August 8, 2014 (WASHINGTON) – The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issued a presidential statement on Friday expressing concern over the political, security and “humanitarian catastrophe” situation in South Sudan and called on rivals to adhere to terms of accord signed last May.

A UN Security Council session on New York (UN photo)

“The Security Council strongly condemns the repeated violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement accepted and signed by the Republic of South Sudan and the SPLM/A (in Opposition) on January 23, 2014, and emphasises that the actions of President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar in continuing to pursue a military solution to this conflict are unacceptable,” the statement reads.

The council also urged the two sides “to uphold their commitment to establish a transitional government of national unity by the deadline of 10 August 2014”.

They also blasted reported human rights abuses in the course of the conflict.

“The Security Council strongly condemns reported and ongoing human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law, including those involving extrajudicial killings, ethnically targeted violence, sexual and gender-based violence, rape, recruitment, and use of children, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention, violence aimed at spreading terror among the civilian population, and attacks on schools and hospitals as well as United Nations peacekeeping personnel, by all parties, including armed groups and national security forces. The Security Council recalls that such acts may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity under international law”.

The South Sudanese government and pro-Machar rebel forces have been engaged in a bitter armed struggle since mid-December last year when a political split in the ruling Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) turned violent.

The fifth round of peace talks got underway in Addis Ababa on Monday in a bid to end the conflict in the world's youngest nation.

Since the conflict in South Sudan erupted in December last year, tens of thousands of people have been killed, while more than 1.5 million people have been displaced from their homes.

International aid organisations have described the humanitarian situation in South Sudan as one of the worst on a global scale, warning of an imminent outbreak of famine if fighting continues.

The UNSC warned that it is prepared, in consultation with IGAD and the African Union (AU) to impose targeted sanctions “against those who take action that undermines the peace, stability, and security of South Sudan, including those who prevent the implementation of these agreements”.

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August 8, 2014 (KHARTOUM) - The Blue Nile Center for Human Rights and Peace (BNCHRP) has said that 12 Sudanese refugees and 7 aid workers were killed in South Sudan in the ongoing clashes between the government army and the rebels in the Upper Nile state.

The local organisation pointed that clashes which are taking place among 5 military forces in Maban county in the Upper Nile state where 130.000 Sudanese refugees live in four camps are threatening lives of those refugees and the work of humanitarian groups.

Clashes erupted last Sunday in Maban county in the Upper Nile state. The county's capital Bonj witnessed intermittent waves of killings and shelling which continued over the past few days.

The BNCHRP said in a statement received by Sudan Tribune that more than 12 civilians from Maban residents and refugees were killed in four camps including Duru, Youssef Batail, Kaya, and Ginderasa besides 7 workers from international aid organizations and dozens of militants.

The statement pointed that tens of thousands of refugees fled their camps in South Sudan and returned to their original areas of displacement in Sudan's Blue Nile state, saying that thousands of South Sudanese took refuge at Sudanese refugees' camps which multiplied the number of refugees at Duru camp on the border with the Blue Nile state from 48.000 to 100.000 refugees within four days.

The group said it identified five military forces which continued to threaten lives of the Blue Nile refugees in the Upper Nile state, pointing that the government army and the rebel forces led by Riek Machar are the most obvious among the five forces.

It further said it monitored clashes between the government army and the rebels along the area which surrounds the refugees' camps in order to control oilfields which are very close to the camps and on the strategic major cities such as Malakal, Renk, and Nasser.

The rights group added that this situation led to attacks on some refugee camps by elements from the hosting communities, saying that 21 people were killed in Youssef Batail camp in February and March of this year.

The United Nations-secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon, on Wednesday condemned in the “strongest” terms killings of five South Sudanese employees of non-governmental organisations in Maban county.

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.

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August 8, 2014 (KHARTOUM) - The African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has imposed restrictions on the travel of its staff to and from West Africa as part of “decisive measures” to prevent transmission of the deadly Ebola virus to Sudan.

Ebola first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, in Nzara, Sudan, and in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter was in a village situated near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.

Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness in humans which has a case fatality rate of up to 90%.

UNAMID , in a statement received by Sudan Tribune, said there are no recorded cases of Ebola among its personnel, stressing it is monitoring the disease outbreak since its onset in early 2014 and is coordinating its prevention measures with the WHO and with other international bodies.

The statement pointed that the World Health Organization (WHO) so far has not imposed restrictions on travel to and from the countries where cases of Ebola have been recorded.

It added that the UNAMID medical section has put in place a strict set of measures to prevent the risks related to the disease.

“As such, in a three-stage verification process, all UNAMID personnel travelling to and from West Africa have to undergo strict medical procedures with UN-certified medical staff, prior to their departure to West Africa, prior to their return to the Mission and upon their return to the Mission,” said the statement

The mission underscored that it issues regular guidance to its staff on prevention and precautions to avoid contracting Ebola besides monitoring the global situation of the spread of the disease.

The statement further pointed that UNAMID “follows the guidelines from the WHO and regularly updates the guidance to staff, reviews and amends the measures that are in place in line with international standards of countering the epidemic”.

UNAMID has more than 19,000 soldiers and police in Darfur mostly from east, west, and central Africa where the deadly disease spreads.

On Friday, the WHO declared an international public health emergency demanding an “extraordinary” response to the disease. It did not call for a general international travel or trade bans because of the outbreak, but acknowledged that the outbreak was far from being contained.

It identified three groups that are at risk of contracting the disease: individuals having had close contact or consumed infected animals or their raw flesh; healthcare workers, such as doctors and nurses; and persons who are in close constant contact with visibly ill patients.

According to WHO, as of 4 August 2014, the cumulative number of cases attributed to Ebola in four west African countries including Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone stood at 1 711, including 932 deaths.

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August 7, 2014 (KAMPALA) – South Sudanese youths from different political parties are demanding to be included in the IGAD-mediated peace talks seeking to end the country's almost eight-month-old conflict.

