Africa

In our series of letters from African journalists, Joseph Warungu looks at how Kenya's staple has been the source of intrigue.

Safety stickers on Kenya's notoriously hazardous buses have saved hundreds of lives.

To contain the latest outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) provided technical support to 145 volunteers of the Congolese Red Cross and community health workers to deliver lifesaving information to local populations in remote areas along the Central African Republic border.

Two United Nations agencies today pledged to join forces and “go the extra mile” by expanding operations in Libya and enhancing their support to migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and Libyans affected by the ongoing conflict.

We are investigating emergency services in Africa. How long did it take an ambulance to respond to your emergency situation?

United Nations agencies are seeking to rally support for the people fleeing escalating violence in the Central African Republic (CAR), while the Organization&#39s human rights office has called for the establishment of a strong justice system in the country.

More than 30 people travelling to Europe in the boat were saved by the Spanish coast guard.

May 28, 2017 (JUBA) - The Elders, a group of independent leaders, have condemned the political paralysis and failure of leadership at all levels in South Sudan in the face of worsening famine and humanitarian disaster.

People in conflict-affected areas of South Sudan collect food from WFP (WFP/eter Testuzza Photo)

The group, in a statement, also reiterated their view that all parties to the conflict, including the government of South Sudan and armed opposition groups, are directly contributing to the famine by leading military operations that destroy civilian homes and livelihoods.

South Sudan's situation, their statement stressed, is compounded by the brazen obstruction of humanitarian access to the conflicted-affected areas.

At the same time, they added, the international community has shown paralysis bordering on disinterest in regard to meaningful conflict resolution efforts and financial support to humanitarian aid.

“South Sudan is a young country, but its people have been consistently let down by their leaders who have been unable or unwilling to move away from conflict and personal enrichment at the expense of the nation,” said Kofi Annan, chair of The Elders.

He added, “Alleged war crimes and gross human rights violations committed by parties to the conflict, including the government and armed opposition groups, are prolonging the suffering of the people, and those who are responsible need to be held accountable.”

The Elders, in the statement, expressed particular outrage on the widespread use of sexual violence, including mass rape, as a tactic of war in South Sudan's crisis.
“All warring parties, including the state and other armed groups have a responsibility under international law to protect rather than violate the inviolable human rights of civilians,” adds the statement.

“The suffering in South Sudan should shame us all. It is an affront to civilised values, and the longer the international community allows the conflict and human rights abuses to persist, the weaker those values become. As Elders we stand in solidarity with the people of South Sudan and will continue to press for peace and justice,” said Mary Robinson, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Founded by former South African president, late Nelson Mandela, the Elders are independent leaders using their collective experience and influence for peace, justice and human rights worldwide.

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May 28, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Due to the improvement of humanitarian access in Darfur, International Organization for Migration (IOM) last April managed to register 52,700 IDPs mostly displaced from Jebel Marra in 2016.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)'s office in Khartoum reported on Sunday in its weekly bulletin that the recently registered IDPs from the 2016 caseload, include "24,613 IDPs were registered in Tawilla locality, North Darfur and 20,402 IDPs were registered in Nertiti locality, Central Darfur".

Furthermore, there are "7,554 new IDPs who fled their homes in East Darfur and arrived between 17 February and 8 March in El Lait locality, North Darfur were registered in April".

While the 2016 IDPs fled their areas due to the clashes with the holdout rebel groups, the new "IDPs had fled their villages in East Darfur State due to an inter-communal conflict between farmers and pastoralists and sought refuge in four locations in El Lait locality".

Following an agreement with the U.S. on the lift of the longstanding economic sanctions, Khartoum agreed to stop air attacks on civilian areas, declared a unilateral cessation of hostilities and opened humanitarian access to the IDPs areas in Darfur.

Some armed groups also committed themselves to a unilateral cessation of hostilities.

