May 1, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan's army (SPLA) says it regrets the defection of senior military officers from its third division which covers the area of Warrap and Northern Bahr el Ghazal, as well as extending administrative command support to Unity state, describing the incident as “an unfortunate development”.

Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) soldiers at Jonglei's Bor airport in after they re-captured the town from rebel forces in January 2014 (AFP)

A senior military commander in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity said he had received reports on Thursday that Brigadier General Gatpel, who was the commander of the headquarters, and Brigadier General Kuol Tap, the brigade commander in Majok Yiiththiou, had left the area without the knowledge of the division commander.

It is not known if the division commander, who is presently engaged in military operations in Unity state, is aware of the development.

The military source told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday that the local command had been closely monitoring the activities of the alleged defected officers in recent months.

“For the last three months, we have been monitoring the movement and the conduct of some officers from [the] Nuer community,” he said.

“We have noticed that they have avoided or limited interactions with fellow officers … and instead increased contacts with soldiers and junior officers from one ethnic group, especially the Nuer. They also refused deployment to areas where the command had recommended, he added.

There have been a series of defections from the army since conflict erupted in mid-December after political tensions between president Salva Kiir and former vice-president Riek Machar turned violence.

The fighting has pitted government forces loyal to Kiir, who hails from the Dinka tribe against pro-Machar rebels, largely comprising of defected soldiers and ethnic militias from the former deputy's Nuer tribe.

Major General Santino Deng Wol, the head of the SPLA's fifth division did not confirm or deny the reports, although he conceded that some senior officers serving under his command had left the area, but he was still working with the local command and authorities to establish the facts.

“I received reports yesterday (Wednesday) that some officers have deserted their areas of deployment but nobody said clearly what happened, that they left or where they have gone. They (the officers) did not talk to me about any request [to leave the area], so I don't really know what caused this,” he said.

Wol said there were reports that some of the officers may have gone to the Northern Bahr el Ghazal capital, Aweil, while others said General Tap was still in the area, although it remains unclear why he was not at the headquarters.

Wol said attempts to reach Tap by phone had so far been unsuccessful and a team of officers had bee dispatched to talk to him personally.

IILLEGAL MEETINGS

Sudan Tribune has been unable to independently verify the claims and military sources in the capital, Juba, said there remain conflicting reports from the area.

“There are reports of some officers said to have deserted [the] areas of their deployment without reasons and their whereabouts is not clear,” a source confirmed to Sudan Tribune.

Another officer said reports had also been received that Brigadier General Gatpel had travelled to Wunyiik, where he held a series of meetings with soldiers and officers from Nuer community.

It's understood that other officers who objected to the meetings had received assurances from their colleagues, including Gatpel, that the meetings were not tribal related.

“These meetings were illegal and when it was discovered, they said they wanted to brief the Nuer serving in the army in the area about the current situation [and] that it is not a tribal issue and that they should not fear,” the officer told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.

“They also said they were conducting these meetings in Nuer language because [the] majority of the soldiers do not understand and speak Arabic or English,” he added.

There have been no official statements from the SPLA spokesperson or state authorities, although several legislators and serving cabinet ministers have claimed the officers defected.

“The desertion of these officers from areas of deployment without permission or knowledge of the division commander explains the whole thing, which we should not struggle to explain. It is a clear defection,” a local legislator said during an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

Military observers say local populations in Northern Bahr el Ghazal had started cultivating due to the early arrival of the rainy season and the security situation in the region remains relatively stable.

JUBA ADMINISTRATION COULD FALL

The defections, if verified, would be another setback to government forces fighting to contain a spiralling rebellion in the country, with some observers and independent analysts predicting it is only a matter of time before the Kiir administration falls.

“Looking at the current political and security situation and the way it is handled, you certainly find that it is a matter of time before this administration under president Salva Kiir could fall,” a Juba-based analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

“The current administration is stacked with hardliners – people who have war attitudes and believe in fighting as the only viable means to resolve differences, which is unachievable. Political differences are never resolved through the use of military means, but through peaceful dialogue,” he added.

Peace talks resumed this in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, amid growing international disquiet over the slow progress of negotiations and ongoing atrocities committed by both sides.

A January ceasefire deal signed by the warring parties following an earlier round of talks has failed to halt the violence on the ground.

(ST)

By Ijoo Bosco

April 30, 2014 (TORIT) – Eastern Equatoria state governor Louis Lobong Lojore briefed the different units of the organised forces in the state capital Torit on Wednesday to thank forces for their efforts and encourage them to continue to maintain security in the state.

Eastern Equatoria state governor Louis Lobong Lojore addresses members of the organised forces in the capital, Torit, on 30 April 2014 where he urged troops to keep up their spirits (ST)

Lobong said the state's organised forces had done a good job in maintaining peace and security despite the eruption of violence in mid-December last year.

“The purpose of my visit is to brief the different organised forces [and] to thank and acknowledge their tireless service in provision of security and maintenance of peace in the entire state,” said Lobong

He called on unit commanders and their respective forces to keep up their spirits and ensure Eastern Equatoria remains an icon of peace and stability in South Sudan.

Lobong said hundreds of people fleeing violence across the country had taken shelter in different parts of Equatoria, a testament to the culture of hospitality and peace among its citizens.

The governor said he had also discussed some challenges facing the armed forces during his visit, adding that the government would seek to address the issues.

He also encouraged military units in Torit to avoid alcohol and take up agriculture and begin cultivation and cleaning of the town as part of their national civic duties.

Lobong provided assurances to forces that delayed salary payments would be paid by the central government, blaming the current crisis for the disruption.

