March 5, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The leader of Sudan's Popular Congress Party (PCP) Hassan al-Turabi has died of a heart attack on Saturday in Khartoum at the age of 84.

Turabi was rushed from his office at the PCP premises in the neighborhood of Al-Manshia to the intensive care unit of Khartoum's Royal Care hospital after suffering a heart attack in the morning and died there.

In a brief statement Saturday, PCP General Secretariat said that Turabi felt sick at around 11:00 am. (local time) while he was carrying out his daily routine work at the PCP's headquarters, pointing he was rushed to the ICU at Royal Care hospital.

Turabi was born in 1932 in Kassala, eastern Sudan. He received an Islamic education before coming to Khartoum in 1951 to study law and joined the Muslim Brotherhood as a student.

He graduated from Khartoum University School of Law and also studied in London and at the Sorbonne in Paris, where he gained a doctorate. He became a leader of the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood in the early 1960s.

Turabi, who is fluent in English, French, is generally considered to be the mastermind of the 1989 coup by Islamist army officers that brought President Bashir to power.

He played a crucial role in designing the new government's Islamic policies, was elected speaker of the National Assembly in 1996 and in 1998, was elected secretary-general of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

However, in 1999, he was ousted from these positions over differences with President Bashir and his followers. He and his supporters subsequently founded the PCP.

Turabi had been in the opposition ever since. He was also jailed by Bashir's government on a number of occasions.

(ST)

March 5, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan says it is preparing to resume oil production in the its new states of Northern Liech and Ruweng, amidst optimism move would boost the the struggling economy over the course of the three-year interim government period.

A pipeline that transports crude oil from the south to Port Sudan (Reuters)

The country's petroleum and mining minister, Stephen Dhieu Dau exclusively told Sudan Tribune Saturday that the young nation was in a dire economic situation because its economy heavily relies on oil since government has not yet diversified into other sectors.

“Frankly speaking, we were unable to diversify our economy. We relied on the oil and this is why we are much more disadvantaged by the lower oil prices”, said the minister.

The government's main priority, Dau said, would be to utilise proceeds from the oil sold during the interim period to support development projects such as agricultural, physical infrastructure and other projects which would help in reinvigoration the economy.

"When peace holds and the transitional government of national unity is formed, the priority of the government would be designed to support agricultural projects. The proceeds of the oil will be used to support implementation of activities with positive economic impacts. The government will invest in physical infrastructure. There is strong need to build roads which would connect communities to farming areas", said Dau.

According to Dau, proceeds from oil will mainly be used to support agricultural activities.

“Soon the oil production will resume in northern Liech state and Ruweng. We are preparing to resume production soon. Our technicians have completed preparations. We are preparing to return to start production. We have talked to the state authorities, communities and the general command of the SPLA [South Sudan army]," stressed Dau.

“The protection of technicians is no longer an issue. The general command of the SPLA, local authorities and community leaders has given assurance of their safety to resume their work anytime we want them to start. There is no any security threat in Ruweng and Northern Liech states”, he added.

About 98% of South Sudan's annual budget is funded by revenue from oil production, which massively declined as a result of the conflict that hit the nation in December 2013.

(ST)

March 5, 2016 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Friday issued an order, which saw the country's deputy chief justice, Madol Arol Kachuol removed.

South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir, displays the country's transitional constitution after signing it into law during Independence Day celebrations in the capital Juba on 9 July 2011 (REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya)

President Kiir, the state owned SSTV announced, removed Kachuol, replacing him with John Gatwich Lul, who was chairperson of the anti-graft body.

The order of removal and replacement come into effect on 4 March, but no reasons were given as to why the South Sudanese leader issued the surprise order on Friday evening.

Several judicial officials attributed this to brewing differences between the chief justice and several judges over the manner in which the former handle the country's judicial system.

Majority of the judges have had the backing of the sacked deputy chief justice. Others claimed the changes could be related to allegation that the national alliance of 18 major political parties, which petitioned the Supreme Court over the creation of 28 states had indicated preference for the sacked deputy chief justice to preside over their case instead of chief justice they have accused of conflict of interest to preside over the case.

For instance, the chief justice congratulated president Kiir on the creation of 28 states as the Aguok community leader. He denied acting in an official capacity , claiming it was his constitutional right as the citizen of the country.

Kachuol is also reported to have played a neutral judicial role in the trial of four former political detainees who included Ezekiel Gatkuoth Lol, Pagan Amum, Majak D' Agot and Oyai Deng Ajak. He personally examined the charges brought against the officials and reportedly told the prosecutor that there were not sufficient evidences to implicate the accused. This, according to judicial and several government sources said, did not go well with the government and chief justic allegedly felt he had been undermined by his junior.

His removal from the position comes at the time a case in which the National Alliance has asked the chief justice to excuse himself from presiding over the case. The case was brought against the Establishment Order; a unilateral order issued by President Salva Kiir in October 2015 to divide up the country and expanded the number of the states to 28 from the constitutionally recognized 10 states in a clear violation of peace agreement which he and his former deputy in government and party turned leader of armed opposition, Riek Machar, signed in august, 2015, to end more than 21 months of conflict.

