September 6, 2017 (JUBA) - The Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ), on Wednesday urged South Sudan government to accept renewal of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) mandate.

UNMISS troops from India patrol the perimeters of a compound in South Sudan's capital, Juba (AP)

The call comes a day after South Sudan's cabinet affairs minister said they would not accept any unilateral decision to renew the mandate of UNMISS without seeking its prior consent and approval.

But CPJ's Coordinator, Tito Anthony said there are factors that contribute to the unilateral renewal of the UN mandate that the South Sudanese government needed to know and acknowledge.

"The fact that three thousand of civilians who feel unsafe without UNMISS protection is the most factor that can and will contribute to the unilateral renewal of UNMISS mandate", Tito said in a statement.

He said South Sudan government should negotiate peace with the armed opposition [SPLM/A- IO], National Democratic Movement [NDM], National Salvation Front [NAS] and other non-armed opposition movements to achieve sustainable peace to allow all citizens resume normal lives as UNMISS focuses on development.

"I call on the government to reach a possible solution rather than pointing finger at United Nations,” stressed Tito.

Last week, South Sudan's information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth was quoted saying the government would review the mandate of the UN in the country. The government spokesman, also, accused the UN of causing situations so that their mandates can be renewed.

“We are talking of revisiting the mandate because once the UN comes to your country, they will never write one day that this country is at peace we [the UN] are going away. They will continue all the time to write there is insecurity so that they continue to stay,” Lueth told reporters at a news conference in Juba last week.

“With the end of the mandate of the UN at the end of December, the government of South Sudan must be consulted before they talk of renewing anything. This idea of automatic renewal without the involvement of the government of South Sudan is not acceptable and will not happen,” he added.

The minister further said the mandate of the Regional Protection Force (RPF) needed to be reviewed because they were supposed to be deployed at a time when South Sudan rebel forces were in Juba.

“They [UN] do admit that Juba is at peace. If Juba is at peace then we need to revisit the mandate of the RPF and this is what we will do. We will have to revisit the mandate of the RPF… if they have come to assist the people and the government of South Sudan then we will have to revisit their mandate so that they render a better service to the people of South Sudan,” stressed the information minister.

The UN recently started the deployment of the 4000 peacekeepers tasked to protect civilians and aid workers in Juba. The initial force will be deployed into other areas.

The four-year conflict has fractured South Sudan along ethnic lines. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than two million displaced due to the ongoing conflict.

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September 6, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has begun a series of consultations to reorganise all government media organs and replace their managers within the framework of preparation for the general elections in 2020.

Sudan TV logo

Informed sources told Sudan Tribune that the NCP media sector began to mull over possible restructuring scenarios of the state media organs, including Sudan TV, National Radio, Sudan News Agency (SUNA) Al-Shorooq TV and Al-Rai Al-Am daily newspaper.

The changes would include the directors of the media bodies and their boards of directors. Also, it intends to inject new blood in the different services of the media sector within the ruling party, such as the Press Service and the Electronic Publishing Service.

The sources told Sudan Tribune that the National Congress Party has already begun consultations to choose new leaders for these organs and now examining several nominations.

" President Omer al-Bashir and his first deputy, Bakri Hassan Saleh, more than once expressed the displeasure of the state leadership over the performance of the government media organisation," stressed the sources.

"Media in the past period failed to promote major reforms such as the (political) reform and the collection of weapons" he further said.

Sudan TV recently faced several difficulties to the extent that it failed to broadcast the main news programme, and the inability to pay the salaries of staff.

He pointed to the rise of conflicts within the employees of government media institutions, which reflected negatively on their performance, and the emergence of "divergences" on the media role between the National Congress Party and the Islamic Movement.

The sources pointed out that internal conflicts and the absence of a "central vision" in the government controlled media led to the establishment of alternative media organisations such as Radio Bladi which is supported by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), adding that the latter has the intention to establish TV channels and newspapers.

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September 6, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan's First Vice President Taban Deng Gai has questioned the decision of the United Nations mission in the country to deploy at the airport, saying the nation was not a failed state for its key infrastructure and installations to be taken over.

