Africa

June 11, 2018 (TONJ) - The governor of South Sudan's Tonj state, Anthony Bol Madut has fired his deputy, Manheim Bol.

Map of South Sudan showing Warrap state in red

Madut, in a gubernatorial order Sudan Tribune obtained, appointed Marial Abur, a former police commissioner, as the deputy state governor.

The governor also removed education minister, Deng Mayom Akeen, replacing him with Deng Deng Wek.

Other new appointments saw James Ayek (information), Lino Majok Achien (minister of physical infrastructure), William Deng Nhial (agriculture) while Manyang Agor is the local government minister.

The decree did not, however, specify any reasons for the changes made.

(ST)

June 11, 2018 (JUBA)- The South Sudanese presidency has dismissed as “fake” news report, which claimed the country's first vice president, Taban Deng Gai in the coalition government proposed an initiative aimed at bringing together President Salva Kiir and his main political rival and leader of armed opposition faction, Riek Machar.

South Sudan First Vice President Taban Deng Gai addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly (UN Photo)

Gai, reports widely circulated on social media indicated, protested to Kiir about his planned direct meeting with the rebel leader.

The letter, purportedly written by the first vice president, claimed he opposes the upcoming face to face meeting because Machar was no longer the leader of the armed opposition movement (SPLM-IO).

“SPLM-IO does not exist anymore after the SPLM [Sudan People Liberation Movement] reunification in early May. If you want to work with Riek Machar as an individual, just let me know because our deal does not recognize Riek Machar as the leader of the SPLM-IO. I hope you will reconsider my reasons as I presented to you at our last meeting,” partly reads the letter widely circulated on social media.

Gai said Machar would not give Kiir support if he is looking for someone who would provide him a support.

But while the South Sudanese presidential spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny denied the report, sources at the country's presidency and officials loyal to the first vice president separately told Sudan Tribune that Gai was indeed unhappy with the arrangements, pointing to views that the new arrangement will either relegate or isolate him.

“Like many other fake documents before, the letter allegedly written by the First Vice President Gen. Taban Deng Gai is as fake as the person who forged it. The FVF could not have written such letter when he can speak to the President and make his view known to the President. So, this letter is just a fake one intended for public consumption by those who forged it. Please discard it”, said Ateny.

The presidential aide did not, however, deny or confirm whether president Kiir and Gai met and held talks about the upcoming direct meeting between him and Machar.

Meanwhile President Kiir has already expressed willingness to meet his political rival for face-to-face talks, with Sudan's Omar Al-Bashir set to mediate between the two.

Last month, the rival parties involved in South Sudan's peace talks concluded the Second Phase of the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia without striking a deal on the implementation of the governance and security arrangements.

Tens of thousands pf people have been killed in fighting between troops loyal to Kiir and forces led by his former deputy Riek Machar since 2013. The conflict has also left a quarter of South Sudan's population of 12 million, either internally displaced or as refugees in neighbouring countries.

(ST)

June 11, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The opposition National Consensus Forces (NCF) Monday announced they are preparing a platform for the positive boycott of 2020 elections considering it as "dead-end road" that would not lead to the peaceful transfer of power.

NCF leader Farouk Abu Issa (R) arrives at the premises of the National Umma Party on 12 April 2015 (ST)

Speaking at a Ramadan breakfast organized by the coalition of several left parties on Monday evening, an NCF leading member Mohamed Dia al-Dins aid they will adopt a "positive boycott programme," noting that its details will be announced later.

Dia al-Din stressed that the coalition does not consider any participation in the elections, which will take place after less than two years, in order to avoid confusion over their declared objective of the peaceful overthrow of the ruling regime.

He further pointed out that their position on the elections has no relation with the contested draft election law recently approved by the Council of Ministers, and which was strongly criticized by the parties of the national dialogue allied to the ruling National Congress Party.

The NCF recently slammed a proposition by some opposition forces to challenge the regime through the electoral process in 2020 if the government signs peace agreements with the armed groups and releases freedoms.

For his part, Sudanese Communist Party figure and leading member of the opposition alliance Siddiq Youssef said that change through the elections under the current situation is "dead-end road" pointing to the need to look for other alternatives such as the popular uprising and general strike.

