Africa

June 14, 2017 (WAU) – Taban Deng Gai, South Sudan's First Vice President, claimed that the return of rebel leader Riek Machar to Juba to participate in the National Dialogue was a “recipe for disaster and would impose more catastrophe in the country.”

In a speech before an extraordinary meeting of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) leaders on Monday 12 June, Gai insisted that the presence of Machar in the country always lead to death and disaster, something the people of the country do no need.

“Machar who has been exiled to South Africa should remain there and will not consent to re-join the political process to end the conflict in the country without using his army,” Gai told the IGAD leader in the Ethiopian Capital, Addis Ababa, according to the text of his statement seen by Sudan Tribune.

During the discussions of the one-day meeting, the heads of state and government decided to urgently "revitalise the full implementation of the ARCSS;" pointing to the failure of the current government in Juba to implement the peace agreement and pave the way democratic reforms.

IGAD leaders praised the national dialogue process which would lay down the ground for national reconciliation but stressed that the ending the war and improve the humanitarian situation in the country should be prioritised for the time being.

The first deputy further tried in his speech to convince the IGAD leader that Riek Machar was filing with efforts to use military action to rule the country, stating that Machar did not need the National Dialogue.

“I who was with Riek Machar know him more than anyone and with his own mindset, he is not intending to take part in any process, he wants to become the President of South Sudan even through war,” said Gai who was the SPLM-IO chief negotiator.

He went on to respond to the calls by several political officials that Machar should be allowed to return to Juba as a normal citizen.

“This is the beginning of everything. If Riek is proposed to return to Juba, tomorrow people will move to a new topic of bringing him to his former post which he left last year. I am not predicting that he should take over of my post, the reality is, Riek is fill of destroying the country,” emphasised the First Vice President.

“By the end the of the transitional period, the full integration of the army will have been completed and it would be safe for South Sudan to accept the return of Riek Machar who can then come and contest peaceful democratic elections as a civil political leader,” he said.

Gai added that it would be unwise for Riek Machar to return to South Sudan now because of his behaviour, but he was more than welcome to send delegates on his behalf.

“The unity government has no objection in principle to Machar sending a delegation to deliver his views and message to the people of South Sudan in the National Dialogue Forum,” said the First Vice President.

SPLM-IO believe that the peace agreement implementation should be discussed to fix the modalities of the ceasefire and to open humanitarian access to the civilians but also they want their share in the transitional government tasked with the enforcement of the deal and to give their leader his position of the first vice president.

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June 14, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The trial of prominent human rights defender Mudawi Ibrahim Adam Wednesday has begun in Khartoum amid a large presence from activists and foreign diplomats.

Mudawi Ibrahim

Adam, a university 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).

Earlier this month, Sudan's state security prosecutor office charged Adam with six offences, some of which are punishable by death. The offences include publishing false reports, undermining the constitutional order, espionage, provoking the war against the state, stirring up sectarian hatred and running a terrorist organisation.

The judge of the Khartoum North Criminal Court Abdin Hamad Dahi on Wednesday has held a procedural session in the trial of Adam and others.

More than 30 lawyers have appeared on the defence team while the prosecution was presented by the head of the state security prosecution office Babiker Abdel-Latif and 6 other prosecutors.

The court has allowed the defence lawyer Sati al-Haj to visit Adam at the Kober prison and approved his request to transfer him to the hospital due to his health conditions.

Also, the judge has agreed with the defence and prosecution to hold a trial session every Thursday, ordering to deposit names of both teams with the court.

It is noteworthy that Hafez Idris, who has been detained since late November, is also standing trial on the same case as he faces accusations pertaining to his work as a legal assistant in monitoring human rights violations against displaced people in Darfur.

Mudawi Ibrahim

On 14 March, Ibrahim's private driver Adam al-Sheikh, and two human rights activists from the troubled Blue Nile State identified by their first names, Abdel-Mukhlis and Abdel-Hakam have been released on bail.

From December 2003 to January 2005, Mudawi had been arrested, during several months in connection with his work with the SUDO in Darfur.

CALLS TO RELEASE MUDAWI

Amnesty International on Wednesday has called for the immediate release of the Sudanese rights defender and his colleague Hafiz Idris.

