August 20, 2016 (JUBA) - More road ambushes along the Torit-Kapoeta road has left two other people dead on Thursday evening, after previous attacks this week that killed several members of the national security traveling on Torit-Kapoeta road.

SPLA soldier on the Torit-Kapoeta road (JB Russell)

The situation has also been blamed on the newly created state governments of Imotong and Namorunyang which have reportedly failed to act swiftly in order to control the frequent attacks by armed men believed to be loyal to the deposed First Vice President, Riek Machar.

An eyewitness who said has been frustrated by the weakness of the state government claimed that the authorities “are merely talking and cannot act.”

The incident followed an earlier attack on Wednesday which authorities said left five people dead.

Ikotos county commissioner, Abdullah Salvatore, said the incident took place in the Camp 15 area – approximately two-hours from Kapoeta town. “There was one of police officers in the county, he was escorting the vehicles going to Namorunyang; an incident happened to them at Camp15 inside of Namorunyang,” he said.

Among the dead, he added, included a hired Ugandan driver who sustained injury and died later in the hospital.

He said they have requested the government of Namorunyang state to provide forces to escort the vehicles on the Torit-Kapoeta road.

Earlier this week, the Drivers Chambers Union in Namorunyang State halted the movement of vehicles along the road because of the ongoing violence.

(ST)

August 20, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Egyptian authorities on Saturday have decided to deport 77 Sudanese nationals who were trying to cross from Egypt into Israel.

A Sudanese refugee child walks past Israeli Border Police officers in the Rose Garden, just outside Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Sunday, July 8, 2007. (AP)

Sudan's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Gharib Allah Khidir said Egyptian authorities have arrested a group of Sudanese migrants while they were trying to sneak into Israel, pointing they were sent to Al-Qanater prison in Cairo.

Khidir told the official news agency (SUNA) that 77 Sudanese were imprisoned in Egyptian jails, saying the Sudanese embassy in Cairo is in constant contacts with the Egyptian security authorities to check on their conditions.

For his part, Sudanese ambassador to Cairo Abdel-Mahmoud Abdel-Halim told Sudan Tribune that the Egyptian authorities decided to deport the 77 Sudanese nationals.

“We expressed to the Egyptian authorities our utmost attention about the safety of these [Sudanese nationals] and we work within the embassy to determine the next move” he sid.

He added that the embassy would dispatch a delegation to meet the detainees, saying they will issue travel documents for those who don't have passports before they were deported to Sudan.

Hundreds of Sudanese refugees, many from the war-wracked Darfur region, have crossed the desert border from Egypt into Israel in recent years.

Last November, Egyptian border guards killed six illegal Sudanese migrants and arrested 26 others in Sinai Peninsula near Israel boarders.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

August 20, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese opposition official on Friday dismissed reports alleging that the Sudanese government had played active role in a mission to transport their leader, Riek Machar, outside South Sudan.

First Vice President Riek Machar greets SPLM-IO officials at Juba airport upon his arrival, April 26, 2016 (ST Photo)

The Kenyan Standard news website on Thursday reported that the Sudanese government had sent an aircraft to evacuate the former first vice president from a hideout in a remote town in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where he crossed into after 40 days in the bushes.

However, the SPLM-IO official who spoke to Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity said the report published by the Kenyan website was “unfounded.”

“Khartoum was not involved in the rescue operation, there was no any Sudanese airplane used as reported,” he said.

The opposition official however declined to comment on who carried out the rescue operation or whose aircraft was used to transfer Machar in to a safe location.

Reports alleged that Machar established contact with the UN peacekeeping force in the DRC for evacuation out of the vast Central African nation after talks with the Congolese military.

Citing an undisclosed official the Kenyan paper alleged that a large transport plane, more likely an Antonov, landed at Isiro with Sudanese military officials and commandos who received Machar from unnamed UN officials at the local airstrip.

Some reports indicated a top official from Khartoum's presidency was on the plane.

Machar was also reportedly sick and wounded in the leg and sought medical assistance. However the SPLM-IO official said the allegations were fabricated.

“”He is not sick or wounded, he is safe and healthy,” the official told Sudan Tribune.

“The allegations that he is sick and wounded are all false” he said adding “the rumours are created by the enemies for political propaganda purpose.”

Other reports said that extraction of Machar was solely a UN operation and Sudan had no role in it.

According to the reports Machar's rescue mission was personally authorized by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon.