The South Sudanese Youth in Solidarity Conference in the capital, Juba, on 16 September 2013 (ST)

A group of youths, drawn from South Sudan's 10 states, presented a petition to the East African regional bloc, expressing needs to be part of the talks.

Bush Buse, the chairman of Equatorian students union in Kampala, said youths had roles to play on finding solutions to the conflict in the country.

Buse, who led the youth delegation, urged IGAD to offer them an opportunity to participate in the talks, directly and independently.

“We should all unite as youth from this country, it is our future being played with, forget the past and don't allow you to be manipulated by politicians for selfish interest," he said in statement extended Sudan Tribune Thursday.

The official further advised the youth not to waste any more time, stressing that innocent lives were being lost as conflict in the country continues.

“The youth should be patriotic and work for peace, unity and reconciliation for better future of the country,” remarked Buse.

David Tipo, the chairperson of Youth Empowerment for Advocacy Forum in Juba, urged the mediators, warring parties and stake holders to consider their position paper and ensure the youth demands were met, if a “quick” solution to the conflict was to be obtained.

The youth petition also makes a list of demands, including the need to have seven youth delegates in the talks, the urgency for the two warring parties to adhere to the cessation of hostilities agreement and a 30% youth representation in the transitional government, among others,

An estimated 1.3 million South Sudanese have been displaced both internally and into neighbouring countries as a result of the conflict that could see more than of the population at risk of severe famine.

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August 6, 2014 (JUBA) – The directorate of training and external relations in the ministry of education has announced that has secured 1,050 scholarships for South Sudanese students wishing to study abroad in the 2014-15 academic year.

Both male and female students will be eligible to apply.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, the director for training and external relations, Benjamin Gabriel Apai, said the scholarships will be offered for four countries.

This includes 250 from the Egyptian government, 300 from Sudan, 250 from Ethiopia and 300 from Zimbabwe.

In addition, the Pakistani government will offer 10 separate scholarships for the same year.

Apai said interested students are asked to visit the ministries of education in their respected states up until 21 August.

Candidate should be of South Sudanese nationality and hold a South Sudan school certificate not before 2011 or equivalent with not less than 70% for Bachelor degree or Diploma.

Student wishing to apply should present a copy of their passport, birth certificate, medical certificate and two colour passport-sized photos.

All documents must be authenticated by the ministry of foreign affairs
and international cooperation.

A compulsory application fee of 25 South Sudanese pounds applies and successful candidates are expected to cover their air fare.

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August 8, 2014 (KAMPALA) – About 40,000 civilians are currently living in an overcrowded United Nation camp in South Sudan's Unity state, a situation likely to worsen with the coming rains, the international medical charity (MSF) said.

Ivan Gayton, MSF's emergency coordinator in the state, described the situation as “horrific”, saying those displaced had no choice but to stay in the flooded camp.

"Much of the camp was flooded in July with the first heavy downpour of the rainy season. Over one thousand make shift shelters are filled with sewage contaminated floodwater. People used cooking pots to scoop up the water, tried to build mud dams across doorways to prevent water entering, but to no avail," MSF said in a statement.

Chot Yiel Wang, a displaced resident, told Sudan Tribune via satellite phone that the whole area was flooded with water, adding that many people remained at high risk.

"Now it has reached to an extent whereby every day we lose a child because of this tragedy of flood water. We are urging the United Nation and their partners to at least do something before the situation gone wild," Wang said in an interview on Friday.

Most parts of the camps, he further disclosed, were flooded into causing several sewage floors in and around the protection of civilian sites.

“Thousands of people cannot lay down for sleep, some mothers hold children on their arms day and night,” said the Unity state resident.

An aid worker, who did not want his organisation mentioned, said it consecutively rained for four days rain and that the entire camp had turned into shores.

"As I speak to you now, the whole protection site is controlled by water. UNMISS is trying to pump out water, but still there is nothing improving," the aid worker told Sudan Tribune.

“There are high risks of waterborne diseases, if no actions are taken sooner in the internal displace people camps in Bentiu,” he added.

Children under five year, Gayton said, account for more than third of the displaced population in the Unity state capital, Bentiu.

"We have seen over 200 deaths in our hospital since May 2014. Most of them are children. Although mortality rates have improved in the last few weeks, we still see at least one child dying every day", he said.

According to MSF most of those displaced in the UN camp were forced in to the facility due to violence and harassments they reportedly faced from armed men positioned a few meters outside the UN gates.

"Women and girls searching for firewood outside the camp are at particular risk of sexual violence and MSF has treated several survivors already. Not only should perpetrators be held responsible for such acts of aggression against civilians but UNMISS should ensure that civilians are protected outside the perimeter fence too, either through special patrols to protect those gathering firewood," noted the medical charity.

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.

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August 8, 2014 (PARIS) – The opposition National Umma Party (NUP) and rebel alliance of the Sudan Revolutionary Forces (SRF) have signed a joint political declaration in Paris whereby they call to unify the political opposition forces over peace and democratic reforms.

Malik Agar, SRF leader (L) and Sadiq al-Mahdi NUP president shake hands after the signing of Paris Declaration on 8 August (ST)

NUP and SRF leaders, Sadiq al-Mahdi and Malik Agar, on Friday signed the “Paris Declaration” which calls to end war and to engage in a genuine national dialogue aiming to restore democracy in Sudan.

The Declaration also provides the readiness of the rebel alliance to implement a renewable cessation of hostilities in order to allow humanitarian access to the needy in the war zones and to engage in the preparation of a constitutional dialogue.

Following the signing of the four-page text, al-Mahdi told reporters that the Declaration paves the way to “build comprehensive and just peace and to achieve full democratic transformation in Sudan (..) through political and diplomatic means”.

He further expressed hopes that Sudanese people and political forces respond positively to this agreement.

SRF leader Agar said the two sides agreed to unify the political forces and to work for a “constitutional dialogue” in the country. He pointed that any national agreement should establish an equal citizenship state to preserve the national unity after the separation of South Sudan.

