Security Council extends UN mission in South Sudan until May 2015

November 27, 2014, 4:39 am

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Security Council extends UN mission in South Sudan until May 2015

Link to web article here.

November 25, 2014 (NEW YORK) – The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday unanimously renewed the mandate for a 12,500-strong peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for six months, with a focus on the protection of civilians.

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

In an adopted resolution, the UNSC extended UNMISS mandate until 30 May 2015.
The UN, currently sheltering about 100,000 displaced people at its protection of civilian sites, is also expected to facilitate relief assistance and monitor human rights.

Like it previously did, the Council also authorised UNMISS to use “all necessary means” to protect civilians, monitor and investigate human rights, create conditions for delivery of humanitarian assistance, and support implementation of the ceasefire deal.

The UNSC also requested that UNMISS focus and streamline its activities, across its military, police and civilian components, in order to achieve progress on the above-mentioned tasks, but stressed that certain mission tasks will therefore be ceased.

In its resolution, the UNSC also urged South Sudan authorities and all relevant parties to fully cooperate in UNMISS’ deployment, operations and monitoring, verification and reporting functions.

It stressed that the South Sudanese government should ensure freedom of movement for internally displaced persons, including those leaving and entering protection of civilian sites, and to continue to support UNMISS by allocating land for such sites.

However, the mission will maintain the 1,323 police forces it approved last year after political in-fighting between president Salva Kiir and former vice-president Riek Machar turned into a full-fledged conflict forcing thousands of civilians to flee into UN bases around the country.

ENVOY WELCOMES MANDATE

Francis Deng, the South Sudanese ambassador to the UN welcomed the new mandate, but warned that sanctions against the new nation would worsen the conflict.

“A sustainable solution to the current crisis in South Sudan cannot be achieved by the imposition of sanctions, which is now being talked about,” Deng said on Tuesday.

He appealed to the international community to assist the young nation in efforts to achieve sustainable peace by helping both parties to reach an agreement.

Imposing sanctions on the warring parties would make them confrontational instead of pushing them towards cooperation and peace, Deng told the UN Security Council.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in the country’s nearly one year conflict, with aid agencies anticipating possible outbreak of famine.
(ST)

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Sudan decries SPLM-N meeting with Israeli activists

November 27, 2014, 4:42 am

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Sudan decries SPLM-N meeting with Israeli activists

 

Ibrahim Ghandour, an assistant of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, accused Israel of backing the Sudanese opposition and working to destabilize Sudan.

World Bulletin/News Desk
Link to web article here.

A senior Sudanese official on Wednesday denounced a reported meeting between a delegation of Israeli aid activists and members from the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).

Ibrahim Ghandour, an assistant of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, accused Israel of backing the Sudanese opposition and working to destabilize Sudan.

"This is blatant inferences in Sudan's affairs," Ghandour told The Anadolu Agency, describing the meeting as a "dangerous precedent."

Four Israeli aid workers reportedly met at a hotel in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa earlier on Wednesday with some SPLM-N members to discuss the humanitarian needs of people living in Sudan's Blue Nile and South Kordofan states, an informed source told AA.

He added that the SPLM-N members, led by Yasir Arman, the secretary-general of the rebel movement, also briefed the Israeli delegation on the progress of recent talks between the SPLM-N and Khartoum.

Ghandour described Israel as an "enemy" state that worked to tear Sudan apart and fight it.

"Israel used to support the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the past," Ghandour said. "Now it supports militant movements in the western Darfur region," he added.

He called on Sudan's opposition not to allow the enemies of their country to interfere in Sudan's affairs.

"Israeli actions aim to sabotage dialogue between the government of Sudan and the opposition," the Sudanese official said. "Israel does not want stability to prevail in Sudan," he added.

He went on to accuse Israel of exploiting inter-Sudanese conflicts to serve its "hostile" goals against the Sudanese people.

Commenting on accusations for Sudan of providing military support for Palestinian faction Hamas, Ghandour said that supporting the Palestinian people was a "matter of principle" for Sudan.

"This support will continue until Jerusalem is liberated and a Palestinian state is established," Ghandour said.

He added, however, that his country only offered political support for the Palestinian cause, denying Israeli claims about Sudanese military support to Hamas.

"These claims are baseless," Ghandour said.

AA could not immediately obtain comments from the Israeli government on Ghandour's remarks.

Since 2011, the SPLM-N has waged an active insurgency against the Sudanese government in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

Outlawed by Khartoum, the movement consists mainly of fighters who sided with the south during Sudan's decades-long civil war. That conflict ended with a 2005 peace treaty that paved the way for South Sudan's secession from Sudan six years later.

For the last several days, the SPLM-N has engaged in Ethiopia-hosted peace talks with the Sudanese government, which have yet to yield any tangible results.

UN declines mediators’ request to transport commanders to Pagak conference

November 27, 2014, 11:12 pm

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UN declines mediators’ request to transport commanders to Pagak conference

 

JUBA (28 Nov.)

Link to web article here.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has declined a written request by East African IGAD peace mediators to transport commanders of the SPLM-IO faction to a consultative conference at Pagak in Upper Nile State.

The peacekeeping mission announced this in response to media reports that it had asked the South Sudanese government for permission to carry out the task.

South Sudan’s president speaking on Monday said that last week he refused a request in this regard. But on Wednesday an official in the foreign ministry announced the reversal of this decision saying the government would not object to the UN or IGAD transporting commanders to Pagak.

Late on Thursday, however, UNMISS announced that it had decided not to help IGAD to transport SPLM-IO commanders to the conference.

“UNMISS received a written request dated 17 November 2014 from the Office of the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Special Envoys for South Sudan to provide air transportation to SPLM/A-IO delegates based in Unity, Upper Nile and Jonglei states who are planning to attend this conference on the IGAD-sponsored peace talks in Ethiopia,” reads the UN statement.

“The Mission declined the IGAD request in writing on 19 November, citing security and practical reasons,” it added.

Referring to a letter of no-objection sent by the foreign ministry to IGAD, the UN mission also disclosed that the letter “did not refer to UNMISS as a facilitating organization.”

According to the UNMISS statement, “the UNMISS decision that it is not in a position to provide air transportation for the delegates remains unchanged.”

The conference at Pagak is meant to give the SPLM-IO chairman Riek Machar and other members of the faction’s negotiating team an opportunity to brief their field commanders on the status of peace talks with the rival SPLM-Juba faction.

Machar’s faction is considering whether to accept a power-sharing deal in which he would become prime minister of the country.

One of the commanders of the SPLM-IO faction, Peter Gadet, has been accused by some observers of responsibility for shooting down a helicopter belonging to UNMISS last August.

Gadet is SPLM-IO’s overall commander in Unity State.

S Sudan state TV director slams information minister for overstepping powers

November 27, 2014, 11:22 pm

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S Sudan state TV director slams information minister for overstepping powers

 

JUBA (27 Nov.)

