Africa

November 1, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's government has described the United States President Barack Obama's order to extend sanctions on Sudan as “unjust” saying it is inconsistent with his administration's recognition of Khartoum's role in the fight against terrorism.

The US imposed comprehensive sanctions on Sudan in 1997 (US Embassy in Khartoum website)

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.

On Monday, U.S. President Barak Obama extended the 19-year embargo on Sudan for another year, saying Khartoum actions and policies that caused these sanctions continue to pose a threat to the national security and U.S. foreign policy.

However, the U.S. Department of State issued a separate statement minimizing renewal of the sanctions, saying it is “a technical decision and part of a routine, annual process that does not prejudice the ability of the President to provide sanctions relief at any point in the future”.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Sudan's embassy in Washington described Obama's order as “unjust”, saying it contradicts with the statement issued by the U.S. States Department acknowledging Sudan's active role in combating terrorism in the region.

On 21 September 2016, the Department of State welcomed Sudanese government efforts to combat terrorism and its increased cooperation with Washington.

“While countering terrorism is an important objective for the United States, we continue to engage the Government of Sudan on protecting human rights, resolving internal conflicts, addressing humanitarian needs, improving regional stability, and advancing political freedoms, accountability and reconciliation," further said the statement.

The diplomatic mission stressed that the unilateral coercive U.S. sanctions constitute a "blatant violation of human rights", pointing to its adverse impact on human rights conditions in Sudan and elsewhere.

For his part, Sudan's Information Minister Ahmed Belal Osman described Obama's order to extend the sanctions for another year as “routine decision” that brings nothing new.

He told the semi-official Sudan Media Center (SMC) that the remaining period for President Obama in office wouldn't allow him to take any measure to lift the sanctions, saying Khartoum got accustomed to hear such a decision every year.
Osman underscored Sudan's cooperation with the U.S. in the war against terror, stating that Khartoum is dealing with Washington cautiously.

He added that Washington should abide by its pledges to lift the unilateral sanctions on Sudan, renewing his government's keenness to achieve peace and stability in Sudan and the region particularly South Sudan.

Sudanese officials recently expressed hopes that President Obama before the end of his second term would lift the sanctions on the eastern African country, saying Washington is convinced of its inefficiency and that it harms ordinary Sudanese.

It is noteworthy that Washington eased the sanctions imposed on agriculture equipment and services, and allowed exports of personal communications hardware and software. Also, the U.S. Treasury Department removed the private Bank of Khartoum from a blacklist of Sudanese entities.

(ST)

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October 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The European Union has achieved a 8.5 million Euro developments projects to address food security in four states in eastern Sudan implemented by the Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and local actors.

Children from the nomadic tribe of the Rashaidas from eastern Sudan they wait on a roadside with their parents for people to come buy their smuggled goods in Tesseney, western Eritrea. (AFP file Photo)

In a joint statement released on Sunday, the EU Mission in Sudan and the FAO said the situation in Sudan, which is vulnerable to climatic variability, has been exacerbated by the effects of El Niño-driven changes in the rainfall pattern.

"This has contributed to reduced water and grazing land availability, as well as lower agricultural production increasing crisis-level food insecurity, especially in the Eastern regions of the Country," underlined the joint statement.

In this context, the purpose of the €8.6 million programme is to address these challenges in eastern Sudan states of Blue Nile, Gedaref, Kassala and Red Sea. Local authorities in the region are involved with the FAO to implement this capacity building and development plan.

“This four years programme is a successful example of FAO and EU collaboration with partner institutions in Sudan to build evidence-based policy responses to food security and nutrition issues in the country,” said Abdi Jama, FAO Representative in Sudan.

Jama further said that the programme set up institutions for collection, analysis and availability of food security information in the four states and pointed to the need for similar projects in the other regions.

On his part, the Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation in Sudan Jannik Vaa, said "In the past four years this programme has achieved undeniable successes".

“Systems have been strengthened by the project and hence future responses to food insecurity in Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref and Blue Nile States will be supported by robust evidence,” Vaa stressed.

He admitted that additional investment at State and Federal level is needed adding "The EU is ready to work with our partners to strengthen food security in Sudan and improve the livelihoods of the rural population."

Over 80% of the labour force in Sudan is engaged in agriculture, and two thirds of the population are living in rural areas. The economically east African country is also hit by armed conflict in southern and western parts.

Eastern Sudan which is one if not the poorest part of the country hosts refugees from Eritrea and Ethiopia who quickly quit the region to Khartoum in their rout to Europe through Libya and Egypt.

