Africa

December 20, 2017 (ZALINGEI) - Central Darfur Governor Ga'afar Abdel-Hakam announced that the weapons collection campaign will reach within days Jebel Marra's areas controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement of Abdel Wahid al-Nur (SLM-AW).

Central Darfur governor, Jaafar Abdel Hakam (Photo SUNA)

The governor made his declaration, which means the end of the government unilateral cessation of hostilities, in a speech before the Central Darfur State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

"We are in constant contact with the few remaining elements of Abdel Wahid group, but they do not respond to our repeated calls until the moment."

"If the fourth operation of the weapons collection campaign begins, the search forces will reach their places and then the cessation of hostilities would not protect them because it does not include Darfur," he further said.

In 2016, the government said that its forces defeated the SLM-AW fighters but admitted the existence of some rebel pockets in the mountainous Jebel Marra area and stopped its military operations particularly the air attacks which affect civilians also.

Since December 2016, the Sudanese authorities have authorised aid groups to reach needy civilians in the troubled state to deliver humanitarian assistance. The end of humanitarian restrictions was implemented within the framework of an agreement with the U.S. administration for the lift of economic sanctions on Sudan.

Also, the SLM-AW refuses to engage in a peace process with the government and didn't declare a unilateral humanitarian truce as it is the case for the SLM-Minni Minnawi and the Justice and Equality Movement led by Gibril Ibrahim.

Abdel-Hakam called on the Native Administration officials and local leaders to cooperate with the government and inform them about the whereabouts of tribal weapons and other arms in the hands of civilians to make the campaign a success.

"We will arrest anyone who works to incite against the weapons collection campaign and deport him outside the state in accordance with the emergency law without any judicial procedures," he further warned.

The governor, in addition, warned against the negative use of the social media to criticize the ongoing weapons collection operations.

"It is forbidden to speak negatively about the campaign and everyone who posts a negative comment on social networking sites about the campaign will expose himself to accountability and imprisonment in accordance with emergency laws," he emphasized.

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December 20, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir has praised Rwanda's support for Sudan in regional and international forums and its firm stance against the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir (R) and his counterpart Paul Kagame of Rwanda leave the Uhuru Park grounds after attending the promulgation of Kenya's new constitution in Nairobi August 27, 2010 (Reuters)

Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, accompanied by a senior delegation, has arrived in Khartoum on Wednesday on a two-day official visit to hold talks on bilateral relations.

In his address before the opening session of the Sudanese-Rwandan talks at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday, al-Bashir called on the African leaders to withdraw from the ICC according to the African Union decision.

The ICC issued two arrest warrants against al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010 for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Darfur. He is the first sitting head of state charged by the Hague-based court since its inception in 2002.

Sudan, which is not a state member of Rome Statute of the ICC, has been campaigning for an African withdrawal from the court.

The African Union constantly accuses the ICC of disproportionately targeting Africans. Several countries including Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Libya have called for en mass withdrawal of African nations from the court.

But the court also has supporters in Africa. At an African Union summit meeting in July 2016, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia were among the countries that opposed a Kenyan-led drive for a group walkout from the tribunal.

Rwanda is not a state party to the tribunal of war crimes but has the obligation as a member of the United Nations to cooperate with the court. However, like many other African capitals, Kigali is critical to ICC and to its focus on Africa.

In 2008, President Kagame called the ICC a “fraudulent institution “that is “made for Africans and poor countries” who did not realize what they were signing up for when they ratified the Rome Statute.

Established in 2002 to try war criminals and perpetrators of genocide never tried at home, the ICC has opened inquiries involving nine nations, including Kenya, Ivory Coast, Libya, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Uganda, Mali and, most recently, Georgia.

RWANDA AND THE UNAMID

Meanwhile, the Sudanese President hailed Rwanda's efforts to achieve peace and stability in the continent through its effective participation in the peacekeeping missions.

“We especially praise the active participation of the Rwandan forces within the UNAMID in Darfur which contributed to enhancing state efforts to achieve security and stability across Darfur and ensure the success of the disarmament campaign,” he said.

The hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has been deployed since December 2007 with a mandate to stem violence against civilians in western Sudan's region of Darfur.

It is the world's second-largest international peacekeeping force with an annual budget of $1.35 billion and almost 20,000 troops.

UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in Darfur conflict, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

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December 20, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The government militia Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said its fighters are tightening control over border crossings to prevent arms smuggling and "negative phenomena" and secure the borders.

On Wednesday, SRF second-in-command Isam al-Din Salih visited the town of Tina on the Sudanese-Chad border to inspect the force tasked with carrying out the disarmament campaign.

