January 9, 2015 (JUBA) – The United States President, Barack Obama should call for and support a comprehensive United Nations arms embargo on the parties to South Sudan's brutal conflict, 29 human rights, humanitarian and other groups said in a letter to the former.

United States President Barack Obama (Photo White House)

Thousand of people have been killed and about 1.8 million displaced since violence broke out a year ago. Disputes within the ruling party triggered the conflict, targeting people on ethnicity or perceived political allegiances.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) says over 100,000 civilians are still living inside its protection of civilian camps across the country.

“More weapons will mean more fuel to the fire, more attacks on civilians, arbitrary killings, rape, burnings and pillage,” said Geoffrey Duke, a team leader at South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms (SSANSA).

“President Obama should do everything he can to ensure that this year is not a repeat of the horrific last year for South Sudanese. Now is the time to take action,” he added.

The various entities, in their letter, expressed concerns that further crimes under international law and serious human rights violations and abuses are likely to continue should the conflict rage on.

The US is reportedly responsible for drafting resolutions and statements on South Sudan at the United Nation Security Council (UNSC).

In July last year, Amnesty International urged the UNSC to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on South Sudan, after reports emerged that its warring parties were involved in proliferation of Chinese small arms and ammunition.

The campaign group said it had confirmed that China supplied a further 1,000 tonnes of small arms and light weapons worth $38 million to the war-hit country.

(ST).

January 10, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) denounced constitutional amendments approved by the parliament last week saying it will turn the country into a police state.

Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) secretary-general Mohamed Mukhtar al-Khatib (Al-Sudani)

On January 4th, Sudanese lawmakers approved three controversial constitutional amendments introduced by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

The first bill allows the president to appoint governors who will no longer be elected through universal suffrage. The second transforms the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) into regular force to legitimize the creation of its militia the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Finally the third reform is the inclusion of Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) in the constitution.

Suleiman Hamid, a leading SCP figure said at a press conference on Saturday that the amendments granted NISS powers beyond its basic task of gathering intelligence including detention, torture, confiscation and suppression of peaceful protests.

“NISS became a striking force which has troops and equipments comparable to those of the Sudanese army. It attacks any popular actions and bans any [political] activity even inside political parties headquarters”, he added.

Hamid denounced NISS's continued crackdown on the SCP mouthpiece al-Midan, saying they resort to confiscation whenever the newspaper proclaimed the truth and exposed regime's practices.

He expected that the NISS will continue its crackdown on al-Midan, stressing that they are resolved to continue publishing it without backing away from the SCP's ideological and political stances.

Recently, NISS has suspended al-Midan several times which is the only remaining political party's mouthpiece.

Hamid further warned that crackdown on al-Midan is the first step towards putting more restrictions on other newspapers and political parties, expecting that NISS will suspend all newspapers which support people's issues.

Meanwhile, Kamal Karrar, al-Midan's managing editor said NISS's action against the newspaper is not new, saying they defeated NISS in all previous battles.

He described al-Midan as the “voice of the people”, emphasizing it would not bow for the NISS's actions.

Karrar revealed that legal action has been taken against NISS over the continued confiscation of al-Midan issues, saying that additional escalatory measures will be announced in a timely manner to resist the security crackdown.

He pointed out that there are no obvious reasons for suspending the newspaper, noting the move was linked to the SCP's stances towards political issues.

Karrar also stressed that al-Midan continuous rejection of the pre-publication censorship as well as non-compliance with NISS's directives are among the reasons for suspension of the newspaper.

He added that they handed over several memos to the National Council for Press and Publications' (NCPP) on the repeated suspensions of al-Midan but have not received any answer, stressing they will submit further memos to confirm their position.

Sudanese journalists and newspapers work under tight daily censorship controls exercised by the NISS.

Journalists say that confiscation and suspension of newspapers is a commonly used practice by the local authorities to overburden the newspapers with financial losses alongside other non-financial pressures.

Media organizations in Sudan say that security imposes strict controls, routinely ordering them not to report on certain subjects. Otherwise NISS agents proceed with seizing copies of the newspaper and suspending its work.

(ST)

January 10, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Three guards were injured in armed clashes which erupted among the personal guards of the governor of West Darfur state, Haydar Galu Koma, in his house in the state's capital of al-Geneina.

Pro-government janjaweed militiamen on top of a heavily armed pickup patrol the main road out of the Kirinding-2 refugee camp at the outskirts of Al-Geneina, April 24,07 (Reuters)

Security sources told Sudan Tribune that gunfight broke out on Wednesday among the governor's bodyguards following an altercation, saying that three guards were injured and one of them is in a serious condition.

The same sources said the incident was caused by sharp differences which emerged between the Secretary General of the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, and the LJM chairman al-Tijani al-Sissi on the implementation of the security arrangements of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

Recently, Abu Garda was accused by al-Sissi's partisans of delaying the implementation of the security arrangements and obstructing the registration of the former rebel group as political party ahead of April general elections.

From his side, LJM secretary general blamed al-Sissi for weakness in his relation with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). Also, his friend and minister of reconstruction, and Infrastructure in Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Tadjadine Bechir Niam, denounced the failure of the authority to carry out its mandate and alluded to corruption in the implementation of recovery projects.

He further accused al-Sissi of dispatching elements that are not members of the group to the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) camps.