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Eastern Sudan civil society groups have called for the creation of a new track for peace talks to address the crisis of their poor region which suffers from underdevelopment and marginalisation.

Refugee girls play during a visit by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres to the Shagarab Eritrean Refugees camp at Kassala in East Sudan January 12, 2012. (Reuters)

Groups from eastern Sudan three states gathered in Nairobi between 24 to 26 October in workshop sponsored by the Sudan Democracy First Group (SDFG) to ''identify a shared vision (...) that would enhance their collaboration "to achieve positive political and societal change both for the region and at the national level".

The meeting which coincided with the 10th anniversary of the signature of the East Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA) agreed that the deal has failed to solve Eastern Sudan's complex crisis.

"Vital questions of power sharing and the relationship with the centre were reduced to individualist trading over government positions," said a statement issued by SDFG at the end of the meeting.

"Participants therefore called for the creation of a new negotiating platform which would address Eastern Sudan as part of a comprehensive approach to Sudan's multiple crises," further announced the statement.

They further said that this track should propose a system of governance for the region "determining the relation with the centre, and enhancing political participation"

Also, the 'Nairobi Declaration for Change in Eastern Sudan' endorsed by the participants identified objectives and a work program for the platform, alongside strategies for achieving political, societal and popular support for the initiative.

"This would include seeking political guarantees from, and opportunities for collaboration with, other agents for positive change in Sudan, and within the international and regional community more broadly," the statement said.

Last September, the opposition United People's Front for Liberation and Justice (UPFLJ), a group from eastern Sudan called on the African Union mediation to open a new peace track for the Eastern Sudan region.

The UPFLJ, which is part of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) led by Malik Agar, urged the African Union mediation "play a positive role in the establishment of a platform to discuss issues of eastern Sudan on the basis of its mandate to broker a comprehensive and inclusive peace process in Sudan.

The African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) is brokering a peace process with two tracks one for Darfur and the other for the Two Areas. This process also provides to hold national constitutional conference with the participation of all the political forces in Sudan.

Eastern Sudan civil society groups who have called to involve them in such political platform said they established to working group to "raise awareness of the need for their full involvement in the process of stability and change in the region and nationally".

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (BOR) - A girl, less than 16 years old, from South Sudan's Jonglei state, said she nearly died during labour about two months ago because of her young age and physical inability to mother her child.

South Sudanese schoolgirls (Getty)

Achol Akim Garang said she was forced by her brothers to marry an old man after the latter paid 34 heads of cattle and about 40,000 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) nearly two years ago.

What aggravated her worries most was the unexpected loss of her husband just a month before she gave birth to her first child. The little girl, born to a poor family, was in primary three when she was told not to go to school again by her brothers who feared she might copy bad habits due to peer groups' influence at school and western "education poison" as brothers put it. All these happened after her father died when the crisis of 2013 started.

"My father was a village chief, and he loved me a lot. He encouraged me to study. After his death, things changed. I was forced to marry a man I never wanted, because he was not of my age, and again I was not mature enough to mother the child," explained the young girl as tears rolled down her face.

Her brothers arranged the marriage at age 14 without her consent, even without putting the mother into picture, she recalled.

"By then I was still 14 years old. I could not do things that other mature girls do, because I was still weak. But they forced me to marry the man simply because they wanted cattle to pay as dowries for their wives," Achol lamented.

"Six months later I was pregnant, and had a lot of problems. I thought I was going to die. Sometimes I couldn't sleep at night because of the trouble my brothers had caused to me. The baby was too heavy for me to carry in the womb, but God helped me," she said.

While at home with her mother, she was advised about things contrary to traditions.

"I was told not to eat food that would let me grow fat, because the child was going to gain more weight, which would result in labour complication during the child birth,” she said.

Achol also tried to avoid nutritious and energy giving food or any vitamins, but her condition deteriorated as she completely became weaker and weaker week after week.

She further recalled that she was not allowed to see doctors for prenatal care, adding that during her last trimester, she was unable to stand on her own and tears could drop voluntarily from her weakened eyes even when she was not crying. She remained indoor for most of the day.

"One evening, I was on labour, but I did not know. I thought something was burning up in me. I stood up, sat down, but there was no better way to resist the pain. I cried for help. My mother came and held me down," explained Achol.

She said she was in hard labour for three days before the child was born during which she could hardly drink water or eat food due the unbearable pain.

“I was abusing every man that passes nearby," she narrated, adding, but "Then finally the child was born. I did not wake up for hours because I was exhausted, and bleeding was serious. This time, I could hear people's voices like birds, and nobody was clear in my sight, I was blind."