He further announced that the SRF will implement a two month cessation of hostilities as provided in the declaration, adding “this cessation of hostilities is a gift to Sadiq al-Mahdi and the Sudanese people through (his person)”.

The declaration further says they agreed to boycott any general elections unless they are held under a transitional and inclusive government that stops war and allows public freedoms.

The Sudanese government and the opposition parties participating in the dialogue process should meet Saturday as they failed to reach an agreement over the transitional government and the postponement of the 2015 election.

The NUP which suspended its participation in the process, calls to review the dialogue's mechanism and to include the rebels, stressing that democratic transition requires to include the armed groups.

The SRF rebels propose a roadmap calling to hold humanitarian and security talks with the government before to convene a national constitutional conference including all the political forces.

Khartoum calls on the SRF to join the current national dialogue but refuses their demand for a unified peace process.

The NUP and SRF, according to the declaration; agreed to maintain the unity of Sudan according to new foundations based on justice and equal citizenship.

They underscored that ending the war is the right doorway for any national dialogue or genuine constitutional process besides provision of liberties and agreement on arrangements for establishing a transitional government.

The opposition party and the armed groups agreed on several principles including non-impunity, achieving justice and accountability, lifting the injustice, and restitution. In addition, they hold the regime responsible for introducing violence into political arena, targeting civilians, expanding cycle of wars, committing war crimes, promoting ethnic trends, and tearing up the social fabric.

The two sides say the regions affected by war have special nature which necessitates resolving their humanitarian crisis, addressing their major issues and allow them embrace affirmative action.

The Paris declaration said the NUP and the SRF deeply discussed the relationship between religion and state as one of the core issues and agreed to continue talks in order to arrive at a formula which satisfies all parties.

Sources close to the meeting said, as the objective of this declaration is to gather all the political forces under one political platform, they preferred to discuss this sensitive matter later when they successfully achieve this first step.

The two sides are expected to reach the different political forces to create a new political dynamic to end war and bring democracy in Sudan, Sudan Tribune has learnt.

The text provides they offer the declaration “to all political forces and civil society organisations within the framework of our joint efforts to achieve change and unite its forces”.

They further vowed to present the Paris Declaration to the regional and international communities, pledging to make efforts to promote the declaration in order to end the war, achieve the democratic transformation, and establish a new regime which fulfils demands of the Sudanese people.

SOUTH SUDAN

The declaration underscored the special relationship with South Sudan and pledged to support regional and international efforts to achieve peace, reconciliation, and stability in South Sudan.

Moreover, they urged conflicting parties to end the war.

They two parties underscored aspirations of the Sudanese people to establish a confederation between the two states.

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August 7, 2014 (BOR) – Already struggling Bor residents are being hit with price hikes for everyday goods as high costs of transportation are passed onto consumers.

A overturned truck on the Juba-Bor road, which has become almost impassable as a result of the rainy season and its poor condition (ST)

Businessmen say transportation costs have soared as the road between the Jonglei state capital and Juba becomes almost impassable due to the rainy season.

“Last year prices were lower, but now things are different. One of the reasons is the charges on transportation are higher than the ones of last year. Today, we are hiring [a] 20-tonne truck from to Bor at 12,000 [South Sudanese] pounds (SSP). It was 7,000 pounds last year,” said local shop owner Hussein Abdalla.

Sugar, beans, oil and wheat flour have all witnessed price hikes, and costs are likely to increase further.

“With this road conditions, the prices will still increase further in September and October,” said Hussein.

A 50kg bag of white sugar currently sells for nearly 300 SSP, with a 20-litre jerry can of oil at 250 SSP, beans at 250 SSP and a 50kg bag of wheat flour at 360 SSP.

In comparison sugar was selling in Bor for 220 SSP in the dry season, with oil at 180 SSP, wheat flour at 240 SSP and beans at 200 SSP.

Among the food items sold in Bor, only sorghum prices have decreased, with a bag currently selling for 30 SSP, down from the previous price of 215 SSP. The price drop came after humanitarian actors distributed adequate supplies to displaced people and returnees in Bor.

The 192km journey between Juba and Bor can take up to four days due to the bad condition of the road.

Many trucks overturn making the perilous trip, with thousands of metric tonnes of food and non-food items destroyed as a result.

The costs of non-food items, including clothes and shoes, have also soared in Bor.

Clothes remain in high demand as the majority of people lost their possessions in the looting and fighting that erupted in mid-December last year in Juba before spreading to other regions.

Bor was the scene of heavy fighting at the height of the conflict, with mush of the local infrastructure destroyed.

Rebecca Nyandiar Joh, an officer in the wildlife service in Bor, lost all of her clothes when conflict broke out in the town.

“My houses were burned in Bor with all my clothes, utensils and food stuff. At least every month, after receiving my salary, I buy some clothes for myself and children. People like me are doing the same in Bor. The prices are high, but we have no other option but to buy,” she said.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune on Thursday, a senior officer in Jonglei state's ministry of physical infrastructure said the government had failed to prioritise urgent upgrades for the Bor-Juba, which he says has been left to fall into decline since 2010.

“This road had been neglected by the government since 2010, when a lot of roads where brought forward for planning. Even these internal roads in Bor, we are asking some funds for fuel because we had machineries to grade it by levelling the holes, but no money from Juba,” said the official on condition of anonymity.

Shops are currently being renovated, while rebuilding efforts have also started in Bor Marol market after 90 per cent of it was destroyed during the December crisis.

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August 9, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – One person was shot dead on Friday on the highway linking North Darfur state capital of El-Fasher and South Darfur state capital of Nyala.

A Sudanese military tank is stationed near a Sudanese security facility in the city of Nyala, in the Darfur region, on July 4, 2013 (Getty)

The incident took place in an area inside al-Salam locality in North Darfur state.