Galu Koma, who is the head of the security arrangement committee, oversaw the integration of 2800 LJM fighters into the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) last December at Abu-Domaya training camp.

The DDPD was finalized at the All Darfur Stakeholders Conference in May 2011 in Doha. In mid-July the Sudanese government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) led by al-Sissi signed a protocol agreement committing them to the document.

(ST)

January 10, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) appears to be on the verge of a new discord after its leader Mohammed Osman al-Mirghani announced his support for Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir in the elections scheduled for next April.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Mohammed Osman al-Mirghani (R) and Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir (L) meeting in Khartoum December 15, 2013 (SUNA)

This week, the cabinet affairs minister Ahmed Sa'ad Omer, who is a DUP official, said that al-Mirghani gave his blessings for Bashir who has led the country since the 1989 military coup orchestrated by the National Islamic Front of Hassan al-Turabi.

Today, DUP official in charge of states Mohamed al-Muatassim Hakim announced that the party will participate in the elections but not the presidential one.

Hakim said that the country is in need of national reconciliation as it is the only way to solve the Sudan's problems, adding that elections is a constitutional requirement.

But a DUP official told Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity that party leaders met in the home of Hassan Abu-Sabeeb in Omdurman to discuss al-Mirghani's announcement, adding that it included those refusing the DUP participation in the elections let alone supporting Bashir.

He declined to disclose the outcome of the meeting, but said that participants will hold a press conference on Sunday afternoon to unveil their position.

The DUP left opposition ranks and joined the “broad-base” government of the NCP in December 2011, citing the “need to save the country” in the words of al-Mirghani himself.

The decision of one of Sudan's biggest opposition parties to join the government has created a great deal of internal dissent that saw many members quitting in protest. The party received three ministries in the federal cabinet.

This week, some local newspapers in Khartoum spoke of two secret meetings between Bashir and one of al-Mirghani's sons to discuss the DUP's position on the elections.

Previously, the presidential assistant and ruling party deputy chairman Ibrahim Ghandour, disclosed that the DUP has notified his party of its participation in the elections.

Major opposition parties such as the National Umma Party (NUP) and the Popular Congress Party (PCP) said they will not participate in the elections asserting that the National Congress Party (NCP) holds absolute control over power and refuses to make any compromise to end the civil war and allow public liberties.

In a related development, the Justice Party and the Federal Truth Party announced that they will take part in the 2015 elections at all levels.

(ST)

January 10, 2015 (KAMPALA) – South Sudanese refugees in Uganda have asked government to prioritise peace and stability in the young nation before organising this year's elections set for June.

South Sudanese refugees fleeing violence in their home country wait to be transported to Uganda's Arua district settlement camp on 6 January 2014 (Photo: AFP/Isaac Kasamani)

Several refugees Sudan Tribune spoke to doubt possibilities of holding free and fair polls in the country.

Martha Nyawuora, 25, said government's main priority should be peace to enable the displaced population return to their homes.

“I need peace before elections because with peace, elections will be there, but without peace no election [can take place]. As you know, most people are now displaced inside UNMISS [United Nations Mission in South Sudan] as refugees,” she said.

The 25-year old has vowed not to participate in the elections should government push for it amidst the country's ongoing violence.

“I will not vote because from what I am see, when I vote for someone I like, the government will kill me. That is why I need peace then people will be free in South Sudan,” she stressed.

Gatluak Jeremiah, another refugee, said it will be an uphill task to conduct elections due to the ethnic undertones that characterise South Sudan's conflict, claiming it will be difficult for voters to choose their leaders on the basis of merit during the forthcoming elections.

"Voting is something which is [to do with] personal choices and no citizens can vote when there are [ethnic] threats coming in. So to me there will be no direct vote that I think will be useful because even the government is divided and the army is divided,” said Gatluak.

He too vowed not to vote in elections held in the absence of peace.

“It is not suitable for the government to discuss elections when relatives of people who died since the outbreak of violence in mid-December 2013 are still mourning their losses,” he further stressed.

“The focus must be ensuring justice for people affected by the violence,” he added.
Meanwhile, Weileek Liom, who lives as a refugee in Uganda says the decision to hold elections could worsen the country's ongoing war.

“The more urgent need is to help the nearly two million people forced from their villages to return home,” he told Sudan Tribune.

“The country is in a crisis. I don't see into it that it should be a good idea for elections to be carried out in 2015 because more people are now in UN camps and the situation in South Sudan is so volatile that it cannot encourage elections to take place,” he added.

Liom appealed to opposition parties in the country to dissuade the ruling party (SPLM) from pushing ahead with the planned vote.

The National Elections Commission has set 30 June as date for the conduct of the country's presidential and parliamentary elections.

(ST)

January 10, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The chairman of Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Tijani al-Sissi admitted the existence of sharp differences within his group, Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), and regretted that such crisis harms the western Sudan region.

The leader of Sudan's Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), Tijani Al-Sissi, speaks to the media during an interview in Khartoum on 7 August 2012 (Photo: Ashraf Shazly/AFP/Getty Images)

Speaking in a meeting held with the leaders of the Indigenous Administration and civil society groups in the capital of South Darfur state Saturday, al Sissi said they “keep silent about differences because they are keen to preserve the unity of Darfur people” adding differences “made them look small before the others”.

