Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan

National unity: a project for each and every South Sudanese

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-21T12:23:01Z

By Jacob K. Lupai

May 21, 2013 - South Sudan has just attained independence from an imposed unity that had failed miserably to take into account the objective realities on the ground. In the old Sudan people did not take national unity as a project for each and every Sudanese. Greed and insensitivity preoccupied people's minds and the result was the breakup of Sudan into two independent nations, the Republic of South Sudan and Sudan.

Probably conscious of its struggle against unpalatable unity, the newly independent Republic of South Sudan has opted for a decentralized system of governance. It was fundamental how to establish the basic patterns of governance in realizing national unity in diversity. Decentralisation is a growing trend in Africa and the Republic of South Sudan is therefore not an exception. Indeed the Transitional Constitution, 2011 recognises the need to devolve some key central government administrative and political authority to governments at the state and local levels.

In the First Governors Forum after South Sudan's independence in July 2011, the governors of the ten states spelt out the need for further decentralisation. The governors were indeed calling for a federal system of governance in the Republic of South Sudan. However, it is very unfortunate that in some quarters federalism is negatively associated with ethnicity hence the loud cry that federalism for South Sudan is ethnic federalism. This is, nevertheless, not only blackmail but a total advertisement of profound ignorance of the essence of federalism.

Federalism in essence is envisage as an administrative and political solution to problems of underdevelopment, marginalization and to problems of the lack of active participation of people in running their affairs. Another misleading generalisation is that there is no need for federalism in South Sudan because “federalizing federalism and/or replacing federalism with federalism is unrealistic if not an illusion”. What a piece of garbage! Is there any existing federalism in South Sudan when, in fact, it has been rejected?

The Equatoria Consultative Conference which took place at Nyokuron Culture Centre in Juba under the theme; Fostering Equatoria Leadership in Building Cohesive Nation, reaffirmed the commitment of Equatoria to a federal system of governance in the Republic of South Sudan. Equatoria has spoken and is committed to objective federalism as opposed to ethnic federalism of the dependent scaremongers. Objective federalism may be defined as that federalism which addresses underdevelopment in contrast to the so-called ethnic federalism which is perceived by the lacking in confidence as putting up massive solid walls of divisions between ethnic groups that are denied interaction.

With a population of 2,628,747 which is about 32 per cent of the total population of South Sudan, the demand of Equatoria for a federal system of governance cannot be ignored. Equatoria clearly sees federalism as of benefit for all. It is therefore up to the other regions to see the benefit of federalism. People should not be put off by those of tunnel vision and lacking in confidence.

Federalism is not monolithic. It is dynamic because there is no one single definition of federalism that people may rigidly adhere to. Indian federalism is not the same as that of the United States of America. Federalism guarantees equitable sharing of power and wealth, and participation in the various aspects of running the nation and this can only be good for national unity. A system that is advocated by insensitive tunnel visionaries or pseudo revolutionaries is a sure way to doom and gloom because it will inherently be a monopoly of the tribalistic as others are treated with contempt.

South Sudan will be vibrant with federalism because national unity will be a project of each and every citizen. Development will be accelerated as major decisions are taken at the state and local level. The fear expressed that federalism divides people along ethnic and regional lines hence disunity is nothing but a mental problem. With reference to development, in federalism the regions and states will gain enormously from each other. This is by regular conferences to identify common challenges for a united effort in addressing the challenges.

In federalism expertise will be shared. I will have no problem to work in Northern Bahr el Ghazal provided I am under the governor of that state. The role of the central government should be that of a facilitator and coordinator. Implementation of projects should be the responsibility of the federal states or regions. The central government is to provide the needed assistance and a back up to realise the overall government policy for socio-economic development in the nation.

The fear of federalism that it is ethnically and regionally divisive does not hold water. South Sudanese have come of age and are mature enough that they cannot be divided by mere levels of government in federalism. It is dependency culture that seems to be the issue here. People seem to depend on Equatoria for anything that there is an exaggerated fear of losing anything that is Equatorian in federalism.

The exaggerated fear is the type of naivety the anti-federalism lobby seems to have. However, one can assert that South Sudanese will never be divided because they are not as simple as the naivety of the anti-federalism lobby seems to suggest. Didn't South Sudanese fight as one people but of different ethnic groups, regions and states to achieve that one common terminal objective, independence? In their diversities South Sudanese were united in their struggle for freedom. What will divide them in federalism with the same diversities?

In conclusion, the anti-federalism lobby may need to rid themselves of playing games with national unity. It is possible that South Sudanese understand national unity as a project that must be achieved through each and everyone's effort in all their diversities. Equatorians understand that the unity of South Sudan is paramount but not at the expense of any other region or state.

The author can be reached at jklupai@googlemail.com

Unity and reconciliation necessary for sustainable peace in Darfur

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-21T12:19:47Z

By Adeeb Yousif

May 20, 2013 -The biggest challenge in the Darfur conflict today is divisions. These divisions have created misunderstanding and mistrust within Darfurian society. Moreover they have and are still playing a negative role in the region, making peace difficult to achieve. Therefore I am suggesting a regional unity and reconciliation between all entities as well as tribes in Darfur, as a step toward sustainable peace. One school of thought in conflict resolution argues that reconciliation process needs to begin after peace. However Kelman Herbert, (2010) pointed out that reconciliation at macro and micro process could start at any time during the conflict. Thereby in this article I propose a plan on peace-making: regional unity and reconciliation between Darfurian as first step, then collectively can fight for lasting peace, in which it address the root causes of the Darfur conflict.

Throughout its 57-years of independence, Sudan has been embroiled in conflict for about 47-years and 10-years of negative peace. This has led to many peace negotiations, yet the country has never had peace despite many agreements that have been signed. One of these agreements the comprehensive peace agreement CPA signed in January 2005 between the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) and the National Congress Party (NCP) brought to an end the longest civil war in Africa. The options on the table between the two parties were either an attractive unity, or peaceful divorce. Since little had been achieved to create unity, a referendum that was conducted in early 2011 led to a declaration of independence by Republic of South Sudan on July 9th 2011.

In Darfur the first peace accord was the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) that was signed in May 2006 between the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/M) of Minni Minnawi and the National Congress Party (NCP), followed by other 24-agreements including the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) signed in July 2013. Regrettably, none of these agreements were able to bring peace or security to Darfur, rather they have created increasing numbers of factions among Darfur rebel groups and helped create new rebel groups while also destroying the social fabric of Darfur ethnic groups. While a final agreement, accompanied by formal handshakes, can provide a safer environment to address difficult social, political, economic, and military issues, it does not guarantee peace. It is the masses of ordinary people and how they live with each other that will guarantee (or doom) peace and the true implementation of any agreement.

Before I propose details about Darfur regional unity and reconciliation I would like to point out that there are two possible means for change. First, through military victory as happen in many countries, a fresh example is Libya. However with no rule of law, a breaking justice system, tribalisation of government organs and security, the process may end in replacing an old dictatorship by a new one. Second, through peaceful means, where it includes all parties to the conflict. The goal is to build a sustainable future of cooperation between all people in Darfur not just “Africans” or just “Arabs”, but everyone. Different sectors of the Darfur communities should be considered even the Janjaweed. Those militias are part of the problem thereby they should be part of long and short-term solution; they have been used by the Government of Sudan, and today they are victimised by the same government. Without their involvement in such processes, peace might be difficult. To achieve peace, social justice, social fabric, political reform and democratic transformation, first we need to ripen the situation to make it ready for doing so. Then empower the local population and give them the tools by which they can make their own decisions about the kind of society they wish to live in.

The significant relationships:

It is important to understand the past, and ways that people had lived in peace previously to develop positive peace building. To achieve lasting peace in Darfur requires comprehensive participation of real actors of conflicting parties as well as the affected population. It is equally important to consider the past relationships between all Darfur tribes and their ethnic background and to stop ignoring the most significant non-Arab and Arab relationships that will, in fact, eventually give birth to a nonviolent future. This process needs to develop from the Bottom-Up Processing parallel with Top-Down processing in order to create strong results that everyone was involved with. Among other problems, which complicate resolving the Darfur conflict, is that actors have been dealing with symptoms of the conflict, but not the conflict itself.

The successful pursuit in way of resolving thorny disputes such as the Darfur case requires a unity process across time and space. This is especially the case since Darfur was one of the most stable areas in Sudan, if not in the African continent with outstanding peaceful coexistence and social relations between tribes. Thereby without unity, there can be no partial agreements, nor decisions taken, nor defeat and victory in battlefields. Good intentions alone cannot achieve sustainable peace. Conflict resolution process and sustainable peace must have a social process base.

This reconciliation is distinguished from other levels by the larger number of people participating from different sectors. It is therefore more effective and active in the community especially as the region cannot reach its programs to all sectors of the people. Training of community leaders for the dissemination of knowledge and the concept of reconciliation to their communities is especially critical. Peace-building process is an approach that starts from the bottom up to establish and enable the foundations for a comprehensive regional reconciliation. This process needs a third party, an “Intermediate” considered the most important. The concept of community reconciliation relates to the grassroots and non-grassroots leaders and is therefore close to all social circles and often plays a mediating role between national and local levels. It also plays this role between international and national organisations, most of which graduated from the initiatives of civil society organisations. It has especially recently played important roles in the development and strengthening of the culture of peace.