Link to web article here.

The Director General of South Sudan Radio and Television Khamis Abdulatif Chuwal Lom sent a scorching letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting accusing the minister of “overstepping of laws and constitution” in attempting to remove him from his position.

Earlier this month, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth issued a statement on radio and television demanding Abdulatif transfer from that post to an unassigned position in the information ministry. Abdulatif said this violates last month’s presidential order appointing him to head state media outlets, including SSTV.

“Can the minister of interior issue an order to transfer the Inspector General of Police to prisons administration? … Can the Minister of Defense order transfer of Driector General of Military Intelligence to any other military unit?” said Abdulatif.

“If you answer is no then what is so special about the ministerial order by Minister of Information and Broadcasting H.E. Michael Makuei Lueth to transfer Director General of Radio and television without the consent of H.E. the President of the Republic?”

He accused the ministry of storming state television offices, shutting regular programming and demanding an employee read the decree on air.

In a public letter to Garang Deng Chol, the undersecretary of the ministry of information, Abdulatif said, “The way things are being done in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is not found anywhere in the world.”

He also hinted at “excessive corruption” within the information ministry, though did not offer any evidence.

File photo: Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth

Related:

Open power struggle at South Sudan state TV (5 Nov.)

South Sudan parliament divided over financial scandal

November 27, 2014, 11:25 pm

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South Sudan parliament divided over financial scandal

Link to web article here.

November 27, 2014 (JUBA) – The whereabouts of 3 million South Sudanese pounds (SSP) allocated to the foreign affairs committee has created sharp divisions among members of South Sudan’s parliament.

South Sudanese MPs stand during a parliamentary session in Juba on 31 August 2011 (AFP)

In an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune on Thursday, Zachariah Matur Makuer, a lawmaker from Lakes state said he raised a motion on issues which were not clear in the house so that members would understand what happened with the public money and what the leadership was doing to correct the anomaly.

“I don’t think you were part of the journalists who came to the parliament yesterday where I explained what happened. Anyway, I will not hesitate to talk you because this is something to do with the public interest. First point, I raised a motion in the parliament asking what happened to the 3 million South Sudanese which was allocated to foreign affairs committee for foreign visits. You know that everybody knows the house had passed 29 million to help members go to their constituencies to explain what they know about this conflict. From the 29 million, 26 million was allocated for members to go to their constituencies to mobilise the public about the current situation in the country, which as you know is a result of the failed coup and 3 million was allocated for foreign visits to explain to our friends in foreign countries about the political situation and failed coup attempt in our country”, said Makuer.

“The second point was about pending legislations in the house. We have about 11 legislations, one of which the NGOs bill. These bills have spent more than 11 months now and have never been brought to the house. Some even spent more than two years like the security bill without being brought to the house for deliberations. Others were not taken to the office of the president so that they are signed into law by the president after they are passed. They were just kept by the concerned committees and the reasons are never explained to the members. So I raised a motion to ask the status of these bills and to seek clarification about what has been done with the money which was allocated for foreign visits, because I have not seen members traveling out for the purpose for which the money was allocated,” he added.

The legislator said the funds were part of a supplementary budget allocation passed after annual budget earlier this year with intention that it would help the legislators assist the government in mobilisation and sensitisation campaigns and other peace and reconciliation activities on the conflict.
He, however, denied accusing the speaker of the house of playing any role in the use of money, saying he simply raised an issue on how public money was spent by MPs.

“The story is simply what I have explained before that this money was allocated to members of parliament for foreign visits. The members carried out mobilisation and sensitisation campaign and other peace and reconcilaition activities in their constituencies which were facilitated and covered by the 26 million. This sensitisation campaign was supposed to be extended to the foreign countries but when we came back the foreign visits were not organised. So members started asking and this is how I came up to ask the leadership of the house who has taken three million’? I did not accuse anybody. It was just asking a question seeking clarification from anybody in the assembly leadership who knows where the money had gone. I did not mention anybody’s name in the question. I just asked a question,” explained Makuer .

The speaker of the assembly, Magok Rundial vowed to resign if found guilty of having embezzled any money and demanded an apology from Makuer over these allegations.

“I had nothing to do with that money. It was in the committee of the foreign affairs. I had nothing to do with it. I cannot reach it. Where do I take the money in this assembly?” said Rundial at a press conference on Wednesday.

“I’d better resign if I’m called a thief. I can never be a thief here. We came here to correct the situation,” he added.

The top lawmaker called on the lawmaker to apologize to him for making accusations: “He will come and apologises, so I will call you when he apologises.”

But Makuer maintains he has not accused anybody of taking the money and would not apologise.

“I am not accusing my Speaker, I am not accusing other people in this house, but I am trying to find out where is the money," he said.

Meanwhile, the government chief whip, Tulio Odongi, said he formed a committee to investigate the allegation to find what actually has happened, pointing out that right parliamentary procedures were not followed by those wanting to know what happened.
(ST)

S. Sudan rebel delegation meets Museveni in Kampala

November 27, 2014, 11:27 pm

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S. Sudan rebel delegation meets Museveni in Kampala

Link to web article here.

November 27, 2014 (KAMPALA) – A high-level delegation of the rebel faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) on Thursday met with the Ugandan president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Kampala.

A South Sudanese rebel delegation meets Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni in Kampala on 27 November 2014 (Photo: Mabor Garang)

The delegation led by the SPLM-IO deputy chairman, General Alfred Ladu Gore, also included the rebels chairman for external affairs relations committee, Dhieu Mathok Diing and chairman for information and public relations committee, Mabior Garang de Mabior.

In a statement he posted on social media on Thursday, Mabior praised what he called “revolutionary Ugandan comrades” for making the mission successful.

“...last minute changes through the efforts of revolutionary Ugandan comrades of the Uganda Peace Support Team...under Senior Comrade Salim Saleh...has ensured the success of the SPLM/SPLA delegation’s mission to Uganda,” Mabior said in his comments without giving further details on the outcome of the meeting.

Other rebel sources however told Sudan Tribune that the mission was a follow up on previous attempts to arrange a meeting between president Museveni and the rebel leader, Riek Machar.

Rebels delegates led by Gore had in the past travelled to Kampala but failed to meet president Museveni who only delegated his brother Salim Saleh to meet the rebels.

The opposition faction has been asking Uganda to withdraw its troops from South Sudan and stop supporting president Salva Kiir’s government.

The rebels also said they wanted to establish good relations with the Ugandan government in areas of diplomacy and humanitarian interventions in which SPLM-IO has established office in Kampala for the purpose.

Kampala had in the past resisted the call to withdraw its forces which have been fighting alongside president Kiir’s soldiers against Machar’s rebel group.
(ST)

Khartoum summons Ugandan diplomat over Museveni’s remarks

November 27, 2014, 11:29 pm

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Khartoum summons Ugandan diplomat over Museveni’s remarks

Link to web article here.