South Sudan's first Vice President Taban Deng Gai addresses the UN General Assembly (UN Photo/Cia Pak)

Gai told the state owned television (SSBC) that government has no problem with the UN presence in the country, but the mandate has to be clear and acceptable to the people as well as government.

“We don't have problem with the protection of civilians for example, we don't have problem with the protection of the human UN relief agents for example, but what about the airport why do you take the airport? The airport is functioning well,” said Gai.

“South Sudan is not a failed so why take over the airport”? he asked.

The senior South Sudanese official said they would not accept unilateral actions and decisions taken without seeking their views and approval from the United Nations and other organizations.

“We will not accept and we will say it here that look that we are a member state and we should be treated like any member state. The member states of the United Nations are equal. There should not be special treatment to others. We are all equal members,” he said.

Gai, a former rebel chief negotiator during the peace talks between the government and armed opposition appealed for aid, saying South Sudan was looking for support to build and foster democracy.

“We are coming here to appeal to them that look it is time to help us building the country, stand with the leadership because it is only two and half years or three years where we shall have elections then people elect their leaders,” he said.

“By nature, we are democratic people. We are liberal people. We are not people who build dictators. That why we rose against dictatorship in Khartoum,” he explained.

He said the 17,000 troops of the UN in the country as authorized by the 15-member Security Council are “doing nothing” in the country.

“As I am talking to you, we already have 13000 UN troops in South Sudan which are sitting idle, they are not doing anything because they have problem with their mandate. And their problem is also threatening them how they were selected, objective for what. So they hurried with the numbers adding more 4000 to be 17000 to be in a small country like South Sudan”, Gai further told SSBC television.

The South Sudanese First Vice President is scheduled to visit and address the UN General assembly in New York later this month.

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September 06, 2017 (WAU) – At least 203 new police officers have completed the multiple basic training they undertook since last year.

The officers were trained in aspects like basic human rights issues.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Wau state governor Andrea Mayar Acho said the new forces will help curb rising crimes.

“You new graduates belong to Wau municipality, I have been saying these on many occasions. I will assign you in Wau municipality, I don't want thieves to take women's wallets, beds, doors or remove iron sheets and everything. These things should stop, my mission is to maintain security in the state,” he said.

The governor, during the occasion, urged the police to assist the state in providing maximum security protection to citizens in Wau.

“This is a big responsibility the president has given to me because, without security, you cannot make development, without security, you cannot do anything, so this required a human being to be secure with his life and all his properties and what belong to him should be secure, if the government is not providing these, what is the need of the governor in the state, there will be no,” he stressed.

The new officers, Sudan Tribune understands, will be deployed in all the eight counties within the state for effective security provision.

On her part, however, Wau state police commissioner, Chol Thuic urged the officers to apply their working skills during their duties.

“The police have its important laws, if these laws are applied by you who are in front of us, if they are not applied and implemented, there should be nothing could go ahead and if they are applied, everything will go right,” said Thuic.

He added, “You have to do your right things, if a civilian is crying and calling you police, police, whether you were doing what, you have to leave it and respond to this civilian what is facing him, your responsibility is protecting the civilian's lives and their properties”.

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September 6, 2017 (NYALA) - The government of South Darfur has set up a high-level body to work alongside the state health ministry's emergency committee to tackle the "Acute Watery Diarrhoea" (AWD) that has hit large parts of the state.

Sudanese health authorities refuse to declare a suspected outbreak of cholera an epidemic despite the death of 657 people and infection of 30762 others since August 2016 when it appeared in the Blue Nile state.

They insist that the disease is the Acute Watery Diarrhoea.

The formation of the new committee comes in response to the increase of AWD cases in more than six localities of South Darfur state as health authorities have been unable to handle the disease among calls for intervention by the federal ministry of health.

Dozens of people were killed, especially in the localities of Sharq Jabel Marra, Ed al-Fursan, Katyla, Kass, and Bielel, as well as a number of neighbourhoods in Nyala.

An official source told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday that the South Darfur Ministry of Health recalled employees on annual leaves and ordered them to resume their work immediately until the containment of the disease.