He reminded troops that it is not only Eastern Equatoria experiencing hard times, but the entire country, with many citizens going without pay since the conflict erupted more than four months ago, severely disrupting the new nation's economy.

He urged citizens to continue to report to work as usual, saying they would receive their salaries in due courses.

He stressed that the delays were not the making of the state government, but as a result of ongoing conflict.

He said the national government remained committed to restoring peace and security in the country and is continuing to work to address economic issues affecting the new nation.

Thousands have been killed and almost one million displaced since political tensions between president Salva Kiir and former vice-president Riek Machar turned violence.

Government forces loyal to Kiir and pro-Machar rebels have been involved in a brutal struggle for control of the country for more than four months, with a January ceasefire deal failing to quell unrest.

Kiir has accused his former deputy and his supporters of masterminding an alleged coup attempt to overthrow the central government in Juba. Machar and his allies deny the claims.

Last month, the government released four senior politicians on trial for treason for their role in the alleged plot, with Kiir saying the decision was made as a gesture of reconciliation.

(ST)

May 1, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan and the World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) have signed important legal agreements that will facilitate the agency's ability to insure foreign direct investment in the country.

MIGA is the political risk insurance and credit enhancement arm of the World Bank Group and South Sudan became its member in 2012.

Finance minister, Aggrey Tisa Sabuni expressed his appreciation for MIGA's commitment to supporting investment into the world's youngest nation.

“Signing this agreement during these challenging times is tremendously significant and important for our country. Our actions today signal that we are reentering a conversation that we began at the South Sudan Investment Conference in early December 2013,” the minister said in a statement.

Michel Wormser, MIGA's vice president and chief operating officer equally welcomed the news that South Sudan is open for business.

“MIGA has a long history of fosteringprivate sector development in countries that have experienced conflict, and we are pleased to be in a position to help South Sudan attract investors to achieve its development priorities,” said Wormser.

Bella Bird, the World Bank country director for South Sudan, Sudan and Somalia said the new nation has vast investment needs thus required lots of support.

“We are committed to bringing the entire array of World Bank Group instruments to support the country's development,” said Bella.

“Private sector investment will be essential to generate jobs and opportunities in a fragile country such as South Sudan,” she added.

Officials from both entities also discussed several areas where MIGA could potentially support foreign investments, including agribusiness, power, and transportation.

(ST)

May 1, 2014 (KAMPALA/JUBA) – South Sudan army (SPLA) on Tuesday witnessed yet another defection of a senior Nuer officer from Aweil East of Northern Bhar el Ghazal state who has allegedly joined opposition forces led by the former vice president, Riek Machar.

Generals from South Sudan's army celebrate during official independence day celebrations on 9 July 2011 (Photo: Getty Images)

Machar's spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune that Brigadier General Peter Gatbel Wich, defected from Northern Bahr el Ghazal along with 400 fighters in protest over the alleged massacre of unarmed Nuer military trainees at Mapel last week by “soldiers loyal to president Salva Kiir.”

“Yes, we have received reports that the officer was angered by the recent targeted killing of unarmed trainee soldiers of the Nuer ethnic group by the army in Mapel training center,” Dak said by phone on Friday.

He accused South Sudan government of allegedly trying to mobilise every tribe and bring in foreign armies or armed groups to help fight the war and sustain the regime.

“In addition to his tribally oriented army, Salva Kiir has also brought in foreign Ugandan army, groups of Sudanese rebels and mobilized his ethnic group as well as other South Sudanese tribes including the Nuer loyal to him to exterminate the Nuer whether loyal to him or opposed to him. This is unacceptable,” Dak further said and warned that the Juba regime would face growing resistance in the coming phase.

He wondered why the current system under president Kiir targets those that are still loyal to him simply because of their ethnicity.

Authorities in Northern Bahr el Ghazal have confirmed the defection of the general, but put the number of the forces he left with him at only 40.

The deputy governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Chol Ayat, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj, that the senior officer defected at Wunyiik military base of army Division 3 with 40 soldiers and was heading towards Meiram, near the border with Sudan.

Ayat, however, downplayed the threat of the defection, saying many Nuer generals and soldiers deployed in the state had allegedly remained loyal to president Kiir.

The defection was the second incident in Greater Bahr el Ghazal region after six generals defected from Wau last week, also in protest of the Mapel massacre.

The conflict which seems to further develop into tribal war pitting president Kiir's Dinka ethnic group against Machar's Nuer tribe, started in mid-December last year when the former allegedly tried to disarm Nuer soldiers in the presidential guards.

Kiir later accused Machar and others of plotting a coup to depose him, a claim dismissed the latter who counter-accused the former of orchestrating the violence in order to get rid of his political opponents and fail reforms in the ruling SPLM party.

Many Nuer generals also defected in Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity states in protest of the killings of Nuer civilians in the capital, Juba, following the clashes.

A shaky peace process has been taking place in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to try and resolve the conflict between the warring parties.

DEFECTED OFFICERS RETURN

Meanwhile, most senior army officers that deserted Wau, the capital of South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state have returned, a local official said.

Derek Alfred, the state information minister told Sudan Tribune on Thursday that 100 senior army officers returned “after the state promised their safety.”

“The government is open to dialogue and we want tranquility in Wau,” he said by phone and that government will allow these officers choose where they prefer to live.

“They want to stay at UNMISS [United Nations Mission in South Sudan] compound and they will decide when to come out (to their homes in Wau). We allow this as a precaution [for their safety],” Derek added.

Three brigadier generals left Wau last week following reports of an attack by angry widows on a military training camp in Mapel that left about five Nuer trainees dead.

The fighting in Mapel area, South Sudan army spokesperson said, ensued after widows allegedly targeted military trainees from the Nuer tribe and “mobbed them.”

