Africa

Despite the signing of a 2015 Peace Agreement, the human rights situation in Mali still remains a concern, according to a United Nations report published on Thursday.

The human cost of South Sudan’s long-running conflict has reached “epic proportions” with the number of refugees set to rise beyond three million by the end of this year, potentially making it Africa’s largest refugee crisis since the mid-1990s, the head of the UN refugee agency said on Thursday.

January 31, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese security service arrested the daughters of the former leader of the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) Ibrahim al-Sheikh and a number of his relatives on Wednesday, the opposition party said.

The SCoP's information secretariat said the arrest occurred when the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) agents stormed a house belonging to a relative of al-Sheikh in Alsafia neighbourhood, Khartoum North.

The NISS agents "arrested his daughters Shaima and Isra Ibrahim Sheikh, and his relatives Abeir al-Sheikh Abdel-Gadir, Suheir Ali Daifallah and Ahmed Abdel-Rahim Abdallah, and took them to an unknown place," reads a statement released on Wednesday evening.

The opposition SCoP organised Wednesday the third protest against the rising prices in Khartoum North after two protests respectively organised by the Sudanese Communist Party and the National Umma Party in Khartoum and Omdurman on 16 and 17 January.

Several SCoP leadership members including Ibrahim al-Sheikh and its leader Omer al-Digair have been arrested when the government doubled the price of bread and before the first organised on 16 January.

The party stressed that it would not back down from the "fight against injustice and corruption" and urged the Sudanese to continue the protests to "liberate every inch of our homeland from this ruling gang".

The opposition parties declined to take part in a consultations meeting with the African Union mediation on 3 and 4 February to discuss the fate of a roadmap for peace and democratic reform in Sudan.

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January 31, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan's armed opposition faction has accused government forces of planning to attack their positions around Pagak, a former rebel stronghold and its surrounding areas.

Rebel fighters hold their weapons as they march through a village in rebel-controlled territory in South Sudan's Upper Nile state on 9 February 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

The plan, a rebel spokesperson said, comes in the wake of the arrival into the state of Maiwut governor, Bol Ruach Rom on Wednesday.

A rebel's deputy spokesperson, Lam Paul Gabriel claimed Governor Rom, his cabinet ministers, commissioners and other senior military officials have mobilized forces for possible attacks on their positions.

“A confidential source in Juba confirmed that more reinforcements are underway from Juba with the aim of escorting the commissioners of their counties. It should be noticed that the regime's troops are only in Pagak,” Lam said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

The armed opposition forces, he said, are currently stationed at weigh station, less than a mile away from Pagak town, while the entire Adar state is allegedly under the full control of the rebels.

“Any confrontation arising from this provocation should be blamed on the regime forces,” warmed Lam.

Meanwhile, the armed opposition official called on the ceasefire monitoring body (CTSAMM) to monitor and investigate the movement and possible clashes likely to occur in Adar state.

“The SPLA-IO forces around Pagak are being directed to be alert and ready to defend themselves and the civilians from the regime's anti-peace campaign aimed at derailing the upcoming peace process,” further said Lam.

South Sudan's warring parties are due to resume the peace revitalization process, but both sides are competing for territorial gains prior to the negotiations to end the civil war.

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January 31, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan's Communication Authority says plans are underway to implement a 5% increase on telecommunication services across the country.

One of South Sudan's largest mobile phone network providers - Zain (ST)

The director general at the authority, Ladu Wani, said the move follows the enactment of the Financial Act of 2017/2018 which recently raised excise duties or sales' tax from 10 to 15%

The new changes, he said, will come into effect from 1 February, 2018.

Wani defended the new changes, saying they were being undertaken on behalf of the government.

“When you are calling with one pound, out of that one pound, you have got 10 piasters that goes to the Ministry of Finance. So now instead of 10 piasters it is going to be 15 piasters”, explained Wani.

He added, “This is the normal procedure everywhere in the world”.

The authority also introduced air transport services, which were reduced from 20% to 15% and insurance charges increased from 5% to 7%.

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January 31, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The European Union (EU) ambassadors in Khartoum have expressed deep concerns over the continued detention of Sudan's opposition leaders and rights activists demanding their immediate release.

Following peaceful protests against price hikes earlier this month, the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) has detained dozens of opposition leaders and activists.

Those detained include the political secretary of the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) Mohamed Mukhtar al-Khatib besides members of the SCP Central Committee, Siddig Youssef and Sidqi Kabalo and the chairman of the Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) Omer al-Digair.

The NISS also detained the secretary general of the National Umma Party (NUP) Sarrah Nugd Allah as well as two of the party's deputy chairman, Mohamed Abdallah al-Douma and Ibrahim al-Amin.