In such processes, it is important to consider and take it into account the role of women, not only because women represent over half the population, but because women are the biggest role in shaping the future of nations and assume direct responsibility in the upbringing of generations. Women in Darfur are playing multiple roles in development, social stability, and economic and political realms. Women contribute to the workforce in the state, both directly and indirectly, by producing goods for marketing and therefore contributes to the national income. In Darfur at the family level, women are responsible for securing food and fuel, and taking care of the children and the elderly and preserving the heritage of family and the transferring knowledge through oral story telling.

A woman that is conscious of women's issues in today's world is the hope of achieving peace and keeping the social fabric, transferring the good values, traditions, and respect for diversity. They can also play great role in establishing social peace, as peace does not only mean the absence of war (Martin Luther). This is not just a political phenomenon, but reflects the social process that has many levels, which include peace at the family and community level, and then on the regional and international levels as well. It also includes "inner peace, peace with oneself, and this kind of peace is necessary in order to create a peaceful world. Through this unity and reconciliation, it is possible to stop the bloodshed and stop the miseries of Darfurian innocent civilians. Reconciliation in Darfur would help create a ripe situation for lasting peace. It is the best solution to making Darfur avoid a continued future of chaos, revenge, anarchy and lawlessness. And indeed it is the way to stop the ongoing disastrous conflicts and mitigate latent under-the-surface future conflicts.

Adeeb Yousif is PhD. Student in the program of the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR) at George Mason University

Sudan's council of states suspends sessions to push for military mobilisation

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-21T06:07:23Z

May 20, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Council of States has decided to suspend its sessions in order to enable its members to head to their constituencies and lead a mobilisation campaign in support of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in its ongoing battle with rebel groups which have stepped up their military activities in recent months.

The head of the Council, Adam Hamid Musa, said that Sudan's national legislature which includes the National Assembly and the Council of States decided to suspend its activities and send the MPs to their states to mobilize people against dangers facing the country.

Earlier this month, the National Assembly suspended its sessions for a week and sent lawmakers to their states to meet with the local governments in order to mobilise youth to support SAF.

Musa, who spoke in the eleventh session of the council on Saturday, added that members are part of their constituencies and they will discuss with them how to face rebels' aggression politically and militarily.

The council's members have approved the general mobilisation work plan and decided to suspend their meetings from May 20 to June 3, 2013.

The representative of the River Nile state at the council, Hisham Al-Birair, said that the campaign aims to mobilise Sudanese people and make them aware of the conspiracies being hatched to undermine peace and security in the country.

The representative of the White Nile state, Saadia Salah, for her part, praised the council's efforts to mobilise people, adding that mobilisation campaign is a comprehensive program aims at leading people to confront plots of the West and the renegades.

The representative of the Northern state, Badawi Al-Khabir, said that mobilization is a non-partisan issue and everyone is obliged to participate in it, adding that Sudanese people must be made aware that the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) is nothing but a rouge group fighting the Islamic regime of the Sudan.

The speaker of Sudan's National Assembly, Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir, who addressed a mobilization rally in the Northern state capital of Dongola on Sunday, said that "Sudan wouldn't fit for both of us [the government and the rebels]; either we stay in it or they take it".

Al-Tahir further described SRF rebels as a "disgrace" to Sudan, traitors, mercenaries, and agents for Zionism", stressing that the battle is not only SAF's battle but also the Sudanese people.

Sudan says the rebels groups receive funds and military equipments from Israel and accuses Uganda and South Sudan of providing the logistical facilities.

Last Friday, South Sudanese president Salva Kiir received a letter from his Sudanese counterpart Omer Al-Bashir about the alleged support the rebels from South Sudanese officials.

Kiir pledged to investigate the complaint and reiterated his commitment to the security agreement between the two countries.

(ST)

SAF promises decisive victory against rebels soon

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-21T05:48:26Z

May 20, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has announced that major victory against rebellion will be declared soon and said it would be a landslide victory which will destroy "the rebels who have committed crimes and atrocities".


The official spokesman of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Colonel al-Sawarmi Khaled Sa'ad, (ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/Getty Images)

After last April rebel attacks in South and North Kordofan, Sudanese government officials and military carry out a large campaign to recruit volunteers to fight the rebels but also mobilise popular support for the government which faces economic and political difficulties.

Observers say that the killing of some local officials and tribal dignitaries by the rebels facilitated the government efforts.

SAF's spokesperson, Al-Sawarmi Khaled Saad, told Ashorooq TV on Monday that SAF's victory at all territories controlled by the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) is drawing near, promising good news for Sudanese people very soon.

He added that rebels continued to spread rumours aimed at deceiving the Sudanese people but to no avail, saying "SAF would cleanse the country of all rebellion and the hour of truth is approaching".

Saad further praised the Sudanese people for supporting SAF in all military operations zones and the public mobilisation which pervaded throughout Sudan, saying that it had a very strong impact on the men fighting in the frontlines.

In the past, fighting between the rebels and SAF has largely been limited to Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states bordering South Sudan, which seceded from Sudan in 2011.

But SAF rebels extended last month their attacks to Um Rawaba in North Kordofan state before to redeploys its fighters to Abu-Kershola in South Kordofan on the border with North-Kordofan state.

Since then senior Sudanese military and political officials have been talking about reclaiming all territories controlled by the rebels.

In the same context, Sudan's defence minister, Abdel- Rahim Mohamed Hussein, and the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) director, Mohamed Atta, have visited Nyala, capital of South Darfur state, and its environs to check on the security situation.

The defence minister said in press statements Monday that his visit to Nyala aims at inspecting the security situation, noting that they held a successful meeting with the state's governor, Adam Mahmoud, and the state's security committee to check on security situation as well as ensure full coordination between SAF, the police forces, and the NISS forces.

He described the situation in Nyala as stable, saying that residents are living their normal life and security situation in the state is improving continuously.

Darfur has been a flashpoint for lawlessness and violence since rebel movements took up arms against the Khartoum government in 2003.

South Darfur state has witnessed a near total security breakdown in recent months with recurrent incidents of looting, banditry and murder including from pro-government militias.

On March 30, a Sudanese paramilitary force attacked El-Geneina bus stop market in Nyala on mid-day robbing merchants and bystanders at gunpoint.

In March also, a cargo train which was on its way from Nyala to the city of Daein in eastern Darfur has been attacked by unidentified armed robbers near Khor Taan area which is located 60 km east of Nyala.

Last April, the main airport in Nyala came under shelling this from rebels belonging to the Sudan Liberation Army of Minni Minnawi (SLA-MM).

(ST)

Ex-South Sudan rebels claim Khartoum arrested its members, confiscated properties

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-21T05:06:33Z

May 20, 2013 (KAMPALA) - A South Sudanese rebel group, which recently signed a peace deal with the Juba government, claims the government of Sudan arrested some of its members and confiscated personal belongings, including cars and houses in the capital, Khartoum.

Gordon Buay, who identifies himself as the spokesperson of South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA), said the crackdown occurred on May 15, linking it to the decision by the group to abandon their rebellion and accept an amnesty offered by South Sudan President Salva Kiir.

Khartoum denies backing or assisting any rebels in South Sudan but the SSLA claim that their leadership was based in Khartoum with their armed forces in Sudan's South Kordofan state before they crossed the two year-old international border into Unity state to accept the amnesty in late April.

“We are informing the international community, IGAD and the African Union that the Government of Sudan confiscated four houses, seven cars and detained four members of the families of the former rebel leaders", the ex-rebels said in statement issued Monday.

Buay, described Khartoum's actions as violation of international humanitarian law.

He also claimed the Sudanese authorities had placed one Lt. Gen. Gordon Koang Chol under house arrest and prevented him from leaving Khartoum for South Sudan to join the advance team of the rebel groups that signed the recent peace deal.

"Supporters of the rebel groups who reside in Khartoum are being prevented from leaving for South Sudan and the whereabouts of twenty five Nuer boys from Unity state is unknown," claimed the rebel spokesperson.

The information that reached us confirmed that they were detained by the Government of Sudan National Security agents because they are supporters of the rebel movements that signed peace with the Government of South Sudan, Buay added.

He called on the international community to condemn what he described as "the illegal action the Government of Sudan had taken by confiscating personal properties of individuals and detaining family members of the rebel leaders who signed peace with the Government of South Sudan".

No official statement on the allegations has, however, been released by the South Sudanese government and attempts by Sudan Tribune to reach the official spokesperson at the ministry of foreign affairs were unsuccessful.

The ex-rebel official claimed the "illegal" actions of the government of Sudan could jeopardise relations between the Sudan and South Sudan, which seceded from the north in 2011 as part of a 2005 peace deal.

(ST)

S. Sudan army says it recaptured town from Yau Yau rebels

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-21T05:04:27Z

May 19, 2013 (BOR) – The South Sudanese army (SPLA) says it has retaken control of an area previously held by rebels in the remote Boma town in Jonglei state.


An SPLA tank in Bor on 18 May 2013 (ST)

Army spokesperson Phillip Aguer told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that the SPLA had restored law and order in the town, which had been under the control of David Yau Yau-led forces for days.

“The SPLA has restored law and order in Boma town. The SPLA entered Boma this morning and we have now taken control over it”, said Aguer by phone.

He said four army soldiers were killed and another 12 wounded in the ensuing battle to reclaim the rebel-held territory.

He added that 20 rebel fighters had also been killed in the clash.

“We captured lots of weapons and the army is now in the process of identifying them to find out their sources and the countries of manufacture,” he revealed.

A number of food items and alcohol allegedly imported from neighbouring Eritrea were also reportedly recovered from the rebels.

