June 27, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese authorities released a Christian woman formerly accused of apostasy on bail on Thursday evening but informed her that she is barred from leaving the country.

An image taken from an undated video provided on 5 June 2014 by Al Fajer, a Sudanese NGO, shows Meriam Ibrahim breastfeeding her newborn baby girl that she gave birth to in jail in May (Photo: AP/Al Fajer)

Meriam Ibrahim was sentenced to death last month for renouncing Islam, but was released on Monday after what the government said was “unprecedented” international pressure. An appeals court found Ibrahim not guilty on two charges of apostasy and adultery and overturned the lower tribunal's verdict.

However, the 27-year-old was taken into custody by National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) officers at Khartoum airport on Tuesday along with her husband and two children, for trying to use documents issued by the embassy of South Sudan to fly out of Khartoum

Mrs. Ibrahim is now reportedly facing forgery charges along with police complaints filed by her alleged siblings. It is not clear what the next legal steps would entail.

She was seen late Thursday leaving a police station in Khartoum on a vehicle with diplomatic plates holding the baby she delivered while in prison.

Ibrahim's attorney, Mohannad Mustafa told Agence France Presse (AFP) early Friday that they went to the U.S. embassy.

"She and her husband think this is a safe place for them," he said.

Daniel Wani, Ibrahim's husband also said his wife and two children were doing well at the US embassy on the outskirts of the Sudanese capital.

He said they had sought the embassy's protection because of death threats against his wife.

Government officials told Sudan Tribune that Ibrahim have the right to leave the country but after issuing a Sudanese passport and obtaining a US visa.

Sudan's foreign ministry on Wednesday summoned ambassadors of the United States and South Sudan over helping Ibrahim to “illegally” depart the country.

The United States on Tuesday disputed reports that Ibrahim has been rearrested and said that Khartoum assured her that she will be allowed safe passage.

“The state department has been informed by the Sudanese government that the family was temporarily detained at the airport for several hours by the government for questioning over issues related to their travel and I think travel documents. They have not been arrested,” US state department deputy speaker Marie Harf told reporters.

“The government has assured us of their safety. The embassy has been and will remain highly involved in working with the family and the government. We are engaging directly with Sudanese officials to secure their safe and swift departure from Sudan, and of course, we'll provide more information as we get it,” she added.

The US later acknowledged that Ibrahim had been detained over charges related to her travel documents. Harf said their diplomat in Khartoum “reaffirmed our concern that the family should be allowed to depart swiftly from Sudan; that we would work on that with them”.

Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) page on Facebook said that Ibrahim was arrested by airport immigration officers after presenting temporary travel documents issued by South Sudan embassy in Khartoum and that had a US visa stamp on it.

“This was viewed by Sudanese authorities as a criminal violation and a disregard upon which the foreign ministry summoned the US and South Sudanese envoys,” the NISS said in a post this week.

“On the other hand a senior official from the Sudanese foreign ministry explained that temporary travel documents are granted by states to their citizens after ensuring that the citizen has no criminal or security problem and has the seal of the interior [ministry] in the domicile of the citizen.

“It is also valid only for one use, and the person would be travelling to his homeland only, but in the case of citizen Abrar [Ibrahim's Muslim name] the document was issued by the embassy of the state of South Sudan though she is not southerner and heading to America and it is not her homeland,” the post added.

(ST)

June 27, 2014 (MAGWI) – The newly appointed Magwi county commissioner in South Sudan's Eastern Equatoria state, Kingston Loduk has issued orders against trading in locally-brewed alcohol.

Commissioner Loduk said the decision was taken to encourage productivity in the state and ensure citizens remain vigilant on public security matters.

“It will also pave way for the development of human resources as well as the overall development of the county that is free from harm of the hazardous chemical liquor being used by its youth”, said Loduk.

The new order, he stressed, take effect from next Monday and urged county authorities to act on anyone found to have violated the directive.

“Those involved in the selling, owning and storing of liquor are asked to take away these types of liquors from Magwi county”, warned the commissioner.

Meanwhile, Magwi county authorities said that anyone caught selling, owning and storing locally-made alcohol would face tough penalties.

(ST)

June 27, 2014 (BOR) – South Sudan is among world nations still using children among its armed forces, Leila Zesrrougui, the United Nations special representative to the secretary-general for children and armed conflict said.

A South Sudanese army (SPLA) soldier holds his rifle near an oil field in Unity state on 22 April 2012 (AP)

While Addressing reporters in Bor, the Jonglei state capital on Friday, Zesrrougui, however, said the government pledged to release all children from its army (SPLA).

"These are my words to everyone: we are children, we are not soldiers, we belong to schools, we don't belong to battle field, and we don't belong to an army”, said the UN envoy, who globally campaigned for the release of children from the armed forces.

She said children should be completely demobilised and permanently settled in schools as efforts to achieve peace in the country continue.

"We need to build peace and address the root causes of the crisis, and more importantly to a hold those who committed crimes accountable", said Zesrrougui.

"I launched campaign in March 2014, to end this recruitment, South Sudan signed the action plan with the United Nations to release all the children and to return them to the community and to stop the recruitment", she added.

A special envoy for the United Nations, Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on Tuesday described as unacceptable reports that about 9,000 child soldiers were recently recruited and used in South Sudan's ongoing conflict.

“We cannot accept the use of child soldiers,” said Forest Whitaker.

“Children are essential to building a peaceful future, but they cannot do so if they are subject to the physical and psychological abuse of being used in conflict", he added.

The Jonglei governor, John Kong Nyoun, while meeting the UN special envoy, pledged commitment to restore confidence among communities in the aftermath of the rebellion, wrongly perceive as a tribal warfare.

Meanwhile, South Sudan government and its army formally renewed on Tuesday commitment to the action plan signed in 2012 with the UN to end the recruitment and use of children in government armed forces and other grave violations against children.

(ST)

June 27, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan's first vice-president, Bakri Hassan Saleh, on Friday has expressed reservations about a report on the humanitarian situation in South Kordofan and Blue Nile to the 23rd African Union Summit in Malabo.

Sudanese First Vice President Bakri Hassan Saleh (AFP Photo/Ashraf Shazly)

“The situation in the Blue Nile state is quiet and it did not witness any clashes and civilians did not experience any humanitarian suffering. In addition, South Kordofan state is stable, as the security forces and some citizens managed to prevented uncontrolled elements from terrorising civilians,” said Saleh according to the official SUNA.