For his part, South Darfur Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Jamal Youssef said they equipped more than 23 cars to participate in the cleaning campaign, with national and foreign organizations, while the security services supported the chlorination of water sources by dozens of cars.

In a joint report released last August, the Sudanese ministry of health and the World Health Organization (WHO) project additional 36,000 to 40,000 AWD cases over the next six to nine months.

(ST)

September 7, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's President Omer al-Bashir unexpectedly cancelled a planned visit to Kazakhstan on Saturday to attend the first summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on science and technology.

Earlier on Thursday, Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters that President al-Bashir will travel to Kazakhstan's capital, Astana for the two-day Islamic meeting on 10-11- September.

He added that he will meet with the Kazakh leadership to discuss a number of bilateral issues between the two countries, especially in the field of economic cooperation.

However, late on Thursday, the Sudanese presidency announced that communication minister Mrs Tahani Abdallah will lead Sudan's delegation to Astana representing al-Bashir.

Officials at the presidency explained to Sudan Tribune that the last-minute change was decided due to the lower-level of heads of delegations representing the countries participating in the summit.

On 31 August, the International Criminal Court (ICC) sent a request to the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is not a state member, calling for cooperation in the arrest and surrender of the Sudanese president who is wanted by the war crimes court.

The ICC issued two arrest warrants against al-Bashir in 2009 and 2010 for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Darfur.

More than 20 Arab and Islamic countries will participate in the summit which will discuss scientific and technical issues and strategies for the next 10 years.

The meeting is expected to confirm the inclusion of strategies endorsed by the conference in their national policies and development plans.

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September 7, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has vowed to undertake radical economic reforms to end the country's current economic crisis and improve the living condition of the conflict-affected people.

President Kiir, according to a statement read for him by James Wani Igga, and aired by the state owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday said he was aware of the worsening economic hardship and the difficult living conditions people are facing.

The government, he said, was working hard to find possible answers to the situation.

“My message to you, the citizens, I know you are suffering and because of your resilience your government and the leaders are working way to stop this senseless and take strong measures to reform the economy, said President Kiir is a televised statement delivered on his behalf by the Vice President Wani.

The presidential message which was read during a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce vowed to reform South Sudan's trade policies to help address some of the economic challenges.

Kiir acknowledged the other challenges his administration was facing, including political instability and the high crime rates in the capital Juba.

South Sudan devalued its currency in 2015, on the advice of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), pushing the economy of the country dependent on oil exports to a difficult situation.

The civil war pitting government soldiers and armed opposition fighters led by the former First Vice President Riek Machar have added a huge pressure on the economy of the young nation.

The new nation has been at war since December 2013, just two years after the attainment of independence, which came after decades of conflict with Khartoum. Oil, which was expected to be South Sudan's main revenue stream, has failed to bring the desperately-sought development.

The continuing civil strife has all but stopped production in Unity State, one of the country's two oil areas. Thousands of South Sudanese have fled the violence at home, while equally large numbers have been displaced internally.

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September 7, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan government said it regrets the United States decision to impose sanctions on a cabinet minister, a serving army general and former chief of army staff, accusing them of blocking the peace process and benefiting the civil war.

South Sudan's foreign affairs spokesperson, Mawien Makol (Photo: Citizen News)

In a statement issued on Thursday, the foreign affairs spokesman, Mawien Makol said the US imposed sanctions were “unfortunate and unhelpful”.

“What we need from the international community is moral and financial support, not sanctions”, he told reporters in Juba, adding that sanctions undermine efforts to a lasting solution to the conflict.

The U.S government on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two serving South Sudanese officials and the former military chief of staff, accusing them of fueling and profiting from the country's civil war.

The U.S Treasury Department in said a statement on website that it had blacklisted Malek Reuben Riak Rengu, deputy chief of defense for logistics in the SPLA; Paul Malong, former army chief who was dismissed in May; and Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth.

The measures freeze any assets in the U.S or tied to the U.S financial system belonging to the three men. The U.S Treasury said Riak was central to weapons procurement during the first few years of the conflict and helped plan an offensive in Unity State in April 2015.