The manager of Al-Kabashi Buses company and member of the private buses owners' union, al-Sadiq Suleiman, told Sudan Tribune that an altercation took place between a passenger and two armed men at a checkpoint, adding that the former took out a knife and stabbed one of the them prompting the other to shoot him to death.

Suleiman further said that the armed man was seriously wounded, adding that the gunmen blew out the bus tires and passengers were stranded until late Friday night.

Last week, unidentified armed men imposed toll charges on buses travelling between Nyala and El-Fasher.

The group set up more than 40 tents on the highway linking the two cities to collect tolls amounting to 1,200 Sudanese pounds (SDG) on each bus.

The chairman of the buses owners' union in Nyala, Ali Shomo, told Sudan Tribune that the gunmen forcibly imposed exorbitant amounts on the buses under the pretext that they would secure passengers and their belongings against looting.

He called on the governments of the two states to provide security along the road.

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August 9, 2014 (RUMBEK) – Cases of looting and rape have intensified in Lakes state's Rumbek East county following the killing of paramount chief Apareer Chut Dhuol by an unknown gunman on 5 August .

So far police have confirmed that 13 women, including a 12-year-old girl and two pregnant women, were raped in separate locations around Rumbek East county.

The rapes occurred in the Makuac and Panbarkou villages near the Malekagok area of the Thuyic sub-clan, who are accused of carrying out Dhuol's killing.

Police suspect supporters of the late paramount chief from the Gonyi section are responsible for the attacks.

Supporters of the chief, who was the elder brother of Lakes state's military caretaker governor, Matur Chut Dhuol, have also been accused of looting in the area.

Meanwhile, authorities have reportedly seized cows and goats belonging to the Thuyic section while a number of cows and goats have also been slaughtered by the army in Barnaam.

Lakes state's minister of local government and law enforcement agency, Jok Ayom Majak, said that situation was now under control, although the claims were disputed by eyewitnesses in the area.

“[The] situation is very normal and police, including [the] army, are on high alert in all locations of their deployment within the suspected routes whereby revenge may occur,” said Majak.

On senior police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said that one of the pregnant women raped had miscarried as the result of the attack, while the other remained in a critical condition.

Lakes state activist Moses Majok described the deployment of joint troops as “unnecessary” and a “waste of energy”.

He claimed that supporters of the late chief had over-run large areas of the Thuyic clan.

Dhuol was gunned down in Pacong payam (district), about 20km from Rumbek Central county, in what is a suspected revenge killing for the death of late paramount chief Maker Mabor, who was murdered in 2002 by Dhuol's son.

The culprit was later sentenced to death by firing squad, although this seems not to have appeased the late Mabor's family.

In his first public comment's since his brother's death, the governor called for calm in Rumbek East, telling Radio FM-98 on Friday that he had instructed the army and police to remain in their deployment areas to quell down insecurity and prevent looting.

“If you respect me, please don't revenge – don't loot – allow me and the law to correct this messes,” he said.

“I don't like anyone to take [the] law into his own hand. We are the government and we will take whatever step to bring the suspect person in front of [the] law,” he said.

Lakes state resident Majok Wetkuot Lual described the state as among the most unstable of South Sudan's 10 states, citing Rumbek East, Cueibet, Rumbek Central and Rumbek North counties as the most dangerous regions in terms of political chaos, violence and lawlessness.

He said that the constant revenge attacks and cattle rustling continued to threaten peaceful coexistence among Lakes state's diverse tribes.

PARAMOUNT CHIEFS TARGETED

Nine other traditional chiefs have been assassinated in Lakes state from 1987 to 2014, including five in Cueibet county and four in Rumbek East county.

Majok Derder was assassinated in Akot at Majok-nguek village in Rumbek East county in 1987.
Rilpuou Alambeny Goljok Mamer was unintentionally killed by his own cousins during fighting at the Aghar cattle camp in December 1995.
Michaek Manyuong Makoi Machuar was assassinated at the Aguet cattle camp in December 1995 in retaliation for Mamer's death.
Daniel Ater Acuoth Akek was assassinated in his home village of Akur Dou in Cueibet county.
Mangok Majok Reech was assassinated in Cueibet county's Abyeicok village.
Maker Mabor Mangok was murdered in June 2002 in Rumbek East county's Pacong payam (district).
Marial Mamur Makec was murdered in May 2006 in the Rumbek East county of Akot payam.
Jok Dau Kachuol was killed in 2010 by the South Sudanese army (SPLA) during a disarmament campaign inside Cueibet town alongside other prominent family members.
Apareer Chut Dhuol Mathiang was recently assassinated in his home town of Pacong on 5 August 2014.

(ST)

Rumbek East county paramount chief killed by unknown gunman

August 9, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan's national dialogue committee known as 7+7, comprised of government parties and opposition ones, have signed a framework agreement on national dialogue a mechanism to implement its outcome, also announcing that the dialogue conference would officially convene in early September.

Sudan's national dialogue 7+7 committee (Ashorooq TV)

The ruling National Congress Party's (NCP) deputy chairman and presidential assistant, Ibrahim Ghandour, declared the kickoff of dialogue in press statements on Sunday following the meeting.

Ghandour said the committee agreed on the roadmap for holding national dialogue following a period of hard work, describing it as the first step towards achieving national consensus.

Reliable sources within the committee told Sudan Tribune that the parties agreed on a three-month timeframe for conducting the dialogue beginning in September, noting that the agreement allowed political parties to hold internal consultations on issues facing dialogue.

According to the sources, the dialogue conference would discuss several issues including peace, economy, national identity, foreign relations and governance.

Ghandour demanded those who he described as “sceptics and hesitant” internally and abroad to engage in the dialogue in order to provide a model that can be followed by countries which suffer from similar problems.

He denied that political parties participating in the dialogue asked for postponing elections or establishing a transitional government, stressing that they agreed that all issues included in the roadmap will be discussed in the upcoming conference.