Saleh who led Sudan's delegation o the summit in Malabo further said told the African leaders that his government pays high attention to the humanitarian situation in the Two Areas, in line with the agreements signed with the UN agencies.

The African Union did not release its report to the summit mentioned in Sudanese statement.

The AU Peace and Sceuriy Council (AU PSC) tasked since three year the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) headed by the former South African president Thabo Mbeki of mediating the conflict.

The 15-member African body also in its different reports and statements urged the two warring parties in the Two Areas to allow humanitarian access to the affected civilians in the rebel controlled areas and to reach an agreement on the three-year conflict.

The Sudanese first vice-president told the summit that the peace talks are impeded by the SPLM-N's rejection of a draft framework agreement proposed by the AUHIP. He reiterated the readiness of the government negotiating team to resume peace talks with the rebels.

He further said that, until the resumption of the stalled talks, his government is willing to cooperate with all the humanitarian actors working in the Two Areas to facilitate the delivery of relief to civilians according to the agreed tripartite mechanism.

Saleh also urged the AUPSC, when it come to adopt the final version of its report, to take into consideration the fact that the rebels did not implement the humanitarian agreement brokered by the tripartite mechanism and also rejected to allow a campaign to immunize children against polio there.

The SPLM-N, which calls for a comprehensive solution to the armed conflicts in Sudan, rejects the AUHIP draft framework agreement for peace talks with the Sudanese government saying it limits the negotiations to the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

In return, the rebels propose to unify the two tracks for peace in Darfur and the Two Areas. They also propose to hold a national constitutional conference including opposition parties.

But Khartoum rejects the rebel roadmap, saying the talks should remain brokered by the existing forums, in Doha for Darfur, and Addis Ababa for the Two Areas.

The government also says the national dialogue process should be held inside the country without any international intervention, as the rebels demand the inclusion of AU and UN envoys in the process.

Last Thursday, president Omer al-Bashir warned the opposition parties against seeking any alliance with the rebel groups.

(ST)

June 27, 2014 (MALABO) – The African Union Commission of inquiry on South Sudan conflict wants its mandate, which ended mid-June, extended to allow the five-member team complete its tasks.

“We need an extension because we feel there is a lot to be done in order for the commission to carry out its mission”, Pacifique Manirakiza told reporters ahead of the 23 session of the AU summit held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

“Once we get an extension through the African Union summit, the commission will come back to Addis Ababa, where the entire commission will sit and take some strategic decisions as to how we will continue to carry out our mandate,” he added.

The team, Manirakiza said, visited churches, hospitals and locations where killings of innocent civilians occurred in Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei state capitals. The team reportedly also met members of the local communities, human rights workers, political party members and other actors.

Bineta Diop, another member of AU Commission of inquiry described as "terrible" the situation in South Sudan, which she said was characterised by ethnicity background.

"Most of our conflict are coming from the bad governance and bad leaders on our continent", said Diop.

"I think these bad leaders should be given an opportunity to experience the same conditions their citizens are subjected to within the refugee camps", she added.

Diop, however, said accountability, justice and reconciliation will form the focus of the AU commission of inquiry's recommendation to the AU summit.

Established by the AU Commission chairperson on 6 March, the commission of inquiry was tasked to investigate the human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict in South Sudan.

The commission is mandate to make recommendations on the best ways and means to ensure accountability, reconciliation and healing among all South Sudan communities after collecting and review all available documentation pertaining to the human rights situation in South Sudan, including United Nations reports and those gathered by national and international specialists and non-governmental organisations.

(ST)

By John Clement Kuc Acol

June 28, 2014 - There are three major types of governments in place in the world today. The most prevalent is unitary system. In a unitary system, power is held at the national level, with little power being held in political subdivision such as provinces, counties, parishes, and towns.

Confederation system is a union of equal states, with some power being held at national level, generally, it has been found that conflicting interests lead to the break-down of confederation.

Federalism, the word federal originated from a Latin word call (fedeou) which means agreement or contract. In politics it is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and regional entities or provinces or states in this system there are powers which are exclusively belong tofederal government which it exercise all over the country for example, National Defense, Currency, Foreign Relations, Nationality, Passport and Immigration and the are powers belong to the states to exercise them at their states territorial for example health, education, roads within the state, construction and building and so on.

Country choose federalism for mainly two reasons.The diverse: when a country has many people with different races or cultures and background their co-existence become necessary under federal government and also the size of the country can be an other reason for a country to federal system of government specially when a country become to big to governed from the central.

ADVANTAGES OF FEDERALISM

Proponents argue that federalism does the following:

• Foster state loyalties: Many people feel close ties to their home stall and federalism maintains that connection by giving power to the states.
• Practices pragmatism: Running a country with a big size with such a diverse population (USA, Nigeria, SouthSudan Canada) is mush cashier to do if power is given to local official, likewise, state and local officials are closer to the problems of their areas, so it makes sense for them to choose policies to solve those problems.
• Creates laboratories of democracy: State governments can experiment with policies, and other states or federal government can learn from their success and failures.
• Leads to political stability: By removing the national government from some contentious issues areas and this can lead to stability.
• Encourage Pluralism: Federal system expand government on national, state and local levels, giving people more access to leadership and opportunities to get involved in their government.
• Ensures the separation of powers and prevent tyranny. Even if one person or group took control of all three branches of the federal government, federalism ensures that state governments would still function independently, federalism therefore fulfills the framers vision of governmental structure that ensure liberty.
• Reconciles a desire for overall unity with a desire for regional autonomy federalism is the bridge that can keep a country not to fall apart.

John Clement Kuc Acol is the Senior Lawyer in South Sudan, he can be reached at johnayuec@gmail.com

June 28, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan's former vice-president and leader of the rebel SPLM/A in Opposition, Riek Machar, has appointed the heads of various national committees to fill the structures of the armed opposition movement.

South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar gives a press conference in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 12 May 2014 (Photo: AFP/Zacharias Abubeker)

Machar said the appointments, a list of which he provided to Sudan Tribune, were made accordance with a consultative conference held by his faction in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on Saturday.

