Africa

September 4, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher on Sunday has arrived in Khartoum in a two-day visit to hand the Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir a written letter from his Yemeni counterpart Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi.

Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher (L) received by Sudan's FPV Bakri Hassan Salih at Khartoum airport on 4 September 2016 (ST Photo)

Dagher was received at Khartoum airport by Sudan's First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Salih and a number of ministers and state ministers besides members of the Yemeni embassy in Khartoum.

Yemen News Agency (SABA) Sunday said Dagher would hand al-Bashir a message from Hadi pertaining to the latest developments in Yemen including peace talks in Kuwait, the Gulf initiative and the outcome of the national dialogue.

The four-months UN-sponsored talks for establishing peace in Yemen have ended in early August without a breakthrough, as fighting continues between government forces from one side and Houthi fighters and the party of former President Ali Abdallah Saleh from the other.

According to SABA, Dagher would also meet with the Yemeni community in Sudan and check on conditions of the injured Yemeni's who are receiving treatment in Sudan's hospitals.

Sudan had received hundreds of wounded Yemenis and their family members.They arrived in Sudan as part of the agreement signed between the Sudanese Red Crescent (SRC) and King Salman Center for Humanitarian Aid (KSCHA).

Last February, the KSCHA and the SRC signed three agreements pertaining to supporting the rare specialties, supporting medical cadres inside Yemen besides treatment of wounded Yemenis in Sudanese hospitals.

According to SABA Dagher's visit comes within the framework of strengthening ties between the two countries and to express Yemen's gratitude to the Sudanese people and government for participating in the Arab coalition in Yemen.

Sudan participates with over 850 troops in the Saudi-led "Decisive Storm" coalition against the Iranian-allied Houthi militants in Yemen.

The Yemni Prime Minister was accompanied by the Foreign Minister Abdel-Malik al-Mukhlafi, Minister of Civil Services and Insurance Abdel-Aziz Gibari besides electricity, health and youth ministers and state minister Hani bin Braik and the newly appointed Sudanese ambassador to Yemen Mohamed al-Dabi.

DISCUSSIONS ON BILATERAL TIES

Meanwhile, the Sudanese and Yemeni sides held joint discussions on bilateral ties and latest developments in Yemen.

Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters following the meeting that the Sudanese side stressed that the legitimate government in Yemen must be reinstated, saying they were being briefed on the peace talks that took place in Kuwait.

According to Ghandour, Sudanese government underscored full coordination with the Arab coalition countries led by Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

He added the meeting directed foreign ministers of the two countries to follow-up on the developments of the Arab position toward the situation in Yemen, saying the two sides would hold further discussions on joint cooperation between the two countries.

For his part, Yemen's Foreign Minister Abdel-Malik al-Mukhlafi said the visit comes within the framework of the historic relations between the two nations, praising Sudan's participation in the Arab coalition.

He also hailed support rendered by Sudan to Yemen in the regional and international forums, stressing the need to confront all sectarian schemes aimed at dividing the Arab nations.

(ST)

September 4, 2016 (JUBA) –South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has eventually accepted the deployment of 4,000 soldiers authorized by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to boost implementation of what appears to be a shaky peace accord.

The decision was reached on Sunday during a meeting with the visiting UNSC team led by U.S permanent representative to the UN, Samantha Power.

South Sudan's cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elias Lomoro read out the joint communique agreed by the Juba government and the UNSC in the capital, Juba.

“To improve the security situation, the Transitional Government of National Unity gave it consent to the deployment, as part of the UNMISS, of the regional protection force recently authorized by the United Nations Security Resolution 2304,” said Lomoro.

“Further, the United Nations Security Council agreed that the troops contributing countries, UNMISS and the Transitional Government of National Unity will continue to work through the modalities of deployment; building upon the consultations of August 25 and September 1 respectively and anticipating any further discussion that will follow,” he added.

The United Nations Security Council and the Transitional Government of National Unity agreed to work in a fresh spirit of cooperation to advance the interest of South Sudanese people, particularly the aspiration for justice, liberty and prosperity, stressed the communiqué.

The UNSC and government also agreed that “security and humanitarian needs were paramount.”

According to the communique, the government also “confirmed it commitment to the implementation of the peace agreement” and the reformed agenda therein “now that the Transitional National Legislative Assembly is in place.”

According the communique, the UNMISS will accorded unimpeded access and freedom of movement in the country.

