Africa

March 11, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir has directed to provide 10,000 tonnes of sorghum to assist those affected by the famine in South Sudan. He further expressed his government readiness to meet humanitarian needs of large influx of refugees from the neighbouring country, said the Humanitarian Aid Commissioner

On 20 February 2017, South Sudanese government and UN agencies declared Some 100,000 people were facing starvation in the two counties of Leer and Mayiandit, while people in Koch and Panyijar nearby were considered at high risk of famine.

Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed Adam told Sudan Tribune Saturday that they discussed with the Vice-President ways to assist victims of war and famine in South Sudan, pointing to the historic ties between the two peoples.

He said the new support would be added to a previous presidential directive to send 27,000 sacks of sorghum, pointing the relief would be transferred through the border crossing in the White Nile State.

Adam stressed that Sudan attaches great importance to the situation in South Sudan and is keen to provide all necessary assistance to its citizens, pointing to the formation of a national committee to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation there.

He pointed to the large influx of South Sudan refugees, expecting a significant increase in their numbers during the coming days.

“The number of those affected by the food shortage is estimated at 4,6 million people and some of them have reached the famine stage and others are experiencing the pre-famine stage,” he said

“More than 70,000 refugees have entered Sudan during February and the first week of March and we expect more influx” he added

The Sudanese official said the government is currently making arrangements to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of Southerners, pointing they intend to set up new refugee camps and provide the greatest amount of aid to the affected.

According to the UN, the number of South Sudanese refugees in Sudan has surpassed the 300,000 mark and as of 13 February and stands at 305,000 people.

Before the December 2013 crisis, 350,000 South Sudanese have remained in Sudan and didn't return to their areas after the independence of South Sudan.

Also in December 2014, the Sudanese government agreed with the UN to deliver residence permits to South Sudanese refugees enabling them to circulate and to work in the country.

IMPACT ON TWO AREAS

Meanwhile, Adam didn't rule out that South Kordofan and Blue Nile states could be adversely impacted by the situation in South Sudan, calling on the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) to accept the U.S. proposal to deliver assistance to the needy population in the Two Areas.

Adam further underscored Khartoum's support to the U.S. proposal, pointing to the government categorical refusal to deliver the assistance to the Two Areas from abroad.

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

The African Union has been seeking to end the conflict for several years. However, last August, the two sides failed to sign a humanitarian cessation of hostilities agreement because Khartoum refuses to allow the delivery of food to civilians in some rebel-controlled areas in the Blue Nile State directly through Asosa, an Ethiopian Town near the border with Sudan.

In a bid to break the deadlock in the peace talks, the former U.S. Special Envoy Donald Booth last November proposed that the USAID will deliver medical humanitarian aid to civilians in the rebel-held areas by air directly after its inspection from the government.

The SPLM-N declined the proposal insisting on the need to transport 20% of the humanitarian aid directly from Asosa to the rebel areas.

(ST)

The world is facing its largest humanitarian crisis since 1945, the United Nations says.

March 10, 2017(JUBA) - Over 338,000 people in the South Sudan famine-hit areas have received humanitarian assistance, said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on Friday.

On 20 February 2017, South Sudanese government and UN agencies declared Some 100,000 people were facing starvation in the two counties of Leer and Mayiandit, while people in Koch and Panyijar nearby were considered at high risk of famine.

"More than 338,000 people in Leer, Mayendit, Koch and Panyijiar have received humanitarian assistance since localised famine was declared in Leer and Mayendit," said Farhan Haq UN deputy spokesperson on Friday.

Ina separate report, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke, said over million people are on the brink of famine but the humanitarian operations are obstructed by the lack of security and threatened by a funding shortage.

"In the middle of the response since 20 February, 28 humanitarians had been advised to leave Mayiandit town by local authorities, following skirmishes north of the town," Laerke said.

But when they persuaded the authorities to allow aid workers to resume the humanitarian operation, the fighting on the outskirts of the town on 1 March forced the 28 humanitarian workers to stay away.

Regarding the shortage of funding, the spokesperson indicated that the overall requirements for South Sudan for 2017 were at USD 1.6 billion while the UN had received 9.3 percent of that amount.

"More funding was urgently needed, not least to respond in those areas where famine was already a reality," he stressed.

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March 10, 2017 (JUBA) - The rebel SPLM-IO has captured two Indian oil worker, at Guelguok north, of Adar in the Northern Upper Niles, announced a statement released by its spokesperson Col. William Gatjiath Deng on Friday.

South Sudanese soldiers guard an oil refining facility (AFP)

"Two Indians engineers namely Mr. Ambross Edward and Mr. Muggy Vijaya Boopathy working for the Juba regime were captured alive yesterday Thursday, March 09, 2017," said Deng in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday evening.