“The Ambassadors of the resident EU Embassies in Sudan are very concerned by the prolonged detention without charge or trial of a large number of political leaders, human rights activists and other citizens, and by the repeated seizures of national newspapers,” said the EU mission in Khartoum in a press release on Wednesday

The EU Ambassadors called on the Sudanese government to release “all these detainees as soon as possible, to ensure they are not mistreated and to respect the right of Sudanese people to peaceful freedom of expression and association, including freedom of the media”

“We condemn the violence used against peaceful protest and continue to encourage those exercising their fundamental rights to do so peacefully” read the press release

Opposition sources estimate that more than 170 activists have been detained during the protests over the rising cost of living and commodity price.

The EU Ambassadors further stressed commitment to “a stable, democratic and prosperous future for Sudan, for the benefit of its people”.

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January 31, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese riot police on Wednesday used tear gas and batons to disperse large protests against price hikes and deteriorating living conditions at several areas in Khartoum North.

Since the release of the 2018 budget last month, peaceful protests erupted in a number of Sudanese states leading to the killing of a high school student in West Darfur State and detention of dozens of opposition activists across the country.

The opposition forces on Tuesday called its supporters and the Sudanese people to take to streets and join what they called the “Salvation March” on Wednesday to protests against the recent economic measures.

However, police and security forces since early Wednesday morning cordoned off streets and alleys leading up to the gathering square at Al-Sha'abia neighbourhood in Khartoum North.

Despite the strict security measures, hundreds of demonstrators gathered at a number of areas and marched along the major streets chanting “No, no to high prices, No to the government of hunger” and “Peaceful, Peaceful against the thieves”.

The police and security services attacked the protesters violently using tear gas and batons.

According to opposition sources, more than 10 activists including the member of the Sudanese Communist Party's Central Committee Amal Jabr Allah have been detained.

Meanwhile, videos and pictures circulating on social media have shown similar protests in the cities of Medani and Singa, Gazira State and Zalingie, capital of Central Darfur State.

To quell anti-austerity protests in Khartoum, Sudanese security forces in September 2013 carried out a brutal crackdown on the peaceful demonstration, killing nearly two hundred protesters say human rights groups or 86 people according to government figures.

Opposition forces attribute the deteriorating living condition and economic meltdown to corruption, lack of production policies, and lack of economic reform vision following the secession of South Sudan.

Sudan lost 75% of its oil reserves after the southern part of the country became an independent nation in July 2011, denying the north billions of dollars in revenues. Oil revenue constituted more than half of Sudan's revenue and 90% of its exports.

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January 30, 2018 (JUBA) - South Sudan's government has decried insistence of the African Union to impose sanctions against individuals perceived to be an obstacle to the peace process in the country.

S. Sudan cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomoro (Photo KT Press)

The cabinet affairs minister said the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) insists on imposing targetted sanctions on those blocking peace in South Sudan will go ahead as planned.

“They [IGAD] insisted that sanctions against individuals must go ahead and those who obstruct and violate peace will be sanctioned,” said Martin Elia Lomuro.

Lomuro remarks were aired on South Sudan's state television on Wednesday.

The minister of cabinet affairs was one of the senior government officials who accompanied President Salva Kiir to African Union and IGAD meetings on the upcoming peace revitalization process in Addis Ababa.

The regional and continental leaders, according to the minister, insisted that sanctions will be imposed on peace spoilers.

The IGAD council of ministers during the meeting agreed, through the AU Peace and Security Council, to request the UN Security Council to consider the imposition of sanctions on those who undermine the implementation of the peace deal.

“This is the thing we wanted to make sure Africa finds African solutions to its own problems, so sanctions would be handled by our own organizations,” he said.

Lomuro urged the IGAD ceasefire monitoring body, also known as CTSAMM, to investigate into ceasefire violations properly. He reiterated his government's commitment to the peace process in the country.

In a speech delivered before the IGAD Council of Ministers on Saturday 27 January in Addis Ababa, President Festus Mogae, head of peace implementation mechanism called on the IGAD council of ministers to sanction the violators of the cessation of hostilities agreement pointing that the humanitarian situation has seen little improvement.

He said that several violations had been reported in Central Equatoria, Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile States, causing further displacement of civilians. He further pointed that the ceasefire body CTSAMM blamed the SPLA-IO (Machar) and SPLA-IG respectively" for the violence in Koch and Mundri while investigations into other clashes still going on.

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January 31, 2018 (NAIROBI) – The United Nations humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock will, on Tuesday, join the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi on a visit to Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp, which currently hosts about 186,600 refugees and asylum seekers.

