Tuesday, October 28, 2014

South Sudan: President Kirr Agrees to Adoption of Federal System - Sudan Tribune

Juba — South Sudan's president, Salva Kiir, has unconditionally accepted the adoption of a federal system of governance in the country, including all accompanying reforms, a high-level presidential source disclosed on Sunday.
According to the source, the president also agreed to share power with the armed opposition movement under the leadership of former vice-president Riek Machar, in line with the protocol of agreed principles as set down by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which is mediating peace talks between the two warring parties.
"The breakthrough which the IGAD chief mediator announced on Wednesday after the close of the mini summit is the acceptance of Riek Machar to recognise president Salva Kiir as the democratically elected and the constitutionally mandated president of the Republic of South Sudan and that he would not continue to advocate for his removal by force," the source told Sudan Tribune.
"In this context, the president accepted without condition to share power with [the] rebels. He will accept whoever they will nominate to the post of prime ministers," he added.
Significantly, this would waive Kiir's right to veto nominees to the post of prime minister.
The issue of federalism has long caused unnecessary division within the country and among citizens, the presidential aide said.
Ongoing debate surrounding federalism was the trigger for repeated conflict with successive governments in Sudan, from which the South seceded in 2011 after the signing of the 2005 comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) ended more than two decades of civil war and paved the way for a referendum on self determination.
"The president never opposed federalism. What he has been saying is that any system of governance should be decided by the people of South Sudan through an all-inclusive process, like the current constitutional-making process, because this is a very important matter to be decided by individuals or institutions," the source said.
"But because it seems that he has been misunderstood, including our friends and political allies from the region, he accepted to remove any obstacle to the peace process, including the issue of federalism," he added.
Leading opposition figures said they were informed of Kiir's decision by Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta and the Ethiopian and Uganda prime ministers, who attended the one-day mini summit in the capital, Juba, on 22 October.
"Our colleagues attending [a] leadership briefing in Nairobi, Kenya, have told us that Salva Kiir has accepted that he will not have any veto power on our nominee to the post of prime minister," rebel spokesperson Abdullah Kuot said.
"From one side, and this is just my opinion, there is no other person than our chairman, comrade Dr Riek Machar," he added.
Kuot, a former Northern Bahr el Ghazal MP who defected to the rebel faction, told Sudan Tribune on Sunday that the reforms would cover all sectors, including security, public service, finance, foreign relations and governance.
He said the opposition movement was also committed to combating corruption and nepotism and planned to focus efforts on restoring public confidence and trust in public institutions.
If confirmed, observers say the agreement would represent a major concession on the part of Kiir and would demonstrate his government's commitment to resolving the conflict through peaceful dialogue.
An IGAD summit is expected to be convened next week in Ethiopia.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

South Sudanese rebels renew calls for withdrawal of Ugandan troops - Sudan Tribune

