Africa

The chance of playing at the World Cup is spurring on Nigeria striker Henry Onyekuru as comes back from a serious knee injury.

Fifa Council member and DR Congo Football Association president Constant Omari is being questioned as part of an embezzlement probe.

Champions Manchester City have five players in the the Professional Footballers' Association Players' team of the year.

For the first time in 10 years, global malaria cases are no longer falling, and experts are worried.

April 17, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan on Tuesday vowed not accept the overhaul of its security and governance sector, contrary to demands made by opposition parties ahead of the upcoming talks.

South Sudan's vice-president, James Wani Igga (Photo: Larco Lomayat)

Addressing reporters in the capital, Juba on Tuesday, South Sudan's Vice President, James Wani Igga said the opposition's demand to dissolve the army and police is likely to destabilize the country.

"They want as soon as they have signed the agreement, institutions like the army must be dissolved, but if we dissolve the army right from that day then any wolf from any part of the world will just enter South Sudan to create anarchy," Igga said.

"Our intention as in the former agreement is to carry out institutional reforms where we will have the rebel army integrated into the system on the basis of regional inclusivity and balancing," he said.

The opposition, on Friday, said they wanted the country's 32 new states dissolved and the war-torn nation to be run on the old system.

Igga, however, said returning to the former states would breed public discontent and force some disgruntled people to rebel.

The senior official opposed calls by the various opposition groups for South Sudan President Salva Kiir to resign upon, insisting the latter was directly elected by the South Sudanese people in March 2010.

He instead appealed to the international community and the various opposition groups to consider plans for conducting fresh elections at the end of the interim period so enable smooth transfer of power.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013, after political dispute between President Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to fighting mostly between Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.

The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital, Juba, forcing Machar to flee.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than three million.

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April 17, 2018 (JUBA) - 207 child soldiers are to be released in South Sudan, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.

Child soldiers sit with their rifles at a ceremony held on 10 February 2015 as part of a disarmament campaign overseen by UNICEF and partners in Pibor (AFP)

“The released children will be reunified with their families and will be given months' worth of food assistance and psychosocial support, along with the opportunity to go to school,” the agency noted.

Since a civil war broke out in South Sudan, over 19,000 children may have been recruited by all sides of the nation's conflict, UNICEF said.

According to UNICEF, 19,000 children were recruited into armed conflict by the warring sides since the start of war in 2013, 2,342 were killed or maimed, 3,090 abducted, and 1,130 sexually assaulted.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013, after political dispute between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar led to fighting mostly between Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.

The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital, Juba, forcing Machar to flee.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions that have sought refuge in neighboring countries.

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April 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) said more than 260 aid groups are currently operating in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan States.

Children fetch clean water from ICRC water points in Muglad, Southern Kordofan State (ICRCJ. Guitter/file Photo)

In press statements on Tuesday, HAC acting commissioner Ahmed Mohamed Osman said they visited the IDPs areas in South Kordofan and provided them with the necessary aid.

He pointed out that Sudan is open to receive assistance for the needy population, saying there are 160 aid groups in South Kordofan and more than 100 groups in the Blue Nile.

According to the acting commissioner, these aid groups transfer and distribute assistance to the affected in a sustainable manner.

He added the government is delivering the assistance via the airports and seaports according to the agreed upon humanitarian tracks.

Immediately after the first arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sudan's president Omer al-Bashir in March 2009, Sudan expelled 13 foreign aid groups from Darfur accusing it of collaborating with the war crime courts.

Since then, the activities of foreign aid group in Darfur are strictly controlled and more organizations were evicted through the years.

Sudan refuses to allow new aid groups to work in the region.

The government also banned the access of foreign groups to the rebel-held areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states as well as the establishment of camps for the displaced civilians, stressing the experience of Darfur camps should not be repeated in the two states.

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April 17, 2018 (JUBA) - The spokesperson of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Tuesday has dismissed as "fake" reports claiming he has been suspended from his assignment.

South Sudan's presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny (AFP)

Ateny Wek Ateny said the social media reports were a creation of “rumour mongers to create disharmony at the South Sudanese presidency.

While Ateny denies social media reports, sources at the presidency told Sudan Tribune that there is a feeling within the presidential palace that Ateny should be replaced with someone with technical knowledge of the job.

The sources confirmed that Ateny Wek is still officially occupying the job and he has not been suspended or sacked from his duties.

