Africa

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April 12, 2018 (JUBA) – South Sudan's Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR) Board meeting, initially scheduled for 12 April, has been postponed to next month.

The head of the Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR) Board Secretariat, Col. Ufulle Gaaro Kenyi (courtesy photo)

The head SDSR Board Secretariat, Col. Ufulle Gaaro Kenyi said lack of quorum prompted the meeting not to occur as scheduled.

“Some of the board members are engaged elsewhere. Therefore, the meeting for today is cancelled until next month,” said Kenyi.

“The exact date of the next meeting will be communicated in due time,” he added.

The meeting planned to discuss the introduction of the new chairman, Lt. General J.J Okot, review the status of the SDSR process and also agree on the way forward to complete the SDSR process.

The SDSR Board, according to Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict of South Sudan, is expected to undertake a comprehensive assessment of South Sudan's defence requirements, inform the formulation of the country's defence and security policies and subsequently lead to an overall process of security sector transformation, including the future command, function, size, composition and budget of the national army and security forces.

The process, the agreement says, should be comprehensive, inclusive, transparent and “underpinned by the national interest of promoting and defending the sovereignty and dignity of the country and its people.”

The SDSR reports to the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) and the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU).

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April 12, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan says it is optimistic relations with the United States will improve after Washington nominated a new envoy to the East African nation.

South Sudan's foreign affairs spokesperson, Mawien Makol (Photo: Citizen News)

The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing on Wednesday for Thomas Hushek, who is President Donald Trump's nominee, to be the next US ambassador to South Sudan.

"Juba and the U.S. have diplomatic relations. So we are happy that the US is finally appointing someone to head its mission here. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will welcome him and work with him," the foreign affairs ministry spokesperson, Mawien Makol told Xinhua.

The officials also hinted on the sanctions imposed on some South Sudanese officials in 2017 and 15 oil companies this year, but said South Sudan remains fully committed to working with the US.

"These are some of the ups and down that we are going through and we hope that we shall understand ourselves and be able to push forward," stressed Makol.

South Sudan descended into war in mid-December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused the the country's former first vice-president, Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands and forced more than 2 million people to flee their homes.

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April 12, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - President Omer al-Bashir will travel to Saudi Arabia Saturday leading Sudan's delegation to the 29th Arab Summit.

The summit will be held in Dammam capital of the eastern province, where the Palestinian issue, the Yemeni conflict and the Iranian involvement are likely to take centre stage.

Sudanese foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour took part Thursday in the preparatory meeting for the summit in Riyadh said the meeting supported Sudan's efforts to be removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

However, it was not clear if the meeting will discuss the rift between Qatar and the four-countries group of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Arab United Emirates and Egypt who accuse Doha of supporting terror groups, an accusation the latter has rejected.

Qatar will attend the summit but it was not yet if the Emir will be present or not despite rumours about his participation and a possible reconciliation meeting between him and the other four Arab leaders.

In a related development, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman called President al-Bashir on Thursday to offer condolences for his nephew's death.

The official news agency SUNA reported they agreed to meet on the sidelines of the Arab summit to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern.

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April 13, 2018 (JUBA) – South Sudan rebel leader, Riek Machar and the African Union chairperson, Mousa Faaki Mohamed met on Thursday in South Africa to discuss the ongoing peace process.

The two leaders, during the meeting held in Pretoria, discussed the high-level revitalization forum, challenges facing the process and the role of other peace partners, like AU and the five African countries that form the IGAD-Plus.

The IGAD-Plus nations (Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa) were added into the mediation process to strengthen Africa's support to the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and assist South Sudanese parties and stakeholders to achieve durable peace.

“The SPLM/A (IO) [Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition] welcomes the visit of the chairperson of the AU Commission and expresses its appreciation as we look forward to the substantive results of that visit,” partly reads a statement from the SPLM-IO director for information, Puok Both Baluang.

He reiterated the armed opposition's full commitment to the peace process and to a negotiated settlement, saying it is the only means to end the conflict.

“Though, well-documented belligerence of the regime, as they continue to violate the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, their refusal to sign the Declaration of Principles at the HLRF [High-Level Revitalization Forum, continued abduction of our political leadership and general intransigence,” he said.

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 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 12, 2018 (JUBA) - The United Nations migration agency (IOM) and its partners are set to begin a second round of an oral cholera vaccination campaign in Malakal and Wau, South Sudan, after the initial round reached more than 60,400 people in March this year.

A child receives an oral cholera vaccine dose in the South Sudan capital, Juba (Medair Photo)

Following a cholera outbreak in the country in February, IOM said it has also been leading a reactive measles vaccination campaign in Aweil East, which reached more than 83,700 children last month.

“Children are extremely vulnerable to outbreaks of measles and other contagious diseases,” said Derebe Tadesse, IOM's migration health officer.

“The measles vaccine will save lives. With just one dose, 85 percent of children over nine months and 95 percent of children over twelve months of age are immune,” he added.

Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. The disease is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholera.

The conflict in South Sudan, now in its fifth year, has led to protracted displacement and poor health conditions, contributing to yearly cholera outbreaks.

