August 6, 2014 (WASHINGTON) – Sudanese diaspora groups and activist organisations based in the US have called for a no-fly zone in conflict zones and the disabling of government aerial assets to end ongoing atrocities against civilians.

US president Barack Obama speaks at the Summit of the Washington Fellowship for the Young African Leaders Initiative in Washington on 28 July 2014 (Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

The calls coincide with the US-Africa Leaders Summit, which is being hosted this week by president Barack Obama in Washington.

In a letter signed by 64 groups, the US administration and African leaders are urged to consider the welfare of Sudanese people in their discussions during the summit and to make ending the country's conflicts a priority.

The Sudanese government has been accused to committing genocide, ethnic cleansing and mass atrocities against its citizens.

President Omer Hassan al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, was not invited to the summit.

Activist groups say that ongoing conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile, Abyei, Nubia, Khartoum and East Sudan have little prospect of resolution, calling for the US to step up its engagement with Sudan.

“We continue to hope that the US administration will live up to president Obama's past promises and its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide with a revised and effective foreign policy on Sudan,” activist groups said in the 5 August letter.

“We believe the US administration could play a vital role together with the African leaders,” it adds.

Civil liberties, including freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and the rights of women, have been severely curtailed under Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP), say activist groups.

In 2011, the Sudanese government renewed its military campaigns in the Nuba Mountains, with ground attacks, frequent indiscriminate bombings and killings resulting in near starvation for hundreds of thousands of people, while one million were displaced internally or across the border.

Security in Darfur has also continued to deteriorate significantly, with 390,000 displaced in the first six months of 2014, according to UN estimates.

Diaspora and activist groups accuse the Sudanese government and its allied militias of carrying out “genocide by attrition” by blocking food, medical and humanitarian aid to internally displaced people in Darfur, the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile state.

They are urging the US to exert diplomatic efforts to persuade the Sudanese government to allow unconditional humanitarian to vulnerable and displaced populations and secure the release of political prisoners and other detainees being held because of their ethnicity or religion.

The groups are also seeking the permanent disbanding and disarming of the Rapid Support Forces (also known as Janjaweed) militia forces and for those responsible for human rights abuses to be held accountable.

Activist groups also took their calls to the streets on Tuesday, rallying outside the Sudanese embassy before marching to Lafayette Park, across from the White House.

They are urging the US administration to engage with all relevant Sudanese stakeholders groups “to facilitate and support them in forging a true national dialogue and agreeing on peaceful means of change in effecting an inclusive, peaceful democratic transition in Sudan”.

“The Sudanese people are eager to contribute to the world's security and prosperity, not just to be a place for crisis and poverty,” the letter states.

“The new leaders and generations are keen to establish and forge a real partnership with the United States and other peace-loving nations, especially in Africa, and to work together to build a better world – one in which genocide is never considered a legitimate policy option, and where Sudan is not a safe haven for terrorist organisations,” the letter adds.

The first ever US-African Leaders Summit is being attended by some 45 heads of state form the African continent.

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August 6, 2014 (JUBA) – Heavy floods have displaced more than 200 hundreds of households in South Sudan's Western Bahr el Ghazal state.

Heavy flood waters have displaced hundreds and caused widespread damage in Western Bahr el Ghazal state's Mapel town

Residents of Jur River county's Mapel town were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge on higher ground after heavy rains caused widespread flooding in the region.

Heavy flowing flood waters left a trail of destruction through local villages, with livestock and crops swept away.

Health officials in the town have also reported an outbreak of malaria among children, which they believe is linked to poor living conditions.

Many local women have no access to food or medical supplies and are currently sheltering under trees and resorting to eating leaves and roots.

Charles Nyiyuo Amok, who was displaced by the rising flood waters, said Mapel had experienced particularly heavy rainfall for the past two years.

Residents of Mapel were caught by surprise in 2012 by late season flooding in November, but this year's rains arrived earlier than expected in May.

Mapel resident Baranaba Awer Kiir said the early arrival of seasonal rains had caused misery for many locals, destroying crops, livestock, homes and latrines.

Some flood-affected families had a lucky escape after brick walls collapsed of them as they slept.

“Our life is leading to a dim situation with fear of [a] further outbreak of diseases apart from [the] current malaria affecting the children due to living conditions in an overcrowded population with no proper shelters,” Louise Dut Nyiyuo, headman of Gorial village, said.

The Lulu Works Trust and Alur Youth Union (AYU) are currently making assessments on the ground and providing assistance to flood victims.

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August 6, 2014 (JUBA) – A senior United Nations official has told the Security Council that South Sudan is on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe, calling for international pressure on the country's warring parties to end the almost eight-month-long conflict.

Internally displaced people make their way along the main thoroughfare at a UN camp in Upper Nile state capital Malakal during the wet season (Photo: AP/Matthew Abbott)

The deputy U.N. peacekeeping chief Edmond Mulet on Wednesday briefed the Security Council on the situation in South Sudan after a recent surge in violence between the government and rebel forces in Upper Nile and Northern Bahr el-Ghazal states, and the resumption of the slow moving peace talks in Addis Ababa.

“After three years of independence, South Sudan is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe and a protracted internal conflict,” Mulet told the 15-member body.

“This is a man-made crisis, and those responsible for it have been slow in resolving it. Both sides continue to believe that they can achieve more through the pursuit of a military option,” he stressed.

He further said the humanitarian operation in South Sudan is now “constitutes the biggest aid operation inside any single country”, adding the funding however falls short in comparison with the needs.

UN agencies estimate that some 3.9 million persons are facing alarming levels of food insecurity. The violence which erupted in December 2013, displaced 1.1 million people as 434,000 fled to the neighbouring countries.

Over 50,000 children are at risk of dying as a consequence of acute malnutrition while 115 people died from cholera in the recent weeks as the epidemic disease continues to grow, with more than 5,300 cases.

CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE

The UN assistant secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, on the other hand told the Council members that the parties in the peace talks which resumed on 4 August, are now discussing the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement.

“There is an urgent need for the international community to speak with one voice to incentivise the parties on a meaningful participation in the peace talks, but more importantly, caution them with one voice on the consequences of impeding the peace process as well as on the futility of pursuing the military option,” he stressed.