It also accused him of issuing military contracts at inflated prices “in order to receive extensive kickbacks. The U.S. Treasury blacklisted All Energy Investments, A+ Engineering, Electronics & Media Printing and Mak International Services which it said was owned or controlled by Malek. The Treasury said former chief of staff Malong “did not discourage” the killing of civilians around the town of Wau last year.

The US Treasury further accused the South Sudanese information minister of attacks against the U.N mission in South Sudan and obstructing peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in the country.

In July 2015, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on six South Sudanese generals accused of fuelling conflict in the world's youngest nation. The generals, three from each side of the conflict, were meant to face global travel bans and asset freezes.

In November 2016, the US demanded the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on the then SPLA chief of staff Paul Malong and Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth for hampering the peace process in South Sudan.

The ex-First Vice President and rebel leader Riek Machar was also on the proposed list.

South Sudan's civil war, now in its four-year, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than two million people since it broke out in mid-December 2013.

(ST)

September 7, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has sacked the head of the state-owned oil company (Nilepet), James Thelweng and replaced him with a new managing director.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (AFP)

The president, in a decree read on the state-owned television (SSBC), removed Thelweng Mathiang and replaced with Chol Deng Thon.

Although no reasons were given for the president's decision, the changes follow the scarcity of fuel in the country amid rising prices.

A holder of a master's degree in Banking and Finance from an Australian University, the former Nilepet boss previously served as relations manager of the CFC Stanbic Bank.

Nilepet is a company managed by the government with a mandate to oversee oil exploration, production and marketing in South Sudan.

Since its independence, South Sudan has relied on oil for all income, a situation that has significantly compounded ongoing political and economic instability due to the fall in crude oil prices.

(ST)

September 7, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour and the visiting Norway's Special Envoy to South Sudan and Sudan, Erling Skojonsberg Thursday discussed the ongoing regional efforts to end the four-year crisis in South Sudan.

"The meeting dealt with the issues of peace in South Sudan, especially the role of Sudan through the IGAD gate to bring peace to the (neighbouring country), said a statement released by the foreign ministry spokesperson.

With the USA and UK, the Norway is part of the Troika countries that support the regional efforts to bring peace in South Sudan.

Ways to stop hostilities and to recommit the warring parties in South Sudan to the signed ceasefire agreement remain the joint goal of the IGAD and the Troika countries.

Last May, Skojonsberg announced that Oslo would host a meeting for the government and the opposition groups for a reconciliation conference. But for an unknown reason, the meeting was cancelled.

The statement further said the meeting tackled the lift of U.S. sanctions on Sudan and the government efforts to achieve peace in Sudan, including Khartoum's readiness to resume negotiations with the SPLM-N in line with the Roadmap agreement brokered by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel.

Last June, Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour discussed the permanent revocation of the economic embargo on Sudan in Oslo with the representative of the Office of the U.S. Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Paul Steven and the Norwegian Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Erling Skojonsberg.

The situation in South Sudan was also among the issues discussed at the tripartite meeting.

Thursday discussed bilateral relations between Oslo and Khartoum as the Norway pledged since long years ago to support Sudanese efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to write off its foreign debt.

(ST)

September 7, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour denied reports about the closure of the border with three neighbouring countries within the framework of weapons collection campaign in the western Sudan region of Darfur.

Fighters from the Rapid Support Forces sit in an armed vehicle in Nyala, south Darfur, displaying weapons they say they captured from the Justice and Equality Movement rebels on May 13, 2015 (AFP Photo/Ashraf Shazly)

Several newspapers reported Wednesday statements attributed to Vice President Hassabo Abdel Rahman saying that the government had decided to close borders with South Sudan, Chad and Libya to prevent attempts to smuggle weapons and four-wheel drive vehicles to these countries after the launch of a disarmament campaign in Darfur.

"Sudan's borders have not been closed with any neighbouring country," Ghandour said in statements to the official news agency SUNA on Thursday.

"What has been decided is to tighten control of border-crossing points through which can be smuggled weapons, drugs or human beings as well as criminal elements," he further stressed.

The minister further pointed that his country has joint (border monitoring) forces with the Chad "which carries out its functions with high efficiency," and agreements of security cooperation with other neighbouring countries.