The appointments are expected to be made official after the former vice-president turned rebel leader selects his appointees for the remaining positions.

Former Unity state governor and chief rebel negotiator General Taban Deng Gai has been appointed as chairman of the national committee for peace and reconciliation.

Dhieu Mathok Diing was named chairman of the national committee for external relations, while the former head of political science at the University of Juba, Oyet Nathniel Pierino, was appointed to lead the national committee for political mobilisation.

Renowned lawyer and former national MP Richard K Mulla takes up the responsibility for justice and human rights, with Mabior Garang de Mabior, the son of late founding SPLM leader John Garang, appointed the chairman of the national committee for information and public relations and former deputy governor of Jonglei Hussein Mar Nyuot heading the committee for humanitarian affairs.

Other appointments included Gabriel Changson Chang for finance and resource mobilisation, Tijwok Hadhir Aguet for agriculture, Elizabeth Acuei Yol for health, Stephen Par Kuol for education and Banguot Amum Okiech, the sister of former SPLM secretary-general Pagan Amum, who will lead the committee for women and youth empowerment.

Ramadan Hassan Laku was assigned the role as chief coordinator in the office of the chairman

The office of the chairman is comprised of five strategic planning committees: the federal governance development unit, physical infrastructure development unit, public cooperation enterprise development unit, anti-corruption measures development unit and the SPLM basic documents development unit.

Former lawmaker Timothy Tot Chol will head up the federal governance development unit, with Machar yet to appoint heads for the remaining four units or positions in the military committee.

Machar's spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that the deputies and secretaries to the respective national committees, representatives of the movement in various countries and officials in the headquarters in the office of the chairman are also due to be appointed soon.

Dak said the appointment of the respective heads of the national committees was an important phase of the struggle.

“It is important for collective decision-making processes by the leadership in formulating draft policies for the resistance movement, as well as [the] future governance system in the country,” he said.

Dak said the committees would serve as the executive organ of the movement.

A rebel official in Addis Ababa told Sudan Tribune the committees were formed to meet the group's obligations to civil populations in areas under its control with regard to social, political and administrative matters.

“We have to deliver services to our people who are in dire need of these services,” the official said.

“We want to put into use our ideas for change so that people of South Sudan can see us doing these things practically and not just theories,” he added.

Rebels have been engaged in a more than six-month-long struggle with the South Sudanese government since a split emerged in the ruling SPLM, led by president Salva Kiir, in mid-December last year.

The fighting has pitted government troops loyal to Kiir against rebel forces aligned with the former vice-president, largely comprising of dissident soldiers and ethnic militia from Machar's Nuer tribe.

Peace talks between the rival factions were recently adjourned indefinitely and a tenuous ceasefire deal signed in January has failed to halt the violence.

(ST)

June 28, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – North Darfur governor Osman Youssef Kibir announced Saturday the death of the leader of Sudan Liberation Movement for Justice (SLMJ), Ali Karbino Ali Karbino, following clashes with the government forces in the state.

Kibir said Karbino was killed with 12 other rebels on Friday, after he launched an attack on Alquba area north of Kutum. He stressed the Sudanese army repulsed the attack and seized 31 armed vehicles.

The governor pointed, in a statement released on Saturday that several SLMJ fighters were held captive.

A Sudan Tribune reporter in El-Fasher obtained pictures showing Karbino's body since the midday but the state governor and the Sudanese army confirmed the death only in the evening.

Sources say Arab pastoralists from the area and elements of the Border Guards militia affiliated to the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) attacked the SLMJ fighters on Friday following the alleged looting of camels belonging to the herders.

10 nomads were killed and several others wounded.

In statements to Ashorooq TV, the commander of the Sudanese army force in Alquba, colonel Alnour Ahmed Adam, confirmed the death of Karbino and showed 30 vehicles and weapons captured from the rebels.

Adam also said they captured 15 rebels, adding that his force was monitoring the movements of the rebels and managed to attack them Friday in Alquba.

Karbino joined Minni Minnawi following the historical split of the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) in November 2005. However following the signing of May 2006 Darfur peace agreement, he joined a rebel coalition led by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

In 2011, the late rebel commander, joint the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) of Tijani al-Sissi. However he defected following the signing of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) in July 2011.

Last March and April, his group carried out joint military attacks with SLM-Minni Minnawi in South and North Darfur.

SAF spokesperson, al-Sawarmi Khaled Saad, on Thursday announced that SAF clashed with a group from the SLM-MM in Ed al-Zalat and al-Managim areas north east of Kutum in North Darfur state.

He said they inflicted heavy casualties in lives and equipment on the rebels and seized 22 armed vehicles, 2 rocket launchers, and 3 cannons besides small arms.

Clashes between Minnawi fighters and Sudanese army and government militia in March and April 2014 displaced over 81,000 people in South and North Darfur, according to the UN agencies.

(ST)

By Mahmoud A. Suleiman

June 28, 2014 - This article comes against the backdrop of the ultimatum made by the National Congress Party (NCP) President Omer al-Bashir in which he warned the opposition parties from any attempt to rapprochement with the rebel alliance Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF). Al-Bashir sounded more tyrannical after his return to the limelight following weeks of disappearance allegedly due to illness he has suffered. This announcement of the (NCP) president topples his false claim about national dialogue he called on the opposition political forces to participate and that his regime has provided a suitable ground for political freedoms. Al-Bashir after the recovery from his alleged illness aimed at imposing more restrictions on freedoms and application of further repressive laws against opposition parties. This indicates al-Bashir's declaration for putting an end to the planned national dialogue he submitted to the Sudanese political opposition in both its peaceful civil and military armed in January 2014.

Omar al-Bashir threatened any contact with the (SRF) is a red line punishable harshly. He addressed that message to the Sudanese opposition forces. He said that while addressing the NCP Consultative Council meeting on Thursday 26 June 2014. Al-Bashir labelled the (SRF) as foreign agents and traitors against the Sudanese state. The truth of the matter is that, Omer al-Bashir is the most Sudanese ruler who served Western policy and interests in the modern history of Sudan. By the way, the former assassin and commander of the notorious Popular Defence Forces (PDF) cement trader and now plays the role of a Foreign Minister for the regime Ali Ahmed Karti has been visiting Western countries without interruption, begging them for lifting the sanctions against his regime in exchange for intelligence on terrorism perpetuated by his fellow Muslims Brotherhoods and other fundamentalist jihadists around the world. However, Omer al-Bashir continuously accuses the armed opposition in the (SRF), his archenemy, as agents for the Western countries; nothing else than the psychological defense mechanism of Projection! The case of Sudan under the failed regime of the (NCP) Political Islamism embodies the title of a book by Dr. Mansour Khalid (Sudan a proliferation of destabilizations and shortage of pickets/pegs)!

