Africa

October 25, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - King Salman of Saudi Arabia has pledged to continue to exert efforts to lift Sudan's name from the U.S. list of states sponsors of terrorism.

Sudan was placed on the U.S. terrorism list in 1993 over allegations it was harbouring Islamist militants working against regional and international targets.
Despite intense lobbying by Khartoum, the U.S. administration kept Sudan on the terrorism list drawing frustration and rebuke from Sudanese officials.

Following his meeting with the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir in Riyadh on Tuesday, King Salman said: “Sudan is of special importance to the Kingdom and we want it to enjoy security and stability”.

According to Sudan's official news agency SUNA, King Salman said the security of Sudan is part of the security of the Kingdom, stressing they would continue to render support to Khartoum.

“We appreciate Sudan's stances towards the Kingdom and we would continue to demand the United States to lift Sudan's name from the list of states sponsors of terrorism and help it improve its relations with Washington and other countries,” King Salman said.

The Saudi King further proposed to hold a coordination meeting among the concerned bodies in Khartoum and Riyadh to develop a plan to enlighten the international public opinion on the role played by Sudan to achieve international peace and security.

For his part, al-Bashir praised the Saudi role in the full lifting of the U.S. economic sanctions on Sudan, expressing hope the Kingdom will continue its efforts to lift Sudan's name from the terror list.

He underlined Sudan would continue to defend the security of Saudi Arabia and the Two Holy Mosques, describing the Saudi-led Arab alliance to fighting against terrorism as “one of the most important achievements”.

Al-Bashir on Tuesday paid a surprise one-day visit to Riyadh where he met with King Salman.

The Sudanese president was touring the Gulf countries in a visit to Kuwait and Qatar, officially he was there for talks on Sudan reconstruction conference sponsored by the Arab League and will be held in Saudi Arabia.

However, observers speak about a possible mediation he is undertaking to settle the five-month crisis between Qatar and a Saudi-led alliance including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

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Journalist Yousra Elbagir looks at why the #MeToo hashtag was not widely used in Sudan.

Mausi Segun, executive director of Human Right Watch's Africa Division, oversees the work of the division in approximately 30 countries. Segun joined Human Rights Watch in September 2013 as the senior researcher for Nigeria. Segun has conducted field investigations to several parts of northern Nigeria, authored extended press releases and dispatches on the cycles of violence in north central Nigeria, the humanitarian crises, the abduction of girls and women and the violations committed by both sides in the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast. She has written pieces and opinions for the New York Times, The Independent UK, Sunday Independent SA, and Salon and has been quoted in the Huffington Post, Washington Post and other major news media.

Before Human Rights Watch, she worked with Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission where, as southwest zonal coordinator, she worked tirelessly to document and promote human rights in six southwest states.

Prior to joining the Commission, she worked as a senior legal officer with the federal ministry of justice.

She has written countless papers on various rights and governance issues.

Mausi has a bachelor of law degree from Obafemi Awolowo University Nigeria, and a Masters in Human Rights Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

On the second day of his visit to the Central African Republic (CAR), United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday called on the international community to show solidarity in helping the crisis-torn country chart a new future while warning against religious divide.

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October 24, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - President Omer Hassan al-Bashir Tuesday paid a surprise visit to Riyadh where he met with King Salman but no statement has been released on the details of the meeting.

Al-Bashir since three days is touring the Gulf countries in a visit to Kuwait and Qatar, officially he was there for talks on Sudan reconstruction conference sponsored by the Arab League and will be held in Saudi Arabia.

However, observers speak about a possible mediation he undertaking to settle the five-month crisis between Qatar and a Saudi-led alliance including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

"The King and the visiting president held official talks, during which they discussed bilateral relations binding the two sisterly countries, in addition to the latest regional developments," said the official Saudi Press Agency.

The meeting was attended by Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Riyadh Region, Prince Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet, Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Minister of the National Guard, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Massed bin Mohammed Al-Ayban, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf and Minister of Finance Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jada'an.

Sudan refused to take part in the ongoing diplomatic crisis and declared its support for the Kuwaiti efforts to settle the rift.

In a speech delivered before the Kuwaiti parliament on Tuesday, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, warned that the dispute could escalate and open the door for regional and international intervention in the Gulf region.

"History and future generations will not forgive anyone who contributes, even one word, to fuelling this dispute," he further said.

President al-Bashir previously tried in the past to convince Riyadh to end the crisis but he failed.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi who is visiting Paris nowadays told the France24 TV that they have 13 demands and Doha should respond to all without exception.