“Human rights work is not a crime, so Dr Mudawi and Hafiz must be immediately and unconditionally released. Their arrest and continued incarceration is a miscarriage of justice, plain and simple,” said Muthoni Wanyeki, Amnesty International's Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.

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June 13, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudanese parliament Tuesday revoked an earlier appointment of nine lawmakers by President Salva Kiir to the East African Legislative Assembly, during an extraordinary session in Juba.

Issued in March, the presidential decree was challenged by a South Sudanese lawyer Wani Santino Jada who brought the case before the East African Court of Justice in Arusha, Tanzania, stressing that the parliament, not the president has to select the nine South Sudanese members.

The lawyer based his claim on that the article (50) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community and the article (4) of the East African Legislative Assembly Election Act. Both provides that the "National Assembly of each Partner State shall elect -not from among its members - nine members of the (East African Legislative) Assembly ".

The Arusha-based court is due to hear the case on June 15. But South Sudan MPs revoked the decision in a special session two days earlier.

In statements to the media on Tuesday, the chairperson of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA)'s legal committee, Dengtiel Ayuen Kur, announced the revocation of the presidential decree on the appointment of the nine legislators for the regional body.

"The Transitional National Legislative Assembly has revoked its resolution in March 2017 that nominated nine members of Parliament to the East African Legislative Assembly," Kur said.

Lawyers in Juba point to the failure of presidential legal advisers to review the decision before its issuance in March.

South Sudanese President enjoy overwhelming legal powers in the new East African country. He appoints MPs, fire elected officials including state governors and can suspend the assembly according to the 2011 Transitional Constitution.

South Sudan joined the East African Community last year.

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June 13, 2017 (JUBA) - A member of South Sudan's armed opposition faction loyal to First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai has resigned, amid calls for renewal of the country's peace process.

President Salva Kiir (R) embraces Taban Deng Gai after his swearing-in ceremony as FVP at the Presidential Palace in the capital of Juba, July 26, 2016 (Photo Reuters Jok Solumun)

Riek Yak Guandong, in a statement, said in exit has been triggered by the need to implement the 2015 peace deal to restore calm.

“South Sudan needs peace more than individual interests,” he said.

The official said his resignation came after he fell out with the Gai, who succeeded South Sudan rebel leader, Riek Machar last year.

“I prefer to remain dormant until a new leadership is appointed or emerges from the civil population or any. Until that time, I will take this opportunity to wish you success,” wrote Guandong in his letter.

According to the official, civilians remain victims of the ongoing war, something that forced him to quit from the SPLM-IO Juba faction.

“Moreover, peace must be resuscitated to safeguard the lives of innocent civilians who are affected by this war and boost their economic instability,” the official further wrote.

In his statement, Guandong decried what he described as a “null and void” peace process under Gai, ruling out any possible success.

Machar fled the South Sudan capital in July last year after his based was attacked by government forces. He currently lives in South Africa.

The conflict in South Sudan has so far claimed tens of thousands, while more than two million have been displaced from their homes.

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June 13, 2017 (JUBA) – Japan's envoy to South Sudan, Kiya Masahiko has called for inclusive, credible and successful national dialogue in the country, saying it was the only way to resolve existing political differences.

Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni speaks at the national dialogue launch in South Sudan, May 22, 2017 (PPU photo)

Masahiko, in a statement, also gave accounts of development projects, humanitarian activities and the support Japan has given and so far been implemented in the war-torn East African nation.

Japan, the official said, will continue to assist the young nation.

"The recently-launched national dialogue needs to be credible, inclusive and successful. I welcome strong commitment to the dialogue by the president as well as steering committee and secretariat members. I call on all South Sudanese to stop fighting and join the dialogue to achieve reconciliation, reform the security sector and improve the economy in the country in line with the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan,” said Masahiko.

“Japan is ready to support the efforts of the government and the steering committee to these ends", the envoy's letter added.

According to the Japanese official, the prompt deployment and operationalization of the Regional Protection Force (RPF) is critical.

He said the presence of regional protection force will enhance the sense of security and provides an environment for free discussion in the national dialogue.

“It will ensure close coordination and cooperation between UNMISS [United Nations Mission in South Sudan] and security organs in the capital,” further wrote the Japanese envoy to South Sudan.

