Africa

The founder of Ardmore Ceramic Art, Fee Halsted, talks to the BBC about her collaboration with Hermes.

New President Adama Barrow must improve economic prospects for The Gambia's youth, if the number of migrants heading for Europe is to be cut.

Gambia's President Adama Barrow arrives to assume power - days after his predecessor Yahya Jammeh left for exile.

The newly arrived head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, David Shearer, has met with President Salva Kiir in the country’s capital of Juba, where he reiterated the Mission’s commitment to supporting peace efforts.

Adama Barrow returns to jubilant scenes after his predecessor left for exile under foreign pressure.

A major vaccination campaign against a measles outbreak in northeast Nigeria is reaching 4.7 million children, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Ugandan soldiers stationed in the Central African Republic face accusations that they have been raping local women and girls.

Buchi Emecheta's books were studied by schools in several African countries.

Malawi's mining companies are keeping locals in the dark over the risks of water contamination in their rivers.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) has condemned the coordinated suicide bombing attack earlier today at a hotel in Mogadishu for which Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility and which reportedly killed dozens of people.

Amid rising tensions in Central African Republic’s Ouaka prefecture and in and around its town of Bambari, a senior UN humanitarian official in the country has appealed for calm and refraining from any act that could further increase the fragility of an already vulnerable population.

Tatah Brika, from Western Sahara, is building more durable homes for refugees by using two plentiful materials, plastic bottles and sand.

January 24, 2017 (YAMBIO) – Authorities in Gbudue, one of South Sudan's new states, have issued an order for the closure of a church it accuses of allegedly involving in a series of irregular activities.

The new directive, issued by the deputy governor, Victor Edward Kpiawandu came over the state-owned Yambio FM on Monday.

Authorities accused the leaders of Gundeti Mbori Catholic Church, Genezareth of prohibiting people infected with HIV/Aids from taking drugs and for falsely being affiliated to Tombura Catholic Diocese.

The church, established in 2012, is also said to be illegally operating.

However, while some of the locals embraced its activities, others have accused the church leaders of preaching “wrong doctrines”.

The deputy governor has assured the population of the state government's commitment to allowing freedom of worship.

Sudan Tribune was unable to get a comment from the Catholic Church officials.

(ST)

January 24, 2017 (NAIROBI/JUBA) - The Enough Project, Human Rights Watch and other international voices have appealed to Kenyan authorities to immediately release of two South Sudanese citizens and political opposition figures, Aggrey Idri and Dong Samuel Luak.

SPLM (IO) deputy chairman for justice and human rights affairs, Samuel Dong Luak, pictured after his return from hospital, Nairobi, October 13, 2015 (ST Photo)

The two activists, according to their lawyer, are being detained by Kenyan authorities in Nairobi and have been subjected to a deportation order.

Their lives and safety are at “immediate” risk, if they are extradited from Nairobi to Juba as ordered, the lawyer told rights bodies.

The Enough Project, in a statement, called on Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Kenyan security authorities to “immediately” release both men and nullify the deportation orders the are facing.

Human Rights Watch also expressed concerns over the arrest of Luak, a South Sudanese lawyer and human rights advocate, saying he was denied access to legal counsel and could be deported.

“Dong Samuel Luak has been a vocal advocate for human rights in South Sudan for many years, and could face serious mistreatment if returned to South Sudan,” said Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

“Kenyan authorities should respect his rights, allow him access to legal counsel and United Nations refugee officials, and immediately halt any deportation proceedings against him,” he added.

Luak fled to Kenya in August 2013, after receiving death threats following his defense of Pagan Amum, the former secretary general of South Sudan's governing party, whom the South Sudanese government had accused of involvement in treason.

Since South Sudan's conflict began in December 2013, Luak has continued publicly to denounce human rights abuses and corruption by South Sudanese government officials. In October 2015, he was brutally attacked at his home in Nairobi by men thought to be linked to South Sudan's security services.

Kenya has, in recent years, unlawfully deported several prominent opposition members from neighboring countries to their countries of origin, despite being recognized as refugees under Kenyan law and protests by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

In November last year, Kenya deported James Gatdet Dak, who was South Sudan rebel leader, Riek Machar's spokesperson. He is currently held, without charge, at South Sudan National Security Services (NSS) headquarters.

There are serious concerns that the same fate, or worse, may await Luak if Kenya forcibly returns him to Juba, Human Rights Watch said.

“Dong Samuel Luak is at serious risk of arbitrary detention, torture, and other abuses if returned to South Sudan,” stressed Lefkow.

“Kenyan authorities need to respect their obligations under international and Kenyan law and ensure he is protected,” he added.

(ST)

January 24, 2017 (JUBA) – The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), the body overseeing the implementation of South Sudan's peace agreement has urged the U.N Security Council to quickly deploy the 4,000 extra troops it authorized late last year.

JMEC Chairman, Festus Mogae, briefs the UN Security Council, on the implementation of the peace agreement on 31 March 2016 (ST Photo)

The JMEC chairman, Festus Mogae told the Security Council in New York on Monday that deploying the protection forces would help government to refocus on restoring law and order outside Juba.