The President, further states the constitution, has powers to remove Justices and replace them in exceptional circumstances. Article 135 (2) of the constitution states that Justices and Judges may be removed by an order of the President for gross misconduct, incompetence and incapacity and upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Service Commission.

The constitution also states that the president shall appoint Supreme Court Justices “upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, and his appointment shall be subject to approval by a two-third majority of all members of the National Legislative Assembly.

(ST)

March 5, 2016 (EL-FASHER) - Unidentified armed group has attacked three vehicles carrying passengers heading from North Darfur state capital of El-Fasher to the locality of Tawilla.

A UNAMID peacekeeper from from Burkina Fasso and based in Forobaranga, West Darfur, checks a map during a patrol to Tamar village. (Photo UNAMID/Albert González Farran)

Hamid Abakar, one of the passengers told Sudan Tribune that they were ambushed by gunmen in an area east of Jebel Kosa, saying that some passengers were injured.
One of the vehicles drivers Ali Ibrahim told Sudan Tribune that the area known as Tantabai station continued to witness killing and looting acts by gunmen.

The governor of North Darfur state Abdel-Wahid Youssef Friday told a crowd in the locality of Tawilla that his government would hit the outlaws with an iron fist.

“The criminal has no tribe and he is an arch enemy of the state,” he said.

Youssef further said the government policy seeks to achieve security and stability across Darfur.

On Wednesday, unknown gunmen had looted hundreds of cattle heads in Al-Galabat area in the locality of Tawilla.

Also, last week, gunmen on motorcycles shot at a group of passengers who were aboard a public transportation vehicle on the road linking Tawilla to El-Fasher which led to the killing of two people and injury of two others.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

March 5, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan's armed opposition group, the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), said the South Sudanese army (SPLA) loyal to President Salva Kiir, is preparing to carry out heavy military operations against opposition forces in Eastern Equatoria state.

South Sudanese SPLA soldiers are pictured in Pageri in Eastern Equatoria state on August 20, 2015 (Photo AFP/Samir Bol)

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, SPLM-IO chairman of the national committee for political mobilization and orientation, alleged that his movement has received a classified and reliable information that government forces were under preparations during the last four days to launch offensive against the SPLA-IO positions in Eastern Equatoria state.

Pierino, who also is also the chairman of the SPLM-IO Eastern Equatoria caucus, further said that the General Headquarters (Bilpam) of the government forces is aware and has been planning and coordinating the expected military operations in the area, east of the national capital, Juba.

“Brig. General Paul Omoya the operation commander in Eastern Equatoria and newly appointed Security Advisor to the Governor of controversial Imatong State in coordination with Maj. General Jildo Oling Baranya, the commanding officer, and Maj. General Johnson Juma has been coordinating efforts to unleash military operation in Eastern Equatorial,” he told Sudan Tribune.

“The three officers were summoned to the office of SPLA Chief ? of General Staff for orders,” he further alleged.

The SPLM-IO's senior official said the SPLA's deputy chief of general staffs for logistics directed acquisition of large quantity of ammunition and weapons.

He added that the deputy chief of general staffs for administration has also directed a deployment of up to a coy [military unit] of heavily armed strong force ?and their food for the government forces who are allegedly due to be dispatched for the operation in Eastern Equatoria.

“It is not clear where this operation will start,” Oyet said, adding “This act is likely going to provoke confusion in the state.”

Following the information, he said the SPLM-IO forces are being put on maximum alert. He said the government's move to coordinate military operations against opposition forces is contrary to the peace agreement.

Pierino further went on to say that there are elements within the government establishment who are not supporting the peace process.

“I doubt whether our counterparts in government have controls over their forces. The numerous violations of hostilities and security arrangement is due to lack of control over the government forces who are poorly trained and not well fed with no salaries,” he added.

?The two SPLM warring factions signed a peace agreement in August 2015 to end a 21 months long bloody conflict which has killed tens of thousands and displaced an estimated two million.

However, both sides continue to engage in skirmishes in violation to terms of the peace deal brokered in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, by the East African regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

Despite the peace accord, implementation of the deal has become a major challenge for both parties, holding back the formation of a transitional government of national unity (TGoNU).

Currently, the parties are waiting for transportation to Juba of SPLA-IO advance force of 1,370 in order for the first vice president designate, Riek Machar, who leads SPLM-IO, to return to the national capital and trigger formation of the TGoNU.

(ST)

March 6, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - A Sudanese army field commander has announced, on Saturday, the readiness of the Sudan Armed Forces(SAF) to launch summer military operations in South Kordofan State, after the arrival of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to Kadugli, the state capital.

Sudanese army soldiers and RSF militiamen ride on a tank outside the military headquarters in Kadugli, South Kordofan after recapturing the Daldako area on 20 May 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Nureldine Abdallah)

Speaking to the RSF militiamen that arrived in Kadugli Saturday, SAF 14th Infantry Division Commander, General Yasir Atta said that the military operations will target all the rebel controlled areas after the failure of peace talks.

“The political, executive, and security leadership in South Kordofan are working in harmony and in full coordination to achieve a common goal, which is restoring security and stability to the restive areas of the state,” he added.