Dialogue with the "regime" is simply a waste of time because this regime will not accept sitting for dialogue and reaching an agreement, knowing that at the end of the day they will be held accountable for the crimes they have committed," he said.

"So, this why we reject Mbeki's mediation and the African Union roadmap," he added.

The NCF which has been established in 2009, was the sole umbrella of the opposition groups but the difference over a negotiated settlement with the regime divided them.

Now, the National Umma Party, the Sudanese Congress Party, the SPLM-North Malik Agar are part of the Sudan Call, another opposition coalition that calls for negotiations with the regime and includes two Darfur armed groups.

The Popular Congress Party which was a member of the opposition NCF has now joined the National Consensus Government led by the National Congress Party.

(ST)

June 11, 2018 (WASHINGTON) - UN Peacekeeping Chief, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Monday proposed to close all the UNMAID sites in Darfur region expect the greater Jebel Marra area and to increase peacebuilding and development.

Lacroix made his proposal during a briefing on an African Union-United Nations report on the strategic review of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur. He said the mission needs to be adapted to Darfur current realities.

Based on the idea that the security situation is relatively stable, he said the peacekeeping should be focused in the site of continued conflict in Jebel Marra while the capabilities of the UN agencies, funds and programmes should serve to consolidate the fragile stability in the rest of Darfur.

"The area of operations would be reduced to 13 team sites in the greater Jebel Marra and the Mission headquarters moving from El Fasher to Zalingei, Central Darfur,". Lacroix proposed.

The 13 sites of peacekeeping in Jebel Marra have been identified in the report as Kutum, Saraf Omra, Kabkabiyah, Tawilah, Sortony and Shangil Tobaya (North Darfur), Zalingei, Nertiti and Golo (Central Darfur) and Kalma, Kass, Menawashei and Khor Abeche (South Darfur).

Further, the super camp in El Fasher will be transformed into a logistics hub.

In line with the two-year plan, "the Force strength would be reduced from 8,735 to 4,050 military personnel, and the police component would be reduced from 2,500 officers to 1,870," Lacroix said.

Here again, the report provides more details about the timetable indicating that by 31 December the forces will be downsized from 8,735 to 5,470 military personnel. Then, by 30 June 2019, the overall strength of the force would be reduced to 4,050.

The United Nations and African Union emphasized that the two-year plan and the exit of UNAMID are basically linked to the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), particularly the dispositions related to land ownership, protection of civilians and basic services to civilians in Darfur.

"We also call on donor countries to provide the necessary financial support so that early recovery, peacebuilding and development activities can be undertaken in a sustainable manner," stressed the report.

The Security Council will renew the UNAMID mandate by the end of the month, before its expiry on 30 June.

LIFT OF ARMS EMBARGO

Sudanese deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Magdi Ahmed Mofdal called on the Security Council to consider the lift of arms embargo on Darfur region, arguing that the need to deploy Sudanese troops in the region after the UNAMID withdrawal justifies this measure.

"The current situation has demonstrated the importance of enabling the Sudanese armed forces to take the initiative and extend their control on the whole region of Darfur and fill the vacuum after the departure of UNAMID forces. This situation requires the lifting of arms embargo on Darfur," said Mofdal.

The Sudanese diplomat further called to review the individual sanctions on some Sudanese officials.

"There are two options with regard to the listed individuals, namely, either to delist them from the sanctions list or to list Abdel Wahid Mohamed al-Nur in implementation of the Council' resolution (1591 (2005)), which warned about his designation on the sanctions list," he said.

On 10 May 2018, in a consultations meeting on UNAMID, the Sudanese ambassador extensively spoke about the case of al-Nur and requested the 15-member body to "carefully consider" al-Nur's case.

"The ongoing normalization of the situation in Darfur shall not be held hostage to the misjudgements, bad faith and whims of Mr Abdel Wahid," he said.

(ST)

June 11, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Council of Ministers on Sunday has approved the 2018 elections law amid objection of several political forces participating in the national dialogue.

Sudanese electoral workers begin the process of counting votes for the presidential and legislative elections in Khartoum on 17 April 2015 (Photo: AP/Abd Raouf)

In press statements following the cabinet meeting, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs Ahmed Saad Omer praised discussions over the draft law, saying it would lead to rational political practice and free and fair elections in 2020.

