Africa

Tunisian women are expected to be virgins when they marry, leading some to have hymen surgery.

He fought stigma and violence to become a gospel star in Kenya.

Engy El Shazly started learning ballet at 27 while wearing her Islamic headscarf.

Mariam Staford Bandaba was attacked in Tanzania by a gang of men who chopped off her arms, believing albino body parts had magic properties. She is now able to work as a weaver.

His neighbours, in what is probably the world's most famous slum, stare but he doesn't care.

Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey returns to Sierra Leone for the first time since contracting Ebola there.

A selection of the best photos from across Africa this week.

June 14, 2017 (BENTIU) – A medical officer at Bentiu hospital has admitted the rise in Malaria cases, but dismissed its outbreak.

A WHO free malaria testing and treatment campaign in Juba (WHO)

“There are cases of malaria, which is alarming, but doesn't reach the level of outbreak,” Giel Yoach Thidor told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

Bentiu hospital is currently the only congested health center as members of neighboring countries often seek treatment there.

Malaria is a life-threatening blood disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bite of the Anopheles mosquito.

Most of those affected, officials said, are children and mothers who affected who are suffering from the ongoing war in the country, as the hospital has reportedly run short of medicines and other facilities.

A resident of Bentiu, speaking to Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity, attributed the catastrophe to poor sanitation in the area.

He urged Nuer community worldwide to help overcome the situation facing children and mothers in Bentiu before it gets out of hand.

Before conflict broke out in December 2013, Bentiu hospital was one of the best equipped hospital in South Sudan with all types of operations and specialized doctors as well as nurses in the world's youngest nation.

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June 14, 2017 (IMATONG) - South Sudan's armed opposition faction have accused government forces and their allied militias of violating the unilateral ceasefire by attacking civilians in Imatong state.

The map of Eastern Equatoria state in red

The army opposition's deputy spokesperson, Lam Paul said pro-government forces launched coordinated attacks onto their bases.

“Pro-government forces came out in multiple directions of Torit, Palotaka and Magwi with the aim to retake Moti, Iyire and Iholong areas now under our control,” Lam told Sudan Tribune Wednesday.

The rebel official said pro-government forces suffered heavy casualties, claims Sudan Tribune could not independently verify.

The rebel appointed governor of Imatong state, Oyet Nathaniel confirmed the attack, saying large numbers of civilians vacated Lyire and Ifotu payams and moved towards Imatong mountain ranges.

“The government used civilians especially women and children as human shields as they led them towards heavily fortified SPLM-A/IO headquarters in Imatong state. The government has flagrantly violated their ceasefire and reaffirmed their pursuit of military solutions to the conflict in South Sudan,” Oyet told Sudan Tribune.

“This is an act of cowardice and flagrant violation of the so-called unilateral ceasefire. SPLM-A/IO will never accept or adhere to any ceasefire which is not negotiated. Its bait meant to lure weak-hearted,” he added.

The attack, if confirmed, totally violates the unilateral ceasefire announced by President Salva Kiir as he launched the national dialogue initiative last month.

The South Sudanese government on Wednesday renewed accusations that Sudan allegedly supported its armed opposition fighters with ammunition and logistics in the wake of fresh clashes near the Sudanese border this week.

Tens of thousand of people have been killed and nearly two million displaced in South Sudan's worst-ever violence since it seceded from Sudan in 2011.

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June 14, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan has renewed accusations that Sudan supports its rebels with ammunition and logistics in the wake of fresh clashes near Sudan's border this week.

Omer al-Bashir (R) walks with Salva Kiir after their meeting at Khartoum's airport November 4, 2014 (Reuters Photo)

The deputy army spokesperson, Santo Domic Chol said rebels allied to the former first vice president Riek Machar carried out a number of attacks at army positions in South Sudan's Upper Nile state.

"The rebels launched attacks against the SPLA in Kuek and Ghabat on June 9 and 11. The SPLA thought it was SAF [Sudan Armed Forces] doing the attack. But it became clear in the process of fighting that the rebels are the ones attacking SPLA using SAF uniforms, war hardware and logistics," he told reporters Wednesday.

The official claimed the Sudanese army allegedly offered logistics, training and military hardware, including heavy weapons to rebels.

