Africa

January 15, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The Chairman of Sudanese Congress Party (SCoP) Omer al-Digair Sunday said the travel ban against him and other opponents confirms the government determination to maintain its repressive policy, and reflects the continuation of human rights crisis in the country.

SCoP leader Omer al-Digair (ST Photo)

Sudanese authorities on Saturday morning prevented a number of opposition leaders from travelling to Paris, among them al-Digair, Kamal Ismail of the National Alliance Party and Yahia Hussein of the Sudanese Ba'ath Party. In the evening of the same day, faced the same fate a three-member delegation from the National Umma Party (NUP) including deputy chairman Mohamed Abdalla al-Doma, deputy chairman Merriam al-Mahdi and secretary general Sarah Nougdallah.

In statements to Sudan Tribune on Sunday, the SCoP leader condemned the travel ban imposed on the opposition leaders, pointing that the lack of freedoms will only exacerbate the political crisis in Sudan.

"The travel ban shows the continuing human rights and political crisis in the country . Also, it expresses the absence of freedom of speech and the regime's determination to keep alive tyrannic approach which would only exacerbate the comprehensive crisis".

"The current actions of the Sudanese government leaves no other choice than to unite the ranks of the opposition in order to emerge from the quagmire of the crisis, to create a better reality and to put the country on the path of progress and development, all together," he added.

The Sudan Call forces, a coalition of the political and armed groups, are part of a process for peace and democratic transition in Sudan mediated by the African Union. However; the political operation is stalled and the government preferred to move with its reforms saying they can join it when they want, refusing to concede to their demands.

The opposition, on the other hand, applauded calls by activists for civil disobedience in November and December of last year and decided to back them.

Al-Digair, his deputy and the former SCoP chairman had been arrested and were accused of being behind the peaceful protests. The ruling party and the security service used to describe the opposition groups allied with the armed opposition as the "fifth column" inside the country.

The leader of the left party said they were heading to Paris to participate in the meeting of Sudan Call Leadership Council. According to him, The meeting will discuss the recent political developments in the country and will take the needed decisions on it. Also the participants will discuss organisational issues of the alliance.

The travel ban came 24 hours after a decision by U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday to suspend sanctions against Sudan enabling trade and investment transactions to resume with the east African nation. The move comes in recognition of Sudan's collaboration to curtail terrorism, and its efforts to improve humanitarian access.

Asked whether Washington would intervene and demands Khartoum to allow them to travel, al-Digair said they would not complain to the American administration.

He further called on the international community to support the legitimate demands of the Sudanese people for peace, freedom and justice and not to limit their relations with Khartoum to the security cooperation.

The opposition leader expressed hopes that the partial lift of American sanctions on Sudan would benefit to the Sudanese people and contribute to alleviate it suffering

"However, based on our knowledge of this regime, this hope remains surrounded by doubts," he said.

He explained that the lifting of sanctions is not "a magic wand to end the deepening economic crisis". Adding, "it may provide opportunities for loans, deposits and grants, but will not address the root of the economic crisis due to the lack of productive sectors".

"The policies of the regime lack to the minimum of planning, strategy, and scientific induction as well as comprehensive vision, " he said.

All the policies of the regime are based on how to ensure they remain in power," he concluded.

The American decision to ease sanctions on Sudan was welcomed by the different opposition leaders due to its harsh impact on the ordinary people.

(ST)

Hundreds of people were killed in South Sudan during an outbreak of violence last July and more than 200 people were raped, according to a United Nations report today released which emphasizes the need for accountability and justice for those human rights violations.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

16th January 2015

Legal Watch Associates South Sudan has learned with shock and dismay the abduction of Mr Gama Thomas, an aide to the Chief Justice, Chan Reech Madut.

Gama Thomas was abducted at gunpoint on 15 January at Juba International Airport by rogue elements from the National Security Service's General Intelligence Bureau Department. The victim met his fate as he traveled to Kampala, Uganda for the burial and funeral of his late brother who passed away this week after long illness.