Col. Phillip Aguer described the incident as "unfortunate", with rebels forces claiming "nearly 200" people were killed in Mapel last week.

Sudan Tribune could not independently verify claims arising from both sides.

ARMY OFFICERS TARGETED

"The defecting officers alleged being targeted in Wau town. But on Tuesday, the soldiers and their commanders started returning to Wau town," said the minister.

“More than 100 soldiers and senior officers have now returned. We are encouraging the rest, those who are still in the bush, to come home and they are free to choose where to stay,” he stressed.

Derek further assured that the state government would provide protection within Wau and freedom of movement even for army officers who want to leave the state.

(ST)

May 1, 2014 (RUMBEK) – Three primary schools in Lakes state's Rumbek Central county have been destroyed following a heavy rainstorm on Wednesday, forcing pupils to attend classes under trees.

The schools affected are Ager-gum, Malual-baab and Golmeen primary schools.

Students and teachers have called on the Lakes state government to help repair damage to the schools, but their pleas have so far been ignored.

Moses Maker, a student from Golmeen primary, which was the worst-affected school, told Sudan Tribune that several classroom roofs had been blown off and textbooks and other learning material had been completely destroyed in the storm.

Reports on social media and Radio Good News confirmed that heavy rain and strong winds occurred around 4pm (local time) on Wednesday. No injuries have been reported as a result of the storm.

Amos Majak, a head teacher at Golmeen, said children were still in class when the storm hit and were instructed to leave the school compound.

Majak confirmed that damage to school facilities had forced teachers to conduct lessons outdoors while pupils sit under trees.

He said classes would continue to be disrupted unless the state government stepped in to help to replace the roofing and conduct other urgent repairs.

Majak said Rumbek Central county kitchen was also damaged in the rainstorm, with parts of Rumbek Central market completely destroyed.

Heavy rain is common in Lakes state during the May to November period.

Rumbek Central county has recently been hit by a number of destructive rainstorms, sparking calls for Lakes state's ministry for physical infrastructure to take better preventative measures.

(ST)

May 1,2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese foreign ministry has rejected the American administration's decision to maintain Sudan on the list of countries sponsoring terrorism, saying it is politically motivated.

The annual Country Reports on Terrorism issued on Wednesday continued to list Sudan as a country supporting international terrorism, although the report notes that “the Government of Sudan remained a generally cooperative counterterrorism partner and continued to take action to address threats to US interests and personnel in Sudan”.

The report said despite Khartoum's efforts terrorist groups continued to operate in Sudan in 2013, adding that there are reports of Sudanese nationals participating in terrorist organisations, citing the attack on Westgate Mall in Nairobi last year.

The report also said that over the past year authorities continued to allow members of Hamas to travel, fundraise and live in Sudan.

In a statement released on Thursday in Khartoum, the foreign ministry said that the decision to keep the country on the list has no relation to terrorism and aims to achieve an American political agenda in Sudan.

“Maintaining Sudan on the list is due to political reasons that have nothing to do with terrorism as explained the former special envoy [to Sudan], Scott Gration, in a hearing at the Congress in July 2009,” the statement said.

Sudan, which has been on the terror list since 1993, is gravely affected by the economic sanctions.

Khartoum has long accused the American administration and US congressmen of targeting the regime of president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir and supporting Juba and Sudanese rebel groups.

However, Washington said they can only remove the East African country from the list of states supporting terror if the Sudanese government opens humanitarian access to civilians in rebel-held areas and reach a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

Former special envoy for the two Sudans Princeton Lyman said resolving outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan was key to improving relations with Khartoum and the lifting of economic sanctions.

(ST)

May 1, 2014 (EL FASHER) – A Nigerian peacekeeper from the hybrid United Nations-African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID) was released on Thursday after 54 days in captivity.

Sergeant Awesu Soleiman was abducted in South Darfur capital Nyala on 9 March 14.

In a statement on Thursday, joint special representative for Darfur Mohamed Ibn Chambas expressed UNAMID's gratitude to the Sudanese government and the wali (governor) of South Darfur for helping secure Soleiman's safe release.

He also thanked the Nigerian government for their valuable assistance.

Soleiman was driving a UNAMID water truck from the Dereige camp for displaced people to UNAMID's super camp in Nyala when he was abducted about 4.50pm (local time).

The UNAMID statement makes no mention of the identity of the sergeant's abductors or whether a ransom demand was received for Soleiman's release.

A number of foreign nationals have been abducted in the troubled western region after being targeted by criminal gangs for ransom.

UNAMID is the world's largest peacekeeping force in the world and has been deployed in Darfur since 2007. Almost 170 of its troops and police have been killed in the region during that time.

South Darfur has witnessed an escalation in violence and lawlessness in recent months amid clashes between Darfuri rebels, Sudanese government forces and government-sponsored militias.

(ST)

May 2, 2014 (JUBA) - The US Secretary of State John Kerry has said South Sudan's president Salva Kiir was ready to discuss a transition government with rebels "to bring peace and restore legitimacy."

US Secretary of State John Kerry addressing reporters in Juba, May 2, 2014 (ST)

Addressing reporters at the US embassy in the capital, Juba, Kerry said mediation efforts should be faster to save lives of innocent civilians dying from the conflict.

"Throughout the meeting, I made it clear to him [Kiir] that he needs do everything in his power to end the violence," Kerry said on Friday.

"And also to begin the process of national dialogue - a process by which there is a beginning of discussion, real discussion about a transition government that can bring peace to the country," he added.