He added that the foreign oil workers were seized "during the fighting between the gallant SPLA-IO forces" near the new oil site at Guelguk north but he didn't elaborate on the details.

Last week the rebels warned foreigners and national oil workers to stop risking their lives in oil production areas. The group publically and repeatedly said they want to stop oil production until a peaceful solution is reached.

Adar field, which is located near the Sudanese border in the Melut Basin, is one of the main oil production areas and a source of revenue for the South Sudanese government.

The rebel official claimed their forces under the command of Cdr Major General Khor Chuol Giet and Cdr Brigadier General Gatbel Kuach killed 33 government soldiers.

Also, he accused the Sudanese rebel groups of taking part in the fighting.

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March 10, 2017 (JUBA)- The Sudan people's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by the First Vice President Taban Deng Gai Friday has established a political bureau composed of 28 members.

According to a statement he released, Gai declared himself as the chairman of the politburo and appointed General Alfred Lado Gore as the deputy while Dhieu Mathok Diing takes the position of the secretary-general.

Are member of the SPLM-IO highest political body, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, Ayii Ayii Akol, Agel Riing Machar, Richard K. Mulla,Hussein Mar Nyout, Sofia Pal Gai, Ramadan Hassan Laku, Mary James Kong Kong, Lumumba De-Apiny Kau, Gabriel Yoal Dok, Michael Mario Dhuor,Michael Chiangjiek Geay, Gabriel Thowkuc Kuc, Yien Oral Lam, Timothy Tut Chol, Bor Gatwech Kuany, Abdel Daim Deng Machar, John Clement Kuc, Riaw Gatlier Gai, Theji Da Duot Deng, Majed Babiker Tonga, Catherine Peter Laa, Otim David Okot, Ramzi Matueny Muorwel and Victoria Ada Garille.

The statement said the appointment of the members of the political bureau was reached after consultative meetings among members and the top leadership of the group.

Taban's faction split from the SPLM-IO of the former First Vice-President following the violence that erupted in the Juba in July 2016.

Regional leaders backed by the and international community decided to support the breakaway SPLM-IO group, hoping they would establish a smooth cooperation with President Kiir and achieve a successful implementation of the peace agreement.

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March 10, 2017 (WAU) – The Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement
Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM), concluded that one of its members representing the SPLM-IO led by Taban Deng Gai was killed in Wau by alleged members of a rebel group.

Rebel fighters walk in front of a bushfire in a rebel-controlled territory in Upper Nile State, South Sudan February 13, 2014. (Photo Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

The mechanism which is tasked with monitoring and verification of the implementation of a permanent ceasefire between parties and armed groups, Thursday said it had completed investigations into the death of one of its members Lt. Col. al-Fadil Meil Issa

The CSTAMM Chairman, Major General Molla Hailemariam, said that the investigation results indicate that the late Fadil was killed by rebels operating in Wau loyal to the former First Vice President Riek Machar.

Fidal was appointed by the FVP Taban Deng Gai who broke away from Machar following the bloody clashes in Juba last July.

“We call on the relevant authorities to ensure the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice as our staff should not have to feel under threat in carrying out their duties and, as such, a precedent must be set to ensure such politically motivated killings do not go unpunished,” read the statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

The CTSAMM comprises representatives from the warring parties who are considered as board members. Also, the panel includes the Former Detainees, the Women's Block, Civil Society Organisations and the youth.

The Eminent Personalities, the African Union, China, the European Union, Troika, UNMISS, the IGAD and the IGAD Partners Forum have also their delegates who meet on a regular basis to discuss the CTSAMM reports before the reports are submitted to the JMEC.

On January 26, the Mayor of Wau, Mel Aleu Goc reported that four suspects working within the UN camp were apprehended in connection with the incident involving the Lt. Col.

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March 10, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) Friday has cautiously welcomed the government decision to pardon convicts from Darfur armed movements calling for the release of all detainees including its prisoners.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the SPLM-N in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, also known as the Two Areas since 2011and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

Last week, SPLM-N released 125 Prisoners of War (POWs) and detainees from the Sudanese army.

President Omer al-Bashir Wednesday issued a decree dropping death sentences against 66 convicts from Darfur rebel movements and pardoning 193 others. On Thursday, Kober prison authorities in Khartoum-North released 259 POWs in implementation of the presidential pardon.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Friday, SPLM-N peace file spokesperson Mubarak Ardol said prisoners from his movement were not included in the presidential pardon and “on top of them Brigadier Omer Fadl Tour Shain and those who have been tried in Ed-Damazin and Singa cases”.

“They [SPLM-N members] have not been detained in the battlefield and this is a clear violation of the international humanitarian law [also] the politically motivated death sentences against SPLM-N leaders were not cancelled,” he pointed out.