UNHCR head UNHCR Filippo Grandi visits a UN protection site in Juba on Saturday, 17 June, 2017 (UNMISS Photo)

The two officials will jointly launch the South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan and the Regional Refugee Response Plan in the capital, Nairobi.

At least 106,000 of the refugees at Kakuma hail from South Sudan.

“Humanitarian needs in South Sudan continue to escalate, mainly due to conflict, displacement and food insecurity,” the UN noted.

Over two million South Sudanese are refugees in neighbouring countries, while an estimated seven million people in South Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, it adds.

According to the UN, humanitarian partners in South Sudan need US$1.7bn to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to six million people across the war-torn East African country.

An anticipated 3.1 million South Sudanese will be refugees by the end of 2018 in six neighbouring countries, UN estimates indicated, with its refugee agency (UNCHR) and partners requesting for $1.5bn to address their needs.

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Despite improvements in the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur, continued challenges remain, the United Nations Security Council has said, underlining the need for sustainable solutions for the region’s 2.7 million internally displaced persons.

With more than a quarter of a million people affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad Basin region, the United Nations refugee agency and its humanitarian partners launched on Wednesday an inter-agency funding appeal for $157 million.

January 30, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur (UNAMID) this week officially received a land to establish a Temporary Operating Base (TOB) in Golo, Jebel Marra, in the context of a plan to reshape the mission and draw down its troops.

In June 2017, the UN Security Council extended the UNAMID mandate for another year and redefined its mandate to play a double role. In Jebel Marra, the force has to continue to protect civilians and ensure the delivery of emergency relief. In the other areas of Darfur, the mission has to focus on stabilising the situation.

On Sunday 28 January, UNAMID chief "Jeremiah Mamabolo, officially received a suitable location allocated by the Government of Sudan for the establishment of the Mission's temporary operating base in Golo, Jebel Marra, Central Darfur," said the hybrid mission in a statement released on Monday.

Speaking at the site handover ceremony, Mamabolo thanked the Sudanese government and the Central Darfur state for supporting the mission to implement its mandate.

UNAMID and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) "will work together on community-based and development-oriented projects in the Jebel Marra area, in accordance to the Mission's peacekeeping and stabilization goals," Mamabolo said according to the statement

He further said further pointed that the construction of the new site would start "immediately".

The handover Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Governor of Central Darfur, Jaafar Abdel Hakam Ishaq, on behalf of the Sudanese government and Lameck Kawiche, Head of Office, UNAMID Sector Central, on behalf of the joint operation.

A tripartite committee on Darfur peacekeeping force decided to establish this site taking into account the presence of Sudan Liberation Movement -Abdel Wahid fighters. the rebel group refuses to join the peace process or to declare a truce.

The head of UN peacekeeping department, Jean Pierre Lacroix told the Security Council on 10 January that UNAMID was preparing the state-specific stabilization plans in cooperation with the Darfur state governments and the United Nations country team.

The French diplomat further said the government forces control the situation in Darfur "except for pockets in the Jebel Marra area, controlled by a fragmented and weakened Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW)"

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January 30, 2018 (JUBA) – A senior United Nations official has accused Uganda and Kenya of allegedly helping prolong the civil war in South Sudan by aiding arms transfers in to war-torn nation.

Adama Dieng, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, addresses a press conference in Juba on Friday 11, 2016 (UNMISS Photo)

“The responsibility to prevent atrocities is regional and international,” Adama Dieng, the UN special advisor for prevention of genocide, told the Washington-based Voice of America (VOA) on Monday.

“It is true that large quantities of weapons and ammunition are flowing into South Sudan through Kenya and Uganda,” he added.

Peace, the UN official said, will be achieved in South Sudan if there are concerted regional and international efforts to leave no further options to the South Sudanese leaders to stop and start negotiating.

Uganda has openly sided with the South Sudanese government since the start of the civil war in December 2013 when it sent troops to fight against the armed opposition faction led by Riek Machar.

“International partners have to start targeting the accomplices, intermediaries of the South Sudanese parties,” stated Dieng.

“Welcoming refugees who are victims of a conflict they are de facto facilitating is not good enough,” he added.

After gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan descended into war in December 2013, leaving tens of thousands dead and over 2 million people displaced. Uganda is currently hosting more than one million refugees from South Sudan, while Kenya's Kakuma camp holds more than 100,000.

Last year, a confidential UN report accused South Sudan government of spending its oil revenue on weapons, even as the country descends into a famine largely caused by Juba's military operations. South Sudan derives 97% of its budget revenue from oil sales.

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January 30, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N al-Hilu) led by Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu has extended a unilateral cessation of hostilities in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile for four months.

Last August, the SPLM-N al-Hilu declared a unilateral ceasefire in areas under its control from 31 July 2017 to 31 Jan 2018.