According to Ashorooq TV, Salih said the force managed to capture large quantities of illicit weapons and unregulated vehicles within the framework of the disarmament campaign.

For his part, the commander of the force Hamdan Abu Shouk said their activities have covered large areas across the various counties in North and West Darfur States which resulted in capturing a number of outlaws as well as large quantities of illegal arms and vehicles.

Last August, the Sudanese authorities launched a six-month disarmament campaign to eliminate illegal weapons in the conflict-affected areas in Sudan, particularly in Darfur region.

The higher committee for the collection of weapons and unregulated vehicles started the forcible phase of the campaign in all the states of Sudan on 15 October.

Also, since June 2016, hundreds of RSF elements have been deployed in the remote desert of the Northern State shortly after a complaint by the governor of drug and human trafficking by the criminal networks.

Last January, RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo, (aka Hametti) said they intercepted the smuggling of 1500 illegal migrants on the Sudanese-Libyan border since their fighters were deployed to the desert area.

The RSF militia, which is widely known as the Janjaweed militias, were originally mobilised by the Sudanese government to quell the insurgency that broke out in Sudan's western region of Darfur in 2003.

The militia was activated and restructured again in August 2013 under the command of the National Security Services to fight rebel groups in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states following joint attacks by Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebels in North and South Kordofan in April 2013.

Earlier this year, the Sudanese parliament passed RSF Act which integrates the notorious militia in the Sudanese army and provides that its commander is appointed by the President of the Republic.

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December 20, 2017 (JUBA)- Rebecca Garang de Mabior, widow of the founding leader of South Sudan's ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) said the conflict in the country would never be resolved unless President Salva Kiir steps down.

Speaking at the IGAD-brokered forum to revitalize the implementation of a peace deal signed in 2015, Rebecca described the government of President Kiir as “ineffective and should be replaced”.

“If you are afraid to say it, I am saying it, because there is nothing they are delivering. Three weeks ago, hundreds of people died. How many people do we need to die in order for us to see this government is not delivering and should be replaced?”

The former presidential adviser on gender and human rights before falling out with President Kiir, leading to her sacking, quoted her late husband to describe the inability of the government to deliver.

“The way forward for the government in Juba is to go because there is nothing that they can deliver. Dr John (Garang) used to say the government in Khartoum is too deformed to be reformed. It is this government in Juba which is too deformed to be reformed,” said Rebecca.

Rebecca was one of the senior party officials who showed interest in the leadership of the ruling SPLM in 2013. Their calls for Kiir's resignation built tensions that escalated into a full-scale war when presidential guards of the deputy SPLM chairman and Vice President Riek Machar clashed with their colleagues who backed President Kiir in the army caserns outside Juba.

The two men later signed a peace deal in 2015 but could not work together to implement what they signed. Their forces fought each again in July 2016, unravelling the deal and forcing Machar to flee the country.

As a result of the war, tens of thousands may have died. More than two million people have also fled the country to neighbouring in search of peace and security. A humanitarian organization described the movement out of the country to neighbouring states as the largest national exodus in Africa in 20 years.

This week, however, another round of regionally brokered peace talks began in Ethiopia on Monday.

Since last year's collapse of the peace deal, government forces in collaboration with an SPLM-IO splinter faction led by the First Vice President Taban Deng Gai scored significant military victories across the country. While other armed groups have failed to unite their ranks.

The East African regional bloc has failed to convince them to unite or form an alliance to negotiate with the government. Each group is negotiating as an independent and a separate group

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December 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Popular Congress Party (PCP) and Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) led by Minni Minnawi agreed to work together for peace in Sudan in line with the African Union-brokered roadmap and national dialogue outcome.

On 18-19 December, Ali al-Haj, the Secretary-General of PCP which is now part of the National Consensus Government led by President Omer al-Bashir discussed, in the German city, the issues of war and peace with a delegation of the SRF a coalition of armed groups led by Minni Minnawi.

The meeting comes within the framework of an initiative for peace in Sudan launched by the PCP which historically had a negative position from foreign processes to bring peace in the country. The initiative is also in line with the outcome of the dialogue process concluded in October 2016.

"The two parties commit themselves to work towards advancing peace, peaceful settlement and comprehensive political settlement based on their reference to the African Union Road Map for the (Sudanese) Revolutionary Front and the outcomes of the national dialogue for the Popular Congress (Party)," reads a joint statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday evening.

They further agreed to establish a joint mechanism to ensure the continuation of dialogue on all national issues.

Also, the parties said they will brief their respective allies about the outcome and discuss with them "on expanding the circle of joint political work," says the statement without elaboration.