She cautioned that the experience she went through was horrific for a child like her, further revealing that she was married at almost the same time with her age mate, but she has never conceived till now.

Paramount chief, Alier Aluong declined to talk about customary laws when contacted by Sudan Tribune.

"We have no authority to tell someone not to marry underage. If the girl respects her parents to get married before the age of 18 years, we don't interfere," said paramount chief Alier.

Per South Sudan's Transitional Constitution, a person is a child when he or she has not reached the age of 18 years. Any marriage that involves a child of below 18 years of age is considered an offense, and is punishable by law.

Sources from Jonglei state ministry of education said such underage forced marriages are common in the communities, but no one has been punished for committing such an offense as the society seems to condone it.

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and Kenya on Sunday signed a number of agreements between the two countries in the fields of minerals and oil, in the presence of Presidents Omer al-Bashir and Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kenyatta left Khartoum on Sunday evening after a two-day official visit to Sudan. Bilateral meetings between the two sides began on Saturday evening after the arrival of the Kenyan leader and his delegations.

In a ceremony held at the Sudanese presidency on Sunday evening, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding for bilateral cooperation in the field of mineral resources and another deal for cooperation in the fields of oil and gas.

At the conclusion of the joint talks Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed and Sudan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal al-Din Ismail co-signed the final communiqué. Foreign Affairs Minister Ibrahim Ghandour is visiting in China.

Recently Kenya discovered oil in Kenya's northern Kerio Valley. Nairobi sought to export the expected small production via a joint pipeline that the land-locked Uganda can finance to export its oil but Kampala preferred to partner with Tanzania.

President Omer al-Bashir thanked Kenyatta for visiting Khartoum saying his short visit to Sudan was full of activities. He further pointed that the establishment of an independent state in South Sudan didn't affect the good relations between the two countries.

"We thank Kenya for its efforts during the peace talks (to end war between northern and southern Sudan) in Naivasha that ended a war lasted for twenty years," Bashir stressed in remarks he delivered after the signing of the agreements:

"President Kenyatta promised us a longer visit (next time) and expressed his desire to visit the Meroe pyramids, Kenana sugar factory, the Gezira Scheme, and the complexes of military industry," he added.

For his part, Kenyatta praised the progress Sudan achieved in the oil industry and the expansion of its infrastructure.

The Kenyan president paid a visit to the oil crude refinery in Khartoum state, where he was briefed on the advanced techniques used in the refining operations.

He praised the Sudanese long experience in the oil industry and associated industries, stressing his desire to transfer Sudan's experience in the oil industry to his country.

The two leaders didn't comment on the decisions of three African countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) which issued two arrest warrants against al-Bashir and indicted Kenyatta before to withdraw charges later.

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (KAMPALA) - The Guit community living in Uganda have backed the appointment of Taban Deng Gai as South Sudan's first vice-president.

South Sudan's first Vice President Taban Deng Gai addresses the UN General Assembly (UN Photo/Cia Pak)

Gai, a former rebel chief negotiator, replaced the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar.

Kuol Dak Peter, the leader of Guit community in Kampala said members of various students' bodies, including civilians who have fled into refugees resettlement camps within Uganda have welcomed the appointment of Gai as first vice president.

“Your H.E the first vice president of the republic of South Sudan, the entire Guit community and youth leagues in Uganda would like to make it clear to your office and the entirely leadership of the SPLM-IO that you have won a trust and support through the implementation of the peace agreement on the resolution of the conflicts in the country,” he said.

The secetary general of the Guit community association in Uganda, Tang Beliny Wang said Gai's appointment will enhance efforts to implement the already shaky peace deal.

“On the context of peace among Guit Community members in Uganda, We are very firm and capable to enlighten and aware our people in Uganda about the peace implementation through the leadership of Taban Deng Gai,” he said.

The appointment of the former rebel chief negotiator, analyst said, was one of the most controversial decisions made by President Salva Kiir after his main political rival peace Machar who was part of the Transitional Government of National Unity was sacked in August. The reblel leader described Gai's appointment as "illegal."

(ST)

By Ambassador Dhano Obongo

British and Arab colonialists used the spelling Anuak to describe these people, but the social anthropologist, Dr. Conrad Perner known as Kwakakworo (which mean leopard) among Anyuak community, changed the spelling to Anyuak.

The people themselves use the term, Anyuaa which indicates in their language mean sharing nyuaak. They are of the Luo nationality and ethnic group. These South Sudanese comprise the Collo or Shilluk, Acholi, Pari, Banda-Bor, and Chad as well as Luo (Jurchol) peoples. The Dr. Perner noted in his book that the Anyuak kingdom ethnic group originated from Rumbek in the Lakes area.