10,000 RETURNEES

Based on Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Fact Sheet prepared by IOM, OCHA reported the registration of 10,229 returnees in April.

"4,385 (people returned to) Otash village, South Darfur and 5,844 returnees were registered in nine localities in North Darfur State," said the UN humanitarian agency.

"The registered returnees said their return is permanent and that they do not plan to go back to their areas of displacement," said the report.

According to the UN agencies, over 195,500 refugees and IDP returned to their areas of origin in Darfur in 2014-2016.

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May 28, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on Sunday cancelled a planned trip to Cairo several days after accusations by President Omer al-Bashir that Egypt provided weapons to Darfur rebels used during a recent attack.

Sudan's FM Ibrahim Ghandour (L) meets with his Egyptian counterpart Samih Shoukri in Cairo on January 9, 2016 (Photo released by the Sudanese FM)

The Egyptian authorities dismissed the Sudanese accusations of support to Darfur armed groups. But Khartoum points to the armoured vehicles seized from the rebels, a matter that Cairo didn't explain.

Ghandour had to travel to Cairo on Wednesday 31 May for follow-up talks with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on contentious issues discussed last April in Khartoum between the two officials.

"We told our brothers in Egypt about the postponement of the visit due to internal issues and it would take place later," said the Sudanese top diplomat in statements to the press on Sunday.

"The purpose of the visit was to convene meetings of the joint Sudanese-Egyptian political consultations committee and its agenda has been agreed already," he added.

However, Ghandour avoided giving the details of the internal issues that triggered the cancellation of the visit.

The 31 May meeting between Ghandour and Shoukry was supposed to discuss the ban on Egyptian agricultural imports and visa requirements after the Sudanese government decision to re-establish visa for Egyptians.

Tensions between Khartoum and Cairo have escalated following the former's decision to restrict imports of Egyptian farming products which was reciprocated by Cairo's decision to raise residency fees for Sudanese living in Egypt.

The deterioration of bilateral relations between the two countries goes back to the attempt to assassinate President Hosni Mubarak in June 1995 followed by the deployment of Egyptian troops in the disputed area of Halayeb triangle.

Since then, Khartoum has been moving to improve its ties with the eastern and western neighbours, instead of its strategic ties with Egypt.

Khartoum further went to back the construction of a dam in Ethiopia, which Cairo says will hurt its water needs. Also, the Sudanese government recently signed investment agreements with Gulf countries. Accordingly, they will establish huge agricultural projects that require the full use of Sudan share of the Nile water, a move which is seen in Cairo as another threat to Egypt.

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May 28, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Secretary-general of the United Nations, António Guterres has praised Sudan's role in mitigating the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, said Sudan's foreign ministry.

In a press release extended to Sudan Tribune Sunday, foreign ministry spokesperson Gharib Allah Khidir said foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour received a message from Guterres in which he pledged to attract addition funds to enable Sudan to cope with the large influx of South Sudan's refugees.

He pointed that Guterres expressed appreciation for Sudan's government efforts to provide assistance for those affected by the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and mobilising support from relevant national actors.

The UN secretary general thanked Sudan for opening three humanitarian corridors to transport relief to South Sudan.

According to Khidir, Guterres stressed that he is “counting heavily on the Sudanese government to support regional and international efforts to pressure the conflicting parties in South Sudan to stop the fighting”.

Three United Nations agencies declared an outbreak of famine in the young nation in February, saying an additional 1 million people were are the brink of starvation.

On 30 June, the World Food Programme (WFP) began providing food assistance to South Sudan using a new corridor opened by Sudan.

According to the latest report released by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), Sudan's has received over 417,000 South Sudanese refugees since December 2013.

South Sudan became the world's newest nation after declaring independence from Sudan in 2011. However, in 2013 the country was plunged into civil war killing tens of thousands of people and displacing millions.

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May 28, 2017 (JUBA) - The Aweil community in South Sudan have called for reconciliation between President Salva Kiir and the former chief of staff for South Sudan army (SPLA), Paul Malong Awan.