In March 2014, SPLM-N Chairman Malik Agar and Secretary-General Yasser Aman were handed the capital punishment along with 17 others in connection with the outbreak of the conflict with Khartoum in the Blue Nile state in September 2011. The same court sentenced 47 others to life in prison which was also upheld by the appeals court.

In October, President al-Bashir issued a decree dropping charges against 24 of them.
Ardol demanded to hold an investigation “in the killing of the POWs” and on top of them “Brigadier Ahmed Bahar Hagana who has been slaughtered inside the United Nations headquarters in Kadougli before the eyes of the UN soldiers”.

He called for the release of all prisoners from other armed movements including “Ibrahim Almaz, Mustafa Tamboor, al-Tom Hamid Tuto and others”.

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE DELIVERY

Meanwhile, Ardol called on the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to deliver the humanitarian aid to the needy in the SPLM-N controlled areas through the same crossing points used for the POWs released by the Movement last week.

“The regime has no excuse to accept the use of the external crossing points to resolve one humanitarian issue while rejecting to use them for another,” he said
He urged the African Union (AU), IGAD countries, international community and the UN Security Council to support the PSLM-N position to deliver the humanitarian aid, stop the war, allow freedoms and release of all prisoners and convicts.

The AU has been seeking to end the conflict in the Two Areas for several years. However, last August, the two sides failed to sign a humanitarian cessation of hostilities agreement because Khartoum refuses to allow the delivery of food to civilians in some rebel-controlled areas in the Blue Nile State directly through Asosa, an Ethiopian Town near the border with Sudan.

In order to break the impasse on an agreement and facilitate humanitarian assistance, the United States last November has offered to deliver humanitarian medical assistance to the people in SPLM-N controlled areas.

However, the SPLM-N declined the American proposal and stuck to its demand for a humanitarian corridor through Asosa, to directly deliver 20% of the humanitarian aid to the civilians in the conflict-affected areas.

(ST)

March 10, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir has pardoned two of the country's political figures.

President Salva Kiir addresses the nation from the State House on September 15, 2015, in Juba (Photo AFP/Charles Atiki Lomodong)

The president made this announcement during Friday's national day of prayer, which was held at Dr. John Garang Mausoleum in the capital, Juba.

Former Wau State Governor, General Elias Waya Nyipuoc and his Deputy General Andrea Dominic were publicly pardoned by the South Sudanese leader who made a speech and announced that all political detainees in the country were to be released.

“I did not come to speak politics. I have come to pardon General Elias Waya and General Andrea Dominic. If there are any other political detainees, I will release them all tomorrow and the day after tomorrow,” said President Kiir.

Waya and his Dominic were arrested and detained in Juba at the military barracks in Bilpham and were relieved of their positions last year after clashes in Wau.

The Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani said that the spirit President Kiir demonstrated during his speech was a clear message that violence is not the solution in resolving an on-going political crisis.

The president's positive response to the call to release political detainees shows the non-violent approach in settling a violent conflict and has left many impressed.

Yakani stressed that pardoning political detainees was a great call for peace and a non-violent approach towards resolving political differences. CEPO is urging all armed forces to join the call for a non-violent motion, stating that such decisions are needed to win the publics' trust and confidence which will create a stable environment.

CEPO, in the statement, also appealed to the South Sudanese leader to pardon the Radio Miraya journalist George Livio, among others. It urged the president to be a champion of peace and hope that other political leaders in the country follow suit.

(ST)

March 10, 2017 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese bishop, who presided over Friday's national day of prayer urged President Salva Kiir to “go pray alone in a room for peace in the country”.

The Archbishop of Juba Diocese Lokudu Loro

Catholic Archbishop, Paulino Lokudu Loro said the government must choose between peace, unity, reconciliation and justice over rape, killings and arbitrary arrests.

“Mr President, go into the room [after this gathering] to pray for peace in your country,'' he said.

The cleric warned further warned the president, stressing that torture, corruption, raping, arbitrary arrests and tribalism would continue if the latter misused his prayer.

“If this prayer is correct, many things should happen in this country; peace, justice, love genuine dialogue and unity should happen after this prayer. Good governance, security, good economy, provision of service, we can expect then to happen after this prayer, if the prayer is correct,” said the Bishop in a mixture of English and Arabic.

The South Sudanese leader called for the national day of prayer last week and delivered his own prayer before the crowd on Friday, asking for divine forgiveness.

“I pray not for condemnation but for forgiveness. I had over my heart and body for your blessing, Guide me Lord for who you want me to be. Give me wisdom not for my merit but for your loving kindness,'' said the president in a prepared prayer that read to thousands of his supporters at John Garang Mausoleum in the capital, Juba.