"My hope is that the government will fully and proactively cooperate not only with RPF but also with the entire operation of UNMISS throughout the country,” he added.

The envoy said relations between the Asian nation and South Sudan were now moving on to a new stage, citing achievements of the Japan Engineering Unit of UNMISS. Japan, he said, would strive to make full use of its knowledge and resources to maximize the impact of its support, so that South Sudan can take the lead and fulfill its responsibility to achieve peace and prosperity in close partnership and cooperation with the international community.

“For this, I will continue to do my best", further explained Masahiko.

The national dialogue, which was officially launched by President Kiir last month, is both a forum and process through which the people of South Sudan shall gather to address the root causes of their conflict, redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, citizenship and belonging, as well as the restructure of the state institutions for national inclusion and stability.

Since mid-December 2013, tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in South Sudan's worst ever violence during its post-independence period.

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The African Union (AU) and the United Nations are proposing 44 per cent and 30 per cent reductions in their troop and police presence in Sudan&#39s Darfur region as a step towards an eventual exit, a senior UN peacekeeping official told the Security Council.

June 13, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - President Omer al-Bashir Tuesday has reiterated that his country steadily continues to activate diplomatic efforts to end the Gulf crisis as soon as possible.

Al-Bashir met Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi who is visiting Khartoum.

"The meeting stressed the need to activate solutions within the Arab House and to seek to defuse the Gulf crisis, which could weaken the Arab body and open the door to other crises if it continues," said Sudan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hamid Mumtaz who attended the encounter.

President al-Bashir told the visiting Qatari official he would support the Kuwaiti initiative and affirmed his confidence in Arab leaders in finding a political solution through dialogue to end the crisis, Mumtaz further said.

Sudan, which has strong relations with Qatar, has joined the Saudi-led military coalition against the Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen. Also, it cut diplomatic ties with Iran in solidarity with Riyadh after an attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran in January 2016.

However, President al-Bashir is not at ease with this crisis as he is under pressure from Sudanese Islamists to manifest at least a sympathy for Doha which deployed significant efforts to end Darfur crisis and provided financial support to Khartoum during the past years.

The Sudanese official said the Qatari minister welcomed any solution based on dialogue and diplomatic solution.

Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt severed ties with Qatar accusing it of supporting Islamist terrorist groups and arch-foe Iran. But Doha vehemently denied the charges.

When the Gulf diplomatic crisis erupted on 5 June, Khartoum was the first to declare its support to the Kuwaiti mediation to end the rift.

The Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah up to now failed to bring the parties to the negotiating table or to broker a deal deescalating the tensions. But his efforts are supported by Arab countries and the international community.

Kuwait's official news agency KUNA has reported on Tuesday that Qatar showed readiness to understand the concerns of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE.

"(Kuwait) affirms the readiness of the brothers in Qatar to understand the reality of the qualms and concerns of their brothers and to heed the noble endeavours to enhance security and stability," said Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah, according to KUNA.

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June 13, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - In a meeting with the head of Darfur hybrid peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) this week, two armed groups have condemned the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the western Sudan regional and called for an international response.

In a joint statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/R-MM) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said they met with the UNAMID head, Jeremiah Kingsley Mamabolo, in Paris on the 9th of June 2017.

The two groups who are part of the African Union-brokered peace process said they discussed with Mamabolo, the political situation in the country and the recent fighting that began on 19 May in North Darfur and East Darfur.

The meeting further discussed "the worsening of the humanitarian crisis and the need for an effective monitored and verifiable cessation of hostilities that paves the way for comprehensive political negotiations".

"The two movements urged the UNAMID and the international community to swiftly respond to the deteriorating humanitarian situation," it further said.

In a humanitarian report released on Monday, the SLM-MM deplored the international silence over what is described as " humanitarian violations," and underscored that UN reports d not reflect the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in Darfur.

Regarding the last month clashes in North and East Darfur states, the statement accused the Sudanese government of attacking the rebel positions and breaching the unilateral cessation of hostilities.

"The two movements reiterated commitment to their previously declared unilateral cessation of hostilities and expressed their commitment to peaceful resolution of the conflict in spite the fact that the Government of Sudan violated its own declared unilateral cessation of hostilities by initiating the ongoing military operations that led to the exacerbation of the humanitarian situation in the Region," said the statement.