In the past few days, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), reported that the Sudanese army was massing troops in South Kordofan State ahead of a military campaign on their positions.

The rebels said they ambushed government troops in different areas, including an attack on the Dilling-Kadugli road and (Terri-Tajelbo) in Rashad County, in order to destabilize its military preparations.

The Sudanese military commander vowed to change the situation in South Kordofan in the next few days, adding that the Sudanese army plans to clear the state of rebels and rehabilitate it.

"The army will free all the citizens detained by the rebels," Atta further said.

On his part, the South Kordofan deputy-governor, Babikir Ahmed Babikir said that his government is going to resume fighting against the SPLM-N because "they refused all the peaceful solutions".

SPLM-N fighter are fighting the Sudanese government in South Kordofan since June 2011.

An African Union mediation team has failed to bring the two warring parties to sign peace agreement. Recently they organized a number of informal talks between the belligerents but no progress has been achieved.

(ST)

March 5, 2016 (BOR) - The governor of Boma state, Baba Medan Konyi, has dismissed as false reports that the the South Sudanese army (SPLA), in last month's looting of health facilities, run by Medicins San Frontiers (MSF), markets and civilian houses in Pibor.

SPLA soldiers prepare to leave Bor for Pibor County, September 25, 2012 (ST)

In an interview with Sudan Tribune Friday, Medan said a group of cobra forces, under the command of Major General Adoge Gul, aggrevated the situation and attacked the SPLA after looting the market and MSF camp.

“The group against the government looted the market the night of day 22nd because they were planning to fighting the government the next day, 23rd . They are the ones who looted MSF compound and the civilians houses on 23rd”, Medan said on Saturday.

"The citizens are not rejecting me, it is the group of the cobra, it is the people of the group of Yauyau who [are] rejecting me. They are the ones making agitation in Pibor headquarters”, he added.

The newly-apppointed governor had been summoned by president Salva Kiir to explain the cause of the fighting in the area. Also at the meeting was the former Pibor administrator, David Yauyau.

“I briefed the president on what caused the fighting in the area. I told him the the fighting was caused by those of Yauyau. And Yauyau was in the meeting, he could not defend that” said Medan.

Some members of cobra generals are now eyeing for bigger positions in the new government as they push for Yauyau to be reinstated as the governor.

“When I formed my government, I appointed Khalid Botrous, because he requested me to be the minister. But I appointed him, he said, no, I want to be the deputy minister”, said Medan, adding that the president will never appoint Yauyau as the governor.

“We appointed three ministers from Cobra, one advisor and one commissioner, they have five positions”, he said.

Yauyau, announced some months back, that he and his members had fully joined South Sudan ruling party. But Medan doubted why the they still works for the downfall of the party when they are members of the same party and government.

“Cobra is no longer cobra, they are SPLM. And if you are SPLM, you are you giving conditions to the same party of yours, its means they still have another agenda. If they are SPLM, they are supposed to respect the degree of the president”, said governor.

“They are the ones who planned to attack the government, they are the ones who wants Yauyau to come back as the governor, this will not happened. Yauyau was chief administrator of greater Pibor, and he is now a general in the army. He cannot work against the government when he is inside the same government”, he continued.

Medan said civilians had stated returning to town after he conducted a security meeting in Pibor before leaving for Juba. He ordered his supporters to clean the rubbles to allow civilians to resettle.

(ST)

March 5, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – South Sudanese first vice president designate, Riek Machar, said the people of the two Sudan have lost a “great thinker” and renowned political leader in the history of Sudan.

Sudan's Islamist opposition leader Hassan Al-Turabi (AFP)

Machar made the remark on Saturday in a statement of condolences for the passing on of Sheikh Hassan El Turabi, former Sudanese national parliament speaker and leader of the opposition party, the Popular Congress Party (PCP).

Turabi, a chief Islamic ideologue, died on Saturday in the national capital, Khartoum, at the age of 84.

“We have heard with great sadness the news of the passing on of El Sheikh Dr. Hassen Abdellah El Turabi this afternoon over the international media, El Gezira. May God rest his soul in eternal peace. Sheikh Turabi was a great Islamic scholar and a renowned political leader,” said the South Sudanese armed opposition leader, Machar, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

“The two Sudan are fortunate to have had this great man as one of their leaders. His leadership was exemplary and his works contributed to bringing about peace and stability in both countries. He supported the quest of the people of South Sudan for right of self-determination. He will be greatly missed,” he said.

“Please accept, on behalf of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) and South Sudanese people our deepest condolences to your Excellency, the people of the Republic of Sudan and especially to the family of Sheikh Turabi for this loss. We join your Excellency, the family of Sheikh Turabi and the people of Sudan in mourning this great thinker.”

Machar also dispatched a high level delegation of the SPLM-IO to Khartoum to participate in the burial of late Turabi. The team led by the SPLM-IO's secretary general, Dhieu Mathokk Diing Wol, includes Dak Duop Bichiok, representative to Sudan as well as Murtada Jalaladin and Bol Gatkuoth Chuol Kol.