Mullet said a peace agreement must be reached without further delay on how to end the conflict and engage in the reconciliation process.

He also said that all the UN institutions and member states implicated in the implementation of the four objectives included in the new mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) as per resolution no 2155 (2014).

On 29 May, the Security Council extended the UNMISS mandate for another year and tasked the peacekeeping mission with the protection of civilians, promotion of human rights and accountability, facilitation of humanitarian assistance, and support for the cessation of hostilities.

MAN-MADE SITUATION

A South Sudanese civil society entity described the humanitarian situation in the country as "man-made", saying it strongly welcomes the UN official position on the matter.

"The delay in reaching a peace deal for settling the current political crisis in the country is mainly caused by the warring parties of South Sudan. They are mainly interested in negotiating for political gains at the expense of the suffering population," Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO) said in a statement issued Thursday.

"IGAD should push for an end to the peace talks without delays for the sake our citizens, mostly women, children and the elderly persons in the country," it added.

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August 6, 2014 (JUBA) - The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki moon has condemned in the “strongest” terms recent killings of five South Sudanese employees of non-governmental organisations in Maban county, Upper Nile state.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon (UN)

Ki moon, his deputy spokesperson said, also expressed deep concerns at the dire humanitarian situation across country as the conflict enters its eighth month.

“The secretary-general demands that the relevant authorities conduct a full investigation into these tragic events. He calls on all armed forces and groups in South Sudan to do their utmost to keep relief personnel and civilians safe from harm,” said Farhan Haq in a statement.

The UN chief, Haq stressed, also reiterated that a military option was no solution to the crisis in South Sudan, calling upon the parties to immediately cease their military operations and demonstrate the political will to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Thousands have already been killed and over a million displaced in the conflict, which initially started in the capital, Juba, but later extended to three of the country's Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei states.

However, while the secretary general welcomed Monday's resumption of the talks in Addis Ababa under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), he reportedly urged the parties to “seriously” and fully engage in a meaningful dialogue, to tangibly advance the political process.

Both warring parties, Ki moon further stressed, should implement without further delay the agreements they signed on 23 January and recommitted to on 9 May, specifically citing the cessation of hostilities deal.

The secretary-general, according to Haq, welcomed the planned visit of the UN Security Council to South Sudan and the region this month, saying it will bring international attention to the dire humanitarian situation and the plight of the South Sudanese people.

“It will further signal to the leadership of both parties the significance the Security Council places on the peaceful resolution of this conflict,” Ki-moon reportedly remarked.

Toby Lanzer, the UN humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, said that Maban, where some 127,000 refugees from Sudan are living, has seen increasing violence and harassment of civilians and aid workers, jeopardising lives of tens of thousands of men, women and children who count on aid organizations for their survival.

On Monday, a local staffer working for the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) was also shot and killed in Maban after allegedly being pulled out of the organisation's vehicle by armed groups.

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August 6, 2014 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese general elections will begin on 2 April 2015, announced the national electoral body on Wednesday, as the government continues to ignore opposition calls to postpone the vote and form a transitional government.

In a press conference held in Khartoum on Wednesday, the chief of the National Election Commission (NEC) Mukhtar al-Asam, announced the electoral process will start on 28 October 2014 with opening of registration offices for the electors, while the candidates can submit their applications beginning from 31 December during a week.

He further said that voters will cast ballots on 2 April, and the counting operation will start on the same day.

Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir rejected a call by the opposition parties participating in the national dialogue process to delay the elections.

Officials in the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) alluded last week to the possible formation of a broad-based government to implement a national program agreed by the dialogue parties.

Commenting on the announcement of the electoral calendar, the secretary general of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) Sara Nugdallah, reiterated they are not concerned by this vote, adding it will be a “remake” of 2010 election boycotted by its party.

Nugdallah further announced that its party resumed its activities within the opposition umbrella of the National Consensus Forces (NCF), 10 months after suspending its membership in the coalition.

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August 7, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan's monthly inflation rate edged upwards in the month of July to 46.8% from 45.3% in June amid sharp increases in prices of goods and services.

FILE - Men wait to buy meat at the market in Khartoum, Sudan (REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

Double-digit inflation has been one of the most visible features of the Sudanese economy in recent years which suffered a shock after the secession of South Sudan which contained three quarters of oil reserves.

To makes matters worse, the government phased out subsidies twice in 2012 and 2013 on petroleum and food products triggering demonstrations that were swiftly quelled.

The Sudanese pound lost more than half its value thus making imports more expensive. The East African nation imports most of its food from abroad.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a report last month that it expects inflation in 2014 to drop sharply to 18% from 41.9% in 2013.

The markets witnessed a wave of price increases over the past month and consumers complained of a steady rise in the prices of basic commodities in conjunction with the approach of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

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August 7, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – A Sudanese court of appeal on Thursday upheld death sentences issued previously in absentia against leaders of the rebel Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) in connection with the outbreak of the conflict with Khartoum in the Blue Nile state in September 2011.

SPLM-N chairman Malik Agar (C) poses for a picture with Abdel Aziz Al Hilu (R) and Yasir Arman (L) (photo SPLM-N)

SPLM-N chairman Malik Agar and secretary-general Yasser Aman were handed the capital punishment last March along with 17 others. The same court sentenced 47 others to life in prison which was also upheld by the appeals court today.

The counts include terrorist crimes; crimes against the state; participation, aiding and abetting of crimes; crimes against humanity; the use of arms .

The court ordered the circulation of notices containing the sentences at all ports of entry and internationally for apprehension.

Battles between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and SPLM-N forces in Blue Nile erupted in September 2011, with each side accusing the other of starting the fighting.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir immediately declared a state of emergency in the state, which allowed him to sack Agar, then the state's governor, and later shut down SPLM-N's offices in the country.

The African Union (AU) has sought to broker a peace deal between Khartoum and SPLM-N in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states but has yet to achieve any success.

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August 07, 2014 (JUBA) – A local journalist in South Sudan's Northern Bahr el Ghazal state has been forced into hiding after authorities allegedly threatened to arrest him, a group advocating for media freedom said Thursday.