According to Kerry, the South Sudan leader reiterated his government's commitment to fully support the ongoing peace talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

"He [Kiir] committed very clearly his intention to do exactly that - to take forceful steps in order (...) to begin to engage on a discussion with respective to transition government."

The senior US official had earlier warned of possible genocide in South Sudan unless concerted measures were taken to rapidly arrest the country's ongoing violence.

CALLS FOR LEGITIMACY

Kerry emphasised that both sides must end the violence or face possible sanctions. He however said president Kiir had willingly accepted to meet rebel leader Riek Machar over the conflict.

Violence broke out in December after president Kiir accused his former deputy, Machar of attempting to overthrow the government, an allegation the latter dismissed.

Kerry said there was no "equivalency" between president Kiir, an elected president and rebel leader Machar "who wants to take control of the state by use of arms."

He said the two warring parties and the former political detainees, with the help of the mediators, will determine the future of the two leaders in the transitional government.

"It [the transition government] is really is what can restore legitimacy," Kerry said.

(ST)

May 1, 2014 (JUBA) - A peace-building radio drama series, focusing on youth in South Sudan, launches countrywide next week.

Sawa Shabab, a program locally Free Voice South Sudan in collaboration with the U.S. Institute of Peace, will air on Radio Miraya, Catholic Radio Network and other local stations across the country.

“Sawa Shabab consists of 20 episodes in English and Arabic along with five episodes in Nuer and Dinka languages,” said a statement Sudan Tribune obtained.

The series reportedly follows daily lives of different South Sudanese as they face unique challenges while learning how to become peace builders in their communities.

It is based on a peace-building curriculum, which provides the educational foundation for the program, and seeks to promote nation-building by empowering the country's youth to be confident, open-minded and participatory citizens in a diverse society.

“The program includes opportunities for young listeners to interact with the drama through SMS while listeners will be invited to respond to questions raised within the episode and send thoughts and feedback on characters and story lines,” it noted.

The launch of the event is, meanwhile, set for 9 May at Juba University stage.

(ST)

May 2, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The price of the US dollar dropped sharply on the black market in Khartoum on Thursday, settling at 8.80 Sudanese pounds (SDG) after reaching a high of 9.50 (SDG) over the past two weeks.

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

The decline followed an announcement by the Central Bank of Sudan (CBoS) that it would infuse additional amounts of foreign currencies into the commercial banks in order to meet demand of the small importers and merchants.

The CBoS director of foreign exchange, Bashir Ahmed Mohamed, announced last Tuesday that they would supply banks with hard currencies in order to meet the needs of the small importers.

A trader in the black market, who preferred to stay anonymous, said the dollar price decreased after the CBoS supplied commercial banks with foreign currencies, pointing that Forex companies were allowed to sell the dollar at 8.60 (SDG) in order to meet demand of those travelling abroad for tourism and medical treatment.

The same trader said that travelers abroad are given limited amounts of dollars ranging between $1,000 to $5,000 , predicting the value of the dollar will drop more if the CBoS continues to supply banks with additional amounts of foreign exchange.

The National Intelligence Security Services' (NISS) department of economic security carried out a large arrest campaign against traders in the black market following the significant increase of the dollar price in the past days.

The official CBoS dollar price on Thursday was 5.7075 (SDG) making the higher price range 5.9358 (SDG) and the lower range 5.4792 (SDG).

Sudan's economy was hit hard since the southern part of the country declared independence in July 2011, taking with it about 75% of the country's oil output.

The Sudanese pound has lost 100% of its value since South Sudan's secession, pushing inflation rates to record levels given that the East African nation imports most of its food.

(ST)

May 2, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese authorities have freed three foreign hostages, including two Chinese and an Algerian, who were abducted last month in West Kordofan state.

The foreign hostages, two Chinese and an Algerian, arrive at Khartoum Airport on 2 May 2014 (Photo: SUNA)

The trio were among a group of workers abducted on 18 April after an unidentified armed group launched an attack at Kanar oilfield in West Kordofan state, killing four security guards. Five Sudanese workers were also abducted.

At the time of the incident, security sources in Khartoum accused the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) of abducting the eight engineers, who were working for the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (GNPOC) in an area between Al-Muglad and Heglig.

At a press conference at Khartoum airport on Friday, Sudan's oil minister, Makkawi Mohamed Awad, confirmed the arrival of the freed hostages in the capital. The remaining five Sudanese hostages are due to be freed in the coming days.

The press conference was held in the presence of the Algerian ambassador to Khartoum and the Chinese charge d'affaires. The latter said that Khartoum had put tremendous efforts into securing the release of the workers, reflecting the strong relations between the two countries.

He said the incident would not affect relations, adding that the partnership between the two countries will continue.

The Algerian diplomat thanked the government and revealed one of the abductees was injured and had already been repatriated to Algeria, while the other was freed on Friday.

Awad added that negotiations with the kidnappers were successfully concluded without a ransom payment, saying the hostages were handed over to West Kordofan state authorities on Thursday.

He described the abduction as “incidental” and said it would not impact work in the oilfields and oil investments in the region, emphasising the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) is ready to fully carry out its role.

The oil minister said the armed group had exchanged fire with security guards at the oil site, with another Chinese national managing to escape.

He said hostage negotiations had been coordinated by his ministry in cooperation with the Chinese and Algerian embassies, as well as the West Kordofan government and tribal leaders. The abductees were eventually freed without the use of force.

Awad said he had received regular briefings from the government negotiating team throughout the hostage drama, saying authorities had been kept informed of the health condition of the abductees and had sent medicines to the Algerian hostage.

(ST)

May 2, 2014 (KHARTOUM) - The National Agency for Financing and Export insurance said it expects to reach decisive solutions that are critical to the country's exports of live cattle to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the current month of May.