The South Sudanese opposition leader in 1997 signed a peace agreement with President Omer Hassan Al Bashir, duped as the Khartoum Peace Agreement (KPA), when Turabi was the speaker of parliament. The peace deal was the first in the history of the Sudan to be signed between north and south Sudan based on the right of self-determination for the people of South Sudan, and with a referendum to be conducted for a vote on unity of the country or independence of South Sudan.

Turabi was born in 1932 in Kassala, eastern Sudan. He received an Islamic education before coming to Khartoum in 1951 to study law and joined the Muslim Brotherhood as a student.

He graduated from Khartoum University School of Law and also studied in London and at the Sorbonne in Paris, where he gained a doctorate. He became a leader of the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood in the early 1960s.

Turabi, who is fluent in English, French, is generally considered to be the mastermind of the 1989 coup by Islamist army officers that brought President Bashir to power.

He played a crucial role in designing the new government's Islamic policies, was elected speaker of the National Assembly in 1996 and in 1998, was elected secretary-general of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

However, in 1999, he was ousted from these positions over differences with President Bashir and his followers. He and his supporters subsequently founded the PCP.

Turabi had been in the opposition ever since. He was also jailed by Bashir's government on a number of occasions.

(ST)

March 5, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's President Omer Hassan al-Bashir travelled to Indonesia on Saturday evening for an extraordinary Islamic summit despite an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued in Mars 2009.

A Chinese honor guard waits as a plane carrying Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrives at Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015 (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Bashir will take part in the fifth extraordinary Summit of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convened at the request of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the situation in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

In April last year Bashir cancelled at the last minute his trip to Jakarta for an Asia-Africa summit.

Indonesia is not a State Party to the Rome Statute and has no obligation to arrest the Sudanese president.

However, last year a campaign was organized by right groups and activists to put pressure on the Indonesian government to cooperate with the war crimes tribunal.

The Sudanese president visited several African states members of the ICC but he was not arrested. However, the issue generated a large literature in the international law on Bashir's immunity.

The OIC summit was initially to be held in Morocco but the north African monarchy declined to organize it.

The summit is expected to renew the support of the Islamic world to the right of Palestinian people to establish an independent state and to condemn Israeli attempts to "erase its Islamic and Arab identity" of Jerusalem.

"The two-day summit with start with a preparatory meeting of senior officials on 6 March. This will be followed by a meeting of foreign ministers, with the outcomes of the first day of deliberations forwarded to the leaders of the OIC member states on 7 March 2016," said a statement issued by the Islamic organization.

(ST)

March, 04, 2016 (WAU) - Churches and traditional leaders from South Sudan's Greater Bahr el Ghazal region have urged the population to embark on peaceful co-existence with one another.

Dignitaries and government officials gathered for prayers at Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Western Bahr el Ghazal state capital Wau to commemorate Martyrs' Day on 30 July 2014 (ST)

The move came after two groups from difference parts of Lakes, Warrap, Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Western Bahr el Ghazal state gathered in Wau state for a three-day peace and reconciliation workshop organised by Creative's Systems to Uphold the Credibility and Constitutionality of Elections in South Sudan (SUCCESS), working in collaboration with National Democratic Institute (NDI).

Bishop Abraham Yel Nhial, the Episcopal Church of Sudan diocese of Aweil, said the workshop that brought together the groups with the aim to collectively discuss the issues facing the region in reaching out to communities to implement the peace accord.

The groups called on the leaders of the armed opposition, Riek Machar to return home and join President Salva Kiir in forming the transitional government of national unity and fully implement the peace deal.

"We urge our people to except the entire inverse for the sake of peace and unity among the people of South Sudan not to except any division or conflict that may cause disunity among the people of South Sudan,” said Nhial.

“We strong called on the citizens to invest in peace rather than conflict issues that include cattle and farmers issues,” he added.

The groups condemned the attack on internally displaced persons in Wau and the incident that occured at the United Nations camp in Malakal and called on the government to bring to book those responsible for both attacks on innocent civilians.

“We call upon any group that continue instigating violence inform ofbcriminal ways in the country to lay down their weapons and join peace,” he stressed.

(ST).

March 04, 2016 (YEI) - The newly-appointed ministers, deputy governor and advisors of South Sudan's Yei River state took oath of office on Thursday this week.

The 10 states of South Sudan

The county High Court Judge Obac Onyong presided over the ocassion, also witnessed by religious bishops, members of parliament and county commissioners.

Those sworn-in included the ministers for information, local government, finance and public service, education, gender and social welfare, health as well as environment.

Addressing the cabinet at the state secretariat, Governor David Moses Lokonga urged the ministers to prioritise service delivery to the population they are meant to serve.

Governor Lokonga also warned his new cabinet members against corruption practices.

“The underline here is service delivery to our people. I know that we are starting with the challenges but we need to turn these challenges into opportunities. We have almost all the minerals; therefore time has come for all of us whether you are sitting under a tree our focus should be what to deliver. As a cabinet, I want to assure you that laziness is not needed. Somebody who is not taking time as important, I think, he is creating other problems”, he warned.

“Take note of what I am saying, after six months, you are going to prepare a report. Corruption deprived our people from getting the basic social services and I want to assure that corruption, nepotism is an enemy to the people of South Sudan. We have to prepare to unit our people and them into jobs by merits”, he stressed.