President Kiir, who had never prayed in public since assuming chairmanship of South Sudan's ruling party (SPLM), called for “the most merciful God” to redirect his deeds.

“Through my shortcomings, I have sinned against You in words and deeds for what I have done,” said the president, without mentioning any specific mistakes he committed as a leader.

The country's First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai and Vice President, James Wani Igga knelt as the South Sudanese leader delivered his five minute prayer on Friday.

Several Christian and Muslim sermons were delivered during the six hour prayer.

“I prayer should not go in vain. Ï hope you [President Kiir] called us in this heat [sun] because you want peace. After this prayer, is the government going to choose evil?” said Bishop Lokudu.

Pentecostal Church Bishop, Isaiah Majok Dau called for “humanity in our hearts” during the prayer.

“If you are repenting today and you use to kill people, don't kill anymore, regardless of who you are. If you are repenting today and you use to talk badly about other tribes, cease and talk about South Sudan,” added Bishop Dau.

Several prominent Christian leaders, namely retired Catholic Bishop Diocese of Torit, Paride Taban, retired Anglican Bishop of Bor Diocese, Nathaniel Garang Anyieth, Archbishop of Anglican Church of South Sudan and Sudan, Daniel Deng Bul were present.

South Sudan's Council of Churches chose repentance and forgiveness as the theme for the event, also held in the capitals.

(ST)

Just back from Kenya, Yemen, South Sudan and Somalia – countries that are facing or are at risk of famine – the top United Nations humanitarian official today urged the international community for comprehensive action to save people from simply “starving to death.”

Human Rights Watch Statement to US House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Bass, members of the Subcommittee: thank you for holding this important hearing on the current situation in Ethiopia and for inviting me to testify. I am pleased to be a part of it.

Ethiopia is a country of dual realities. Visitors and diplomats alike are impressed with the double-digit economic growth, the progress on development indicators, and the apparent political stability. But in many ways, this is a smokescreen: many Ethiopians live in fear. The current government – the only one since 1991 – runs the country with an almost complete grip on power, controlling almost all aspects of political, public, and even much private life. Pervasive telephone and online surveillance and an intricate network of informants allow the government to quickly curb any threats to its control; it silences critical voices through the use of arbitrary arrests and politically motivated prosecutions. These actions also prevent critical and divergent views as many who may be impacted by these harsh policies fear repercussions.

Ethiopia remains among Africa’s leading jailors of journalists. If you are or you seek to be an independent Ethiopian journalist you must choose between self-censorship, harassment, and possible arrest, or living in exile. The government blocks websites critical of the authorities and sometimes blocks the internet completely. Independent radio and television stations are regularly jammed. In short, the state tightly controls the media landscape, making it extremely challenging for Ethiopians to access information that is independent of government perspectives. As a result, Voice of America, which broadcasts in three Ethiopian languages, has become an increasingly important source of information for many Ethiopians but the government has, at times, obstructed its broadcasts as well.

Independent civil society groups face overwhelming obstructions. The 2009 Charities and Societies Proclamation has made obtaining foreign funding nearly impossible for groups working on human rights, good governance, and advocacy. Leading members of the human rights movement have been forced to flee abroad and many organizations have stopped working on human rights and good governance to avoid problems.

There have also been serious restrictions on opposition political parties. This led to the ruling coalition in the May 2015 election winning 100 percent of the seats in the federal and regional parliaments. This is despite evident anti-government sentiments in much of the country, as the protests would later illustrate. Arbitrary dentition of members and supporters, politically motivated criminal charges, and restrictions on financing ensures that opposition parties are constrained and largely ineffective.

The state systematically ensures that many of the country’s 100 million citizens are dependent on the government for their livelihoods, food security and economic future. It controls the benefits of development including access to seeds, fertilizers, jobs, health care, and humanitarian assistance, even when funded by the US or other donors. While US-funded development assistance contributes to much-needed poverty reduction efforts, it also adds to the repressive capacity of the government by bolstering Ethiopians’ reliance on the government for their livelihoods and ultimately for their survival.

There is no evidence that the ruling party rigs elections – they don’t need to. The population’s dependence on the ruling party and the limits on opposition parties leaves many citizens, particularly in rural areas, little choice but to support the ruling party come election time. As one farmer in the Amhara region told me in July 2014, “we do not like this government, but we always vote for them. We have to because we get our seeds and fertilizer from them. During times of drought, we get food aid from them. If we don’t vote for them, we can’t eat.” He went on to tell me about his neighbor who voted for the opposition in the 2010 election and shortly thereafter was denied food aid, was denied treatment at a government health clinic, and eventually was displaced from his land for an investment project run by a government cadre.

