September 26, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Representatives of the civilian component announced their readiness to defend the democratic transition and confront the military leaders, while Abdel Fattah al-Burhan reiterated they have no intention to seize power.

On Sunday, hundreds of activists flocked to the headquarters of the Empowerment Removal Committee to protect it, after the withdrawal of the security forces tasked with the protection of the committee's premises and 22 facilities confiscated from the leaders of the ousted regime. Also, the military withdrew the guards of the Spokesman of the Sovereignty Council and the head of the removal committee, Mohamed al-Faki.

This escalation has been perceived as part of a plan to seize power by the army after the refusal of the military component to protect strategic economic facilities in eastern Sudan.

In his speech to the activists at the crowded headquarters of the committee which was the former Sudanese parliament, al-Faki thanked them for responding quickly to their call to protect the committee, stressing that this shows the strength of the revolutionary tide in the country.

"This Holy Place, where Sudan's independence was declared, will be a centre for confrontation operations if they want it," he said to the galvanised supporters.

He pointed out that the meeting room will be open throughout the day for the resistance committees, political forces and unions to prepare, coordinate and daily political discussion, stressing that they are "ready for any adventure with uncalculated consequences, and for anyone who thinks of altering the Constitutional Document."

He went further to say he was not afraid after the withdrawal of his bodyguards pointing that the masses protect him.

Al-Faki's speech was repeatedly interrupted by the crowd chanting slogans such as “The army is the army of Sudan, the army is not the army of al-Burhan. All the streets would be blocked in a moment when they receive orders. Oh you who is ready to defend the country, prepare your coffin.”

The remarks by the different orators and slogans chanted by the crowd recalled the popular mobilization outside the army headquarters when the army seized power and refused to hand it to the revolutionary forces in April 2019.

Also, the Forces for Freedom and Changes (FFC) held a meeting at the headquarters of the Empowerment Removal Committee to discuss the recent developments and determine the way forward.

In their remakes at the opening session attended by the media, the FFC leaders reaffirmed their support to the democratic transition and called to adhere to the Constitutional Document, preserving the country's security, and implementing the security reforms.

They expressed their support for the Empowerment Removal Committee and hope that they would not need to stage a new uprising after the December revolution.

Al-Buran committed to democratic transition

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Sunday renewed his keenness on the country's unity and the consensus of political forces, stressing that this unity is the only way to safeguard the country.

Speaking before the army senior officers, al-Burhan stressed that the armed forces are keen to complete the transitional process leading to building a state of freedom, peace and justice.

He emphasized that the army should stay far from political polarization.

"what is rumoured about the intention of the armed forces to carry out a coup is pure fabrication," he further said.

He repeated that the armed forces were the ones who thwarted the recent coup attempt.

Hamdok calls for patriotism

The Prime Minister who leads the transitional government sought to contain the crisis and held a lengthy meeting with the Chairman of the Sovereign Council al-Burhan, but the outcome of the meetings was not disclosed.

After the meeting, he stated that the current conflict is not between military and civilians, but between those who believe in the democratic civil transformation, and who seek to obstruct it.

He added that the unity of the revolutionary forces is the guarantee to immunize the transition from all the threats it faces.

"I call on all parties to strictly adhere to the Constitutional Document, to stay away from unilateral positions, to bear their full responsibility, and to be armed with a high patriotic spirit that advances the interests of our country and our people over everything else," he added.

(ST)

September 26, 2021 (JUBA) – South Sudan government should support efforts by the Joint Defence Board (JDB) to expedite demilitarisation procesa in Tambura County of Western Equatoria State, a civil society body said.

The map of Western Equatoria in red

In a statement issued on Monday, Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO) expressed concerns over disputes and violence fuelled by social media messages from a section of the country's citizens.

“This [social media posts] is bad and worrying. The social media trend on Tambura disputes is fuelling and building up attitudes for violence and creating fear on the population,” said CEPO's Executive Director, Edmund Yakani.

He appealed to the national government to mitigate insecurity in Tambura by supporting the JDB.

“The national government needs to confirm to the nation if the violence in Tambura is leading to formation of armed youth groups from the conflict communities,” stressed Yakani.

According to Yakani, the humanitarian situation of internally displaced persons in Tambura needs to be urgently addressed. He appealed to the political elites to take responsibility to make peace prevail.

“This trend of creating armed group for youth of the conflicting parties is unaccepted and the national government should intervene,” he said.

In the last few months, Tambura County has witnessed violent clashes involving elements of the armed opposition (SPLA-IO) and forces loyal to Gen. James Nando who defected from the SPLA-IO to South Sudan army (SSPDF) last year.