This is the second time he has been kidnapped by National Security Service operatives. The first incident happened after a heavily armed security personnel stormed the Office of the Chief Justice to arrest the accused without due process of the law. The Chief Justice intervened then by calling the Minister of Justice, Minister for National Security Services in the Office of the President, the two Director Generals of the National Security Service.

The officers that were searching the office were ordered to leave the office immediately as they were found to have acted without directives from the Director General of the General Intelligence Bureau Gen. Thomas Duoth Guet.

Legal Watch Associates take this opportunity to condemn the incident in the strongest terms possible. The continuous action of the General Intelligence Bureau officers without regards to civil rights and liberties is a violation of the citizens' constitution rights as enshrined in the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011.

These actions further disrespect the sanctity and independence of the Judiciary as an important arm of the Government.

Legal Watch Associates further notes with dismay that Napoleon Adok Gai, who is the Director of Cyber Security Division of the General Intelligence Bureau and the Office of the President and also doubling up as the head of phone National Security Service phone monitoring headquarters (Aquilla Center) together with his staff continue to wiretap and monitor phones conversations of the families of the 16 persons convicted to life imprisonment in June 2016 because of alleged corruption in the Office of the President, their lawyers and the panel of judges of the Appeal Court reviewing the case. Staff of the judiciary with immediate access to the judges and the Chief Justice are also under surveillance in a complete disregard and violation of article 22 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan 2011 which protect the right of individual's to privacy of correspondences.

We are calling on the National Security Service to respect the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South 2011 and conduct it's activities within the bounds of the Supreme law of the land as the National Security Service Act 2014 does not give explicit powers to NSS to illegally monitor private phones conversations of citizens unless such monitoring is sanctioned by a competent court of law and only in circumstances that can qualify as threats to the National Security of the country.

The mock use of phone communications evidence as seen in the case of one Kur Ayuen Kou, one of the 16 accused who was sentenced to life imprisonment because of talking on the phone with his cousin John Agou while the latter was in detention at the General Intelligence Bureau headquarters is not a license that it is now legal to use this information in court as an evidence. Such evidence are not admissible in court since there is no law authorizing the use of illegally obtained telephone communications.

In the light of the above, we are calling for immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Gama Thomas to his family and to carry on with his normal duties as a citizen of this country with all the rights in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution. We will hold the General Intelligence Bureau and its Director General and in particular Napoleon Adok Gai personally and criminally responsible should anything happens to Mr. Gama Thomas during his illegal detention at the premises of GIB.

We also called on the Chief Justice Chan Reech Madut who is the head of Judiciary to personally intervene and guarantee first and foremost, the safety of Mr. Gama Thomas as an employee working in his office and other junior employees of the Judiciary as well as judges and advocates (lawyers) working very hard to promote the rule of law in South Sudan.

Legal Watch Associates urges the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and in particular the Committee of Information, Communication and Culture to investigate this wanton and flagrant violations of the Constitution by the National Security Service and take immediate action against people abusing the fundamental rights and freedoms that the resilient people of South Sudan struggle to achieve for more than two decades.

Legal Watch Associates South Sudan is a Human Rights Organization that advocates for human rights of people of South Sudan across the globe.

Email us at: legalwatch2015@gmail.com

January 15, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan president Salva Kiir has created for additional states, raising the number of the states in the world's youngest nation to 32.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (AFP)

The order creating new states, which was announced over the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on Saturday, saw Eastern Nile states divided into Northern Upper Nile state with Renk as its capital.

Others are Central Upper Nile state with Malakal as capital, Maiwut and Tumbura states.

Also split, according to the decree, was Latjor into Maiwut state with Maiwut as its capital.

The state comprises of Koma, Longuchuk, and Maiwut counties. It further divided Gbudwe state into Tumbura state with Tumbura as its capital. It comprises of Tumbura and Nagero counties.

No reasons were cited for president Kiir's decision to create the new states.

(ST)

January 15, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir has fired the country's Central Bank governor, amidst the worsening economic situation in the young nation.