"The capabilities used by the rebels in these operations indicate that the rebels have received military support from neighboring Sudan," said Chol.

Sudan, he said, also permitted senior South Sudan rebel leaders living in Khartoum to plan their operations and that SAF offered their bases along the border for rebel forces to gather intelligence and launch military operations against the army.

Meanwhile, deputy spokesman for the rebels dismissed as “baseless” accusations that the armed opposition receives support from Sudan.

"These are baseless accusations from the government of Juba,” Lam said, dismissing the army's claims that Sudan militarily backs rebels.

Bilateral relations between South Sudan and Sudan were officially started on 9 July 2011 following the former's independence from the latter. Sudan became the first country to recognise South Sudan's independence. Since South Sudan's independence, relations between Sudan and South Sudan have been poor and frantic.

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June 14, 2017 (JUBA)- The co-chair of the National Dialogue Steering Committee on Wednesday called on rival leaders to accept elections as the only way to which the ongoing conflict can be stopped.

Angelo Beda made the remarks at a civil society workshop which examined the progress and challenges made in the implementation of the peace agreement which the sides signed in 2015.

The elderly politician called upon President Kiir and his main political rival Riek Machar to allow the country go through peaceful democratic processes of attaining power by stopping the war and allow elections.

“We must have the election. And so Dr Riek, there is no need clinging to the fact that you must be Vice President because the time is finished. From here now to election, how many months are left?” There are only a few months left. Is there any need to come and be First Vice President and go for election? Wait, come and organise yourself so that you go for election,” said Beda.

Through his address, he also asked President Kiir to allow elections to be conducted as stipulated in the peace agreement, saying elections are the universally accepted process of acquiring or retaining power.

“The same for Salva Kiir there is no need to cling to power because we want elections on time,” said Beda said.

He further said “peace and stability are the common denominators wanted by everybody, including those who are holding guns and fighting. "We want a new era of election and come and participate,” he stressed.

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A United Nations-appointed panel of experts investigating human rights violations in Burundi today released the latest findings of their probe, noting that their initial fears concerning the scope and gravity of these abuses since April 2015 have been confirmed.

The United Nations must move towards a more institutionalized approach for the joint planning, mandating, financing and supporting of African Union (AU) peace-support operations, the Secretary-General&#39s Chef de Cabinet told the Security Council today.

The United Nations envoy for Somalia today strongly condemned last night&#39s attack on a pizza restaurant and an adjacent hotel in Mogadishu that reportedly killed at least 19 people.

Actions against severe human rights abuses meted out to Eritrean citizens must not be delayed, a United Nations rights expert has warned in a new report to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council.

June 14, 20147 (NEW YORK) - United Nations secretary general Wednesday has officially proposed to change the mandate of African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and to reduce by a half its troops.

The proposal was made by the Assistant Secretary-General for UN peacekeeping operations, El Ghassim Wane in a briefing before the Security Council on the recommendations of the Special Report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General on the strategic review of UNAMID.

The Mauritanian diplomat told the 15-member body that the level of armed hostilities significantly lower than in previous years, pointing that the hybrid operation should readjust its mandate and reduce the number of peacekeepers deployed in Darfur, except Jebel Marra where rebel pockets are still present.

Further, he underlined that despite the government successful efforts to reduce the rebellion, there are still over 2.7 million displaced persons, attacks by gunmen, and intercommunal (tribal) disputes over land and other resources.

Accordingly, the report recommended a two-pronged approach, he said, explaining that it would combine peacebuilding in most parts of Darfur with traditional peacekeeping tasks in Jebel Marra and the vicinity. In this manner, the hybrid mission can address the insecurity and make possible the return of internally displaced persons.

"Such a concept would entail the closure of 11 team sites, the opening of a temporary operating base in the Jebel Marra town of Golo and military withdrawal from another 7 team sites out of the current total of 36, he continued. That, in turn, would enable UNAMID to reduce its troop ceiling to 8 battalions, or 8,735 troops, from the current 16 battalions, and its police ceiling to 2,360".

The UN peacekeeping official further explained that the UNAMID mandate and priorities would be the protection of civilians in Jebel Marra, dealing with the tribal conflicts and the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

The Security Council is expected to endorse these changes next 18 June, as they have the support of permanent members including the American administration which is supportive to Sudanese government efforts to open humanitarian access to the civilians in the conflict-affected areas and to abide by a unilateral cessation of hostilities.