However, it remains unclear as to how the rebels obtained the goods, raising questions about a possible link between South Sudanese armed groups and elements from the neighbouring country.

A rebel group fighting in Jonglei, the country's most populous state, claimed on Tuesday to have laid siege on Pibor town, highlighting the level of their activities in the area in recent days.

Meanwhile, the rebel's official spokesperson, Colonel Peter Konyi Kubrin, issued an evacuation warning to civilian populations in the state capital Bor, claiming they are sending forces to attack the city.

(ST)

IDPs attacked in South Darfur en route to Dereige camp

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-21T04:53:07Z

May 20, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Displaced civilians on their way to Dereige camp in South Darfur were attacked by an unidentified armed group on 16 May, according to UK-based advocacy group the Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO).

In a statement, SUDO UK says members of the armed gang threatened to kill their civilian hostages unless a 6,000 Sudanese pound ransom was paid.

The group were en route from Muhajriyia to the South Darfur capital, Nyala, when the incident occurred.

The civilians were eventually freed after the driver managed to collect the sum from various sources.

SUDO UK condemned the attack, calling on the Sudanese government and the joint African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to take responsibility for the protection of civilians in the war-torn western Sudan region.

It has also urged the Sudanese government to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable.

The latest attack follows a separate incident on 8 May, in which an armed group attacked a lorry carrying civilians between Nyala and Um Dawan Ban, resulting in the deaths of an unconfirmed number of people from the Rezeigat and Fallata ethnic groups, including a woman.

The group says a recent wave of tribal conflicts in the restive region, as well as clashes between rebel groups and the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and their allied militias has displaced some 200,000 people in South and East Darfur during the past three months.

“There is very little assistance being provided to those displaced persons in terms of shelter and food. Many camps suffer from the lack of health services and even when facilities exist they are very poor, lacking medicines and medical staff”, SUDO UK said in a separate statement on Sunday.

“In addition, the rainy season is just a month away and those who have [been] displaced will not be able to cultivate [crops]. This will result in a very large food gap and serious shortages”, the statement added.

SUDO UK said the recent conflicts highlight the failure of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), the Darfur Development Strategy (DDS) and UNAMID attempts to achieve peace and reconciliation in Darfur.

It has called on UNAMID to play a more proactive role, including boosting its patrols, to make areas safe for civilians to return home and cultivate their crops.

“Where displaced persons fear to return home they should be given immediate assistance in food and non-food items. In particular medical facilities should be improved in all camps,” the statement said.

The rights body has also called on the Sudanese army and other armed groups active in the region to ensure civilians are not harmed or displaced from their villages and towns during military operations.

(ST)

Sudanese refugees relocated to camp in Ethiopia

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-21T04:52:13Z

May 20, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) - The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has relocated over 1,480 Sudanese refugees from the border to Sherkole camp in Ethiopia pushing the capacity of the camp beyond the initial limit of 9,000 people.

In a statement the UNHCR in Ethiopia said the refugees who had originally been displaced by the conflict in Sudan's eastern Blue Nile state were relocated during March and April.

The Sudanese refugees were being sheltered among host communities along the Ethiopia-Sudan border since their arrival in 2011 hoping to return when stability is restored.

But with the security situation in Blue Nile state still uncertain the UN refugee agency said it is planning to relocate more Sudanese refugee from the borders to camps further inside Ethiopia.

Ethiopia's Agency for Refugees and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) - which is an implementing partner of the UNHCR - said that some 2,000 more Sudanese are ready to be relocated soon.

Currently Ethiopia hosts nearly 90,000 Sudanese refugees who make up 22.5% of the total over 397,000 refugees currently Ethiopia shelters.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

The UNHCR believes that continuing conflict and access to humanitarian aid in Blue Nile and Kordofan states would possibly drive more Sudanese to seek refuge in Ethiopia.

With the Sudanese government and SPLM-N as yet unable to reach a peace accord, the UNHCR said Assosa town in Ethiopia's Benishangul-Gumuz region will remain in emergency preparedness mode to receive new refugees.

The AU-mediated peace talks between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N held last month in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, ended with no breakthrough.

The two sides failed to reach agreement on the central issues of the conflict as well as providing humanitarian aid to conflict-affected regions.

Further more the UNHCR and its partners are planning to expand Kutaworke transit centre within Sherkole camp with the aim of using it as a temporary shelter in the event of a large scale of influx.

“In the meantime, UNHCR is following up with ARRA and the regional authorities on the approval of the site for a 4th camp” it said.

DISEASE OUTBREAK

The UNHCR meanwhile said Sudanese refugees continue to arrive in Ethiopia from camps in Upper Nile where the outbreak of Hepatitis-E is confirmed.

To tackle a potential spread of the disease to the camps in Ethiopia a multi-agency task force has been established to develop and implement a Hepatitis-E preparedness plan.

According to UNHCR officials there is a legitimate possibility that the disease could be prevalent within Blue Nile state.

“UNHCR and ARRA have been meeting with the Regional Health Bureau, WHO and UNICEF to strengthen coordination between the host community and Refugee operations regarding epidemic preparedness and response”, the UN body's statement said.

(ST)

Juba summons Chinese ambassador over oil blockage

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-21T04:50:21Z

May 20, 2013 (JUBA) - South Sudan on Monday summoned the Chinese ambassador to Juba to complain over an alleged blockage of the flow of its oil to international markets through Sudanese territory, government sources have said.


Sudanese repair crew work at the Heglig oil facility, after Sudan started pumping oil again from the war-damaged oil field on May 2, 2012, (file Getty)

Chinese companies dominate the South Sudanese oil industry having been welcomed into Sudan before the South seceded from the north in 2011 taking with 75% of the country's 500,000 barrels per day of oil production.

South Sudanese oil production was halted in January 2012 due to a dispute between Khartoum and Juba over transit fees but, as part of a cooperation deal, production resumed last month. President Salva Kiir is scheduled to join his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir in to witness the first Southern crude to be exported from Port Sudan on the Red Sea for almost a year and a half.

However, sources in Juba told Sudan Tribune on Monday that on the directives of the government of Khartoum, oil from the Tharjath oil field in Unity state had not flowed into Heglig - a contested oil-producing areas on the north-south border - for the last three days.

A senior government officials at the ministry of petroleum and mining told Sudan Tribune on Monday that the pipes had been shutdown and oil workers chased away from the area by the members of Sudan's security services. The security service personnel had been sent to the area "for the protection of the very oil workers they harassed and chased”, the source said.

The official, who requested to remain anonymous said the South Sudan's oil minister, Stephen Dhieu Dau, on Sunday called his Sudanese counterpart, Awad Ahmed Al Jaz over the issue.

Al Jaz told Dau that "he does not know anything about the issue and he will contact field managers to know what happened and will call back the minister but did not call him back since yesterday. Our ministry decided to send in a team led by the undersecretary and the director General today. They went and found out that nuts were tied. We did not expect this”, he explained.

Sudanese intelligence and security services accused some circles in Juba of continuing to support the rebel groups who last month attacked several areas in South and North Kordofan.

Sudanese security officials say Darfur rebels who took part in the attack on Heglig in April 2012 are still have some presence in the Unity state, despite the signing of cooperation agreement.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS SUMMONED CHINESE AMBASSADOR

Officials at South Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation confirmed summoning Chinese ambassador over the alleged blockage of the oil flow by the Sudanese government.

“The ministry decided to summon the Chinese ambassador today because of the reports from the petroleum and mining ministry about the sudden blockage of the flow of oil again by the Sudanese authorities. This is a clear violation of the cooperation agreement. This is why we decided to involve our partners who are also the stakeholders in the oil production. We want to know and see what role they can play at this moment”, a senior diplomat at the ministry told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

The official who also requested anonymity said the government wants to give diplomatic efforts a chance before coming out with the details to the public, saying he hopes China will be able to convince Khartoum allow the full flow of the oil and operation of the workers without intervention.

“You see the cooperation agreement is very clear on the oil resumption. It does not limit the flow. Also we allowed Sudanese security operatives to our fields for the protection of the workers not to be involved in the technical work. These are the issues which we brought up today at the meeting with the Chinese ambassador. We made it very clear that oil workers must be allowed to do their work without interference from any side because they are technical people”, the official explained to Sudan Tribune.

Meanwhile South Sudanese Minister of Information and Broadcasting Service, Barnaba Marial Benjamin denied any knowledge of the closure of the oil follow when contacted by the Sudan Tribune on Monday.

“I cannot confirm because I do not have any information”, Marial told Sudan Tribune on Monday without giving additional comments.

However, a senior civil servant who works at national legislative Assembly in Juba told Sudan Tribune: “Minister Marial knows what is happening but he does not want to be quoted out by the media because he thinks it will generate public disquiet and possible protest which is what they want to avoid. The government wants to try diplomatic efforts. They want to handle it diplomatically.”

“It is not a secret anymore. It is already public knowledge. The government should just tell the public what happened instead of trying to sleep on what is already known. Our people in the field are communicating with us and they are saying what is happening there”, the official explained.

NO COMMENTS FOR CLOSURE

The undersecretary the ministry of petroleum and Mining, Machar Ader told Sudan Tribune that he would not comment on the issue when contacted by Sudan Tribune on Monday.

Ader was the senior official at the ministry of petroleum and Mining who led a technical delegation to the field on Monday. He is expected to make internal briefing on Tuesday to the government.