The LJM, which is the first signatory of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), is crossed by divisions between two wings led by its secretary general Bahr Idriss Abu Garada and al-Sissi. The former has blamed the latter of mismanaging the implementation of the security arrangements and being weak with the central government.

On 4 January, another ally of Abu Garda and DRA minister of reconstruction, Development and Infrastructure, Tadjadine Bechir Niam, accused Sissi of corruption saying the projects implemented in Darfur worth only 200 million dollars, adding the two billion dollars development fund went to the pockets on certain people.

"Accusing the Darfur Regional Authority of embezzling two billion dollars , means charging Omdurman National Bank (where the funds are deposited)” said the DRA chairman. But he quickly added "I do not think that the bank has agreed with contractors and stole the DRA money. "

He further added that contracts were signed with 35 companies to implement the DRA projects “in accordance with the well-established tender terms and conditions,” he stressed.

Sissi further pointed that the current differences may harm the region and put the interest of Darfur people at risk.

The head of Darfur peace implementation Amin Hassan Omer last week minimised the rift within the former rebel group, saying divisions are normal in political forces pointing to his National Congress Party.

Sissi during the past weeks kept law profile and didn't react to the accusations but seemingly he felt the need to express his position particularly the international committee for DDPD implementation meets in Nyala on 11 January.

He called on Nyala people to reserve a warm welcome to the participants, particularly the Qatari deputy prime minister, Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, who will attend the meeting.

The former peace mediator Djibril Bassolé is also expected to attend the meeting representing the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

(ST)

January 10, 2015 (JUBA) – A spokesperson for South Sudan's presidency described as “irresponsible” remarks by Central Equatoria governor, Clement Wani Konga urging people from Equatoria region not to get involved in the “fight between the Dinka and Nuer” tribes.

Clement Wani Konga, governor of Central Equatoria state delivers his keynote speech in Juba. April 14, 2011 (ST)

Konga, while speaking at Friday's swearing of his new cabinet members advised Equatorians to remain neutral in the current war.

“There is no value in joining this fight. It is the only chance for the people of Equatoria coming together so as to bring an end to this war between Dinka and Nuer," he said.

However, Ateny Wek Ateny, the presidential spokesperson said Konga's remarks were “unfortunate” since he is part of government.

“It is unfortunate governor clement Wani Konga had failed to know he is part of the government to make such irresponsible remarks. We believe the current war is not a war between the Dinka and Nuer but a war caused by people who wanted to change the government through unconstitutional means,” Ateny told Sudan Tribune.

He said the conflict was not a two-tribe affair as portrayed by many people since the government currently employs different tribes, including members of the Nuer.

“Also with the rebels, there are people from different tribes, including people from Equatoria. There are also Dinka on the side of those in the rebellion”, stressed Ateny.

Violence broke out in December 2013 following disputes in South Sudan's ruling party as forces loyal to president, Salva Kiir battled those allied to his former deputy, Riek Machar for power.

Since then, tens of thousands of people have been killed and about 1.8 million displaced in the country's worst-ever outbreak of violence since it seceded from neighbouring Sudan in 2011.

(ST)

January 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A group from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) announced today that they will not participate in the general elections scheduled for next April despite its leader Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani's decision to support president Omer Hassan al-Bashir's new run for office.

Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani (Al-Sharq Al-Awsat)

This week, the cabinet affairs minister Ahmed Sa'ad Omer, who is a DUP official, said that al-Mirghani gave his blessings for Bashir who has led the country since the 1989 military coup he carried out.

Furthermore, the DUP official in charge of states Mohamed al-Muatassim Hakim announced that the party will participate in the elections but not the presidential one as they are backing Bashir.

The dissenting group calling itself “DUP Movement of masses and sectors” that is led by Sheikh Hassan Abu-Sabeeb also declared the composition of a transitional politburo and complete boycott of the elections and pulling out of participation in the government.

Yesterday a DUP official told Sudan Tribune that a group of party leaders met in the home of Abu-Sabeeb in Omdurman to discuss al-Mirghani's announcement.

The group also slammed al-Mirghani's son Mohammed al-Hassan saying he has been working on the marginalization of DUP leaders and the party base and negotiating with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) without consulting its leaders.

This week, some local newspapers in Khartoum spoke of two secret meetings between Bashir and al-Hassan to discuss the DUP's position on the elections.

Abu-Sabeeb said at a press conference at his home in Omdurman on Sunday that they categorically reject the party's participation in the elections even if it was upon orders from al-Mirghani himself.

He said the NCP offering not to compete in 30% of constituencies to allow the opposition parties to gain them contrary to democracy and eliminates the role of the National Elections Commission (NEC).

“Why are elections held if you are handing out constituencies?...As if the NCP won all the constituencies and wants to give charity to other political forces,” Abu-Sabeeb said.

He stressed that most of the DUP leaders are completely sidelined from everything that goes on in the party which is now managed by only four people.

The DUP leading figure Ali Nayil blasted al-Hassan Al-Mirghani saying they had pinned hopes on him but has disappointed after he sat down with the NCP and is responding positively to the views of the participants in the government and power-thirsty people.

He also accused the NCP of conspiring against the DUP and embracing Ahmed Saad Omer group.

“We will not be silent and we will not let the party die and end as wanted by al-Tayeb al-Mustafa, who are part of the ruling regime,” Nayil said.

“Contesting in the elections will lead to the end of the DUP and will be a stain on the brow of the party,”he added.