Also, the African Union and the United Nations officials say the armed groups refuse to make the needed efforts for a lasting peace. The recent rebel attacks in North and East Darfur states despite the declared truce further angered them and already the African Union Peace and Security Council condemned it.

However, Gibril Ibrahim the leader of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Minni Minnawi leader of a Sudan Liberation Movement faction (SLM-MM) addressed a joint letter to the UN Security Council called to extend the UNAMID (current mandate for another year without change, and "by further enhancing its mandate to support peace and security for the people of Darfur".

The two rebel leaders pointed in their letter seen by Sudan Tribune to the human rights and humanitarian violations that ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had mentioned in its report to the Council earlier this month.

They further said the reduction of military clashes in the region does not means the end of the conflict "or that violent conflict will not escalate again". In addition they called to support the ongoing efforts "to fully addressing the root causes and consequences of the conflict is key to a durable peace in Darfur".

For his part, Sudanese Ambassador at the United Nations Omer Dahab Fadl Mohamed welcomed the unprecedented resolution and expressed Sudan readiness to cooperate fully to ensure a smooth, phased and complete UNAMID exit that would set an example for other missions.

He also called to reconsider the UN targeted sanctions and arms embargo imposed by the Security Council in line with the resolution 1591 (2005).

Concerning the IDPs, the Sudanese diplomat said his government has a plan " entailing three options: voluntary return to their places of origin; the integration of camps into nearby cities; and enabling internally displaced persons to choose where they wished to be relocated." He further called to support is implementation and provide the needed financial assistance.

Also, he urged the UN officials to be more accurate when it comes to counting the number of the IDPs in Darfur. He said the actual number was 1.8 million, compared to UNAMID's figure of 2.7 million. As for humanitarian access, he said 92 per cent of Darfur could be reached without authorization.

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June 14, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - The African Union Peace and Security Council of (AUPSC) on Monday extended for 12 months the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

Also, it decided to reduce by nearly a half the strength of the hybrid peacekeeping mission which should also see her mandate changed to peacebuilding operation.

The release of the AUPSC resolution on the UNAMID released on the same day, the UN Security Council discussed the strategic review of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur. The UN resolution on the hybrid force is expected to be endorsed on 18 June.

In its resolution seen by Sudan Tribune, the AUPSC praised Sudan's cooperation with the Joint Strategic Review Team and constructive approach to the review of UNAMID, welcoming the report of the joint working group on the Mission's exit strategy which acknowledged an improvement in the security and humanitarian situation in Darfur.

The Council as expected condemned “the recent incursion of armed groups into Darfur”, expressing concern over “alleged claims of use of neighbouring countries as launching grounds for such acts”.

It noted that the security situation in Darfur remains fragile in spite of the significant progress made, pointing to “a number of challenges that may impede the speedy restoration of sustainable peace, security, stability and reconciliation, as well as socio-economic recovery remain”.

“In spite of the improvement of the security situation in the past months, a total of 2.7 million people are displaced, of whom 2.1 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, and that 300,000 Sudanese refugees are located in neighbouring Chad,” reads the resolution.

The resolution also underscored the relevance of the new strategic orientation for UNAMID as proposed in the Special Report of the Joint Strategic Review Team.

“Namely a two-pronged approach combining peacebuilding in the areas outside the Jebel Marra area, where there has not been fighting for an extended period of time, and peacekeeping and emergency attention in the Greater Jebel Marra area, due to the insecurity prevailing in the areas, which is preventing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from voluntarily returning to their homes,” it added.

The Council endorsed the recommendations team on several issues including, the effective implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), protection of civilians, the inter-communal conflict and the establishment of Jebel Marra task force and reconfiguration of UNAMID in two phases of six months each.

“Resulting in the reduction of the strength of the military component by 44% and that of the police component by 30%, the closure of 11 team sites in the first phase and the withdrawal of the military component from another 7 team sites in the second phase, it being understood that the Mission shall retain adequate and mobile quick response capabilities to be able to respond to security challenges as they arise,” said the resolution.

The Council expressed its continued support for the AU High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) efforts “towards an all-inclusive political process linked to the national dialogue and a national constitutional reform process”.