A cattleman walks with cows before they are slaughtered at an abattoir near Khartoum on 26 March 2011 (Photo: Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

The deputy head of the agency Al-Hadi Ahmed Abdella told state media that these restrictions are imposed by the banks on wire transfers or demanding pre-payment or through a letter of guarantee for the value of the exports.

Abdellah called for accelerating these solutions close to the start of the export season to meet the needs of the holy month of Ramadan and the upcoming pilgrimage season.

He noted that Sudan contributes 50% of the needs of Saudi Arabian market which is estimated at 4 million heads annually.

"Due to the cessation of livestock exports to Saudi Arabia from Syria because of recent events, Sudan will be depended on to meet the needs of the Kingdom in this field," Abdella said.

The business community in Sudan has grown concerned that Saudi Arabia is starting a de facto economic embargo of the country following a revelation last March that a number of Saudi and European banks took a decision to stop dealing with Sudanese banks.

Sudanese officials attributed the move to pressure by the United States which has economic sanctions imposed on the East African nation since 1997.

There was no comment from Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) and it is not clear if the latter issued the directive or if it was decision by individual banks.

A Western diplomat told Agence France Presse (AFP) at the time that the move by the European banks appears to reflect an increasingly cautious attitude by financial institutions which do not want to risk being found in violation of US sanctions.

For Saudi Arabia, strained political relations over Sudan's links to Iran could be a factor in the banks' decision, the Western diplomat said.

(ST)

May 2, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) said on Friday they had shot down a unmanned spy aircraft in South Kordofan state.

A picture released by the SRF rebel group of the unmanned plane shot down in South Kordofan on 13 March 2012

SPLM-N spokesperson Arnu Loddi said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune that the drone crashed near Abri, Dalami town in the far east of Dilling district, but did not indicate from where it had flown in.

“The aircraft tried to take off again but our forces managed to capture it,” he said, accusing the Sudanese army (SAF) of using the aircraft to map “civilian positions” and markets before carrying out aerial attacks.

The Sudanese army spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

Sudanese rebels in South Kordofan previously downed an unmanned aircraft in Jau, on 13 March 2012.

The Sudanese army has launched a military campaign against SPLM-N rebels, with the warring parties failing to agree on a framework agreement for negotiations aimed at ending conflict in the region.

(ST)

May 2, 2014 (JUBA) – A regional heads of states and government meeting due to be held in the the South Sudan capital, Juba, on Saturday has been postponed due to scheduling issues.

Negotiators at South Sudan peace talks in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa review a draft cessation of hostilities agreement on 13 January 2014 (Photo courtesy of Larco Lomayat)

Mawien Makol Arik, the spokesperson for the foreign affairs ministry, told Sudan Tribune that a later day would be determined in consultation with member countries of the East African regional bloc (IGAD).

“Due to other businesses and other commitments, it is going to be impossible to for the IGAD [meeting] to take place,” said Makol.

“The government is accelerating peace discussions and president Salva Kiir's administration is committed to peace talks,” he added.

The cancellation of Saturday's gathering was also confirmed by a member of the IGAD negotiating team in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“Yes, the meeting was cancelled at about 10am (local time) today (Friday),” the official said, without providing further details.

IGAD is mediating stalled peace talks between the South Sudanese government and rebels forces led by former vice-president Riek Machar.

The third phase of peace talks resumed this week amid ongoing violence in the country. A January ceasefire deal brokered by IGAD has so far failed to halt the conflict on the ground.

(ST)

May 2, 2014 (JUBA) – The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and World Food Program (WFP) are calling on South Sudan's warring parties to provide safe access to enable humanitarian assistance to reach vulnerable people, including 125,000 Sudanese refugees in Upper Nile state's Maban county, officials said.

Civilians fleeing violence seek refuge at a UN camp in Bor, the capital of South Sudan's Jonglei state (AP)

There is still time to deliver stocks of food by road, with massive economies of scale, if safe access is guaranteed. Without access by road, costly air operations will become the only recourse for providing urgently needed humanitarian assistance.

Resupplying refugee camps in Maban county has been complicated by continued insecurity and fighting along supply routes, preventing WFP from conducting regular delivery of critical food supplies to refugees. As a result, the agency and its partners were forced to distribute reduced rations in March and April to refugees who depend largely on this food assistance for their survival.

Refugees are resorting to negative coping mechanisms like selling off non-food items, and burning wood meant for building latrines to produce charcoal for sale. At the same, time there are disturbing reports that at least 200 refugees have returned to war-torn Blue Nile State in North Sudan in search of food and other basic supplies.

“This could be the beginning of a worrying trend which we are powerless to prevent if the provision of food and other critical supplies continues to be erratic and inconsistent,” says Cosmas Chanda, UNHCR representative in South Sudan.

“Roads to Maban are facing imminent closure for the duration of the rainy season, which has already started,” he added while underscoring the urgency of pre-positioning adequate food supplies for the coming six months.

UNHCR said it was deeply concerned that increasing malnutrition rates among refugee children in all four camps are approaching the emergency threshold of 15%.

ACUTE MALNUTRITION

There are indications, for instance, that acute malnutrition rates have soared in February and March in Doro camp alone.

WFP said it will this week distribute the last remaining food stocks in Maban county to refugees in the camps. These food rations, it stressed, will last the refugees less than a week, with WFP to fly in additional food stocks to the camps within the next five days. More than 2,300 metric tonnes of food is needed each month to assist the Sudanese refugees and vulnerable host communities in Maban county.

“We have food supplies that could reach the refugee camps within days by road, but ongoing fighting along key supply routes is preventing us from delivering sufficient stocks into Maban county to assist refugees,” said Mike Sackett, WFP's country director in South Sudan.