The Sudanese authorities called on the civilians in Darfur region to hand over their weapons voluntarily, warning they will conduct a house-to-house search for weapons in the next stage.

The campaign faces resistance from the Arab Mahameed tribe that refuse to merge their Border Guards Forces with the Rapid Support Forces. Also, other tribes point to the government militiamen, saying the disarmament will concentrate arms in the hands of Arab tribes.

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September 7, 2017 (RUMBEK) – At least seven people were killed and eight others wounded when a group of armed youth attacked a police post in Rumbek, South Sudan's Western Lakes state capital.

Map detail showing South Sudan's Lakes state in red

An officer attached to the state governor's office was reportedly injured during the exchange of gunfire between the youth and security officials.

“There were seven people killed and eight people sustained gunshot wounds and among those wounded is the officer in charge of the governor's bodyguard unit called Monydit Manyiel Cindut,” a police officer, who preferred anonymity, disclosed.

He added, “The armed youth overran the police post briefly”.

The state information minister, Shadrack Bol Machok, said the attacks happened when armed pastoralists raided cows inside Rumbek town and drove toward Chueicok, prompting security forces to respond before being attacked by the youth.

The people of Western Lakes state have, in recent months, shown resistance Governor Matur Chut Dhuol over his working methods.

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September 7, 2017 (YAMBIO) – The body of a World Vision employee, who had gone missing for days, was on Thursday discovered in Yambio town.

The map of Western Equatoria in red

The deceased, Kuboyo Thomas, was last seen at Green beach entertainment center in town last Sunday.

A criminal investigation department officer said they received reports from the deceased family member that he disappeared since Sunday evening and his whereabouts remained unknown.

“But today [Thursday] his body was found dead in Uze in the outskirt of Yambio town to the south west of Yambio town behind Gbudue stadium,” the officer, who preferred anonymity, told Sudan Tribune.

While at World Vision, Kumboyo mostly worked in Makpandu refugees camp located about 40 kilometers from Yambio town.

The deceased, multiple eyewitnesses disclosed, was in the company of his girlfriend at Green beach before he disappeared from home.

Efforts to get comments from government and security officials were futile.

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September 7, 2017 ( KAMPALA) – The International Youth for Africa (IYA), a non-governmental entity, has called on the United States government to reconsider the recent sanctions it imposed on South Sudanese officials as a mechanism to end the conflict in the East African nation.

Donald Trump (John Minchillo/AP Photo)

IYA's executive director, Ter Manyang Gatwech, said the sanctions on these individuals will not stop the on-going war from escalating.

“Sanctions on individuals will create less impact in South Sudan. If it is individuals' sanctions, let the US government consider sanctioning the East African countries because South Sudanese generals and officials have assistance to provide to their nations,” said Gatwech.

The US administration has imposed sanctions on two senior members of South Sudan government, including the former army chief of staff.

The sanctions, the US Treasury Department said, involves freezing all assets belonging to those South Sudanese officials implicated.

Gatwech, however, said the sanctions imposed will never improve the conflict situation in the war-torn nation, where tens thousands of people have been killed and over two million displaced from homes.

In July 2015, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on six South Sudanese generals accused of fuelling conflict in the world's youngest nation. The generals, three from each side of the conflict, were meant to face global travel bans and asset freezes.

In November 2016, the United States demanded the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on the then SPLA chief of staff Paul Malong and Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth for hampering the peace process in South Sudan. The former First Vice President and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar was also on the proposed list.

South Sudan's civil war, now in its four-year, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than two million people.

(ST)

By Lucy Ayak Malek (wife of Gen. Paul Malong)

On the 02nd of September, a fire that gutted a girls' dormitory at Moi High School, claiming the lives of 10 students with many others critically injured, was another test and touching trial for my family. I had two students in this school, a 14-year-old, and a 16-year-old. My 14-year-old survived the fire with minor injuries, thanks to her brave late elder sister who managed to push her through the window before she was caught up when she ran back to save her friend. As my 14-year-old recovers in hospital, her elder sister is still unaccounted for and thought to be among the 10 who burnt in the fire. That unstoppably welled our cheeks with tears and engulfed us with unfathomable grieves because as a tradition, in death, a little relief comes from the ability to identify and bury the remains of our loved ones. My late daughter (Alakir Malong) was a very cheerful, kind and humble girl who had a bright future. The Parents of the missing children have been asked to provide DNA samples to help identify the remains of their loved ones who died in that sad tragedy.