(ST)

Presidential aide proposes to form a national council for peace

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-20T09:20:53Z

May 19, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese presidential aide Abdel Rahman Al-Mahdi proposed to form a national council for peace gathering the leaders of the political parties to discuss national issues .

In statements he delivered Sunday the presidential assistant said he contacted some political leaders to discuss the discuss his initiative, stressing the readiness of the government to engage dialogue with the political parties provided they renounce violence or seek foreign support.

Abdel Rahman who is the son of Sadiq Al-Mahdi, leader of the opposition National Umma Party, refused to describe his participation in the government as superficial; he pointed out he is actively participating in the decision- making process.

Speaking about the recent rebel attacks in the two states of Kordofan, he said that the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) attempted to attack oil production areas and Al-Obeid the capital of North Kordofan but they plans were foiled by the army.

He asserted that the government believes in dialogue and peace as strategy to resolve the current crisis in the country but added that the parties have to distance themselves from violence or seeking the support of foreign countries.

Sudanese government accuses the rebels and some opposition parties of attempting to topple the regime with the support of some countries.

Abdel-Raham said the government is willing to with the SRF "once defeated", adding that Khartoum is ready to associate all the political forces in the elaboration of a new constitution.

There are reports in Khartoum about talks between the ruling party and the Umma party of Sadiq Al-Mahdi but the opposition party denied his intention to participate in the government.

The Umma party refuses the use of force to bring down the regime but demands the formation of a national government gathering all the opposition parties, a matter the NCP rejects.

(ST)

Speculations about ministerial reshuffle in Sudan

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-20T07:47:49Z

May 19, 2013 (KHARTOUM) — Different sources have expected a large ministerial reshuffle in Khartoum, saying that the first vice-president Ali Osman Taha might be relieved from his position.


President Omer Al-Bashir speaks to his first vice-president Ali Osman Taha at Khartoum airport in March 2011 (file Reuters)

A presidential source told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that First Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha is one of the most prominent figure that will quit the government in the upcoming reshuffle, adding he will dedicate his time as deputy chairman to the management of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

The source further revealed that defence minister Gen. Abdel-Rahim Hussein, will also be among those who will lose their ministerial portfolios.

Abdel Rahim recently disclosed to several journalists in Khartoum that he demanded to be relieved from his position for health reasons. The minister suffers herniated disc in his back.

Gen. Bakri Hassan Saleh, minister of the presidential affairs, is among the most prominent candidates to succeed him. Saleh is appreciated from the army and at different times the military preferred to speak with him about the problems they face than Hussein.

However other sources ruled out to appoint him at this position because he holds a prominent position in the Islamist Movement. In the past also, some sources speculated that Bashir was preparing him for the presidency of the country.

Finance minister Ali Mahmoud is also cited among those who will be removed in the expected ministerial reshuffle.

Also, the presidential assistant Jaffar Al-Mirghani would be appointed minister at an important portfolio and quit his current post.

The source stressed that the reshuffle will be comprehensive and touch most of the cabinet members.

The new cabinet was scheduled to be announced before the end of April but the attacks of the rebel groups in Kordofan region forced the presidency to defer it, it was learnt.

It was also reported that presidential assistant and NCP deputy chairman Nafie Ali Nafie is strongly opposed to the ministerial reshuffle because he says the moment is not opportune to make such important changes.

He also argues that the reshuffle may create a vacuum in the executive body.

But sources said that Nafie is probably fearing that Ali Osman may delimit his role in the leadership of the ruling party.

Currently, Omer Al-Bashir is the leader of the ruling party, Ali Osman is the NCP deputy chairman for executive affairs and Nafie is the deputy chairman for the party's affairs .

Nafie led a wing within the NCP against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement negotiated by Ali Osman Taha with the late SPLM leader John Garang and signed in January 2005.

Following Garang death, he worked to weaken and marginalise Taha who since lost his influential role in the government.

Omer Al-Bashir at different times announced that he would not seek to remain in power after the end of his current term in 2015, and asked the party to chose a new candidate to replace him.

Observers say if Taha takes the control of the party this may give him the necessary means to prepare for his election in 2015.

(ST)

UN agency alarmed by humanitarian situation in Kordofan and Darfur

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-20T05:25:54Z

May 19, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - The United Nations has expressed its concern over the continued fleeing of civilians in South Kordofan state because of the fighting between the Sudanese Armed forces (SAF) and the rebel armed groups.

A report issued on Sunday by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) mentioned that the UN doesn't have presence in the areas controlled by the rebel Sudanese People's Liberation Movement in South Kordofan.

Sudanese government banned the access of aid groups to the rebel held areas in South Kordofan as well as the establishment of camps for the displaced civilians.

"The UN is concerned about the continued reports of fighting which lead to injuries, deaths and displacement among civilians", said the report.

The report further pointed that 45.000 people in North Kordofan state have been displaced in the recent weeks.

Last month, the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebels swept through Umm Rawaba in North Kordofan state in an attack that took the Sudanese government by surprise.

The report further said that 60.000 people have been displaced from areas of Muhajiriya and Labado in east Darfur.

It mentioned that an unidentified armed group killed 4 people on May 9 in the town of Bangoul and looted 3000 head of cattle, adding that a convoy of United Nations-African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is waiting for the government approval to access the area of Labado.

Darfur has been a flashpoint for lawlessness, violence, and displacement since rebel movements took up arms against the Khartoum government in 2003.

The agency underlined the UN is still waiting for the government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) approval to halt military operations in the states of South Kordofan and the Blue Nile for a week to allow vaccinating thousands of children, warning that lack of vaccination constitutes a serious setback for Sudan's efforts as well as the global efforts to fight and eradicate the new wild polio virus.

(ST)

SPLM-N calls for UN humanitarian chief to visit rebel-held conflict areas

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-20T05:17:49Z

May 19, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) has called on the head of the UN's humanitarian agency to visit areas in Blue Nile, South Kordofan and Darfur outside of Sudanese government control that have been off-limits for the past two years.


FILE - UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos (R) holds a joint press conference with Sudanese Social Welfare Minister Amira al-Fadel Mohamed in Khartoum on January 4, 2012 (GETTY)

SPLM-N secretary-general Yasir Arman made the comments in a statement issued ahead of a scheduled three-day visit to Sudan by the head of the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Valerie Amos.

Amos, the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, is due to arrive in Khartoum on Monday.

Arman says the visit comes at a critical time, with Sudan witnessing a worsening humanitarian crisis in Blue Nile, South Kordofan, North Kordofan and Darfur states.

He says an estimated 4 million civilians have been displaced as a result of the decade-long war in Darfur, while the Sudanese government continues to deny humanitarian access in the border states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan, where its army (SAF) simultaneously carries out aerial and ground bombardments against the civilian population.

MAGNITUDE OF THE CRISIS

In its statement, the SPLM-N called on Amos to consider visiting rebel-held areas which have previously been off-limits in order to report to the international community the true depth of the humanitarian crisis in the region, rather than visiting areas pre-selected by the government that do not reflect the magnitude of the crisis.

There are also calls for Amos to meet with the SPLM's political leadership and its humanitarian wing during her upcoming visit in order to obtain information from both parties to the conflict.

“Khartoum is not interested in addressing the humanitarian situation and as usual is buying time, using the visits of high profile international officials to give lip service to the humanitarian situation”, said Arman.

“The Sudanese regime and [Sudanese president] general [Omer] al-Bashir have been the largest manufacturer of the humanitarian crisis in Africa for 24 years continuously and the present regime has a long record of targeting civilian populations and destroying lives. They are permanently on the humanitarian crisis list for almost a quarter of a century - the same regime with the same personalities”, he added.

OCHA says Amos plans to meet with officials from the Sudanese government, including Bashir, as well as representatives from humanitarian organisations, with discussions to focus on ways to improve humanitarian access to people affected by conflict and displacement, particularly in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.

The under-secretary-general is also expected to travel to Darfur to see for herself the ongoing humanitarian operation in Sudan's western region.

TOUGH STANCE NEEDED

Arman has urged Amos to take a firm stance on the Sudanese government's continued refusal to allow unfettered humanitarian access to conflict-affected areas, saying it constituted a war crime under international humanitarian law.

He said the SPLM-N stood ready to work with OCHA on a proposed vaccination program to target preventable diseases, such as pertussis and measles.

“We equally stated the need for a brief cessation of hostilities to carry out the vaccination plan since Khartoum [has] refused - for more than one-year - a full humanitarian cessation of hostilities. In the absence of a humanitarian agreement with Khartoum and given the war situation, there is a need to agree on where the vaccination program will originate from”, he said.

Fighting erupted in South Kordofan in September 2011 when Southern-aligned SPLM-N rebels launched an insurgency against the Khartoum government, with the conflict spreading to neighbouring Blue Nile state a few months later.

According to Arman, some 24 civilians were killed in the last three months alone in Blue Nile and the Nuba Mountains, with many more injured as a result of aerial bombardments.

More than 700 people, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and SPLM-N activists, have been arrested in government-held areas. Some of them were subjected to torture, while others were sentenced to death. Those arrested include 138 in Blue Nile state and about 200 from the Nuba Mountains area in South Kordofan state, including 45 women – some of whom are pregnant – as well as more than 50 leaders of the SPLM-N.

Meanwhile, more than 200 people have been arrested from Darfur and North Kordofan, including SPLM-N activists.

(ST)

SPLM deputy chairman says the party is in trouble

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-20T05:13:13Z

May 19, 2013 (JUBA) – The deputy chairman of the South Sudan's ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), Riek Machar has warmed of a possible collapse of party, unless it democratically transforms and refocuses itself.