Political analysts indicated that the furor and the ballyhoo of the NCP president came as a pretext to reprimand and disapprove the signs of possible rapprochement between the National Umma Party (NUP) and the rebel alliance (SRF). It followed the reported statements attributed to Sayed al-Sadiq al-Mahdi that his party would coordinate its efforts with that of the (SRF) for attaining countrywide peace.

Al-Bashir accused political opponents as abusing the freedoms his regime has offered and that some opportunists have abused and “crossed the red line” he has set limit to it. It seems that Omer al-Bashir's anger and furor was in response to the speech of the Chairman (Imam) of the Ansar Sect and the leader of the National Umma Party (NUP) Sayed al-Sadiq al-Mahdi's Speech at the political Seminar in the Omdurman suburb of Umbadda on Thursday evening June 26, 2014. This was when al-Mahdi stated the following:

First: we say that the process that existed in the Sudan where there are defects that we must rethink and say these flaws need correction.
Second: reconciliation with all political forces, which there were problems between them, “we have”, to agree on a unified position.
Third: to talk with all those who carry arms and say: Come with us to a word between us to unite our position in order to establish a new system. Furthermore, our capital is our political initiative which gets us out of the impasse; control under this procedure will enable us, God willing, to deal with all the political forces on the basis of the unification of the word, as well as reach an understanding with our brothers in the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) on the basis that we are all betting on a comprehensive political solution in which there is just and comprehensive peace and entire democratic transformation.

Of the kind of wishful- thinking for the Khartoum government is the occurrence of disputes between the components of the Sudanese opposition forces. Moreover, the press and the media loyal to the NCP regime sought the creation of falsehoods and rhetoricians lies to stirrup sedition based on the doctrine “the end justifies the means”.

The Sudanese people want comprehensive sustainable just peace besides full democratic transformation. These noble aspirations of the Sudanese people could not be achieved in the reign of terror of al-Bashir and his despotic regime exist at the helm of power , monopolizing wealth of the country and committing the reprehensible heinous crimes with impunity.

All the fuss and shouting of the angry Omar al-Bashir intended as a Letter of Warning to Mr. Sadiq al-Mahdi and the rest of the components of the Sudanese opposition that the issue of national dialogue has ended and negated its purpose and now we have elections which we decided its date in April 2015 without delay.

All the foregoing fuss and angry shouting of Omar al-Bashir intended to pass the message that the authority of the NCP will continue to its goals in spite of the desire of the opposition for change supported by international community. Political observers said that al-Bashir understands well that change of his regime means he will be faced by transitional justice, retribution and punishment as a war criminal before the International Criminal court (ICC) at The Hague. Therefore, those who claim to reform the regime of the NCP must understand and get convinced that Omar al-Bashir will not allow any change in his system of governance and the use of proxy wars in Darfur, Nuba Mountains, and Blue Nile State and elsewhere in Sudan unabatedly. Moreover, that those who believe that democracy is possible to be reached in the presence of Omar al-Bashir in power their hopes will be built in Mirage and suffer disappointment and heartbreak.

Given the past marathon numbers of negotiations and the lack of commitment of the NCP regime to the peace agreements reached with the parties to the conflict in Darfur and elsewhere over the decades, there is no point for further so-called peace processes except for humanitarian relief that the regime has denied reaching the war displaced victims and using food as a weapon. Sudan lives in a conflict of Self-actualization under the political Islamism of NCP. Genocide by attrition continues with impunity in Darfur. There is nothing much In favour of the components of the Sudanese opposition remains, both civil peaceful and armed movements, other than ousting the regime by all the possible means. The serious and the effective opposition accompanied by components of the Sudanese people, young people, women and civil society organizations and activists and trade unions and professional unions and the Allied armed movements (SRF) and patriots of the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) loyal to the Sudanese people's choice together are capable to overthrow the (NCP) regime and establish the “Democratic Alternative” followed by an inclusive broad-based ‘Transitional Government'. This is followed by:

Constitutional Conference of the regions of Sudan to agree on a permanent constitution for Sudan and then conduct a census of the population and a fair distribution of constituencies according to population density and then make the general elections free, fair and transparent control globally by global institutions credible then configure the elected government and the regime of real federation, which is given powers to regions to govern itself and curtail the historic central authority in Khartoum and then repair what was destroyed by the war and the application of transitional justice to hold war criminals accountable and compensate those affected by war, and the return of the refugees and the displaced people to Hawakeer and the eviction of those groups who unlawfully and unjustly occupied the land of others. This would be coincided with the tribal groups trial to reweave, sew and repair the social fabric after the deliberate fragmentation caused by the sedition and discord planted by the NCP regime between the tribal ethnic groups, which had been living in harmony and peace and love before the fateful coming of the war criminal despotic Omar al-Bashir to power through military coup d'état in 1989. The NIF/NCP regime has exploited religion to justify corruption through Jurisprudence of the so-called Doctrine of Necessity.

The Current harsh conditions under which the Sudanese people are languishing is unbearable to say the least. It is truly a sorry state and a matter of to be or not to be for Sudan under the political Islamism of NCP. The pressing issues that affect the country are corruption, tyranny, fundamentalist minority rule, marginalisation, poverty and denial of human rights and the never-ending genocidal wars. A religiously neutral model of governance may be the only way for a multi ethnic, multi faith, multicultural and metalinguistic country like Sudan to prosper. Political scientists refer to that the type of governance as the civil state. The components of the Sudanese people must collectively struggle relentlessly against the confiscation of democracy and freedoms, systematic oppression, totalitarianism, dictatorship and biased for the defence of human rights and work together to overthrow the axis of evil regime of the NCP and the remnants of the former Head of the poisonous serpent, the National Islamic Front (NIF).