“To this end, the Transitional Government of National Unity commits to devising a plan with UNMISS by the end of September 2016 on concert steps to remove impediments to UNMISS's ability to implement its mandate,” Lomoro said.

Any bureaucratic processes that delay UNMISS access to different parts of the country to respond to protection of civilians such as requirement of written permission from the government will be removed.

Asked if the extra UN force, mandated to use “any means” force to ensure implementation of the peace agreement might be bias as earlier claimed by the government, US envoy Power said there is no question of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) impartiality.

“We on the UN Security Council have the utmost confidence in UNMISS's impartiality, its independence,” said Power.

The government had, in the past, accused the UN forces of sympathising with the opposition.

Power said President Kiir assured the UNSC that his government will extend all support to the work of UNMISS.

President Kiir stood silently as his cabinet affairs minister read out the communique. Asked by a reporter if he support the communique, he responded that “the communique is very clear.”

The armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) of former first vice president Riek Machar is demanding the deployment of troops before Machar, who fled Juba in Juba, could return. He has since been replaced by the opposition chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai.

The communique did not mention if Machar could return to Juba to take up his position or when the protection forces would be deployed.

(ST)

A web series where justice is determined by the audience and delivered by a vigilante group has become a huge hit in Kenya.

Uganda qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 1978 after beating Comoros on Sunday.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says the decision by judges to allow anti-government protests to go ahead showed a reckless disregard for peace.

September 3, 2016 (KHARTOUM) –The Payinjiar community living in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum have impeached their community leader, John Kassara Koang, accusing him of having allegedly been bribed with over $500 when South Sudan's first vice president Taban Deng Gai visited Sudan.

The Payinjiar community at a meeting in Bentiu town, August 23, 2015 (ST)

Dominic Keah Puot, an executive committee member of Payinjiar board in Sudan told Sudan Tribune that the entire community dismissed Koang for taking a bribe.

“We would like to inform the public that Payinjiar community executive board has impeached community chairman John Kassara Koang Nhial who recently joined [President] Salva Kiir camp. We totally rejected the behavior that may spoil the community who played a great role for progress of SPLM/A I.O in Unity State,” he said.

The community has now appealed to its members across the globe to cut ties with Koang for his allegedly bribery involvement. He the embattled chairperson also failed to attend a meeting organized by the community in the Sudanese capital last month.

Kuet Chuol, the deputy chairman of the community, vowed to execute his duties diligently.

He accused the former community chairperson of allegedly misusing his position and abusing his constitutional mandate.

“The step which has been taken by John Kassara Koang is a criminal act. Koang has surrendered himself to Jieng Council of Elders after he was bribed with only 500 USD. We are therefore asking the authority of Nuer communities to cut communication with him [Koang],” explained Chuol.

Sudan Tribune was unable to reach the ex-community leader, despite repeated attempts.

(ST)

September 3, 2016 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese army (SPLA) has declared that the country was not under any worrying security threats after it allegedly contained armed activities in various areas in Central and Western Equatoria which the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar, used as an escape route to Congo.

South Sudanese SPLA soldiers in Pageri in Eastern Equatoria state on August 20, 2015 (Photo AFP/Samir Bol)

Speaking at a press conference held at the army headquarters on Friday, Military Spokesperson Brig Gen Lul Ruai Koang described as “stable” the security situation in the country .

"SPLA is glad to tell you that we have succeeded in containing spread cases of insecurity that happened in July in Juba. It is to acknowledge that insecurity spread to some areas, but those had been contained to some extent," he told reporters in the capital, Juba, on Friday, the same day where a visiting United Nation Security Council delegation arrived the country from New York.

"Frankly speaking, the general security situation is not bad as its being painted by some elements against peace and stability. SPLA general headquarters would like to once again assure about the ability and capability to maintain law and order across the nation," he added.

SPLM-IO officials reported that recent clashes took place this week in Eastern and Central Equatoria states between Torit and Liria.

Koang reiterated commitment of the army to persecute “wrongdoers” within its ranks. He cited the recent conviction of 60 soldiers as an indication of commitment of the leadership and command of the army to ensuring that justice is fully served when mistakes are identified.

He admitted some attacks were carried and showed a level of sophistication and coordination that affirms the presence of organized criminal activity perpetrated by anti-peace elements.