“We are prioritising available planes and helicopters to deliver food to refugees and South Sudanese populations affected by the crisis. Ultimately, regaining road access to Maban county and to other communities isolated by conflict is critical to averting a humanitarian catastrophe in South Sudan,” he added.

Due to the intensity of the conflict, humanitarian organisations have reportedly faced severe challenges in accessing many parts of the country by road and river.

“Insecurity and fighting have been key obstacles, but even in areas where there has not been active conflict, commercial transporters hired by agencies have at times faced banditry and other attacks, excessive checkpoints and demands for bribes,” the agencies said in a joint statement.

WFP said it was using a combination of airlifts and airdrops in remote, hard to reach areas, in a bid to overcome challenges such as looting and continued insecurity.

Over a million people have been displaced and thousands killed since violence broke out in South Sudan in December last year, severely affecting three of its 10 states.

(ST)

UNICEF AND GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN DECLARES THE RIGHT OF EVERY SUDANESE CHILD TO LIFE, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT A TOP PRIORITY

UNICEF EXECUTIVE BOARD DELEGATION VISITS SUDAN 27 APRIL TO 2 MAY 2014

Khartoum, 1 May 2014 --- From 27 April to 2 May 2014, a delegation from UNICEF's Executive Board comprising delegates form Albania, Denmark, Dibouti and the Netherlands has been visiting Khartoum, Northern State and North Darfur. The objective was to see and experience UNICEF's Country Program of Cooperation with the Government of Sudan, discuss the impact and results of UNICEF's work with government and non-governmental counterparts at national, local and community levels within the broad context of national development priorities, the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and other relevant development assistance frameworks. UNICEF's country program, covering 2013-2016, is designed to foster sustainable improvement in the lives of all children in Sudan.

In Khartoum, delegates met with Ministers or high-level representatives of Education; Foreign Affairs; Health; Finance and National Economy; Welfare and Social Security; the National Council for Child Welfare and the Humanitarian Aid Commission to exchange views on the situation of children in Sudan and the opportunities for increased and targeted investment in commodities, protection and social services to benefit children across the country; especially the poorest and most vulnerable ones among them. While in Khartoum, the delegation also had the opportunity to meet with high-level officials of the UN, and representatives of civil society as well as the private sector.

In Dongola, Northern State, the delegation visited a state hospital offering routine vaccination services and counselling of new mothers on the Saleema initiative aiming to leave their newborn baby girls uncut and let them grow up without undergoing female genital cutting. To get a sense of the expanding child protection system in Sudan, delegates also visited a Family and Child Protection Unit (FCPU) of the police, an organizational setup recognized as international best practice in child protection.

In El Fasher, North Darfur, delegates were taken to visit one of the established camps for internally displaced people (IDPs), Zam Zam, to witness the services provided to children and families sheltered there. The delegation met the North Darfur authorities and UNAMID to hear about the prospects for peace and development in the Darfur region.

Statement by UNICEF's Executive Board delegation:

We welcome the commitment shown by the Sudanese Government at the federal and state level and underline the need for continued and enhanced implementation of policies and programs for children's rights, protection and development. Non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders are striving to support the Government in its efforts.

While progress has been made over past decades, it is also clear that too many children in Sudan are still not benefitting from quality basic social and protection services.

Too many children grow up in Sudan with the odds stacked against them, owing to insufficient investment in children's services or inadequate knowledge about positive child-rearing practices. Chronic and acute conflict severely compounds the panorama for children, robbing them of their childhood; jeopardizing their chances of building a future for themselves; and depriving the country of much needed energy from the growing generations in Sudan.

For the sake of Sudan's children, parties must put an end to every conflict in the country and come together to build a future for all and by all.

A strong foundation for Sudan's future should begin with adequate, targeted investment in children, especially the most vulnerable. It should build on achievements made and aim to be sustainable.

We wish to emphasize UNICEF's continued commitment to stand by Sudan, and the children of Sudan, as the nation charts its development path. Members of the international community must do the same. For every boy and girl in Sudan.

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About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information, visit: www.unicef.org Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

For more information contact:

Lone Hvass, UNICEF Khartoum, + 249 969 272 680, lhvass@unicef.org

Eman Eltigani, UNICEF Khartoum, + 249 912 167 428, eeltigani@gmail.com

May 2, 2014 (JUBA) – Direct talks between South Sudanese president Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar should be treated as an “emergency” in order to prevent growing violence and ethnic polarisation in the country, the US envoy to the United Nations told the Security Council (UNSC) on Friday.

US ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power (Photo: AFP/Andrew Burton)

“We have heard many promises from South Sudanese leaders with no follow up. We hope, for the sake of the people of South Sudan suffering through this terrifying crisis that this time is different, and we urge president Kiir and Riek Machar to swiftly agree on a date for face to face talks,” said Samantha Power.

US secretary of state John Kerry said the South Sudanese leader had expressed willingness to discuss a transition government with Machar so as “to bring peace and restore legitimacy”.

“Throughout the meeting I made it clear to him (Kiir) that he needs do everything in his power to end the violence,” Kerry said on Friday.

Power urged both warring parties to take urgent steps to end the conflict, saying the ethnic polarisation and violence is growing worse everyday.

On Tuesday, the UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, met with Machar at an undisclosed location following a fresh wave of ethnic violence in the country in recent weeks.

four months after a wave of ethnic violence hit the new nation.

Pillay was accompanied by UN special envoy for the prevention of genocide Adama Dieng. The pair, who were tasked with carrying out investigations on behalf of UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon, also met president Kiir during their two-day visit.