Qatar rejected the demands saying it means an effective end to its independent foreign policy.

After his meeting with King Salman, al-Bashir left Riyadh to Al-Madinah to visit the Prophet's Mosque. From where he is expected to return to Khartoum without meeting the powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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October 24, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - Ethiopia sent 200 peacekeepers over the weekend to South Sudan to help stabilize the war-torn east African nation, an Ethiopian official said on Tuesday.

UN peacekeepers from Ethiopia patrol the outskirts of the disputed Abyei town that straddles the border between Sudan and South Sudan on 16 September 2013 (Photo: Reuters/Andreea Campeanu)

The country's foreign affairs minister, Meles Alem was quoted saying the peacekeepers were sent in line with a United Nations resolution to stabilize South Sudan.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2327 on Dec. 16, 2016, which called for an increase in the overall force levels of United Nations Mission in South Sudan to 17,000 military and 2,101 police personnel.

The resolution also extended the UNMISS mission until December 2017 and gave stronger a mandate to the peacekeeping forces to protect civilians.

South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, has been embroiled in a major conflict since December 2013, after clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and the country's former deputy president, Riek Machar, spiraled into an all-out civil war.

Several rounds of peace negotiations mediated by the African Union, the regional body Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the UN have so far failed to stop the bloodshed.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than two million displaced in the country's worst violence outbreak since its independence.

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October 24, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Tuesday announced that a person suspected of causing the death of its late spokesperson Lam Kuei Lam has been arrested by the Sudanese police.

Fallen South Sudan rebel leader's spokesperson Lam Kuei Lam (File photo)

In a statement extended to the Sudan Tribune, Pouk Both Baluang, the SPLM-IO's director for information and public relations announced that the forensic report of Lam's autopsy has indicated that the cause of death was a small bowel explosion as a result of a severe blow he received.

"Accordingly, the Sudanese police began a criminal investigation with a suspect who voluntarily surrendered to the police on the morning of Sunday, October 22, 2017. Also, it (the police) summoned some eyewitnesses to testify in order to find out the real circumstances of the incident," Baluang said in a statement written in the Arabic language.

Lam, died in Sudan's capital, Khartoum on Saturday.

The statement didn't give further details but said the SPLM-IO leadership is closely following the investigation and called for calm and to avoid fake news.

"We ask everyone to be patient and careful, and not to false fabricate information in respect of the feelings of the family and friends of the deceased," he said.

Lam succeeded James Gatdet Dak, the former spokesperson in Machar's office who was handed over to the South Sudanese government by Kenyan authorities in November 2016.

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October 24, 2017 (JUBA) – At least nine Namibian police officers have been sent to war-torn South Sudan on a United Nations peacekeeping mission.

The contingent of Namibian police headed for South Sudan (The Namibian)

Namibian Police Inspector, Sebastian Ndeitunga said the contingent, under the command of Jona Nairenge, would be tasked with general policing, maintaining of peace and security and the restoration of law and order in the war-torn country.

Ndeitunga was quoted saying said the Namibian police contingent would form part of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which is mainly mandated to provide support for peace efforts and to support longer-term state-building and economic development.

The peace keeping mission in South Sudan is also tasked with supporting the South Sudanese government in conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution and to protect innocent civilians.

“Our forces are disciplined. That is why they have always been accorded appreciation on their hard work, discipline and professionalism,” Ndeitunga told The Namibian.

“Up to now we have not received any negative report from the areas we served. They were all doing very well,” he added.

Ndeitunga was further quoted saying the international operations division of the Namibian Police was preparing to send a 50-member contingent to the Sudanese region of Darfur and to support the United Nations interim security force in the disputed region of Abyei.

“This is an indication that the Namibian Police will continue to honour their international obligations by committing to UN peacekeeping missions,” Ndeitunga said, adding “The police has so far made 45 deployments to several peacekeeping missions across the world.

Currently, there are already around 12,000 troops operating under UNMISS in South Sudan, but the Security Council authorised the deployment of the regional forces after the July 2016 violence amid complaints the UN failed to protect the civilians.

In August 2016, the UN Security Council, following a request by the regional body Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), approved the deployment of 4,000-strong RPF force to secure Juba in the aftermath of renewed clash there.

The 4,000-strong force is meant to protect civilians from the gang rapes and other abuses seen during the fighting that erupted in the capital, Juba, a year ago. This additional force would beef up the existing 13,000-strong UN peacekeeping troops.

South Sudan's civil war has killed tens of thousands and displaced over two million civilians in less than five years, according to the world body.