Sadly, my husband Gen. Paul Malong has not been permitted by South Sudan's government to provide a DNA sample to help identify his daughter, leave alone that he is socially required to mourn and console with his family. When the news of the fire broke out, we were all struck heavily, but more devastation came with the reports that our daughter may be one of the victims since she was reported missing. This grief was compounded more on the morning of 6/9/2017 when I called my husband to inquire whether he will be permitted to come and give a DNA sample to identify his deceased daughter and he sadly told me that President Kiir (well knowing our current predicament) has declined to let him come and help to identify his deceased daughter's remains and arrange for her burial.

Traditionally as Africans, life and death mean a lot and that is why the tragedy of death brings people together with none ready to mock the other because of power or whatsoever. Unfortunately, the leadership in Juba seems to have lost this basic social element of our tradition and humanity to the extent that they deny Gen. Malong the chance to mourn and bury his daughter. In nutshell, it is really tantamount and can be considered the lowest level of thinking even if one lacks compassion and sympathy in such a tragedy and trial. My question is, have the powers around J1 become so rigid that they have lost that basic social element?

When I first published an appeal for my husband's release on grounds of his health, the response from the President's spokesman was a plain denial that Gen. Malong was not under house arrest. He openly lied that Malong is free to move as he wishes. In the thinking of Mr Ateny (president Kirr's spokesman), Gen. Malong has simply chosen not to go for medical treatment even when he is not in a good health. Now, I presume they will claim that he has chosen not to provide a DNA sample to identify his daughter's remains and equally chosen not to mourn with his family.

I call upon President Kiir, and his handlers to reconsider and show some humanity. If you would not let my husband out of detention, then at least allow him to come and provide a DNA sample to help in identifying his daughter's body. There is no threat in that and denying him that is just being unemphatic. And if the government reaches such proportion of being too inhumane, then everyone should be scared. Because if they can do that to Gen. Malong if they can refuse to let him get his daughter's body and bury the remains because of the “fear of the unknown,” what about the lives of other citizens whose names are unknown to president Kiir, will anything matter to J1?

While Gen. Malong and others are being persecuted without any charge, those in the corridors of power who stay silent in the face of this grievous and engraving injustice should be on notice. Because your silence gives credence and a node to the unlawful actions in J1, you are just preparing the ground for yourselves to suffer the same fate, tomorrow or the next day. Remember the words of Martin Luther King Junior when he said, “our lives just stop the same moment we chose to be silent about the things that matter to us.”

My late Alakiir Malong, May your soul rest in Peace!

September 7, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The National Council for Press and Publications (NCPP) in Sudan Thursday suspended "Akhir-lahza" newspaper for three days, while the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) reminded newspapers the ban on interviews with rebel leaders.

Editor In Chief of Akhir-lahza Abdel-Azim Saleh told Sudan Tribune he appeared Thursday before the NCPP's Complaints Committee, a governmental body, to respond to a complaint lodged by the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Saleh said the minister accused one of their columnists Abdallah al-Sheikh of insulting the Government of Sudan in an article in which he demanded the government to pay compensation for victims of al Qaeda's deadly 2000 bombing of the USS Cole.

A U.S. federal court in Washington in 2012 issued a default judgment which awarded US$314.7 million to 15 sailors and three spouses.

Sudan and the United States asked the court to reconsider the ruling which could interfere with international treaties. But the judges refused. The money must, therefore, be released.

The three-day ban will be effective on Friday and will continue until Sunday.

Akhir-lahza newspaper is owned by Hajj Atta al-Manan, a known Sudanese Islamist.

Saleh defended the incriminated article stating it deals with a public opinion issue without causing any abuse to any party. He added it would be more useful to prosecute the press before the judiciary.

He further said the NISS confiscated the newspaper because of the same article, at the same time there a judicial complaint has been filed under the Criminal Code.