The DUP left opposition ranks and joined the “broad-based” government of the NCP in December 2011, citing the “need to save the country” in the words of al-Mirghani himself.

The decision of one of Sudan's biggest opposition parties to join the government has created a great deal of internal dissent that saw many members quitting in protest. The party received three ministries in the federal cabinet.

(ST)

January 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Rebels from the Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) announced on Sunday that its forces were able to repel attacks by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on several fronts in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states over the past 72 hours.

SPLM-N fighters hold up their rifles near Jebel Kwo village in the rebel-held territory of the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan on 2 May 2012 (Photo: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

SPLM-N spokesperson Arnu Ngutulu Lodi in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune said that SPLA forces were able to repel a large SAF column in the Nuba Mountains in Dalouka 8 kilometers south of South Kordofan capital of Kadugli on Friday and 18 kilometers northeast of Teludi on Saturday and al-Qnezih 15 kilometers north of Um-Sirdiba on Sunday.

The rebel movement said it also repulsed on Saturday another attack In the Blue Nile state in the town of Medem Khor Damar in Bao district which lies 30 kilometers south of Damazin province.

The spokesperson stressed that they achieved victory in all these battles and managed to repel government troops.

In the battle of Dalouka the statement said they killed 13 government soldiers including an officer by the name Major Jamal Hamid while the SPLM-N lost two dead and two injured.

The escalation of military operations between the two sides comes in conjunction with the African Union's mediation's announcement of suspension of the ninth round of talks between the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N on the Two Areas in Addis Ababa last month.

South Kordofan and neighbouring Blue Nile state have been the scene of violent conflict between the SPLM-N and SAF since 2011.

(ST)

January 11, 2015 (BOR) – Hundreds of traders in Jonglei state capital Bor claim they have been hit by a significant price hike when renewing their trading licences.

A number of retailers and wholesalers spoken to by Sudan Tribune in Bor said the city's municipal council was now charging fees of between 500 and 3,150 South Sudanese pounds (SSP) for trading licences, up from 300 to 2,000 SSP.

Guez Yohanes, who runs a beer and soft drink wholesale business in Bor, said he was forced to close his shop on Friday morning until he obtained a new trading licence.

Yohanes, who was expecting to pay no more than 2,000 SSP ($630), was caught by surprise when asked to pay 3,150 SSP ($1,000) for his new licence.

“When we went they said for the wholesaler you pay 3,150 SSP [and] for the retailers, 1,050 pounds; this money was too much for the traders and everybody was complaining about that,” said Yohanes on Sunday in Bor.

The reasons for the fee increase was not immediately clear, with traders claiming the municipality took the decision without informing business owners or the local chamber of commerce.

“It was done without consultation from us, without meeting our leaders. We were supposed to have a committee from the traders and from the municipal council to decide without harming the traders, without harming the businesses, without harming the people,” said Yohanes.

Mabior Kuol, an executive chief within the chamber of commerce, which represents local traders, said steps would be taken resolve the issue. with a letter of complaint to be sent to the Bor municipality council.

“I don't know why they increased the licence fees this year. We will write the letter to them, to give us the time, then we [will] sit with them, we the traders, chamber of commerce, to discuss this issue,” said Kuol.

Meanwhile, acting mayor of Bor municipality Deng Akuei denied the fee increase, saying licence costs ranged from 100 to 150 SSP ($31.60 to $47.50) per month.

He said council had not received any complaints from local traders about the matter.

“We have just started and we are now going on normally; people are turning up for the renewal of their business licences,” he said.

“When you have no trading license then you may have difficulties with [the] administration of the town,” he added.

An official from the state ministry said it was not informed about any increases to licence fees, saying it was not part of the ministry's role to participate in decision-making processes within the municipal council.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

January 11, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The capital of Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, Mekelle, has banned smoking in public areas, making it the first Ethiopian city to implement a tobacco control proclamation bill passed by parliament last year.

Ethiopian lawmakers last year unanimously passed a law prohibiting smoking in public as part of national efforts to discourage the practice and curb tobacco-related illnesses.

The ban, which has been welcomed by the wider public, also intends to help reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.

The new law restricts smoking in public areas, including bars and restaurants and will also be banned in open-air spaces, including sports venues, schools, hospitals, health centres, and other areas where cultural and religious events take place.

The law requires all public and private institutions to post a “No Smoking” sign within full view of patrons and also forbids media from advertising or promoting of tobacco products.

According to sources in Mekelle, individuals caught violating the regulations will be fined $50, while bar owners who fail to enforce the new laws will face a $150 fine.

Approached by Sudan Tribune, residents in Addis Ababa commended the move taken by the city and called on authorities in the capital and elsewhere to follow Mekelle's lead and introduce similar restrictions.

Young Ethiopians usually start smoking while still in high school due to peer pressure among friends, although the prevalence significantly increasing among students at colleges and universities.

“Most students begin smoking cigarettes and chewing Chat a few months after joining college and I sometimes feel like the colleges are turning into addiction-teaching institutions,” said Kifle lemma, a third-year student at Addis Ababa university.

Another student, who is himself a smoker, said he believes the new law will push him and other smokers to cut their daily consumption of tobacco, while also helping curb passive smoking and discourage those intending to take up the habit.