November 27, 2014 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese foreign ministry on Thursday summoned Uganda’s ambassador in protest after it emerged that president Yoweri Museveni accused Sudan of seeking to take advantage of the South Sudanese conflict.

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni

According to the Sudanese foreign ministry, Museveni in a meeting held with South Sudanese officials, said that Khartoum constantly celebrates fighting between South Sudanese and plans to plunder the wealth of its southern neighbour.

Khartoum neither gave details about the date of the meeting nor identity of the South Sudanese officials president Museveni met.

“The foreign ministry summoned the Ugandan chargé d’affaires and informed him of the government’s refusal to what it considered a negative statements issued by President Museveni, during a meeting with leaders from South Sudan,” said the acting head of the department of neighbouring countries, Bukhari al-Affendi on Thursday.

Sudan does not need evidence to clarify its position on the stability of the situation in South Sudan, al-Affendi further said, pointing to the support of his government for the East African regional bloc (IGAD) efforts to end the South Sudanese crisis and his government decision to open its border for the South Sudanese fleeing the conflict.

“All this refutes any attempts to sow seeds of discord between Sudan and South Sudan,” the Sudanese diplomat emphasised.

Following the eruption of the South Sudanese conflict in December 2013, president Omer al-Bashir was keen to show his support to the government of president Salva Kiir and called for a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Last August, Bashir also received the former vice-president and rebel leader Riek Machar and vowed to support efforts for a negotiated settlement.

Relations between Sudan and Uganda were always tense and tumultuous. The two countries accuse each other of supporting rebel groups. Kampala regularly says that Khartoum harbours Lords Resistance Army (LRA) rebels while the latter accuses the Ugandan government of training supporting Sudanese rebel groups.

Also Khartoum is very anxious about the Ugandan military presence in South Sudan.

On 4 November, the Sudanese army spokesperson al-Sawarmi Khaled said Juba government uses Ugandan warplanes to raid rebel positions near the joint border, pointing they observed the massive presence Ugandan airplanes in South Sudan.
(ST)

Stories of hope and survival: Biel Jock

November 28, 2014, 10:52 pm

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Stories of hope and survival: Biel Jock

 

PUGNIDO CAMP (28 Nov.)

Link to web article here.

Biel Jock is a refugee who fled from Nyirol County to Ethiopia’s Pugnido refugee camp. The 27-year-old is caretaker to five nephews orphaned by illness and war.

Three of the boys lost their parents to disease before South Sudan’s civil war broke out last December. Two more saw their mother and father killed a few months ago as they fled to safety.

Biel’s wife Nyibol, 18, is five months pregnant. Her parents were killed while trying to flee to safety. Biel’s parents were also killed.

“My parents and my wife’s parents were fleeing together,” Biel recalls. “They were killed.”

Nyibol weeps at the memory. “We never thought the war which started in the capital among soldiers was going to target civilians on tribal lines,” she says.

After fleeing their homes, Biel and his family spent 16 days in the forest, eating wild fruits and drinking any water they could find, before crossing into Ethiopia almost empty-handed, eventually ending up at Matar way station.

From there, the refugees moved to Pugnido camp, where Biel is hoping to continue his education and pursue his dream of becoming a doctor.

“I want to go back to school,” he says. In South Sudan, he was a tenth grader at Aroboir School in Nyirol.

Biel says if he becomes a doctor he will not treat people from his tribe alone: “If I become a doctor, will I only treat sick people from my Nuer tribe?”

“Today I am a refugee, but I want to go to school with my nephews.”

This report is adapted from an article published by UNHCR, contributed by Sulaiman Momodu, a UNHCR spokesperson. Photos courtesy of UNHCR/Catianne Tijerina.

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Stories of hope and survival: Monica Samuel
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Stories of hope and survival: Kang John Bol
Stories of hope and survival: Akol Kuol
Stories of hope and survival: Nyabil Riel
Stories of hope and survival: Makuey Chol Bol

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SPLM-IO seeks to charter planes for Pagak conference

November 28, 2014, 10:53 pm

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SPLM-IO seeks to charter planes for Pagak conference

 

JUBA (28 Nov.)

Link to web article here.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) is seeking charter aircraft to bring their commanders to Pagak in eastern Upper Nile State after the United Nations refused to help bring them to the conference.

The rebel movement is seeking to convene its leaders in one place so as to deliberate on whether to accept a proposed power-sharing agreement with the SPLM-Juba faction.

SPLM-IO controls parts of Unity, Jonglei and Upper Nile states. Delegates from some of these areas are unable to reach Pagak either because of the remoteness of where they are or because they would have to cross territories controlled by the rival SPLM-Juba faction.

James Gadet, spokesman for the SPLM-IO chairman Riek Machar, said that the transportation issue has been a ‘challenge’ holding up the conference at Pagak.

“We will find a way to get charter planes to transport them; we will try to find a way to pay for charter planes including asking our citizen supporters on the ground to contribute,” he told Radio Miraya.

The UN Mission in South Sudan disclosed on Thursday that it declined a request by the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to help facilitate transportation of the SPLM-IO delegates to the conference and back.

Joseph Contreras, a spokesman of the UN Mission said, “Many of these delegates are located in areas deemed to be of extremely high risk for our pilots and the company that we contract to operate some of the flights does not permit its pilots to fly to those areas.”

“Also in the past, the mission has been accused by both parties to the crisis of transporting personnel and supplies belonging to their opponents so we turned down the request from the Special Envoys of the IGAD regional bloc.”

File photo: Peter Gadet, commander of SPLM-IO forces in Unity State

Related:

UN declines mediators’ request to transport commanders to Pagak conference (28 Nov.)

Death toll of W. Kordofan tribal clash feared higher than initially reported

November 28, 2014, 10:55 pm

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Death toll of W. Kordofan tribal clash feared higher than initially reported

 

MUGLAD (28 Nov.)

Link to web article here.

Renewed tribal clashes between two Misseriya clans in West Kordofan resulted in 156 people killed this week, and more than a hundred tribesmen sustained injuries, Radio Dabanga reported.

This figure is higher than the count of 133 deaths cited by Mukhtar Babo Nimr in an earlier Reuters report.

A notable from the area has claimed that 129 people were wounded in the fighting between the Awlad Imran and El Ziyoud clans on Monday evening in Kuak, near the Nama agricultural project in West Kordofan. Mohamed Wad Abuk told Radio Dabanga the death toll has since risen to 156 people on both sides, since the fighting started on Sunday.

Preliminary statistics showed the deaths of 52 men and the wounding of 46 men from El Ziyoud, while the Awlad Imran clan witnessed 104 deaths and 83 men sustained injuries.