Although it is not yet known exactly where in DRC Machar is relocated, opposition officials here in Addis Ababa however told Sudan Tribune that they want him to be relocated to Ethiopia where IGAD still recognizes him as the legitimate first vice-president of South Sudan.

Riek Machar has refused to return to South Sudan's capital Juba unless a regional force is deployed.

“Machar is not going back to Juba. This is the second murder attempt he has survived after the one in December 2013. Maybe they would get lucky the third time if he went back,” said a European official.

Machar fled the capital Juba, over a month ago following fierce fighting with government troops which led to attempts to kill him by forces loyal to President Salva Kiir.

(ST)

August 20, 2016 (LEER) - At least 10 soldiers were killed and several others injured after South Sudan's rival forces clashes in the southern part of Unity state, an official said.

The map of Unity state

The armed opposition spokesperson in Unity state, James Yoach Bideng, accused pro-government forces of launching offensives against their positions in Leer county.

Among those killed, he said, were seven government soldiers while three were from the armed opposition side.

“We repulsed the attack by government forces between Friday and Saturday in the northern part of Leer, but they suffered heavy casualties as they battled with our forces,” he said.

Over 450 herds of cattle, Bideng said, were stolen by government forces, allegations Sudan Tribune could not verify.

The official said opposition fighters recovered the stolen cows and returned them to the rightful owners on Saturday.

The southern part of oil-rich Unity state has experienced heavy fighting since last month when the armed opposition leader, Riek Machar's bodyguards clashed with forces allied to President Salva Kiir in the capital Juba, leaving 270 dead.

Machar fled Juba in July after his house was destroyed by government forces and vowed never to return unless an intervention force was put in place to restore peace and stability.

(ST)

August 21, 2016 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese government has urged the country's former first vice-president, Riek Machar to denounce violence and rebellion, before returning to the country's capital, Juba or else stay away from active politics.

Riek Machar sits in his field office in a rebel controlled territory in Jonglei State February 1, 2014. (Photo/Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

“If Riek Machar wants to come back to South Sudan, then he should denounce violence," information minister, Michael Makeui Lueth told the state-owned SSBC TV on Saturday.

The minister, also the government spokesperson, blamed the armed opposition leader for allegedly triggering the outbreak of fighting between the rival factions last month.

At least 270 soldiers were killed when forces loyal to President Salva Kiir clashed with those allied to Machar in the country's capital, before a ceasefire was declared days later.

"It is his [Machar's] coming here [Juba] which created this violence. So he should denounce violence so that we do not go back to war," said Makuei.

Machar fled Juba last month and is in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), sources say. Although regional bloc (IGAD) still recognised Machar as the legitimate first vice president, Makuei says that decision be made by the armed opposition members.

“The IGAD has no right to impose Riek Machar on the movement. When Riek Machar was elected, it was not IGAD that brought him to lead that movement called the SPLM IO, it is the people who elected him," said the minister.

A faction of the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO) in Juba nominated Taban Deng Gai, a former chief negotiator to replace Machar in July, but his appointment was described as "illegal" by Machar's supporters and regional leaders.

(ST)

August 19, 2016 (BOR) - 21 school going children were abducted in South Sudan's Jonglei state by suspected Murle tribesmen since the year began, an official said.

Jonglei Governor Philip Aguer speaking during children conference in Bor, August 19, 2016 (ST)

The state education minister, while presenting a report, said abduction and internal wars were key challenges that frequently place children in villages at risk.

“We have problem of child abduction, and this has been going on for many years. We, as the ministry of education, we are against that, because it makes children not to be in learning premises, they don't stay with the families and it traumatized the children. Families are missing their children for unknown reasons”, said Susan Aluong.

“And recently in Baidit payam, we lost two children to abductors. Because of this, the numbers may increase”, she added.

The education minister was speaking during a conference organised by Save the Children International, focusing on child rights, governance sector, with funding from Save the Children Norway. At least 120 children from four schools within Bor town as well as government officials attended it.

Those in attendance particularly urged the state government to observe children rights and allocate more money in the budget for children affairs and their well-being.

The right to education, life and protection were considered key during the conference.

Most of the children who graced the conference urged the state government to restore peace and stability in the country.

According to the state education minister, however, the ongoing conflict in the country has contributed to the limited learning spaces, while underpayment of teachers makes it difficult for them to deliver much needed services.

“This war has forced the communities to leave their villages, bomas, for town, causing congestions in the town schools. With rights to education, we have to increase teachers' salaries so that they teach children well,” said the minister.