The conflict in Tambura, local officials say, has displaced more than 80,000 people from their homes and remain in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

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Some tribal protesters block the Khartoum Port Sudan road on 17 September 2021 (ST photo)

September 27, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council has acknowledged the resumption in oil flow to Port Sudan, days after protests in eastern Sudan disrupted production in its northern oil fields.

The move, SUNA reported, followed a meeting between the government delegation led by Lt. Gen, Shamseddeen Kabbashi, the Red Sea Security Committee and the Higher Council for Beja chieftains headed by Mohammed Al-Amin Terk.

The meeting agreed on safe passage of oil from South Sudan to Sudan through Bashair.

During the meeting, government delegation presented a number of proposals to solve the East Sudan issue, including reopening ports and national roads as well as holding of a comprehensive conference for the people of Eastern Sudan.

Lt. Gen Kabbashi, who chaired the meeting, announced the security of the civil movement of the Supreme Council of Beja Higher Council until a final agreement is reached on the pending issues.

He also received, at the conclusion of the meeting, a memorandum containing demands of the people of eastern Sudan which the head of the Supreme Council of Beja chiefdoms handed to him.

On Sunday, Kabashi and the accompanying government delegation also witnessed the end of disruption of oil flow at the Bashayer terminal and the resumption of South Sudan's oil exports.

The head of the government delegation also addressed the Beja youth who were closing the Bashayer port praising the peaceful behaviour during the protests and their cooperation with the state government by allowing the entry of basic commodities through ports and airports.

Last week, a tribal group rejecting the Juba Peace Agreement in eastern Sudan closed the roads leading to the maritime ports on the Red Sea. On Sunday the Hadandaw group closed the Bashayer crude oil export terminal, located 25 km south of Port Sudan.

(ST)

September 27, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - A prominent member in the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) confirmed the formation of a separate faction of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) they lead together with the Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM).

Political and civil society forces in addition to several armed groups signatory of the Juba Peace Agreement agreed on 8 September to reunite the FFC in response to an initiative by Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok.

JEM refused to sign the new charter and called to amend it. The group said that decisions be taken by consensus, not the majority and the representation of the forces should be determined according to their weight.

Suleiman Sandal JEM Political Secretary told the Sudan Tribune they launched this new alliance because "some small groups" hijacked the ruling coalition to implement their agenda.

"We have no other choice but to establish a broad and comprehensive national alternative and present our platform to the Sudanese people," he said.

During the peace process in Juba, the SLM-MM split from the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) accusing "small groups" including JEM of controlling the decision making in the alliance of the armed group.

After the signing of the peace agreement, JEM leadership was criticized for its "pro-Islamists" positions. Also, JEM leaders criticized the Empowerment Removal Committee and called to dissolve it.

Besides JEM and SLM-MM, The FFC (2) includes an SPLM-N faction led by Khamis Jalab, Mohamed Ali Quraishi, head of the Third Front, Tamazuj and al-Amin Daoud, (ex) head of the Popular Front for Liberation and Justice. as well as other groups.

The new alliance says Ibrahim al-Amin a leading figure in the National Umma Party and Mohamed Ismat head of a Unionist group joined them. However, the two politicians issued statements dismissing the claim.

"We have a national, moral and political responsibility to spare the country any dangers or political crisis," said Sandal.

The presence of two signatory groups outside the ruling coalition would not affect the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement but would create strained relations between them and the main FFC groups, say observers.

Minnawi calls to reunite FFC

On Monday, Minnawi discussed with Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok the political situation after the failed coup attempt and verbal war between the civilian and military components.

In a statement released after the meeting, the cabinet said Minnawi condemned the attempt and called for the unity of the FFC groups to prevent similar adventures in the future.

"The ongoing crisis is not between FFC and the military component, but the crisis of FFC itself," added Minnawi who called to reform the coalition according to the statement.

(ST)

September 27, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Volker Perthes, Head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) called for dialogue between the Sovereign Council members to ensure the successful democratic transition.

Perthes met with Mohamed Hamdan Daglo "Hemetti", Mohamed al-Faki and Mohamed Hassan Eltaishi on Monday urging military and civilians sides to meet and find a compromise on contentious issues

"I listened to their views and urged them to stop the escalation and return to dialogue between all components of the transitional government," said Perthes in a tweet on Monday.

After the Islamist coup, the military rejected blames by the civilian forces that the non-implementation of the security reforms and refusal to sack Islamist officers from the army pave the way for coups d'etat.