S Sudan's President Salva Kiir is received by former Chief of General Staff of the SPLA Paul Malong Awan at the airport in Juba March 6, 2015 (Reuters)

The community, in a statement issued on Saturday, said Awan's removal from his position should not affect his decade-long relationship with the president simply over divergence in opinion.

“We believe that the near-crisis involving his sacking is a considered matter of your administration and should not be allowed to be exploited by war merchants, or ethno-regional players who, by any statistical measure, are rooting against the stability of the country”, partly reads the community's statement.

It further called for calm among communities, while urging elders and representatives in different Parliaments to stand behind the reconciliation effort so that this matter is quickly put to rest.

“Gen. Malong deserves a special pat on the back or a medal of honor for having gracefully and caringly handled the delicate situation following his unceremonious discharge. He has already, in our humble view, won the admiration of many South Sudanese for such a rare demonstration of statesmanship,” noted the statement.

“Our position as a community is that of peace and integrity of the country. We call upon you, Mr. President, to allow General Malong to exercise his freedoms, including freedom of movement to any place of his choice as a responsible citizen of this country,” it added.

President Kiir relieved the former army chief from his position, but the decree announced on the state-owned television cited no reasons.

Malong was replaced by Lt. General James Ajonga Mawut, who was the deputy chief of general staff for administration and finance.

The removal of the former army chief of general staff came as the army was repeatedly accused of gross human rights violations, rape, atrocities and war crimes on civilians in conflict-affected areas.

Malong, who also recruited a notorious militia from his home region, had been accused of failing to crack down on abuses by the SPLA.

The conflict in South Sudan had driven over a million children out of the country, the United Nations recently said, warning that the future of a generation is ‘on the brink.'

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May 28, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Guinean President and Chairperson of African Union (AU) Alpha Conde Sunday has arrived in Khartoum on a three-day visit to discuss the security situation in the continent.

The official news agency SUNA Sunday quoted Sudan's foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour as saying “Conde's visit to the country comes upon an official invitation from President Omer al-Bashir”.

“Important issues relating to the African continent will be discussed during the visit, especially the situation in South Sudan and Libya, and the role and position of Sudan on these issues,” he added.

According to Ghandour, the two sides will also hold talks on bilateral relations between the two countries, saying they will discuss economic, political and cultural issues of common concern.

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May 28, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan rebels allied to the country's former First Vice-President have dismissed as untrue claims that members of their forces have joined the Juba government in response to the national dialogue declared by President Salva Kiir.

David Otim (R), principal representative for the SPLM/A in Opposition in Uganda, and Oyet Nathaniel Pierino speak at a press conference in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, on 22 September 2014 (ST)

Officials in Imatong, one of South Sudan's newly created states said the armed opposition under the overall command of General Patrick Ohiti accepted in principle to join the national dialogue.

The move, officials say, came after months of intense negotiations.

But the rebel-appointed governor of Imatong state, Nathaniel Pierino denied the claim, referring to it as a “fabrication” from government.

“It's understandable that the newly appointed SPLM-IG [ruling party in government] governor of a decentralizes pseudo state of Imatong Hon. Tobiolo Alberto Oromo is seeking the attention of the president by appearing a good boy by spreading unfounded rumors and propaganda,” he told Sudan Tribune over phone on Sunday.

He said they would never join the “fake” and “one-sided” dialogue.

“This is utterly untrue statement and I would like to categorically state that SPLA-IO has been provoked and we are considering the best possible response to prove to the regime and South Sudan that we are not what they say and will never be part of the so-called dialogue,” said Pierino.

He said claims made by the pro-government officials were meant to penetrate their system by using the media as a propaganda tool.

“I am directing all the military organs of the SPLA-IO in Imatong state to convene an emergency security and command meetings to discuss this provocative and destabilizing propaganda of the regime and take appropriate action to punish the regime,” said Pierino.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir officially launched the long-awaited national dialogue initiative in the capital, Juba on Monday.