The Sudanese government denies the accusations and says the assailant rebel fighters came from Libya and South Sudan, repeating that the region is free of rebels.

On June 1st, the Troika countries and the resident European Union Embassies in Khartoum called on the warring parties to return to the negotiating table to reach a cessation of hostilities. However, they pointed that the hostilities resumed in the region “after reinforcement from outside Darfur by the armed opposition elements”.

The SLM-MM and JEM, nonetheless, expressed their deep concern for the Government's violation of "International Human Rights Law relating to the treatment of POWs, the use of aerial bombardment against civilians, extrajudicial killings, and mass displacements".

In August 2016, the two holdout groups failed to reach a humanitarian cessation of hostilities with the government as they insisted on the need to clearly include that the political talks would not be based on the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

Since, the two armed movements held a series of meetings in Paris and Doha with the Qatari mediator, the head of UNAMID and former U.S. special envoy to define “how such a negotiation process for Darfur would operate and how it will relate to the ongoing AUHIP Roadmap Agreement process for resolving both the Darfur and Two Areas conflicts”.

Last month, the two groups handed over to Mamabolo, who is also the joint mediator for Darfur peace process, a position paper on how and what they want to negotiate to achieve peace in the west Sudan region of Darfur.

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June 13, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Blue Nile Liberation Council (BNLC) of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) has rejected decisions by Nuba Mountain Liberation Council (NMLC) to sack Movement's Chairman and Secretary General.

Last week, the NMLC decided to install SPLM-N Deputy Chairman Abdel-Aziz al-Hilu as temporary chairman of the Movement and relieved Malik Agar from the leadership of the armed group together with the Secretary General Yasser Arman.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Tuesday, the BNLC rejected the NMLC decision to sack Agar, Arman and the commander of the 2nd infantry front, Maj. Gen. Ahmad Al-Umda.

The statement, which was signed by Bashir Sifa Matar, said the NMLC has no constitutional right to remove Agar, Arman and Al-Umda from their positions, saying the decision to remove the Movement Chairman and Secretary General is reserved only to the National Liberation Council.

It also denounced the move by the SPLM-N spokesperson Arnu Ngutulu Lodi to support the NMLC decision, saying Lodi is no longer the spokesperson of the Movement but the NMLC.

Recently, Lodi has joined al-Hilu's group and issued a statement calling on the Movement base to support the new leadership.

In two executive decisions Monday, Agar relieved Lodi and the heads of SPLM-N chapters in United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, the Netherlands and Canada who issued similar statements in support of al-Hilu.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the Two Areas since 2011.

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June 13, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudanese government denied on Tuesday that the summit of the regional leaders has called for a review of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) to accommodate the views of the holdout groups.

An extraordinary session of the IGAD heads of states meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa (IGAD File photo)

"That is not true. All those reports are misleading. The IGAD communiqué is very clear. You read it again for yourself. From what I read and which is already in the public, it only called for a High-level Revitalization Forum of the parties," cabinet affairs minister Martin Elia Lomuro told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday

"The use of revitalization means not the agreement but the confidence building of the parties to recommit themselves, especially those who decided to not participate in the implementation of the agreement, which is the only means of ending the conflict and bring peace to the country," he further said.

The minister was reacting to reports saying that the IGAD leaders in their extraordinary meeting of Monday agreed on the need to prioritize the ARCSS implementation to the government-led national dialogue process.

Meanwhile, Petroleum Minister Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth told reporters upon arrival at Juba international airport that the regional leaders pledged to support the implementation of the peace agreement in South Sudan, not review of the agreement.

“Basically, the revitalization means support to the implementation of the agreement and that's basically what it is, so the IGAD as guarantors of the agreement they have to make sure that the implementation of the agreement is not delayed,” said Gatkuoth.

“There is nothing called review of the agreement or renegotiation of the agreement or nothing at all in the IGAD meeting. It was clearly stated that the only way for us to bring peace to South Sudan is to implement the agreement that was signed in 2015,” he added.

“It is a bible and nobody will be tempering with it and it has to be implemented as it is, and whoever is holding out not to be part of the process, IGAD will not entertain those people.”