In return, the head of the Sovereign Council Gen al-Burhan and his deputy Hemetti said the civilian failed to address the economic hardship but they would remain the guardians of the transition. For their part, the civilians mobilized the street and warned against any setback.

The strife showed the fragile partnership between the two sides and the importance of the international community role to accompany this democratic transition in Sudan.

French envoy meets Hamdok

Jen-Michel Dumont, France's Special Envoy to Sudan on Monday met with the Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok to express his country support to the civilian-led transition in Sudan.

"I arrived in Khartoum to express France's support for the civilian-led transitional government, after the failed coup attempt," he said after the meeting.

The visiting French diplomat underscored the need for continued partnership between the civilian and military components adding all the parties should cooperate to achieve reforms and improve living conditions in the country.

Dumont's visit to Khartoum comes before the U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman who is expected in Khartoum in the coming days.

(ST)

September 27, 2021 (JUBA) - South Sudan is drawing up strategic plans to ease the transportation of its crude oil to international markets through Port Sudan.

A pipeline that transports crude oil from the south to Port Sudan (Reuters)

“Recent developments in Sudan have interrupted the flow of our oil and the leadership has advised that we resume talks with companies which carried out feasibility studies to explore ways we can avoid such incidents in future”, a source at South Sudan's Ministry of Petroleum told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

The source, who preferred anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, explained that a Japanese firm which completed feasibility studies on the Lamu route in 2013 has indicated interest in resuming talks with the authorities.

"We have three companies which have already indicated their readiness. There are Japanese and American companies which have expressed interest to jointly fund the project on a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis. They need approval of the president.

The minister of finance is working so that a team of experts is permitted to resume discussions on the way forward”, added the source.

The official explained that a German company called ILF, contracted in 2012 to carry out a feasibility study on the South Sudan-Ethiopia-Djibouti route, could be approached again by the authorities to investigate the two options as possible routes for the pipeline. The route has not been chosen yet.

The young nation was forced to shut down its oil production in 2012 after a dispute over transit fees and tariffs with Sudan in protest of unilateral actions in the flow of its oil.

A deal to restart production was later that year in September 2012 struck but South Sudanese officials say they are still looking at other options to export their crude oil to international markets. The options were interrupted by unrest when the country plunged into a full-scale civil war in December 2013 which resumed in July 2016, focusing attention of the country on how it could end the war as the priority.

A demonstration by the Beja community in an area in Sudan through which the pipeline carrying a crude oil from South Sudan to the international markets halted the flow, demanding their demands be met before allowing the resumption of the transportation of the crude oil through Sudanese port.

Media reports portray demonstrators as angry about being left out in the Sudanese a peace deal which the government signed last year with several rebel groups as part of the transitional arrangement from military to civilian rule in the country. The development prompted the transitional government of the Sudan to dispatch a delegation which held talks on Sunday with the protesters.

The talks were proceeded by discussions with Beja community elders to allow the passage of oil exports through Bashayer port, the main terminal close to Port Sudan from where exports from South Sudan are shipped. The Beja elders have reportedly demanded a week to organize and hold internal community consultation over whether they would stop demonstration and allow resumption of oil transport or not.

South Sudanese officials told Sudan Tribune on Monday that the Sudan government has given them assurance of the safety of the oil and that a delegation was in eastern Sudan for talks with the community leaders and had indicated they would not leave the area until a solution is found.

“We are in constant talk the Sudanese authorities through the office of the president and other relevant institutions in Sudan. We are being constantly updated. We are hearing that a delegation from the Sudanese transitional government is in eastern Sudan to talk with elders there. They have held talks with the Beja elders and are still there as I am speaking to you. They have told us that they will not leave until they have seen the oil is lifted on ships and take off”, he said.

Landlocked South Sudan relies on Sudan for export of its crude oil. Revenues derived from oil proceeds constitute 98% of government budget and expenses.

Observers, however, argue that an interruption in the delivery of oil to international markets in an oil dependent country could have a major impact on most of the government projects requiring funds from oil.

(ST)

President Salva Kiir addresses the National prayer day at the John Garang's Mausoleum in the capital Juba, March 10, 2017. (Photo Reuters)

September 27, 2021 (JUBA) – South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has, in an executive order, appointed former minister Rebecca Joshua Okwaci as Chief Whip in parliament.

Okwaci, a veteran journalist and member of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), bounces back more than two years after leaving government.

She will represent the country's ruling party in the national assembly.

Okwaci served in various capacities in government, having started as undersecretary in the ministry of labour and public services, later occupying several ministerial portfolios. She also served in the Ministry of information and later became a national Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services.