South Sudan vice-president Riek Machar (Reuters)

Machar, also the country's vice president, told senior officials at the party's general secretariat that the SPLM had “lost direction and vision”, making references to reports from various state secretariats across the country, which depicts the party was largely unpopular.

He however said it was incumbent upon the south-ruling party to change the status quo.

The vice president made these remarks Saturday during celebrations to mark the party's 30th anniversary where he was invited to deliver a speech.

The party's occasion took place two days after the army organized a similar event, at which Machar warmed South Sudan army (SPLA) to remain neutral in the ongoing political debates.

Last year, the SPLM dispatched its most senior members to various states and carried out a country-wide performance assessment based on the party's policies and activities at the grassroots. However, results from these assessments shockingly showed the party had lost its sense of direction and vision.

Officials are now worried that the historical party may not win the upcoming 2015 elections, after it appears to have lost the confidence of the people as the country's ruling party.

Many blame the party for alleged failure to deliver the much-needed service to the people, while other say the SPLM has performed below peoples' expectations.

But the party's deputy chairman stressed that there was need to transform the SPLM in order to refocus and become a viable political party capable of leading the country to prosperity.

Speaking at the same event, the government chief whip, Atem Garang, also highlighted the challenges facing the party and expressed the need to rectify them through transformation.

Atem heads the SPLM parliamentary caucus in the national legislative assembly.

In the process of transformation, however, the south-ruling party has been discussing its four basic documents, which include the constitution, manifesto, code of conduct and rules and regulations.

Primary elections at the grassroots are expected to take place and the elected members constitute delegates to the national convention scheduled for later this year.

Last week, a presidential advisor and widow of the late founder of the SPLM, Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, warned of what she said were "red lines" in the transformation process.

Nyandeng said it was important for the primary elections to take place prior to the convening of the convention.

Many senior party officials are also critical of the chairman's favoured "show of hand" instead of the universal "secret ballot" voting mechanism during party elections.

Members are also critical of the chairman's demand to handpick 5% of the candidates, saying this constitutes unfair competition, which can give him an upper hand against other contestants for chairmanship.

Senior party officials, including Machar criticised the president Salva Kiir, also the SPLM chairman, saying he has failed to provide guidance and vision.

(ST)

UN concerned over Khartoum's suspension of local NGO's activities

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-20T05:12:02Z

May 19, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - The United Nations (UN) has expressed its concern over suspending activities of the Sudanese aid group Al- Manar which provides food for about 528 malnourished children in Khartoum's neighbourhoods of Mayo and Mandela as well as Omdurman women's prison.


A tent for residents of the Mayo IDP Camp in Khartoum , May 21, 2011 (photo State Dept)

A report issued by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Sunday, pointed that Al- Manar was recently forced by security officials in Khartoum State to stop its projects for malnourished children in Mayo and Mandella camps for displaced people and in Omdurman women's prison.

According to the report, earlier this month Al- Manar was forced to stop these projects when Sudanese authorities refused to grant it access permits for these areas.

"UN agencies are following up to try to ascertain the reason for closure of these projects and to advocate for them to be allowed to continue", said the report.

Al- Manar had been running projects to provide nutritional support for over 400 severely malnourished children in the camps and for 128 children who are staying with their mothers in the Omdurman women's prison.

The report added that Al-Manar projects are funded by the United Nations Common Humanitarian Fund because reducing malnutrition and developing capacities for national Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are among priorities of the UN.

The Government of Sudan has consistently appealed to the UN to invest more in strengthening national capacities. Since 2010, the UN has doubled the amount of funding that it has channelled through national NGOs in Sudan.

Sudanese authorities are highly suspicious of the activities of NGOs. The latter are often suspected of collaborating with opposition and rebel groups or with the war crimes courts in The Hague.

Last December, three NGOs have been closed and their staff harassed and questioned by the National Security Service (NSS). They were accused of threatening national security because they receive foreign funding.

In 2008, Sudan expelled 13 foreign aid groups and suspended a few local NGOs accusing them of cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it issued an arrest warrant for President Omer Al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the western region of Darfur. He was later accused of genocide also.

(ST)

Eritrean youth face most harrowing atrocities: activist

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-20T03:43:43Z

May 19, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - Renowned Eritrean activist Meron Estefanos has told an international conference in Oslo that of all the atrocities taking place in the repressive Red Sea nation, the plight of its youth is the most harrowing.


Eritrean activist and journalist Meron Estefanos

In an eloquent and quietly emotive speech at the fifth annual Oslo Freedom Forum in the Norwegian capital earlier this week, Estefanos said the aspirations of an entire generation following the country's 1991 liberation had been squashed by the dictatorial Asmara regime.

“Betrayed and bewildered, this generation of Eritreans is scattered right across the globe and with every year the tragedy of this reality reaches new and untold levels that the world simply fails to grasp”, she said during her speech, adding that “fear is now the most common emotion in Eritrea”.

The three-day forum was attended by hundreds of the world's most influential dissidents, journalists, philanthropists and policymakers, with the aim of exploring how best to challenge authoritarianism and promote free and open societies.

FROM FREEDOM TO OPPRESSION

When Eritrea defeated occupying Ethiopian forces in 1991, thousands of children were among those who lined streets across the country to cheer on the victorious freedom fighters.

However, by 2001, Estefanos says, the tide had turned and those same freedom fighters turned brutal oppressors against the children who had once celebrated their hard-won achievements.

According to Estefanos, the country's only university was dismantled and the student union leader arrested. Harsh restrictions were imposed on media and dissenting journalists simply disappeared into the country's expansive prison network.

The previous mandatory 18-month national service was extended to an indefinite period, with the country's youth now required to enter military units from the age of 16 or 17 years old, where everything from what they read to what jobs and education opportunities they access is controlled, she said.

Up to 3,000 young people are currently in refugee camps in Sudan and Ethiopia. Most are fleeing grave human rights abuses and the bondage of indefinite national service, from which Estefanos says death or exile are the only escape.

The risks are high, with the government practicing a ‘shoot-to-kill' policy for those found attempting to leave.

Increasing numbers of Eritrean refugees are also falling into the hands of a brutal network of traffickers operating in and around Shagarab refugee camp on the border in eastern Sudan. Victims are kidnapped and then sold off to Bedouin criminal gangs in Egypt's Sinai peninsula for various purposes, including the extraction of their organs.

Captives are subject to gang rape, beatings and other torture in order to extort large ransom payments from their families.

Estefanos is no stranger to the intimidation tactics employed by her country's government. A journalist and human rights activist, she actively campaigns for freedom and democracy in her country and has been threatened and harassed for her work, particularly her coverage of the case of Dawit Isaak, a Swedish-Eritrean journalist imprisoned without charge for more than 10 years in Eritrea.

As part of her speech, the Sweden-based activist played an excerpt from a recorded interview she conducted with one hostage, who desperately begs for help to pay a $35,000 ransom demand.

She also showed photos taken of one hostage, who still had visible physical scars two months after paying $50,000 to secure his release from kidnappers.

However, even after trafficking victims are released, Estefanos says many young people are still denied their basic rights as genuine asylum seekers and forcibly deported from neighbouring countries where they are seeking refuge, including Israel.

Estefanos' adopted country Sweden recently halted forced deportations of Eritrean asylum seekers, after the country's migration board decided to re-evaluate its policy regarding applicants from the East African nation.

Prior to this month's suspension, Sweden had been the only European country in recent years still deporting Eritrean asylum seekers.

DIASPORA MOBILISES

Estefanos said that activists in the diaspora community are now mobilising to engage and inspire those still inside the country.

She cited the grassroots Freedom Friday Movement (FFM) which is using random automated voice calls to build solidarity with Eritreans inside the country. The group, which has become a household name in Eritrea, has made more than 90,000 calls, inspiring a number of small passive acts of resistance, including the emptying of streets on Fridays and the filling of mosques and churches during various occasions.

A video smuggled out of the country earlier this month also shows residents in Asmara reading posters placed around the capital, calling for mass demonstrations.

She said a failed coup attempt by a group of dissident soldiers on 21 January, who stormed the ministry of information and took over the state-owned television service to broadcast their demands, also represented a “faint glimmer of hope”.

She said activists are seeking support from the international community to continue the FFM campaign, including expertise in underground movements, technology and mass communications.

The group currently employs commercial operators used by large multi-national companies to carry out its automated voice calls to Eritrea, with the diaspora community currently footing the campaign's hefty $3,000 weekly cost.

Despite the enormous challenges still ahead, she says she remains “fully confident” that Eritreans will eventually rise up against the brutal Asmara regime.

“Eritreans have started the long journey back to dignity, but it is not going to be an easy ride and we invite all freedom loving people to support us along the way”, she said.

(ST)

Lakes: Teenage girl arrested after throwing baby into latrine

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-20T03:42:26Z

May 18, 2013 (JUBA) - Authorities in the Lakes state capital, Rumbek, have arrested an underage girl who threw her newborn baby into a latrine after falling pregnant outside of wedlock.

The girl, who managed to hide her pregnancy from her parents for nine months, gave birth to a baby boy on Saturday night.

It is alleged she then threw the baby into her family's latrine in the Makuriric residential area, before going into hiding.

Lakes state's department for criminal investigation (CID) launched a search for the girl after family members found the baby alive and alerted authorities.

A senior CID security officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that police had collaborated with the local community to capture the girl.