Kornelio Koryom Mayiik (Getty)

President Kiir dismissed governor, Kornelio Koryom Mayik and his deputy John Dor through a decree announced on South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC).

In a separate decree, the South Sudanese leader appointed Othom Rago Ajak and Dier Tong Ngor as the new governor and deputy governor respectively.

Both the new governor and his deputy were serving in the Central Bank as directors.

In a separate decree announced by President Kiir on Saturday, the deputy minister of finance, Mary Javes Yak and ministry's undersecretary Salvatore Garang were sacked.

The president appointed Mou Ambrose Ring Thik as the new deputy finance minister.

South Sudan is experiencing tough economic crisis with the local currency (SSP) losing 80% its value after it was floated against the United States dollar nearly 12 months ago.

Prices of the items have also surged in markets as government struggles to pay its staff.

The president did not, however, indicate why he made changes in these two institutions.

(ST)

January 15, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The U.S. dollar price has swung lower on the black market in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum following the U.S. decision to ease the economic sanctions imposed on the east African nations for two decades.

A worker counts US dollar bills inside a money changer in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum (Photo: Reuters)

On Friday, the outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order to ease sanctions against Khartoum enabling trade and investment transactions to resume with Sudan.

Last November, Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS) introduced an incentive policy, increasing the exchange rate in commercial banks by 131%. As a result, the U.S. dollar exchange rate went up in banks to 15.8 SDG from the official rate of 6.5 SDG.

Following the CBoS decision, the dollar price went up and settled at 19,4 pounds on the black market.

Traders in Khartoum on Sunday told Sudan Tribune on the condition of anonymity that the dollar price ranged from 14 to 17 Sudanese pounds (SDG), saying they refrained from buying the dollar in fear of a further decline in its price.

According to the traders, the U.S. decision caused uncertainty and the dollar price fluctuated from 14 to 17 pounds.

It is noteworthy that Sudan's Finance Minister Badr al-Din Mahmoud on Saturday announced they are developing a comprehensive plan to review the foreign exchange policy in light of Washington's decision to ease sanctions.

Sudan has been under American economic and trade sanctions since 1997 for its alleged connection to terror networks and remains on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terror. The first batch of sanctions restricts U.S. trade and investment with Sudan and block government's assets of the Sudanese government.

Additional sanctions in relations with the conflict in Darfur region were introduced by two Executive Orders in 2006.

(ST)

January 15, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese Council of Ministers on Sunday has decided to extend the unilateral cessation of hostilities in war zones for six months.

The Sudanese army has been fighting the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as “Two Areas” since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

In June 2016, President Omer al-Bashir declared a unilateral four-month cessation of hostilities. In December, he extended the ceasefire for one month following a two-month extension declared in October.

According to the official news agency SUNA, the Sudanese cabinet held an extraordinary session on Sunday headed by al-Bashir and decided to extend the ceasefire for six months.

The government decision appears to be part of a roadmap agreement between Khartoum and Washington that prompted the latter to ease the economic sanctions imposed on Sudan since 1997.

On Friday, the outgoing US President Barack Obama signed an executive order to ease sanctions against Sudan enabling trade and investment transactions to resume with the east African nation.

He said the move intends to acknowledge Sudan's efforts to reduce internal conflicts, improve humanitarian access to people in need and curtail terrorism.

It is noteworthy that the SPLM-N, the Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM), and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in October extended for six months the unilateral cessation of hostilities in Darfur, Blue Nile and south Kordofan they declared in October 2015 and April of this year.

Following six days of talks in Addis Ababa last August, the armed movements and the government failed to conclude a deal on the security arrangements and humanitarian access in Darfur and the Two Areas prompting the African Union mediation to suspend the talks indefinitely.

(ST)

Owning a car for many Ethiopians - even those with ready cash to spend in one of the world's fastest-growing economies - remains a pipe dream, writes Emmanuel Igunza.

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Cameroonian entrepreneur Churchill Nanje explains how he set up job site Njorku, which covers nine African countries.