Speaking on behalf of his counterparts, information minister, Stephen Wani Onesmo advised his colleagues to cultivate transparency and service delivery.

“The honorable ministers will work without fear or favour and discrimination, to ensure good governance, accountability, transparency and responsive Government. The ministers will work hard to fight corrupt practices and administrative multipractices within the ministries to ensure public interest is delivered. The ministers will work in a consultative manner to ensure service delivery a dividend is maximised for the benefits of the citizens in this state", said Wani.

He added, "The ministers will build working relationship with the development partners for effective service delivery within the state”.

The Bishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Emmanuel Hillary Luate Adeba advised the politicians to work as a team in building a strong foundation for the state.

"We believe that you are capable to manage the affairs of the state. Make sure you build this state in a strong foundation, be united and work for the interest of the people you are serving. We will not be happy to see that the founders of this state have failed Yei, we want to see that you succeed and we all succeed”, said the Bishop.

(ST).

March 6, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – Units of the joint police and military forces from the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) may be transported to the South Sudanese capital, Juba, soon, but no date has been fixed for their arrival, said opposition official.

Rebel fighters aligned with former vice-president Riek Machar gather in a village in South Sudan's Upper Nile state on 8 February 2014 (Photo: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

In implementation of the security arrangements provided for in the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) signed in August 2015 by President Salva Kiir's government and the SPLM-IO led by the first vice president designate, Riek Machar, a joint police and military force from the two sides were supposed to be deployed prior to formation of a transitional government of national unity (TGoNU).

The joint force of over 8,000 would deploy in the national capital after Juba is demilitarized and government's forces withdrawn to 25km outside the town.

A first phase of 1,370 elements of the joint forces from the SPLM-IO will be transported to Juba before the top leader of the opposition can return to the capital and take oath of office as first vice president.

However, the official spokesman of the SPLM-IO chairman and commander-in-chief said preparations were ongoing before the forces could arrive.

“Our forces will be transported to Juba any time soon. However, some necessary preparations have been taking place. They will be transported to Juba once the arrangements to do with their basic needs and services are completed,” James Gatdet Dak, opposition leader's press secretary, told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

He said among the ongoing preparations include arrangements for shelter, food, water and medical care for the incoming SPLA-IO forces to Juba.

“Only raw sites have been identified. But there is need to plan and provide shelter, food, water as well as medical care service for the forces,” he said.

He said representatives of the Joint Military Ceasefire Committee (JMCC) from all the parties in the peace agreement are scheduled to meet in Juba on Monday, 7 March, to review the status of the arrangements.

Dak said once the force arrives in Juba, the first vice president designate, Machar, will thereafter return to Juba.

The first phase of the opposition's joint forces will be airlifted to Juba from various locations in the country while the rest of the force which also comprise part of the joint force will follow by river.

(ST)

March 6, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Economic and Deputy Commercial Officer at the United States Embassy in Khartoum Aysa M. Miller would participate in a conference on the Gum Arabic in Sudan's eastern state of Gedaref.

Sudanese workers collect pieces of gum arabic at a factory in Khartoum (Photo AFP)

Washington also imposed economic and trade sanctions on Sudan in 1997 in response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights abuses.

However, it the US has excluded Gum Arabic from the sanctions for the critical need of this commodity in nutritional and drug industry.

The secretary general of Gum Arabic Council (GAC), Abdel-Magid Abdel-Gadir Saturday said that Miller would visit Gedaref within few days to participate in the annual conference on Gum Arabic.

He added that the American diplomat was invited by the governor of Gedaref state Merghani Salih in his capacity as the economic officer at the US embassy in Khartoum as well as officer sponsoring the Gum Arabic at the US States Department.

Abdel-Gadir told the official news agency SUNA that Miller saw the experience of the Gum Arabic cultivation and the agricultural technologies during his visit to Gedaref last year.

For his part, Miller expressed genuine desire to cooperate with Gedaref state to develop the agricultural sector and to continue contacts between Sudan and the US.

Sudan commands over 80% of the world's Gum Arabic production and trade.
The east African nation exported 42 tonnes of Gum Arabic to the US in 2013, yielding $103 million.

Mourners carry the body of Veteran Sudan Islamist opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi during his funeral on March 6, 2016 in the capital Khartoum. (Photo AFP/ASHRAF SHAZLI)

March 6, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The Secretary General of the Popular Congress Party (PCP) Hassan al-Turabi was buried Sunday in the Burri cemetery east of the capital, Khartoum, following a funeral attended by thousands of mourners.

Turabi, a chief Islamic ideologue, died of a heart attack on Saturday in Khartoum, at the age of 84.

Sudanese Islamists, PCP supporters and ordinary citizens paraded banners bearing his photograph and paying tribute to his life.

An official Qatari delegation led by the minister Awqaf (endowments) and Islamic Affairs Ghayth bin Mubarak al-Kawari has offered condolences on behalf of the Qatari Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and the Qatari people.

Meanwhile, several rebel groups and political parties have mourned the late Islamist leader pointing to his recent calls to renounce violence and achieve peace through dialogue.