However, "there has been a general feeling from among senior officials here at the presidency that the work which comrade Ateny Wek is doing requires someone with technical knowledge of the job," said a high ranking official who spoke on conditions of anonymity.

The sources further stressed that Ateny "was picked from activism for a political reason" no more.

The presidential spokesperson is blamed for not observing a number of guidelines when he deals with sensitive issues. Officials at the presidency say he does not understand that he speaks on behalf of the president.

He was also accused of interfering in the attribution of the information minister who is the government spokesperson.

Other officials at the presidential palace described all these issues as "professional jealousy" saying the president is satisfied with him and the audience understands that when he speaks he does not fully represent President Kiir's opinion.

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April 17, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan peace revitalization talks have been postponed sine die, announced the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) in a short statement released on Tuesday.

The opening session of the revitalization forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, December 18, 2017 (ST)

Last March, the IGAD Council of Ministers agreed to resume Phase II of the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) on 26 April. It was also decided that the Special Envoy had to hold consultations meetings with the process's parties and stakeholder to narrow the gaps on governance and security arrangements.

In a meeting held in Juba on Tuesday, IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan, Ismail Wais informed the JMEC of the postponement of the peace revitalization forum.

"The new dates will be communicated by the Office of the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers in due course," said the statement without further details.

For its part, the IGAD did not release a statement to announce the indefinite postponement.

Until Tuesday 17 April, nine days before the resumption of the forum, the IGAD special envoy met only with the civil society stakeholders to the HLRF. No other meeting was announced with the government or the opposition groups.

Further, several opposition parties formed the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) requested be consulted as one entity and blamed the mediation for ignoring their position paper in its last draft of propositions.

In reaction, Juba government threatened to hold general elections if no deal reached. While, the leader of the main armed opposition group, Riek Machar, wants to be authorized to take part in the forum and to be the region after the end of his confinement.

Different between the parties remain huge on the issue of governance especially composition and structure of the transitional government; number and size of states and composition of the Parliament.

On the security arrangements, the participants to the forum diverge on the timeframe for reintegration/unification of forces and approach to the formation of one national army; security for Juba during the Transition; demilitarization of civilian centres; cantonment of forces and Security sector reform or establishment of new security services.

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April 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday said it would engage in a deep dialogue with the opposition forces during the next period.

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)

In press statements on Tuesday, NCP deputy chairman of political sector Mohamed al-Mustafa said some holdout political parties have expressed desire to address national issues particularly ways to end the war and achieve peace.

He pointed out that the stated desire of the holdout parties would pave the way for holding an inclusive and deep dialogue that doesn't exclude anyone.

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 National Consensus Government (NCG) was installed in May 2017 to implement the outcome of the dialogue conference.

The opposition groups boycotted the national dialogue because the government didn't agree to a humanitarian truce with the armed groups and due to its refusal to implement a number of confidence-building measures aiming to create a conducive environment in the country before to hold the inclusive dialogue.

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April 17, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The parties to Berlin talks on a pre-negotiation agreement for peace in Darfur have failed to strike a deal paving the way for a political process to end the 15-year conflict.

Minni Minnawi the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM-MM) told Sudan Tribune late on Tuesday that the two-day meeting wrapped up without an agreement on a declaration of principles that opens the door for a cessation of hostilities and the start of political talks.

He further pointed an accusing finger to the government delegation saying "they insisted on the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) as the only basis for negotiations".

Also, he said the government refused all the proposals and concessions they made in order to break the stalemate.

The head of the government delegation Amin Hassan Omer was not reachable for comment.

The parties are expected to release more statements explaining their positions on the talks.

Among the armed groups, the talks included the SLM-MM and the Justice and Equality Movement of Gibril Ibrahim.

JEM and SLM-MM refuse to negotiate a peace agreement on the basis of the DDPD instead they propose to open several issues already dealt in the framework text and to add the national matters like freedoms and human rights.

Ina addition to German officials, the meeting was attended by the head of UNAMID who is also the joint chief mediator, the African Union, the United Nations special envoy and the Troika countries including a four-member delegation from the Office of the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan.

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One of Africa's top musicians is being questioned by Tanzanian police for a video of him kissing a woman.

April 16, 2018 (JUBA) – The European Union (EU) Council is ready to apply all appropriate measures to those obstructing the political process in war-torn South Sudan, according to its conclusions adopted on Monday.