Abuk held the central government responsible for the renewed fighting among the clans.

A leader of the Misseriya told Reuters by phone yesterday that at least 133 people were killed, and more than a hundred tribesmen sustained injuries. “They used guns and heavy weapons in the fighting in the Kuak area,” Mukhtar Babo Nimr said.

The renewed fighting broke out last Sunday, days after the two clans concluded a reconciliation conference.

Stories of hope and survival: Monica Samuel

November 28, 2014, 10:59 pm

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Stories of hope and survival: Monica Samuel

JUBA (30 May.)

Link to web article here.

Monica Samuel, a resident of Gudele neighbourhood in Juba, says she helped protect a Nuer man whom policemen tried to kill on the first full day of the crisis in South Sudan when it started last year.

On that day, 16 December, many Nuer men were rounded up and killed later that night in a police station in Gudele, according to UN and independent human rights reports.

Abraham, a Nuer living in Gudele, escaped with his life because Monica’s family intervened to persuade the police officers to leave him alone.

Monica, age 32, says that her cousin, an off-duty military officer, stood up to the policemen and told them to leave. Afterwards, she gave shelter to Abraham and his family at her home for weeks, until the situation calmed down and he could leave the country to safety.

Herself an Equatorian from the Mundari tribe, she says she and her cousin didn’t care whether Abraham was Dinka or Nuer but they took action because they felt they could not stand by and do nothing while an innocent man was targeted.

Monica Samuel: ‘We could not let anything happen to our neighbor’

I remember Jekudu running frantically into the house. My sister stopped abruptly and attempted to talk but her words were interrupted by her need for air. Each sentence was punctuated with pauses.

Someone was in trouble in the neighbourhood.

‘I was just at Cousin Peter’s house. There is a man there in trouble. They want to arrest him because he is Nuer,’ she said.

‘He was trying to leave with his family when a group of soldiers went to the house and are now trying to arrest him for no reason.’

The man was called Abraham. He was a young Nuer man with a wife and two children. They had sought refuge in a neighbour’s house after leaving their own in search of safety.

While hiding there, four local policemen knocked on the door and demanded that Abraham leave with them.

‘But how did they know he was there?’ I asked. ‘The neighbour that offered her house got scared. She is a Dinka lady and was convinced that if anyone found out that she was protecting a Nuer family, she would be in danger and her children would get hurt. She called the police to come and get him,’ Jekudu said.

‘But why didn’t she just ask them to leave?’ I asked, perplexed.

‘That’s what we’re all wondering,’ she said, visibly annoyed. ‘Peter and I heard the commotion in the compound of the house next door and went to find out what was going on.

We found four policemen trying to arrest a man. We knew he was Nuer from the marks on his face,’ she continued. ‘His wife and two children were there with him as well. He was refusing to leave with the soldiers.’

My cousin Peter is a senior official in the military and commands a lot of respect wherever he goes. He is a tall well-built man and when he speaks, people listen.

‘What is going on here?’ Peter asked. ‘Leave this man alone, he does not want to go with you.’

They argued for a few minutes and the men finally decided to leave. I am sure it’s because they realised he was in the military and that came with firepower when necessary.

Not more than twenty minutes later, the four policemen came back but with an additional eight men as backup. Peter heard the commotion and came out again to find out what was going on. Tension was rising around Abraham and use of force had been offered as an option.

‘Please, there are many families here, including my wife and children. Look at all the children around, listening to this conversation. No. I will not allow myself to be the reason they are hurt or killed,’ Abraham shouted. He then turned to Peter and said ‘Thank you but I would rather go. It will cause more problems if I stay here. People will get hurt. Let them take me.’

For the first time, everyone was quiet. It was like no one knew what to do. I am not sure if it was his resignation or his willingness to sacrifice himself that changed the course of events. Whatever it was, it was enough to make the 12 men lower their weapons and leave.

When things had settled down, we all sat down in Peter’s house to discuss options for Abraham’s family. They wanted to go straight to the UN House but we all agreed that it was not safe enough to go yet. Peter offered his house for Abraham to stay, but it did not have enough room for his wife and children.

‘They can stay with us,’ I said. And they did, for about three weeks before travelling to Torit where Constance, Abraham’s wife, now works.

Abraham stayed with Peter for about a week but with the help of his friend, Madam Angeth, who is a Dinka, he was able to get secure passage to the airport and then to Nairobi.

We are not Dinka or Nuer. We are Mundari from Central Equatorial but the wars and conflicts affect us as well. We could not stand aside and let anything happen to Abraham and his family.

It might have been risky but we had no second thoughts about it. We just knew that we were saving innocent lives.’

This text is part of a collection of personal testimonies published by the organization Oxfam, and is reproduced here as part of a series of survivor accounts to be published by Radio Tamazuj. If you or someone you know has a story to tell, please contact us.

Photo: Monica Samuel (Mackenzie Knowles-Coursin/Oxfam)

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Stories of hope and survival: Akol Kuol

November 28, 2014, 11:08 pm

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Stories of hope and survival: Akol Kuol

 

NIMULE (19 Apr.)

Link to web article here.

When the news of the outbreak of conflict in Juba spread to Uror in Jonglei State on 16 December, Akol Kuol, a Dinka cattle trader, found himself alone deep in the heart of Nuer territory, facing growing hostility and very far from home.

Akol, age 34, lost to thieves the herd of cattle he had come to trade. Two of his Dinka companions were killed, he was told.

But his own life was saved. Akol describes how a Nuer friend helped him escape the town for the bush. He walked for three days and two nights without sleep to reach his home in Malakal and be reunited with his family.

Akol Kuol: ‘The thought of my wife and child was the only thing that kept me going’

We expected people to die in the previous war. Why not? We were at war and people die during wars. We were prepared for that. This time we were caught by surprise and were not even a little prepared.

We had time to experience peace. We had grown to know each other and were bonding on many different levels. We had accepted each other, embraced our differences and made friends with people from different corners of South Sudan. It was very good for the people of South Sudan and also very good for business. We were just getting used to living in peace.

I am in the business of rearing and trading cattle. I am based in Malakal but was in Uror conducting some business when the fighting broke out in December. It is a Nuer area and many people knew that I was a Dinka as I had travelled regularly for trade. My tribe had never been an issue. It had never even crossed my mind.

I was not following the events in Juba and did not expect anything but normal business to be conducted on that day. This time, I had travelled with 25 cows and as is the practice, I paid some young Nuer men to take them out, for grazing while I rested and talked to some of my old friends. I was relaxed and having a good time. Little did I know what was happening in the fields to my cattle!

The first person to hear about the raids was my friend Ruei. He told us that while the young men were in the field with my 25 cows, they were confronted by a group of Nuer men asking where I was. They already knew that the cattle belonged to me. The young men said they did not know. The group then forcibly rounded up all the cows and left.