“The salaries we are giving to the teachers is not really enough to cover the needs of the teachers due to economic crisis we are in now”, she further stressed.

Meanwhile Jonglei state governor, Philip Aguer said the number of abductions that occurred in his state this year was less when compared to what happened last year.

Aguer said he was optimistic concerned governments would stump out all forms of abductions.

“Child abduction is a bad criminal act and it is an act that can be eradicated. Because when you abduct the child, you subject the child to a different orientation. You will be taught how to hide, how to steal and how to do cattle raiding, these are subjecting you to be become an object. Children are human beings, they are not objects”, he said.

The governor further revealed that Jonglei state administration would meet the Boma state government in Gumuruk or Pibor next week to find out ways of halting abductions.

“We are communicating with authorities in Boma state. I am sure we will stop this child abduction. We will have a meeting in Gumuruk, with David Yauyau, and Baba Medan to discuss the issues of child abduction. Yauyau is a changed man after his rebellion and after the peace agreement. Yauyau is helping us to combat child abduction”, he said.

(ST)

August 20, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Talks between the government and the armed groups over cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access agreements in Sudan's Two Areas and Darfur will resume next September, said the Sudanese government on Saturday.

Last Sunday the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) suspended sine die the two tracks for the humanitarian truce after the failure of the parties to strike a deal over the two matters. from 9 to 14 August.

However, Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid who heads the negotiating team for the talks with the SPLM-N said on Saturday that the African Union decided the resumption of the peace talks within two weeks without further details.

Hamid who was addressing a briefing for local leaders from the Blue Nile and South Kordofan on the outcome of the last round of talks, further criticized the SPLM-N saying they only meant to obstruct because the "humanitarian assistance is not a valid reason to boycott the national dialogue process".

Hamid was referring to the SPLM-N demand to bring 20% percent of the humanitarian assistance to the affected areas directly from Ethiopia. The Sudanese delegation rejected the demand insisting all the aid should come via the government controlled areas.

The cessation of hostilities and the humanitarian assistance are part of the confidence building conditions before the participation of the armed and political opposition groups in the national dialogue inside Sudan to discuss constitutional reforms.

Hamid further said civilians in the Two Areas have suffered from war and related violence and it is time to end the armed conflict. He called on the SPLM-N to listen to the voice of reason and to sign a lasting peace agreement.

Opposition sources confirmed the resumption of the peace talks next month, adding that it may take place in mid-September because the Sudan Call groups have to meet before in Addis Ababa to coordinate positions.

On Monday; Hamid will hold another meeting with the leaders of political groups participating in the government sponsored national dialogue in Khartoum to brief them on the last round of talks with the holdout groups.

On 8 August, Sudanese Revolutionary factions and the National Umma Party signed the Roadmap Agreement, five months after its endorsement by the government.

In a statement issued last week, the mediation said an agreement on the Two Areas is only impeded by the difference over the humanitarian access. However it pointed to several obstacles preventing the signing of a deal on Darfur.

(ST)

August 21, 2016 (KHARTOUM/JUBA) - South Sudan's First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai has arrived in Khartoum on Sunday holding a special message from President Salva Kiir Mayardit to his Sudanese counterpart, Omer al-Bashir.

Gai's first visit to Sudan comes just weeks after he replaced former rebel leader Riek Machar as vice president after clashes in Juba left hundreds dead in July.
He was received at Khartoum airport by Sudan's First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Salih and a number of cabinet ministers.

According to the minister in South Sudan's office of the President, Mayiik Ayii, Gai is going to Sudan with a message of commitment of the government and personal commitment of President Salva Kiir “to establishing a very robust and productive relationship in the fields of diplomacy, economic trade and political ties between the two countries in pursuit of mutual interest”.

Ayii said other objective of the mission is to assure the Khartoum of the commitment of the government to implementing peace agreement and move forward.

For his part, Sudan's State Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamal al-Din Ismail said in press statements at Khartoum airport following the arrival of Gai, that the latter would discuss several bilateral and regional issues of common concern particularly with regard to the economic and security files besides the crisis in South Sudan.

He renewed Sudan's firm stance toward IGAD's resolutions to resolve South Sudan's crisis through negotiations and dialogue.

“We receive Taban in his capacity as Vice-President of South Sudan and would cooperate with him,” he said.

“We aren't the party who decides who should be the President or Vice-President of South [Sudan] because this is an internal affair that must be decided by the South. Our general stance is to deal with the events as they are and take into consideration that the government of the South is a legitimate one,” he added.