Committee to Protect Journalists logo (Image - CPJ)

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CJP) said Abraham Agoth, a freelance reporter, fled the state capital, Aweil, to escape arrest on orders of the caretaker governor, Kuel Aguer Kuel, last month.

Agoth works for the Voice of America (VOA), Gurtong Trust and the Patriot newspaper.

“The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in South Sudan to ensure the safety of [Agoth] who has been hiding since late July,” CPJ said in a statement.

Governor Kuel was reportedly “unhappy with his [Agoth] coverage of state security for several media outlets”.

But while the caretaker governor admitted summoning the reporter, he denied every threatening him.

CPJ's account was, however, contradicted by South Sudan's presidential spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny, who insisted that “nobody intimidates anyone here in South Sudan”.

“Anybody talks his mind or her mind because we have [in the Transitional constitution] article 24 which [talks about] freedom of expression,” Ateny said while speaking on Bakhita radio on Thursday.

“Anybody has a right under that article to talk his or her mind provided that he doesn't impeach on national security. That is the only exception,” he added.

South Sudan, which got independence three years ago, is yet to put in place its media laws. Last year, the country ranked 124 out of 148 countries in the world press freedom status, Reporters Without Borders said.

(ST).

August 7, 2014 (JUBA) – A number of South Sudanese army officers have reportedly been place under house arrest at various locations for reasons yet to be established, military sources have told Sudan Tribune.

Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA)

Lt. Col. Lual Bol Kuan and Major Ngong Mou Deng are reportedly among several military officers in detention since May, with the former said to have been arrested on 10 May after being recalled from the frontline in the Paloich area of South Sudan's Upper Nile state.

Sources further claimed the army chief of staff, Gen. Paul Malong Awan, ordered Kuan's arrest allegedly on recommendations from the deputy of the sixth infantry division commander, Maj. Gen. Gregory Basilli, an in-law to South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir.

“His wife delivered and was not allowed to see the new born child since he was arrested on 10 May. The children are suffering from many things and we actually do not know what he has done because he himself has not been informed of the cause. We only hear that Maj. Gen Gregory Basilli reported him to the chief of staff Gen.Paul Malong Awan, who later ordered his recall from the frontline and was arrested on arrival,” a member of Kuan's family told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

“He was in Guel Guk in Poloich area when he was recalled in May. From the airport he was taken straight into the detention where he remained until today. No hearing has ever been made,” added the relative.

Various conflicting accounts, on the other hand, surround reasons for Deng's arrest. For instance, while some sources attributed it to the release of civilians arrested in the military barrack by the head of the military police force in the capital, Juba, others claimed it was on suspicion that he planned to join rebellion under Gen. Dau Aturjong.

Some military sources claim Deng's arrest was “politically” motivated, an account the latter believes in.

“What they tell people is not what they tell me and the family members. They have never told us the truth. To the relatives and members of the public, they say I am arrested for administrative issues which they do not explain. To other colleagues, they say I was planning to rebel. And to some other people who want to know why I have been arrested for such a long time; they say I released civilians arrested in military barrack,” the detained officer told Sudan Tribune last week.

“So you find that there is no case for my arrest. I just see that it is politically motivated arrest,” he added.

But when contacted by relatives, the army chief of staff, said the two officers “were involved in cases of indiscipline”, prompting their confinement. He did not, however, elaborate further on the matter.

In separate meetings with relatives of the two officers, Awan reportedly said it was normal in any country to hold people accountable within a system.

The South Sudanese army spokesperson, Col. Phillip Aguer, declined to comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed military reports indicate several officers have also been arrested in Wunyiik, the third division infantry headquarters in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.

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August 7, 2014 (PARIS) – Discussions between the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) and the rebel alliance of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) on Thursday were focused on peace and democratic change, with both parties expected to sign a joint political declaration on Friday.

The SRF leadership pictured with NUP leader Sadiq al-Mahdi at a meeting held in Paris on 7 August 2014. From left: Trayo Ahmed Ali, Gibril Ibrahim, Sadiq al-Mahdi, Malik Agar, Abdel Wahid al-Nur, Meriam Sadiq al-Mahdi, al-Tom Hajo and Yasir Arman (ST)

NUP leader Sadiq al-Mahdi arrived in Paris on Wednesday for a two-day meeting with the rebel leaders after Sudan's security service prevented one of his deputies, Mohamed Abdallah al-Douma, from travelling to the French capital to participate in the first gathering between the two sides.

The SRF delegation, which is chaired by leader Malik Agar includes deputies Abdel Wahid al-Nur, Gibril Ibrahim and al-Tom Hajo, as well as SRF secretary for external relations Yasir Arman and humanitarian secretary Trayo Ahmed Ali.

The leader of Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) did not participate in the meeting, with officials in his group saying he is currently on the ground with his troops.

At the end of the first day Mahdi and Agar made brief statements to the media saying they had discussed ways to achieve democratic change and reach peace in Sudan, adding they will issue a further joint statement on Friday calling on other political and social forces to join them.

Both leaders also expressed hope that the meeting responds to the aspirations of the Sudanese people who are now expecting that “we come out with a common vision to gather all the political forces that desire to achieve a just and comprehensive peace and complete democratic change”.

“We are happy with what has been agreed and we hope that the complete details will be released in a [joint] statement tomorrow (Friday),” Mahdi said, underscoring that the discussions were “frank and open”.

Meanwhile, Agar said that peace is a necessary condition without which no democratic change can be implemented in Sudan.

“We believe that there is no serious dialogue or a serious solution in Sudan without working to end conflicts in Sudan,” Agar said.

NUP deputy president Meriam al-Mahdi, who participated in a hearing at the European parliament in Strasbourg last month with the SRF, is also taking part in ongoing meetings in Paris.

In Khartoum, presidential assistant Ghandour Ibrahim said on Thursday that a national dialogue mechanism will hold another meeting on Saturday to continue discussions on a framework agreement after parties failed to reach an accord over how to implement the outcome of the political process.

The National Congress Party (NCP) refuses to postpone the elections scheduled for April 2015 or to form a national unity government to implement any agreement that is reached during the political process.

Meanwhile, opposition parties participating in the political process warned last Monday that they will no longer take part in dialogue if the NCP continues to reject their demands. However, Popular Congress Party leader Hassan al-Turabi has refused to take this line, reiterating his party's commitment to the process.