When the Darfuri Movements in Sudan first took up arms against the tyrannical regime of the NCP, they aimed to fight for democracy, Justice, equality, and freedom. They took up arms mainly against marginalisation. Moreover, the struggle was to create a democratic nation-state in Sudan for all its inhabitants whereby the rule of law, good governance, sustainable lasting peace, prosperity and freedom to be paramount sets for the peoples. Now is the occasion more than at any other time fight the hypocrite corrupt blood thirsty and dictatorial regime of the (NCP) that has determined to kill and deprive the citizens of Sudan in Darfur and elsewhere their freedoms to reduce their dignity to nothing at the expense of power greed, and personal interests for twenty-five years.

Dr. Mahmoud A. Suleiman is the Deputy Chairman of the General Congress for Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). He can be reached at mahmoud.abaker@gmail.com and he is also is an author, columnist and a blogger. His blog is http://thussudan.wordpress.com

By Mut Turuk

June 28, 2014 - To answer the above-mentioned question, one would like to ask some more questions whose answers may clarify such adjournment as follows:

What is the main reason for IGAD mediation to adjourned peace talks indefinitely? What is the concept of inclusion and participation of other stakeholders in peace talks? What does the 9 May 2014 Agreement on Resolving the Crisis in South Sudan and the 10 June 2014 Communiqué of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government stated about the inclusion and participation? Who coined the term “multi-stakeholder roundtable” and is it possible that an expeditious peace can be achieved through such approach? What is the main role of IGAD mediation or mediation generally?

1. Firstly, it is clear that the mediation has misguided itself by misinterpreting the concept of inclusion and the mode of participation of other stakeholders, which does not necessarily, means multi-stakeholder roundtable. The mediation has also misguided itself by adopting multi-stakeholder roundtable without consultation with the two direct negotiators.

2. The 9 May 2014 Agreement on Resolving the Crisis in South Sudan which was signed by President Salva Kiir and Cde Chairman Dr. Riek Machar does not authorize or empower IGAD mediation to take such kind of decisions without consultation with the two direct negotiators. Yes, the provisions of inclusion and participation of other stakeholders in the peace talks was drafted ambiguously in that 9 May Agreement and that is why IGAD mediation has gone different way. As a result of ambiguity in such provisions the mediation had coined the term “multi-stakeholder roundtable” which is not mentioned in such agreement.

3. As the 9 May Agreement is silent about the mode of participation of other stakeholders; however, the 10 June 2014 Communiqué of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government has tried to clarify the ambiguity and silence in term of the mode of participation of other stakeholders by stating that “ those stakeholders have the explicit right to determine the composition of their representation in consultation with the mediation” and yet such provisions has fallen short to address the issue of “ who are those stakeholders” and the mode of selection of such stakeholders. That is why the SPLM/A had requested the mediation that they should be given the same representation which was given to other stakeholders in the Government control areas because sizable civil society, representative of the victims, political parties and other faith based group which have been forced to leave the Country are not represented. The mediation has ignored such request of the SPLM/A. However, the mediation when further to give more additional representation to the civil society and political parties that came from government control areas.

4. Furthermore, the mediation has rejected a proposal by the SPLM/A that peace talks should continue between two direct negotiators while pending issues would be handled by the mediation and two direct negotiators. Therefore, the mediations has complicated the whole process by adopting a very complicated approach “ multi- stakeholder roundtable” without making an consultation with the direct negotiators and without considering that an expeditious peace could not be achieved through such approach. As a result, unnecessary adjournment was made by the mediation despite the fact that the two direct negotiators were willing to continue discussing the issues while pending issues are being handled in the process.

5. Finally, the mediation has complicated the process by adopting a “multi-stakeholder roundtable” which is not stipulated in the 9 May 2014 as well as the 10 June 2014 Communiqué of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government, in addition to that, by adopting unfair process of representation of other stakeholders without considering the participation of other stakeholders. Nevertheless, the mediation has taken upon itself different functions instead of facilitating and moderating the peace talks, it has turned to make decisions on the behalf of the South Sudan parties in the peace talks.

6. One would suggest that for peace to be achieved expeditiously, and with the fact that the two direct negotiators are willing to continue talking, the mediation should adopt a consultative approach instead of the current unilateral approach so that unnecessary delays and adjournments are avoid for the sake of peace in South Sudan. The mediation should not allow different conflict of interests to halt and prevent people of South Sudan to see and enjoy the fruits of peace. It would be advisable if the mediation would adopt CPA approach instead of the “multi-stakeholder roundtable” if all of us have the same interest in expeditious peace.

The author is an advocate and member of SPLM/A in Opposition

June 28, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) said they had carried out an attack against government forces in Alatmor, in its second bid to retake the strategic area following its capture by the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) last June.

The SPLM-N fighters are “launching [a] heavy counter-attack offensive against NCP forces inside Alatmor area, east Kadugli city,” said SPLM-N spokesperson Arnu Ngutulu Loddi on Saturday.

Loddi said they had inflicted heavy casualties on government troops, killing 15 soldiers and destroying a tank T-55 and six vehicles.

Alatmor is located between Um Sirdiba and Dalko, to the east of South Kordofan state capital, Kadugli. The army already retook control of Dalko on 18 May.

He further said they shelled military position inside Kadugli and two positions recently captured by the army, Alhamra and Daldoko; both also are located east of the state capital.

SAF spokesperson Alswarmi Khaled was not available for comment.

SAF soldiers and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured Alatmor on 6 June. At thwe time, the SAF spokesperson said they intended to secure areas east of Kadugli to prevent shelling by rebels.

He further described it as advanced position towards Kauda, a rebel stronghold in the Nuba Mountains.

On 9 June, the military spokesperson said they managed to repulse a “suicide attack” on Alatmor and inflicted heavy losses on the assailants

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June 28, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan has expressed doubts over the political impartiality of international ranking institutions following the country's inclusion on a list of failed states published on 24 June.

Thousands of civilians fleeing violence seek shelter at a UN compound in Jonglei state capita Bor (Photo: UNMISS/Hailemichael Gebrekrstos)

“Sometimes our people begin to wonder and question the credibility and the impartiality of these ranking institutions. They (people) do not understand which indicators do these institutions use and where exactly do they get their sources of information,” South Sudan's deputy parliamentary speaker, Mark Nyipuoc, told Sudan Tribune on Saturday

“Sometimes you find these institutions relying on rumours in the media, without approaching the right institutions so that they are given the right information they want from the right institutions,” he added.

