Africa

Blankets from Lesotho are at the centre of controversy in the fashion world, as BBC Africa's Mayeni Jones reports.

Nigeria's police chief Ibrahim Idris has ordered the immediate removal of all police roadblocks.

Chad helps fight Boko Haram militants, while Sudan is on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Mohamed lost count of how many people he had killed when a commander's wife persuaded him to escape.

Violent clashes between government and rebel forces has led to huge civilian displacement.

Angola has publicly funded healthcare with state-of-the-art clinics. So why are some hospitals running out of drugs? The BBC's Mayeni Jones investigates.

Meeting the Kenyans affected by the illness.

Helping communities feed themselves during political and environmental instability.

One month ago, a mudslide devastated parts of Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Ghanaian journalist Elizabeth Ohene reflects on how London has changed and how it compares to Accra.

They "saved" Nigeria from the brink of an Ebola epidemic in 2014, so why are these doctors still waiting to be paid?

The United Nations Security Council today extended its authorization of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until 31 May 2018, approving a reduction of its uniformed personnel to a maximum 21,626 by 31 December 2017, with an eye towards the gradual handover over of responsibilities to Somali security forces.

Skilled health personnel are desperately needed in north-eastern Nigeria, the United Nations population agency today said, after training hundreds of health providers in Borno State on the basics of reproductive health needs.

The head of the United Nations agriculture agency today called for greater funding for a sustainable response to the refugee crisis in Uganda, as he concluded a visit to the country&#39s north hosting those crossing the border for safety.

August 29, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir on Tuesday granted a pardon to the prominent human rights defender Mudawi Ibrahim Adam who was charged with six offences, some of which are punishable by death.

Mudawi Ibrahim

In a presidential decree released by the official news agency SUNA, al-Bashir ordered to free Mudawi Ibrahim and five other people indicted with him and to "put this decision into effect from the date of its signature on Tuesday.

Last June, Sudan's state security prosecutor office charged him with six offences under the 1991 Penal Code, including espionage and intelligence activities in favour of foreign embassies, undermining the constitutional system and waging war against the state all of these charges carry either the death penalty or life imprisonment.

However, on 16 August, the court postponed Adam's trial for the third time due to the absence of one of the five accused who fled to Egypt.

His espouse Sabah Adam expressed her happiness for the release of her husband and regretted his "unjust detention for 9 months without a crime" as she said when reached by Sudan Tribune.

She further said they expect his release on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, but Sudan Tribune can confirm he was released late on Tuesday.

For his part, his lawyer Nabil Adib stressed that "the presidential decree dropped all the charges against his client".

Ada, an engineering professor and Chair of the non-governmental organisation Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO) was arrested on 7 December 2016 by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS).

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By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

August 29, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) – An “influential” opposition figure from the opposition faction of Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by former Vice President, Riek Machar on Tuesday officially declared that he has switched his loyalty to first Vice President Taban Deng Gai-led SPLM-IO faction.

South Sudan first vice president Taban Deng Gai arrives in Bor May 9, 2017 (ST)

Major Tut Rom, commissioner of Jotome County in Maiwut state defected along with 15 officers.

In a statement Sudan Tribune received today from the Taban-led SPLM-IO coordination office here in Addis Ababa, Rom said he accepts the August 2015 peace agreement and national dialogue declared by South Sudan president, Salva Kiir.

In August 2015, the two SPLM warring factions signed peace agreement brokered by the regional bloc Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Despite uncertainties, the peace agreement was then welcomed by regional powers and international peace partners as a major achievement to arrest the bloody war in the world's newest nation.

“As commissioner of Jotome County, I totally fed up for the wrong leadership of Riek Machar since Riek is struggling to fail the people of South Sudan instead of helping them,” Rom said.

He called on those who remain in the bushes particularly the supporters of Riek to put down their guns and join Taban Deng faction to support the compromised peace agreement and national dialogue to resolve the internal crises.