The NUP – Sudan's largest opposition party – suspended its participation in the national dialogue after al-Mahdi's arrest in May. The party is demanding that any dialogue include rebel groups, saying they should not be dissociated from the implementation of any national political agreement.

It is also calling for the inclusion of the “six historical parties” in an African Union-led peace process, with the rebel groups aiming to end war in the Darfur region, as well as Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

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August 7, 2014 (JUBA) – The leader of South Sudan's civil society alliance, Deng Athuai has demanded that assets and bank accounts of the country's rival leaders be blocked for allegedly causing massive loses to the new nation.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (L) and rebel leader Riek Machar sign a cessation of hostilities agreement in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 9 May 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

Athuai, who is still recovering from a gunshot sustained during last week's attack, urged the region and the international community to take immediate actions on these leaders to save the nation from possible collapse.

The activist was specifically referring to South Sudanese leaders who send their children abroad rather, depriving other citizens of resources that would have otherwise been used to develop the nation.

“My message to the regional leaders and the international community remains the same that they should continue to help our people in the search to bring peace. They need to exert a lot of efforts at this critical time in the history of our country so that this suffering comes to an end. Our people need practical steps,” Athuai told Sudan Tribune Thursday.

The activist further said peace and stability will not be achieved through appeals, insisting sanctions be imposed on leaders blocking the peace process.

“If the international community really wants to help our people, if they want to stop the danger of famine, they should take strong and practical measures by imposing strong sanctions,” he said, stressing calls for freezing of asset and bank accounts of those implicated.

Meanwhile, a coalition of South Sudanese women groups on Wednesday convened a press conference in Juba to demand that the rival leaders of warring parties reach a deal.

“As mothers, we are calling for immediate stoppage of war so that our children go back to school. We are calling for immediate stop of this violence conflict so that the internally displaced persons can return to their homes and live dignified live,” said the group, in a petition presented to the national assembly speaker, Magok Rundial.

“We are calling for peace so that those who fled the country to neigbouring countries can return. We want this war to be stopped so that all south Sudanese can regain their identity and dignity. This conflict has brought us big shame and humiliation in the eyes of the international community. It must be stopped now,” adds the petition.

This was the second protest by women groups after last month event, in which over 100 of them demanded for immediate resolution of the conflict, described as destructive to civilians' lives and properties.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

August 7, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – Thousands of South Sudanese from across the United States took to the streets in Washington on Tuesday, calling for the immediate removal of president Salva Kiir from power.

A demonstrator in Washington holds a sign calling for the removal of South Sudanese president Salva Kiir on 6 August 2014

Miyong Kuon, the rebel faction's UN representative, told Sudan Tribune by email that the demonstration was also in protest at the White House's invitation to Kiir to attend the US-Africa summit currently underway in Washington.

President Kiir is one of 48 African leaders currently taking part in the first ever US-Africa Leaders Summit, which aims to advance multilateral ties between Africa and the US.

The rebel official said the demonstration took place near the JW Marriot hotel where Kiir is staying.

Protesters angered by current situation in South Sudan chanted, “Down-down Kiir”, “down-down genocidal president”.

Emotions were running high at the demonstration, with some protesters breaking down in tears while calling for Kiir's removal, according to Kuon.

INVITATION SLAMMED

The White House has come under fire for inviting Kiir, who many accuse of inflaming the violence in South Sudan, with more than 12,000 activists writing president Barack Obama and US secretary of state John Kerry to raise their concerns about the summit.

Foreign Policy reports that multiple sources said that officials within the state department had urged the White House to rescind Kiir's invitation amid fears his presence in Washington would hinder peace negotiations in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, but those calls were ultimately rejected.

Critics say Kiir should be attending peace talks where he could affect real change for his country and that his presence at the summit is nothing more than a photo-op.

Violence flared in South Sudan in mid-December last year following a political split within the ruling SPLM, pitting troops loyal to Kiir against rebel forces aligned with former vice-president Riek Machar.

The rapid escalation of the conflict has alarmed the international community and its regional neighbours amid fears the young nation, which seceded from Sudan in 2011, could implode.

Following Tuesday's rally, protesters attended a briefing with a rebel delegation led by Ezekiel Lol, the current deputy chairman for the opposition group's external relations committee.

Kuon, along with Stephen Par Kuol, head of the national committee for education, and the rebel group's US representative, Reath Muoch, also briefed protesters.

Lol, a former diplomat to the US, told protesters the war in South Sudan must come to and end, adding that Kiir's presence on US soil was not significant.

“Washington DC is not Salva Kiir's world, it's our world,” Lol told the crowd. “We came here (the US) to tell the world our side of the story.”

South Sudanese demonstrators gathered outside president Salva Kiir's hotel in Washington on 6 August 2014 calling for his resignation

The demonstration was organised by a number of US-based civil society groups who hold Kiir personally responsible for the deaths of tens and thousands of people since the conflict erupted.

MACHAR TO BLAME

In comments before a meeting with Kerry on Tuesday, Kiir accused Machar of having lost control of his forces.

“If the two sides – that is the government and the rebels – were forthcoming, all of them, this thing could have been resolved a long time back. But we get difficulty on the side of the rebels,” said Kiir.

His comments were backed by Kerry, who blamed Machar for violating a ceasefire agreement signed by the warring parties in January and recommitted to by the rival leaders in May.

“I just want the record to be clear that it is our judgment – and the former vice-president Mr Machar needs to understand this – that he has broken – it was his initiative that broke the agreement and took his troops back into a violent status,” said Kerry.

In a statement issued by the president's office on Wednesday, Kiir thanked the US for its continued support and urged it to continue working to help the young nation realise its true potential.

“The US has helped us address the challenges that are the legacy of a century of colonial rule, decades of domination by the north and 22 years of ruinous civil war. Many American are now asking how to help South Sudan not only to make peace, but also to make progress. My answer: work with us to overcome these challenges,” he said.

PEACE TALKS STALL

Meanwhile, hopes to meet the 10 August deadline set by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which is mediating peace talks, for the two conflicting parties to agree on a transitional government and implement a ceasefire deal were dashed on Tuesday after the rebel delegation boycotted the fifth round of talks, insisting that talks be restricted to the two warring factions.