Initiated by the South Sudanese leader in December last year, the national dialogue initiative is both a forum and process through which the people South Sudan shall gather to redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, redefine citizenship and belonging, as well as restructure the state for national inclusion.

Since mid-December 2013, tens of thousands of people have been killed and over two million displaced from the East African nation.

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May 28, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - A new round of fighting has erupted on Sunday between government forces, and the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) and the SLM- Transitional Council (SLM-TC), amid conflicting reports about the losses on both sides.

The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militiamen clashed during four days from 19 to 22 with the SLM-MM and the SLM-TC in North and East Darfur States. The government army killed several leading rebel commanders and arrested the SLM-TC leader and other commanders.

Sudan said the SLM-MM and SLM-TC fighters came from Libya and South Sudan. Also, Khartoum accused Juba and Cairo of supporting and providing weapons to the two armed groups. The two neighbouring countries denied the accusations.

Spokesperson of the RSF, Adam Salih, told the official news agency SUNA Sunday that their forces defeated the rebels at Ain Siro area in Kutum locality, North Darfur State.

He pointed out that the rebel force was among those who fled the fighting in Wadi Hawar and entered the Sudanese-Chadian border, saying the RSF has been pursuing rebels fleeing last week's battles.

Salih stressed the RSF inflicted heavy losses in lives and equipment on the rebels, saying they were able to destroy and seize a large number of military vehicles.
He added that the fighting and the hunt down is still ongoing, saying the RSF is monitoring the border to pursue the fleeing rebels.

Meanwhile, in a joint statement extended to Sudan Tribune, SLM-MM and SLM-TC said government troops and RSF fighters attacked their positions at Ain Siro and the Northwest Kutum mountain range in North Darfur State.

The two rebel groups stressed the government attack have been repulsed and heavy losses in lives have been inflicted on the attackers, saying more than 13 four-wheel-drive Land Cruisers vehicles loaded with heavy weapons have been burned and destroyed.

According to the statement, large numbers of innocent villagers have fled the area.

The Sudanese army has been fighting a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003. UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in the conflict, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

BASHIR MEETS HAMETTI

The Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir Sunday evening has been briefed by the head of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, (aka Hametti) on the recent clashes with the rebel groups.

In press statements following the meeting, Hametti said he briefed the President of the Republic on the latest developments in the recent military clashes in Darfur and "the victories achieved by the army and RSF", adding they "chased the rebels to the borders of the country".

Hametti pointed out that the government forces were able to hit the rebellion in the state of North Darfur, stressing that "Sudan will not be hurt in Darfur after today".

On Saturday the leader of Sudan Liberation Movement, Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) accused the Sudanese government of attacking their positions in the region in an attempt to impose its solution through the barrel of the gun to the 14-year conflict.

"Peace will never be achieved as long as the homeland is held hostage by the regime of the National Congress. The regime wants the whole Sudanese people to give up and stamp on a treaty whose clauses are drafted according to the victor's terms imposed upon the vanquished," he further said.

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May 28, 2017 (NAIROBI) – The Court of Appeal in South Sudan has ruled as “unconstitutional” a controversial wiretapping system used by South Sudan National Security Service (NSS) to listen to phone calls.

Napoleon Adok Gai (Getty image)

The device, which has been a subject of investigations by the United Nations panel of experts, was acquired by South Sudan from Israel.

In delivering its verdict in the case of the 16 people accused of corruption in the president's office, the Appeal Court held that “The trial judge had erred in facts and law when he convicted accused N0.1 John Agou Wuoi, accused N0.2 Anyieth Chaat Paul and accused N0.8 Kur Ayuen Kou on illegally and improperly obtained evidence from wiretapping telephone which violated Article 22 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011”.