For his part, the chairman of the Umma Party for Reform and Development Ibrahim Adam said discussions over the draft law were transparent, saying it would help to create broad political alliances and implement outcome the national dialogue.

He expressed hope the law would result in a true democratic transformation and smooth transfer of power.

However, several political parties who participated in the government-led national dialogue and are part of the National Consensus Government (NCG) have rejected approval of the 2018 law.

In a press release on Monday, the leader of the Reform Now Movement (RNM) Ghazi Salah al-Din Attabani said they were surprised by the government's move to approve the elections law.

He added the government has “started off on the wrong foot”, saying the move violates the recommendations of the national dialogue and the sound political practice.

Attabani demanded the government to immediately stop the endorsement of the current law and to issue a new law that achieves national unity.

Also, the Popular Congress Party (PCP), who also rejected the government move, has invited the political parties participating in the national dialogue to meet on Monday evening to discuss the elections law.

On the other hand, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) said the current elections law doesn't reflect a true consensus will, pointing it would continue to consult with its allies to form a broad front to develop democratic laws.

In October 2016, the political forces participating in the government-led national dialogue concluded the process by signing the National Document which includes the general features of a future constitution to be finalised by transitional institutions.

The NCG was installed in May 2017 to implement the outcome of the dialogue conference.

The rebel groups and opposition parties refused to join Khartoum process as they demand the government to end the war and ensure freedoms in the country ahead of the dialogue.

Also, last month, a coalition of some opposition left parties, the National Consensus Forces (NCF), announced the boycott of the 2020 elections, saying it won't meet with the ruling party to discuss these elections.

On the other hand, several opposition groups that are part of the opposition Sudan Call forces consider participating in the next general presidential elections in 2020 if the regime of President Omer al-Bashir provides needed guarantees for a fair election and ensures freedoms.

(ST)

A Kenyan nurse says a charge on migrant workers is forcing families like his to split up.

June 11, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The humanitarian commission in Darfur said a third batch of Sudanese refugees has arrived in Tina locality in North Darfur State from Chad.

In press statements on Sunday, the deputy commissioner of refugees in Darfur Mugeeb Ulrahman Mohamed Yacoub said 62 families including 187 refugees have arrived in Tina.

He pointed out that two families lagged behind due to health reasons, saying the returnees have been transferred to their original villages in Kutum, Kernoi, Kabkabiya and El-Fasher localities.

Yacoub added each returnee has received $200 whereas the disabled received $250, saying each family received $400 for shelter as well as foodstuff for three months.

The deputy commissioner called for providing farming equipment and seeds for the returnees in order to integrate them in their local communities and promote production.

He also demanded the government to provide further support to resettle the returnees, saying his commission would embark on arrangements to receive the fourth batch of returnees immediately after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

On 31 May 2017, Sudan, Chad and the UNHCR signed two separate tripartite agreements on the voluntary return of Sudanese refugees from Chad and Chadian refugees from Sudan.

Also, the three parties in January 2018 signed an operational plan for the repatriation of 20,000 Sudanese refugees from Chad to Darfur region during this year.

However, despite the signing of the agreement, only 53 Sudanese refugees returned to Darfur prompting the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to call for integrating Sudanese refugees in Chad within the local community as a result to their refusal to return to Darfur 15-year after the beginning of the conflict.

UN reports say the security situation in Darfur has largely improved but stress that the lack of infrastructures and services prevent the return of refugees and displaced persons to their areas of origin.

Chad hosts over 300,000 Sudanese refugees residing in the eastern region of the neighbouring country not far from the border with Chad.

The Sudanese army has been fighting a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003. UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in the conflict, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

(ST)

June 11, 2018 (JUBA) - Paul Malong Awan former South Sudanese army chief of staff, said he is not interested in a position but the departure of President Salva Kiir from power, saying the latter has overstayed his worth.

According to a statement dated on 8 June 2018, Malong's spokesperson said Kiir has failed his mandate and it was now time for him to relinquish the mantle of leadership to the people of South Sudan to decide who would be their next leader, instead of the government continuing to use divide and rule policies.