Responding to a question on the escape of Riek Machar to a neighboring country, Ismail said “it is clear that Machar was evacuated by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in cooperation with the United Nations”.

The Kenyan Standard news website on Thursday reported that the Sudanese government had sent an aircraft to evacuate the former first vice president from a hideout in a remote town in the DRC where he crossed into after 40 days in the bushes.

However, an SPLM-IO official told Sudan Tribune that the report published by the Kenyan website was “unfounded.”

“Khartoum was not involved in the rescue operation, there was no any Sudanese airplane used as reported,” he said.

Gai's visit to Sudanese capital, Khartoum, is the third official visit to neigbouring countries in his capacity as the First Vice President in place of armed opposition leader, Riek Machar.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan on July 9th 2011 following a referendum on whether the semi-autonomous region should remain a part of the country or become independent. 99% of the southern voters chose independence.

Relations between the two nations soured after South Sudan's independence following a series of disputes over a number of issues.

(ST)

August 21, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Trial of four Christian pastors including a Czech missionary accused of espionage, waging war against the state and inciting hatred against religious congregations has begun in Khartoum on Sunday amid strict security measures.

South Sudanese worshippers attend Sunday prayers in Baraka Parish church at Hajj Yusuf, on the outskirts of Khartoum, February 10, 2013 (Reuters)

Last December, Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) arrested Czech missionary and filmmaker Petr Jasek four days after he entered Sudan carrying two bags containing a laptop, a mobile phone, a video camera besides other documents.

Jasek reportedly told the NISS that he received the documents and the video from a colleague by the name of Grad Phelps in Soutn Kordofan in 2012.

According to Czech daily Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD), Jasek was arrested for documenting instances of Christian persecution within Sudan's borders.

“In the video, a man is seen describing how he got his burn wounds. While Jasek said the Christian man was violently attacked by Muslims, the man has denied such an incident. The man claimed the accused had just misinterpreted his words because he got the injuries from a car accident” the newspaper reports.

Three other Sudanese pastors were also arrested in connection with Jasek's case and they are facing similar charges.

The prosecutor told the judge at Khartoum North Court on Sunday that the complainant accused the defendants of conducting intelligence activities and providing material support for the rebels in South Kordofan.

He added the defendants also fabricated videos of incidents of claimed genocide, killing of civilians and burning of villages besides claims of persecution of Christians in Sudan.

The prosecutor pointed they seized documents and videos contained in the laptop, mobile phone and flash memory, saying the defendants sought to distort the image of the government by disseminating information that could be used to put international pressure on the country.

He said that charges have been filed against the defendants under articles of the Criminal Code and article (29) of the Passports and Immigration Law on sneaking into the country illegally besides article (23) of the Humanitarian and Voluntary Work Act pertaining to running a voluntary organization without registration.

For his part, Jasek denied his statements as presented in the indictment, saying the translation was not adequate.

Also, the second defendant denied his statements while the third and fourth defendants approved their statements as presented by the prosecutor.

A spokeswoman for the Czech Foreign Ministry had previously said they are working with the Sudanese authorities on the case but declined to release more details.

Last August, a Sudanese court acquitted two South Sudanese pastors who were charged with espionage and inciting tribal sentiments and ordered their immediate release after they spent seven month in detention.

(ST)

August 21, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudanese former First Vice President, Riek Machar, will speak to the media at an appropriate time, says his official spokesperson.

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar addresses a press conference in his private residence in Addis Ababa, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. (Photo AP/Mulugete Ayehe)

James Gatdet Dak, spokesman for the opposition leader, said Machar was regaining strength from exhaustion after walking for hundreds of kilometers for 40 days in the bushes from Juba, the South Sudanese capital, to the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“I understand many people are eager to hear his voice or see him talking to the media. This will happen soon. He is regaining strength from the exhaustion. He walked for 40 days, also dodging bombs dropped on him by President Salva Kiir's helicopter gunships. But he will speak to the media as soon as he feels stronger,” Dak told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

Dak was responding to circulated rumours on social that Machar might have been in critical situation in hospital in DR Congo or his leg wounded with gunshot. He said the allegations were false.

“No, none of these allegations is true. Only his legs slightly got swollen because of walking for 40 days. He was not wounded. It is obvious that walking for such a very long time would result to extreme exhaustion. However, he has regained strength and it is a matter few days he will appear to the media,” he added.

He also said the rest of the political and military leaderships of the opposition faction are with him are doing fine.