Machar's SPLM in Opposition delegation asserted that other stakeholders, including representatives of civil society organisations, faith-based groups, political parties and former SPLM detainees, should only engage in a consultative manner.

The rebel faction said that it believed the participation of other stakeholders in the IGAD-led peace process to end the almost eight-month-long conflict was “significant''.

However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, the group said that “the nature of the conflict and its resolution requires that we conduct direct talks between the SPLM/SPLA (in Opposition) and the Government of Republic of South Sudan”, adding that these are “the parties to the conflict and it is imperative that they thrash out the root causes of the conflict in order to expedite a peace agreement”

IGAD has warned that it is prepared to take “punitive action” if the parties fail to enter into talks to reach a negotiated solution to end the war that has devastated the lives of millions of people.

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August 7, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Darfur's joint peace mediator is preparing to hold a meeting with the Sudanese government and rebel groups to discuss the humanitarian situation in the western Sudan region and ways to involve the latter in the national dialogue process.

UNAMID chief and joint peace mediator Mohamed Ibn Chambas (Photo: Albert González Farran/UNAMID)

On Thursday, Mohamed Ibn Chambas briefed the UN Security Council (UNSC) about the political and security developments in Darfur as it prepares to renew the mandate of the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

During his briefing, Chambas told the 15-member body he is working with the head of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), Thabo Mbeki, and the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General to Sudan and South Sudan, Haile Menkerios, “to synchronise our mediation efforts in line with the request contained in Council resolution 2148 (2014)”.

On 3 April, the council welcomed the dialogue initiative launched by president Omer al-Bashir and demanded the joint mediator to coordinate with Mbeki and Menkerios, stressing that his action should be guided by the “AU and United Nations Facilitation of the Darfur Peace Process”.

Both the African Union Peace and Security Council and the UNSC say the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) should serve as basis for the Darfur peace process.

Chambas said he agreed with the AUHIP chief and UN special envoy to explore “as soon as possible” the organisation of a preparatory meeting with the participation of the government and rebel groups.

“This meeting is expected to explore ways of addressing humanitarian and security situation in Darfur; deliberate on how the parties can bridge their differences and make progress towards a comprehensive settlement of the Darfur conflict and the possibility of a unified mediation framework,” he said.

The rebel groups in Darfur region and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) proposed last April a roadmap for peace in Sudan.

The rebel groups of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) reject the initiative of president Bashir and call for unified humanitarian and security talks with the government. They also say a national conference on a new constitution should be convened with the participation of the opposition parties.

The SRF groups also point to the need for a conducive environment, saying freedom of expression should be guaranteed.

Chambas said there is a broad and general consensus among the international community that the national dialogue represents an opportunity to resolve all the political crises in the country, including the Darfur conflict.

He further called on the Council to encourage this process, stressing that the divergences are on the details of the political process.

“I urge the Council to play a more proactive role in supporting the holding of a successful dialogue in Sudan,” he said.

The Darfur mediator further said he will seek, in coordination with the AUHIP, to persuade the rebel groups to participate in the national dialogue process without preconditions.

In return, he vowed to ask the government to discuss security arrangements with the rebels to ensure their involvement in the dialogue process.

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August 8, 2014 (RUMBEK) – The paramount chief of Lakes state's Rumbek East county, Apareer Chut Dhuol, was gunned down by an unknown assailant on Tuesday.

The attack occurred in Pacong payam (district), about 20km from Rumbek Central county.

According to the police service's criminal investigation department (CID), the shooting is in retaliation for the death of late paramount chief Maker Mabor, who was killed in 2002.

Lakes state's minister of local government and law enforcement, Jok Ayom Majak, called for calm on Thursday as Dhuol, who is the elder brother of Lake's state's military caretaker governor, Matur Chuol Dhuol, was buried.

Majak vowed that those responsible would be held accountable, while urging Dhuol's supporters not to take the law into their own hands.

Rumbek East has been the scene of tensions between the Athoi clan, of which Dhuol hails, and Mabor's Gony clan.

The latest incident has raised fears of further violence among the two clans.

However, Majak maintained that the situation is under control, saying that army and police forces were deployed in flashpoint areas in a bid to prevent further revenge killings.

Local police say state authorities have become increasingly isolated, with the public refusing to share information with law enforcement officers, making in difficult to investigate killings and maintain law and order in the region.

There are growing calls for South Sudan's president Salva Kiir Mayardit to relieve the caretaker governor, however, those calls have so far been overlooked.

(ST)

By Amb. Dr. Francis G. Nazario

August 8,2014 - Seven month have already passed since this meaningless war erupted in South Sudan and we still don't know when it is going to end. Who will benefit from it?

Definitely nobody in South Sudan will benefit from this senseless conflict. It has already inflicted untold devastation to the country. Thousands of lives lost, we are wondering how much lives should we still loose for it to stop, over one million people internally displaced, adding to all that hundreds of thousands of refugees already registered in the neighbouring countries. We are all once again alarmed by the recent development of issues in the country, and specifically in the previously known as peaceful states (the Three Equatoria states, Northern and Western Bahr el-Ghazal states, in addition to the continuous unrest in Lakes state). We are hearing every day that some SPLA Soldiers are deserting the fighting fronts in the greater Upper Nile in big numbers, and returning back to their home areas, from the other side we are also hearing more other disturbing news that some villagers are being mobilized, recruited and trained …Etc.

Rumours of more wars being prepared are entertained by the citizens in the tea places, cafes, and bars in Juba…, the looming hunger, the outbreak of cholera in several parts of the country, etc… Given this appalling situation we can only ask ourselves which way is the Republic of South Sudan?

The leadership of the country must face the reality of the situation of failure. The country is currently living in unsustainable political situation. We expect from the leadership of the government to be brave and without further delay start a serious diagnosis of the sickness of the state in order to be able to administer the Right remedies. We don't need to be reminded that leadership is all about responsibility, being it success or shortcomings but also the readiness to accept the credits as well as the blames.