With a population of some 94 million, Ethiopia, which is Africa's second most populous nation, is considered to have one of the lowest smoking rates globally.

However, the country still sees tobacco as a growing public health concern.

Recent figures show that the Horn of Africa's nation has an estimated 2.5 million smokers.

According to a 2012 study by the World Lung Foundation, the number of cigarettes smoked per adult per year in Ethiopia is only 62 cigarettes, well down on those in heavy smoking countries such as Serbia, which consumes more than 2,800.

(ST)

January 10, 2015 (KAMPALA) – A former Unity state's official claimed he survived as assassination attempt by security men allegedly acting on orders from the Unity state governor, Joseph Monytuel.

New caretaker governor Joseph Nguen Monytuel waves to the crowd as he arrives in Unity state on Wednesday (ST)

George Jiech Liah, a former director general in the finance ministry, alleged Monytuel was targeting him for his critical views.

“Last night, I was about to be killed, but thanked God, I made it out escaping on the hands of governor security guards who ransacked my residence, driving me to the bush from there I managed to run away from them,” Liah told Sudan Tribune last week.

“My life was rescued after I called former Unity state security advisor Maluk Matai who sent his close body guards to track me around Gudele areas,” he added.

The former finance official says his woes with the governor emerged after the latter singled him as siding with youth opposed to his leadership.

“Am not aware for the youth movement against the caretaker governor,” he said, accusing some people of betraying him.

Youth activists from the oil-rich state have accused Monytuel of embezzling funds under the pretext of using it for mobilisation work.

They claimed over 600 civil servants in the state have not received their salaries for months, yet the state leadership has allegedly failed to maintain roads linking areas under government control, such as Parieng, Mayom, Rubkotna and Abiemhnom counties.

“Now the governor is applying family rule in his administration appointing close relatives and brother-in-laws. What does this mean to him and the people of Unity state?” one youth leader said.

The governor's office could, however, not be reached over these allegations.

(ST)

January 11, 2015 (JUBA) – South Sudanese government agents have arrested a relative of General Dau Aturjong, a senior military officer who last year switched allegiance to the country's rebel faction led by former vice-president Riek Machar.

SPLA in Opposition generals Gatwech Dual (R), Dau Aturjong (C) and Gabriel Tanginye pictured in Pagak on 8 December 2014 (ST)

Nyuol Edward Arop Kuot was arrested in December by government agents.

The reasons for his arrest so far remain unclear, although observers say it could be linked to critical views he expressed regarding the way in which the president and his government had been running the country's affairs.

A statement released by the family on Sunday said the government had refused to cooperate or provide any further information since his arrest.

“The family is in total confusion and it is the right of the family and even the general public to know what he has done,” the statement said.

“In our constitution a suspect has a right to know the cause of arrest. It is a constitutional right which should be respected instead of ignoring it,” it adds.

The family has called on the government to make clear the reasons for Kuot's arrest and to release him for the sake of his family.

“We therefore called upon the president and the government to let know family the cause of arrest and release him for the sake of peace of minds in the family because

“His (Kuot) arrest has tortured the family, especially the children. They are psychologically affected by his absence,” the family said in their statement.

“The arrest is a clear violation of the bill of rights in our constitution,” it adds.

Kuot is also a relative of General Kawac Makuei, a highly respected military figure and prominent member of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.

In comments made prior to his arrest, Kuot criticised the manner in which president Salva Kiir Mayardit and the chief of general staff, Gen. Paul Malong Awan, have been managing the affairs of the people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state and South Sudan as a whole.

“I have never seen in [my] life a country where a president, who is supposed to be the head of the whole nation, decides to be a leader of cliques and sadly runs the country on the basis of friendship at the expense of others. God help South Sudan, Kuot said in a post on his Facebook page two days before his arrest, a close family member told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

“I think this post, among other critical views about the way the president and his government had handled the current crisis, might have caused the arrest … because even some of the security personnel have been telling us to advise him to stop being critical of the president and General Malong on social media while he is the country,” the relative said.

(ST)

January 12, 2015 (RUMBEK) – The caretaker governor of South Sudan's Lakes state, Maj. Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol survived on Saturday an ambush after gunmen fired at his convoy.

Lakes state governor Matur Chut Dhuol speaking at the burial of late Isaiah Kulang Mabor, January 7, 2014 (ST)

The incident, a security officer told Sudan Tribune, occurred between Lakes state's Bharnaam and Mangarthou cattle camps.

He described the attack as the “worst ever” targeted at the caretaker governor.

“We need extra effort to restore confidence in the public to trust the state government leadership,” the officer, who preferred anonymity, said.

The attack occurred as Dhuol returned from Yirol West county after attending the burial of Lakes state veteran politician, Isaiah Kulang Mabor.

According to eyewitnesses, Dhuol's body guards used weapons seized from the attackers, while one of the captives was being held at Lakes state prison.

The governor reportedly escaped unhurt, although state security officials declined to disclose what transpired during the ambush.

There have been calls from civil society activists, intellectuals, lawmakers and traditional leaders for president Salva Kiir to relieve the governor, but these calls have been ignored. Dhuol was appointed in January 2013 to replace elected governor Chol Tong Mayay.

(ST)

January 11, 2015 (KAMPALA) – A senior South Sudanese rebel commander has slammed a human rights report that claimed opposition forces were responsible for a massacre in Unity state capital Bentiu in which more than 300 civilians were reportedly killed in mid-April last year.