January 14, 2018 (KHARTOUM) - The leader of the National Umma Party (NUP), Sadiq al-Mahdi Saturday said the decision of the American administration to ease sanctions on Sudan has been made on false bases.

FILE - Sudan's President Omer Hassan al-Bashir smiles (L) as the leader of National Umma Party and former prime minister al-Sadiq al-Mahdi (REUTERS /Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

President Obama in a decision issued on Friday 13 January, explained his decision to partially left sanctions on the Sudanese government saying that Khartoum reduced its military activities and maintained a cessation of hostilities in the conflict areas, improved humanitarian access and cooperated with the U.S. to address regional conflicts and the threat of terrorism.

In a statement released on Saturday, in al-Mahdi welcomed Obama decision, saying it would have a positive impact on the activities of Sudanese businessmen. "The measure eliminates an unfairness sustained by Sudanese civilian financial sectors," he added.

However, he pointed that "It would be more appropriate to measure the feasibility of any measure to support peace and democratic transformation" in the Sudan, taking into account the signing of a cessation of hostilities agreement, a deal on the humanitarian access, creating a conducive environment for the national dialogue, and the government commitment to implement the Roadmap Agreement.

"In the absences of these four pillars, it would be useless to speak about positive developments," he stressed.

The leader of the opposition party, will travel to Paris to participate in a five-day meeting for the factions of the Sudan Call alliance. The meeting will discuss ways to bolster the coordination between the opposition and civil society groups in order to put more pressure on the regime.

Other Sudanese opposition groups minimized the decision of the American administration to ease sanctions on Sudan, saying it means to reward Khartoum on its security cooperation at the expense of peace and human rights.

The Secretary General of the Sudanese Congress Party, Mastor Mohamed Ahmed, told Sudan Tribune that Obama's decision indicates that Khartoum made huge concessions in the file of cooperation against terrorism.

"No economic progress or prosperity will happen, but the economic crisis and the suffering of the people will continue, because the regime does not care about the people but think about its political interests."

Sudanese Foreign Minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, told reporters that the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump is fully informed of the six month negotiations with Obama administration.

"We expect that the new American administration be committed to what has been agreed," he added.

He further said that executive order of Friday 13 January came after a consensus between the Republican and Democratic parties, adding that all the institutions including the Congress, and activists were briefed about the decision.

(ST)

January 14, 2017 (JUBA) – South Sudan government has banned international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from operating in the rebel-controlled Payinjiar county, according to confidential statement Sudan Tribune has obtained.

NGOs distribute relief items to civilians in Bor town of Jonglei state, 9 October, 2012 (ST)

South Sudan Nation Security Service, in a letter addressed to 8 international organizations in the area, advised these entities to cease from operating in a territory controlled by rebels forces allied to ex-First Vice President Riek Machar.

“You are hereby directed to cancel operations in and around Payinjiar (Ganyliel & Nyuong) from the effect of today 31-12-2016 and all your staff must immediately pullout from the area. All the flights to the foresaid areas are suspended. Also, boats from Juba to Payinjiar or from Payinjiar to Juba via River Nile are banned,” partly reads the statement.

Payinjiar has remained a stronghold of the rebels since the crisis broke out in mid-December 2013, and thousands of displaced persons live in the area.

Although the area remains under the control of rebel forces, relations have been strong between neighboring communities of Yirol and the Nyuong-Nuer, with trading activities being a common practice along each other's' borders.

Despite several attacks by pro-government forces to re-take the area from rebels, they have failed after facing fierce resistance from the opposition forces.

Last month, the rebels detained a Tanzanian who flew a chartered plane that landed at Ganyliel airstrip with a government commissioner aboard the plane.

Talks are reportedly underway with the rebels to have the commissioner freed.

Several aids workers confirmed to Sudan Tribune that all NGO staffs in the area were on Friday airlifted to Juba. These included national and international staffs as the government implements last month's ban on NGOs in the rebel-controlled area.

(ST)

By Chuor Deng Chuor

The world knows that Ateny Wek Ateny is supposed to be the Press Secretary and official spokesperson of President Salva Kiir. but the reality of the matter is that Ateny has become a lone press secretary operating in his own world with no official access to the President that he claims to represent.