He said an elderly woman in the area had reportedly suspected the girl's pregnancy, but that her parents were unaware.

The official said police were called to investigate after the baby's cries were heard inside the latrine.

He confirmed that a 17-year-old Dinka Agaar girl had been arrested on Saturday in connection to the case and was being held in CID prison in Rumbek Central county. Investigations remain ongoing.

Pre-marital sex is still frowned upon in Rumbek, where wealth is tied to the number of cattle paid to a girl as dowry. The amount is negotiated between families and can be as high as 200-300 head of cattle.

Pregnancies that occur outside of marriage often inflame community tensions, with conflicts between the families involved sometimes escalating to murder.

Several young men have been arrested in Rumbek on murder charges related pregnancies that occurred outside of wedlock.

Some are also charged with cattle raiding and revenge killings linked to inter-communal violence.

According to police, there has been a recent spate of cases of girls falling pregnant outside of wedlock in Rumbek.

(ST)

Mayom commissioner denies aiding youth that attacked police

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-20T03:40:01Z

May 19, 2013 (BENTIU) - Calm has returned along the county border between Koch and Mayom in Unity state when inter-clan fighting broke out between two branches of the Nuer ethnic group last week.

Thirteen civilians and eight police officers died in the fighting according to local officials.

Jageay Nuer residents in Koch county, including some government sources, accused Bol Mayak the Mayom commissioner of mobilising young men from his Bul Nuer ethnic group to attack their area and a police barracks in Buoth Payam [district].

The Mayom commissioner has denied the claims that he was anyway involved in the attacks. He questioned why he would mobilise young to attack members of South Sudan's police force "my protectors", describing the allegations as"false propaganda”.

Those linking him to the attack on the police station and killing of civilians were "trying to tarnishing his image in the community”, he said.

“Without my tireless effort to come down talking with people to stop the conflicts, this would have increase tension around which would have worsened current situation of calmness. I serious urge everyone to leave the responsibility to the government and there is no need our people kill themselves with issues of cattle raiding this will not happen I swear”, he told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

The commissioners of Mayom, Koch and Rubkotna intervenes to help negotiations between the communities, Mayak said.

Commissioner Mayak urged all communities to campaign against cattle raiding, pointing out that he has arrested 51 accused of the vice since he was was appointed in January this year.

“My representation as the county commissioner does not mean to create problems but to implement the rule of laws that the republic of South Sudan mandated me for”, he added.

Commissioner Mayak added that calm had returned to the area the deployment of security forces and that he was sure the incident would not be repeated. He also said that he appreciated the efforts the Koch County commissioner in helping resolve conflict and bring calm to the area.

(ST)

The Invasion of Abyei: two years of more agony

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-20T03:39:13Z

By Luka Biong Deng

May 19, 2013 - On 21st May 2013, the people of Abyei have spent two years of more agony and they will remember again the sad memories of how their lives and livelihoods were shattered by Bashir when he invaded Abyei in May 2011. But such memories will be bitterer this year as their Paramount Chief Kuol Deng has been assassinated not by any other person but by Bashir. Bashir seems to be specialized in selecting May as the month in which he causes suffering to the Ngok Dinka. He devastated Abyei in May 2008 and May 2011 and now assassinated its paramount chief in May 2013. This assassination happened by the time the people of Abyei are returning back to their home areas and to start afresh with a long journey of recovering from the devastation of Abyei area and trauma caused on them by Bashir. This insatiable appetite of Bashir for causing agony on Ngok Dinka has reached its climax when he killed their paramount chief on 4th May 2013.

Based on the trauma survey conducted by Kush Inc. among the displaced Ngok Dinka, about 82% of people with children had a child or children who became ill or injured as a result of the attack of Abyei by Bashir in May 2011. More than half (51%) of the displaced population became ill or injured as a result of the attack but higher among women with 58.3% of them became ill or injured. Almost 38% of the displaced population met the criteria for the Post-Trauma Stress Disorder illness but higher among women with more than half (51%) affected by the illness. This illness diminishes a person's ability to function independently, regulate behavior, reason and solve problems such as reconciliation with former enemies. These statistics are astonishing and extremely high compared with other post-conflict contexts but they clearly reflect the amount of suffering caused by Bashir on the people of Abyei.

With the assassination of their chief, the people of Abyei are becoming even more traumatized. If one could imagine the feeling of an old woman who returned to Abyei after a long displacement in the North since mid 1980s and she got displaced in May 2008 when she was about to settle down; returned back to settle down but displaced again in May 2011 and returned back in 2013 to hear that her paramount chief has been assassinated. With the news about the death their chief, at least one adult person in every household of Ngok Dinka shed tears and even more during his burial ceremony. When Edward Lino, the prominent leader of Ngok Dinka, shed tears on the day of the burial, many Ngok Dinka and others were moved and sobbed as well. If one could imagine the amount of tears shed all over the world for the untimely death of Chief Kuol, then you can assess the level of agony and suffering inflicted again by Bashir on the people of Abyei. I shed tears that day in the same way I wept when Dr John died because I saw in their untimely death a real loss of the much-needed wisdom and leadership during critical times of peace-building in Abyei and South.

Chief Kuol Deng inherited the Ngok Dinka Chieftainship from his brother Chief Moyak Deng who was also assassinated in 1970 by Sudan Government in Abyei town with others including his two brothers (Bulabek and Chan) and his uncle (Arop Mahdi). Chief Moyak was accused of supporting Abyei Anya Nya insurgent initiated in 1964 and headed by his brother Arop Deng as a reaction to the atrocities committed by the Government of Sudan in Abyei. These atrocities included the massive devastation and displacement of the Ngok Dinka from their villages along Ngol River and the burning to death of more than 200 Southern Sudanese including the mother of Minister Deng Alor in the presence of government officials and the paramount chief of Misseriyia in their major towns of Muglad and Babanusa.

After his assumption of chieftainship in 1976, Chief Kuol provided a solid and people-servant leadership during the relative peace after Addis Ababa Peace Accords in 1972 but also during the most difficult times of prolonged second civil war that ended in 2005. He managed to keep the voices of people Abyei alive during the difficult times such as the 1977 massacre when more than 100 Ngok Dinka including the late Mijak Abiem who were travelling to Abyei town from Muglad and wiping out any presence of Ngok Dinka in Abyei area in the mid 1980s. He survived assassination attempt in Abyei town in 1981 when Sudan Government attacked him with some members of his family who gathered for a dinner and that resulted in the killing of his cousin Alor Arop. He was arrested in December 1982 by Sudan Government with other leaders of Ngok Dinka as they were accused of organizing Anya Nya II insurgency in Abyei and Bahr el Ghazal region under the leadership of his brother Miokol Deng.

Ten days before his assassination, two Misseriyia delegations from traditional authorities and senior officers of the notorious Popular Defence Force went to Khartoum and met with national government (National Security, Presidency, Defense, Misseriyia clique around Bashir) to discuss their settlement plan in Abyei and ways of discouraging the return of Ngok Dinka to their home areas. In these meetings the role of Chief Kuol was discussed as the symbol of the return of Ngok Dinka to their home areas and hard supporter of the conduct of Abyei Referendum to ensure Abyei joining the South. His presence in Abyei area was seen by Sudan Government as an obstacle to its settlement plan in Abyei. In fact his assassination was part of a mega plan developed by the Sudan Government to settle Arab nomads in Abyei area while destabilizing the return of Ngok Dinka to their home areas.

As Sudan Government is trying to twist facts around the incident, it is important to put some of these facts straight. Chief Kuol and other members of Ngok Dinka were moving with UN on 4th May as part of their normal visit to inspect the areas of Abyei, particularly the northern areas. On their way back to Abyei town, the armed Arab militias supported by Sudan Government stopped the UN vehicles and asked instead the UN to hand them the Ngok Dinka passengers in the UN vehicles, particularly the Paramount Chief with clear intention of assassinating them. The UN force commander refused their demand and negotiated with them for almost six hours to allow them to proceed to Abyei town. During the six hours negotiation, the armed Arab militias used all possible means to provoke and humiliate UN forces and Ngok Dinka passengers. When the UN force commander accepted their demand to return back with UN vehicles to the oilfield area of Kec (Differa), one of the armed Arab militia singled out Paramount Chief and shot him in the UN vehicle and died instantly.

The reaction to the death of paramount chief was overwhelming. In Abyei, the Ngok Dinka showed special respect to their leader by the huge presence of almost every Ngok Dinka adult during the burial. I have never seen Ngok Dinka so united as they put behind their minor differences. The people of the South in all ten states remarkably showed their solidarity with the people of Abyei and mourned the death of Chief Kuol almost in the same way they mourned the death of their founding leader; Dr John Garang. In fact President Salva expressed it all the overwhelming feeling of the people of the South in his powerful and emotional statement on the death of Chief Kuol. This reaction of the South to the death of Chief Kuol was a real public plebiscite of how the people of the South see Abyei as an integral part of the South.

While Government of Sudan, unsurprisingly, embarked on blaming the deceased for provoking the armed Arab nomads to overact, the Sudanese people, civil society organizations and other political parties abhorred the assassination of paramount chief and some even held the Sudan Government responsible. The reaction of African Union, UN, European Union, leaders of the neighbouring countries and some other leaders was spontaneous and with one key message not to delay again the resolution of the final status of Abyei.