Machar, First Vice President, escaped from Juba when he was reportedly lured to the palace by his political rival, President Salva Kiir, was nearly got killed.

He fled the capital on 8 July when his bodyguards were attacked at the palace and his residence was also bombed. He hid in the bushes with his small number of troops amidst continued bombardments until he reached the Congolese border.

(ST)

August 21, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has approved Wau state governor Andrea Mayar Achor's move to form committee seeking peace talks with armed dissidents in the area in order to restore calm and stability within the region.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (AFP)

Achor, who met Kiir on Sunday, said the approval of his initiative was an important step in finding a solution to the political and security matters in the area.

“I will be returning to the state soon. I came for an official visit to the president and my meeting with him and the leadership has been successful. We discussed administrative matters and the role of the state governments in implementation of peace agreement,” said Achor.

He added, “We also came for guidance and other directives from the president and the entire leadership of the SPLM. My discussions with all the concerned institutions were successful. The president has approved dialogue with those who have taken up arms in the state. We know from them what their grievances are and how such issues can be addressed”.

According to the governor, several committees have been formed and have agreed to form a new and more inclusive body to guide the diverse and divided groups ahead the planned talks aimed at ending the unrest.

The formation of such a body was seen as a prerequisite for the peace talks, and appeared to fit the objective pulling together political dissidents who have long distrusted one another as well as armed youth fighting the South Sudanese army (SPLA).

(ST)

August 21, 2016 (BENTIU) – A number of senior military commanders, mainly from Guit, the home county of the newly appointed First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai, in Unity region, have defected to the South Sudanese army (SPLA) under the leadership of President Salva Kiir.

First Vice President, Riek Machar, accompanied by SPLA-IO officers, Juba, 27 May, 2016 (ST Photo)

Lt. Gen. Dor Manjuor, Gen. Liah Diu and Gen. Makal Kuol have confirmed to Sudan Tribune in separate satellite phone interviews that they are no longer supporting former first vice president Riek Machar, adding they are part of the group allied to new South Sudan first vice president Taban Deng Gai.

Although the three Generals were reported last month to have defected to Gai with their bodyguards, Gen. Liah denied that he defected to Gand told Sudan Tribune he did not support the new South Sudan first vice president.

But on Sunday Gen. Liah indeed told Sudan Tribune he is not any longer loyal to Machar, a move which contradicted his earlier last month's statement. Observers said he refused to declare his open support to Gai because he feared for his life in the location where he was as he was only with his bodyguards and could be attacked by Machar's loyalist forces in Guit area.

However, Gen. Manjuor, another army officer hailing from Gai's home town, declared his allegiance to Gai, and claimed he joined Gai group in support of President Kiir to defend the country.

“What I want to tell you the whole of Guit county is for peace. We support the peace under President Salva Kiir and his deputy Taban Deng Gai,” he said.

The declaration came as the SPLA Chief of General Staff, Paul Malong Awan flew to Guit county with some senior officers including SPLA spokesperson, Brigadier Gen. Lul Ruai Koang.

The group claimed they have defected from the SPLA-IO to President Kiir's SPLA with 11,000 troops currently allegedly stationed in Guit area, waiting for full integrations into the SPLA under the command of President Kiir.

However, Major Weirial Puok Baluang, press secretary for the opposition's appointed governor of Unity state, has dismissed as “propaganda” the alleged number of troops that defected to President Kiir for integration.

He said the three Generals only defected with the total of 80 soldiers, describing the claim as “white lies” from desperate people in need of cash money from the regime of Juba.

(ST)

August 21, 2016 (KHARTOUM). The Sudanese pound has hit another historic low against the US dollar on the black market, as the central Bank of Sudan struggles to supply dollars to buy imports

The US dollar has continued to decline against the Sudanese pound following a deal reached between Juba and Khartoum (Getty)

"The dollar exchange rate has registered a new record as the Sudanese pound declined to 15.6 per dollar" a black market trader told Sudan Tribune on Sunday.

Moutasim, a currency trader in Khartoum said that a dollar now coasts 15.6 pounds for small amounts and against 15.9 pounds for big amounts of dollar. He further said that Euro is selling for 17 pounds and Saudi Riyal is selling for 4.5 pounds.

The official exchange rate remains 6.25 pounds to the dollar, which is more than 100 % difference from the parallel market value.

The parallel market traders further noted that big dealers and companies control the exchange rate, saying offer and demand also influence exchange rate.