The opening session of the revitalization forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, December 18, 2017 (ST)

The Council, in its conclusion, agreed that that 2018 is a critical year for securing peace in South Sudan, as the term of the transitional government of National Unity as set out in the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) comes to an end.

“While ARCSS remains the basis for the process, the discussions must reflect the reality on the ground,” notes the Council's statement.

The Council also reaffirmed the EU's deep concern at the continued fighting and grave violations and abuses of human rights that have inflicted horrific levels of human suffering and left the country in ruins.

In the conclusions, it noted, the EU urged all parties to the negotiations to put the nation's future and needs of its people first.

It also urged all parties to the conflict in South Sudan to immediately cease fighting and participate in the peace process in good faith.

The General Secretariat of the Council is a body of staff responsible for assisting the European Council and the Council of the EU. Its work is reportedly to help organise and ensure the coherence of the Council's work and the implementation of its 18-month programme.

South Sudan has been mired in conflict between the government of President Salva Kiir and rebels led by Riek Machar, the country's former first vice-president since mid-December 2013. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced almost over 2 million people from their homes, including over a million refugees who have fled into neighbouring nations

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April 16, 2018 (AWEIL) – Authorities in South Sudan's Northern Bahr el Ghazal state arrested dozens of former army chief of staff, General Paul Malong Awan's allies in the latest move to suppress his activities.

Former South Sudan army chief of staff, Gen Paul Malong Awan (Juba24 News)

Those arrested on Sunday, sources told Sudan Tribune, included the state assembly speaker, Deng Ayom as well as five other lawmakers.

The commander of South Sudan Patriotic Movement (SSPM), a rebel movement in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, Santino Manut, said those arrested are Awan's allies believed to be part of his rebellion.

He said Anguet Anei Ajuong, a woman MP, is among the arrested lawmakers.

Others are Aweil Urban MP, Santino Mayuat Ngong, former minister of water resources and irrigation, Bakheit Garang, former county commissioner of Aweil West Garang Kuach Ariath, and the state secretary general and former Aweil town mayor, Simon Tong Deng.

Officials from the national security services allegedly carried out the arbitrary arrests.

Last week, Awan announced the formation of the South Sudan United Front (SSUF), arguing that his movement was the only means through which he would work with compatriots to "arrest the carnage" in the war-torn country.

He accused President Salve Kiir of building a nation where total impunity is the order.

Relations between Awan and President Kiir deteriorated after the former was sacked from his post as army chief of staff in May 2017 and placed under house arrest for fear he would start a rebellion.

The ex-army chief was freed in November following mediation led by members of the JCE. The agreement refrained him from going to his home-town of Aweil in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal state but was allowed to travel to any East Africa country.

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April 16, 2018 (JUBA) - In a report to the Security Council, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said sexual violence in South Sudan remains characterized in 2017 with marked political and ethnic undertones

"In almost all recorded cases, the perpetrators and victims came from rival ethnic groups, with the physical violence often accompanied by verbal insults levelled against victims on the basis of their identity and presumed allegiance," reads the report

However, it said the UN peacekeepers in the war-ravaged country were not able to document all the cases due to the severe restriction of access to the conflict-zones and relocation of affected persons to other regions or foreign countries.

Nonetheless, UNMISS in 2017 documented 196 cases of conflict-related sexual violence including rape (88), gang rape (63), abduction for the purpose of sexual assault (31) UNMISS and attempted rape (14).

The peacekeeping mission 577 verified cases in 2016.

Regarding the perpetrators of the sexual assaults, the secretary-general said: "The attacks were attributed to SPLA (67), the pro-Taban Deng Sudan People's Liberation Army-in- Opposition (SPLA-IO) (4), the pro-Machar SPLA-IO (7), the South Sudan National Liberation Movement (SSNLM) (1), the South Sudan People's Patriotic Front (SSPPF) (2), militia allied to SPLA (5), militia allied to SPLA-IO (4), the South Sudan National Police Service (1), with the remainder attributed to unidentified gunmen".

In a recent report the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan said that rape, mutilation of sexual organs and other forms of sexual violence were perpetrated against women, girls, men and boys, often in front of relatives, in order to humiliate victims, families and entire communities, or as a form of punishment.

The report pointed that none of the incidents has been prosecuted to date.

The secretary-general said the UNMISS was working last year with the South Sudanese authorities to strengthen accountability particularly to implement the joint communiqué on sexual violence.