We talked about the events in Juba and wondered if they could have escalated to the point where people and their property were not safe. I had come to Uror with two of my Dinka friends and asked about their whereabouts. I was told that they had died.

Ruei then said that if they had raided my cattle and asked about me, they would soon return. He ran with me to the edge of the forest and told me to wait there for him while he went and collected my bags. I waited, not sure if he would come back, but he did. He gave me my bags and wished me well and I begun what I assumed would be a very long journey.

I have Dinka traditional marks on my face. I was afraid that someone would spot them and see me as a target so I wore a hat to cover them. My main aim was to get to Malakal and see if my wife and child were safe, as the fighting was going to reach them eventually.

This thought was the only thing giving me motivation as I walked in Nuer lands, hiding my identity as a Dinka. I can speak the language and kept a low profile so no one suspected that I was a Dinka.

This journey normally takes seven days with cattle. This time, it took three days and two nights. I was walking as fast as I could and did not sleep. I only rested when I felt that my body could go on no longer. I had some biscuits in my bag and that kept me going. It had been raiding so there was water to drink from streams and rivers. It was not an easy journey but I had no choice but to make it.

I reached Malakal and found my family. After knowing they were safe, I finally allowed myself to rest.

I have lost all my investments and almost lost my life.

I am very bitter about what has happened in South Sudan but I am grateful to be alive and that my family is safe. I would not be speaking to you now if it was not for Ruei.

This text is part of a collection of personal testimonies published by the organization Oxfam, and is reproduced here as part of a series of survivor accounts to be published by Radio Tamazuj. If you or someone you know has a story to tell, please contact us.

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Stories of hope and survival: Nyabil Riel
Stories of hope and survival: Makuey Chol Bol

South Sudan issues new rules on sale of dollars

November 30, 2014, 5:25 am

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South Sudan issues new rules on sale of dollars

Link to web article here.

November 29, 2014 (JUBA) - South Sudan’s Central Bank has issued a new order banning sale of dollars in the black market as consumer prices rise across the country.

Kornelio Koriom, South Sudan’s Central Bank Governor addresses journalists in Juba, 11 September 2012 (ST)

The order, which took effect from Thursday, restricts the sale of hard currency at foreign exchange bureaus, stressing that dollars only be provided to companies or individuals requiring medical treatment abroad, intending to pay school fees, fund foreign travels or support families outside the country.

Genuine documents, the order says, must be produced to support demands for dollars.

The Central Bank Governor Kornelio Mayik, said that companies, organisations and individuals are now banned from buying or selling hard currencies in a parallel or black market and that any involvement in the practice contravenes the law.

Dollar transactions, he said, must only be in bulks of at least $2,000, but did not elaborate further.

A dollar at the Central Bank rate trades at 2.96 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) while the commercial rate is about 3.16 SSP. In the black market, one could buy a dollar at over 5.0 SSP.

(ST)

Sudan Exposed: “Starve Them”, “Empty the Camps”

December 1, 2014, 12:09 am

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Sudan Exposed: “Starve Them”, “Empty the Camps”

by Elizabeth Kendal with the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin

Link to web article here.

On 31 August Sudan’s most senior military and security officials met in the National Defense College, Khartoum, for a Military and Security Committee Meeting to discuss the ‘Management of Military Activities’. In what can be described only as a major security breach, the minutes of that meeting were subsequently leaked to long-time Sudan researcher, expert and advocate, Eric Reeves. The document has now been fully translated and verified as authentic.

The 13 officials, most of whom are generals, spent considerable time discussing how they might manipulate the 2015 national elections to give themselves ‘another five years of legitimacy’. They also discussed international relations, describing Iran as ‘our biggest ally in the region’, and a ‘strategic partner’. The minutes confirm that Sudan is supporting numerous Islamic jihadist movements, including the al-Houthi (Shi’ites) in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza, and Libya Dawn in Tripoli (Libya). Defense Minister Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein even boasts that nobody has a data-base of jihadist groups as extensive as Sudan’s.

Regarding Khartoum’s co-operation on counter-terrorism with the Obama administration (USA), the Defense Minister confirmed: ‘We release only limited information to the Americans according to the request and the price is the armed movements file.’ This statement gives rise to concerns that the Obama administration might be selling out opposition movements that are merely resisting Islamisation, racial-religious hatred and genocide.

Critically, the officials lament that, in the wake of military successes by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army - North (SPLM/A-N), crop cultivation has gone ahead in large areas of South Kordofan, where the Nuba Mountains are located. Director General of the Intelligence and Security, General Siddiq Amer, insisted that this year’s healthy sorghum crop be destroyed. ‘We must not allow them to harvest these crops,’ he said. ‘We must starve them,’ so they will desert the SPLM/A-N and be open to recruitment by the Government of Sudan (GoS).

This is exactly what the GoS did in the Nuba Genocide of the early 1990s, when they bombed and starved the people to the brink of death before offering them food and shelter in ‘Peace Camps’, but only on conversion to Islam, complete with name change, indoctrination and often military recruitment as well. Hundreds of thousands of Nuba chose to starve rather than convert, in what must surely be the most difficult call any parent could make.

Concerning South Sudan, the minutes are clear: Khartoum has been interfering in and prolonging South Sudan’s civil war by arming and backing the forces of the sacked Vice President Riek Machar. The plan is for South Sudan to adopt a federal system as approved by President Kirr and announced by IGAD on 22 October, with Riek Machar ruling over the oil-rich ‘Greater Upper Nile’ region, comprising Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity states, which Khartoum intends will secede from South Sudan and be annexed by Sudan, thereby restoring all the oil fields to Khartoum without Khartoum having to fire a shot. To that end, Chief of Joint Operations, Lt Gen. Imadadiin Adawi, proposed that Riek Machar be commissioned and equipped to ‘clean [ethnically cleanse] the whole Greater Upper Nile area’.

Furthermore, Director of Military Intelligence and Security, Lt Gen. Siddiig Aamir, proposed that regime forces ‘infiltrate and empty the refugee camps’ in South Sudan’s oil-rich Unity and Upper Nile States on the false premise that the Government of South Sudan is arming and supporting the SPLA-N. [Yida Camp in Unity State is run by Samaritan’s Purse and is home to many thousands of mostly Christian refugees from the Nuba Mountains.] According to Aamir, the aim is that, once separated from their food and shelter, the traumatized, desperate refugees then could be recruited (doubtless with food and shelter) to fight against the SPLA-N. This is the same GoS signature strategy to be employed in South Kordofan.

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Juba resolutions a slap in the face to peace process: rebels

December 1, 2014, 12:11 am

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Juba resolutions a slap in the face to peace process: rebels

Link to web article here.

November 30, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan’s armed opposition group led by former vice-president, Riek Machar, has described the recent resolutions passed by president Salva Kiir’s government as a “slap on the face of the peace process” which aimed to bring to an end the 11-month old civil war in the young country.