“We expect that Sudanese pound to continue dropping against foreign currencies after the collapse of peace talks in Addis Ababa last week,” he said.

Another trader who conditioned anonymity told Sudan Tribune that there is high demand for dollar by importing companies after new restrictions imposed by the Bank of Sudan against investors and importers.

On Thursday, Sudanese Trade Union has requested salaries increase pointing that the current wages do not cover 10% of living cost.

Prices of basic commodities went very high and some citizens said they were forced to take more than one job to meet their families' needs.

Sudanese pound dropped down after South Sudan seceded in 2011, taking with it three-quarters of the country's oil output, the main source of foreign currency used to support the Sudanese pound and to pay for food and other imports.

The Sudanese imports highly passes exports putting more pressure on the local currency exchange rate and causes drop against dollar.

The Sudanese pound has fallen against dollar since last April. Up to 19 July the dollar was selling for 14.1 e pounds, the Sterling was selling for 18 pounds and Saudi Riyal was selling for 3.7 pounds .

(ST)

August 21, 2016 (WAU) – The mayor of Wau town municipal council Akol Akol Ajith last week issued a local order warning butchers not to hike meat prices in the open market.

Butcher cutting a piece of meat while waiting for customers in Bor Marol Market, 27 April 2012 (ST)

In an interview with Sudan Tribune Sunday, Akol said the price of 1 kg of meat should be SSP 50 while beef without bones be at SSP 75 compared to SSP200.

“This is now a fixed price in Wau town per kilo of meat and anyone seen violating this order should be arrested for a period of one month in jail and will be fined 1000 SSP,” said Akol.

“This is now what am telling to Wau town citizens and those selling the meat, this is a law and all state security organs are saved with the copy,” he added.

Akol said the state trade union, butchers and councilors were served copies of the orders.

“Those selling the beef should abide by this order, failure to comply with these law, they should have a choice or either leave selling beef or accept the order,” he said.

On the health situation, Akol said the Cholera disease which was recently reported among the internally displaced persons at the protection of civilians sites in Juba.

“The UNICEF and other health organisation told me that after they tested over 1,000 people with Cholera they did not detect any single case,” said the Wau town mayor.

“We together with health organizations working in the state need to work hard to prevent its outbreak,” said Akol.

Akol urged Wau town residents to clean around their homes as part of a disease control measures.

“Let everybody clean around his or her home while the truck on municipal council is moving to collect the dumped garbage,” stressed Akol.

(ST).

August 21, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - "The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) did not back down and did not disappoint the people of Sudan, despite maliciousness and conspiracies against Sudan," said President Omer al-Bashir Sunday.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir addresses soldiers in the capital, Khartoum, on 16 March 2009 (Photo: Reuters)

Bashir was speaking at the celebrations to mark the 62th anniversary of the Sudanese army in Khartoum, two weeks after the failure of peace talks with the rebel groups in Blue Nile and South Kordofan and Darfur region.

In presence of Defence Minister Awad Ibn Ouf and Chief of General Staff, he further praised the role of the military to defend the country and appreciated their participation in regional operations.

Referring to the peace talks with the armed groups under the African Union mediation, however he expressed the government keenness to achieve peace through a negotiated solution.

"The government is keen to reach peace through negotiations as the best way to achieve stability in the country," he said.

Also, the president vowed to develop SAF the to "become the strongest and best army in the region".

SAF generals were opposed to a framework agreement signed by the then Presidential Assistant Nafei Ali Nafei in June 2011, one month after the start of the fighting in South Kordofan, because it provides that the SPLM-N fighters keep their arms until the conduct of a popular consultation.

The Sudanese army was established in 1925 following the a rebellion by the Sudanese elements in the colonial army. However it is proclaimed as the national army on 16 August 1955 after the evacuation of British army from Sudan ahead of the independence.

In a study released in 2011, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) estimates the number of the Sudanese troops at 109,300.

(ST)

August 22, 2016 (JUBA)- South Sudan government has pleaded with countries in the region and the global community to assist is financially to enable to it pay employees and avert a deterioration of humanitarian crisis in the wake of the recent outbreak of conflict.

South Sudan finance minister Stephen Dhieu Dau (Getty)

"Truth must be said. There is nothing in the treasury. The central bank is empty. It has no money. The little which comes from oil and the non-oil revenues goes for defense and security loans. This leaves nothing to pay employees”, a senior official at the ministry of finance told Sudan Tribune Monday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said prices of consumer goods and services have increased in the markets because traders from the region fled and others left the country following last month's fighting between rival forces in the capital, Juba.