The communiqué seen by Sudan Tribune calls for convening an "urgent High-level Revitalization Forum of the parties to the ARCSS including estranged groups to discuss concrete measures, to restore permanent ceasefire, to full implementation of the Peace Agreement and to develop a revised and realistic timeline and implementation schedule towards a democratic election at the end of the transition period".

It mandates the IGAD Council of Ministers to urgently convene and facilitate this forum in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and directs the Chairperson of JMEC and the Executive Secretary of IGAD to provide the necessary secretariat and logistical arrangements.

The SPLM-IO Riek Machar says First Vice President Taban does not represent them in the implementation process. That means they want their leader and other leading figures to participate in the government in line with the power-sharing deal to take part in the implementation process.

They also want to discuss the details of a ceasefire agreement ant to take part in the cease-fire commission etc... For them, all these measures should be implemented before the dialogue or the reconciliation process.

On the other hand, Juba rejects the participation of Riek Machar in the government or the national dialogue but accepts that his group join them in the political process and eventually in the government.

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June 13, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBoS) on Monday reported that inflation has increased to 35,52 % in May from 34,81 in April.

A Sudanese woman shops for Ramadan at a market in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on 8 July 2013 (Photo: AP/Abd Raouf)

According to the CBoS monthly bulletin, the consumer price index in May reached 758.46 points, up 20.48 points from April while the general food and beverage price index rose by 34.82 points in May.

The CBoS added that the food and beverage group contributed to the overall price rise by % 59.40, while the other 11 goods and service groups contributed % 40.59, saying the general price index in the rural areas has increased by 39,18 points.

Last month, Sudan's finance minister said inflation rate has jumped to 33,7% in the first quarter of 2017, compared to 12.3% for the same period last year, an increase of more than 260%.

He attributed the increase in inflation rate to the impact of the fiscal policy reforms implemented by the government at the end of last year.

In November 2016, Sudanese government lifted fuel subsidies and increased electricity price in a bid to control a surge in inflation and stop the fall of Sudanese pound in the black market.

According to the 2017 budget, the growth rate would decline from 6,4% in 2016 to 5,3% and the targeted average inflation rate is 17%.

Prices and services have soared in Sudan since South Sudan seceded in 2011, taking with it three-quarters of the country's oil output, the main source of foreign currency used to support the Sudanese pound.

The Sudanese pound has lost 100% of its value since South Sudan's secession, pushing inflation rates to record levels given that country imports most of its food.
Ordinary citizens continue to complain from cost of living increases that impaired their access to basic commodities.

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June 13, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudanese rival forces have issued statements in which they both claimed control of strategic border towns after clashes over its control in different places last weekend.

SPLA soldiers are seen at the airport in Bor January 19, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Andreea Campeaunu)

Spokesperson of the government forces denied on Tuesday reports claiming there were clashes in which the rebel factions have gained control of strategic towns along the northern border areas with the Sudan.

" I am aware of these reports. I know that our forces are in control of the positions in which they were before a declaration of the ceasefire by the president. They have never left and nobody has taken over these positions. They are still occupying them as I am speaking to you. All those reports in the media, especially in the social media are unfounded propaganda", said Colonel Santo Domic Chol on Tuesday

The military spokesman for the government was responding to statements by two rebel factions operating under different commands on Monday claiming to have gained control of key border towns in areas of their operations.

If such developments are confirmed, observers say it could result in large-scale military activities in a country hit by famine and economic hardships, despite repeated declaration of a unilateral ceasefire.

Brig. Gen William Gatjiath Deng, the Military Spokesman of the SPLA-IO faction allied to the former First Vice President Riek Machar, claimed in a statement on Monday that their forces have captured Kuek town, located in the border area in northern Upper Nile near the Sudanese border after fighting on Sunday.

Deng claimed that clashes erupted after the government troops attacked their positions near Kuek area, forcing them to respond in self-defense in which they seized military equipment from the government forces.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Deng Mareng, spokesman for an armed group under the command of Agany Ayii Akol whose forces coordinate military efforts with the faction of Peter Gadet, claimed their forces captured a military post under Warguet community in Aweil East state after clashing with the government forces. The group operate in an area near the Sudanese border.

Mareng claimed their forces also inflicted heavy losses on the government forces and seized military equipment during the fighting.

He further said one soldier was killed and two others were wounded from their side during clashes which erupted on Sunday and resumed on Monday.

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