The representative of the Alliance of the Peoples' Working Forces (APWF) in the committee, Ahmed Abu al-Gasim Hashim, said there was consensus on the framework agreement for holding the dialogue conference, noting that they agreed on a mechanism for implementing dialogue's output.

“An executive mechanism will be set up besides another one, which will be agreed on its formation and duration within the framework of the dialogue”, he added.

Last January, Bashir called on political parties and rebel groups to engage in a national dialogue to discuss ways to bring peace in the country and to discuss constitutional reforms.

The opposition alliance of the National Consensus Forces (NCF), gathering left forces, boycotted the political roundtable, asking the government first to stop war and create a conducive environment for the dialogue.

Opposition forces participating in the dialogue are also raising the same concerns but argue that such matters can be discussed within the national dialogue mechanism.

However, National Umma Party (NUP) leader Sadiq al-Mahdi suspended its participation in the political process after his detention in May.

Mahdi now demands the restoration of political freedoms and inclusion of rebel groups in the political process. However, he calls to exclude the small political formation at this stage and to involve only the “six historical parties”.

On Friday, he signed a joint political declaration with the rebel alliance of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) in Paris whereby they call to unify the political opposition forces over peace and democratic reforms.

(ST)

August 9, 2014 (JUBA) – The 60-day ultimatum set by mediators from the East African regional bloc (IGAD) for South Sudan's warring parties to agree on establishment of a transitional government is likely to be missed by both sides, concerned citizens have said.

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)

“The actions of the warring parties are frustrating. They are using delaying tactics while many innocent civilians continue to die helplessly. These misguided behaviours are unacceptable”, Joseph Acuil, a member of African Congress of South Sudan told Sudan Tribune Saturday.

In May, both parties to the conflict vowed to bring an end to the fighting and agreed to establish a transitional government of national unity within 60-days. On the eve of the agreed date, however, disagreement at the talks make this commitment seemingly impossible to achieve.

Acuil said peace would be reached within the set time frame if the rival factions continue to make “unnecessary” demands. Both sides, he said, see the resolution of the conflict more like a power game.

“From the way I see it, the warring parties are seeing the resolution of the conflict through power game. They are looking at the resolution of this senseless war through how many positions in government each is expected to get from the negotiation,” said the opposition party member.

“It is not about the cause of this conflict. It is about power which, by the way, was what caused the conflict because some people wanted to ascend to it and some people showed resistance”, he further stressed.

Moses Duku, a native of South Sudan's Central Equatoria state, a told a group discussion at Juba university on Saturday that failure by the two warring parties to meet the 60-day deadline set by IGAD should not cause alarm among citizens, if significant progress was to be made in the talks.

“It is not about failure to meet the deadline, but rather substantive progress in the talks. If they can agree to resume the talks and make significant progress, especially if they accept to form the transitional government and sign permanent ceasefire, I will be one of the people to congratulate them”, Duku told a formal group discussion on Saturday.

Malith Dut Maluil, the moderator of the Juba university discussion, outlined what he described as four likely scenarios of the conflict.

“My reading is that the region would certainly face for options: put strong pressure to ensure the two parties reach the deadline regardless of whether they are satisfied or not. If this agreement is reached in this way, the commitment of the parties to implement it remains another concern given the experiences with the previous agreements,” he said.

Maluil, however, also argued that the parties in the conflict be given more time to negotiate a meaningful peace deal, avail punitive measures to prompt the parties to end their inflexibility and belligerence or allow delegations of the main rival factions strike a deal between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar while ignoring other stakeholders.

“I know very well none of the scenarios are desirable, but this is my take in this discussion”, he said.

Meanwhile Oxfam's South Sudan country director, Tariq Riebl said the people of South Sudan expected a political agreement that would deliver a transitional government to steer them out of conflict and bring an end to the violence that has engulfed the country for eight months.

“This humanitarian crisis is nothing short of a man-made disaster. This conflict must end now. There is no military solution to be won. The only real solutions to prevent further deterioration are a genuine commitment to peace and an immediate and lasting ceasefire”, Riebl said in a statement.

“Communities trapped by fighting and in hard to reach areas must be able to safely access lifesaving assistance, and there must be zero tolerance on obstacles to aid by all parties. Willingness to compromise is needed on both sides to reach a swift political solution,” he added.

The Oxfam boss, however, said they would exert all necessary efforts to meet the rising needs of the people affected by the conflict if an enabling environment was created by the two sides in the conflict.

“As aid workers we will strive to meet the rising needs of the people, but that is not addressing the root causes of the crisis. This has to happen at the negotiation tables in Addis Ababa. There is no end to the humanitarian crisis without an end to the fighting,” he stressed.

Since December last year, nearly 1.5 million people have been displaced, including over 400,000 who have fled the young into neighbouring countries. Within South Sudan, up to 4 million people, aid agencies say, are facing hunger in a country with the worst food crisis in the world.

“There is an urgent need for the international community to show a united front and use all their diplomatic influence to ensure both parties engage meaningfully in the talks and listen to the diversity of voices in South Sudan,” said the Oxfam country director for South Sudan.

He also described as “unacceptable” last week's killing of about humanitarian workers in the country because of their ethnicity in Upper Nile state.

“This political impasse can't go on any longer – the people of South Sudan have suffered too much,” Riebl said.

(ST)

August 8, 2014 (JUBA) – US-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch has called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to immediately impose individual sanctions and an arms embargo in the wake of some of the worst crimes against civilians the country has ever witnessed.

UN peacekeepers and NGO staff survey the debris outside a mosque in Unity state capital Bentiu, the scene of an alleged massacre after rebel troops regained control of the strategic town on 15 April 2014 (Photo: UNMISS/Tina Turyagyenda)

A new report released by HRW this week entitled South Sudan's New War: Abuses by Government and Opposition Forces found both sides and their allies are responsible for committing “extraordinary acts of cruelty” that amount to war crimes since conflict erupted in the young nation in mid-December last year.

The 92-page report documents how widespread killings of civilians, often based on their ethnicity, and the mass destruction and looting of civilian property, have come to define the conflict.