It is high time for those whom it may concern to show some sense of leadership and selfless behavior. South Sudan is already failing and you don't need to be genius to conclude it. As citizens for South Sudan we don't need to shy away from it. We have to swallow our pride and look forward as South Sudanese. Not as a Dinka, Nuer, Acholi, Bari, Zande, Shilluk or from whatever ethnic group that we all equally value etc……

The people of South Sudan, is currently witnessing disturbing situations that no one can be proud of. It is worth mentioning sometimes no salaries are paid to civil servants for the last two or three months. Civil servants are quietly deserting their work places and taking refuge in the neighboring countries. Our hospitals are now in more pathetic situation, (no medicines, absences of the minimum hygiene, no electricity, no clean water etc. Increasing insecurity all over the city, no one is feeling secure even the senior government officials who are all moving in the city centre with heavily armed

Bodyguards while increasing poverty level in Juba is overwhelming. We have all seen how the number of beggars and the practice has increased, all over the city, even around the ministries. Hunger is now noticeable in the streets of Juba and other towns as thousands of our citizens don't have food.

Number of street children is increasing day and night in the capital. Juba streets are full of sex workers, local and foreigners —? No freedom of expression —? No freedom of assembly or holding public debates in Juba. People can't go to their villages freely as they used to do, any movement out of Juba must get clearance from the security etc.

We can add to all that, the difficulties in the Peace talks in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).

No progress made up to now. Our government is being protected by foreign forces, (Ugandans, UNMISS, and the IGAD forces are now arriving in the country. This raises the question of the state Responsibility to protect its citizens, the dire question of sovereignty, do we still have it? Are we not giving out our independence?

Honestly and as a citizen, I wonder how we can continue to say or even accept people saying that, “everything is fine in the country,” some even go further by saying “that

The government is still in control of everything!!!” And the President Kiir said in

Washington DC, the situation is exaggerated by media and magnified by the enemies of peace according to him and it doesn't reflect the real situation on the ground.

Why should we continue to deceive ourselves and the whole world? Is it not worthy for the government to take its responsibility and put an end to the conflict, accept its failure and call for help, to rescue the dramatic situation, which is worsening every minute?

The hunger as I mentioned earlier is a living fact according to several UN reports, precisely it is around the corner. One would expect from the government to be

Exerting more efforts in the direction of this disaster management and seriously look for ways and means of how to reduce its effects. The government can boldly decide to stop the war and even announce in a unilateral manner a Cease fire. Instead, and unfortunately we are seeing serious armament and preparation for war, confirming the rumors that the government is still preparing and wants to fight its own people, kill its own sons and daughters.

The whole world is now aware that, there was and there have been continuously, serious misinformation and deliberate intentions to mislead everybody in order to execute some devil plans by some evil individuals in the government specifically around the leadership. It is something that can't be hidden anymore. The unfortunate fiasco started from the fabrication of the fake story of the so called Coop d'état on December 15th2013. We all know that, there was nothing.

The whole world actually never believed the story of the Coup, even the witness who was brought to the court to testify against the political detainees said that there was nothing calls Coup which occurred on the 15th december2013. The Courts hearing and procedure was an embarrassment not only for the leadership but for the whole country, especially when the story of the Coup was rubbished by some senior security personnel and to avoid hearing the final court verdict which was going to be innocence of all the detainees.

The government decided to stay the procedure and release the detainees. Later on and in a different development President Museveni who seemed to believe in the beginning the story of the coup, surprisingly came out and acknowledged in front of all the head of states of the IGAD, during the last IGAD summit in Addis Ababa, that there was nothing call coup in Juba that triggered the fight. He added what happened was merely a misunderstanding among the Presidential Guard.

Of course we all know that, the misunderstanding came up because of disarmament plans of some guards, who happened to be all from Nuer ethnic group. It will be good for the history that a neutral international body is entrusted to find out what has exactly happened, the body has to be mandated to look for those who came up with the story of the Coup, for the sake of justice they must be held accountable for having fabricated a fake coup, and having tried to deceive the whole world by this story.

It is because of the so called attempted coup that there is now a civil war in South

Sudan. Suppose that the leadership of the country was correctly informed by the security personnel about what exactly occurred on December night, let's imagine the message was as said, what was happening at the presidential guards that night was a simple and minor incident between few soldiers, which went out of hand but it is going to be contained at that level). I am quite sure and many readers will agree with me that we wouldn't have heard any further shootings or killings out of the barracks. We would not have reached where we are now. But some wrong elements within the security personnel decided to come up with a different story and tried to deceive the whole world.

By saying “Da Inguilab bita jamaa bi ta Dr. Riek,” so those wrong elements jumped up and said arrogantly these “are the Nuers let's go and give them a lesson!! That is why it went out of control. That it is how I am imagining things. It is clear that, the leadership has been throughout misinformed and misled by the security personnel and their fabricated reports. Some people around the leadership maliciously wanted to provoke the fighting having the evil idea to get rid of some other people, by fabricating a coup to justify the crime of the killing of innocent people. Thinking they were helping the President, and protecting his seat, (Kony beny attitude) doing all that to keep power in Bahr El Gazal, but in fact they were destroying the leadership of Salva Kiir Mayardit and adding to him more problems. The war has taken already a lot of innocent lives and destroyed our country. The mistrust among all of us citizen of South Sudan is ever growing. The social fabric is torn. We have to acknowledge that to move forward.

We have lost the support and respect of the international community. No doubt the government can't survive for long. The leadership needs to rise above all the division and show leadership, make peace and reconcile with everybody and promise justice.

That is the only way forward and the sole issue. The current hot debate on the question of federalism no doubt is going to continue. It can't be stopped by the intimidation of the people of Equatoria and other supporters of the system, but the leadership of the government rather needs to rise beyond their personnal preferences, and detach the whole issue of Federalism from what is so call KOKORA and its history. No doubt, no one in South Sudan wants to repeat any of the ills of the past, whether it is KOKORA or something else similar to it, but the citizens have the Right to choose freely the system of governance that they want to be governed with. The leadership needs to listen to the people and respond accordingly. By for example saying that a referendum will be organized at the appropriate time in the future for people to pronounce on what system they would like to be governed with but not by preventing people to talk.