Her appointment preceded a political function organized by South Sudan's president Salva Kiir in his capacity as the party chairman and the acting secretary-general of the SPLM, Peter Lam Both. The function brought together all women group in the faction under Kiir's leadership to attend a leadership meeting on Saturday at which the support for the nomination of the candidate was decided and the announcement made immediately.

Kiir asked all women to work together and prepare for the 2023 elections, saying it was time to coalesce efforts on the flood which he said had affected every corner of the country, including his ancestral home village.

"The issue of floods is becoming a problem. Where I was born is now in water”, he said

The South Sudanese leader was talking at a political function organized by the secretariat of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. Acting secretary Peter Lam thanked him for continuing to assign and place women in leadership positions, saying it is not only a recognition of their roles during the liberation struggle and as members of a political organization but for the important position which they (women) occupy in the society as mothers, wives, sisters, and leaders to be given an opportunity like others.

The Chief Whip is a political office whose task is to administer the whipping system that tries to ensure that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires

(ST)

September 28, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The General Intelligence Service (GIS) announced on Tuesday that 5 of its members were killed and another wounded, during a raid against a cell affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) residing in three locations in the capital, Khartoum.

For nearly two decades, Sudan was a state sponsor of terrorism for harbouring militants from several neighbouring countries. The former regime, also, tolerated the activities of Sudanese groups inside the country.

"Based on intelligence about a terrorist cell affiliated with ISIS, a security operation was carried out to arrest its members based in the neighbourhoods of Jabra and Al-Azhari" located south of Khartoum, said GIS in a statement on Tuesday.

11 foreign terrorists of different nationalities have been arrested during this operation.

The ISIS members in Jabra opened fire on the security forces killing five of them including two officers, three non-commissioned officers, and wounded an officer.

The Sudanese authorities further said that the killers escaped. Unconfirmed reports say three of the fugitives were arrested in Khartoum North.

Police sources told Sudan Tribune that the terrorist group ambushed GIS members.

The official statement did not mention any deaths among ISIS militants.

Al-Sudani newspaper, quoting sources, reported that the security force that carried out the raid was not properly equipped.

New year attacks
A terrorism expert al-Hadi Mohamed al-Amin suggested that the cell was planning to carry out attacks in Khartoum, on new year's day, when dozens of foreigners celebrate it in public places.

Al-Amin expected the presence of other cells in the Sudanese capital without excluding the possibility of new terrorist attacks pointing out that the political situation in Sudan is conducive for the spread of violence.

The expert further said that the fact that all the cell members are foreigners indicate that it is easy for them to enter the country and some of them got Sudanese nationality.

"The logistics such as weapons or other things, in addition to the housing, were mostly provided with the help of Sudanese accomplices," he stressed.

(ST)

South Sudan's President Salva Kiir (R) and his advisor Costello Garang Lual (PPU photo)

September 28, 2021 (JUBA)- President Salva Kiir and Costello Garang Riiny Lual, an adviser to the presidency met and held talks on Tuesday, marking the second official meeting between the two leaders following the appointment of the latter by the former in compliance with the provision of the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

Lual is the chairman of South Sudan Patriotic Movement, a member of South Sudanese opposition alliance participating in the coalition government.

He represents his group in the arrangement in which advisers were split among the parties to the deal.

The veteran politician's appointment as an adviser to the presidency was made the same day with the appointment of General Simon Gatwech Dual as a presidential advisor for peace.

Dual declined the offer and decided to declare himself as the replacement for first vice president Riek Machar, marking a split in the armed opposition faction (SPLM/A-IO).

Machar dismisses his removal, questioning the legitimacy and basis of the decision of the group whose leadership was replaced days prior to the declaration made in Magenis, a northern tip of Upper Nile state at the border with neighbouring Sudan.

While Dual declined the assignment, Lual took an oath of office and went ahead to discharge his duties in Juba. He met president Kiir on Tuesday to brief him on a host of issues relating to peace and development programs.

A statement from the office of the president said Lual had briefed the president on common concerns some of which relates to how refugees could be repatriated to the country.

“His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit was briefed in his office by Advisor to the Presidency, Dr. Costello Garang Ring Lual about issues of common concern such as repatriation of refugees and resettlement of internally displaced persons”, the statement reads

Lual told media after the meeting he had discussed with the President about the speedy implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement and that he will hold various meetings with European ambassadors, China, and Germany as well as other investors to discuss development programs in areas of health, education, and infrastructure among others.

(ST).