In Anyuak oral tradition Gilo was the grandfather of the kingdom ethnic community. He had two younger brothers. Dimo fathered the Luo ethnic group of the Wau. The second brother, Nyakango, fathered the Collo kingdom ethnic group. Three paths developed for the brothers from a dispute over an issue of precious bead or “dimu” swallowed by a daughter. The Nyakango kingdom ethnic group settled in the Sobat River mouth and along the White Nile.

Dimo proceeded to the current Wau town area. Gilo and his people journeyed along the Sobat River toward the east and finally settled in Niyum forming what is now the eastern Jikang Nuer ethnic group area Nasir. Several vicinities were overrun and fought over in the 1880s as Nuer and Anyuak contested.

Anyuak Kingdom governance is monarchical. The top ruler is based on birth and not merit or capability. The same applies to chiefdoms or Kwar status. Political tokens of kingdom include precious bead and royal emblems whose possession led to horrific disagreements which provide decentralized governance.

The Anyuak ethnic community inhabitant is estimated according to the Sudan census of 2008 to be 165 thousand, (Akobo 65 thousand), while Pochalla is about 100 thousand) and the total population of the Anyuak monarchy community is165 thousand people in South Sudan. Furthermore, the Ethiopian Anyuak ethnic community inhabitant is estimated to be 300 thousand people.

The Anyuak monarchy has six major subclasses of which three are in the Republic of South Sudan. They are known as Ciro Anyuak (Akobo), Tiernam and Adongo (Pochalla), in Ethiopia Anyuak sub-clans are Openo, Lul and Juor. On international maps, rivers become natural borders. This provided an unfair division of South Sudanese and Ethiopian Anyuak peoples by former colonial masters.

Royal emblems or heirlooms such as spears, iron, thrones, drums, and especially
precious bead known as Oshwak are ensconced in oral tradition of these peoples. In 1910 control of them went to His Majesty Nyeya Akwei war Cham. Two years later the Anglo-Egyptian Administration became aware of this aristocracy. Whose leader is the grandfather of the current Nyeya, His Majesty Akwei Agada Akwei. He succeeded his brother late Nyeya Adongo Agada Akwei who went back to river (pass way) in Nairobi, Kenya 2011. Thier father late Nyeya Agada Akwei Cham took the throne at age 12. Primogeniture reigns.

Ottio village is the headquarters of the royal Anyuak monarchy sited in the Pochalla area of Boma state.

In colonial days the British District Commissioner of Akobo District subsidized the Nyeya at a salary of one Sudanese pound per month.

In 1942 at age 20 the late Nyeya Agada war Akwei was installed as Nyeya and reigned for 58 years.

He was elevated from a job as a messenger in the Akobo District post office. In 2000 he went back to the river. Prince Adongo Agada Akwei replaced his father in accordance with a legngi an Anyuak word for will in March 2011. He was followed by Prince Adosh Agada and then the current H.M. Akwei Agada Akei. Naming the three sons publicly was designed to avoid any controversy among the children and among the Adongo Anyuak subclan community. The different between the Anyuak and Collo monarchies are that, the Anyuak monarchy is decentralized (many Nyeya (Kings), while the Collo monarchy is centralized (one Reath (King).

H.M Nyeya Adongo Agada Akwei died November 30, 2011 in Nirobi, Kenya, at age 52. He was succeeded by his step brother current H.M Nyeya Akwei Agada Akwei on April 25.2012 as Oshwok Nyeya. He was the 24th Nyeya of the Adongo Anyuak monarchy sub-clan at age 48.

The author can be reached at email: dhano01obongo@gmail.com

October 30, 2016 (JUBA) - The governor of the newly created Yei River State has admitted for the first time - since his appointment - the existence of rebellion in his area, correcting the initial description of armed dissident youth as “high way bandits.”

Yei River state governor David Lokonga (L) and deputy Abraham Wana March 9, 2016 (ST)

Speaking at a community function on Saturday, governor David Lokonga Moses said the presence of armed opposition fighters in the state has caused serious insecurity situation since September this year.

He revealed for the first time that all the counties in Yei state have been affected by the insecurity as clashes have been occurring between government forces and opposition fighters allied to former First Vice President, Riek Machar.

"There is problem in Yei. The problem in Yei is very clear, there is rebellion which has happened in all our counties," he said, adding that the insecurity started to deteriorate in the state when July incident happened in Juba between rival forces.