Ateny's frustrations of late have come to the public and I bear witness to how he tore into the President during one of the evening I spent with him and few other fellows that were accompanying him at Juba Grand hotel in Juba.

Because of frustration, Ateny has now adopted to criticizing the personality of the President openly arguing that President Kiir is a person with no vision for this country and that he will lead the country to a total destruction and complete failure.

Before his appointment to his current position as Press Secretary of the President, Ateny was a fierce critic of the President and his government through writing on his daily column on Citizen newspaper “Beating the Drum of Truth” as well as on his daily TV show on Citizen TV.

At the state politics, Mr. Ateny Wek was a staunch supporter of Gen. Dau Aturjong Nyuol, criticizing the then Northern Bahr El Ghazal State Governor and the current Chief of General Staff of the SPLA Gen. Paul Malong Awan Anei. During the crisis in 2013, Ateny circulated a wild rumor that he was the one who recommended Gen. Malong to the President to be appointed as Chief of General Staff of the SPLA and continued to says that up to date as one of his achievements in the Office of the President as if the President does not know who is Gen. Paul Malong Awan.

Ateny appointment to the Press Office of the President was then viewed as an attempt to silence him and to use that energy for something constructive that will better the country but Ateny is proving difficult, “always a rebel will remain a rebel”.

One of his colleagues from the Office of the President told me that Ateny is aggrieved about the fact that the President doesn't want him around him under any circumstances. He hardly get any directives from the President on what to do or not, he further told me that Ateny was banned by the President in 2013 through a directive to the former Minister in the Office of the President, Hon. Awan Guol Riak that he does not want to be accompanied by Ateny during any trip which was resisted by Ateny but at the end he relented when he reached the point of losing his position because of that resistance.

The same source revealed that Ateny since his appointment as Press Secretary in 2013 was seen travelling with the President on two occasions only; one trip was to Paris, France in 2013 and the last one was to Kampala, Uganda in 2014. On those two trips, Ateny showed complete disrespect to the Ministers accompanying the President.

Another bizarre incident was during the trip to Kampala, Uganda. Ateny was asked by the President to leave the meeting hall for him to meet one-on-one with his Ugandan counterpart, but stubbornly, Ateny insisted that he should attend whatever meeting with the President. This enraged the President and Ateny was left to stay on.

And this became one of his many woes that made the President to sanction him from traveling with him.

This standing order from the President still hurt the Press Secretary up-to-date because it make him miss out from getting official briefing and the real issues discuss by the President on his foreign trips.

It has further disable Ateny to have clear picture about the activities of the President so that when he speaks, he speaks with confidence and authority reflecting the fact and truth about the President. It has also affect Ateny from briefing the President on current affairs as well as media related issues as done by press secretaries of other heads of State.

All what he tell the public are his own assumptions and analyses or sometimes through other colleagues close to the President. This pose a question; how can he speak in the name of the President that he does not meet and share with him what he should tell the public?

Another big mistake Ateny did when he assumed his duties as Press Secretary in the Office of the President was to get into confrontation with the President's Office Manager Ms. Ritah Kiden. She is the most feared aide to the President because of her close relationship with the President which no one knows other than two of them and their God who created and put them together to work in the same office!

Ritah is regarded as the real advisor to the President on all matters and crossing paths with her can land you in unthinkable position. Ritah has exploited that relationship with the President and has continued to play a negative role between the President and all the other aides of the president including Ateny. She is so trusted by the President that he can't do without her and that was the reason why she was appointed as an Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to secure her a better future after the President leaves office, God knows when!

What the President does not know about her trusted aide Ritah Kiden who is waging feud between him and other staff in the office is that, she talks ills against him (the President) like when he described the President as “drunk and staggering” during a trip to Torit in 2012. She is also critical of the President's personal weaknesses including how he has failed to manage the affairs of his own family.