The court agreed with a precedence cited by Advocate Kiir Chol Deng and summarised by the learned judges on page 56 of the judgment, which stated: “Map Vs. Ohio (1962) where the Supreme Court of the United States of America held that: evidence obtained in violation of the constitution has to be excluded from State as well as Federal trials, that is to say the prosecution cannot use evidence gained by illegal means to convict the accusees, even if the evidence is not obtained in direct contravention of the letter of the Constitution, where such evidence is obtained in such manner as to be reprehensible according to the spirit of the constitution, such evidence shall not be admitted”.

Another precedence cited and summarised on page 73 of the judgement read; “I also agree with learned Advocate Kiir Chol Deng in citing the Kenyan precedent of the appeal of the case of The Republic Vs. Gachoka and another (1999) EKLR, the court of appeal of Kenya held that “at the end of the day, it is the duty of the courts to enforce the provisions of the constitution, otherwise there would be no reason for having those provisions in the first place”.

The Court of Appeal further to said this on the issue of illegal searches and arrest carried out by the General Intelligence Bureau on page 70 of the judgement, “the arrests and search may not have conformed to provisions of section 75,76 and 77 of the Code Criminal Procedures Act 2008”.

The accused were arrested under section 7 of the National Security Service Act 2014, but not convicted under the same section thereof.

The Court of Appeal, on page 65 of the judgment, said “the judge of the court of instance did not also clarify role of each accused in commissioning of the offence, that is the link to the whole thing and these needs to be made clear in the judgement from evidence provided to the court”.

The judge had never quoted the specific sections of the laws subject to violations or the charges, nor did he discuss ingredients of the alleged offences committed by the accused in relation to evidence adduced by the parties before the court but accused were generally convicted without specifying acts or role of each accused in commission of the crime and intention”, it further stated.

The court verdict went further on page 66 stating, “in other words the trial judge should discuss mens rea and actus reus (action and intention) of different offences alleged to have been committed by each individual in order to prove guilt or commission of the alleged offence beyond reasonable doubt”.

The court cited a precedence of the Sudanese case of Sudan government Vs Fatima Hussein reported in SLJR 1966 at page 75-80; it has been remarked in the Sudan by Imam J “it is clear that for any crime to be complete, generally speaking, requirement of the law concerning mens rea and actus reus (action and intention) must both be satisfied else no crime would have been committed and the accused would be entitled to an acquittal”.

The majority decision of the appeal court ruled on page 64 of the Court of Appeal Judgement; “it is clear that the trial judge had erred in law when he decided to sentences the 16 accused persons to imprisonment for 7 years each for violation of sections 14/15 of Anti-money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Act 2012 without conviction. It is also clear from records that the trial judge did not quote sections 14/15 of AMLACTF of 2012 and discuss them in light of the evidence adduced before the court by both parties, prosecution and defence to reach a just conclusion. It is a duty of the Court to discuss ingredients of every offence by posing questions and answering the same from evidence availed before it by the parties and the law, section in question, subject of violations.

In response to some grounds or contentions raised by the defence lawyers in their memorandum of the appeals presented to the court on behalf of appellants, the court had this to say to respond to No.4 on page 71 of the judgement “at this moment NO comment since it is my view somewhere in this judgement that the judgement of the court of the first instance be quashed and case papers be returned to the trial judge to discuss evidence adduced before it with law, that is to discuss ingredients of the offences with evidence available”.

Appearing in court on 4th May 2016 as prosecution witness N0.24, Napoleon Adok Gai, the spy- master behind the new advance communication gadget told the court the phone interception recordings he played in court as evidence against accused N0.8, Kur Ayuen Kou were done on his own personal accord. He was not authorised by his superior like the Director General of General Intelligence Bureau to monitor phone number either written or verbally.

This particular advance communication wiretapping device sold to the Government of South Sudan is now a subject of a legal battle in Israel. This is after an Israeli Member of Parliament filed a lawsuit, challenging the legality of Israel Defense Ministry decision to keep selling sophisticated wiretapping spy tools to South Sudanese government even after the bloody civil war broke out.