According to HRW, South Sudan has purchased large quantities of weapons since the conflict began, including from China, presumably for use in the fighting.

UNSC MUST ACT

It says the brutality of the conflict demands the UNSC, which is this week visiting South Sudan and neighbouring countries, take a tough stance.

“The scale and gravity of the abuses warrant a comprehensive arms embargo on South Sudan, as well as targeted sanctions on individuals responsible for serious violations of international law,” said HRW in a statement on Friday.

The calls come as the UNSC issued a presidential statement on Friday expressing concern over the political, security and humanitarian situation in South Sudan, while condemning the repeated violations of a ceasefire agreement signed by both rival parties in January and recommitted to in May.

The council also urged the two sides to uphold their commitment to establish a transitional government of national unity by the 10 August deadline.

HRW interviewed more than 400 survivors and witnesses for the report, documenting numerous attacks on ethnic Nuer civilians in the capital, Juba, during the early days of the conflict, including a massacre, unlawful killings, round-ups, detentions and torture.

The conflict was initially triggered by an internal political dispute within South Sudan's ruling SPLM and quickly spread across the country, with thousands of Nuer joining opposition forces and targeting ethnic Dinka.

The fighting has pitted government forces loyal to president Salva Kiir against rebel troops and ethnic militia aligned with former vice-president Riek Machar, who was sacked last July.

HRW says it has documented hundreds of killings of civilians by both sides in the towns of Bor, Bentiu, and Malakal, the capitals of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states respectively, which witnessed heavy fighting and changed hands several times at the height of the conflict.

Both government and opposition forces have also been responsible for widespread pillage and destruction of civilian property such as homes, markets and aid infrastructure.

HRW's Africa director, Daniel Bekele, said the scale of the ethnic killings committed during recent months “will resonate for decades”.

“The violence in towns like Bentiu, Bor and Malakal has been less fighting between the forces than targeted killings of civilians who could not flee, and massive looting and destruction,” said Bekele. “The attacks have left destroyed, largely deserted towns dotted with the bodies of women, children, and men, and have resulted in mass displacement and hunger,” he added.

The South Sudanese government has yet to make public the findings of several investigations into the killings, with domestic prosecutions unlikely to succeed given both parties' reluctance to hold abusive forces to account, said HRW.

CALLS FOR JUDICIAL MECHANISM

It has called on the country's rival leaders to consider a hybrid international-national judicial mechanism with relevant international support and participation, while also urging the UNSC to refer the situation in South Sudan to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The African Union's (AU) Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan, initiated soon after the conflict began, has been slow to begin investigating human rights violations, with HRW calling on the body to focus on investigating individuals allegedly responsible for war crimes and potential crimes against humanity during the conflict, as well as collecting forensic evidence at alleged mass graves and other sites.

It has also urged human rights officers for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) should continue to investigate crimes by both sides and make regular public reports on their findings.

(ST)

August 9, 2014 (BOR) – The deputy governor of South Sudan's Jonglei state, Baba Medan, has vowed to mobilise forces against rebels should they fail to reach a peace deal with the government.

Addressing former child soldiers, popularly known as Red Army on Saturday, accused opposition forces led by former vice president Riek Machar of frustrating the ongoing talks mediated by the East African regional bloc (IGAD).

“Last time mobilisation was made in South Sudan for youth to join South Sudan army to end rebellion, but Murle did not go. Only those in the army participated. But this time, if peace doesn't come, you will see what Murle will do,” remarked the deputy governor.

“Even Riek Machar will say sorry, I didn't want it this way. Riek Machar will leave Akobo, Uror, Nyirol, Ayod and those other places,” he added.

Medan claimed several volunteers were to assist pro-government forces in the fight against the rebels to end the almost eight month-long conflict.

“There are people in Pibor now, who are crying with their guns, they want to fight, but we are telling them to sit and wait. If peace doesn't come, we will release them,” he said.

The deputy governor, however, urged members of the red army to serve as peace envoys.

“Be the ambassadors of peace and unity to our people in the country. Let your name red army be for peace [and] tell Riek Machar to accept peace,” he said.

South Sudan's warring parties are yet to agree on modalities for the establishment of a transitional government as the 60-day ultimatum agreed in May approaches.

(ST)

August 9, 2014 (PARIS) – The leader of Sudan's National Umma Party (NUP), al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, has briefed other political parties on the agreement he signed with the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) on Friday in the French capital of Paris.

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)

Al-Mahdi told Sudan Tribune on Saturday from his residence in Paris that he intends to reach out to all political forces to explain the accord he signed and will also hold diplomatic contacts with the international community to launch what he called a “strike diplomacy” before returning home.

He disclosed that he phoned the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) political secretary who is responsible for the NUP contacts, Mustafa Osman Ismail, to acquaint him with the NUP-SRF pact.

“If the NCP agrees with this declaration then it is good ... otherwise we will head towards a popular uprising,” al-Mahdi said.

Ismail confirmed in a statement his conversation with al-Mahdi saying that the latter summarised the agreement in several points including seeking unity, abandoning violence, betting on political solution and pursuing a national outcome.

He said the NCP would review the agreement and then decide its position.

The opposition figure also spoke with the leader of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) Hassan al-Turabi and the chairman of the National Consensus Forces (NCF), Farouk Abu Essa, who is currently in London stressing that the Paris Declaration provides an opportunity to find a solution to the country's problems.

He said he intends to talk to the head of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) chief Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani.

The NUP deputy chairman Mariam al-Mahdi said that al-Mahdi along with SRF chairman Malik Agar and his deputy al-Tom Hajo communicated with the DUP bureau chief in London to convey their desire to speak with al-Mirghani.

The “Paris Declaration”, signed by NUP and SRF leaders, calls for ending war and engaging in a genuine national dialogue aiming at restoring democracy in Sudan.