The justice system provides no check on the government. Courts have shown little independence during politically charged trials. Many opposition politicians, journalists, and activists have been convicted under the repressive 2009 anti-terrorism law and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Acquittals are rare, credible evidence is often not presented, and trials are marred by numerous due process concerns. Mistreatment and torture are common in Ethiopia’s many places of detention. Just two weeks ago, Dr. Merera Gudina , the chair of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), a legally registered political opposition party, was charged with “outrages against the constitution.” A former fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), Merera joins many other senior opposition leaders currently facing politically motivated criminal charges. Among those presently standing trial is OFC deputy chairman Bekele Gerba. Prosecutors included as ostensible evidence of his crimes a video of Bekele at an August 2016 conference here in Washington, DC, where he spoke of the importance of nonviolence and commitment to the electoral process. Like Merera, he has been a moderate voice of dissent in a highly polarized political landscape.

This begs the question: what avenues are left in Ethiopia to express dissent, to question government policies or to voice concern over abusive practices and how can the United States help strengthen free expression and association rights in Ethiopia?

I speak to you to today 16 months after large-scale and unprecedented protests started in Ethiopia’s largest region of Oromia in November 2015, spreading to the Amhara region in July 2016. Ethiopian military forces and police cracked down on these largely peaceful demonstrations, killing hundreds and detaining tens of thousands. The protests were a predictable response to the systematic and calculated suppression of fundamental rights and freedoms.

On October 2, the protest movement took a devastating turn. In Bishoftu in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, security forces mishandled a large crowd at the Irreecha cultural event causing a stampede that killed scores of people as they fled security forces. In the days that followed, angry mobs of youth destroyed government buildings and private property. Ethiopia was on the brink of chaos. One week after the Irreecha tragedy the government announced a state of emergency that remains in place. It prescribed sweeping and vaguely worded restrictions on a broad range of actions undermining rights to free expression, association, and peaceful assembly. It goes far beyond what is permissible under international human rights law and signaled a continuation of the militarized response to the expression of grievances. While the state of emergency has halted both the destruction of properties and the protests themselves, underlying grievances remain. No one should deny there are serious risks that more unrest could occur.

Since imposing the state of emergency, the Ethiopian government has repeatedly committed publicly to undertake “deep reform” and engage in dialogue with opposition parties to address grievances. In short, the authorities are saying the right things. But the only changes the government has made so far are largely cosmetic and fall dramatically short of the protesters’ calls for the protection of basic human rights.

The continuation of the state of emergency – furthering crushing the space for free expression and divergent views of governance – is not conducive for the open dialogue that is needed to address Ethiopia’s ongoing crisis. The government announced that it arrested over 20,000 people since the state of emergency began, although there has been little corroboration of these numbers, which could be higher. These mass arrests along with politically motivated trials of key opposition leaders, reinforces the message that the government is continuing along the path of suppressing dissent by force and not engaging in genuine and meaningful dialogue with opposition groups.

The Ethiopian government’s responses to all of these abuses have been consistent. The allegations are routinely denied without meaningful investigation, the government claiming they are politically motivated, while simultaneously restricting access for independent media and human rights investigators. In a report to parliament last June, the Ethiopia Human Rights Commission, a government body, concluded that the level of force used by federal security forces was proportionate to the risk they faced from protesters. This is contrary to all available evidence, including that contained in the US State Department’s recently released Human Rights Country Report for Ethiopia. No one has seen a written version of the Commission’s report that would justify such a conclusion.

While we are speaking today about the lack of accountability over the brutal crackdown in Oromia and Amhara regions over the last 16 months, Ethiopians in other regions have also been victims of serious abuses, most often without any meaningful investigations by the government. For example, Human Rights Watch documented possible crimes against humanity committed by the Ethiopian army in 2003 and 2004 in the Gambella region. There was no credible investigation into the extrajudicial executions, rape, and torture. In Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, the Ethiopian military committed war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity between mid-2007 and 2008 during their counterinsurgency campaign against the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). The Liyu police, a paramilitary force formed in 2008 that reports to the president of the Somali Regional State, have been implicated in numerous extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, and attacks on civilians accused of backing the ONLF. No meaningful investigations have been undertaken into any of these alleged abuses in the Somali Regional State.

International scrutiny of Ethiopia’s rights record has also been lacking despite its June election to the UN Security Council, and its membership on the UN Human Rights Council – which requires it to uphold the “highest standards of human rights” and cooperate with UN monitors. Ethiopia has refused entry to all UN special rapporteurs since 2007, except the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea. There are outstanding requests from the special rapporteurs on torture, freedom of opinion and expression, and peaceful assembly, among others. In total, 11 UN Special Rapporteurs have outstanding requests for access to Ethiopia.