Major General Koang Chuol Ranley, who is the former Unity state division fourth commander, has disputed the findings of the report, saying the claims were unfounded and that those killed were Sudanese rebels fighting alongside government forces.

Ranley accused the UN and rights groups of relying on hearsay and had failed to conduct in-depth investigations on the ground.

He maintains that those killed were combatants from Sudan's Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N) had been present in Unity state alongside government forces loyal to president Salva Kiir and that reports of civilian casualties was “government propaganda” that had been fed to the UN and human rights agencies.

“Yes, the people were killed, but those who were killed belong to the Justice and Equality Movement and we have full evidence that they are Sudanese rebels who were used by the government of Juba to fight us in the area,” he said.

Kiir declared a state of emergency in Unity state in January 2014, with all foreigners working in Bentiu subsequently evacuated.

The rebel faction has accused human rights groups and the UN of bias, saying the agencies had failed to report unlawful killings carried out by government troops when they regained control of the state.

It is also alleged that government forces alongside Sudanese rebels participated in the burning of houses in Guit, Koch, Mayiandit and Leer counties.

In a phone interview with Sudan Tribune, Ranley said the rebel faction was prepared to accept an impartial investigation into claims made by the UN and human rights groups.

The report, released by the human rights division of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) also documents the killing of dozens of people by a mob of armed men who attacked protection-of-civilians site outside Jonglei state capital of Bor two days after the Bentiu massacre.

South Sudan erupted in violence in mid-December 2013 following a political disoute in the country's ruling party (SPLM).

Oil-rich Unity state has been the scene of repeated clashes between government and rebel forces, changing hands several times throughout the conflict.

(ST)

January 11,2014 (NAYLA) – Armed men from the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) prevented the secretary general of the former rebel group, Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, from holding a symposium in Nyal, the capital of South Darfur state on Sunday.

Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, pictured in 2004 (AFP)

LJM combatants who arrived to the venue of the conference in 4 vehicles, grabbed the microphone from the speaker who was presenting Abu Garda ,and forced him to cancel the meeting while Aby Garda left hall quickly.

It was reported that the fighters arrived from Abu Domayah camp for the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) of LJM combatants outside Nyala.

Heated discussions erupted between Abu Garda's bodyguards and the fighters and almost led to clashes between the two sides.

One combatant said they were angered by Abu Garada's statements when he said that people in Abu Domayah camp do not belong to the former rebel group.

Military commander and LJM head of security arrangements at the camp, Abdel-Karim Bakheit, condemned Abu Garada's remarks saying the latter refused to withdraw his statements and to apologise.

The LJM is composed of different factions that broke away from the Justice and Liberation Movement (LJM) and Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM).

Bakheit said that as military commanders they do not want to let political divergences impact the military leadership “but (Abu Garda) went far and insisted to describe us as militiamen”.

Before to leave the hall to the house of the governor, LJM secretary general refused to comment on the incident.

The deputy chairman of the group in South Darfur, Emad-Eddin Mohamed Osman said what happened is the expression of anger among the military commanders for the delay of security arrangements implementation.

From his side, Bakheit added that Abu Garada dispatched “ 3400 militiamen” to join the integration of the second batch of LJM forces. He added they came to the venue of the symposium to ask about the identity of these militiamen that joined the camp.

Osman said the meeting was cancelled due to the death of al-Sissi's wife, denying that the incident was behind the cancellation.

However, he said the discontent among LJM fighters is “natural” because they are waiting since three years for the implementation of the security arrangements.

West Darfur governor, Haider Galu Kuma, who chairs LJM security arrangements committee recently said they want to finalise the accords signed with the governments and to register as a political party before to participate in April general elections.

Galu Kuma further accused Abu Garda of obstructing the implementation of the security arrangements.

(ST)

By Steve Paterno

January 12, 2014 - The war in South Sudan is still raging, with countless of losses of lives and an imaginable destructions. South Sudan's observers predict an imminent all out war, in an event the next round of IGAD mediated peace talks fails to yield peaceful result.

The fact is, there is no imminent prospect for signing a negotiated settlement. The parties to the conflict are world apart on issues, especially due to the fact that some of the proposals by the rebels are just outright ridiculous to even meet in the middle.

The mediators know of those facts, which are impeding a peaceful settlement, but yet cannot fault themselves. From the get go, the mediators got it wrong. The conflict that supposed to end within days or perhaps within weeks is now dragging on for over a year, without any prospect for an end. A disorganised coup plot that went awry seems to show a contiguous effect on the mediators. It is about time for the mediators to rethink as to who to practically engaged to end the war.

As for the government, it has already proven to be holding the upper hand. Militarily, the government reduced and pushed the rebel forces into the peripheries along the Sudan and Ethiopia borders. The government military victories seem to suggest that the overly exaggerated and predicted 'all out war' will be in favour of the government. The government is also proving its legitimacy by carrying out general elections so as to avoid a constitutional vacuum that anti government forces are ready to exploit.

Now the challenge is thrown into the rebels' court. We are yet to see how the rebels will manoeuvre and handle the process, especially with the reported rumours of fractures among the rebels leadership.

By James Gatdet Dak

January 11, 2015 - Judgemental people not only love to recall things that occurred in the past and attributed to people they dislike, but also many of them sometimes choose to live in the bondage of the past.