There is no doubt that Chief Kuol Deng has been exceptionally honoured by his people in Abyei, people of the South, people of Sudan and indeed the international community. If Chief Kuol were to rise to see how he was mourned, he would know how much legacy he left behind. As Chief Kuol was a source of hope, resilience and endurance for the people of Abyei area, his death should make the people of Abyei more determined to protect their ancestral land and to ensure Abyei remaining as part and parcel of the South and to nurture the values and principles for which he fought for during his life. The real redemption for the death of Chief Kuol is to mobilize all available efforts to ensure Abyei is peaceful and prosperous within the Republic of South Sudan by May 2014. In fact the assassination of Chief Kuol Deng was by itself a referendum for the final status of Abyei.

The author is a fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. He can be reached at lukabiong@kushworld.org . This article is published also by the New Nation Newspaper

Western envoys call for end to conflict in Jonglei

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-19T08:52:45Z

May 18, 2013 (JUBA) – Western diplomats, alarmed by the increasing violence South Sudan's Jonglei state, have issued a joint statement calling for an end to the conflict in the country's largest region.

The joint statement, also obtained by Sudan Tribune, bears names of envoys from the US, UK, Canada, The Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway and the European Union.

The diplomats, in the 18 May release, said they are “deeply” disturbed by mounting reports of abuse of civilians, including killings, beatings, and looting and destruction of homes and humanitarian facilities.

“We urge all parties – including the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and other state and non- state armed actors – to ensure that all civilians, regardless of ethnic group, are protected during armed conflict,” partly reads the joint statement issued by the US embassy in Juba.

We call on the government to hold accountable those individuals who have committed abuses in Jonglei, including members of the security forces, through transparent judicial processes, it stressed.

They further urged all parties to enable humanitarian space in Jonglei, including ensuring safe and unfettered access for humanitarian workers and United Nations representatives to provide assistance and protection to all affected populations, and to enable all wounded to access medical care.

The worsening situation in Jonglei, the diplomats argued, requires a "political and not a military" solution, further underscoring the need for dialogue between all parties to begin at once.

"We commend the government of the Republic of South Sudan for its recent offer of amnesty to South Sudanese armed groups, and we urge the groups' leaders to accept the pardon immediately," further says the joint statement.

The western envoys, however, reminded the southern government that ending the conflict in the troubled region requires meeting basic needs and addressing the grievances of communities, distinct from meeting demands of rebel leaders.

"We encourage the government to urgently address these issues," they said.

SALVA KIIR WARNS AGAINST VIOLENCE

South Sudan president, Salva Kiir on Friday warned armed rebel groups and “ill-disciplined” elements within the regular security forces to halt violence against innocent civilians in the country.

The president's warning comes in the wake of the growing levels of violence against civilians in South Sudan's Jonglei state and other parts of the country.

“The Government will not tolerate any violence against its citizens or looting of any property, whether belonging to citizens or humanitarian agencies,” Kiir said in a strongly-worded statement issued Friday.

The president, in the statement obtained by Sudan Tribune, also warned that members of the country's security forces engaged in violent acts on civilians will be held accountable.

Last week, rouge elements within the army staged road blocks in Bor, the Jonglei state capital and allegedly beat up civilians, in protest over delayed salary payments.

The president, however, expressed dismay over continued distabilisation of the country and terrorising of civilians by armed militias, despite several amnesty offers for them to surrender.

He said his government was determined to take all the necessary steps aimed at achieving peace and stability in the young nation.

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Sudan says South Kordofan town to be soon liberated

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-19T08:50:30Z

May 19, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - The spokesperson o f the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) announced that they would soon retake the Abu Karshola in South Kordofan from the rebels who seized the area last April.


Displaced Sudanese people from the district of Abu Kershola comfort each other at a camp on April 29, 2013 in the North Kordofan town of El Rahad. (AFP)

The fighter of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) repulsed for the second time on Monday 13 May an attack SAF forces carried out on their positions in Abu Kershola and inflected heavy losses on the army and its militia.

SRF rebels control the area since 27 April when they launched an attack on several locations including Um Rawaba in North Kordofan.

Al-Sawarmi Khaled stated on Sunday that the" decisive hour is nearing" to liberate Abu Kershola from the rebels, adding that SAF and the other armed forces are fulfilling their duties and would not stop at rumours circulated by the rebel groups.

The military spokesperson was alluding to the statements by leaders of different rebel groups who speak about an imminent attack on the capital Khartoum.

Reports from the South and North Kordofan say the army is recruiting and arming local population in the areas the rebel attacked recently.

Sources also underline that the killing of local leaders and dignitaries by the assailant rebels facilitated the enrolment operations.

Khartoum said 45 people were killed by the rebels after the capture of Abu Kershola and other localities in South and North Kordofan.

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Increase of UN troops in Abyei is part of a previous agreement, Sudan says

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-19T07:45:50Z

May 18, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's foreign ministry has stated that the call of the UN secretary General for adding (1126) troops to the UN Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA) came in the context of an earlier agreement between Sudan and South Sudan and the UN.


Soldiers of the United Nations' Interim Force for Abyei (UN)

Ban Ki-moon in his report to the UN Security Council on Thursday 17 May warned that "the presence of armed groups inside the Demilitarised Border Zone remains a considerable security concern for the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism".

The UN chief asked the Security Council to increase the UNISFA bt 1126 personnel saying it will strength the effectiveness and efficiency of UN Peacekeeping.

The mission which is initially had to monitor the security situation in Abyei is now also tasked with the security situation in the five disputed area forming the buffer zone on the border between the Sudan and South Sudan.

The foreign ministry's spokesperson, Abu-Bakr Al-Siddiq, on Saturday said however that they haven't officially received the request of the Secretary-General to increase the number of troops.

He further added they consider the move as part of the previous security agreement which stipulates that protection of the demilitarized zone including Abyei area is part of UNISFA's mandate.

The UN Secretary General has pointed out that Abyei area is experiencing increasing tension between the Dinka Ngok and Misseriya, saying these groups are still armed, and exchanging hostility and suspicions.

The existing UNISFA is comprised of 3973 troops; most of them are Ethiopians, while its troop strength authorized by the UNSC is 4,200 soldiers.

The report said that "the remaining 227 troops will be deployed within the air aviation unit, as military observers, staff officers and as part of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism".

The killing of the Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief and UNISFA peacekeeper on 4 May increased the tension in the disputed area.

The two sides at the level of Abyei Joint Oversight Committee recently decided to make Abyei a "weapons-free area" as per the 20 June 2011 Agreement and that all perpetrators of criminal acts be brought to justice, by traditional or by formal means.

Moon further said that the delay of the referendum undermines efforts to maintain security and ensure stability of the humanitarian situation, stressing that it is the duty of Khartoum and Juba prevent unauthorized armed individuals from entering Abyei.

An Abyei referendum initially scheduled for January 2011 was due to decide the fate of the area but disagreements between the ruling parties of Sudan and South Sudan over who was eligible to participate has led to a stalemate.

The African Union tried to break the deadlock last year, proposing that the plebiscite go ahead in October 2013, but only for those permanently residing in the area - effectively excluding the Misseriya nomads, leaving the Southern-aligned Dinka Ngok free to vote in favour of joining South Sudan.

Khartoum has rejected the plan, but AU mediators stress the exclusion of the Misseriya nomads is consistent with the decision of the International Court of Arbitration in July 2009, which defined Abyei's territory as the nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms.

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Sudan's defence minister promises rebellion annihilation

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-19T05:57:28Z

May 18, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese defence minister, Abdel-Rahim Hussein, has reiterated the ability of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) to defeat the rebel groups, stressing that they would completely annihilate rebellion from the country.


Defence minister Abdel-Rahim Hussein and NISS director Mohamed Atta wave to NISS soldiers after the farewell celebration in Khartoum on May 18, 2013 (SUNA)

The Minister addressed a farewell celebration for the battalions of the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) heading to the military operation zones on Saturday and said that SAF , NISS, and other regular forces are continuing "holy crawl" to achieve their objectives.

The Sudanese official further praised efforts of NISS's operations department which he said has been supporting SAF in all war zones including Darfur, South Kordofan, and the Blue Nile.

NISS armed units are established by the former head of the intelligence and security service Salah Gosh. They appeared for the first time during the fight against JEM rebels when they attacked Omdurman in May 2008. At the time, SAF was critical to their role but since they coordinate with the army.

The NISS director, Mohamed Atta, for his part, said that NISS will remain a strong supporter for SAF and the armed forces and the Mujahideen (holy fighters) until the country overcomes the challenges ahead and enjoys lasting stability and development.

The Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebels extended last month their attacks to Um Rawaba in North Kordofan state before to redeploys its fighters to Abu-Kershola in South Kordofan on the border between the two states.

SRF is an alliance between Sudanese rebel groups from Blue Nile, Darfur, and South Kordofan opposed to the government led by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir. It was declared on 12 November 2011.

The alliance brings together the two main factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, as well as the Justice and Equality Movement, and the SPLM-North.

The governor of Khartoum, Abdel Rahman Al-Khidir, and his cabinet will attend a prayer organized by the Quran Society on Sunday to supplicate to Allah (GOD) to defeat the enemies of the country.

The event is part of the government efforts to mobilise the Sudanese street and to deter any vacuum the opposition may try to use against the regime or to organise any activities hostile to the government in the capital.

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South Sudan denies marginalising minority tribes in government

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-19T05:29:13Z

May 18, 2013 (JUBA) - South Sudan has denied allegations that it is marginalising minority tribes in the government, asserting that those making such claims are individuals acting out of their own interests.