Leader of a Sudan Liberation Movement faction (SLM-AW) Abdel-Wahid al-Nur described Turabi as one of the most prominent thinkers in the Muslim world, saying he played a significant role in the Sudanese political scene for more than half a century.

“We radically disagree with his views and Islamic project because we call for a federal, liberal, democratic and secular state within the framework of a united Sudan,” he said.

“We know that the Islamic project was responsible for the wars, genocide and ethnic cleansing in our country, however, our values and morals make us mourn him and pray for mercy on him irrespective of our political, intellectual and ideological differences,” added al-Nur.

For its part, the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) has offered condolences to Turabi's family, friends and the Islamists across the Sudan.

In a statement Sunday, SPLM-N said the late Turabi played important roles in the Sudanese politics since the 1960s and particularly during the last 30 years, pointing that in recent years he expressed sincere desire to save the country's unity.

“It is a noble desire and we ask the Sudanese Islamists from the various schools and in particular those who hold power to make of his [Turabi's] death an opportunity to achieve a new national project that is based upon democracy, social justice and equal citizenship and to engage in a genuine dialogue that resolves the current crises of the Islamic Movement and Sudan,” read the statement

Gibril Adam Bilal, spokesperson of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Gibril Ibrahim for his part mourned Turabi describing him as one of the Islamic nation's scholars and a thinker who made huge intellectual efforts to serve the contemporary life.

Also, the leader of the New Justice and Equality Movement (New JEM) Mansour Arab has offered condolences on the death of Turabi saying he spent most of his life in developing his views and opinions.

He added that Turabi enriched the Sudanese political arena with his daring views, saying his death represents a challenge for the national political forces to achieve peace, security and stability.

Ahmed Abdel-Magid, spokesperson for the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM-Dabajo) led by Abdel-Karim Dabajo said Turabi's party is a forum for the renewed thought in the Islamic nation's modern history.

He added that his movement participated with the late Turabi in the national dialogue, saying he continued to call for fulfilling the covenants.

It is worth to mention that the Sudanese presidency has mourned Turabi in a statement Saturday night, pointing to his contributions in the various intellectual, scientific and political fields.

Turabi was born in 1932 in Kassala, eastern Sudan. He received an Islamic education before coming to Khartoum in 1951 to study law and joined the Muslim Brotherhood as a student.

He graduated from Khartoum University School of Law and also studied in London and at the Sorbonne in Paris, where he gained a doctorate. He became a leader of the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood in the early 1960s.

Turabi, who is fluent in English, French, is generally considered to be the mastermind of the 1989 coup by Islamist army officers that brought President Bashir to power.

He played a crucial role in designing the new government's Islamic policies, was elected speaker of the National Assembly in 1996 and in 1998, was elected secretary-general of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

However, in 1999, he was ousted from these positions over differences with President Bashir and his followers. He and his supporters subsequently founded the PCP.

Turabi had been in the opposition ever since. He was also jailed by Bashir's government on a number of occasions.

TURABI'S SUCCESSOR

Meanwhile, Turabi's deputy and close confidante Ibrahim al-Sanousi has been appointed as the PCP general secretary.

In a short statement Sunday, the PCP General Secretariat announced that al-Sanousi has been selected as general secretary of the party according to the statute and until the next meeting of the Shura (consultative) Council is being held.

(ST)

March 6, 2016 (KIRYANDONGO) - South Sudanese refugees in resettlement camps in Uganda have turned to agriculture to raise incomes for school needs for their children.

South Sudanese refugees arrival at Kiryandongo settlement camp 16, 02,2014 (ST)

Nearly 100,000 South Sudanese fled their homes into Uganda after violence broke out in the nation following political disputes in the ruling party (SPLM).

James Maker Ter, is one of those who wakes up every day to go to clear weed from his farm. During holidays, Maker and his five children struggle to expand agricultural farms.

“I see this land has a lot of opportunities and I have decided to cultivate and I know doing this job will strengthen me, although the UNHCR [ United Nations refugee agency] is supporting me. I have to do more in order to support my family,” he told Sudan Tribune.

Last year, Maker produced 50 bags of maize, each weighing an estimated 50 kilograms.

He however remains optimistic he could produce more bags of maize this year.

Out of the 50 bags of maize, Maker disclosed that he sold 20 sacks of what he cultivated to help him buy school uniforms for his children and cater for the family's medical bills.

He encouraged South Sudanese refugees in the displaced camps to take up hoes and begin cultivation. An economic activity like farming, he said, does not require lots of capital.

“When you produce more food, you will not have any problem. By engaging yourself into agriculture is likely to make you richer. If you sell clothes it may not work out in the hunger time, but if you have more grain stored and then your business can still boom,” said Maker.

Mary Nyaber Koryom, a 35 year-old South Sudanese refugee's, who takes care of 10 children in the house says agriculture was her last option in the displaced peoples' camp.

She says it has not been easy to cater for children's needs like school uniforms and fees.

“We have so many challenges to do this job. We lack tractors and buying pesticide become very expensive. We lack support to practice agriculture; we do this work for the sake of our own surviving in the camp,” she said.