"The best advice that should be offered to Kiir is that he relinquishes his position to give people an opportunity to get for themselves a new leader with new ideas and new direction," said Malong's spokesperson, Sunday de John.

“Tell him directly that Malong does not want a position but Kiir exit”, de John further added.

The opposition spokesperson explained his South Sudan United Front under the leadership of the former army chief, was looking for a lasting solution to the crisis, not positions to the opponents.

“Throwing positions to opponents may not necessarily solve the crisis. We need an honest conversation with ourselves where we will be able to alter the architecture of our governance structures to effectively respond to the suffering of our people,” stressed the statement.

Awan, according to de John, was reacting to a letter allegedly written by the chairperson of Gogrial Youth Union asking President Kiir to engage in negotiations with former colleagues and comrades like Paul Malong Awan.

The result of such negotiations, according to the letter which the group later disowned, should culminate into a peace that would give positions to Malong and others.

The group later having written to the president. It remains unclear who wrote the letter circulated on the social media. But, officials at the South Sudanese presidency denied receiving any letter from the youth, though admitted reading social media reports about the letter.

(ST)

The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur “must change” in accordance with the shifting realities on the ground, the Organization’s top peacekeeping official said on Monday, highlighting the need to “closely link” the mission’s drawdown to the scaling up of both peacekeeping and development activities.

The United Nations chief has strongly condemned Sunday’s attack that killed a peacekeeper in the Central African Republic (CAR); the second ‘blue helmet’ to lose his life there in the space of a week.

By Telar Deng

The events that led to the 2013 dissolution of the cabinet can be traced back to the deep mistrust that fermented back in 1991 when leaders failed to close ranks. After the 1991 Nassir declaration, President Salva Kiir Mayardit did not see eye to eye with Dr Riek Machar. He had developed a strong dislike for him because he believed that Rebellion was not to be rewarded. On January 6th, 2002, after vigorous negotiations, the declaration for the reunification of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) was signed in Nairobi.

Upon signing of the declaration for the reunification of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) Dr John Garang de Mabior the co-signatory to the declaration travelled to Yei where he held the leadership council meeting. They discussed and approved a document that allowed Dr Riek Machar back as the 3rd in command.
Throughout the discussions, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, then a commander, who was evidently furious, demanded that the matter be subjected to voting and indeed it was but unfortunately the ballot went in favour of Dr Riek Machar. James Wani without bitterness accepted to take the fourth position in the hierarchy of the SPLM. However, this order didn't go down well with Kiir.

Later on after Dr John Garang's death, President Salva took the leadership of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, subsequently; Riek and Wani were second and third in command respectively in the SPLM hierarchy. In 2008 convention, Salva and his group wanted to replace Riek as the 1st deputy chairman of the SPLM with Wani Igga and Taban Deng Gai to replace Pagan Amum as the secretary general of the SPLM. This cemented Kiir and Riek's sour relations for the second time.

Through the strenuous efforts of the elders, Moulana Abel Alier, General Joseph Lagu, amongst others from Warrap, the planned efforts to change the leadership were averted and status quo was maintained in order to avoid the disintegration of the party. This was the beginning of the power struggle from within the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.

With all these turns of events from the year 2002 to 2008, Salva felt that within the government and within the party, he could not consult either Riek or Pagan on any matters including the formation of the cabinet.

On the 5th of March 2013, attempts were made to reconcile Salva and Riek in a meeting that was chaired by Deng Alor and attended by Wani Igga, Kosti Manibe, John Luk, James Kok Ruea, Paul Mayom Akech, Pieng Deng Majok and James Hoth Mai. The attempt to reconcile Kiir and Machar failed. What transpired was that Riek declared to challenge President Salva Kiir in the upcoming SPLM convention and Pagan also declared his intentions to be a candidate for the chair of the SPLM. Since there was no headway, the meeting was adjourned. It was to be reconvened at a later date, but this never happened. With all this opposition, Kiir realized he was under serious political challenge from Riek and Pagan within the party. This then made Salva take his first step; he withdrew his delegated powers from Riek as the Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan. He went ahead and cancelled the national reconciliation process that was chaired by Riek Machar and he reconstituted it and gave it to the church leaders.