He said the group decided to switch allegiance and loyalty to Taban Deng led SPLM faction after careful deliberation.

The commissioner thanked the community in Jotome County for listening to his advice for them not to participate in the “senseless” war.

The defectors are currently in Pagak county with the SPLM army.

South Sudan erupted into civil war in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy and current rebel leader, Riek Machar, of plotting a coup, an accusation the latter denies.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands and forced over 2.6 million people to displace from their home.

It has also left an estimated 4.8 million (approximately 40% of the population) to face severe food insecurity.

(ST)

August 29, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A court in Khartoum Tuesday has convicted a college student of first-degree murder for killing a police officer during protests at University of Khartoum (UofK).

Asim Omer, 21 years, is a student at the Faculty of Administrative Sciences, UofK, and a member of the Conference of Independent Students (CIS), the student arm of the opposition Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP).

He was arrested by the Sudanese security service and accused of killing a police officer who died after a hit by a Molotov cocktail during the protests in Khartoum in April 2016.

The Khartoum North Criminal Court judge on Tuesday found Omer guilty of first-degree murder under article (130) of the Penal Code, premeditated murder, which is punishable by death.

However, the judge has delayed the sentencing until the next trial session scheduled for 24 September to listen to the victim's family and make them decide on whether the convict should be punished or receive a pardon.

Following the judge's decision, dozens of the opposition activists staged a demonstration denouncing the court ruling and the regime. However, the police were quick to disperse the protesters.

SCoP DENOUNCES COURT RULING

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, the SCoP has condemned the court decision, saying it would move the party to the stage of “total confrontation” with the regime.

It described the charges filed against Omer as mere fabrications, saying the prosecution failed to convince the court of its case.

The statement said the security apparatus has launched a broad arrest campaign against SCoP members, pointing to the detention of Salih Omer in Atbara, River Nile State besides Nabeel al-Nuwiri and Nidal Ahmed in Khartoum.

The SCoP further vowed to continue the struggle to overthrow the totalitarian regime and restore freedom.

(ST)

August 28, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Washington-based advocacy group Enough Project Monday called on the U.S. administration to work in the future on ways to achieve a lasting peace and democratic reforms in Sudan pointing that the root problem remains the authoritarian, kleptocratic government.

Washington is largely expected to repeal the 20-year economic embargo on the east African nation, which is believed to be ineffective and more harmed for the Sudanese people than its rigid regime.

U.S. top diplomat in Khartoum Steven Koutsis explained to the Washington Post on Monday the American policy towards the Sudan saying “What we want to ensure is, while we are trying to get the regime to change its ways, that the people of Sudan are not suffering because of that”.

In line with this approach, Enough Project issued a statement on making the next step count saying "the next phase of U.S. policy needs to address the root problem in Sudan: the authoritarian, kleptocratic government that makes tactical short-term adjustments in its policies in response to mild pressures but retains its strategic objectives".

The advocacy group further pointed to the need for "fundamental reforms in the Sudanese state" but emphasised on the for "effective pressures and incentives" to bring the government to achieve these changes.

"A comprehensive peace agreement with armed groups, commitment to human rights protections, including for religious minorities, and a more inclusive sharing of power with other Sudanese groups," are among the required reforms.

More precisely the group enumerated a number of benchmarks saying Washington needs to press Khartoum to achieve including the repeal of legal and constitutional articles on Apostasy, removal of legal immunities for Sudanese military, paramilitaries and security forces.

Enough further calls for "a constitutional convention in Sudan that is led by Sudanese stakeholders and overseen by independent international monitors, followed by adoption of the new constitution"

The Sudanese government held last year a national dialogue process that the opposition groups boycotted because the government failed to ensure freedoms, release political detainees and to include the holdout rebel groups.

Recently the Popular Congress Party criticised the government for not enforcing the recommendations of the dialogue process and also excluding them from the decision making process in this respect.