Afghan refugees awaiting evacuation at Kabul airport on 23 August 2021 (AFP photo)

September 28, 2021 (JUBA)- South Sudan says it is now hosting 40 Afghan nationals who have made their way into the country without clearance from the government.

The Director-General of Immigration, Passports, Nationality, and Civil Registry Gen. Atem Marol Biar said he was surprised over reports of the presence of 40 Afghan nationals in the country without the knowledge of the authorities

He made the remarks on Thursday morning last week during a briefing to sector commanders who have been deployed across the city.

“It is true the country is hosting Afghan nationals. We did not know how they came. I was not aware that Afghans who were fighting in their country are already here with us in South Sudan. I released this in the report to the leadership of the country that they have 40 people here with us who all stay in one place. And I alerted the leadership of the country during my briefing”, said Biar

The top immigration officials said has information and reports before him showing foreign nationals apart from Afghans, were in the country without proper documents. Our problem is only one.

“Our borders are porous and there is war. Some foreign nationals are taking advantage of the situation of war to enter the country illegally. And when they know they are in the country illegally, they opt to stay in remote places and because of the situation of the country, our capacity is strained to reach such places even though we do get such information from our network and cooperation with the communities. Now we have released in the report that there are people from specific countries who stay in a specific place,” said Biar.

He urged the immigration officers to cooperate with members of the public and other security organs to conduct the operation in a polite way to avoid confrontations with foreigners who are not registered with the immigration.

“I want you to cooperate with them because we cannot develop this country alone and report those who fight with you to me so that we notify their embassy officials about the actions, and I urge you not to fight with foreigners”.

He pointed out that the objective of conducting search and cooperation with members of the public and other security organs is for security reasons because big numbers of foreigners in South Sudan have no documents and that it will be very difficult to identify them when they are involved in crime.

He said his office has identified some of the areas where foreigners enter South Sudan without legal immigration documents and that they have plans to establish immigration offices to regulate entry in those areas.

“We have already identified the routes this foreign use to enter the country. We have porous borders with Uganda, with Sudan, with the Central African Republic, with Democratic Republic Congo and with Kenya. In all these entry points, we do not have offices although there are security organs there. Their knowledge of how to deal with foreign nationals is limited”, Biar explained.

He advised officers to protect all foreigners in the country because it is the responsibility of the immigration department to provide them with security.

(ST)

September 28, 2021 (JUBA)- South Sudan says it is ready to reciprocate the decision taken by the Ugandan government to waive visas for it's nationals entering the country.

"We are waiting for the decision of the council of ministers. Once we received a go head directives, we will direct our officers and officials at all entry points for execution”, South Sudanese Director-General of Immigration, Passports, Nationality, and Civil Registry Gen. Atem Marol Biar said Tuesday.

Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth told reporters in Juba on Friday that the government will reciprocate so that they are on the same page with the countries in the region.

“We will do the same Since the Ugandans have done it. We are members of the East African Community”, Minister Lueth, who speaks for the government said without elaborating

The Ugandan deputy prime minister and a minister for East African Affairs Rebeca Kadaga said her country had given South Sudan 30 days to reciprocate, failure of which her country would revoke the decision and revert to the current arrangement in which nationals of the countries pay visa fees.

The young natio was admitted to the East African Community (EAC) as a full member in October 2016, after three years of accession negotiations. Observers are keen to point out that it is a requirement that an aspirant for membership in the bloc must commit to abide by its key obligations. These obligations include compliance with the terms of The Treaty of Establishment, existing protocols, laws already passed by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and, binding agreements and Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) which the bloc has already entered with third parties.

(ST)

September 28, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - South Sudanese Chief Mediator Tut Gatluak arrived in Khartoum on Tuesday to discuss with the transitional government the resumption of peace talks with the SPLM-North led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu.

On June 15, the mediation suspended the negotiations between the government and the SPLM-N l-Hilu following their failure to agree on the framework agreement.

"My visit to Khartoum came upon the directive of President Salva Kiir to discuss the schedule of next rounds of negotiations between the government and the SPLM to achieve peace," Gatluak told reporters in Khartoum.

He added he would also review the progress in the implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement signed between the transitional government and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) on October 3, 2020.

Referring to the recent strife between the civilian and military components, he expressed his concern about the recent developments in Khartoum, stressing that they trust "the ability of the Sudanese to address their issues and reach solutions that satisfy all the Sudanese parties."

South Sudan was directly affected by the closure of a terminal on the Red Sea by a tribal group preventing the exportation of its oil to the international market. The military who had refused to protect the oil facility agreed with the protesters to reopen the terminal.

(ST)