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October 24, 2017 (JUBA) - United Nations personnel across South Sudan on Tuesday came together with local leaders and communities to celebrate UN Day and the work the organization is doing to protect civilians, build durable peace, and create stability and development within the young nation.

David Shearer (UN photo)

Speaking at a UN Day event in Juba, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, David Shearer paid tribute to the professionalism, commitment and courage of the thousands of staff working for more than 20 UN entities in often remote and dangerous locations across South Sudan.

“This year alone, UN agencies and humanitarian partners are providing life-saving health, nutrition, education, and water and sanitation services to 4.7 million South Sudanese in need.

Those achievements are testament to the commitment of dedicated aid workers, many of whom are South Sudanese nationals,” said David Shearer.

South Sudanese political and community leaders as well as members of the public joined in the 72nd anniversary celebration held in the capital as well as at UN bases across the country under the theme: “United Nations and South Sudan Building the Future Together”.

The UN has been working in what is now the country of South Sudan, for over 50 years, providing vital services such as food, access to clean water, sanitation, education, health care, infrastructural development, peacekeeping, policing, demining, human rights and other forms of advocacy.

David Shearer said while the many South Sudanese people he had met were from different regions and backgrounds, they all wanted one thing – peace.

“People want to return home. They want their children to go to school. They want to be productive citizens. They want to be self-reliant,” he said. “That is why the South Sudanese are urging their leaders to silence the guns and give peace a chance.”

UN day allows the organization to actively promote the ideals of the UN. It is also being celebrated in Torit, Aweil, Yambio, Bentiu, Malakal, Wau, Bor, Rumbek and Warrap.

The world body was established in 1945 with just 51 Member States. Today there are 193 member states. While the organization has changed, the UN's founding principles of promoting peace and security, human rights and development remain the same and are at the core of the UN's work in South Sudan, said David Shearer.

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October 24, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS) has revoked previous restrictions preventing banks from carrying out clearing transactions in U.S. dollars.

U.S. dollar notes (Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha Photo)

Earlier this month, the U.S. Administration permanently lifted 20-year-old economic sanctions that have seriously damaged Sudan's trade, investment and banking transfers.

The new regulation issued by the policy department at the CBoS Sunday allows all banks to carry out business transactions in all convertible currencies including the U.S. dollar.

The new regulation, seen by Sudan Tribune, cancels the November 17, 1997, decision of the CBoS foreign exchange department which prevents the use of U.S. dollar in clearing transactions.

It also revokes the decision issued by the CBoS policy department on 24 December 2007 which pertains to the use of other currencies except for the U.S dollar.

The new regulation further allows the banks to deposit their legal foreign currency reserve with the CBoS in all convertible currencies including the US Dollar.

Meanwhile, the CBoS said the new set of monetary and banking measures and policy reforms aims to control liquidity, maximize export revenues, and decrease imports to stabilize the exchange rate and reduce inflation.

It added the reforms also aims to curb foreign currency speculations in the black market in order to restore confidence in the banking system following the full lifting of the U.S. economic embargo.

The CBoS urged all banks to expand the networks of their foreign correspondence including the U.S. banks, demanding them to carry out transactions in all convertible currencies including the dollar.

Last week, the CBoS announced that Sudanese banks have actually begun to receive international transfers from banks in the United States and Europe.

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October 24, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Darfur Special Criminal Court (DSCC) in East Darfur state capital, Ed-Daein Tuesday has sentenced two individuals to death on charges of murder and armed robbery.

According to the official news agency SUNA, in April 2015, the victims hired a vehicle from an individual to carry them from Ed-Daein to Abu Sufian area, north of Abu Karinka, however, on the way; they killed him and stole his car.

The judge of the DSCC in Ed-Daein, Habib Mohamed Ahmed, on Tuesday found the accused guilty under articles 130 and 175 of the 1991 Penal Code and sentenced them to death by hanging.

He also sentenced the accused to a decade-long prison term for violating articles 26 and 42 of the Arms and Ammunition Act.

Sudan's western region of Darfur has been beset by violence since 2003 after rebels began an armed insurgency against Khartoum accusing the central government of supporting land grabbing by Arab tribes and neglecting development.

According to the UN, 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict, and 2, 5 million chased from their homes.

The DSCC was first set-up by the Sudanese government in 2005 to adjudicate cases of crimes in the western region. However, the court has to date failed to bring charges against any Sudanese official.

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October 24, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan government on Tuesday appealed global support to end the ravaging war in the country, reiterating sanctions would undermine the peace process.