Enough Project said the U.S. administration during the next phase of engagement should prepare "smart, modernized sanctions that spare the Sudanese public and target those most responsible for grand corruption, atrocities and obstructing peace"

Also, the group said that Sudan's removal of the State Sponsor of Terrorism and support for Sudanese debt relief, should be on the negotiating table of the normalisation of bilateral relations process and used as garrotes to bring the ruling National Congress Party to achieve peace and democratic reforms in Sudan.

"Shorter term incentives could include the appointment of a full U.S. ambassador and increased trade promotion activities," it further said.

(ST)

August 28, 2017 (RUMBEK) – Relatives of the three lawmakers arrested and detained by security officials in South Sudan's Eastern Lakes state have demanded their unconditional release from detention.

Map detail showing South Sudan's Lakes state in red

The MPs are reportedly being kept in a secret cell in Yirol East county.

Those arrested included the chairperson of the information committee in parliament, Marial Amuom Malek and two lawmakers.

It remains unclear why the three lawmakers were arrested last week.

Malek's son, Ater Marial Amuom demanded that his father be presented before court and charged, if found to be guilty.

“My father is sick, if the state government is putting justice correctly, let us as a family know what crime he committed. He should be presented before court and the law allowed to take its course,” he said.

An activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said security operatives allegedly targeted youth critical of the state government.

“Youth active on social media are listed and searched for by security operatives for possible arrest if found,” said the activist.

(ST)

August 28, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan People's Liberation Movement -North led by Malik Agar Monday expressed hope that the visit of USAID chief Mark Green to Sudan can help to open humanitarian access to civilians in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

In his first visit since his appointment earlier this month, Green is on a three-day visit to Sudan where he visited Darfur region and will hold talks with the Sudanese government officials on the humanitarian situation six weeks before a decision on the lift of sanctions on Sudan.

It is not clear if he would visit the Blue Nile or the South Kordofan states where the government and the two factions of the SPLM-N have declared a unilateral cessation of hostilities but failed to reach an agreement on the humanitarian access despite the efforts that Washington exerted in this respect.

In a statement issued on Monday Yasir Arman, SPLM-N Agar Secretary General, welcomed Green's visit to Sudan saying they hope that the visit of the American senior humanitarian official will push Khartoum to lift the "humanitarian aid sanctions" on the Two Areas.

"The Sudan government is only interested in the lifting of U.S. sanctions without (...) observing the benchmarks of the U.S. government", including the removal of humanitarian sanctions on the civilians in the Two Areas and Darfur, Arman said.

"We are optimistic and expectant that the visit of Mark Green will help in implementing U.S. benchmarks for the Sudan government to allow humanitarian assistance and observation of international humanitarian law as access to humanitarian aid is an unquestionable right for the civilian population, especially those who suffer from genocide and war crimes," the rebel official further said.

Green was in North Darfur state on Monday where he met the Governor Abdel Wahid Youssef and paid a visit to the internally displaced persons in Zam Zam camp outside El-Fasher.

The visiting humanitarian official told the Washington Post that “The timing of my visit shows the importance the U.S. attaches to our relationship with Sudan during this very important sanctions review period.”

“We will be closely watching for sustained progress,” he further added in reference to the five track agreement reached last year between the two countries for the normalisation of bilateral relations and the lift of the 20-year economic embargo on Sudan.

However, it is not clear if Green will visit the Two Areas.

Earlier this year U.S. officials called several times on the SPLM-N to accept a humanitarian proposal they made in a bid to break the deadlocked talks on the humanitarian access but the SPLM-N declined the initiative.

However, Arman reiterated the readiness of SPLM-N to negotiate a humanitarian agreement "despite its internal difficulties as we have officially informed the AUHIP in our meeting recently with them".

The other faction of the SPLM-N led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu refuses for the time being to engage in any negotiations with the government before a general conference they plan to hold next October.

(ST)