The Declaration also asserts the readiness of the rebel alliance to implement a renewable cessation of hostilities in order to allow humanitarian access to the needy in the war zones and to engage in the preparation of a constitutional dialogue.

It further says that they agreed to boycott any general elections unless they are held under a transitional and inclusive government that stops war and allows public freedoms.

The Sudanese government and opposition parties participating in the dialogue process should meet Saturday as they failed to reach an agreement over the transitional government and the postponement of the 2015 election.

The NUP, which suspended its participation in the process, calls for reviewing the dialogue's mechanism and to include rebels, stressing that democratic transition requires inclusion of the armed groups.

(ST)

August 9, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government Saturday has rejected a cessation of hostilities announced by the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) on Friday and reiterated its demand for a ceasefire agreement.

President of the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) Sadiq al-mahdi (L) shake hands with the chairman of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) on 8 August 2014 (ST)

SRF leader Malik Agar on Friday announced a unilateral two-month cessation of hostilities as gesture of good willingness to mark the signing with the opposition National Umma Party (NUP) of Paris Declaration, which calls for peace and democratic reforms in Sudan.

“We reiterate our call for a comprehensive ceasefire,” said presidential assistant Ibrahim Gandour, brushing aside the rebel offer when he announced the signing of a framework agreement on the national dialogue with some opposition parties.

“There is a big difference between the comprehensive ceasefire, which means a roadmap to stop war and bring an end to the suffering of our people coupled with the actual implementation of the tripartite agreement to relief the needy civilians affected by the conflict, and the cessation of hostilities which gives rebel movements an opportunity to prepare for a new long war,” Ghandour said.

The Sudanese official who lead the government negotiating team was referring to the positions of the government and the SPLM-N in the stalled African Union led peace process where the rebel groups demands a comprehensive process for peace in Sudan including Darfur conflict. But, Khartoum refuses this demand.

Also, on the tripartite humanitarian agreement brokered by the UN agencies, African Union and Arab League, the two parties failed to reach an agreement on the implementation mechanism as the government wants to have the upper hand on the whole operation and the SPLM-N rejects the presence of the government aid workers in the rebel held areas.

In statements to Sudan Tribune on Saturday, the SRF leader and chairman of the SPLM-N said they decided to offer a two months cessation of hostilities to express their “willingness for a just and comprehensive peace”.

“This is why we didn't even link it to the humanitarian access” to the civilians in the rebel controlled zones, he further said.

Agar was alluding to a SRF roadmap for peace in Sudan where they propose a comprehensive humanitarian cessation of hostilities incorporated in a set of confidence building measures before to engage in direct talks over security measures.

The government and the SPLM-N failed last April to reach a framework agreement allowing to engage in direct talks to end the three-year conflict in the two southern Sudan states.

Since, the African Union chief mediator together with the UN special envoy for Sudan and Darfur joint mediator seek to propose a third way to break the deadlock over the rebels demand to unify the two tracks for peace in Darfur and the Two Areas.

Thabo Mbeki, Haile Menkerios and Mohamed Ibn Chambas are expected to engage in a series of contacts soon with the government and rebels groups in order to propose a synchronised humanitarian and security agreements before to engage in political talks.

(ST)

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August 10, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – A rebel official said the leader of the opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM-In-Opposition), Riek Machar, has arrived in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on Sunday.

South Sudan's rebel leader, Riek Machar, smiles as he meets his friends at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa on 9 May 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

Machar's spokesperson James Gatdet Dak told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that the South Sudanese former vice-president will meet the Sudanese top leadership and discuss the ongoing peace process in Addis Ababa.

“SPLM chairman Dr. Riek Machar Teny has arrived in Khartoum this morning. The IGAD-facilitated visit is in the interests of the peace process to end the crisis in South Sudan,” Machar's spokesperson James Gatdet Dak said on Sunday.

“He will meet president Omer Hassan al-Bashir and other officials of the Sudanese government,” he said.

Sudan's foreign minister, Ali Karti, last week announced that the South Sudanese former vice-president would be in Khartoum soon, adding that his visit comes in the framework of regional efforts to bring peace in the southern neighbouring country which broke away from Sudan in July 2011.

Machar who resides in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, the venue of the peace talks for several months was also received in Nairobi, Djibouti, and Pretoria, respectively.

During his visits to the regional countries the rebel leader held talks with the leaders of those countries in which he dismissed accusations that he attempted to overthrow president Salva Kiir in mid December last year and instead accused him of orchestrating the violence in order to get rid of political reformists from the ruling party (SPLM).

The former vice-president also called on the regional leaders to support his plan for democratic political reforms.

The government in Juba which signed a cessation of hostilities agreement since 23 January observes with scepticism the moves of the rebel leader. Officials at different times openly or implicitly accused Khartoum of allegedly harbouring or supporting the rebels.

The Sudanese foreign minister, Karti, denied accusations that his government supported either side in the conflict.

"Sudan has no interest in the continuation of the war in the South (Sudan) and it does not support one party against the other," Karti said adding, "our interest [is] that both sides sign a peace agreement, and we hope it would be soon."

He further explained that IGAD countries agreed to receive Machar in their respective countries to listen to his positions and to encourage him to reach a peaceful settlement to the seven month old conflict.

The crisis sparked off on 15 December when internal conflict between politicians in the ruling party turned violent.

Tens of thousands have been killed and at least 1.5 million others displaced according to estimates by the United Nations.

The peace talks between the rival parties in Addis Ababa is seen as the only hope to restore stability in the new country.

(ST)

August 9, 2014 (RUMBEK) – Authorities in South Sudan's Lakes state have suspended three chiefs from Cueibet county over their bid to join Warrap state's Tonj South county in defiance of military caretaker governor Maj-Gen Matur Chut Dhuol.

The chiefs, Meen Pec, Det Wantok and Makur Nyuar, are in control of the western part of Cueibet county, which is seeking to join the neighbouring administration.

According to Lakes state MP Veronica Ujma Philip, the three chiefs have been suspended indefinitely after their moves angered Dhuol.