Mogae, in a statement, argued that strengthening the current 12,000 UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMNISS) would “provide a safe, neutral and secure environment in support of the peace process.”

The former Botswana president further said that the Security Council must unite to push the South Sudanese government to accept the deployment of authorized by the world body six months ago.

“Such spirit of determination, coordinated actions and uniform voices are critical for effective intervention in South Sudan,” he said.

The Security Council authorized the deployment of 4,000 troops in South Sudan in August, following renewed violence in Juba, but the government, initially rejected the resolution and has been reluctant to allow the deployment of troops from neighbouring countries.

According to the monitoring body's chairperson, the regional protection forces will boost and assist the Transitional Government of National Unity “redeploy the bulk of the army currently protecting Juba to the other parts of the country to restore law and order.”

Mogae, however, said the national dialogue initiative announced by President Salva Kiir last year be impossible if Juba is not secured to allow rival participants engage in the process without being intimidated.

South Sudan has experience violence since December 2013 when political disagreements between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar saw the country split along ethnic dimensions. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in South Sudan's worst ever violence in its independence.

(ST)

January 24, 2017 (JUBA) - The United Nations Security Council on Monday called for an end to the fighting in South Sudan as well as immediate deployment of regional protection forces in the country.

Arms and light weapons have been used by both warring parties in South Sudan to commit abuses (Photo courtesy of SSANSA)

Members of the 15-member body, in a statement, also urged South Sudanese authorities to allow easy access for humanitarian aid.

Speaking after the Security Council members held a closed-door meeting with the head of South Sudan's peace monitoring body, Festus Mogae, Britain's ambassador to the U.N, Matthew Rycroft warned that the young nation faces continued violence.

"I think that was a sign that things are very difficult in relation to the political agreement," Rycroft told reporters on Monday.

This comes months after the U.N special envoy on prevention of genocide, Adama Dieng warned of a likely genocide in the country.

South Sudan has experience violence since December 2013 when political disagreements between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar saw the country split along ethnic dimensions.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in the country's worst ever violence in its post-independence period.

The Swedish ambassador to the U.N, who is also the Security Council President, Olof Skoog, stressed that members of the 15-member body strongly back an “inclusive” national dialogue in South Sudan.

The Council, he further said, supports efforts by regional countries as well as the African Union to achieve a political solution, while emphasizing the need to establish a hybrid court in the country.

In August last year, the U.N Security Council approved an additional 4,000 peacekeepers after renewed clashes in July within the capital, Juba killed hundreds of people and displaced of thousands.

The force, yet to be deployed, was initially rejected by South Sudanese authorities.

(ST)

January 24, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Tuesday has thwarted an operation to smuggle a group of 64 illegal migrants across the desert to Libya, said North Darfur state official.

In press statements on Tuesday, North Darfur Deputy Governor Mohamed Braima Hasab al-Nabi said the captured migrants are from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Yemen, pointing the group includes 48 men, 10 women and 6 children.

He added they are currently being held in North Darfur, saying they would be handed over to the Ministry of Interior to take the necessary measures.

The Deputy Governor pointed the illegal migrants were heading to Libya, saying the preliminary investigations showed that their final destination was Europe.

He praised the role of the RSF in controlling the borders of the state, stressing their commitment to President Omer al-Bashir directives to combat terrorism and human trafficking.

Hasab al-Nabi added they seek to capture the masterminds of these operations, saying they are determined to eradicate this phenomenon.

For his part, the director of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in North Darfur Awad al-Karim al-Ghurashi said the migrants were heading to Europe, pointing the government is exerting huge efforts to help the international community preserve lives of innocent people.

He pointed that this group came from Port Sudan to North Darfur, saying each of the illegal migrants pays large sums of money that could reach $4000 to the human traffickers.

Sudan is considered as a country of origin and transit for the illegal migration and human trafficking. Thousands of people from Eritrea and Ethiopia are monthly crossing the border into the Sudanese territories on their way to Europe through Libya or Egypt.

In June 2016, hundreds of RSF elements have been deployed in the remote desert of the Northern State shortly after complaint by the governor of drug and human trafficking by the criminal networks.

RSF troops in camouflage and draped with ammunition show off the spoils from a major clash with the rebel (JEM), in Nyala 13 May 2015 (Photo AFP/Ashraf Shazly)

Earlier this month, RSF said it has intercepted the smuggling of 1500 illegal migrants on the Sudanese-Libyan border during the last seven months.

Last year, the European Union granted a €100m development package to address the root causes of irregular migration in Sudan. The financial support came after pledge by the Sudanese government to cooperate with Brussels to stop human trafficking to Europe.

In January 2014, the Sudanese parliament approved an anti-human trafficking law which punishes those involved with human trafficking with up to 20 years imprisonment.

The RSF, which is widely known as the Janjaweed militias, were originally mobilized by the Sudanese government to quell the insurgency that broke out in Sudan's western region of Darfur in 2003.