In 2017, however, IOM said it reached more than 469,800 people with oral cholera vaccination campaigns in Unity, Warrap, and Eastern Equatoria states.

“With an estimated 5.1 million people in need of emergency health care assistance, IOM continues to work country-wide to provide aid to vulnerable populations affected by the conflict,” the agency said.

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April 12, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Egypt has denied impeding the signing of a deal on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) at a recent tripartite meeting held in Khartoum with Ethiopia and Sudan on 5 April.

The planned Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project (AP)

In an interview with the BBC Arabic, Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said the three delegations were about to sign an agreement after 17 hours meeting when Egypt raised the disputed Nile Water Agreement between Cairo and Khartoum of 1959 which the three parties had agreed to not include in the discussions over the GERD.

Also, Ethiopia's foreign ministry spokesperson Meles Alem told reporters in Addis Ababa that his government is keen to minimize any significant harm to downstream countries, however, "there will never be negotiation on any agreement that we were never part of".

Reacting to the two statements, the Egyptian foreign ministry rejected the blame stressing on Egypt's "positive spirit and a serious desire" to reach a deal in line with the directives of 29 January meeting between the leaders of the three countries in Addis Ababa.

Ahmed Abu Zeid Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said his country has shown flexibility and a positive attitude during the whole process and will keep doing that.

"Such attitude was also obvious in the Egyptian proposal for the World Bank participation in the tripartite negotiations, and other proposals put forward by Egypt during the recent nine-party meeting in Khartoum," Abu Zeid said

He further disclosed that Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has addressed Wednesday a letter to his Sudanese and Ethiopian counterparts to call for a second nine-party meeting in Cairo to resume talks.

Following the failure of Khartoum meeting, Ghandour said the next meeting would only include the irrigation ministers of the three countries and when they reach a deal the others will join them.

On 29 January meeting, Presidents Omer al-Bashir, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the then Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn agreed that the meeting should include foreign affairs and irrigation ministers and the head of security and intelligence services in the three countries.

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April 12, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and South Korea discussed ways to boost bilateral economic relations between the two countries in a meeting held in Seoul on Thursday.

The South Korean delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs Yun Kang-hyeon and the visiting Sudanese delegation was chaired by Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary Abdel-Ghani Al-Nai'm.

In Khartoum, the foreign ministry said the two parties agreed to hold two economic forums the first in Korea and the second in Khartoum in the third trimester of 2018 to present the huge economic potential in the two countries and create a suitable atmosphere for investment to attract Korean companies to invest in Sudan.

For its part, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that Yun called on the Sudanese side to improve the investment environment so that more Korean companies can actively invest.

"He also stressed the need for the speedy ratification of a Korea-Sudan double tax avoidance agreement and the signing of an investment protection agreement," said Yonhap.

South Korea has a significant economic presence in the east African country that started in the seventies with Daewoo group. Also, Hyundai Motor Company is assembling more than 7000-10000 cars annually in cooperation with JIAD Company.

Recently LG Electronics Company moved its regional office from Nairobi to Khartoum which reflects the volume of its products distributed in Sudan besides Samsung and other Korean companies working in Sudan.

However, there is no viable statistics for the trade volume between the two countries.

Al-Naim called on the South Korean government to support Korean investors and companies willing to work to Sudan.

He further expressed hope that the U.S. administration removes Sudan from the list of countries supporting terror groups and clear remaining obstacles hampering foreign business and investments in Sudan.

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The United Nations migration agency and its partners are set to begin a second round of an oral cholera vaccination campaign in Malakal and Wau, South Sudan, after the initial round reached more than 60,400 people in March of this year.

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April 11, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese defence ministry has stuck to its participation in the Saudi-led war against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and mentioned the presence of South Sudanese troops inside the national territory.

Saudi soldiers is seen in the southern province of Jizan, near the border with Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 (AP)

The Minister of State for Defence Ali Mohamed Salim made his remarks in a closed-door briefing to the parliament about the security situation in the country.

Members of Parliament (MPs) who attended the briefing told reporters that Salim defended the participation of Sudanese troops and described it as "normal".

"The participation of the (Sudanese) armed forces in the war in Yemen is normal and this is not the first time that the Sudanese forces participate in a war outside the country," Salim stated.

There are many questions raised in Khartoum about the reasons behind the involvement of Sudanese troops in the war in Yemen.

Several legislators called last week to withdraw Sudanese forces from Yemen.

Critics point that several countries members of the Saudi-led coalition did not send troops to Yemen. Others say Saudi Arabia and UAE provides financial support to other countries but not Sudan despite its difficult financial situation.

Last October, President Omer al-Bashir thanked Saudi Arabia and UAE for their strong support to the lift of 20-year U.S. economic embargo. The two countries vowed to continue supporting Sudan removal from the list of countries supporting terrorism.

South Sudan Army

The state minister further told the lawmakers that some South Sudanese troops are now present in the Sudanese territory but minimized the move saying it would not lead to war between the two countries.

The leader of the far-right Just Peace Forum (JPF) demanded to reciprocate with South Sudan, accusing the neighbouring country of supporting the rebel groups.