A Leader must listen to his/her people and respond to them accordingly. Otherwise, this issue will lead to unnecessary confrontation in the Equatoria region and beyond. The current system has produced high level of inequality, marginalization of (rural Inhabitants, ethnic minorities and urban poor. The unitary system which South Sudan has experienced has concentrated power in the centre and enhances the ability of the ethno-regional groups that controls the central government to maximize their interest and values at the expenses of other citizens, especially those who are not politically well connected South Sudan is a large country with a population estimated at slightly over 12 million inhabitants with complex ethnic diversity. There are about 64 different ethnic groups of varying sizes currently residing the country that is making diversity management a particularly important task for the government. In addition to that how, effectively to deliver public goods and services in such varied and complex environment presents many challenges. To deal effectively with the immense human development obstacles that the new country faces, it must design and implement governance structures in which the civil servants and the political elites are accountable to both to the citizens and through the parliament and the constitution. Such governance structures must allow for broad participation of the citizens in social, political and economic affairs. South Sudan is for all South Sudanese. Let us work together to make it a better place to live in for our future generations.

The author is the former South Sudanese ambassador to the United Nations. He can be reached through fgnazario@yahoo.fr

By Steve Paterno

August 7, 2014 - The recent visit of President of South Sudan Salva Kiir to the USA tested the level of how much polarization exist among South Sudanese. While the war rages in South Sudan, its reverberation is more evidence among the Diasporas. One cannot help but notice how shapely divided South Sudanese are by following postings in social media. In February of this year, after monitoring the chatters of South Sudanese in social media characterized with a lot of hatreds, the USIP convened a workshop in Washington DC, involving influential South Sudanese personalities with aim of mitigating hate messages, especially online. The USIP took the task seriously, since it could potentially lead into carnage. However, the online hate messages tend to be more rhetorical than actual representation that depicts the spirit of South Sudanese people relating to one another. The visit of the president to USA captures this essence in an incredible ways.

The president was welcome amidst a huge crowd of supporters with a slogan, “One People, One Nation.” Among the presidential supporters were those with opposing views or rather the people who dislike the president and his government. Nevertheless, people from both opposing sides mingled and shared ideas in respectable ways. The welcoming of the president was two days later followed by opposition rally against the president, conducted at the same spot where the supporters of the president did previously.

Likewise, the true spirit of South Sudanese prevailed as well. Though in that occasion there were some unruly individuals hurling insults and throwing stuff against the supporters of the president, once again the people of opposing sides mingled and discussed at individual levels. The best example was a meeting involving the chief financier and organizer of the rally against the president with the presidential envoy for peace. The two gentlemen conducted themselves as brothers, embracing each other. In short, the spirit of South Sudanese living side by side prevailed. Therefore, the chance of living together is much greater than living apart. Rhetoric aside, the people of South Sudan can get along very well. That is if they maintain that spirit of getting along.

Steve Paterno is the author of The Rev. Fr. Saturnino Lohure, A Romain Catholic Priest Turned Rebel. He can be reached at stevepaterno@yahoo.com

August 8, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – A committee calling itself representative of Sudanese stranded in Libya issued a statement today calling on the government to evacuate its citizens from areas witnessing clashes between armed groups.

A man has his wound washed after being injured during clashes at a demonstration between protesters in support of ex-rebel fighters and supporters of "Operation Dignity" led by general Khalifa Haftar, in Martyrs' Square in Tripoli August 8, 2014 (REUTERS/Hani Amara)

The statement stressed that all diplomatic missions have evacuated their citizens from Libya thanks to quick action from their governments except the Sudanese one because of its refusal to assume responsibility towards its citizens.

But Secretary-General of the commission for Sudanese working abroad Haj Majid Siwar denied that Sudanese in Libya are asking to be airlifted back home.

Last Tuesday the Sudanese cabinet declared following an extraordinary session, that the government is willing to evacuate citizens living in Libya when requested to do so.

The Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Karti said in a statement last week that the situation in Libya has not yet reached the stage requiring the evacuation of its citizens.

Last Friday, about 200 Sudanese gathered at the Meetiga airport demanding that they be evacuated back home.

The government also confirmed the demise of 18 Sudanese in Libya after a rocket was fired on a residence at al-Kareemiya suburb of the capital Tripoli.

The committee spokesman al-Tayeb Ahmed Ishaq disclosed that there are dozens of injured Sudanese needing medical attention.

He also noted the presence of tens of thousands of Sudanese trapped in areas of clashes in both Benghazi and Tripoli among other regions in the country that are now deserted due to the displacement of people as a result of the interruption of electricity, water services and telecommunications and closure of shops.

Ishaq warned of dire humanitarian crisis without the intervention of the United Nations and other organizations soon.

Since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011, Libya's fragile government is unable to impose authority on groups of former rebels who refuse to disband and are allied with competing political factions battling for post-war dominance.

(ST)

August 8, 2014 (JUBA) - South Sudanese political parties have objected a proposal seeking to limit the ongoing peace talks to the country's two conflicting parties, accusing the warring sides of adopting a divisive approach to resolving the conflict.

Lam Akol who heads the opposition SPLM-DC party (splm-dc)

Lam Akol, the leader of all South Sudanese opposition parties, said the latest round of talks in the Ethiopian capital, was convened with the full understanding that all parties have agreed on a multi-stakeholder roundtable peace talks as the format to bring about just and sustainable peace to the war in the country.

“Little did the South Sudanese know that the warring parties were up again at their delaying tactics while our people continue to die daily as a result of the war they have imposed on the South Sudanese for nothing other than fighting over power”, Akol said in a statement Sudan Tribune obtained.

The opposition leader insisted that Sudan People's Liberation in opposition delegation demanded that negotiations with their government counterparts take place without direct participation of other stakeholders.

On its part, however, the government delegation said it would not take part in any meeting of stakeholders that excludes the opposition.

“The position of the government delegation became clearer on Wednesday when the Leader of their delegation delivered a letter to the special envoys that they be given opportunity to engage with SPLM/A-I-O delegation and that whatever they agree on need not be reported to the plenary of all the stakeholders as contained in the summary consensus on the format and agenda of the talks,” said Akol.

“In other words, the government delegation has back-tracked from its position a day earlier and come out clearly against multi-stakeholders format”, added the opposition leader.