The UN mission facilitated training for 310 members of SPLA and 85 officers of the national police to reinforce individual and command responsibility for preventing and addressing sexual violence. It further increased the speed of patrols, including firewood patrols, and establish weapons-free zones around sites for the protection of civilians.

The report also mentioned the ongoing trial of SPLA soldiers charged with crimes, including the rape and gang rape of humanitarian workers housed at the Terrain hotel compound in 2016.

By the end of 2017, there were almost 2 million displaced persons, including 209,898 living in UNMISS sites for the protection of civilians. While two other civilians fled across the border to neighbouring countries.

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April 16, 2018 (JUBA) – The senior leadership of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) and the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) secretariat briefed the visiting African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) delegation on the recent activities in relation to their monitoring activities in South Sudan.

The AU delegation are a five-day visit to the war-torn East African country to urge South Sudanese parties to commit to the resolution of the civil war that erupted in mid-December 2013.

The CTSAMM, according to a statement issued on Monday, gave a brief update on the verification of forces throughout the country and also gave a brief overview on five violation reports which have been recently submitted to JMEC and to the regional bloc (IGAD).

“The visiting delegation thanked CTSAMM for their presentation and also commended the work CTSAMM does in ensuring the security situation is accurately monitored,” it further stated.

The delegation of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) is led by Bankole Adeoye, permanent representative of Nigeria and chairperson of the PSC for this month, the AU said in a statement.

The PSC mission followed the visit by the chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, to South Africa, where he met the exiled South Sudanese armed opposition leader, Riek Machar.

The PSC delegation, the AU said, is expected to interact with all South Sudanese stakeholders, African and international actors, to assess the challenges that are still impeding the implementation of the 2015 agreement on the resolution of the South Sudan conflict.

Deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in South Sudan, the PSC delegation will visit the city of Malakal as part of its field mission.

South Sudan has been mired in conflict between the government of President Salva Kiir and rebels led by Machar, the country's former first vice-president since mid-December 2013. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced almost over 2 million people from their homes, including over a million refugees who have fled into neighbouring nations.

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April 16, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan's army chief of staff said he is unwell, dispelling reports claiming he has died in a hospital in neigbouring Kenya where he was admitted.

The rank of Lt general is pinned on Lt Gen. James Ajong by President Salva Kir, and Vice President James Wani, during the swearing-in ceremony as SPLA general chief of staff on Wednesday 10 May 2017 (ST Photo)

Gen James Ajonga Mawut described the reports circulating on his death as a blessing.

“From onset we would like to state categorically that there is nothing much to worry about and to inform the general public as the members that your son and leader, General James Ajonga. He is responding well and will soon return home to live among his people and continue to discharge his national duties”, a statement released to the public by the family reads in part.

Ajonga reportedly underwent a Kidney operation in a hospital in Cairo, Egypt.

Ubeer Mawut, a brother to the army chief, said they opted for Egypt via Israel after the army chief was denied an entry visa to Germany.

The general was scheduled to fly to Germany for medical attention.

Medical examinations, he said, show that Ajonga has a kidney infection, Ubeer said.

He said the doctors in Cairo successfully carried out the operation.

The military spokesperson, Lul Ruai Koang also confirmed the general's admission in Cairo, but declined to comment on his health.

Ajonga was appointed army chief of staff in May 2017, replacing General Paul Malong.

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April 16, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sexual assaults remain high in Darfur region despite the improvement of security situation in Darfur, said the UN Secretary general in a report to the Security Council on conflict-related sexual violence released on Monday.

Awatif Abdallah, 19, holds a letter from the police with a medical report scrawled on it saying she was raped and beaten. But the police refused to take her case, and a judge later dismissed it on 22 October 2004. (AFP/ Photo)

"While the rate of new displacements was lower in 2017 than in previous years, and humanitarian access had improved, sexual violence remained prevalent, owing to a volatile security environment awash with small arms and light weapons, criminality and sporadic clashes," reads the report.

In his report on the conflict-related sexual violence in 2017, the secretary general praised the weapons collection campaign, the decline of tribal clashes, and the significant reduction of clashes between the government forces and rebel groups. Also, he pointed to the low rate of new displacement.

However, he said the hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in 2017 reported 152 cases of rape, affecting 84 women, 66 girls and 2 boys, across the five states of Darfur.

He underlined a decrease from the 222 victims in 2016.

"The cases involved rape (90 percent), attempted rape (6 percent) and gang rape (4 percent). In 2 percent of cases, the victims were killed and, in many others, suffered grievous bodily harm," he further said.