Meanwhile the chief of staff, Paul Malong Awan, said in a separate meeting with senior military officers that it was their duty to create and build confidence in civil population and to assure that security situation was stable and encourage them to return to their homes to resume their normal activities.

“It is our duty to create an enabling environment so that we build a confidence in the civil population by letting them know we are their protectors, not their enemies. We should now work hard to ensure that all the civilians are safe. We also need to come out that security is under control”, said Awan.

(ST)

September 3, 2016 (EL-FASHER) - Gunmen opened fire on a car carrying a family in North Darfur's county of Kabkabiya, killing a man who was driving his family back home on Friday night.

Pro-government janjaweed militiamen on top of a heavily armed pickup patrol the main road out of the Kirinding-2 refugee camp at the outskirts of Al-Geneina, April 24,07 (Reuters)

A relative of the victim, Hadi Adam Ahmed, told Sudan Tribune that the dead, Ahmed Mahdi Khairallah is a teacher, in Kabkabiya. He further said that the attack occurred on Friday evening as they was returning home after a visit to their family in the area.

"Three masked men riding motorcycles intercepted the car and shot the passengers. They wounded his wife who was taken to the hospital, while the teacher died on the spot," Ahmed said.

Kabkabiya is the homeland of armed militias affiliated with the government, particularly those known as ''Janjaweed''. The presence of weapons in the area encouraged armed attack, robberies and tribal violence in the area.

Recently, following the sharp deterioration of the security situation in North Darfur state, Governor Abdel-Wahid Youssef declared a state of maximum readiness in the state capital El-Fasher.

Earlier the state government banned riding of unlicensed vehicles and motorcycles besides wearing of Kadamool (a turban which covers the face).

The Sudanese government vowed to disarm civilians but not concrete measures are taken on the ground, as the uncontrolled gags continue to carry out criminal activities.

(ST)

South Sudan&#39s government has accepted the deployment of a 4,000-strong regional protection force recently mandated by the United Nations Security Council, in addition to the roughly 12,000 UN peacekeepers already serving in the African nation.

Expressing a serious concern over the ongoing political impasse in Guinea-Bissau, the United Nations Security Council today urged leaders in the West African country to find a solution to the crisis, and ensure a functioning government.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon, and Jean Ping, presidential candidate of the Démocratie Nouvelle party, to help end violence that ensued the recent, closely-contested presidential election in the African country.

A United Nations report on freedom of expression in Somalia released today describes progress in state-building in Somalia, but shows the very challenging environment that continues to confront journalists, human rights defenders and political leaders, including numerous killings, arrests, intimidation and closure of critical media outlets.

September 3, 2016 (YAMBIO) – An unknown woman who refused to give her full name to midwives during her delivery has abandoned her newborn baby in Yambio civil hospital on Thursday morning, state authorities said.

Special protection Unit Office in Yambio Hospital (ST Photo)

The administrator of Yambio State Hospital, John Sangara, said he received a report from the maternity section in the hospital that a certain woman came to the hospital alone in a labor pain without any card and only mentioned one name, Maka, when she was admitted.

Sangara however explained that after she delivered a baby boy at night on Wednesday she left the baby alone in the maternity ward and escaped from the hospital. She is nowhere to be seen and the staff of the hospital are shouldering the responsibility of breastfeeding and taking care of the abandoned baby.

It remains unclear as what prompted the lady to abandon her baby. She came to the hospital without the husband or any relative to help her. Eyewitnesses said she was crying when leaving the hospital.

The hospital administrator said they will continue to take care of the baby as the case has been reported to the police and to the directorate of gender, child and social welfare to intervene so that the necessary support could be offered to the newborn baby.

(ST)

September 3, 2016 (JUBA) -Youth group from Gogrial state, one of the newly created controversial 28 states which President Salva Kiir decreed into being, has petitioned the removal of their Governor Abraham Makuac from the office, citing inability to run the state affairs and lack of cooperation.

Women from a cattle camp walk near Gogrial (Photo Tim Freccia/Enough Project)

“We thank you for the creation of (28) states and for putting to practice the vision of the (SPLM) of taking towns to the people. The Youth Association leadership of Gogrial County and their entirely members are obliged to voice out our grievances due to developing administrative failure by the newly appointed governor, Abraham Gum Makuac,” partly reads the youth letter.

“Our president, as you are aware of communal conflict between Apuk Community of former Gogrial East County and Aguok Community of former Gogrial West County led the priority in selecting for us strong and competent leader who works hard to bring political stability, Peace, law and order in the state. The governor of Gogrial State, Gum Makuac has failed us all including your image as the president of the Republic,” the petition further read.