South Sudanese Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin 2 April 2 2012 (Getty)

Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Saturday, South Sudanese minister of information and broadcasting services Barnaba Marial Benjamin described the ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) – led by president Salva Kiir Mayardit and elected in a 93% landslide - as the “people's government”.

“It represents all the different faces of our communities. The voices talking about marginalisation are individuals wanting to satisfy their own interest not the interest of those they claim to represent”, he said.

Marial was reacting to claims by the Jonglei-based rebel leader, David Yau Yau, that he is fighting for the creation of an independent state for minority tribes in the region, claiming they have been sidelined at all levels.

In exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune on Friday, Yau Yau, who comes from the minority Murle tribe, said the rebel group was fighting for equality for all, including the press.

“Are you now free to write anything about the government? Some of you [journalists] are being killed because of telling our people what you should tell them. This is why you are afraid to talk about corruption, about tribalism, about the deliberate marginalisation of minority tribes in the country, especially in Jonglei”. Yau Yau said, in reference to restrictions on press freedoms in South Sudan.

“We are also fighting for good governance, respect for diversity, adherence to rule of law, respect for human dignity which actually is one of the core values for human rights and development, you name them”, Yau Yau said.

The rebel leader also claimed SPLM's leadership had buried the values for which the decades-long north-South civil war was fought to win independence from neighbouring Sudan.

“We fought together but now there are people who think they fought the war alone and have decided to isolate others, especially the minority like Murle, the Anyuak, the Jie, and the Kachipo in Jonglei. The same thing is also happening in other states where there are minority tribes. The minority tribes do not have a voice at any level of government”, he said.

“We are fighting for our own freedoms, our rights and we will get it. We will get our own state where can we be represented at will … Our people will choose who they want [as elected representatives] not anybody else”, he added.

Marial has dismissed the assertions made by the rebel leader, saying he is fighting only for his own interests and those of the Murle community.

“I said before, the current government is inclusive. In fact, our people are now complaining that this government is big. They want it to be trimmed. They need small government so that financial resources can be used to support other developmental projects”, he said, adding that Yau Yau's claims were incorrect and that he is fighting no genuine cause.

“He is fighting because he lost the [2010] election which is [in] his own interest. It does not represent the interest of the majority of the Murle community”. Marial said, describing Yau Yau “as one of those who do not want to see South Sudan emerging as stable, strong, prosperous and viable young nation because they have been overwhelmed with individual interests”.

Marial maintained the Murle community was well-represented in the SPLM, including a number who held sensitive positions.

“The under-secretary of our finance is a Murle. There is a minister at the cabinet level. They are also in the parliament represented in the state parliament and in the executive”, he added.

A former theology student, Yau Yau launched a rebellion against the SPLM after a failed bid to join state parliament in 2010 elections. He later accepted an amnesty offer by Kiir in 2011 to join the South Sudanese army (SPLA), only to rebel again in April 2012.

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CPJ urges Kerry to address AU summit on press freedom

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-19T05:28:55Z

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

May 18, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) - The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on US secretary of state John Kerry to address African leaders on the issue of press freedom in Africa during an upcoming continental summit.

In a letter to the US official, CPJ urged Kerry to emphasis what the press freedom group calls Ethiopia's continued systematic crackdown on independent journalists.

“We are writing to bring to your attention the deteriorating state of press freedom in Ethiopia, where you will attend this year's African Union (AU) summit. A vibrant press and civil society is fundamental to hold governments accountable and to ensure long-term development and stability”, the group said.

With seven journalists behind bars, Ethiopia is Africa's foremost jailer of journalists after Eritrea.

An Ethiopian court this month rejected an appeal and upheld an 18-year prison sentence for blogger Eskinder Nega, who is being held on terrorism-related charges.

According to the US state department's 2012 human rights report, “the most significant human rights problems included restrictions on freedom of expression and association through politically motivated trials and convictions of opposition political figures, activists, journalists and bloggers, as well as increased restrictions on print media”.

In comments marking World Press Freedom Day earlier this month, the CPJ called on the AU to promote press freedom and work for the release of all imprisoned journalists across the continent.

CPJ said that it was particularly disturbing that Ethiopia and the Gambia - which host offices of the AU - are among the nations holding journalists in prison.

CPJ's latest calls come as Africa prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the now defunct Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and the 10th anniversary of the AU, with celebrations due to be held next week.

“We ask that you [Kerry] include the issue of press freedom in your discussion of the challenges that Africa will face in the next half-century”, CPJ said in the letter.

Ethiopia is considered a close partner of the United States on security matters, despite the East African nation's questionable record on human and press freedom rights.

“When US president Barack Obama laid out his administration's agenda for sub-Saharan Africa last summer, he emphasised strong democratic institutions and respect for the rule of law, noting that these promote both prosperity and stability. But as long as journalists and political activists are imprisoned for speaking their truth to power, such principles will remain illusory”, CPJ said.

East African countries languished at the bottom end of the annual press freedom index published in January by Reporters Without Borders (RWB), amid increased censorship and crackdowns on press freedom.

Ethiopia was ranked at 137th out of 180 countries included in the index, slipping 10 places due its repressive application of the 2009 anti-terrorist law and the continued detention of several local journalists, while Eritrea ranked in last place for the sixth successive year.

Established on the 25 May 1963 in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, the OAU was launched to promote the unity and solidarity of African states.

South Sudan was the latest country to join the AU becoming the 54th member state after it officially proclaimed independence from Sudan in July 2011.

This year's assembly of the heads of state and government will be held under the theme: “Pan Africanism and African Renaissance”.

According to the African Union Commission (AUC), 75 heads of state and 450 journalists will attend the AU summit which is expected to adopt a series of proclamations.

(ST)

Machar tells SPLA to distance itself from politics

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-19T05:28:22Z

May 19, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan's vice-president, Riek Machar, has strongly directed the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) to distance itself from the ongoing political debates in the country.


South Sudan's V-President Riek Machar speaks during a press conference in Khartoum, on May 30, 2011 (Reuters)

Machar told the army to be exemplary in the desired unity of the people of South Sudan and not take sides in debates of political nature.

The vice-president issued the strong-worded statement to the army during the celebration marking the 30thanniversary of the founding of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in 1983.

The event, attended by senior army generals, was organised by the army general headquarters in Juba and invited the vice-president to grace the occasion.

As a national army, Machar told them not to belong to any tribes or political party while calling on the civil populations to respect the army as the defender of the people and territorial integrity of the nation.

South Sudan army has not yet succeeded to transform from the bush life of a guerrilla army, composed of different tribes in a form of alliance, to a professional, non-partisan national army.

SPLA chief of general staff, Gen. James Hoth Mai, had earlier warned the forces against indulging in the ongoing political processes in the country.

There were fears that if the political debates within the SPLM were not done in accordance with its democratic principles and fair process, the army could be attracted and polarized, as well as communities.

Hoth however reminded the army that they did not belong to individual leaders, adding they were ready to work with any president in the country and the only political role they would play was to vote for the person they individually chose during the ballot box.

The ruling party, SPLM, has been undergoing transformational process prompted by the weaknesses revealed by the party's various secretariats in the states which suggested that it had “lost direction and vision.”

The party is also supposed to hold its national elections in every five years to elect a new leadership.

The last national convention was held in May 2008 in which president Kiir was confirmed the party chairman after taking over from late John Garang de Mabior who died in a mysterious circumstance in plane crash in 2005 while on his way back to South Sudan from a visit to Uganda.

Machar and other high ranking officials in the party during the political bureau meeting in March this year blamed the party failure to the chairman, Salva Kiir Mayardit, whom Machar criticized for not providing the needed guidance and vision as the ship's captain.

He also criticised him for not doing enough as president of the government in the nation-state building, saying he could not seriously fight the rampant corruption, polarizing tribalism and overwhelming insecurity as well as strengthen the country's poor economy and its isolating international relations.

Machar also told the president and chairman that he was ready to take up the challenge of correcting the failures if he was given the chance to lead the party and compete in the 2015 presidential elections.

He asked Kiir, who was his running mate and deputy for the last eight years to support him in the process, promising that he would tackle the issues head-on.

Kiir however reportedly said he would also seek to contest again for the chairmanship and compete in the 2015 elections.

The internal party consultative meetings also aimed to pass the party's basic documents and prepare for a national convention in which a leadership will be elected. The confirmed or newly elected chairman of the party will be ready to contest for the 2015 presidential elections.

Accompanying the vice-president during the army celebration was Nhial Deng Nhial, the current foreign minister, who also served as defence minister for two years.

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Rumbek court sentences government official to two years in prison

SudanTribube.com — 2013-05-19T05:27:55Z

May 18, 2013 (JUBA) - Rumbek county court on Friday sentenced a government official to two years in prison for assaulting a reporter for South Sudan Television (SSTV) and threatening him with pistol in the Lakes state capital.

Johnson Poth Matur Akech, also well-known as Poth Johnson Matur Akech, came under attack on 21 April after a heated exchange of words with the acting director of the state-owned Radio FM-98.

Peter Maliap Chieng denied attacking Poth with a pistol during the altercation.
Speaking during Maliep's sentencing hearing on Friday, judge Santo Yuhana Yuggu said the two-year jail term was in line with South Sudan's criminal code under sections 226 and 249.

Poth welcomed the court's decision, saying he had feared for his life after being threatened at gunpoint.

The reporter added that he felt justice had been served, although the judge did not impose a full sentence.

This is the first time that Rumbek county court has sentenced a government official to jail.

(ST)