He accused the rival warring parties of adopting divisive approach to resolving the conflict he said was imposed on the people and the country over power struggle within the ruling party.

“By insisting on bilateral talks between them, the two warring parties are in effect dividing the people of South Sudan into first class and second class citizens in determining their future. The two parties are arrogating to themselves the right to decide on behalf of the people simply because they carry guns, and those who do not are to accept their whims,” the opposition leader stressed in his statement.

It adds, “We totally reject this misguided notion. We believe that South Sudan belongs to all its citizens and all of them have a fundamental right to be part of any process that shapes the future of their country”.

According to Akol, the necessity for participation of the other stakeholders in the talks because the problem being discussed did not start on the 15th of December 2013 but that was just a spark.

“The problems are deeply rooted in the way this land mass called South Sudan was misgoverned since 2005. Both parties to the current armed conflict and the resulting crisis were together in charge for eight years since then, and it is an abuse to the intelligence of our people for them to think that they alone can be trusted to sort out the mess they created”, he argued.

He however maintained that the way forward was to adhere to the multi-stakeholder roundtable format as the only way to conduct the talks and ensure that talks are convened immediately with the stakeholders who are ready to take part.

“We must all together demonstrate our resolve that South Sudan will not and cannot be held at ransom by anybody, group of people or party. Our people are yearning for peace and peace they deserve and must get. As political parties, we shall spare no effort to see that the IGAD mediation is crowned with success”, he stressed.

REBELS REFUTE CLAIMS

Meanwhile rebels led by former vice-president Riek Machar refuted “assertion” by the mediators that the group had backtracked from their commitment to the inclusive stakeholders peace process, saying this was a mere “misrepresentation”.

In a press statement by the rebels' information and public relations chairperson, Mabior Garang de Mabior released on Wednesday, the opposition group reiterated their position for direct bilateral negotiations with the government.

The mediators, in a press release issued on 5 August, announced that the SPLM/A in opposition failed to attend the peace talks and urged them to return to the negotiation table.

(ST)

August 8, 2014 (JUBA) – An African Union child advocacy group said Friday that 490 children, including babies are killed in South Sudan's Jonglei state's capital, since the fighting began while 900 others were abducted.

Children play inside a camp for internally displaced persons from the Nuer ethnic group inside the UNMISS compound in Bor, the capital of South Sudan'sJonglei state, on 27 February 2014 (Photo: AFP/Jim Lopez)

Advocacy Mission of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) said the impact of the nearly eight-month conflict on children is “greater than the entire 21-year period” of the north-south-north civil war.

“Moreover, the situation is deteriorating as I speak,” said Julia Sloth-Nielsen, the ACERWC expert after a week-long visit to South Sudan.

Julia, who visited Bor on Wednesday, said “numerous reports of children, even babies, being wantonly killed.”

“One report estimates that 490 killed children were identified in many graves in and around Bor. It is not that these deaths are accidental or unfortunate by-products. We are reliably informed that children are being targeted, deliberately,” Julia told reporters in the South Sudan capital, Juba.

At least twelve children were killed on April 12 when the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) base in Bor was attacked by armed group, the child expert said.

BOYS RAPED

At least 10,000 people have been killed in South Sudan since the fighting broke out in December, according to UN reports, with at least 1.4 million reportedly displaced from their homes and humanitarian agencies warned of famine facing 4 million others have not been able to farm at the onset of rain season this year.

Julia said apart from killing of children, there is “monitored recruitment and use of children by armed forces and groups, sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospital, and denial of humanitarian access including access to health.”

“Recent reports include girls in military uniform, reflecting the rapidly changing dynamic of the conflict on the protection of children,” she said.

“The extent of which this war is being waged directly upon the children of South Sudan is apparent from violent abduction of children and the confirmed incidents of rape for both girls and boys,” added the expert.

More than 900 children have been abducted since December ACARWC said, while urging the country's two warring parties to end the conflict.

Children comprise 60% of South Sudan's 11 million people according to UN figures. At least 50,000 children could die due to malnutrition and lack of immunization against child killer diseases.

(ST)

August 8, 2014 (JUBA) – The representative of the South Sudanese rebels to the United Nations in New York, Miyong Kuon, has accused the Dinka ethnic group of personalizing president Salva Kiir as their own as tribalism takes its toll in the Diaspora.

South Sudanese demonstrators gathered outside president Salva Kiir's hotel in Washington on 6 August 2014 calling for his resignation

Kuon who was appointed last month by the rebel leader Riek Machar to represent the movement at the UN General Assembly on Friday said only Dinkas received president Kiir in Washington DC during his recent visit for a US-Africa Leaders' Summit.

“President Kiir received as Dinka in Washington DC, USA,” said Kuon in a comment he posted on his Facebook account on Friday.

“Salva Kiir was received by only Dinka chanting Dinka…Dinka…in United States,” he wrote.

The comments by the rebels senior official indicated the fear in perceived extension the ethnic dimension of the conflict has taken so far for the last eight months.

A Sudan Tribune colonist, Steve Paterno, wrote on Friday that “the recent visit of President of South Sudan Salva Kiir to the USA tested the level of how much polarization exist among South Sudanese”.

South Sudan is embroiled in an ethnic based conflict pitting Salva Kiir's Dinka ethnic group against Machar's Nuer community although the two rival leaders downplay the ethnic lines as defining the conflict which erupted on 15 December between presidential guards.

Thousands from Nuer ethnic group were allegedly massacred by pro-Kiir's soldiers in the first week of the violence in the capital, Juba.

Many Nuer senior politicians and army officers continue to serve in president Kiir's government; likewise politicians and army officers from Dinka ethnic group have joined Machar's opposition forces to fight against the Dinka-led government.

However, the rebels representative to the UN said only Dinka members in the US received president Kiir while expressing their support to him in a tribal connotation.

Over 12,000 South Sudanese in USA believed to be mainly from the majority Nuer in the foreign country signed a petition which they presented to the White House last week in protest of president Kiir's visit to the US.

The petitioners demanded that president Kiir's invitation should have been cancelled. Hundreds of them also took to the streets demonstrating against the visit.

Kiir was however received at the White House and held talks with the US Secretary of States, John Kerry, at the US State Department.

(ST)