Despite abundant evidence of serious and growing repression by the Ethiopian government, particularly since the 2005 election, the US government has been a muted critic. Quiet diplomacy proven ineffectual and has coincided with the dramatic downward spiral in human rights and a serious constriction of political space that has led to the crisis Ethiopia is in today. It is time for a new US approach to Ethiopia in which Congress can play a leadership role in seeking a more balanced policy and requiring more deliberate oversight as it has done in other countries in crisis, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Egypt.

As a starting point, members of Congress should speak out strongly and publicly against abuses by the Ethiopian government. House Resolution 128 and the resolutions introduced last year are steps in the right direction and contain many important elements. While non-binding, they are impactful because they let the Ethiopian government know there are repercussions for brutality against their own citizens – brutality that undermines US priorities in the Horn of Africa, including security, development, and economic growth. These partnerships are dependent on long-term stability in Ethiopia. Opposition to the ruling party’s repressive rule – as witnessed in the last 16 months – is a glaring indication that Ethiopia’s governance model marked by lack of respect for basic rights, is incapable of ensuring that stability.

International legitimacy is very important to the Ethiopian government – it wants to be a key player on the international stage and condemnation of its human rights record contradicts that image. So consistent, sustained and vocal pressure is critical.

It is crucial that the US makes it clear that if Ethiopia is going to remain a strong US partner it needs to open up legitimate political space and allow for critical voices to be heard. To begin with, members of Congress can and should call for the release of all political prisoners, including those like Bekele and Merera who should be part of any credible dialogue between the government and opposition parties. Members of Congress should also call for the release of all journalists unjustly jailed and call for the repeal or substantial amendment of repressive laws used to stifle critical voices. Any meetings with the Ethiopian ambassador to the US should include these points, as should any meetings with other Ethiopian officials, whether in DC or elsewhere. As the FY18 budget process gets underway, US support to the Ethiopian government should be conditioned on making progress in these and other areas of concern.

Members of Congress should use available opportunities to tell Ethiopia to stop hiding its own human rights record from international scrutiny. As a member of both the Human Rights Council and the Security Council, Ethiopia should cooperate fully with UN special mechanisms, in particular the rapporteurs on peaceful assembly and torture.

As expressed in House Resolution 128, members of Congress should reiterate the call of the UN high commissioner for human rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and others for an independent international investigation into the crackdown in Oromia and Amhara regions. Such action will send a powerful message to the Ethiopian government that its security forces cannot shoot and kill peaceful protesters with impunity. It will also send an important message to the victims and families, that their pleas for justice are being heard.

I’ll close by saying that I am aware of concerns expressed by some in the administration – and even here in Congress – that a more public stance on Ethiopia’s domestic situation might undermine the bilateral partnership between Addis Ababa and Washington – including cooperation on development, security and peacekeeping. But the United States has often underestimated its own leverage and been overly cautious as a result. Some of Ethiopia’s international partners have made strong public statements in the last year and these statements have not undermined their strategic partnerships. Far from it. The US may need Ethiopia – but Ethiopia needs the US too. The US should send a strong signal of support to the many Ethiopian citizens and Ethiopian Americans who seek the protection of their rights, greater political space, and democracy but whose fight for dignity and freedom has been crushed time and again through brutal force.

Thank you.

We share the High Commissioner’s concerns about current threats to human rights values, and to the international framework itself. Whether the Council can rise to these challenges will depend on a number of factors.

First, leadership: many important issues have escaped Council scrutiny. The High Commissioner has identified violations including torture in Egypt, China’s intimidation and groundless detention of lawyers and activists, Turkey’s campaign against critics, a new US administration that has banned entry to nationals of several Muslim-majority countries with evident discriminatory intent. States from all regions need to step up and speak out.

Second, membership in the Council should mean something. Is the killing by police and unidentified “vigilantes” of more than 7,000 people in the Philippines since President Duterte took office, or Burundi’s refusal to cooperate with a Council-appointed commission of inquiry compatible with their obligations as members?

Thirdly, human rights defenders are key stakeholders in the Human Rights Council. Yet Bahrain still imposes travel bans on those seeking to participate in the Council, Azerbaijan continues to silence civil society groups, and Russia uses various laws to limit the right to free expression, while seeking to strip even the concept of “human rights defenders” from the Council’s lexicon.

Finally, the effectiveness of this Council will be measured by the credibility of its outcomes:

• With Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims facing killings, rape, and burning of villages, will the Human Rights Council put in place the independent international investigation that is so desperately needed?
• Will it take meaningful action to advance accountability for grave international crimes in North Korea and in Syria?
• Will it respond to the numerous reports of killings, rape and torture in South Sudan by strengthening the investigative mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, while supporting a hybrid court?
• Will it put in place an independent expert in Libya to strengthen reporting and provide concrete recommendations for improving the human rights situation?
• Will it adopt a follow-up resolution on Sri Lanka robust enough to maintain confidence that the commitments in its previous resolution will be met in full?