In a statement seen by Sudan Tribune Tuesday, al-Hilu said the extension of the ceasefire is an initiative of goodwill to allow for the peaceful resolution of the Sudanese crisis.

“I, Lieut.Gen. Abdel-Aziz Adam al-Hilu, commander-in-chief of the SPLM / A issue a decision to extend the unilateral cessation of hostilities in all areas under SPLM/A control for four (4) months, starting from February 1st,” read the statement

The rebel leader instructed all SPLA units to respect and commit to the decision as well as refraining from any hostile behaviour except for self-defence and protection of civilians.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the SPLM-N rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

Talks between the government and the Movement for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access are stalled since August 2016.

The SPLM-N is now divided into two factions: one led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu and the other led by Malik Agar. The rift emerged several months ago over the right of self-determination and other organisational issues.

On 1 and 2 February, the government delegation will meet the SPLM-N al-Hilu in Addis Ababa to discuss a cessation of hostilities agreement.

The SPLM-N Agar won't participate in the round of talks which aims to formalize the current unilateral truce because the Movement's military in South Kordofan command has sided with al-Hilu, the mediators believe.

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January 30, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Khartoum, Steven Koutsis, on Tuesday has stressed his country's support for peace efforts in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

The U.S. diplomat discussed with Sudan's Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid ways to enhance peace and stability in the country ahead of a new round of the Two Areas talks scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa on Saturday.

Hamid, who also heads Sudan government negotiating team on the Two Areas talks, expressed his government's keenness and commitment to achieve peace in Darfur and the Two Areas through negotiations.

According to Ashorooq TV, Koutsis underscored his country's support for the peace efforts in Darfur and the Two Areas, pointing his meeting with Hamid comes within the framework of the continued consultations in this regard.

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 African Union (AU) is brokering peace talks between the Sudanese government and opposition including the armed groups in Darfur and the Two Areas.

On 1 and 2 February, the government delegation will meet the SPLM-N al-Hilu in Addis Ababa to discuss a cessation of hostilities agreement.

Sudan Troika countries including the U.S., Norway and United Kingdom are facilitating the peace talks and seeking to bring all stakeholders to the negotiating table.

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January 30, 2018 (JUBA)- South Sudan president Salva Kiir has rejected any views which advocate either retention of the two armies system during the interim period in the revitalization forum, citing the July 2016 events at the presidential palace.

Within days, the signatories of the South Sudan peace agreement will meet in Addis Ababa to discuss its implementation.

The security arrangements of the deal provide the establishment of separate camps for cantonment of the two armed forces "to enable personnel, weapons and equipment accountability, screening, re-organization and/or disarmament and demobilization".

Presidential affairs minister Mayiik Ayii Deng told reporters that President Kiir used the opportunity of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa to explain to several African leaders the need to review this disposition during the revitalization process when it resumes its meeting soon.

“The participation of His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan in the African Union summit was highly appreciated and commended by the several heads of state and government from the continent. This stemmed from the way he presented the issues and how the government has rolled out plans and initiatives to end the war and bring peace in the country,” said Minister Deng upon the return of the president to Juba from Addis Ababa on Tuesday.

The South Sudanese leader, according to the minister, had rejected views advocating either retention of the two-army system, citing caused of clashes between two rival forces at the presidential palace in 2016.

Kiir discussed the matter with several African heads of state and government, including presidents of Djibouti, Uganda and Rwanda who is the new chairperson of the regional body. Also, he met the vice president of Equatorial Guinea and other leaders.

The head of state had fruitful discussions during which he briefed them on what the government was doing to end the suffering of civilians and to end the war, explained the minister.

Further, Kiir explained to the African leaders the national dialogue process.

"It is a bottom-up approach and it is, therefore, a complementary to the revitalization forum," the minister said.

"What the president explained clearly is that the issue of two armed forces which caused the problem. So revitalization should not return to it. There should not be two armies,” he emphasised.

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One year after Somalia declared drought as a national emergency, famine has so far been averted due to collective and unprecedented humanitarian action, and on Tuesday, the country marked a turning point towards ending the cycle of recurring crises, with the launch of a Government-led, United Nations-supported humanitarian response plan.

Surging violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is driving thousands of Congolese into neighbouring Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda, the United Nations refugee agency said Tuesday.

Amid worsening humanitarian situation in South Sudan and the number of persons in need of assistance continues to grow, the United Nations migration agency today launched a $103.7 million appeal to sustain critical and life-saving aid programmes.

The fastest man on earth, Jamaican Usain Bolt, joins up with South African side Mamelodi Sundowns at their Chloorkop training facility on Monday.