The militia was reactivated and restructured again in August 2013 under the command of NISS to fight the alliance of rebel groups from Darfur region, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states following joint attacks in North and South Kordofan in April 2013.

On 17 January, the Sudanese parliament passed the RSF Act which integrates the militia in the Sudanese army and provides that its commander be appointed by the President of the Republic.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

January 24, 2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - Eleven military officers who originally were loyal to South Sudan opposition group Federal Democratic Party/ South Sudan Armed Forces (FDP/SSAF) switch sides to join SPLM-IO under leadership of the First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Tuesday, the defectors who used to be under Gabrial Changson led faction said they have decided to switch allegiance and loyalty from FDP/SSAF to Taban Deng led SPLM faction after "long and carful deliberation" among themselves.

"We the people behind this declaration paper felt that the four years long war in our country have benefited no one a single coin but the exact opposite" reads part of the statement.

They said peace is the wisest option and urged on south Sudan citizens to work towards Taban Deng.

"Those who backed Taban Deng had been right to choose to remain in peace over those of Riek Machar who chose going back to unwinnable war"

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

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

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

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

The 11 deserters said the IGAd negotiated peace pact maintained by the two principals of SPLM-IG and SPLM-IO holds a better prospect to the immensely suffering people of South Sudan.

"We have come to believe that this maintained peace deal is the window that is to save the bitterly shaken foundation of our country that the war has almost destroyed" they said.

"The continuation of war and its redirect will only take from us more adding to the pile of what it has already claimed in the past four years-mire human live losses and economic hardships" they added.

They called on the people to work for peace in order to save the worlds newest country which is at the verge of collapsing.

Below is list of defectors

1.Col. Pal Bidong Nyoat
2.Col. Changkuoth Ruon JAL
3.Col. Simon Gatluak Tour
4.Lt. Col. Buay Kandong Liem
5.Lt. Col. James Hoth Kun Kong
6.Lt. Col. Hoth Zuor Bol
7.Lt. Col. Mawone Gatluak Rundial
8.Lt. Col. Gattuak Khor Tut
9.Maj. Gatwech Wiw Chiom
10.Maj. Gatreak Luk Thanypiny
11. Capt. Bhan Koang Nguot

(ST)

January 24, 2014 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese presidency has issued a statement denying existence of a diplomatic row with Addis Ababa, following rumours that Juba had accepted an Egyptian request to support and harbour Ethiopian rebels during a recent visit of President Salva Kiir to Cairo.

“The allegations that the Ethiopian Government has expelled our diplomats against the background of the recent President Kiir's visit to Egypt are a pure lie and a very cheap propaganda aimed at driving the wedge between the two sisterly countries. President Kiir's visit to Egypt was purely based on bilateral relations between Egypt and South Sudan. It has nothing to do with anything concerning Ethiopia's relationship with Egypt”, the release notes in part.

The statement penned by the presidential spokesperson says the visit of President Salva Kiir to Egypt was within the framework that permits any sovereign nation to establish diplomatic ties with more than one country at time on bilateral.

Ateny Wek Ateny said South Sudan's relations with Egypt are historical since two countries were once governed by one colonial administration.

“The issue of Ethiopian's rebels and whatever cause they might be fighting against the Ethiopian government has never crossed into President Kiir's agenda with any political leader of any country before, even at the time when the rebel Riek (Machar) was living in Addis Ababa”, he added.

South Sudan, he explained, has very good and cordial relations with Ethiopia and so, it cannot plan, or even think or dream of Ethiopian armed opposition finding its way into South Sudan no matter who is to supply them with arms. “The story is a fake one, and very cheap propaganda to say the least. It is therefore aimed at creating the non-existing fear”.

The construction by the Ethiopian government of the Grand Renaissance Dam raised tensions with Egypt which relies entirely on the Nile water.

Ethiopia says the dam will not disrupt the river's, flow stressing its purpose is only to produce electricity.

However, Addis Ababa also noticed a growing activities of the armed opposition groups in Cairo but the Egyptian government ignored its request to stop them.

Ethiopian officials pointed last year to the Egyptian and Eritrean role in the protests that sparked in Oromia and Amhara regions in November 2016.

Ateny claimed the allegations of support to Ethiopian rebels were created by armed opposition faction under the leadership and command of the former First Vice President, Riek Machar, to buy retaliation and allow them return to Ethiopia and use it as one of their conduit for carrying out military activities.

“It is the rebel of Riek who created the story in futile attempt to buy Ethiopian's retaliation to allow the rebel Riek back to honeymoon in Ethiopia. But, as we commend the Ethiopian's role in preventing Riek from using Ethiopia as his base closer to Pagak where he will cause havoc against our people, we would like to assure the Ethiopian, the government and the people that South Sudanese government does not wish to allow Ethiopian's rebels to enter South Sudan for whatever reason. We are sovereign country and so we adhere to the norms and protocol that governs the relationship between countries,” he said.

(ST)

Digital learning is helping to meet the demand for better education in South Africa.