However, the statement stressed the need to ensure the flow of humanitarian assistance, and release "fundamental freedoms". Also, the meeting welcomed the release of prisoners of war and called to free those who remain in jail.

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December 19, 2017 (JUBA) - The United Nations' humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan on Tuesday called for safe return of six aid workers abducted in Raga and Wau towns of South Sudan.

In a statement, Alain Noudehou said one international and five national aid workers went missing on Sunday while travelling between Raga and Wau, where they operated from.

Solidarites International said it "lost contact" with three of its workers, but it could not be independently verified if they were kidnapped.

A deputy spokesman for the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO), Lam Paul Gabriel, said their forces intercepted a convoy “carrying weapons” between Wau and Raga town, allegations Sudan Tribune could not easily verify.

He said four aid workers, “used as shields by the government in the transportation of military hardware” were rescued during the operation.

"They [aid workers] are currently safe and sound with our forces around Raga and will be handed over to the concerned third party as soon as possible," Lam said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

A South Sudan rebel official separately admitted they abducted 15 people during the attack. The rebel appointed governor of Lol state, Ayman Mohamed Ibrahim, claimed those abducted were government troops and Sudanese rebels.

Nine aid workers were killed in South Sudan in November, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), said last week.

Over 90 aid workers, the UN said, have been killed in South Sudan ever since the conflict in South Sudan, which was caused by political differences, broke out in 2013.

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December 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Rwanda's President Paul Kagame would arrive in Khartoum on Wednesday on a two-day official visit to hold talks with his Sudanese counterpart Omer al-Bashir.

President Paul Kagame has called for Africans to advance African solutions (photo credit: Village Urugwiro)

According to the Sudanese presidency, the two Presidents would discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common concern.

Kagame would be accompanied by the Foreign Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, Defence Minister, James Kabarebe, Trade Minister, Vincent Munyeshyaka, intelligence chief Joseph Nzabamwita and the director general of bilateral cooperation at the foreign ministry, Faith Rugema.

The two sides would hold bilateral talks on the political and economic relations and prospects for trade exchange between the two countries.

Kagame will visit the National Archaeological Museum and the International University of Africa where he will address university students.

At the conclusion of the visit, the two sides would sign an agreement to establish the joint political consultation committee between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Sudan's Foreign Ministry said Rwanda has been among the African nations that continued to support Sudan's just issues in the regional and international forums.

It added Rwanda, under Kagame's leadership, managed to overcome the plight of genocide and destruction during a short period, saying the country's economy has been ranked among the fastest growing in Africa.

Last August, al-Bashir attended in the Rwandan capital, Kigali the inauguration ceremony of the Kagame for the third term.

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December 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Human Rights Watch (HRW) voiced concern about the arbitrary detention of Sudanese activists and called on the government to try or to release them pointing to reports of alleged torture.

In a statement released Tuesday, HRW said the Sudanese security service has detained on 6 December a "human rights activist Rudwan Dawod, a 35-year-old dual Sudanese-American citizen, who visited El Jereif suburb in Khartoum to " to show solidarity with local community protests against government land expropriations.

"He is being held in an unknown location, without access to a lawyer or his family" further reads the statement.

The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) continue to arrest political and rights activists in Sudan despite the recommendations of the national dialogue conference in October 2016 and government's commitment to release freedoms before the lift of U.S. sanctions.

“Sudan locks up activists for weeks on end, holds them incommunicado, and subjects them to abuse, including torture,” said Jehanne Henry, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“Authorities need to end these detentions and grant all detainees full access to family, lawyers, and medical care,” Henry further called.

The statement, also, reported the case of Nasreldin Mukhtar, a prominent Darfuri student activist arrested on August 22, and eight Darfuri students arrested in mid-September while protesting NISS detentions of two other students.

Rights activists and political opponents say the NISS continue to carry out arbitrary detention and arrests operations, putting aside pledges to allow them to work in a safe and enabling environment without fear.

“Torture and prolonged, arbitrary detention are still routine practice in Sudan, used as a means to stifle dissent and dialogue,” Henry said. “These tactics are further evidence of Sudan's appalling rights record.”

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Utensils and bottles of urine were also allegedly found in parliament as politicians expressed their disapproval.

December 19, 2017 (JUBA) - Authorities in South Sudan's Maiwut state have relocated from the country's capital, Juba to the state days after Governor Bol Ruach Rom issued several orders for appointment of a new cabinet.

The speaker of the state parliament said an advance team headed by state advisers for peace and reconciliation, child, education and environment, minister of local government and law enforcement agencies, minister of finance and public service, minister of education, minister of rural development, minister of health, county commissioners, town mayor and deputy will this week travel to the state before the governor and speaker of the state assembly follow.

