Africa

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December 26, 2017 (KAMPALA) - A group of youth from South Sudan have demanded for release of the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar before the next phase of talks begin in February next year.

South Sudan's opposition leader Riek Machar speaks during a briefing in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa April 9, 2016 (Photo Reuters/ Tiksa Negeri)

The group, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, said Machar's release from confinement in South Africa is a popular demand of the people of South Sudan who want peace in the war-torn nation.

“Dr. Riek Machar was a key stakeholder of the agreement (ARCISS). He must be set free and allowed to participate directly in the revitalization forum in February 2018 when peace talks resume,” the group, Senior Youth of South Sudan (SEYOSS), said in the statement.

“Riek Machar must be present in person on the negotiation table. Unless or until this revitalization forum is inclusive of all stakeholders otherwise it is dead on arrival,” adds the statement.

In their appeal, the group of youth also called upon the nine South Sudanese opposition leaders who earlier demanded for Machar's release to boycott the second phase of the revitalization forum in February 2018 if their calls are ignored by the regional bloc (IGAD).

The group of peace activists says its regrets the suffering four years of civil war has inflicted on the people of South Sudan.

“As year 2017 comes to an end, South Sudanese living conditions have continued to mount from bad to worse and have now reached irreparable state,” the group said.

The group of youth also called on IGAD and peace guarantors to hold accountable those responsible for violation of the agreement on cessation of hostilities, hours after it came into effect on Sunday.

Diplomats were quoted saying the next phase of the negotiations would centre on thrashing out a revised power-sharing arrangement leading up to a new date for polls.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than 2 million displaced, aid agencies say, since war broke out in South Sudan over four years ago.

(ST)

December 26, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Some members of the High Committee for the Implementation of the National Dialogue Recommendations (HCINDR) expressed their displeasure at the delay in the formation of 13 committees, the reform of laws restricting freedoms.

A general view shows members of the Sudanese National Assembly holding an emergency meeting in Khartoum, July 2008 (file photo)

On 10 October 2016, the National Dialogue Conference endorsed the National Document which includes a number of principles that should serve as a basis for the future Sudan's permanent constitution. Also, it provides to restore freedoms, exert the needed efforts for a lasting peace and put it at the top of agenda the National Consensus Government has to implement.

Ahmed al-Balal, the information minister but also a spokesperson of the dialogue committee Tuesday explained the delay saying the HCINDR is preparing a comprehensive vision of the 13 committees and the implementation of the remaining recommendations. He added that a meeting would be convened within days to discuss these issues.

However, a member of the implementation committee Member Taj al-Din Banga and a leading figure of the Popular Congress Party said that they have not yet received any call for the HCINDR meeting to enforce the outputs of the dialogue.

Further, Banqa told Sudan Tribune that his party has a reservation over the slowdown in the implementation of the dialogue recommendations.

"Our reservation is that the dialogue ended on 10 October 2016, which is a year ago, and so far there have been no commissions," he said on Tuesday.

"We hope that the meeting will be as soon as possible," he further said.

In April 2017, a ruling party-controlled parliamentary committee tasked with some constitutional reforms including the creation of the prime minister position refused to pass an amendment restricting the repressive power of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

The committee said the articles proposed by the PCP include details and figures that should be put in the law, not the constitution.

Banaga stressed the need to prioritize the restoration of freedoms, establishing 13 commissions and to reshape some existing commissions such as the electoral, human rights and the office of the political parties registrar.

He pointed to the upcoming general elections in 2020 saying that the laws restricting freedoms had not been amended to create a suitable atmosphere.

He added that the commissions of corruption, constitutional reform, judicial reform, media, identity, civil service, land and the Public Service Selection Commission have not yet be formed.

Banaga said the PCP called during the dialogue process to include the commissions in the constitutions but the ruling National Congress Party preferred to announce it in a law, citing a large number of constitutional amendments.

(ST)

December 26, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudan rebels allied to the country's former first vice-president, Riek Machar have accused government troops of continued violation of the recently signed ceasefire agreement in Kajo-Keji county and in areas east of Torit town.

Signig of South Sudan cessation of hostilities deal in Addis Ababa on 21 December 2017 ST Photo

The armed opposition's deputy spokesperson, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel said their forces repulsed the attackers and drove them back to Kansuk, amid claims that over 20 government troops were also killed.

The official said the rebels also destroyed store that contained ammunition belonging to government troops following the clashes.

Sudan Tribune could not independently verify claims from the rebel official.

Meanwhile, Lam said South Sudan government troops have been on the offensive since 23 December and have particularly carried out several attacks in Bangalo area of Mundri West in Western Equatoria region.

“It should be noted that since the 22/11/2017 when Governor Joseph Ngere and Brig. Korokon decided to order for attacks on our bases in Bari and Kediba, civilians displaced into the bushes with no food, shelters or health facilities; and no humanitarian assistance has been rendered to those suffering civilians by any humanitarian agency,” he said in a statement.

In a related development, Lam said, the governor of Imatong state Tobiolo Oromo allegedly ordered the area division 7 commander Maj. Gen Gildo Oling to attack the armed opposition's base in Pogee near the Uganda border and establish a border post there.

“This planned attack in Pogee is aimed at displacing civilians who have come back home from refugee camps in Uganda to try and settle in the Liberated area under the SPLA-IO”, Lam said Tuesday.

The armed opposition faction has renewed calls to the regional bloc (IGAD), African Union, the Troika nations as well as world leaders to openly condemn the Juba government over the ceasefire violations.

South Sudan's government and rebel groups signed a ceasefire on 21 December in the latest attempt to end a four-year civil war and allow humanitarian groups access to civilians caught in the fighting.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Saturday directed the chief of defence staff to instruct all heads of the state army divisions and units across the country to comply with the ceasefire agreement.

(ST)