INTERVIEW WITH REBEL LEADERS

In a separate development, the NISS issued a directive to the editors in chief of the local newspapers reminding them that the ban on publishing any interview or statements by the leaders of the armed groups is still in force.

The directive comes after the publication of an interview with Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, the leader of a Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North (SPLM-N) group by Al-Tayyar newspaper on Thursday.

On Thursday morning, the NISS summoned the editor-in-chief of Al-Tayyar, Bahaa al-Din Issa, who was interrogated about the interview during three hours.

(ST)

September 8, 2017 (JUBA) - A South Sudanese rebel has rejected a presidential offer of amnesty, questioning the credibility of the order and describing it a strategy to delay suffering of the people.

Lt. Gen. Thomas Cirino Swaka, the ex-SPLA deputy chief of general staff for training (youtube photo)

Thomas Cirilo, who switched side early this year and formed a separate rebel group operating on a parallel side to the main armed opposition faction of the SPLM-IO under the leadership of the former Frist Vice President Riek Machar told Sudan Tribune on Friday he learnt from the media the amnesty extended to him by the president.

“I did not have any discussion with anybody from the government before. I learned that they decided to extend me amnesty in the media. I don't know in which context," Cirilo said.

"Instead of me extending my amnesty, Salva Kiir should be the one to seek amnesty from the suffering people of South Sudan for all crimes he and his associates have committed before and the after the break out the war,” he added.

Cirilo said the unbearable human suffering in the country was a creation of Salva Kiir and his government. This situation, he adds, can never be settled just by granting amnesty to individuals.

Swaka, who now heads the National Salvation Front (NAS), quit the military, accusing its leadership of running the army on ethnic lines.

Last August, South Sudan released at least 30 political prisoners following an amnesty President Kiir had declared in May to facilitate the national dialogue initiative created to reconcile warring parties.

(ST)

September 8, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country is keen to engage in joint investment projects with Sudan pointing that Moscow's policy towards Khartoum is based on respect for the Sudanese sovereignty.

On Friday, Lavrov met with the deputy chairman of the higher committee for Sudan relations with China, India and Russia, Awad Ahmed Al-Jaz in Moscow.

Following the meeting, Russia's news agency TASS quoted Lavrov as saying “we are interested in promoting the overall economic and trade relations [with Sudan] and implementing mutually beneficial projects”.

He added that Russia continued to urge the international community to deal justly with the Sudanese issues, saying we managed to reach an international agenda towards Sudan that is based on the on the established principles of the international law, the principle of respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of the country.

For his part, Al-Jaz said the continuation of contacts between Russia and Sudan is in the interest of both countries and peoples.

He thanked Russia for its continued support to Sudan in the international forums, saying they seek to make the Sudanese-Russian relations as a model for ties among the various nations.

In October 2016, Sudan's Foreign Ministry said al-Bashir would pay a visit to Moscow by the end of 2016, but the visit didn't take place.

Also, last July Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said al-Bashir “will pay an important visit to the Russian Federation in the second half of August at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in order to strengthen bilateral relations between the two friendly countries at all levels”.

However, the visit was delayed again and no explanation has been made for the postponement of the visit.

Politically, Russia is seen as a major ally of the Sudanese government that faces isolation from the West.

However, economic cooperation between the two countries has remained very low, with a trade balance that does not exceed $400 million.

In December 2015, Sudan and Russia signed 14 cooperation agreements in different domains, including oil, minerals and banks.

The agreements also include a concession contract between Sudan and the Russian Rus Geology to prospect for oil in Sudan's Bloc E57 and another accord for the geological mapping of the Jebel Moya area, North Kordofan State.

Last November, Russia decided to withdraw its signature from the founding statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying the tribunal had failed to live up to hopes of the international community.

Russia was one of eleven countries at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that voted in favour of referring the Darfur situation to the ICC in 2005.

Sudan welcomed Moscow's move, saying it gives strong support to the African stance against the Hague-based tribunal which has charged al-Bashir with ten counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide connected to the Darfur conflict.