Choul Kiir said priority of newly appointed officials will be to engage with their respective communities, currently in Ethiopia-South Sudan border due to fighting in July between government troops and the armed opposition forces in the state.

The relocation comes after the formation of the state government following months of consultations and negotiations with members of ethnic Koma community, whose a quarter of their political figures have preferred being annexed to northern Upper Nile state.

The tension and deadlock were resolved with the appointment of the deputy governor and some cabinet ministers from the Koma community. The state government was operating from Juba and relocation will be first of its kind since the state was created through a presidential order early this year.

Rev. Simon Ruot Riang, Advisor for Peace and Reconciliation, Dorach Both Nyuot, Advisor for girl Child Education and Environment B. Ministers, Major General, Gach Puok Dak, Minister of Local Government and Law enforcement Agencies, Buk Lul Joak, Minister of Finance and Public Service, Chol Bol Wur, Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Duop Abshiry Duop Bichiok, Minister of Education, Simon Duop Puok Tir, Minister of Rural Development, Gatluak Liphoth Diew, Minister of Health and Environment, will be in the advance team to relocate to the state headquarters in Pagak, a former rebel headquarters at South Sudan- Ethiopia border.

The border area changed hands from the armed opposition to the government. The county commissioners include Col. John Miyieny Lual Roth, commissioner of Longechuk county, James Yach Lul Puok Thiwat, and commissioner of Jiokow county. The state deputy mayor, Tut Gang Met is also part of the advance team.

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December 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government has expressed readiness to resume peace talks with the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) on the Two Areas.

The semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) Tuesday quoted the spokesperson of the government negotiating team Hussein Hamdi as saying they have constant contacts with the African Union and the international community to resume the talks.

He added “peace is a strategic goal and moral principle for the government”, saying the government team is ready to resume negotiations.

Hamdi pointed out that the rift within the SPLM-N has caused the delay of the talks, saying they are waiting to resolve the issue and determine who would represent the Movement at the negotiating table.

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 Sudanese government and SPLM-N 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.

In September, Abdel-Rahman Abu Median, member of the government negotiating team, said they wouldn't negotiate with an SPLM-N Agar faction, pointing the group has no ability to implement what will be agreed upon.

The SPLM-N al-Hilu has a similar point of view as they say there is no split within the rebel movement, but only a change of leadership stressing they have the SPLA-N support.

On the other hand, the SPLM-N Agar recognizes the rift and proposes to form a joint delegation. If this proposal is rejected they propose to coordinate with the SPLM-N al-Hilu.

The African mediators met the two factions last August, but they didn't fix a clear position on the matter, while the facilitators from the Troika countries and the European Union also didn't determine a unified position on the matter.

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President Omer al-Bashir waves during a rally in Nyala town in South Darfur on December 29, 2010. (Reuters Photo)

December 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The National Initiative of Youth Around the President (NIYAP) on Tuesday has officially launched a campaign to re-nominate President Omer al-Bashir for a third term.

Speaking at a press conference in Khartoum Tuesday, the head of the NIYAP's higher preparatory committee Yasser Mohy al-Din said “there is no alternative to al-Bashir except al-Bashir”.

He said al-Bashir is the “nominee for the 2020 elections”, calling on the youth to support the NIYAP campaign.

Mohy al-Din added the NIYAP would establish “al-Bashir house” across the Sudanese states and counties to list names of those supporting al-Bashir re-election and assist the poor people.

He pointed out they would organize a large celebration to give Bay'ah (declare allegiance) to President al-Bashir next month.

Al-Bashir's term ends in 2020 and he couldn't run for office again according to the constitution. However, some voices within the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the government have recently called for amending the constitution to allow him to run for the presidency again.

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December 19, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Popular Congress Party (PCP) and Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) led by Minni Minnawi held two-day discussions on Sudan's peace in the German city, Bonn.

The PCP, which historically was opposed to foreign initiatives to end the war in Sudan, launched several months ago an initiative to bridge the gaps between the National Congress Party-led government and the opposition groups that boycott the National Dialogue process.

Last week, Ali al-Haj who leads the Islamist party after long years of exile in Germany said he would meet the with the armed at the end of a long series of meetings held with Sudanese political leaders including President Omer al-Bashir who supports this initiative.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Tuesday, the PCP said al-Haj on Monday evening held a dinner in Bonn in honour of the PCP and SRF delegations that would meet from 18 to 19 December.

According to the statement, the dinner was attended from the SRF side by the rebel umbrella leader Minni Minnawi, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Gibril Ibrahim and the member of the SRF leadership council Amin Daoud.