Tamar Zandberg, who currently represents Meretz party in the Israeli parliament, Knesset, filed a Legal case with High Court of Justice arguing that Jerusalem should stop selling listening devices to Juba because the tools are being used by the South Sudanese government to monitor its citizens unlawfully.

In her legal challenge, MP Tamar Zandberg added that she wants the High Court of Justice of Israel to legally barred the export license issued by Israeli's Defense Ministry, saying the license allows South Sudanese government to keep buying sophisticated listening devices from the Israeli government.

A recent report released by the U.N panel of experts accused the Israeli government of supplying South Sudan with high-tech communications interception equipment.

The report further said that Israel keeps exporting modern spy devices to South Sudan's government even after it agreed to a UN request to stop selling weapons to the violence-wracked nation.

In that report, the panel also alleged that the “advance spy tools” are being used by Juba to “eavesdrop on its opponents.”

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Under a huge baobab tree in Sudan’s Nuba mountains, I met Sebila, a 27-year-old mother of three. In March last year, her village had been attacked by Sudanese ground troops and bombed by government war planes. The assault forced Sebila and many other villagers to flee deeper into rebel-held territory.

She was just back in the village for the day with her children, two toddlers in tow and carrying a baby, to dig up sorghum she had buried. Sebila said food here is scarcer than it has been for years, because of poor rains and conflict fighting. “It’s exhausting, trying to feed them all [my family],” Sebila said of her children.

Aid obstruction in the rebel-held territories of Sudan’s South Kordofan and Blue Nile has been in force for nearly six years, and has had a devastating impact on the communities here. For Sebila – and all the women living across these territories – it has meant no access to contraception. “Every year, I give birth,” she told me. “It would be better if I could space it [out].” But Sebila cannot space her babies out, or have any control of her body. Like all women living in rebel-held territory here, she has zero access to contraception.

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 In the Nuba Mountains, South Kordofan, access to family planning and maternal healthcare is severely limited by blocks on humanitarian supplies.

© Goran Tomasevic/Reuters

It has also meant a severe lack of maternal healthcare. There is no local midwife, and Sebila lives five hours’ drive from a hospital, in a region where cars are a rare luxury. Women told me of waiting hours for transport while in obstructed labour, or being held propped up, bleeding and falling in and out of consciousness, between two men on the back of a motorcycle to reach a hospital. Multiple and closely-spaced births can carry serious health risks for both mother and infant, and can be life-threatening without proper treatment.

Yet there is no coordinated international aid effort under way in the Nuba mountains. Funds are in place, but both the government and the rebel group are preventing supplies getting in. The conflict has left already-stretched health services in the region in a pitiful state. Most facilities are little more than a table with some basic medicines, and there are only five doctors and one blood bank for perhaps close to a million people.

Despite many rounds of peace talks since fighting began in 2011, the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North have failed to agree on how to allow aid – needs-based and impartially delivered – into the affected areas. Instead they are still arguing about whether aid can come through a third country, or, as the government insists, only from inside Sudan. Some aid groups have found ways to provide occasional help, unauthorised by the government but supported by the rebels, but this is no substitute for the large-scale effort needed. 

This has very serious consequences for reproductive health. None of the women I met in the Nuba mountains had any access to family planning. One clinic provides a three-month injectable contraception, but local rebel regulations require women to get their husband’s permission first. Despite evidence that gonorrhoea and syphilis are on the rise and hepatitis B common, condoms are scarce. Most of the women I met had never seen a condom, let alone any other form of contraception.

It is also feared that the number of women and girls dying in childbirth in the rebel-held areas of Southern Kordofan – already much higher than other states in Sudan – is rising yet further. And two major aid efforts, including a UN polio vaccination campaign for children, have failed.