The Panyar communities of Cueibet county are seeking protection from the state government.

The chiefs reportedly instructed their communities not to go into Cueibet for trade or court matters in order to avoid state authorities after the government banned the community from operating their traditional court.

A local market was instead opened by the three chiefs in Ludochok at Malou-pec where the Panyar community is bale to sell and trade their cows and goats.

One of the chiefs, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the suspension.

“We are ready to join Warrap state just seeking for our community protection, as well our personal belongings – harassment [has] become a business of the day,” he said.

In a separate incident, two people were killed by an unknown gunman at Ayeicok in Cueibet county's Duony payam (district) on Friday.

One of the victims was from the Pan-Nhaich of the Gok section, while the other was from the Dinka Agaar section of Rumbek East county. The culprit remains at large.

The county criminal investigation department (CID) alleged that the suspect is likely to have come from Rumbek East county and that the attack may have been related to the killing of paramount chief Apareer Chut Dhuol, who was murdered by an unknown assailant at Pacong payam on 5 August.

The CID also believe the paramount chief's shooting was in retaliation for the death of late chief Maker Mabor, who was killed in 2002 by Dhuol's son.

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)

August 10, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – South Sudan's former vice-president and leader of rebel faction SPLM in Opposition, Riek Machar, has met with Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir in Khartoum.

President Omer al-Bashir receives South Sudanese former vice-president and leader of the SPLM-in-Opposition, Riek Machar and his wife Angelina Teny in Khartoum on 10 August 2014 (ST)

Machar, who arrived in the Sudanese capital on Sunday morning, said in press statements following the meeting that he is counting on Bashir to play a major and direct role in resolving the ongoing conflict in South Sudan.

He further hailed president Bashir, saying that he has long experience which could be tapped in resolving the South Sudanese crisis particularly as he was the president of the unified Sudan before South Sudan's cessation in 2011.

“Bashir could play major and direct role in resolving the crisis,” he added.

The rebel leader said he briefed Bashir on the developments of the ongoing talks between the two warring parties in Addis Ababa besides their vision for ending the dispute.

The official Sudan news agency (SUNA) reported that Bashir reiterated his support to the efforts exerted by the IGAD to reach a peaceful settlement to the South Sudanese conflict and encouraged the warring parties to resort to dialogue.

Speaking about the slow-moving peace process, he acknowledged that talks are facing significant obstacles but stressed the two sides have agreed on the negotiations agenda.

Machar expected that talks between his faction and the government would go beyond the 60-day ultimatum set by mediators from the East African regional bloc (IGAD), underscoring keenness to resolve the contentious issues and achieve peace in South Sudan.

The rebel negotiating team earlier this month demanded to limit the direct talks to the warring parties saying the political parties including the SPLM-detained leaders and civil society groups would participate in a consultative manner particularly when it comes to the negotiations on formation of a transitional government of national unity.

Machar rejected pressures exerted by some actors in the international community to form a transitional government in South Sudan before reaching a peace agreement.

“We told the international community and the IGAD that the agreement must precedes formation of a transitional government because the latter needs a program to be implemented and no government could be formed before signing any agreement,” he emphasised.

Machar added they wanted to negotiate directly with the government and consult with the stakeholders but IGAD insisted on forming a committee for negotiations through a roundtable, saying we agreed to participate in the talks but it will continue for a long time.

The rebel leader further said his talks with Bashir also tackled the issue of the South Sudanese refugees in Sudan, pointing his visit to Khartoum comes within the framework of a regional tour to IGAD countries and also because of the strong ties and common history between the two countries.

Machar's spokesperson James Gatdet Dak had earlier told Sudan Tribune that the IGAD-facilitated the visit is in the interests of the peace process to end the crisis in South Sudan.

Machar who resides in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, the venue of the peace talks for several months was also received in Nairobi, Djibouti, and Pretoria, respectively. He also met with the president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma.

Sudan's foreign minister, Ali Karti, last week announced that the South Sudanese former vice-president would be in Khartoum soon, adding that his visit comes in the framework of regional efforts to bring peace in the southern neighbouring country which broke away from Sudan in July 2011.

The crisis sparked off on 15 December when internal conflict between politicians in the ruling party turned violent.

Tens of thousands have been killed and at least 1.5 million others displaced according to estimates by the United Nations.

In May, both parties to the conflict vowed to bring an end to the fighting and agreed to establish a transitional government of national unity within 60-days. On the eve of the agreed date, however, disagreement at the talks make this commitment seemingly impossible to achieve.

The rebel group's delegation, which participated in the opening of the fifth session of the talks on Monday, refused to attend the Tuesday round-table negotiations which directly included all the other stakeholders.

They reminded the mediation that the direct talks would be between their delegation and the government with the other stakeholders to participate only in a consultative manner.

(ST)

August 10, 2014 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government delegation said mediators had agreed that bilateral negotiations take place between two warring parties, a move which saw the opposition, who threatened to stall the talks, rescind their decision.

IGAD mediators and South Sudan negotiating teams at the sigining of the ceasefire agreement in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 23 January 2014 (Photo: IGAD/CEWARN)

South Sudan's information minister, Michael Makuei, said presentations on the agenda and format for the second round of negotiation were also agreed upon.

“Presentations on governance and the transitional arrangements were made during the plenary session on Friday with the participation of all the stakeholders. The format of the negotiation is that all the presentations will be made to all the stakeholders and then the government and the SPLM/A in Opposition will fall back to direct negotiation,” Makuei told the state-owned SSTV.

“And what the parties agreed upon will be shared with the other stakeholders,” he added.

South Sudanese political parties have objected to a proposal seeking to limit ongoing peace talks between the country's two conflicting parties, accusing the warring sides of adopting a divisive approach to resolving the conflict.

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 obtained by Sudan Tribune.

Akol insisted that the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in Opposition delegation demanded that negotiations with their government counterparts take place without direct participation of other stakeholders.

He further 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.

(ST)