Back to the point, Mr. Ateny Wek Ateny is there in the Office of the President on accommodation terms and not as an effective and regarded spokesperson of the President. The best option for Ateny now is to tender in his resignation and go back to his previous job of writing since his views have change about how the President is running the country.

Double speak is not the best strategy as you cannot serve two masters at the same time. Supporting the President when he is there and talking ills against him in social forums is an unacceptable to individuals like me to whom Ateny is trying to air his frustration.

The writer is a human right activist and student of Political Science at Juba University. Email him on: chuordeng@gmail.com

January 13, 2017 (BOR) - Unity and love for one another among the people of South Sudan and their elected government is essential for success in the country, former Vice-President, Abel Alier Kuai, said.

Abel Alier speaking to the public in Bor on January 13, 2017 (ST)

Alier made this remarks during a reception organized and conducted by the Jonglei state government in Bor on Friday.

The former Vice-President, who was visiting his hometown after more than 30 years, expressed delight having witnessed both the independence and post-independence of the young nation.

He urged the people of South Sudan to embrace peace, love and unity.
“Unity and love are essential for the people and government in South Sudan,” said Alier.

He added, They are the basis [of development], we got independence, I never knew it would come when I am alive, I want [you] people [to] hold your hands together, I want love among you”.

The former Vice-President said he was deeply concerned that people were lacking basic needs like food in the country, urging those who are in a position to assist to unconditionally help others.

The spirit of sharing little resources will help those in need, he stressed.
“If you find someone who has not eaten for two to three days, and you have something, give him”, added.

He said the warn reception given renewed him and raised his moral.

Born in 1933, Alier is a South Sudanese politician who served as the Vice President for Southern Sudan from 1971 to 1982, a year before Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) came into effect.

The veteran politician was also President of the High Executive Council of Southern Sudan's autonomous region from 1972 to 1978.

(ST)

January 14, 2017 (JUBA)- South Sudan says it will only accept the deployment of the United Nations Security Council-authorised regional protection force if a new resolution is passed, arguing that resolution under which the forces were to be deployed elapsed.

South Sudan's information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, speaks to reporters in Jonglei state capital Bor on 25 December 2014 (ST)

The council of minister, during its Friday meeting, reportedly resolved that the period during which the deployment of the regional protection force should have been deployed had elapsed and that any deployment should be done under a new mandate.

“The UNSC resolution that authorised the force lapsed on December the 15th 2016. Unless the UN wants to deploy the force as part of normal UN force, their mandate must be legally unambiguous and up to date”, said South Sudan information minister, Michael Makuei.

The cabinet, official added, resolved after the weekly meeting that the UNSC needed to issue a new resolution to deploy the regional protection force in South Sudan.

Observers argued that the new demand is part of a strategy to justify initial rejection for deployment of regional protection force, which the government had long opposed.

Early this week, the acting head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Moustapha Soumaré said he met with the South Sudanese Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Martin Lumoro during which the latter assure that the young nation's government's position remains unchanged on the deployment of the regional forces.

The UN official had requested clarification on various press reports, which cited senior government officials saying government had changed its position on the deployment of the protection force.

Lomoro said government's position was in line with the relevant Security Council resolutions that it would continue to facilitate the deployment of the regional force.

The Security Council, in its Resolution 2304, decided that UNMISS force levels be increased to a ceiling of 17,000 troops, including 4,000 for a regional protection force. UNMISS also confirmed that in preparation for the arrival of the protection force, it continues to be engaged in discussions with the coalition government as to the various modalities for the new force, including where they would be deployed.