The widely circulated letter, copy of which was extended to Sudan Tribune, described governor Abraham Gum Makuac as “a very weak in administration, claiming this weakness was openly seen during the formation of his state government.

“Gogrial state government was not formed by Abraham Gum. It was formed as directed by some individuals in fulfillment of their interests in the state,” the youth claimed, citing alleged appointment of incompetent officials.

The youth further argued that governor Gum failed to maintain the security and unity of conflicting communities of Apuk and Aguok since he was appointed as governor. The problem of Apuk and Aguok was contained by then defunct Warrap state government lead by .Akec Tong in which Gum and some of the officials served, they said.

It continued to say “fighting was stopped and compensations were made for people killed in the conflict. Unfortunately, after some months few individuals from Apuk went to Aguok and killed two sons of Sultan Kuec Mayar in cold blood. We all worked hard to convince our people not to take law into their hands but to trust the government to first investigate the killings. The investigation was made and some culprits were found guilty and arrested with the connection but nothing had been done until we heard recently the killing of other three people by the same culprit who killed the first two people last year. This narrative makes us to believe that escape of the culprit from the jail and the new killing is squarely in the hand of governor.”

Peace between the rival Apuk and Aguok communities in Gogrial state, according to the petition, will not come to an end because of inaction of the administration of Gum in the state.

“He failed to set up trial for the perpetrators who murdered the two sons of Sultan Kuech Mayar Yel in Aguok from last year up to now. We have never heard whether the family of the deceased was compensated or not,” they said.

(ST)

September 3, 2016 (NYALA) - Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at a number of camps in Darfur have refused to return to their original villages despite repeated calls by the government saying they wouldn't return until security is being achieved there.

Head of IDPs and refugees association Al-Shiekh Ali Abdel-Rahman told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that IDPs conditions is deteriorating, pointing that displacement continues to take place in Central and North Darfur states due to ongoing clashes around Jebel Marra area.

He said the IDPs can't return to their villages for insecurity, pointing to the humanitarian tragedy in the camps due to the severe lack of food after the aid groups reduced food rations by more than %40.

Abdel-Rahman stressed that several IDPs were killed on their way back to their homes at the hands of the armed militias that seized control over their villages.

He pointed that voluntary return could be carried out only after establishing security and ensuring safety of IDPs' lives and property besides removing the new settlers who controlled their villages and farms.

Abdel-Rahman also stressed the need to compensate the IDPs in a fair way and to provide them with the basic services, underscoring importance to achieve transitional justice and social reconciliations as well as bringing perpetrators of genocide to trial.

He said that government moves to convince the IDPs to engage in the voluntary return programs is nothing but an attempt to put their lives and property in danger of genocide, pointing the IDPs are forced to stay in the camps despite their miserable conditions because they have no other option.

The government seeks to dismantle IDPs camps that have been established on areas around the capitals of Darfur's five states since the eruption of the armed conflict in the region.

An official source told Sudan Tribune Friday on the condition of anonymity that the government of South Darfur state intends to dismantle IDPs camps by the end of this year, saying these camps tarnish the reputation of the region.

He pointed that all parts of the state are secure and stable, stressing there is no need to keep these camps.

Governor of South Darfur state Adam al-Faki had previously said their top priority now is to dismantle IDPs camps after they crushed the rebellion and achieved reconciliation and peaceful coexistence among the various tribes.

He offered the IDPs three options, saying they should either be integrated into existing towns, stay in the camps after they are being planned or return to their original villages voluntarily.

South Darfur government has reconstructed a number of villages but failed to convince to return particularly following the killing of several of them at the hands of armed groups affiliated with the government who claim ownership of the land.

Also, nine IDPs from Hashaba village for voluntary return, 86 km south of Nyala, South Darfur capital were killed last Sunday which raised IDPs fears about moving to these villages.

UN agencies estimate that over 300,000 people were killed in Darfur conflict since 2003, and over 2.5 million were displaced.

(ST)

September 3, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese government has reiterated its call to the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) to accept the tripartite initiative to deliver humanitarian assistance to civilians in the conflict affected areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

Girls sit in front of their shelter in Bram village in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan April 28, 2012. (photo Goran Tomasevic Reuters)

In August 2012, the African Union (AU) announced the signing of an agreement with Sudanese government and SPLM-N over the humanitarian access to the rebel held areas.

