 3 February, the Sudanese government and SPLM-N al-Hilu failed to reach a cessation of hostilities agreement.

The mediation delinked the ceasefire and the humanitarian access and focused at this round only on the cessation of hostilities agreement.

However, differences between the sides emerged when Khartoum proposed that the cessation of hostilities be a step towards a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian access.

(ST)

October 2, 2018 (JUBA) - The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA)'s groups that rejected the revitalized agreement Tuesday broke away from their allies who signed the peace pact and picked Thomas Cirilo Swaka as leader of the new coalition.

Thomas Cirillo Swaka (Photo Reuters)

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune the National Salvation Front (NAS) of Gen. Thomas C. Swaka, People's Democratic Movement (PDM) chaired by Hakim Dario, National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Emanuel Aban and the United Democratic Republic Alliance (UDRA) of Gatwech K. Thich and South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC) of Vakindi L. Unvu, said they met on Sunday 30 September to restructure the alliance leadership.

"The leaders of the alliance who remained true to SSOA objectives met and resolved to establish an interim SSOA Executive body, tasked with defining the way forward for SSOA post the 12th September 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS),".said the statement.

Following what the statement said the new SSOA team is constituted from Gen. Thomas Cirilo Swaka as the Chairman, Vakindi L. Unvu as Deputy Chairman, Amb. Emmanuel Y. Ajawin as the Secretary-General, Hakim Dario: the Secretary for Foreign Relations and Kwaje M. Lasu will keep his post of the Spokesperson.

In a statement issued on 16 September SSOA leader Gabriel Chang Changson denied accusations of betraying the plight of the South Sudanese.

Further, he called on the holdout groups to reconsider their position from the deal and to rejoin them, stressing on the need for the unity to achieve the shared objectives.

Changson-led SSOA faction includes his group FDP/SSAF, NDM of Lam Akol, SSNMC led by Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro of, SSPM/A of Hussein Abdel Bagi, SSLM/A of Bapiny Montuil Wegjang, SSUM/A of Peter Gadet Yak and a PDM's faction led by Josephine Lagu.

The new SSOA team, however, the African Union, IGAD, EU, UN Security Council, and the TROIKA countries that "we will continue to work hard to attain a genuine, sustainable and lasting peace for the people of South Sudan and to establish the rule of law and justice in our country".

It is not clear if Swaka's faction is planning to make some proposals in order to reopen negotiations with the peace partners or not and under which conditions.

It is agreed that SSOA split sapped the strength of the third political group in South Sudan after the SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO. Observers fear that this development impact negatively their efforts to achieve their goals during the transitional period.

(ST)

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