(ST)

By Mahmoud A. Suleiman

Barak Obama's Lifting of Sanctions off the genocidal regime of the National Congress Party (NCP) in Sudan is based on weak, unconvincing, pretty flimsy excuses and very thin and insubstantial justifications. Let us look no further than the background of the Obama's Administration of justification for the suspension of US sanctions on Sudan.
And it focused on the following points:

1. Low level of violence in areas of conflict with evidence that all the previous years have seen a "summer campaign" against rebel positions, but this year.
2. Has been a marked increase in access to war-affected rates in all areas of operations without major incidents.
3. There has been the Sudanese government's commitment to promoting peace in southern Sudan and by refraining from supporting opponents of President Salva Kiir
4. Government of Sudan has allowed the US government to provide medicine and humanitarian aids to the affected people in conflict zones.
5. The government has amended the Commission of Humanitarian Affairs procedures and it became easier to obtain visas and movement permits - except in the areas of operations - has become easier than ever before.
6. Increased cooperation in the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) file and allowed the Americans to make sure of the areas that have been suspected of the presence of the Lord by the army.
7. American wildlife management team has been allowed to follow wildlife and verify the ivory trade and forest products that were obtained illegally.
8. Finally, Sudan's cooperation in the terrorism file without any details
The foregoing are considered by the people of Sudan in Darfur as flimsy justifications for lifting sanctions off the Génocidaire Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir's regime that continued committing atrocious crimes in Darfur and other regions in Sudan including the use of Chemical Weapons.
Reference: Omar Gamar Eldin - Sudanjem link: goo.gl/4ajAC5

As the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States getting nearer and will be held on Friday, January 20, 2017, on the West Front of the United States, let us look at the account inventory – stocktaking - of the legacy of the Us President Barak Obama for the people of Sudan in Darfur, according to the promises announced during his campaign for the Presidency of the United States of America.

The conflict in the region of Darfur in western Sudan began in the 2003, when the Sudanese government led by Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir hired the notorious Arab militiamen better known as the Janjaweed to wage a proxy war against the people of the region. The result was thousands of civilians raped and tortured and more than 300,000 killed and more than 2.7 million people driven from their homes. The Bush administration called it genocide, as did U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.

Speaking with SaveDarfur in 2006, then Presidential candidate Barak Obama made a sweeping promise that “we can't say never again and allow it to happen again, and as President of the United States I don't intend to abandon people or turn a blind eye to slaughter.” However, Slaughter went on unabatedly in the sight and hearing of the world and of course of Obama and his Administration at the US White House, in Washington DC. Since assuming the Presidency, President Obama's expressed dedication to ending the genocide in Darfur and combatting impunity in the region has fallen off the agenda. Moreover, President Obama's remarks before the African Union (AU) (Jul. 28, 2015) mirrored in part his previous comments on Darfur. He commented, “Leaders in Sudan must know their nation will never truly thrive so long as they wage war against their own people- the world will not forget about Darfur.” Speaking on dictatorships on the continent, Obama remarked “Africa's democratic progress is at risk when leaders refuse to step aside when their terms end.” Beautiful rhetoric and superfluous lip service, isn't it?! Sadly, inaction followed. And at worse, kudos and brownie points offered for free to al-Bashir and his criminal clique and the corrupt entourage.

The people of Sudan in Darfur and the survivors of the National Congress Party (NCP) regime genocide say OBAMA'S YES WE CAN HAS LET US DOWN.

Backing the perpetrators was not thought a character for Obama when he visited the Darfuri refugees camps in Chad (Oct. 18, 2008) early in the days he was poised for running for the US Presidency. However, lifting sanctions off the (NCP) regime was not expected of Obama on those days. It seems interests have overridden the moralities. This seems the final in the series of Obama's betrayal for the disenfranchised Sudanese people, survivors of genocide in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan. At this particular moment, the people of Darfur who have survived the Holocaust of the NCP might not get saddened by the departure of Barak Obama after his lean eight years in the White House at Washington DC.