He was speaking at the official launching of his State Coordination Office at Nyakuron Cultural Centre in the national capital, Juba.

The governor urged the youths who have rebelled to lay down their guns and dialogue in order to restore peace in the state.

“Violence cannot be the best to addressing issues. Dialogue is the best way. Through churches, we have these people who are carrying arms to stop fighting and come forward for dialogue. The president is ready. He would listen to anybody with any concern,” governor Lokonga told the audience which was predominantly members of his ethnic Kakwa and other natives inhabiting the areas falling under the new state.

His admission of the existence of the armed opposition forces in the area contradicted the initial statements by senior government's political and military officials in Juba who preferred to describe the fighting in the area as being carried out by roads bandits and people doing unlawful acts.

The governor did not however specify the territories being controlled by the opposition fighters in the state.

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The British Ambassador to Khartoum, Michael Aron on Sunday has discussed with the Sudanese Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahomud Hamid humanitarian access to the rebel-held areas in the war-torn states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

British Ambassador to Sudan Michael Aron (Reuters Photo)

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

After a series of talks in Addis Ababa between 9 to 14 August under the auspices of the African Union (AU), the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N failed to sign a humanitarian access agreement.

SPLM-N demands to bring 20 percent of the humanitarian assistance to the affected areas directly from Ethiopia. The Sudanese delegation rejected the demand insisting all the aid should come via the government controlled areas.

Following his meeting with Hamid on Sunday, the British ambassador expressed hope that talks on the Two Areas would resume soon to achieve peace and security in the country, pointing to the deep bilateral relations between Sudan and the United Kingdom.

According to the official news agency (SUNA), the meeting discussed the government position with regard to the humanitarian access to the Two Areas besides national dialogue and ongoing efforts to form the government of national concord.

On 21 October, SPLM-N announced the suspension of negotiations with the government over political settlement citing the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Sudanese army in the war affected areas in Darfur and the Two Areas.

However, the rebel movement expressed readiness to continue talks for a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreement with the Sudanese government under the AU brokered process.

For his part, Hamid stressed his government's seriousness to implement the outcome of the national dialogue.

Earlier this month, the government and its allies concluded the National Dialogue Conference by signing the National Document which includes the general features of a future constitution to be finalized by transitional institutions.

The opposition groups boycotted the process because the government didn't agree on humanitarian truce with the armed groups and due to its refusal to implement a number of confidence building measures.

The recommendations of the conference provide to open the door for the holdout opposition groups to sign the framework text and to join the transitional government and parliament that would work to implement the reforms agreed in the National Document.

But, the opposition armed and political groups criticize the move saying it breaches the Roadmap Agreement which provides to hold a preparatory meeting to create a conducive environment for an inclusive process.

(ST)

October 30, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on Sunday described China as an important partner in peace and development issues in Sudan and the region hailing the strong bilateral ties between Sudan and China.

“Relations between Sudan and China are strong and it is considered a model for South-South cooperation and the reason for the success of these relations is honesty and the firm desire to develop them” Ghandour told the official Chinese news agency Xinhua.

He stressed that China is a key partner in establishing peace in Sudan and the region, saying “we live in the East African region which suffers from a lot of problems and Sudan has a pivotal role in this region”.

“China is an economic partner for the countries in the region and it was a party to the Sudanese-Sudanese, Sudanese-African and African-African dialogue and it continued to follow up on these dialogues through its various envoys,” he added.

Ghandour pointed that Sudanese-Chinese cooperation in oil production has significantly contributed to the development of the Sudanese economy, saying the partnership between the two countries has now extended to various fields including the infrastructure.

He pointed to the Meroe Dam which was built by China, saying it has increased electricity generation more than 6 times.

Sudan's top diplomat further said that partnership between the two sides has turned into political, social and economic partnership, saying that Sudan and China exchange support in all regional and international forums.

He said the two countries are now cooperating in the agricultural processing following the signing of a joint agreement on the model agricultural projects, pointing that Sudan, which has vast agricultural lands and water resources, could benefit from the Chinese experience in agricultural development.

Ghandour pointed that the two countries have signed a preliminary agreement to build a nuclear electric power station in Sudan besides another agreement on the renewable energy.

Beijing has invested more than $20 billion in Sudan mostly in the oil sector during the past two decades. Beijing provides low-interest loans and weapons transfers in return for oil.

During a visit by President Omer al-Bashir to China in 2015, Sudan and China signed “strategic partnership” that gave China the right to explore oil in new fields after Sudan lost 75% of its oil resources after South Sudan secession in 2011.

(ST)