It strongly condemned the “continued refusal by Sudan Liberation Army/Abdel Wahid (SLA/AW) to join the mediation process”, calling to impose targeted sanctions against its leadership if it persists in its current attitude.

The SLM-AW rejects to join the African Union process for peace in Darfur saying the government has first to re-establish security, protect civilians, disarm militias, stop land grabbing and return stolen lands to its owners. Following what the group can discuss the root causes of the conflict.

The UN Security Council (UNSC) is expected to renew the mandate for the UNAMID as it will expire on 30 June. The Council will discuss the matter on 14 June and will grant the mandate extension for an additional year on 27 June.

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

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

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June 14, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - Qatar on Wednesday said it has pulled out its 450 troops deployed at the disputed border line of Eritrea and Djibouti since seven years ago.

Qatar had mediated border dispute between Eritrea and Djibouti that ended a two-year long conflict under Doha peace deal signed in 2010 between the two eastern African nations.

After the peace pact was sealed, Qatar sent 450 troops to the disputed mountainous border area to oversee the implementation of the peace agreement.

"The state of Qatar has informed the government of Djibouti that it has withdrawn all of its troops deployed on the borderline," said Wednesday Qatar's ministry of foreign affairs.

The ministry said Qatar had been an "impartial diplomatic mediator" in resolving border disputes between Eritrea and Djibouti.

Qatar's decision to withdraw its troops and suspend its peacekeeping mission in Africa comes a day after Asmara's decision to cut its diplomatic ties with Doha in support of Saudi Arabia's and its allies.

Eritrea which has cordial relations with Saudi and Its allies on Monday officially announced its full support of collective actions taken against Qatar.

Also, Asmara recently developed close relations with Cairo which has troubled relations with Addis Ababa and Khartoum.

Qatar said it will continue to engage in resolving disputes and crises that might spark between "brotherly and friendly countries and will continue to be a major player in the international community".

The statement didn't mention the reasons for its decision to call off the peacekeeping mission on Eritrea-Djibouti border.

Qatar's faces a campaign by the Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates (UAE) encouraging countries in the region and across the world cut ties with the tiny state in order to isolate it.

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Doha accusing it of support to terrorist groups and becoming close to the regional arch-rival Iran.

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June 14, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - President Omer al-Bashir Wednesday has relieved the state presidential minister and director of the president's offices Taha Osman al-Hussein amid conflicting reports on the reasons behind the move.

Al-Hussein who is a security general had been appointed in June 2015 as state presidential minister and director of the president's offices at the presidential palace and the council of ministers.

On Wednesday evening, al-Bashir issued a presidential decree appointing Hatim Hassan Bakhit as state presidential minister and director of the president's offices. However, the decree didn't mention whether or not al-Hussein would retain his ministerial position.

Reliable sources told Sudan Tribune that al-Hussein, who gained a reputation as being the most influential person within the president's inner circle, was informed of his removal verbally before he was allowed to leave for Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah (lesser pilgrimage).

The reasons behind the sacking of al-Hussein are not yet known, but observers point that it might be linked to Sudan's stance on the ongoing Gulf crisis or was due to internal differences with the Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Salih.

It has been purported that the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) Tuesday verbally instructed the chief editors of Khartoum's newspapers not to publish any reports on the issue.

Also, unconfirmed reports say he is under arrest since Tuesday evening when he sought to travel to Saudi Arabia.

During the last couple of years, al-Hussein played a pivotal role within the presidency and appeared to be the person behind important decisions especially after al-Bashir named him as personal envoy to a number of countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Al-Hussein's last assignment was his participation in the Arab-American Islamic Summit in Riyadh last May where he represented al-Bashir, whose participation was vetoed by Washington.

His powers have significantly infringed on the role of the foreign ministry on several occasions.

In 2016 he conveyed al-Bashir's decision to cut ties with Iran to the deputy crown prince of Saudi Arabia Mohamad bin Salman without the knowledge of the foreign ministry officials who read the news on the Saudi News Agency.

Also, following an unannounced visit to Washington last December in which he met with a number of congressmen and former President Jimmy Carter, he claimed he was the person behind the U.S. decision to ease the 19-year sanctions on Sudan.

The all-female Facebook group Female In Nigeria became a place for women to share their deepest secrets.