The South Sudanese cabinet affairs minister told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday that his government was waiting for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley with a simple and clear message of commitment to implementing peace and ending the war in the country.

“The message of the Transitional Government of National Unity is clear and simple. It is a unified message and it is the message we will give to any foreign official visiting the country. The government is committed to full implementation of the peace agreement and to end the war," Minister Martin Elia Lomuro told Sudan Tribune.

He added that the commitment of the government is seen in significant steps which have been undertaken by the government with regards to implementation of the peace agreement pointing to the declaration of a unilateral ceasefire, and the amnesty granted to all opposition groups, provided that they denounce violence.

Ambassador Haley isis visiting South Sudan and the Central African Republic to assess the political situation in the country but also to deliver a clear message to the leaders that peace should be achieved and war ended.

"While we'll take a critical look at what the UN is doing on the ground, we'll also meet DRC and South Sudanese leaders to deliver a strong message that their governments need to stop making the work of aid workers and peacekeepers more difficult," she wrote in an editorial published on the CNN website on Sunday.

"The United States remains committed to easing the suffering of civilians wherever we can, to engaging with leaders to ease the suffering of their people, and to ensuring the UN is efficient in addressing these crises," the diplomat further said.

However, the South Sudanese minister enumerated the steps taken by his government in the implementation of the peace agreement and cited the formation of the transitional government, reconstitution and expansion of the parliament, the formation of state governments and reduction of insecurity in some states in the country which had in the past experienced sustained military activities.

“You can see Juba today is secured and peaceful. There is no more fighting Upper Nile, no fighting Equatoria, not even in Bahr el Ghazal. What is happening now in some pockets of the country are acts of criminals, which happen everywhere even in the United States of America and other western countries”, said Lomuro

The leader of the alliance of the pro-government parties in coalition government appealed for global support instead of constantly waiving punitive actions and threats.

“What the transitional government of national unity is unanimously asking for, is working together with the international community to implement peace and help us talk to those estranged groups to join the dialogue process so that war is stopped," said Lomuro.

"This is how political issues are addressed in the global arena, not with stick waiving punitive actions. If you do that, it means taking side and that undermines peace efforts and the intention, whether genuine can be subject to interpretations," he added.

The minister stressed they wish that the intentional community first listen to them, see what they are doing and come in with support where there are challenges.Juba rejects imposed solutions he stressed.

"They don't need to bring the ready-made solutions. It will not work because the context of this solution may not fit in our situation,” he said.

His comments precede the visit of the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, as the report of the five-member panel established by the UN Security Council cited an absence of political will to implement the 2015 peace agreement and to address "the destructive governance practices and historical grievances that continue to drive the conflict in South Sudan".

The international experts attribute these failures to "the political and military elite of the country, with the primary responsibility for the ongoing violence resting with those in the government, led by Pesident, Salva Kiir, and the First Vice-President, Taban Deng Gai".

The report notes that Neighbouring nations continue to experience adverse impacts of the nearly four-year-long civil war, yet they are making no effective efforts to negotiate an end to the fighting.

It found that countries in the region like Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and the four other member-states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) have not generated "a coherent political process backed by genuine pressure on the parties".

"Each IGAD member is dealing with significant national challenges that, coupled with long-standing and complex regional rivalries, continue to undermine consensus on South Sudan," the report adds.

An ensuing proliferation of uncoordinated diplomatic initiatives has enabled the warring forces to "forum-shop".

The panel of experts noted that the government and armed opposition groups "engage selectively in various processes while buying time for military operations, and avoid attempts to enforce a political settlement to the conflict".

The report, also, criticised the new U.S. administration of under President Donald Trump administration for failing to sustain U.S. attempts to resolve the conflict.

"The leadership of the United States and other nations that previously exerted leverage in the region has also waned considerably in 2017," they underlined.

The report makes note of complaints concerning U.S. support for the continued exclusion of opposition leader Riek Machar from peace-making efforts. Some opposition groups view this refusal to include Machar in the search for a settlement as an impediment to a neutral mediation approach by outsiders, the panel states.

The experts pointed out that political impasse, along with government military offensives in recent months, has substantially worsened an already dire humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

"The population faces intersecting threats of violence and insecurity, large-scale population displacement, extreme food insecurity and an escalating national economic crisis," says the report.

"The actions of South Sudanese leaders have done nothing to address these threats, and there is unlikely to be an improvement in the foreseeable future absent a significant change in the national and international approach to the conflict."

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