This, he said, has forced president Salva Kiir and members of his government to dispatch high level delegation of Transitional Government of South Sudan led by First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai, to start with diplomatic engagement with countries in the region with the hopes the leadership of these countries will in turn sympathize with the government and provide them with financial support.

“The mission being undertaken by the first vice president Taban Deng Gai is to salvage the economic situation as the first priority and the purpose is to let the region know that peace is not dead. Because if peace dead, the international community and the region will not sympathize with the government on the current economic situation," said the official.

He added, "The message of the government and the SPLM—IO leadership under Taban Deng Gai is one, salvaging the economic situation by implementing key provisions of the peace agreement. Now the president has agreed in principle with Taban to expedite integration of SPLA-IO forces and to reopen oil wells in unity and other areas in Upper Nile”.

The third objective, he further explained, is for the leadership of the transitional government of national unity to speak with one voice to the donor community and international financial lending institutions and organisations to provide loans.

Last week, South Sudan's newly appointed first vice president visited Kenya and held talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta, during which he openly appealed to the Kenyan government to give his country a soft loan to help it deal with its current problems.

“We have been facing difficulties in delivering services to the people and we briefed President Kenyatta about the current economic difficulties the country is facing. We are experiencing severe inflation because of the civil war, poor oil production and the low oil prices, which have basically drained us as we are not making money. We asked Kenya for help so that our economy does not grind to a halt,” said Gai.

The first vice president, who made the remarks during a press conference at the Nairobi Intercontinental Hotel after a meeting with President Kenyatta, requested Kenya's support for implementation of the peace agreement by the Transitional Government with the current status. This implies exclusion in participation of the unity government of armed opposition and former first vice president Riek Machar.

In response, President Kenyatta reportedly asked Gai and his group to send their finance minister, their Central Bank Governor and agriculture minister to Nairobi with a clear proposal, including the amounts needed and the modalities for repayment.

"Kenya can then determine its level of commitment “cognizant of the fact that the country also has economic interests in South Sudan and cannot be aloof to the suffering of its people," said the Kenyan leader.

(ST)

August 21, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, has approved creation of up to 13 counties in the newly established Yei state after unilaterally expanding the number of administrative units to 28 from the constitutionally recognized 10 states.

Governor David Lokonga Moses speaks to the press in Yei May 31, 2016 (ST)

Governor of Yei River state, David Moses Lokonga, in fulfilment of a presidential directive permitting creation of more administrative units in the area, issued a gubernatorial order establishing 13 counties.

The order divided up the former four counties and increased their number to 13.

Kajo-Keji county in the new arrangement is divided into two counties with one county called Nyepo and another retaining the name of Kajo-Keji with its administrative headquarters in Kajo-keji town.

The decree retained Lainya county with administrative headquarters in Lainya; Yei county with headquarters in Yei. The rest of the counties include Kupera, Morobo, Lujulo, Tore, Otogo, Liwolo, Kangapo, Mukaya and Mugwo.

Consultations with the communities to nominate the names of the people they would like to be appointed as the new commissioners are underway.

Yei River state is located south of the national capital, Juba.

(ST)

August 22, 2016 (JUBA) – More than 100 soldiers on both sides of South Sudanese rival armies have been killed over the weekend following renewed fighting in Jonglei state, local officials said.

Jonglei state governor, Phillip Aguer speaks during the independence occassion July 9, 2016 (ST)

Jonglei State Governor, Philip Aguer Panyang, said suspected SPLA in Opposition (SPLA-IO) forces of White Army on Saturday attacked Pajut, headquarters of an administrative unit in Duk county at dawn but were repulsed.

“The Sudan People's Liberation Army in opposition [SPLA-IO] lost 101 white army soldiers along the trenches and many bodies [are] still being collected in the bushes where the SPLA had flanked them after they sneaked into Pajut military fence,” said Aguer, a former spokesman of SPLA before being appointed a governor in December 2015.

SPLA Spokesman, Brig. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, confirmed the attack on Pajut on Saturday evening but declined to provide details.

Pajut is main SPLA barrack bordering Uror county, a stronghold of the armed SPLM-IO under the leadership of former First Vice President, Riek Machar. This is the first fighting reported in the area since the peace agreement was signed in August last year between the armies loyal to President Salva Kiir and former First Vice President, Machar.

The fighting erupted six weeks after the violence occurred in the capital, Juba, on 8 July between forces loyal to President Kiir and those loyal to First Vice President, Machar.