The report said 70% of the rape cases are perpetrated by "armed men or militia members in civilian attire", while the remaining 30% are committed by the government regular forces and militia including the Sudanese Armed Forces, Rapid Support Forces, border guards and members of the Sudanese Police Force.

It also points that the spike in sexual violence coincides with the farming season, particularly along the migration routes of armed nomadic herders, from July to October.

During the first years of the Darfur conflict, rape cases mainly occurred around the camps of displaced persons with few sexual assaults in remote areas.

"In some cases, security fears have forestalled the return of civilians to their villages of origin. In one incident, a family living in West Darfur, which had previously fled to Chad as refugees, were forced back across the border into Chad after a relative was gang-raped, for fear of further attacks," the report reads pointing to the fragile security situation in Darfur.

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April 16, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government and two armed groups from Darfur, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudan Liberation Movement Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) Monday have started a two-day informal consultations meeting in Berlin.

In a joint statement extended to Sudan Tribune Monday, the two armed movements said the meeting is being held in an exceptional political, economic and security situation in Sudan.

They expressed hope that the government delegation came to Berlin with a true will and political resolve to overcome the obstacles that hinder the convening of genuine talks.

The statement pointed out that the meeting is dedicated to discussing the problem in Darfur.

“However the two movements are committed in letter and spirit to the outcome of the recent Sudan Call meeting and wouldn't agree to any arrangement that doesn't lead to an inclusive national solution for the Sudanese problem,” reads the joint statement released in Arabic.

The two armed groups added they accepted the invitation to participate in the Berlin meeting in order to “put an end to the protracted suffering of our people in the IDPs and refugee camps and the people of Darfur and Sudan in general”.

They further renewed their keenness to achieve just and comprehensive peace that addresses the root causes of the Sudanese problem.

The JEM and SLM-MM, in addition, thanked the German government and the international community for helping the parties to the conflict in Sudan to reach a solution for the country's crises.

Berlin which is a facilitator for the African Union efforts to end armed conflicts in Sudan hosted several meetings in the past for the opposition groups or between the government and opposition.

The two sides are expected to negotiate a pre-negotiation agreement and if they struck a deal, it would pave the way for talks on a cessation of hostilities and then they will join the negotiations table to discuss political issues in Doha.

It is noteworthy that the JEM and SLM-MM delegations to the Berlin meeting are headed by the leaders of the two movements, Gibril Ibrahim and Minni Minnawi while the government team is chaired by Presidential Envoy for Diplomatic Contact and Negotiation for Darfur, Amin Hassan Omer.

The holdout groups including the JEM and SLM-MM refused to sign the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) in July 2011 and called to open the framework agreement for talks.

Other groups like the Sudan Liberation Movement - Abdel Wahid (SLM-AW) have declined to join the process and rejected its outcome.

The African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki proposed a holistic process to end the armed conflicts and produce political reforms in Sudan.

During the year 2015-2016, talks between the government and the SLM-MM and JEM failed to reach a tangible result despite international efforts to bring together the opposition groups and to narrow the gaps between them and the government.

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.

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April 16, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Sudan's Commissioner of Refugees Hamad El-Gizouli have welcomed the return of 53 Sudanese refugees from Chad.

“The returnees were warmly received by the Commissioner of Tina locality, the Commissioner of Refugees and UNHCR Representative in Sudan as well as leaders of local administration and community in Tina,” said the UNHCR in a press release on Monday

According to the press release, this return “follows the signing of a tripartite agreement in May 2017 by the governments of Sudan and Chad and UNHCR for the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees from Chad”.

“The Sudanese returnees were assisted with a reintegration package and transportation from the reception Centre in Tina to their home villages in North Darfur” read the press release

For his part, El-Gizouli described the return of the refugees as a “historic moment”, saying the Sudanese government is attaching significant importance to the voluntary return of refugees “as being the best solution for them so that they can begin to rebuild their life as Sudanese citizens.”

On the other hand, the UNHCR representative in Sudan, Noriko Yoshida, called on the international community “to assist the efforts being exerted by the Sudanese government for the sustainable and durable return of the Sudanese refugees from Chad”.

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.

The agreements provide that any repatriation should be voluntary and on the basis of well-informed consent.

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.

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

At the end of October 2017, a delegation comprising 25 Sudanese refugee leaders in Chad visited their home villages in Darfur region to see if the situation is good enough to return permanently after 13 years of exile.

(ST)