While it is not a bad idea to excavate and understand the past in order to enrich and shape the present, it is however harmful when the intention is to selectively choose to live in the negative past and become unappreciative of the positive side of that past.

It is even worse when the past is being unfairly used as an instrument of propaganda and to blackmail individuals, leaders or a specific group for reasons only known to propagandists and blackmailers.

Blackmailing is the act of putting pressure on a person or a group to do something they do not want to do, for example by making threats of exposure in order to feel guilty and succumb to the blackmailer's demand of doing or not doing something.

Therefore political blackmailing is the threat of exposing, or the actual exposure of an element of truth, but more often invented stories with the aim of causing damage to a political opponent(s). This is by slandering him or her, trying to deprive him of the possibility of engaging in political activity or making it difficult for him.

Political blackmailing is applied by an individual or elite group of individuals, who have connived after identifying themselves based on either political power interest, tribal or racial grouping. They put into operation slanderous methods in a protective paranoia against a perceived threat to their interests.

These unscrupulous power hungry individuals would always seek to neutralize that threat, using some classic methods of misrepresenting their opponents in public gatherings, media and other formal or informal platforms as a weapon of political struggle and revenge.

This misrepresentation of the past in order to maliciously distort the present and pollute the future is much prevalent in South Sudan. A good example is the song of recalling the 1991 incident and continuing to remind some leaders about the event.

This song although losing its impact has been an attempt by the interest-group to blackmail certain political leaders so that they may feel guilty and frustrate their conscience on initiating further political changes or reforms.

In the case of the ruling Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM) it also aims at trying to abort a genuine call for federal system of governance and democratization of politics. It is a witch-hunt against those who demand for freedoms and rights in the country. The regime has been using various means to misrepresent the genesis of the political crisis, notably using the state media at its disposal.

MANIPULATION USING THE MEDIA

The elite leaders in Juba are exclusively monopolizing the state media in spreading their propaganda and trying to blackmail opposition leaders and deny other political opinions from being relayed to the public. At the same time they suppress freedom of speech and expression in public and social gatherings and subject independent media to undemocratic and unlawful censorship.

The regime uses a propagandising form of communication in distorting facts of the political situation and trying to influence the attitude of a community by presenting a tribally motivated one-sided argument.

Such tactics include the use of logical fallacies techniques in order to suppress information or points of view by crowding them out, inducing groups of people to dismiss other political points of view and divert their attention elsewhere.

This dictatorial method by SPLM-In-Government aims at silencing and at the same time discrediting opposing arguments by appealing to fictitious nationalistic feeling or memory of their past accomplishments and contrast negative incidents allegedly attributed to an individual leader and specific community. This is a falsifying method of distraction by nationalism.

The propaganda machinery, lacking a viable program for the nation, has resorted to creating a connection between a past horrific incident with the current distinct political situation. The group appeals to a fictional consensus in trying to create the perception that their opinion is the only opinion, so that alternative ideas are dismissed from public consideration. The dictatorial elite also use intimidation to inflict fears into the wider audience in the outer ring of their community strong base in order to influence the opinions and actions of others towards some specific end.

The feared incident is therefore exaggerated and the pattern of fear mongering is usually one of repetition in order to continuously remind the bombarded audience of the past 1991 incident. This is to reinforce the intended effects of this tactic to frighten citizens and influence their political views. This strategy can however backfire if the fabricated events are derided as an attempted distraction from the true national issues at hand.

Such people unnecessarily imprison themselves in the bondage of the seemingly benefiting past, gnashing their teeth as they scan their brains searching for things that went wrong 30 years ago. They are bound to bias and lack of fairness in which they look for small dots which they can use negatively to try to justify and condemn a present situation.

This reminds me of utterances by none other than the president of the Republic at the Nyakuron Culture Center in Juba on Saturday, 14 December, a day before the 15 December violence when he warned SPLM political reformists against repeating 1991.

You cannot seek and achieve independence brought about by self-determination and yet contradictorily despise the leader(s) who enormously contributed to this great achievement. It is a sinful contradiction. However, it is understandable given the desire to blackmail.

It is however harmful and unhelpful to refer to the past partially without fairly examining its pros and cons. It is equally politically incorrect to pursue blackmailing as a political tactic in order to abort leadership succession and reforms.

Of course people unnecessarily died because our leaders in 1980s could not agree on the main objective for the movement, which later on became the self-determination. They also unfortunately die today because someone entrusted to lead the nation has not learnt from the past and decided to violently resist various positive reforms in the country. This has resulted to the imposed war on the people.

Nevertheless, a leader or person would not want to see his people die unnecessarily. He or she would first of all suggest and pursue peaceful options to achieve the set objectives. Our reformist leaders have never thought that the country would be plunged into this deep violent crisis by a dictator and force them to stage an armed resistance.

There are however situations when the unnecessary becomes necessary by way of imposition or alternative option. There are also times when a certain unintended situation becomes unavoidable. We are all humans and therefore not with a 100% perfection.

Logical people with positive outlook concentrate on the big picture which is the intended positive part of a situation. Concentrating on untended negative side is too judgemental and unappreciative.

We are now faced with the situation in which there is need to change the status quo in South Sudan. We have a new oppressor. An oppressor has no colour or name, because even your brother can attempt to strip you of your many rights, including the right to life, which you are entitled to resist by all means available.