(ST)

September 8, 2017 (EL-FASHER) - A delegation from the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the legislative body of the African Union, has started a visit to North Darfur to assess the situation ahead of its meeting with the U.S. Congress to discuss the full lift of sanctions imposed on Sudan.

North Darfur Governor Abdel Wahid Youssef (SUNA)

On Friday, the governor of North Darfur state Abdel-Wahid Youssef has briefed the visiting PAP delegation on the situation in his state and the challenges they are facing.

Following the meeting, PAP delegation member from Tunisia Munger Rahmy told reporters they came to assess the situation, pointing to the adverse impact of the sanctions on the economic, health, services and transportation sectors.

He added the PAP has formed a committee to discuss Sudan's sanctions with the U.S. Congress, saying they came to North Darfur to receive first-hand information on issues of refugees, disarmament and development.

Rahmy pointed out that the sanctions hinder the government efforts to achieve the required development, saying the delegation is comprised of members from a number of African countries.

For his Part, Youssef said the PAP delegation would discuss Sudan's sanctions with the U.S. Congress at the end of September, saying the visit comes to assess the situation in the region and impact of the sanctions on the development process.

Youssef added that he briefed the delegation on the general situation in the state and in particular the security and stability that have been achieved as well as the challenges pertaining to the IDPs, collection of illegal arms and development.

He stressed the need to lift the sanctions so that Sudan can benefit from the international funds in achieving comprehensive development, especially in the fields of infrastructure and services.

Darfur region has recently witnessed a number of visits by Western diplomats including from the U.S., European Union, France and the United Kingdom.

Washington is involved in a five-track engagement process with the Sudan over the permanent lift of sanctions on Sudan. The process includes the fight against terrorism, Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Sudan's role in the peace process in South Sudan, Sudan's peace and the humanitarian situation in Darfur region, the South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

Last January, former U.S. President Barack Obama issued an executive order easing the 19-year Sudan sanctions on a probationary basis. The sanctions relief was to become permanent on 12 July unless the U.S. Administration acted to stop it.

President Donald Trump, in a new executive order issued on 11 July, moved that deadline back by three months, while keeping the temporary sanctions relief in place, citing the need to take more time to assess the robust process.

(ST)

September 9, 2017 (JUBA) - Regional conflict of interests contributes to impede the resolution of the four-year conflict in South Sudan said a United Nations panel in a confidential report disclosed by Reuters on Friday.

Face-to-face talks between the South Sudanese government and rebels get underway in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 13 January 2014 (Photo: AFP/Carl De Souza)

Officially, the East African regional block - the Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), is tasked with the mediation to end a crisis that erupted in South Sudan on 15 December 2013.

IGAD mediators who are from Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan are supported by a troika including U.S. UK and Norway, three countries that backed the South Sudan independence process, UN and the African Union.

Also, Tanzania and South Africa sought to unify the SPLM factions hoping that such a process, after the end of the war, would lead to the restoration of peace and contribute to bringing stability to the new nation.

However, in a report to the UN Security Council, the U.N. sanctions monitoring panel saw as negative the "competing" role played by all these regional and international mediators and facilitators in the peace process.

“The hostilities in South Sudan continue against a complex backdrop of competing regional and bilateral initiatives to resolve the conflict,” said U.N. sanctions monitors.

The confidential report further pointed to the “conflicting interests compounded by underlying rivalries in the region”.

“The government of South Sudan has sought to exploit this division,” the UN experts further stressed.

In a meeting held on 28 July, the Coordinator of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan briefed the Security Council about the Panel's work plan for 2017-2018.
During the meeting, the Council encouraged the Panel to continue its mandated reporting and discussed various political initiatives and developments in the region.

Different experts said the involvement of the region in the mediation was not a positive factor to end the conflict as the IGAD countries have conflicting interest, pointing to Uganda which openly militarily and politically supported the government of President Salva Kiir.

The same was said about Khartoum, which has a number of outstanding issues with the new country since the independence and accuses Juba of supporting Sudanese rebel groups.

On Friday, The Associated Press reported that South Sudanese officials and defector rebels accuse Sudan of supplying arms to armed groups that fight Juba since four years. But the rebels who face weapons and ammunition shortage denied the accusations.

(ST)