Aguer said 20 government soldiers were also killed over the weekend in the fighting which took place in the north-eastern county of Jonglei state.

(ST)

August 22, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir on Monday has discussed with South Sudan's First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai the outstanding issues between the two countries besides the ongoing crisis in the newborn nation.

Gai arrived in Khartoum on Sunday holding a special message from President Salva Kiir Mayardit to al-Bashir.

In a press conference following his meeting with al-Bashir, Gai said the latter has instructed the concerned bodies to provide urgent assistance to South Sudan including food rations.

He added they wouldn't wait for the border crossings to be opened, saying the trucks would carry the assistance from Khartoum to the Unity state, Awel, Bahr el-Ghazal and Al-Renk in South Sudan.

Gai didn't rule out that the outstanding security issues between Juba and Khartoum would be settled within three weeks, directing his defence minister to immediately implement instructions of the top leadership in both countries to resolve the security issues.

In September 2012, both Sudan and South Sudan signed a series of cooperation agreements, which covered oil, citizenship rights, security issues, banking, border trade among others.

In March 2013, the two countries signed an implementation matrix for these cooperation agreements. However, the execution of the agreements didn't go according to the plan.

Last June, the Joint Political and Security Committee (JPSC) between the two countries signed a series of security agreements, including immediate re-deployment of joint military forces along the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ), and approved a plan to stop supporting and harbouring rebels as well as opening the crossings points.

Gai pointed that his visit to Khartoum comes within the framework of the dialogue among the members of the same family in order to achieve comprehensive peace between the two nations, saying he handed over al-Bashir a message from Kiir inviting him to visit Juba.

Gai added that his government wouldn't allow Sudanese rebels to work within South Sudan's territory to threaten Sudan's security, stressing his country wouldn't serve as a launching pad for that any Sudanese who wants to continue the war against Khartoum.

“We hope that Sudan wouldn't serve as a launching pad for Machar,” he added.

The South Sudanese official called on the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) to obey the call to peace, stressing his country would support peace efforts in the greater Sudan.

“Stability of the greater Sudan would lead to stability in the region and stability of the two countries would lead to stability in the region and the area,” he said.

He underscored that the situation in Juba and the Upper Nile, Bahr el-Ghazal and Western Equatoria is stable following the escape of the Machar to Kongo, denying existence of Ugandan troops in South Sudan except those pursuing the Lord Resistance Armay (LRA).

Gai's first visit to Sudan comes just weeks after he replaced former rebel leader Riek Machar as vice president after clashes in Juba left hundreds dead in July.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan on July 9th 2011 following a referendum on whether the semi-autonomous region should remain a part of the country or become independent. 99% of the southern voters chose independence.

Relations between the two nations soured after South Sudan's independence following a series of disputes over a number of issues.

(ST)

August 22, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - A 17-years old Sudanese member of the Islamic State (ISIS) group in Libya has been killed in Sirte, Sudan Tribune has learnt.

ISIS fighters in Derna, eastern Libya (Photo Reuters)

Family of Nizar Shams el-Din Fadl al-Mawla on Monday has set up a mourning tent to receive condolences at their house in Khartoum's eastern suburb of Arkawit.

A family member told Sudan Tribune that the parents of the young Jihadist have learnt news of his death from an anonymous caller, saying they have not received any details about how he was killed.

He pointed that the young Jihadist, who is a ninth grade student, was deceived by some and travelled to Libya for Da'wah (preaching of Islam) but found himself among ISIS fighters.

Social media have circulated photo of the young Jihadist with some Tweets saying that he joined ISIS since he was 15-years old while others said he was likely killed by ISIS because he decided to return to Sudan and abandon the extremist group.

Last month, an expert on Islamic Jihadist groups told Sudan Tribune that despite the increase in the number of Sudanese Jihadists joining ISIS-Libya; the group has lost over 20 Sudanese Jihadist, whom were killed in several places in Libya from June 2015 to June 2016.

The expert further stressed that several Sudanese Jihadists were killed in Sirte including al-Nur Musa nicknamed Abu- Maz al-Muthana who blow himself in the middle of (Libya Dawn) forces in Darna district.

Also, earlier this month Qusai al-Jaili , who is believed to be the mastermind behind the escape of killers of a U.S. diplomat in Khartoum, died in mysterious circumstances in Libya amid conflicting reports on whether he was killed in military clashes or passed a way of natural causes.

(ST)