We’d welcome the High Commissioner’s views on further steps the Council can take to meet the global challenges he has described, while delivering effective results.

March 9, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan Thursday has called on the American administration to review its decision to include its citizens in a ban on travellers from six Muslim-majority nations.

Last Monday President Donald Trump signed a revised executive order freezing new visas for Iranians, Libyans, Somalis, Sudanese, Syrians, and Yemenis citizens. the ban will begin on 16 March and will last for three months.

The revised ban however exempted Iraq from the list saying its removal was decided after an agreement with the Iraqi government on the screening procedures in place that would prevent suspected terrorists from leaving Iraq and coming to the United States.

The foreign ministry Thursday summoned the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Steven Koutsis to protest the new ban on the Sudanese nationals.

In a statement released after the meeting, the Undersecretary Abdel-Ghani Al-Nai'm said he informed the American diplomat that the decision is "not consistent with the great and recognised Sudan's cooperation in the fight against terrorism."

"Sudan will be waiting to see its name removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and calls for a partnership with the United States for peace, security and development based on the potential of the two countries to serve the common interests of the two peoples," Al-Nai'm stressed.

In a paragraph dedicated to the Sudan, the Executive Order minimised Khartoum's cooperation on the fight against terrorism with the United States, saying it provides "some cooperation" with the United States' counterterrorism efforts.

It went further to stress that "elements of core al-Qa'ida and ISIS-linked terrorist groups remain active in the country."

Last September, U.S. State Department praised Sudanese government efforts in the fight against terrorism and its cooperation with the U.S. intelligence agencies. However, it linked the normalisation of bilateral relations and Sudan removal from the terror list to the improvement in Darfur conditions.

(ST)

March 9, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan will continue to cooperate with the international community to fight terrorism with determination and resolve and contribute to create a new environment of security and stability, said the Sudanese First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Saleh on Thursday.

Sudan's first vice president Bakri Hassan Salih (Photo SUNA)

The first vice-president made his remarks, four days after a new travel ban imposed on Sudanese citizens by the new U.S. administration. Trump's presidential decree justified the decision saying the east African nation is still harbouring terrorist elements.

He was speaking at a workshop organised by the National Authority for Combating Terrorism, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to explain Sudan's counter-terrorism strategy and its plan to prevent violent extremism in the framework of its efforts to remove its name from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Saleh reiterated his government's support to combat terrorism in coordination with the United Nations Development Programme.

"The Sudanese hands remained and will continue to be extended in order to silence the voice of terrorism and to break its spell and create a new environment for peace, security and stability."

He further pointed to the need for a consensus on the fundamental principles to combat the violent extremism and terrorism, stressing that Sudan is one of the first entrepreneurs to address the phenomenon.

In June 2016, the Sudanese ministry of religious affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the (UNDP) to coordinate efforts to fight against extremism and terrorism.

The agreement included the UN Plan of Action on Preventing Violent Extremism endorsed by the UN General Assembly in February 2016. It provides more than 70 recommendations to the Member States to prevent the further spread of violent extremism.

(ST)

March 9, 2017 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese opposition leader said President Salva Kiir, who leads Friday's national day of prayer should ask God to punish corrupt ministers.

"The government should question the ministers residing at hotel (...) the prayers would not focus on peace and reconciliation only but it should include praying for corrupt(ed) official to stop corruption,” said Peter Mayen Majongdit, the leader of People's Liberal Party (PLP), an opposition political entity formed in 2014.

People's Liberal Party (PLP) leader Peter Mayen Majongdit (ST)

The South Sudanese leader, last week, declared March 10 a national day of prayers.

The state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) television and radio have been urging the citizens to attend the event that will be led by the head of state.

Last week, Bishop Santo Laku, a respected Catholic Bishop, described the prayer as “political and mockery” in a interview with Voice of America. The Bishop challenged government, whose armed forces, he said, were murdering civilians, to stop the war.

Mayen said his opposition party does not oppose the prayer but it should be focused.

“Emotions and sympathy will not improve the country crisis. Corruption must be fought, effective policy must be in place and then we can call for God to help,” he said.

At least six government ministers, according to a document Sudan Tribune obtained, befitted from money meant to facilitate operations of a Crisis Management Committee set up by the president on 30 April, 2014. The committee was headed by Vice-President James Igga to deal with the war that broker out in December 2013, but was dissolved few months later due to what critics said turned into a crisis itself.

(ST)

March 10, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan has declared 10 March a public holiday.