South Sudan’s rebel leader Riek Machar attends the 28th extraordinary summit of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for heads of state and government in Addis Ababa on 6 November 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)

In a one-day national consultative conference held in Juba on 24 November attended by president Salva Kiir Mayardit, vice president James Wani Igga, cabinet ministers, state governors, speakers and members of the bicameral parliament, representatives of independent commissions, civil society organisations, traditional leaders and scholars, the government took decisions and passed a number of resolutions in regard to the peace process with the rebels which is being mediated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

In the resolutions seen by Sudan Tribune, which were mainly on leadership structure and power-sharing arrangements, the conference passed a resolution rejecting the rebels’ proposal that the executive leadership structure during the transitional period of the would be Transitional Government of National Unity (TGNU) should only comprise the President, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.

One of the resolutions stated that there should be president, vice-president, prime minister and two or three deputies to the PM. It further says that the prime minister, a would-be nominee of the rebels, should be non-executive.

The government also passed a resolution rejecting adoption of federalism as the system of governance in South Sudan per a peace agreement with the opposition faction, suggesting that, if need be, the idea would have to be considered separately through a referendum or in the permanent constitution making.

It also passed a resolution rejecting the proposal to maintain two armies during the transitional period, saying the rebels would maintain command of their forces during the would-be two to three months of “pre-interim period” prior to reintegration of their forces into the South Sudanese army.

The government also said it would only reintegrate members of the rebel forces who defected from the national army during the crisis, adding that it will not accept or confirm any new recruits or members of the White Army, who form a bulk of the rebel troops.

SPLM-IO WILL RESPOND

The rebel faction of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) said they will discuss the government’s resolutions and respond accordingly.

“These resolutions by the regime in Juba are a slap on the face of the peace process. Our leadership has made it clear that such resolutions will be shared in the upcoming consultative conference in Pagak for discussion and counter resolution,” Machar’s spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, told Sudan Tribune when contacted on Sunday.

Dak said the rebel group was aware that the government was not interested in the peace process, accusing it of having been preparing for an all-out war during this dry season.

The rebel leadership’s spokesperson however downplayed the government’s belief to crash the opposition forces, saying they will “frustrate” their belief in military solution.

“Dry season is not a monopoly of the government. We will frustrate their belief in military solution. They will not succeed and will run back to the negotiating table as the best option to end the crisis,” he said.

The rebels proposed to restructure the South Sudanese state on the basis of a federal system of governance and to introduce reforms in all political, security and economic sectors.

Fighting between supporters of the rival leaders, Kiir and Machar, erupted in mid-December last year when political debates over reforms in the ruling party (SPLM) turned violent, pitting former’s Dinka, which is the largest and ruling ethnic group and their allies, against the latter’s Nuer, the second largest ethnic group in the country.

Tens of thousands have died, nearly 2 million people displaced and 4 million more threatened by hunger and diseases.

The regional bloc, IGAD, has been mediating between the two warring parties in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to try to end the civil war.

IGAD and United Nations have threatened to impose sanctions on a party or parties seen to be violating the 23 January ceasefire deal or blocking progress in the peace process.

Observers however said the two warring parties have been arming and preparing themselves for a well coordinated full scale showdown during the dry season which may engulf the whole region.
(ST)

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SPLA vows to end rebellion in Greater Upper Nile region

December 1, 2014, 12:14 am

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SPLA vows to end rebellion in Greater Upper Nile region

Link to web article here.

November 29, 2014 (BOR) – The South Sudanese army (SPLA) on Saturday vowed to militarily end the ongoing rebellion in the country’s Greater Upper Nile region.

President Salva Kiir and defence minister Koul Manyang Juuk addressing the press on Monday morning (Photo: GOSS/Thomas Keneth)

Speaking at the graduation of new officers in Panyier, Jonglei state, defense minister, Kuol Manyang said the SPLA seeks to protect the constitution, as well as people’s lives and their properties.

“Many areas of Ayod are still under rebel control, we will get them into our control. The whole of Akobo and Uror counties must come to our hands,” he said.

Frequent attacks from rebels, Manyang said, forced the SPLA out of their trenches in parts Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei states to defend their positions.

Mainly fighting in self-defense, army reportedly repulsed the rebels and followed them to their strongholds, which resulted in to the capture of Canal, Khorfulus and Atar about three weeks ago.

“And in the last one week, our soldiers in Khorfulus, canal and Atar were attacked several times by the rebels. To end this, they decided to follow the rebels to their places and they captured Pam-Zaraf (headquarters of Fangak county). We don’t always need to attack other forces, but if we are forced to, we do it more,” said Manyang.

South Sudan government, he stressed, notified the African Union, United Nations mission and the East African region bloc (IGAD) about rebel attacks, but no steps were taken.

About 3,000 soldiers graduated at an event also witnessed by the army chief of general staff, Gen. Paul Malong Awan, commander in charge of Jonglei operation, Gen. Malual Ayom, among others.

This was the second batch released since the crisis started and the 11th batch since the training facility was opened five years ago.

In the past, however, some SPLA soldiers have been accused of looting civilian properties, rape and even killing innocent people.

But Manyang, speaking tough on these allegations, warned the new recruits against such practices, urging them to fulfill their obligations.

“In civilian protection, you should not get anything of the civilians by force, whether money, cattle or other properties, you should not attempt to take anything by force. Civilians are your mothers, fathers, wives daughters and sons and other relatives,” he said.

“If you do something bad to a civilian of one community, your colleague who is also in the army will do the same thing in your community and in this way, no respect to the rules,” added the minister.

SPLA CAPABILITY

The defense minister said government has intensified military hardware, including modem weaponries, trucks for South Sudan to defend itself from any aggression and urged youth to join the army.

“You will not move on foot again. Why moving on foot? You have better weapon to weaken and defeat your enemy at a far distance. Look at some of them and more are yet to come,” said Manyang, while pointing at equipment stationed behind the training ground.

During the occasion, the army also displayed different types of Armored Personal carriers (APC) and most of them appeared new.

According to the defense minister, the SPLA has in place proper air, navy and infantry weapons to defend itself as well as the nation.

“We have tanks that move in the rivers, we will not have a threat coming across the rivers unengaged,” said Manyang.

He warned that youth who attempt to escape from the army would be punished while those who decline to join were merely women.

“If you refuse to join the army, let your hair be plated and we will buy a skirt. It means you will no longer be a man, but a typical woman,” he said.

Manyang also accused neighbouring Sudan of aiding the country’s rebels, an allegation Khartoum has repeatedly denied in the past.

NO SEPARATE ARMIES

Meanwhile, Manyang reiterated government’s rejection of the proposed formation of two separate armies in the transitional period.

“We are telling Riek Machar that we don’t need two separate armies in the same nation. If there is anybody wanting South Sudan to have two separate armies, this should stop,” said Manyang.