On the other hand, PCP members who attended the dinner include deputy secretary of foreign relations Mohamed Badr al-Din Hamid, PCP representative in Britian Siddiq Mohamed Osman and the party representative in Sweden al-Bashir Mohamed.

Following the dinner, the two delegations held a preliminary meeting to set up the agenda of the main meeting which would be held on Tuesday morning in Bonn.

PCP's delegation spokesperson Siddiq Mohamed Osman said a good brotherly spirit has prevailed over the meeting, pointing the PCP initiative was very well received by the SRF delegation.

The statement said the meeting would discuss the PCP initiative as well as the required confidence-building measures to achieve a lasting peace in Sudan.

Last October, the SRF held its general conference in Paris and elected Minnawi as a leader for the upcoming period.

The Sudan Liberation Movement Minni Minnawi and the Justice and Equality Movement are part of the African Union-brokered peace process.

They failed to reach a humanitarian cessation of hostilities agreement with the government in August 2016 as they demand to open the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur for discussion, a matter that the government rejects.

Since, the government and the two groups have mad sole progress in this respect thanks to the efforts undertaken by the international facilitators but still, there are divergences on several points between the two parties.

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December 19, 2017 (JUBA) – A member of South Sudan's national dialogue committee has expectedly admitted that the war-torn nation has “collapsed”, citing the displacements, destruction of properties and deaths of innocent civilians due to the country's ongoing conflict.

Aldo Ajou Deng Akuey, also a member of the Dinka council of elders, said the country was at the point where people are suffering and called on political leaders to come together instead of continuing to make procrastination without breaking the sufferings.

“Seriously speaking South Sudanese have reached the climax in their suffering. Insecurity: political, economic, social, cultural and livelihood have been brought down to earth in every field of humanity. The prove is that more than eighty people have died; two million are internally displaced from their homes, four million have left the country to neighbouring countries and beyond and six million are starving and dying of related disease,” wrote Akuey on Monday.

He added, “The real conclusion underlines that the country has truly collapsed, rating the inflation to over 1050 percent. A quite impossible reverse. This huge disaster only occurred between 2013 and 2017. The cry of the people is unanimous: Peace now! Enough”.

The official, who is also the chairperson of the specialized committee for human rights and constitutional affairs in the Upper House of parliament, said it was time to end the war and bring peace in the country.

“Peace now, but with great lack of confidence and mistrust of leaders by the public, the mediators, Troika, IGAD, AU and UN, express skepticism that the ARCSS High-Level Revitalization Forum, (HLRF), may fail the warning that this is the last chance available for peace in order to bail out the country and its people from the deadly disaster”, he added.

Akuey's comments follow statements from the European Union and the Troika nations in which they warned anti-peace elements with sanctions if they continue obstructing durable peace in the country.

While addressing reporters in the capital, Juba on Sunday after meeting the cabinet affairs minister, the ambassador of the Royal Norwegian embassy, representing the European Union, said the international community has a high expectation in the country's leadership in the High-Level Revitalization Forum of the agreement.

"On the side of the international community we have made clear to the minister that the leaders of the country will be judged on their actions, not on their words and that there will be consequences and costs for those who want to spoil the process," said Lars Andersen.

“This is a critical moment in which decisive action can be taken for the benefit of the well-being of the people of South Sudan", he added.

Andersen said they expect the concrete outcome of the forum that there will be a secession of hostilities, an unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to the people in need and that there will be space for everybody who wants to build the country to participate in the discussions on what kind of country South Sudan wanted to be like.

The representative of the Troika countries, Ambassador Geert Geut said they will closely watch the HLRF taking place in Addis Ababa.

"We will be watching the process closely, we will support the process and we will stand ready to take action on those that are working against peace,” said Geut.

He added, I don't want to leave any doubt on the determination of the International community to sanction those who want to spoil the peace process."

Meanwhile, the director of international cooperation in South Sudan's ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation John Andruga Duku reaffirmed the government's commitment to the delegation of the troika and EU to achieving peace in the country.

"The government is committed to seeing that the delegation going there led by the minister will go with open-minded and be going there with the idea that finds a solution to the long conflict in the Republic of South Sudan”, said Duku.

On Monday, the IGAD Council of Ministers threatened to take punitive measures against spoilers of South Sudan's peace process.

The regional bloc, in a statement, vowed to take necessary actions against individuals and groups that spoil or derail the revitalization process from progressing.

The five-day forum provides a unique opportunity to bring IGAD, regional and international parties together towards ending the conflict in South Sudan with the help of stakeholders on the negotiation table.

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