Sudan has a long history of aid obstruction going back to the start of the conflict: denying travel permits; rejecting visas; blocking work permits; and expelling aid workers. Meanwhile, citing mistrust of the government, the rebels have still not agreed to an offer by the US to provide aid via Khartoum, and have instead called for yet more negotiations. 

Although aid saves lives, and warring parties in conflict have an obligation to allow the delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians, preventing it from reaching people is rarely punished. The UN security council briefly threatened punitive action against Sudan in 2012, but never acted. The health crisis unfolding in the Nuba mountains should prompt a change of tack. The UN security council, the African Union and the EU should investigate and consider travel bans and asset freezes on rebel and government leaders found to have deliberately blocked such deliveries. 

International aid is often a lifeline to civilians trapped in conflict. And it would help women like Sebila to access contraception, avoid risky childbirth, and feed their children.

May 27, 2017 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese right body has urged the country warring factions to “fully” commit to the unilateral ceasefire declared by the president during last week's national dialogue launch.

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

In a statement issued on Saturday, South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy(SSHURSA) said it considers the dialogue as one of the best ways a country can choose to deal with its myriad issues.

The said national dialogue, part of the reconciliation and healing processes under Article 2 (2.1.3 ) of Chapter I of the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan(ARCISS), signed by the parties in August 2015 is supposed to be implemented along other functions of a joint government under the same accord.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir declared a unilateral ceasefire with the country's rebels as he launched a national dialogue on Monday.

"I am once again declaring a unilateral ceasefire effective from today so that we create an environment for an inclusive dialogue and so that we can transport humanitarian aid to famine-struck areas," he said.

A 94-member steering committee for national dialogue was sworn in to start the work of bringing harmony and peace to the people of South Sudan. The committee co-chaired by Abel Alier and Angelo Beda Bangboru comprises of distinguished members of the country including religious leaders and professionals as well as politicians.

The national dialogue is both a forum and process through which the people South Sudan shall gather to redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, redefine citizenship and belonging, as well as restructure the state for national inclusion.

SSHURSA, however, said President Kiir is one of the key parties to the ongoing conflict and he cannot thus be the lead patron, overseeing a national dialogue intended to resolve causes of the same conflict.

The human rights body, in its statement, also questioned the timing of the national dialogue initiative, saying it was not right given that South Sudan is now bleeding, with civil war raging all over the nation.

“The warring parties are still in active combat, famine is looming, violence remains the greatest threat to the civil populations and punctuated by constant human rights abuses. National dialogue as of now, cannot, therefore, be the wise choice to assume that it will by itself, miraculously put off the ongoing war in the country,” it said.

Also of concern, it further observed, is the membership to the launched national dialogue, adding that it has “exclusively” been dominated by President Kiir's friends, allies and members of the country's ruling Sudan's People Liberation Movement(SPLM) party.

“Practically speaking, a national dialogue with genuine intent to restore stability in a war-torn South Sudan, should have been designed in a manner that involves key armed opposition actors under main armed Opposition Leader Dr Riek Machar,” it stated.

The rights body, however, called for inclusion of opposition political parties, key civil society groups, grassroots community leaders and religious groups from South Sudan in the national dialogue process.

“A well-intended national dialogue should be participatorily inclusive yet the current national dialogue lacks such ingredients of inclusivity. In frank terms, the government is conducting a national dialogue with itself and its allies,” the statement further reads.

Meanwhile, the South Sudanese human rights entity appealed to regional and international bodies like the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), African Union, United Nations and the Troika to appreciate the dire climax which violence in South Sudan has reached and overcome the indifference, then commit to a united voice and language to approach South Sudan's conflict.

Of priority, it said, is for the international community to push for the speedy deployment of a Regional Protection Forces (RPF) in the war-torn East African nation.

“United efforts and voice of the regional and international actors genuinely feeling sufferings of South Sudanese civilians, will ensure full and urgent deployment of this force to protect civilians,” it stressed.