She said discussions during the 35-minute meeting, which took place under a tree in a village, centred on recent violence in Unity state capital Bentiu in which civilians were allegedly massacred by Machar's forces after retaking the town from government troops.

“[We] gave him the concerns of the secretary-general about protection of civilians,” Pillay told reporters in Juba.

“We received assurances from him that he himself is investigating human rights violations that occurred in Bentiu and is also concerned about the protection of civilians here,” she added.

Both Pillay and Dieng briefed the UNSC on the security situation in South Sudan on Friday.

Dieng told the 15-member body that the ethnic slaughter of hundreds of civilians in Bentiu and last month's attack on a UN peacekeeping base in Jonglei capital Bor had changed the course of the conflict.

“If such attacks are not immediately halted it could plunge the country into serious violence that could spiral out of control,” he said.

“In the current situation we see elements that we could categorise as risk factors of genocide and other atrocity crimes,” he added.

UNMISS MANDATE

Meanwhile, the ambassador urged the UNSC to consider imposing targeted sanctions on South Sudanese leaders so as to halt attacks on UN peacekeepers and innocent civilians in the country.

“In the coming days my government will join in circulating a resolution that will revise the mandate of UNMISS to focus more fully on civilian protection, human rights monitoring and investigation and the delivery of food and other emergency supplies,” Power said.

“This council should take up that resolution with the urgency that this crisis demands, she added.

The US and the European Union have both threatened South Sudan with sanctions. Last month, US president Barack Obama authorised possible targeted sanctions against those committing human rights abuses or undermining democracy and obstructing South Sudan's peace process.

The conflict, which has entered its fifth month, has killed thousands and displaced more than a million people.

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May 2, 2014 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese official on Friday downplayed the prospect of the country's ongoing conflict turning into a genocide, saying it was being misinterpreted.

South Sudan's foreign minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, pictured at Chatham House in London, where he was giving a speech on the current crisis on 10 February 2014 (Photo courtesy of Chatham House)

“There is no genocide but yes, there is rebellion which is being contained and that is why the government in collaboration with the international partners and friends from the region are putting efforts together towards implementation the cessation of hostilities so that we don't go into that process of genocide,” said South Sudan's foreign affairs minister, Barnaba Marial.

“So all this we hear about warning of genocide is just too much interpretation,” he added.

The minister strongly denied possibilities of genocide in the country “because there was no ethnic war”, reiterating that what happened was an “attempted coup” which resulted into a rebellion and the struggle for power.

“You find a lot of explanations expressing different views on this conflict but certainly you will find someone saying there is going to be genocide because what is going on a rebellion. It is not an ethnic conflict like what happened in Rwanda. In this country, you find all various ethnic groups living together across the line,” said Marial.

“So, sincerely speaking, I think as the peace process, the cessation of hostilities has been signed; the issue of genocide is far away. It can be averted,” he added.

The senior government official did acknowledge that massacres took place in Unity and Upper Nile state capitals, but dismissed any genocidal links to these incidences.

The UN says more than 200 people were killed when opposition forces recaptured the oil-rich town of Bentiu from government troops three weeks ago.

“You have seen that in Malakal and also in Bor, but this do not mean there is genocide. Yes there has been a mistake, especially in Bor, which was under the control of the government where some youth just tried to attack the unarmed civilians,” Marial told reporters in the capital, Juba.

He said the Juba government had already taken steps to try to hold accountable those responsible for the killings that occurred in recent weeks.

“So the issue of genocide is not the issue. What we should concentrate on now is how to bring the peace as soon as possible, in order to avoid revenge killings and massacres that happen out of hatred or fighting but people are not killing each other because of their ethnicity,” he said.

US secretary of state John Kerry has warned of a possible genocide in South Sudan unless concerted measures are taken to rapidly arrest the ongoing violence.

“There are very disturbing leading indicators of the kind of ethnic, tribal, targeted nationalistic killings taking place that raise serious questions,” Kerry said.

“Were they to continue in the way they've been going could really present a very serious challenge to the international community with respect to the questions of genocide,” he added at a meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

Kerry also visited Juba where he held talks with President Salva Kiir on the country's conflict. He later told reporters that president Kiir was ready for talks with the rebels.

PUNITIVE ACTIONS

James Okuk, a Juba-based political commentator, said Kerry's visit sent strong signals to the international community of the high level involvement of the US administration to ensure peace peace was attained in the new nation.

“My reading of this visit is in three fold: it is indication of the response to the growing pressure on president Obama administration by activists and lobbyists. It also marks the first step to high level involvement of the US to finding solution to this conflict. The United States does not want another Somalia so it wants to avoid such scenario from happening at any cost,” Okuk told Sudan Tribune.

“America also does not want to be embarrassed for the role it played in the independence of this country,” he added.

The analyst, however, expressed optimism of the positive impact of the US secretary of state's visit, saying it would force the warring sides to accept dialogue.

“There is going to be a positive impact because neither the government nor the rebel group would like to be seen an obstacle to the peace process. They will all accept so that they are not sanctioned,” Okuk told Sudan Tribune.

“They will now recommit themselves to accelerating efforts that encourages peace and reconciliations,” he added.

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By Ijoo Bosco

May 2, 2014 (TORIT) – Authorities in South Sudan's Eastern Equatoria state have warned a delegation representing Jonglei's David Yau Yau-led rebel group against annexing part of Eastern Equatoria state territory to claim a state from Jonglei.

Elements in Jonglei have claimed the Jie community in Kasengor is under Pibor county administration. But Eastern Equatoria state authorities maintain Kasengor payam (district) is part of its Kapoeta East county and not Pibor.