“If he [Machar] is returned to the army, we will take him at the same rank he rebelled with. If he doesn’t come by himself, we know how to bring him,” he added.

The minister advised the rebel leader to form a political partly and not an army, which he said would only remain under one command.

CALLS FOR UNITY

The chief of staff urged the new recruits to remain committed to the SPLA military rules of engagement, codes of conduct and hence protect people, their properties and lives from the enemy forces.

“This time, we must not forgive or compromise the enemy. That is the difference between Somalia rebels and South Sudan rebels. All of them kill civilians [and] we want to put this to an end,” said Malong.

He accused foreign hands of causing the current mess in the country.

“There are those who come from outside and say this [county] is not governed in a good way, we need good governance, there is no development in this, and those who had been saying [this] are not here now,” said Malong.

“Since South Sudan is for South Sudanese, it is we to be first and the last. This will give us time to review what is not going well and which one is right,” he added.

The army chief of staff, however, warned that soldiers who commit crimes against civilians would be tried in accordance with the law.
(ST)

South Sudanese Episcopal bishops resolve to preach against revenge, expand ranks

December 1, 2014, 11:00 pm

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South Sudanese Episcopal bishops resolve to preach against revenge, expand ranks

 

JUBA (2 Dec.)

Link to web article here.

The Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan has consecrated nine new bishops following a leadership conference in which they resolved to preach against revenge and war.

At a ceremony held at All Saints Cathedral in Juba on Sunday the Episcopal Church consecrated new leaders for its dioceses at Malek, Athooc, Kongor, Duk, Ayod, Malek-Ruuup, Abyei, Pariang and Nasser.

This is the biggest number of bishops ever consecrated by the church at one ceremony. It follows a meeting of the Episcopal House of Bishops held at Kajo-Keji last week.

According to the communiqué of the Kajo-Keji conference, bishops discussed the ongoing political crisis in South Sudan, among other issues. The bishops were briefed by their own Bishop Enock Tombe, who has been an observer at Addis Ababa peace talks.

The communiqué says, “The Bishops are calling on all clergy to preach Repentance of Sins (particularly the sin of revenge)… God wants all of us to repent of our sins and He will save us from all our troubles that have befallen us as a nation.”

Episcopal leaders are “asking our political leaders to allow peace… We continue to urge our leaders to implement the agreements signed so far,” according to the communiqué.

Specifically also, the bishops also cited Lakes State, which has seen a cycle of revenge killings and inter-clan feuding, saying, “We call on our Government to address the crisis in Lakes State.”

Commenting on the consecration ceremony to The Christian Times, Bishop Joseph Maker Atot from Pacong diocese said, “The expansion of the Church of God will bring peace... the Church will demolish tribal boundaries that are set up by evil to divide God’s people.”

Meanwhile, in the conclusion of their communiqué the church leaders also compared the Juba and Khartoum governments saying, “The people of South Sudan had suffered for many years in the hands of the government in the old Sudan… but now the people of South Sudan continue to suffer in the hands of their own political leaders/government.”

Photo: Consecration of new Episcopal Bishops (The Christian Times)

Famine watchdog warns of impact of fresh fighting in South Sudan

December 1, 2014, 11:20 pm

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Famine watchdog warns of impact of fresh fighting in South Sudan

 

JUBA (2 Dec.)

Link to web article here.

Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), a project funded by the US international aid agency, has pointed out that tens of thousands of people have been displaced recently in South Sudan, warning of the impact on their livelihoods.

In an update yesterday, FEWS NET pointed out that renewed fighting in northern Unity, southwest Upper Nile, and northern Jonglei displaced thousands of people in recent weeks.

“Over 40,000 people were displaced from northern Jonglei to Nyirol, Ayod, and New Fangak counties since early November,according to OCHA,” reads the update.

“Staple food availability remains limited in many markets in Greater Upper Nile despite harvests. Poor road conditions and fuel shortages have further constrained already low levels of trade. Cereal prices in most markets in conflict-affected areas are currently three to four times higher than in the rest of the country.”

The famine watchdog also said out that displaced populations and poor host community households could exhaust food stocks by December.

“Food security conditions will continue to worsen in the coming months,” predicted the organization.

S. Sudan constitution does not recognise power sharing: Gen Dhel

December 1, 2014, 11:23 pm

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S. Sudan constitution does not recognise power sharing: Gen Dhel

Link to web article here.

December 1, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudanese president, Salva Kiir should not be pushed into a power sharing, since the country’s Transitional Constitution does not recognise the position of a prime minister, a Dinka elder told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

South Sudanese preasident Salva Kiir (AFP)

General Bona Bhang Dhel, a political ally of Kiir, was among the elders who met the South Sudanese leader in Juba at the weekend.

He said the prime minister, accepted in fulfillment of the regional mediators’ proposal, will be allowed to operate without powers.

“If someone does not want this position, then let that person wait for elections and give it to someone else from his group or another person from a different group in the conflict one if he thinks the proposal is not fair,” Gen. Dhel exclusively told Sudan Tribune.

He stressed that Kiir remains the legitimately elected leader of the country and that the ruling party (SPLM) resolved last week the president remains head of state and commander of the army forces.

“What this means is that the powers of the president will remain as defined in the transitional constitution of the republic of South Sudan, unless there are people wanting to go against the constitution which is what others have been citing as one of the causes of this conflict,” said Gen. Dhel.

Government and rebel forces have been locked in an armed struggle since mid-December last year after a political split in the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) turned violent.

Peace talks in Ethiopia between the rival parties, which are being mediated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have been marred by ongoing delays and political differences.

The armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-in-Opposition) has proposed that only the positions of the president and the prime minister should comprise the executive leadership structure during a transitional period.

However, the government rejected the proposal arguing that in addition to the positions of the president and the prime minister, the position of the vice-president should also be maintained as well as create new positions of two deputies to the prime minister.

Gen Dhel also wondered why those against president Kiir claimed the latter disrespected the constitution, dismissing it as untrue.

He asked: “So why do they want the same constitution to be violated?”

FULL INTERVIEW

Q: As you may be aware, the current conflict was initially viewed as conflict between the Dinka and Nuer, don’t you see your meeting with the president could be seen this way and that whatever you may have discussed may receive different interpretations.

A: From day one, our people never believed the fighting is a fight between the Nuer and the Dinka. If there are people who say so, they could be politicians who want to use the conflict for their own benefits but on the ground, the Nuer and the Dinka are living together. You go to Warrap and other states in Bahr el Ghazal, you find Nuer in the area. If it was a tribal conflict, do you think they would have gone there?

What happened in December 2013 was an attempt by some people to cut their way to the presidency through illegal means and everybody knows who these were. The government and the people said no and that what caused the current conflict. The media picked one side and portrayed it a tribal conflict but everybody has understood the cause of the conflict.