Salva realized that he could not form the cabinet without assistance from his vice president and Secretary general of the Party, he decided to reinstate un-officially the Politico-Military high command with the membership of himself (Salva), Wani Igga, Daniel Awet Akot and Kuol Manyang. The four avoided all party and government structures and went ahead with their plans and conducted series of meetings.
It was at those meetings that the President made most, if not, all political decisions. Consequently, in 2013, it is this group of the four members of the defunct Politico-military High command that made all the decisions to dissolve the entire cabinet and appointed a new cabinet to the exclusion of those Salva suspected to be against him or who seemed to be allies of Riek.

After all these, Riek Machar, Pagan Amum and everyone else who was relieved of their constitutional posts played their cool with the intention of making a comeback in the national convention that was to be held in December.

The convention was held and Riek and those who were alleged to be his allies raised a few issues of contention. These were issues that President Salva Kiir and his allies and Dr Riek Machar and his allies could not agree on.

The issues of contention were:
1. The method of voting either show of hands or secret ballot.
2. The chairman of the party who is Salva Kiir should not appoint five per cent of the total members of the convention. Riek wanted this to be scrapped out.
3. The deputy chair should be elected by the convention instead of being nominated by the chair to the national liberation council for approval. Riek wanted this to be subjected to the convention and not at the whims of the chair to appoint him and not to appoint him.

On the 14th December 2013, the national liberation council deliberated on these three contentious issues. Salva Kiir and his allies outwitted Riek by mobilizing members of the national liberation council to defeat any proposal from Riek and allies Therefore Riek and allies were defeated. On the 15th December, Riek and his allies boycotted the meetings of the National liberation council. After the boycott, the rest of us and the public woke up to gunshots at about 10:15 pm. The rest remains history.

As the events unfolded, it became very evident that there was a power struggle within the party and the government. The prime movers of the said power struggle were, President Kiir, the Secretary General Pagan Amum and his then Vice President Dr. Riek Machar. The differences they had polarized the government, the public and the party and it was no longer cohesive. President Salva Kiir and allies believed that it was a power struggle, However Riek, Pagan and allies maintained that it was not a power struggle. To them, it was about the nature of the state, democracy and the rule of law.

I have noted that I have on many occasions been blamed for misadvising the President on the dissolution of the cabinet then, yet I, like many of you learnt of the same when it was already too late. Importantly, the main issues raised by the parties that were formed after the incident have never raised the dissolution of cabinet as their reason for opposing Salva Kiir but they raised issues such as lack of democracy, proper governance, the rule of law in the country, nature of state and other issues that are in the public domain.

After I left the country for my assignment in Russia, there have also been quite a number of issues that have been dealt with contrary to the constitution and the August 17th, 2015 peace agreement. I will list just but a few that we all know:

1. The creation of 28 states (which are now 32), the government-led delegation to Addis peace talks in 2015, objected to Riek's suggestion on the formation of 21 states (this was based on the 21 Districts during the British colonial rule) and argued that 10 states are maintained. This was then signed and incorporated into the peace agreement but as soon as they left Addis Ababa, the President went and decreed into law the creation of the 28 states.

2. Currently, the Council of States is responsible for the creation of the counties. The local government act stipulates that the President creates the counties and then in consultation with the Local government chair then issues a warrant of the establishment. By default, the Council of States was allowed to exercise powers that are not stipulated in the local government act. The powers that the Council in this respect has are only two. These are the name of the county and the map of the county

3. In the August 2015 Peace Agreement that was signed, the President appoints ambassadors and other senior diplomatic representatives to foreign countries as proposed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and approved by the Council of Ministers but as it stands currently, President Salva Kiir Mayardit appoints, deploys and dismisses ambassadors and senior diplomats on his own volition. This has brought conflict between the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs who made a decision to stay out of South Sudan as the President has usurped all his powers.

4. The Civil Service Act is being violated. The President dismisses and appoints under secretaries without due procedure as stipulated in the civil service act.

Is it still Telar Deng advising the president to violate the August 17th, 2015 agreement, the Constitution, the local government act and the civil service act and other violations of the rule of law?

The author is the former South Sudanese Ambassador to Russian Federation and former presidential legal adviser

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