(ST)

March 6, 2016 (BOR) - Over SSP 210,000 (about $10,000) was recently collected at a fund raising campaign organised in Bor by the Twic East county commissioner, Dau Akoi.

The commissioner of Twic East County, Dau Akoi Jurkuch, addresssing the public celebrating the first anniversary of South Sudan's independence in Panyagoor, 9 July 2012 (ST Photo)

At least SSP215, 000 was pledged in both cash and pledges on Saturday. The cash counted amounted to SSP33, 000 at the end of the fund raising drive.

Majority of people, however, vowed to fulfill their pledges for the campaign by 7 March.

Dau, who addressed the gathering during fund raising campaign on Saturday, said the money would be used to complete the road linking the county to the state capital of Bor.

“Our priorities in Twic East are road and dyke this year. We have started the roadwork, and a half of it was completed. But to complete it to the border of Bor county, we need you to contribute for the remaining part”, said the commissioner.

"The state has no funds in its development treasury and so citizens must contribute to solve some problems they face,", said Akoi.

“We must work to solve our problems. Road is the major issue that would help us in solving insecurity and other problems, once it is completed”, he added.

The South Sudan army (SPLA) commander heading Jonglei operation, general Malual Ayom, supported the road work with tractors, which the county had already put in use to clear and level the road from headquarters in panyagor to Maar village town in Twic East.

“From this contribution, we will be able to pay our workers, and fuel," said Akoi.

Members of Jonglei traders union pledged two drums of fuel to facilitate Twic East roadwork. They said they would contribute when Duk and Bor counties organise a fund raising for road construction.

A similar fund raising campaign for Twic East was organised last month in Juba, where SSP 200, 000 was paid in cash and over SSP100, 000 in pledges soon to be utilised.

Duk County has already contributed some money for construction of road that connects its payams to panyagoor in Twic East, more money is needed before the work begins.

The governor of Jonglei state, Philip Aguer Panyang, appreciated the initiative of the state commissioners, saying the move reflects his slogan for work, unity and protection.

He said people should not expect free things from his government has he did as a relief worker for the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) in the 1990s.

“I was a relief worker, giving free food to people. This time, I am going to ask you to pay something to do the road, security and to generate food, so let us support ourselves”, said Aguer.

21 RAIDERS KILLED IN DUK

The governor applauded the members and youth of Duk for the protection they showed in the last few weeks when the raiders attacked and raided cattle within their territory.

“You should not sit idle waiting for someone to come to protect you and your properties. Duk did excellent job. They defeated the raiders and killed 21 of them in an attempted raid”, said Aguer.

He encouraged youth to be organised to defend themselves, their villages and cattle from raiders and external attackers as government supports community policing.

(ST)

Participants pose for photographers during a photo session at the extraordinary Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit on Palestinian issues in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, March 7, 2016. (Photo AP/Dita Alangkara)

March 6, 2016 (KHARTOUM)- The Sudanese President, Omer Hassan al-Bashir will chair the opening session of the 5th Extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), that kicked off in Jakarta, on Sunday, after his arrival to Indonesia on Saturday evening.

Sudan OIC Permanent Representative and the Sudanese ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Abdel Hafiz Ibrahim, said that the opening session of the Islamic Summit in Indonesia on Monday will be chaired by President al-Bashir because Sudan is chosen as the deputy chairman of the Islamic organization for this session.

Following the opening session, Bashir shall hand over the chairmanship of the meeting to the Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

The move is perceived by the diplomats in Khartoum as an important step for the country which was regionally and internationally isolated for the regime's alleged support to terrorism followed by the ICC arrest warrant against the Sudanese president over Darfur war crimes.

Ambassador Ibrahim told the official news agency (SUNA), on Sunday, that the importance of Sudan's participation at the summit emanates from its commitment to the Palestinian cause, and its "firm stance calling to provide protection and to stop the Israeli aggression and arrogance on the Palestinian people."

The Islamic meeting started on Sunday in Jakarta with the participation of more than 500 delegates from the 49 OIC member states, four representatives of the Quartet on the Middle East (United States, Russia, United Nations and European Union), five UN Security Council representatives, as well as three observer countries confirmed they would attend the summit.

“This high-level summit is expected to push international forums to prioritize the issue of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the situation is worrying,” said the Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Sunday.

The summit will discuss the recent violence in Israel and the occupied territories and the restriction of access to Al -Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which is the third-holiest site in Islam.

On a related development, the Sudanese diplomat announced that the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) will hold its first meeting in Kazakhstan during the last week of April.

He further underscored that the establishment of this new Islamic body was initiated by the Sudanese President within the OIC meetings.

Khartoum expects to benefit from the economic projects the new Islamic organization will fund in the east African country.

(ST)

March 2, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan army, its various armed groups and civilians should halt all wildlife poaching and trafficking activities, conservationists warned.

An aerial view of a dead, poached elephant lying in a National Park in South Sudan on July 10, 2015 in a photo provided by the US-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) (WCS Photo/Philip Elkan)

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and its partners said South Sudan's wildlife and other natural resources were under immediate threat from an alarming expansion of illegal exploitation as well as trafficking.