So what everybody wants at the moment is how this conflict can be resolved through peace dialogue and we are glad that the government is committed to bringing peace. The president has assured us of this commitment to bringing peace and this was why he accepted IGAD proposal and made several concessions. You know that there is no provision in the transitional constitution for the position of the prime minister but the president and the leadership has accepted this if it could bring peace, although there are people who think it would set a bad precedent and they are right by the way.

Q: Why do you think they are right?

A: Because what do you think will prevent other people from not doing the same, rebelling against the government if this is one of the ways to positions or get back to the government when one is removed. Anybody can do the same. They can rebel against the government because he/she knows there will be a compromise. I also think that this will set a bad example but what can be done when our people are dying, just because some people do not want not to be separated from power.

Q: As an elder and someone who loves peace to return to the country so that people pay attention to development and other things which are important to the building of the nation, what is the way forward? Do you have a position on how this conflict should be resolved?

A: The position of the elders, not just Dinka elders as such, but all elders from the ten states of the republic of South Sudan, some of whom participated in the meeting, others communicated with us by telephones and they accepted the initiative and mandated us to visit and have an audience with the president on their behalf, is that peaceful settlement is the only way out of this conflict. So it was after consultations that we decided go to the president to get briefing on the plan of government and to congratulate him on successful conduct of the consultative conference.

Q:Do you have a comment on the IGAD proposed power sharing?

A: I think you know that consultative conference which brought together different stakeholders in the country was held here last week and it came out with clear resolutions. One of these resolutions is that the current system is a presidential system in that the president remains the head of state and government as well as the commander in chief of all the armed forces. What this means is that the powers of the president will remain as defined in the transitional constitution of the republic of South Sudan, unless there are people wanting to go against the constitution which is what others have been citing as one of the causes of this conflict. They claimed President Salva Kiir has not respected the constitution, which is not true in the first place. So why do they want the same constitution to be violated?

Q:What is your personal take or view?

A: In my view, since there is no provision in the constitution for the position of the prime minister, the president should not be made to share powers. The prime minister which has been accepted is a position without powers. If someone does not want this position, then let that person wait for elections and give it to someone else from his group or another person from a different group in the conflict one if he thinks the proposal is not fair.
(ST).

Sudan embraces genocide, terrorism — and Iran

December 2, 2014, 2:01 am

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Sudan embraces genocide, terrorism — and Iran

By Eric ReevesNovember 30

Eric Reeves is a professor at Smith College and the author of “Compromising with Evil: An Archival History of Greater Sudan, 2007-2012.”

Opinions 

Link to web article here.

It is not often that we’re able to listen in on the comments of senior officials in a government that stands internationally accused of genocide. But that’s exactly what we’ve been given through the leaked minutes of a security meeting held Aug. 31 by top military and security officials in Sudan. Prominent in the document are plans for further genocidal tactics in parts of the country. 

In rebellious South Kordofan, according to the minutes, the government’s strategy is to “starve” (a translation of the Arabic) the civilian population by ensuring that it can’t harvest this year’s crops and thus support rebels near the border with South Sudan. This is counterinsurgency at its cheapest. First Vice President Bakri Hassan Saleh put the matter tersely: “Support the mechanism intended to disperse or empty the IDP [internally displaced persons] camps.” While the “mechanism” is left unspecified, increasingly brutal assaults on camps for internally displaced persons suggest that it will be cruel and bloody, forcing people who’ve had their homes and farms seized to flee into lawless lands beyond reach of humanitarian assistance.

The minutes, along with other important documents, were leaked by someone either within the ruling National Congress Party or with close ties to the regime. They were delivered by intermediaries to a primary Arabic news Web site and to me, presumably because of my research and advocacy on behalf of the marginalized peoples of Sudan. The Sudanese regime split badly following the bloody suppression of popular uprisings in September 2013. Hardliners now wield all real power, and these were the men whose thoughts were captured in the Aug. 31 minutes. The leak was clearly meant to undermine the credibility of what has become a vicious junta.

Though little noticed in the West, the revelation instantly attracted considerable interest in the Arab world, and the evidence that the minutes are authentic is substantial. The highly authoritative Africa Confidential has judged them so, as has former prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi, who still enjoys extraordinary contacts within the government. Notably, senior regime officials have not denied outright the document’s authenticity.

Central in the minutes is discussion of Khartoum’s “strategic relationship” with Iran. Although Iran is ruled by a Shiite regime, it shares with Sunni Sudan a commitment to both Islamism and international terrorism. The minutes include discussion of the regime’s having sent weapons to the New Dawn Islamist movement in Libya. Maj. Gen. Hashim Abdalla Mohammed, chief of Sudan’s joint general staff, reveals a telling problem with the Saudis: “They found out about the weapons we sent by way of the Red Sea to Abd al-Malik Al-Huthi’s Shiia group in Yemen.” Al-Huthi’s Shiite terrorist organization controls large parts of western and northern Yemen — bordering Saudi Arabia.

In this joint commitment to Islamism and terrorism, Sudan and Iran have what may be described as a strategic relationship — precisely the description offered more than a dozen times by the men at the Aug. 31 meeting. But this leaves Sudan with problems in its relations with the Gulf states and Saudi Arabia, not least because the Sudanese economy, after 25 years of mismanagement, is imploding. Khartoum is obliged to play a double game. Hence, the comments by Gen. Yehya Mohammed Kheir, minister of state for defense: “We will not sacrifice our relations with the Islamists and Iran for a relationship with the Saudis and the Gulf states. What is possible is a relationship that serves our mutual economic interests in terms of investment and employment.” There is, of course, no true “mutuality” to the relationship as conceived here by Khartoum.

Further, Gen. Mohamed Atta, head of Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services, acknowledges that terrorism is a tool at Khartoum’s disposal. The regime believes the Saudis were complicit in the September 2013 uprising; thus the Saudis fear, according to Atta, “we may use or release terrorist groups to [seek] revenge.” This would hardly be idle speculation on the Saudis’ part.

Elsewhere, Kheir declares that Khartoum has unrivaled knowledge of terrorist groups “based in Libya, Somalia, Nigeria, Mali, North Africa Arab countries and Afghanistan.” The Saudis and Gulf states have an obvious interest in such intelligence, but instead of providing it, Khartoum exults in the superiority of its intelligence-gathering. Presumably, the United States also has an interest in such intelligence — and may think that Khartoum should provide it. But this is unlikely. Kheir, for example, boasts of “the victory of our people in Libya.” The United States cannot be happy about this.

The clear consensus emerging from the minutes is that Islamism and support for radical Islamist groups are of preeminent importance to Khartoum in its search for a place in a region made more complex by the emergence of the Islamic State; this also dictates a “strategic relationship with Iran.” If so, it would be a strategy entirely in character.

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