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May 27, 2017 (IMATONG) – South Sudan's armed opposition factions under the overall command of General Patrick Ohiti in Imatong state have reportedly accepted in principle to join the national dialogue.

The map of Eastern Equatoria state in red

The move, officials say, came after months of intense negotiations.

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir officially launched the long-awaited national dialogue initiative in the capital, Juba on Monday.

Initiated by the South Sudanese leader in December last year, the national dialogue initiative is both a forum and process through which the people South Sudan shall gather to redefine the basis of their unity as it relates to nationhood, redefine citizenship and belonging, as well as restructure the state for national inclusion.

Since mid-December 2013, tens of thousands of people have been killed and over two million displaced from the East African nation.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, Lawrence Eneriko, one of those involved in the negotiation process congratulated Ohiti for heeding to calls for peace and accepting to join the national dialogue.

“His [Ohiti] joining of the national dialogue is indeed very great news for the peace loving citizens of the Imatong state and this brings the whole state one step closer to attaining total peace and tranquillity in the whole state,” partly read the statement issued on Friday.

The negotiation team reportedly comprised of Steve Paterno, Edward Ofiyuk, Hakim Paride Mamur, Fr. Kamilo Afore, Hon. Col. Tulio Odongi Ayahu, Ikanga Itorong, John Andruga, among others.

Meanwhile, efforts are reportedly underway to address the rebel group's grievances through mechanisms already outlined in the national dialogue launched on Monday.

A 94-member steering committee for the national dialogue was sworn in on Monday to start the work of bringing harmony and peace to the people of South Sudan. The committee, co-chaired by Abel Alier and Angelo Beda comprises of distinguished members of the country including religious leaders, professionals and politicians.

(ST)

May 26, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudan's armed opposition appointed commissioner of Payinjiar County said they repulsed an attack by armed youths from neighbouring Rumbek East on Friday morning.

Rebel fighters aligned with former vice-president Riek Machar gather in a village in South Sudan's Upper Nile state on 8 February 2014 (Photo: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

In a phone interview with Sudan Tribune, Brig. Gen John Tap Puot said the attackers, who emerged from two directions, attacked Pachienjok and Pachak villages located south-east of Ganyliel town.

The attack, he said, is the second in the area following the 19 May incident in which armed youth from Yirol clashes with rebels in the southern part of Ganyliel.

“We have repulsed numerous attacks this month alone with the youths from neighbouring Lakes state, who tried to penetrate into our territory,” he said.

The rebels' deputy spokesman, Col. Lam Paul separately confirmed the fighting in Payinjiar County on Friday and Thursday morning.

He says several attacks were carried out by pro-government forces in multiple frontlines of Equatoria, Jonglei as well as Unity states.

“At about 0700hrs, government militias once again launched an aggressive attack on SPLA-IO [Sudan People's Liberation Army-In-Opposition] base in Poki near Kaya border in violation of their declared ceasefire,” Lam told Sudan Tribune.

The official, however, claimed the armed opposition forces repulsed the attackers and pursued them until their current base within Kaya.

According to Lam, at least 19 militias allied to the Juba government, including a base commander only identified as Lt. Marial, his deputy died, with several others injured in both Poki and Payinjiar attack.

Sudan Tribune could not, however, independently verify the rebel official's claims.

“The SPLA-IO condemns these provocative acts of the government militias which are directed towards tarnishing the image of our forces regionally and internationally. We will always continue to defend ourselves. The struggle continues,” stressed Lam.

Renewed violence in South Sudan has turned the country into the world's fastest growing refugee crisis with more than 1.8 million refugees, having sought safety in Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic, according to recent figures released by the United Nations.

Last week, the U.N refugees and food relief agencies urged donors to step up support for people fleeing crisis-hit South Sudan as the $1.4 billion response plan reportedly remains 86 percent unfunded.

(ST)