State minister of education Michael Lopuke, who is representing Kapoeta East county, said they had learnt Yau Yau's delegates in Addis Ababa were attempting to negotiate the annexation of part of Kasengor and the Boma of Kapoeta to be created as a state under the leadership of Pibor.

Yau Yau rebels are currently engaged in peace talks in the Ethiopian capital with the South Sudanese government.

Lopuke denounced the plan, saying Eastern Equatoria would not accept any encroachment on its territory.

He stressed that any agreement between the central government and Yau Yau rebels that annexed Eastern Equatorian territory would be rejected by the state government, adding that the move would represent a violation of South Sudan's constitution.

Meanwhile, Kapoeta South MP Martin Lopir questioned the credibility of the Jonglei government, calling on Yau Yau delegates in Addis Ababa to justify their claims on Eastern Equatoria state land.

He assured the Jonglei government that all chiefs and the Jie community in Kasengor and Boma receive their salaries from the Kapoeta East county administration.

Lopir called on the Council of States to intervene in the dispute to prevent the war of words escalating further amid worsening tensions over land encroachment between the Kapoeta East community and Pibor county's Murle community.

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May 3, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese armed opposition leader Riek Machar has said he would only accept a transitional government that comes with a workable programme to be agreed upon by the parties to the conflict and implemented before next elections.

South Sudan rebel leader and former vice-president Riek Machar (C) attends an interview in Nasir, on April 14, 2014 (Photo AFP/Zacharias Abubeker)

In an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune in undisclosed location in Upper Nile state, Machar, the former vice-president turned rebel leader, revealed on Saturday he had a lengthy phone discussions with the visiting US secretary of state, John Kerry, on how to end the four-month-old conflict in South Sudan.

Kerry met with President Salva Kiir in Juba on Friday during which they discussed the importance of forming a power-sharing transitional government with Machar.

However, the rebel leader, who had been Kiir's deputy president for eight years, said a power-sharing transitional government without a programme would be meaningless.

“I asked him [Kerry] what would be the purpose of transitional government? It would not be workable without a programme to implement before elections come,” Machar told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

“We need to have a peace agreement first with a new constitution. Putting transitional government first is not realistic,” he further argued.

Machar who lost his job in June last year for criticising Kiir's leadership style while in office as the deputy-president on many occasions said the differences between him and the president had never been personal or power struggle between the two leaders.

The matter, he explained, had been about the future governance of South Sudan as a state, hence the need to restructure the state on the basis of a peace agreement and federal constitution.

He recalled that he was pushing for a democratic peaceful reform first within the ruling party (SPLM) until he was forced to flee for his life and formed an armed resistance.

President Kiir, he added, had lost legitimacy for orchestrating the “genocide” in Juba against the Nuer ethnic group in mid-December last year, saying people should not only speak about the killings in Bor or Bentiu while downplaying the genocide which took place in the national capital.

MACHAR AGAINST SEPARATE REGIONAL FORCE DEPLOYMENT

The rebel leader also said he had reiterated to the American secretary of state his rejection to the proposed deployment to South Sudan of IGAD regional deterrent force.

“I would agree to deployment of a “protection force” from the region as part of the current peacekeepers under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), but not as a separate “deterrent force” that will fight against us like the Ugandan People's Defence Force (UPDF),” he stressed.

He further accused the government and such foreign forces including Sudanese rebels of allegedly violating the cessation of hostilities agreement.

FACE-TO-FACE TALKS WITH SALVA KIIR PREMATURE

Machar also argued that there was no point of him meeting president Salva Kiir face-to-face at this juncture of the negotiations between the two rival delegations, saying this “may be counter-productive.”

He however added he had a plan to meet with the Ethiopian prime minister Haile Mariam Desalegn any time soon and that the Ethiopian premier would inform him when to meet for consultations.

US ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power on Friday said the two South Sudanese leader must meet to reach an agreement to stop the suffering of South Sudanese emphasising “we urge president Kiir and Riek Machar to swiftly agree on a date for face to face talks”.

The opposition leader further accused Salva Kiir's government of only releasing 7 politicians on “bail” and keeping the other 4 recently released by court under “house arrest” in Juba despite agreements between the two parties to free them.

He also accused the government of violating the cessation of hostilities agreement by not withdrawing the Ugandan forces as well as Sudanese rebels who fight alongside the “regime” in Juba.

“The government also denies humanitarian access to the areas under our control,” he further said, accusing Juba of launching further offensives against the rebels positions despite resumption of the peace talks in Addis Ababa.

MACHAR NOT RELOCATED TO ETHIOPIAN BORDER
The South Sudanese rebels also denied on Friday reports claiming that Machar had relocated to the Ethiopian border, allegedly due to fear of insecurity.

“Who said that? Dr. Riek Machar has not relocated anywhere. He is inside South Sudan, Hussein Maar Nyuot,” spokesperson for the rebels delegation at the peace talks told Sudan Tribune on Friday in a separate interview.

The rebel official was reacting to reports which appeared on social media and forums claiming that the opposition leader was forced to relocate to Burebiey village on the Ethiopian side of the border, allegedly due to fear of insecurity following claims that some armed Nuer youth in Nasir town declared allegiance to Upper Nile state governor, Simon Kun Puoch.

Unconfirmed reports also on the social media and forums claimed, Ulang County, one of the rebel held strongholds in Upper Nile state was captured by the SPLA forces after the local chief identified as Tut Thon, declared allegiance to governor Puoch.

However, Machar's spokesperson James Gatdet Dak has confirmed to Sudan Tribune that government forces did actually overrun Ulang and set it ablaze.

Dak added that government troops were however repulsed on Saturday by the White Army that reinforced the area from Nasir.

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