We may recall that South Sudanese leaders who led political resistance and eventually took up armed resistance movements, not once but three times, against successive Khartoum regimes since 1955 did not do it out of warmongering. The situation was imposed on them. It was not possible to restrict their struggle to a peaceful dialogue and achieve freedom.

The interest group in Juba has declared war on the people of South Sudan who are simply aspiring for freedom, equality, justice and prosperity through reforms. The elite leaders in Juba have been fighting this war with the assistance of foreign agents. It is high time we rendered their propaganda and blackmailing tactics useless. Let us come together as a united people in supporting these reformist leaders for the betterment of all.

The author is a Spokesperson in the Office of the Chairman, SPLM/SPLA. He can be reached at gatdetdak2013@gmail.com

January 12, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese presidential assistant Ibrahim Ghandour met on Monday with the leader of the Darfurian Arab Mahameed clan Musa Hilal in West Darfur state capital of El-Geneina.

Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir (L) talks to tribal leader Musa Hilal during the wedding ceremony between Hilal's daughter and Chad President Idriss Deby in Khartoum January 20, 2012 (REUTERS/ Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

The participants of the meeting that was held under tight wraps, did not release any detailed statement afterwards except for brief remarks by Hilal in which he said that they discussed a number of issues that will be produce results for the “goodness and blessing in the future at the at level of Sudan and Darfur in particular”.

Ghandour on his end announced that he reached common points of agreement with Hilal that will benefit the country and the region. He said that Hilal expressed his appreciation to president Omer Hassan al-Bashir and the NCP while denying reports about his imminent rebellion.

Hilal, who was one of the main militia leaders that participated in the brutal counterinsurgency campaign during the first years of Darfur crisis, turned recently his militiamen against the governor of North Darfur state, Osman Kibir and accused him of feeding tribal conflicts in the state.

The famous Janjaweed leader recently started making statements critical of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), of which he is a member, and calling for deep reforms.

He left the capital Khartoum over a year ago and retreated to his hometown of Mostraeeha in North Darfur along with his troops and continued blasting the government and the NCP.

The NCP has not taken any action against Hilal and has allowed him to keep his posts including the adviser in the Ministry of Local Government and his parliamentary seat. .

But his name has not appeared on the list of NCP parliamentary candidates which was previously attributed by Ghandour to the fact that he was not picked by party's electoral college.

Hilal has recently announced his intention to resign from the ministerial post and formed the “Council of Awakening” through which he said he would work to find a solution to all the issues of Sudan.

The tribal chief stands accused by many human rights groups of leading a terror campaign against the African tribes Sudan's western region of Darfur.

But he has denied any wrongdoing and told Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a videotaped interview in 2005, that he only recruited militias on behalf of Sudan's central government.

(ST)

January 12, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Reform Now Movement (RNM) warned on Monday that the national dialogue process is in “serious trouble” due to Khartoum's backpedalling on its obligations towards the outcome of the dialogue's General Assembly.

From left to right: Leader of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) Hassan Al-Turabi, Reform Now Party (RNP) head Ghazi Salah Al-Deen Al-Attabani, National Umma Party (NUP) Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi and second vice-president Hassabo Abdel-Rahman attend a speech by the president announcing a national dialogue initiative on 27 January 2014 (SUNA)

In a statement following the politburo meeting, the opposition party stated that the recent constitutional amendments and the upcoming elections lack the popular support and legal legitimacy adding that it is working on resisting it through lawful means.

Sudan's president Omer Hassan al-Bashir launched the national dialogue initiative a year ago in which he urged opposition parties and rebels alike to join the dialogue table to discuss all the pressing issues.

But the initiative faced serious setbacks after rebel groups and leftist parties refused to join and after the National Umma Party (NUP) withdrew from the process in protest of al-Mahdi's brief arrest last May.

Some Islamist parties like the Popular Congress Party (PCP) and RNM joined the process, hoping to convince the ruling party to make the needed concessions.

The RNM said that ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the government abandoned their obligations towards two documents endorsed by the assembly for National Dialogue on November 2nd namely “The Roadmap” and the |Addis Ababa Agreement".

The statement also said that the government has reneged on its commitment to creating a conducive political climate and the inclusiveness of dialogue so that it brings together all political forces including rebels.

"There are no signs on the keenness of the NCP government or its seriousness in adhering to what it committed itself in this regard”.

The RNM also emphasised that the constitutional amendments were completed through improper procedures from a political and legal standpoint and through the internal NCP arrangements which lacks popular support and legal legitimacy making it "unrecognized".

This month, Sudanese lawmakers approved three controversial constitutional amendments introduced by the NCP despite opposition disapproval.

The first bill allows the president to appoint governors who will no longer be elected through universal suffrage. The second transforms the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) into regular force to legitimize the creation of its militia the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Finally the third reform is the inclusion of Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) in the constitution.

The RNM said that elections in the way promoted by the government does not give it support nor legality.

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

They have proposed forming a transitional government and holding a national conference with the participation of rebel groups to discuss a peaceful solution for the conflicts in Darfur region, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile states

The RNM said it is working with other political forces to oppose the elections through all legitimate and political means.

Bashir is running for a new presidential term despite asserting previously that he will not seek a new term. He received the backing of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani and other smaller parties.

Three others are running against Bashir including two women.

(ST)