The two parties accepted a tripartite initiative to provide humanitarian aid to the affected civilians in the areas controlled by the SPLM-N rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

But, Khartoum had refused a deal the tripartite team signed with the SPLM-N on 18 February 2012 based on its sovereign right to control the whole operation that the United Nations, African Union and Arab League proposed to conduct.

In a press statement on Saturday, Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed Adam has accused the SPLM-N of using the humanitarian aid issue as a tool to achieve political goals.

He pointed that the affected population including children, women and the elderly has nothing to do with the differences between the government and the SPLM-N, stressing the government seeks to deliver aid to the affected according to the humanitarian principles and away from the political agendas.

Adam pointed out that insistence of the SPLM-N to deliver aid directly to the rebel-held areas via airplanes and without following the proper customs and health procedures is inconsistent with the principles established by the United Nations especially with regard to demonstrating respect for the sovereignty of nations and their national laws.

He added the movement's demand also raises suspicions that it seeks to fulfill other objectives beyond the humanitarian assistance, saying only three out of the 17 localities in South Kordofan fall fully or partially under the control of the SPLM-N while the movement doesn't control any locality in the Blue Nile.

He pointed that the SPLM-N controls %10 of the population and territory of the Two Areas, stressing his government's keenness to deliver humanitarian aid to look after every citizen living within Sudan's territory.

The Sudanese official added that his government accepted the tripartite initiative since 2012 and the fourth item of the UN Security Council resolution 2046 which supports the initiative besides accepting UN initiatives in 2013 and 2014 to carry out children immunization campaigns in the war-affected areas.

He pointed that the government has launched a unilateral initiative to complete children vaccination in the Two Areas but the SPLM-N refused despite the fact that the movement had signed the tripartite initiative in August 2012.

Last month, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Marta Ruedas said that South Kordofan and Blue Nile suffer from real humanitarian problems that must be addressed as soon as possible.

She said that children in the Two Areas have not been vaccinated for five years, adding that people suffer from severe acute malnutrition due to lack of food and agricultural land.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed to the warring parties to hold a one week moratorium on fighting in the two states to enable aid workers to carry out a polio vaccination and Vitamin A distribution campaign for about 150,000 children under the age of five years.

Here also the parties failed to agree on from where the operation would be conducted as the SPLM-N asked the United Nations agencies to conduct this campaign from Ethiopian and Kenya, while the Sudanese government said this operation should be carried out from the Sudanese territory.

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since June 2011.

The latest round of talks between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N in Addis Ababa last month failed to reach a cessation of hostility agreement as the talks are stalled over the humanitarian access from outside Sudan.

(ST)

September 3, 2016 (JUBA) - Members of United Nations Security Council have warned South Sudan against rejecting the 4,000 troops to boast peacekeepers in the country.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power speaks to reporters after a meeting with the South Sudan's cabinet on 3 September 2016 (UNMISS Photo)

Addressing to reporters in the capital, Juba on Friday, the United States permanent representative to the world body, Samantha Power said an outright failure to cooperate would lead to "Plan B", which could be a disappointment to South Sudan as a country.

“So, we are here as the Council to not get to plan B. It would be a great disappointment not merely for the UN Security Council, but for the people of this country who count on the government," said Power.

Last month, the Security Council passed a solution to draw 4,000 soldiers from countries neighboring South Sudan to be deployed in Juba to monitor implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement that ended the 21 months of war between forces loyal to President Salva and his former Vice President Riek Machar.

The agreement suffered a set back in July when clashes erupted between the country's forces, forcing Machar to flee before he was eventually replaced by Taban Deng Gai.

Power said the UN was on mission to convince South Sudan overnment into accepting the force.

“We really need to see progress on the deployment of the regional protection force and the lifting obstruction of humanitarian actors and of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and hopefully of moving forward under the political agreement which is going to [...] be the foundation for stability," said the senior US official.

“We expect the government of South Sudan as the newest member-state to the United Nations to want to end the culture of impunity, to want to end killings and sexual assaults and ethnically-based attacks and political attacks,” she added.

The Security Council members met President Kiir and his ministers in a closed door.

Meanwhile, members of the Security Council conclude their visit on Sunday with a visit to the UN camps, which currently hosts ten of thousands of civilians displaced by conflict.

(ST)

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