The minister in the office of the president, Mayiik Ayii Deng, said the holiday will allow members of the public attend the national prayer scheduled this Friday.

The meeting of the presidency chaired by President Salva Kiir March 9, 2017 (ST)

“The Presidency today in State House Juba convened its meeting under President Salva Kiir Mayardit. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss important issues of our country, especially the issues of peace, reconciliation, repentance, unity and forgiveness”, said, Deng without giving further information.

Vice-President, James Wani Igga said the meeting was “very important” as it discussed mainly issues related to the current issues affecting the nation.

He said some of the issues discussed included, famine in in the war-torn nation, the economic situation and the national dialogue declared by the president.

“The other issue which we discussed was the National Prayer Day which was declared by the President. So tomorrow, Friday, will be a public holiday. This is to allow go to the Friday centers. In Juba, people will go to John Mausoleum. In the states, the governors are directed to organize where the population who hold prayers”, explained Igga.

The presidency in South Sudan under the terms of the 2015 peace agreement comprises of the President, First Vice President and the Vice President.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

March 9, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - A new public land transportation service between Ethiopia and Sudan is to start this week, Ethiopia's transport authority announced.

The cross border highway stretching from Addis Ababa to Khartoum will be open for traffic on Sunday and will provide service in accordance to reached agreements on standards of vehicles, tariffs and immigration rules of the two countries.

The new public bus transportation between the two capital cities comes to operation after the completion of a trans-border highway project which took about 8 years to construct it.

The transport service is said to further strengthen bilateral ties of the neighbours and enhance, trade, investment, tourism and social ties between people in two nations.

It is also believed to facilitate cooperation between communities residing along the common border.

Landlocked Ethiopia has three trans-border highways linking it with Sudan which the horn of Africa's nation mainly uses it to export its products and import Sudan's fuel.

However, as per the tarriff set, a passenger must pay 60 US dollars to travel from Addis Ababa to Khartoum, a route that takes two-days by road.

A passenger is expected to process a valid passport and visa before leaving.

As well as Sudan, Ethiopia has been constructing a number of trans-boundary highways to link its borders with neighboring nations, including Kenya and South Sudan.

Last month Ethiopia and South Sudan signed agreements to build cross border roads linking both countries in a bid to boost import and export volume of both countries. The agreement also enables Ethiopia to import fuel from Sudan at relatively cheaper prices.

(ST)

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

March 09, 2017 (JUBA) – Members of South Sudan's armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO), who have not laid down arms will not take part in the national dialogue initiative, an official said.

South Sudanese information minister Michael Makuei Lueth attends a press conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 5 January 2014 (Photo: AP/Elias Asmara)

"Our understanding of inclusivity is that all opposition groups, which put down their guns, will be allowed to join the national dialogue," the country's information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth said on Thursday.

President Salva Kiir announced the dialogue in December last year and its steering committee is to be sworn in this month.

According to the minister, it would be "unacceptable” for members of the armed opposition forces to attend the dialogue with guns.

"There is no way to allow anyone who is fighting the government to attend the dialogue when they have not stopped fighting," he said.

The leader of the armed opposition faction, Riek Machar criticized the national dialogue initiative, saying the process will never succeed unless peace and stability is restored in the country.

President Kiir said the dialogue will be led by “eminent personalities” accepted as credible, genuine and trusted by all rival parties in the country.

(ST)

March 9, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan president Salva Kiir has issued decrees sacking the head of the police service, promoting and appointing new officers.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (AFP)

President Kiir, the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Cooperation announced, removed General Makur Marol from being inspector general of police and replaced him with Syed Chawul Lom, who was the police commissioner of Jubek state.

It was, however, not immediately clear what prompted Kiir to make new changes.

Police sources attributed the cause to an internal pressure within the police service in which the former inspector was heavily criticized for not getting a grip on near daily violence carried out by armed criminals, prompting his opponents in service to call for a shake-up in the security services.

The changes are seen as a first step towards the comprehensive reorganization and re-positioning of Police Force before integration with the faction of Sudan people's liberation movement in opposition loyal to the First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai.

A high ranking police officer told Sudan Tribune on Thursday that the changes were part of the recommendation by an internal committee drawn to examine and come out with what could be done to improve the image of the police services so that it be could a people centered institution.

“I was part of this administrative committee which was tasked to come out with strong recommendations about how the image of the police should be improved. The objective was to determine the general and specific causes of the collapse of public confidence in the police and recommend ways of restoring public trust in the institution. The committee was also tasked to examine records of performance of officers of the Police Force with a view to identifying those that can no longer fit into the system”, said the officer.

“For recommendation of the committee to be realized, the new leadership was required and I think this is what the president has done. He has actually acted on the recommendation”, he added.

(ST)