The cumulative effects of the (NCP) regime crimes resulted into more than 300,000 deaths of men, women and children in Darfur. More than 3 million Darfuris displaced in recent years. The Genocidal criminal Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir has admitted that he has only killed Ten Thousand people and not three hundred thousand people in Darfur. President Omar al-Bashir is the only sitting head of state wanted for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, for the crimes he has perpetrated against unarmed noncombatant civilian Sudanese population in Darfur. Furthermore, undeterred by his arrest warrants, Omer al-Bashir continues his crimes with impunity, expanding his bombing and attacks against civilians beyond Darfur to those in the Sudanese states of Ingessana in Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains in Southern Kordofan. While people of Africa appreciated the work of President Obama during his African tour on issues of economic development and human rights, the millions of victims who have been displaced, tortured, raped, and killed over the course of Bashir's terror regime remained on the sidelines. President Obama has assured that Darfur will not be forgotten early on. However, the horrors in Sudan kept ongoing and he did nothing to aid in the fight against impunity. People have attached a lot of hopes on President Obama for using his remaining months in office to take a harder stance against the Omer al-Bashir's regime, and fulfill his promises to the people of Darfur. But all those hopes faded away and went unheeded. And the people in Darfur felt that President Barack Obama's administration has reneged on promises and betrayed the people of Sudan in Darfur and his latter decision of lifting the sanctions as a dance with the genocidal butcher Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir on the skulls of the victims.

The Motto continued since Darfur Genocide as follows:
Don't Let Bashir Get Away With Genocide. It is time for justice to be served. 14 YEARS BASHIR HAS EVADED INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE & REMAINED FUGITIVE. On March 4, 2009 the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Omer Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir for 7 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. On July 12, 2010 the ICC issued an additional warrant adding 3 counts of genocide for the ethnic cleansing of the Fur, Masalit, and Zaghawa tribes.

The first reaction of condemnation for the lifting of sanctions on Sudan came from the US Member of the United States House of Representatives, Senator Jim McGovern), a senior House Democrat representing Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district and leading voice on Sudan. Senator McGovern said: “I am angry and deeply disappointed that the last act by the Obama Administration on Sudan policy is to ease sanctions against a genocidal regime when there has been little to no change on-the-ground in the human rights and humanitarian crises suffered by the Sudanese people”. http://mcgovern.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/mcgovern-statement-on-new-obama-sanctions-policy-for-sudan
Tom Andrews Published On April 14, 2015 an article titled: Dying in Darfur: President Obama's Forgotten Promise- http://endgenocide.org/dying-in-darfur-president-obamas-forgotten-promise/
Rebecca Tinsley, Journalist and human rights activist wrote an article titled: Last Chance for Darfur: US Congress presses Obama to act. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-tinsley/last-chance-for-darfur-us_b_9836834.html
The article reported that a group of 120 legislators are calling on President Obama to use his final months in office to “exercise leadership” on human rights abuses in Sudan.
And Obama hasn't used the bully pulpit to personally talk enough about Darfur. The bitter disappointment of the people of Sudan in Darfur for the positions taken by the outgoing US President Barack Obama will remain in the modern history log.

Dr. Mahmoud A. Suleiman is an author, columnist and a blogger. His blog is http://thussudan.wordpress.com/

January 14, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) on Saturday has welcomed the appointment of Jeremiah Nyamane Kingsley Mamabolo as Joint Special Representative and head of hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

Jeremiah Nyamane Kingsley Mamabolo (UN Photo)

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, JEM chief negotiator Ahmed Tugod expressed his movement's readiness “to fully support; cooperate and closely work with the new chief to bring about peace and stability in the region”.

“At the same time, [JEM] reminds the new chief that although the protection of civilians represents the core mission's mandate, the developments on the ground and the events that occurring regularly clearly indicate that the mission is far behind the level of physical protection of the conflict affected population or response to civilian under imminent threat,” he said.

“The attacks on civilians in Nertiti and Geniena were clear manifestation of what we are saying, therefore; more work to be done to enhance and increase the capacity and availability of the UNAMID forces to respond and protect the civilian under immediate threat,” he added.

Tugod stressed that existence of a comprehensive genuine peace process is essential, pointing the “tasks of the missions cannot be achieved unless there is a lasting peace”.

On Thursday, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced the appointment of Mamabolo of South Africa as UNAMID Chief.

He replaced Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi of Nigeria who left the mission last week, one year after his appointment.

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

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

UN agencies say there are nearly 2.5 million displaced persons in Darfur, despite the signing of peace agreement in Doha in July 2011.

(ST)