Nyipuoc is the first leading official from the governing Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) to react the report, which was released last week by the Fund for Peace, a Washington-based non-profit organisation that compiles the annual list based on the performance of countries around the world.

The young nation topped the list of fragile states, ending Somalia's six-year rein at the top of the index, with fractious leadership, mass killings and ethnic violence cited as some of the factors contributing to the ranking.

According to the report, the index is based on 12 key social, economic and political indicators, including demographic pressures, poverty and economic decline, human rights and political impasse.

In 2012, a year after gaining its independence from the north, South Sudan was ranked fourth in the Failed States Index (FSI), retaining its position in 2013, but with worsened scores.

The top six most fragile states were all in Africa, including Sudan at number five, with Afghanistan, Yemen, Haiti and Pakistan rounding out the top 10.

However, Nyipuoc has argued that the ranking was unfair and does not take into consideration that the country is young and cannot be expected to be on the same par as countries which have had their independence for many years.

“You cannot use social indicators from the countries which have been independent for more than 50 years with a country which is just two years old,” he said. “It's just like a two-year-old child, which cannot be expected to do things adult do. We are just starting from scratch … These countries that are mentioned in the reports have industries which support the economy of the country. They also have other sources of revenues,” he added.

South Sudan has been mired in violence since mid-December last year after escalating political tensions turned violent.

The conflict has killed thousands and displaced more than 1.3 million people, leading to warnings from international aid agencies that the country is facing a looming humanitarian catastrophe.

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June 28, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan's opposition parties which agreed to participate in the national dialogue have expressed resentment over statements made by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir recently regarding the dialogue process and general elections.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir (Photo: Reuters)

In a speech before the members of the Shura (consultative) Council of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday, Bashir said his government's adherence to national dialogue does not stem from weakness, underscoring that next year general elections will be held as scheduled without delay.

He further slammed NCP officials who spoke of a possible postponement of the electoral process in case a political agreement is reached with opposition forces in the context of the national dialogue.

An informed source told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that the opposition participants in the national dialogue will hold a meeting to discuss Bashir's remarks and take a final decision on whether to continue or not, noting that Bashir's statements were disappointing.

The same source did not rule out that some opposition parties might nonetheless decide to carry on even if other opposition forces decided to boycott it.

It further disclosed that opposition parties participating in the dialogue approved in a meeting held on Wednesday the formation of a broad front, including political parties and national figures, to discuss the Sudanese crisis that is threatening the existence of the country.

The opposition parties have demanded a meeting with Bashir more than two weeks ago but the government has yet to respond to their request.

Last week, Sudanese presidential assistant Ibrahim Ghandour disclosed that Bashir, will meet with these political forces in the next few days to discuss ways for pushing forward the process.

The National Umma Party (NUP) and the Reform Now Party (RNP) suspended participation in the dialogue process to protest arrest of the former's leader, al-Sadiq al-Mahdi and what they said was a government crackdown on political and media liberties.

However, the Popular Congress Party (PCP) led by Hassan al-Turabi has previously rejected calls to boycott the dialogue despite acknowledging recent crackdown by the government.

Al-Mahdi described in press statements on Thursday the government officials' linkage between dialogue and elections as “pointless”, calling o the government to choose between a dialogue which is accepted by all Sudanese people or popular uprising.

Meanwhile, Ghandour asserted some political forces misinterpreted the NCP's call for national dialogue, saying their call did not stem from a position of weakness but a conviction for uniting the national front.

Ghandour, who addressed the NCP conference at Khartoum locality on Friday, called on the political forces not to adopt a tactical approach in dealing with the president's call for national dialogue, noting his party's call for dialogue came at a time when the opposition forces and armed groups are at their weakest situation.

At the end of January, Bashir launched the national dialogue initiative aiming to hold an comprehensive conference on a new constitution and ways to end the armed conflicts in the Two Areas and Darfur. He also issued a number of presidential decrees to ensure freedom of expression, press freedom and create a conducive environment for this political process.

However, the security service last May arrested al-Mahdi for criticising a government militia, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and accusing it of committing war crimes in Darfur and South Kordofan.

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June 29, 2014 (JUBA) – A group of former South Sudanese political detainees announced on Saturday that one of their colleagues had joined the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) in Opposition under the leadership of former vice-president, Riek Machar.

Ezekial Lol Gatkuoth (right) sits with his co-accused (from left) Oyay Deng Ajak, Pagan Amum Okiech, Majok D'Agot Atem at their trial for treason in Juba (Photo: Charlton Doki/VOA)

Former justice minister John Luk Jok said the leadership of the former detainees held a meeting on Friday to approve ambassador Ezekial Lol Gatkuoth's request to join Machar's group.

“He (Gatkuoth) expressed his genuine desire to go and assist the SPLM/A [in Opposition] politically,” said a statement released by the former detainees and extended to Sudan Tribune.

Jok denied there were any division in the camp, saying the groups remains united and fully committed to the agenda of achieving peace, stability and democracy in South Sudan.

“There is no division ... The meeting unanimously endorsed the request of ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkouth to join [the] SPLM/A in Opposition since this is his individual wish at this critical juncture in which the people of South Sudan are yearning for peace and democratic change,” the statement adds.

Jok said the group held no ill-feelings towards Gatkouth and hoped that he would pursue the cause of their grievances in a manner consistent to their calls for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

“We trust that Ambassador Ezekiel will pursue the struggle for just peace, democracy and justice in South Sudan and add political value to [the] SPLM/A in Opposition,” said Jok.

“Having shared in the common experience of the struggle for independence of South Sudan and the fight against despotism, we can only wish him well in his new political endeavours,” he added.

The group of senior officials from the ruling SPLM were detained following the outbreak of violence in South Sudan in mid-December last year on charges related to an alleged coup plot to overthrow the government.

Seven members of the group of 11 were subsequently released on bail and left the country for Kenya after the country's rival factions reached a ceasefire agreement in January, while the remaining four were freed in April after charges of treason were dropped and their trial was aborted.

The seven political figures went on to take part in peace negotiations being mediated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, participating as a separate bloc after deciding against allying themselves with Machar's group.