But the minister turned down the request saying "Gun will not solve problems with Juba but the dialogue will."

"We will not enter into a war with South Sudan despite the incursion of southern forces within the Sudanese border," he further underscored.

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April 11, 2018 (JUBA) – Allegations that South Sudan's former army chief of staff, General Paul Malong Awan obtained $5 million from the country's Central Bank to kill rebel leader Riek Machar are untrue, the spokesperson of the Malong-led South Sudan United Front (SSUF) clarified.

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

“We are also refuting and condemning claims that 5 million dollars was given to General Malong so as to kill Riek Machar. It is untrue and thus a possible ploy meant to disintegrate the alliance formed by the oppositions against Kiir's leadership,” Sunday de John said in a statement issued Wednesday.

The South Sudanese presidential spokesperson was on Tuesday quoted saying the Central Bank of South Sudan was opened at night and Malong allegedly obtained the $5 million for military operations.

“You can't transaction money at night so that you use it to fight the war in the morning that is a misplaced statement manifestly meant to reveal lack of common sense. Is money bullets? For this reason, we urge the public to disregard this as "old wive's tale", said de John.

He dismissed as false all the allegations made against Malong, which mainly ranged from corruption practices, mastery of impunity, international blacklisting and transacting in the central bank at night.

“We disconfirm such false allegations and we urge the public to avoid listening to the falsehood by a leader that has deprived them of their basic necessities,” stressed de John in the statement.

The SSUF official instead urged President Kiir's administration to focus on building strong institutions, improving peoples' livelihoods, developing the country and the rule of law, among other issues.

“If such things happened, Kiir should shoulder the blame and hence fit to be charged for sinking the country through incompetency”.

Malong, a former close ally of President Salva Kiir, announced the formation of SSUF, claiming it was the only means through which he would work with compatriots to "arrest the carnage" in the country.

“Our movement is a just an urgent call to our compatriots and a struggle to first arrest the carnage that has befell our country and secondly to steer us towards democracy and development, which are the cornerstones of nationhood, an African nationhood of democracy, development, equal citizenry, justice and freedom”, noted the former army chief of staff in a letter released on Monday.

He accused President Kiir of building a nation where total impunity remains in order.

“Our movement seeks to reverse this. We must build our nationhood around strong institutions and not strongmen. Strong institutions will outlive all of us and guarantee the prosperity of our nation. This is what we yearn for in our country”, stressed the ex-army chief.

Malong said his new rebel group would strive towards fighting what he described as "systemic corruption, stop the ongoing carnage, steer the country toward democracy, justice, equality and freedom."

Relations between Malong and the South Sudanese leader 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.

He was, however, freed in November following mediation led by the Jieng Council of Elders. 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.

In February this year, the European Union imposed sanctions on Malong and three South Sudanese officials implicated in human rights violations and obstructions of the country's peace process.

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April 11, 2018 (JUBA) - A South Sudanese official has mocked the country's former army chief of staff, General Paul Malong Awan, days after the latter announced the formation of a new rebel group.

South Sudanese Presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny addresses journalists following renewed fighting in Juba July 11, 2016 (Reuters Photo)

Speaking to reporters in the capital, Juba on Tuesday, presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny claimed General Malong was at the center of corruption when he was in charge of the military's affairs.

“You know General Paul Malong and the issues he raised as the cause for his rebellion. All he said makes people and country feels ashamed on his behalf”, said Ateny.

He added, “The issues he [Malong] raised are the issues someone like him cannot open his mouth and talk. Who does not know that during his time in office as army chief of staff, in an attempt to conceal impunity, banks were opened at night for General Paul Malong to take money and he squandered a lot of money?”

He claimed at one moment, the Central Bank of South Sudan was opened at night and $5 million was allegedly released for military operations against the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar.

Sudan Tribune could, however, not independently verify claims against Malong.

Malong announced the formation of the South Sudan United Front (SSUF), which he claimed was the only means through which he would work with compatriots to "arrest the carnage" in the country.

“Our movement is a just an urgent call to our compatriots and a struggle to first arrest the carnage that has befell our country and secondly to steer us towards democracy and development, which are the cornerstones of nationhood, an African nationhood of democracy, development, equal citizenry, justice and freedom”, he said in a statement issued on Monday.

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

“Our movement seeks to reverse this. We must build our nationhood around strong institutions and not strongmen. Strong institutions will outlive all of us and guarantee the prosperity of our nation. This is what we yearn for in our country”, stressed the ex-army chief.

Malong said his new rebel group would strive towards fighting what he described as "systemic corruption, stop the ongoing carnage, steer the country toward democracy, justice, equality and freedom."

South Sudan's information minister, Michael Makuei said Malong was at “the top of corruption” and that he was the one responsible for all the atrocities the army committed in the course of the civil war.

He, however, admitted that pro-government could have committed numerous atrocities as they pursued Machar who attempted to take over power from the incumbent President Salva Kiir.

Relations between Malong 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 the Jieng Council of Elders. 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

(ST)