“These illegal activities are being perpetrated by local as well as international individuals and actors, including members of the various armed forces active in the country,” WCS said in a report released on 2 March.

All sides currently involved in the South Sudan conflict, according to scientific monitoring and investigations undertaken by WCS and partners in the past months, have documented a sharp rise in illegal activities in various areas of the young nation.

Over the past two years of armed conflict, WCS said, the various armed forces across the country have been implicated in cases of large-scale wildlife poaching (both for consumption and commercial trafficking).

Last month, WCS said in its report, 19 government soldiers and 11 civilians were arrested for commercial bush meat poaching and trafficking by government wildlife rangers, with sacks of dried meat of more than 60 antelopes.

“There has also been increased ivory trafficking registered both within the country and across its borders”, says the report.

It cites ivory poaching and trafficking, commercial bushmeat poaching and trafficking, illegal logging, gold mining and charcoal production as some of the illegal activities.

South Sudan's extensive areas of untouched natural woodlands, forests, and savannas, were home to wildlife populations including approximately 2,500 elephant, some several hundred giraffe, according to WCS studies.

These areas reportedly support pastoralist livelihoods, fishing, non-timber forest products and other important reserves of minerals and oil resources.

“The humanitarian crisis and expanding pressures on natural resources in South Sudan require redoubling of international and local efforts for the full implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement and securing the people, wildlife, and overall natural resource base of the country,” said Cristián Samper, WCS's President and CEO.

CALLS FOR ACTION

South Sudan's Transitional Government of National Unity peace partners, states, community representatives, to make natural resource governance, transparency, and management a top national and local priority, WCS said.

“A focussed natural resource crisis action plan should be designed, adopted, and fully implemented,” it added, calling for the full implementation of all wildlife, forestry, mining and existing environmental laws.

(ST)

March 6, 2016 (YAMBIO) – The Governor of South Sudan's Gbudue state has, through a republican decree issued Saturday, appointed of his deputy and seven ministers.

Gbudue state governor Patrick Zamoi speaking to journalists at in Nzara airstrip March 4, 2016 (ST)

In his decree issued announced by the state-owned Yambio FM, Patrick Raphael Zamoi, appointed Victor Edward Kpiawandu as deputy governor.

A former member of the Khartoum-based Government of National Unity, Kpiawandu is currently sits on the Council of States in the national assembly.

Another decree saw Jackson Ezekiel Buguwa appointed minister of local government and law enforcement, Joseph Sabuni Natale moved to information, while Patrick Kandi Kereyo maintained his finance, public service and human development ministry.

Others are Grace Datiro Yeremaya who becomes the new minister for agriculture, forestry and fisheries, Jackcilia Ebere Salathiel for physical infrastructure, Philip Pia Michael for education, gender and social welfare and Lino Utu Takuari was appointed minister for health and environment.

Sudan Tribune could not easily establish when the new officials will take oath.

(ST)

March 6, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - A Darfur Regional Authority (DRA)'s official has disclosed the existence of difficulties delaying the payment of compensations to the war affected persons in the western Sudan region.

IDPs wait to be seen at an MSF health post in North Darfur state in 2010 (File Photo/MSF)

In statements to Sudan Tribune on Sunday, DRA minister of construction and infrastructures Tadjadine Bechir Niam, said the compensation process didn't yet commence because the displaced persons and refugees are not in their homes of origin to file claims regarding the sustained damages or losses.

"The reparations are enforced through all these proceedings that did not happen. The claims and the investigations require the return to the homeland but the displaced persons and refugees did not return to their villages so far," Niam said.

The DRA on Sunday said coordinating with the federal ministry of justice to dispatch legal experts to conduct lawsuits for the compensation of damage caused by during the war in Darfur.

The head of DRA voluntary return commission, Azhary Shata told the semi-official SMC that they started the formation at the state-level of committees to participate in the compensation process.

He further said that these teams will undergo intensive legal training to enable them to educate civilians about the proceedings of compensation for damage caused during the 12-year conflict.

The Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) provides that the restitution and compensation for property lost during the war are part of the rehabilitation and reconstruction process in Darfur.

"For this purpose, measures shall be taken to pay compensations to the population of Darfur, address grievances resulting from losses in lives and destruction, seizure or theft of properties as well as the subsequent suffering," says the DDPD.

The peace framework document further provides that the initial amount of the Compensation Fund for the settlement of compensations shall be $ 300 million out of which the government undertakes to pay $ 200 million and the balance of $ 100 will be sourced from donors.

But Niam said that the government so far has failed to fulfill the required resources to the Compensation Fund and provided only US$ 60 million of the $ 200 million.

"The whole process is going on but the estimations are not yet done and the lists of victims are not released by the DRA voluntary return commission," he further said.

It worth to mention that the regional authority is tasked with the implementation of the peace document, in line with the framework text. It is chaired by Tijani al-Sissi.

Niam is a member of the Liberation and Justice Party (LJP) led by Bahr Idriss Abu Garda while Shata is a leading figure of National Liberation and Justice Party (NLJP) of al-Sissi

The DDPD was signed on 14 July 2011 by the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) and the Sudanese government

However the former rebel group split in to two political parties before the general elections in 2015.

(ST)