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June 28, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government and Petrodar oil company signed an agreement on Saturday, by which the latter pays $19.8 per barrel of oil flowing from oilfields number three and seven in South Sudan that ends up in Port Sudan export terminal on the Red Sea.

South Sudanese security forces wait outside the control room of the Petrodar oil facility in Paloich, Upper Nile (AFP)

The deal provides for the payment of $366 million annually to Khartoum starting retroactively from June 2013, which is the date Juba resumed exporting its oil through Sudanese territory.

Petrodar is a consortium comprised of five companies including China National Petroleum (CNPC), Malaysia's Petronas, Sudan's Sudapet, China's SINOPEC and Kuwait's Tri-ocean Exploration and Production.

It operates in oilfields located in South Sudan's Upper Nile state.

Khartoum and Juba were locked in a dispute over oil transit fees which led to the suspension of oil production in South Sudan. The issue was resolved in March of last year.

The Sudanese oil minister Makkawi Mohamed Awad said in press statements on Saturday, following the signing of the agreement, that his country's efforts succeeded in persuading its partners in these oil companies to boost the transit and processing fees.

He disclosed that Petrodar agreed to raise transit fees to $4 from $1, and tariffs from $5.5 to $19.8 adding that the company wanted to help Sudan offset the loss of South Sudan's oil following its independence in July 2011. The agreement will expire in 2017.

Awad said three more agreements will follow in the next two weeks regarding payment methods and other financial technicalities. This pact will also help resolve debt owed by Khartoum to several oil companies and other international organizations.

Half of the proceeds will be used to pay off the debt and the remaining half will go into Sudan's treasury, he added.

Sudan owes CNPC $1.3 billion which represents the value of oil the government bought from it since the country's breakup up till end of 2013.

The Sudanese official said that currently 200,000 barrels of oil pass through these pipelines on a daily basis from South Sudan. However. But other reports puts the figure at 150,000 particularly after the outbreak of the conflict in South Sudan.

The minister praised the support of these oil partners as well as China and Malaysia to his country. He also that these companies will continue their exploration efforts the town Kosti and the Blue Nile state in blocs 7 and 8.

The Sudanese state minister of Finance Abdulrahman Dirar said the agreement will contribute to improving the Sudanese pound exchange rate against foreign currencies.

He said that his country will work to employ the proceeds from the deal, according to current priorities to support productive sectors and infrastructure.

Sudan lost three-quarters of its oil production when South Sudan became independent , worsening an economic crisis as oil was the government's main source of revenue, providing the cash flow to fund food imports and other basic items.

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June 28, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudanese vice-president, James Wani Igga is in Shanghai, China on a four-day visit to the Asian country, officials said Friday.

South Sudan vice-president James Wani Igga during his visit to China June 28, 2014 (Larco Lomayat)

The visit, although unofficially announced, is considered part of the young nation's efforts to strengthen ties with the world's most populous country.

China was among the countries that recognised South Sudan's independence in July 2011, and has since maintained strong relations with the latter in its oil, construction and telecom sectors.

Last year, China agreed to help South Sudan develop a mining sector and also pledged to lend between $1bn and $2bn for the road, power and agriculture projects in the new nation.

Currently, the biggest investor in new nation's oil industry, the Asian country has played a limited role in the ceasefire negotiations to resolve South Sudan's crisis, in line with its policy of non-interference in domestic affairs.

In May, China reportedly agreed to send an infantry battalion 850 soldiers to reinforce the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. UN officials, however, said this was the first time China would be sending a combat unit to its peacekeeping operation, having previously provided logistical and protection units in Mali and Sudan's Darfur region.

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June 29, 2014 (JUBA) – Heavyweight politicians and prominent community leaders from South Sudan's Bahr el Ghazal region have reportedly asked president Salva Kiir not to stand for another term.

South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir, addresses the media in Juba on 2 May 2013 (Photo: Reuters/Paul Banks)

Kiir was born in the Bahr-el-Ghazal region of north-western South Sudan, which is widely viewed as a government stronghold.

However, in an exclusive an interview on Sunday, an elderly politician from Bahr el Ghazal's council of elders told Sudan Tribune that Kiir was approached before the current crisis broke out and asked to “voluntarily relinquish” his position before the next elections, saying the call was intended to preserve unity among the people and prevent further disintegration.

“As elders and older politicians, we advised him based on experiences we have gone through during our political life with different governments and for the benefit of the country,” he said.

“We asked him to swallow the pride of his colleagues and political allies so that he leaves behind [a] good legacy, because we know he has good history and we wanted him to maintain that so that it becomes part of the history for his success,” he added.

The elder, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Kiir had acknowledged the request and although he did not indicate his intentions, the group believed he would act on their advice.

“He said ‘okay, I heard you', but he did not explain in full, and [we] did not want to bother him because we thought he understood the importance of the message,” he said.

“We did not want to be seen as having groomed a bad leader, which is not our culture. We thought it would be wise and healthier for our son to voluntarily relinquish the power and call on the people of South Sudan to take over the affairs of the country, without allowing his name to be dragged into such [an] unfortunate situation,” he said.

The elder said the group had suggested to Kiir that he either choose a successor from within the region or from another area and tribe. Alternatively, he could also elect to leave the decision on the selection of a new leader to the party.

The group said they also urged the president to call a meeting with current vice-president James Wani Igga and Riek Machar, Kiir's former deputy who was sacked last July, in order to discuss succession issues and avoid infighting.

The elder claimed they had discussed the three proposals with the president on several occasions during informal meetings and social gatherings, prompting Kiir to cancel his attendance at some events or prevent the group from speaking at such occasions.

The presidency has neither confirmed nor denied the claims made by the regional elders.

However, several government officials, including foreign affairs minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin, have in the past rejected calls for Kiir to step aside before his term expires in 2015.

Benjamin argued Kiir was the elected president and thus the people should decide on whether to give him another mandate or not during elections.

Kiir's leadership style has come under question since a political split in the ruling SPLM turned violent in mid-December last year, with critics accusing him of mismanaging the country's affairs.

Machar, who had become increasingly vocal in his criticism following his sacking, now heads the breakaway SPLM in Opposition.

Rebels under his command have been engaged in a brutal armed struggle with government forces loyal to the government for more than six months, despite regional attempts to broker a lasting ceasefire.

Kiir, a former military commander turned politician, became South Sudan's first president after the country secured its independence from Sudan in 2011, having won elections the previous year in a landslide.

Earlier this month, Kiir said would not to a peace deal unless it guarantees that he will lead the transitional government.

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June 29, 2014 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese army general who switched allegiance and joined rebel forces under the leadership of the former vice-president Riek Machar said he had rejected separate peace talks with the government.

General Dau Aturjong (ST)

General Dau Aturjong Nyuol announced that he was defecting last month, calling on the South Sudanese people to join the fight to remove president Salva Kiir from power on the grounds that he had failed to properly manage the affairs of the country.

“They (the government) have continued to approach me for separate peace talks, using people they think would convince me,” Nyuol told Sudan Tribune in an exclusive interview on Sunday.

“They do not only want to localise the grievances for which I decided to resume [an] armed struggle, but it is a clear demonstration that they want to divide our leadership ... So I rejected it and asked them to go to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that is where peace talks are [being] held,” he added.

Nyuol claimed the Kiir-led government was on the verge of collapse, saying the national army (SPLA) was in disarray.

“Until we decided to resume [an] armed struggle, our people were made to believe that certain people are untouchable ... They (the government) made our people believe certain people are the problem of the country and the failure of the leadership,” he said.

“But today our people can say it openly: the real problem for our country and for us as South Sudanese are not the mutual political differences between individuals, the real problem now [is] the clique who decided to sit on the necks of our people and continue to loot the country at will ... Today no citizen is free to talk freely, although the constitution provides freedom of expression and speech,” he added.

South Sudan has been mired in conflict since a political split in the ruling SPLM turned violent in mid-December last year.

The conflict has pitted government troops loyal to Kiir against rebel forces aligned with Machar, comprising largely of dissident soldiers and ethnic militia.

DISMANTLE REGIME

Nyuol said the only way to restore lasting peace in South Sudan was to remove the Kiir administration and the introduction of a federal system of governance that would support democratic ideals, justice and freedom.

“For South Sudan to move forward, the regime of Salva Kiir and his friends must be dismantled,” he said.

“There is a real need to construct a new Republic of South Sudan. The country must change because the world has changed,” he added.

He accused the government of being motivated solely by self-interest, claiming the leadership had failed the South Sudanese people and brought shame on the country.

“They must go. This regime must be dismantled and thrown away to the trash. Our people don't want it anymore. It actually brought us a shame these days to say you come from South Sudan,” he said.

There is growing support across Sudan for a federal system of governance, but the government has cautioned against ongoing debate on the matter, saying restoring peace and social harmony should be the country's first priority.

Presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny told Sudan Tribune last Tuesday that the question of governance should be determined by citizens in a referendum once stability had been restored.

Kiir recently alleged that Machar advancing federalism as a strategy to split the position of the government.

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June 29, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) leading figure and MP Mohamed al-Hassan al-Amin has claimed that the electoral bill which is expected to be approved by the National Assembly on Monday is flawed.

The audience listens to Sudan's President Omer Hassan al-Bashir speaking during the opening of a new session of parliament on October 28, 2013 in Khartoum (AFP/Getty Images)

Press reports in Khartoum on Sunday quoted al-Amin as saying that the draft bill designed to introduce amendments to the country's electoral law “contained several errors”.

Al-Amin noted that the law did not stipulate who would fill the position of the governor if the latter resigned, underscoring the need to introduce a new article in the law which authorizes the president of the republic to appoint acting governor.

He also pointed that the draft bill contained articles relating to South Sudan although they were annulled by the constitution in addition to inconsistencies in the number of MPs which is determined at 426, saying it is not divisible and does not produce correct numbers when determining parliamentary quotas particularly the 30% which was allocated for women.

The NCP official further said that the electoral law did not take into consideration the increase in population.

The parliament on Monday is scheduled to hold a session to deliberate on the draft bill which would introduce amendments to the country's 2008 electoral law. Major opposition parties have rejected an invitation to attend this session.

Sudan's general elections are set to be held in April 2015 but opposition parties threatened to boycott it saying the NCP holds absolute control over power and refuses to make any compromises to end the civil war and allow public liberties.

In a speech before the members of the Shura (consultative) Council of the NCP on Thursday, president Omer Hassan al-Bashir underscored that next year's elections will be held as scheduled without delay.

Many observers and opposition figures assert that NCP insistence on holding the election as planned will all but kill the national dialogue process called for by Bashir earlier this year.

ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON TIME

Meanwhile, the governor of Khartoum state and chairman of the NCP in the state, Abdel-Rahman al-Khidir, announced the formation of a committee to review the NCP election program, reiterating that elections will be held in 2015 as scheduled.

Al-Khidir, who addressed the NCP conference in East Nile locality, said they are serious about holding elections on time, underscoring that elections is the only means for achieving power.

He said the government would not allow the opposition to cross the “red lines” and exploit the current atmosphere of openness to destabilize the country.

The governor urged the political parties to get ready for the elections and highlighted the expansion of the NCP base in Khartoum state, saying that 70% of the party members participated in the grassroot conferences.

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June 29, 2014 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudan Liberation Movement Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) said in a statement released on Sunday that two of its commander were killed with the leader of Sudan Liberation Movement Justice (SLMJ) Ali Karbino on Friday.

SLMJ leader Ali Karbino (File photo)

North Darfur governor Osman Kibir on Saturday that said Karbino ban been killed with 12 other rebels on Friday in Alquba area north of Kutum. The Sudanese army pointed that they repulsed an attack led by the rebel leader and seized 31 vehicles from the assailants.

The SLM-MM issued a statement signed by its leader mourning the death of Karbino pointing that two of its commanders, Musa Shamo Haroun and Sadiq Hamed Wadi, were killed in the fighting.

“The martyrdom of these leaders who gave the finest example of sacrifice and absolute faith in the justice of the cause is a continuation for a long walk since the foundation of the resistance in Darfur,” said Minnawi in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

Karbino since last March coordinated with Minnawi a series of attacks in South and North Darfur states.

The leader of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) Malik Agar, released a statement on Sunday mourning the slain SLMJ leader.

The SRF composed of the SPLM-N and three rebel groups from Darfur region but Karbino group is not part of this rebel alliance.

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