October 25, 2014 (NAIROBI) – South Sudan’s opposition faction led by former vice-president, Riek Machar, has renewed calls for the withdrawal of Ugandan troops and other foreign rebels allied to president Salva Kiir’s government from the country.
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The Ugandan military has been providing support to the South Sudanese army (SPLA) since conflict erupted in the country in mid-December (AP)
The opposition leader’s spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak, when contacted on Saturday said the resolutions passed by the leadership council of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-in-Opposition) in a five-day meeting which concluded in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on Friday, had renewed the call for immediate withdrawal of foreign forces.
In quotations extended to Sudan Tribune, the opposition group also resolved to engage the international community on the renewal of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
“In the light of the deployment of the IGAD Protection Force under UNMISS new Mandate, we renew the call for the immediate withdrawal of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and Sudanese rebel groups from the territory of the Republic of South Sudan,” partly reads the resolution.
“The leadership to engage UN, IGAD and Troika on the renewal of the UNMISS mandate and the composition of the peace keeping force,” it says.
Rebels said Uganda deployed troops to South Sudan days before the 15 December crisis, accusing the southern neighbour of interference in the internal conflict.
Uganda on the other hand argued it saved the leadership of president Kiir from collapse when the rebels were matching towards the nation’s capital, Juba, in January, as well as safeguarded its economic interests as the biggest exporter to South Sudan.
A cessation of hostilities agreement signed on 23 January between the warring parties has not been implemented despite the agreement to withdraw all the foreign troops.
This month Kampala and Juba signed yet another strategic military cooperation agreement which makes it possible for Uganda to purchase military equipment on behalf of the South Sudanese government in case an arms embargo is imposed by the international community.
The rebels said the deal was unacceptable and would make Kampala an “accomplice” in non-compliance to the would-be arms embargo against Juba.
REBELS RECOMMIT TO PEACE PROCESS
On the peace talks, the rebel group said it recommitted itself to the process mediated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Ethiopia as well as appreciated the initiative of the Tanzanian ruling party in Arusha in trying to bring together the SPLM factions in order to address the root causes of the crisis which started within the ruling party.
SPLM-in-Opposition leadership meets in Nairobi, Kenya, 19th October 2014 (ST) The resolutions, however, explicitly stated that the Arusha initiative which is facilitated by the Tanzanian Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) is neither a substitute nor an alternative to the Addis Ababa IGAD mediated peace process.
However, it urged members of the movement to contribute ideas to the items in the agenda which will discuss political, organisational and leadership issues in case the dialogue continues among the three factions.
“The ongoing Arusha Intra-SPLM Dialogue facilitated by CCM is an important process which should be concluded without contradicting resolutions of the Nasir Consultative Conference,” it further stated.
The resolutions also called upon the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa and the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Front (EPDRF) that initiated the intra-SPLM dialogue in April in Addis Ababa to contribute to the Arusha process.
The movement has reconfirmed federalism as the system of governance as adopted in the Nasir consultative meeting in April this year.
It also reiterates calls for reforms in all the public and security sectors in the country subject to negotiations in the IGAD-led peace talks.
REBELS VISIT KAMPALA
In August, a high-level delegation of the opposition faction visited Uganda for talks with Uganda’s top leadership on the fate of its army deployed in South Sudan.
Last month, however, Machar’s delegation opened a liaison office in Kampala as part of efforts to promote its seemingly tense relations with the Ugandan government.
The newly established office, officials told Sudan Tribune, will coordinate diplomatic relations, as well as humanitarian, peace and reconciliation initiatives in Uganda aimed at realising a peaceful and sustainable solution to South Sudan’s ongoing crisis.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

South Sudan’s Warring Factions Agree to Talks Mediated by Tanzania not by IGAD - WSJ - WSJ






South Sudan President Salva Kiir, Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete and South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar reached agreement to hold talks on resolving a nearly yearlong conflict between warring factions in South Sudan.ENLARGE
South Sudan President Salva Kiir, Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete and South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar reached agreement to hold talks on resolving a nearly yearlong conflict between warring factions in South Sudan. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
Warring factions within South Sudan’s ruling party have agreed to talks mediated by the Tanzanian government to help resolve a nearly yearlong conflict, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement officials said Tuesday.
Last week, delegates from rival groups within SPLM met in Tanzania’s northern city of Arusha at the invitation of President Jakaya Kikwete to address the internal power struggle. Finland-based independent mediating group Crisis Management Initiative is facilitating the talks, which are slated to resume within two weeks, officials said Tuesday.
The intraparty talks are intended to complement the peace negotiations being mediated by the regional Inter Governmental Authority for Development in Ethiopia, according to Eemeli Isoaho, a project officer with Crisis Management Initiative.
The factions said in a joint statement Monday that the intraparty talks, although separate from the negotiations being mediated by IGAD, are “mutually interdependent and reinforcing.”
The Tanzania-mediated talks highlight growing frustration with the IGAD peace talks, which have repeatedly faltered since they started in January, compounding the ethnically charged conflict that is threatening to turn the oil-rich nation into a broken state.
Fighting erupted in December 2013 after months of political tension between President Salva Kiir and his former vice president, Riek Machar. The conflict has since pitted Mr. Kiir’s ethnic Dinkas against Mr. Machar’s Nuer community. More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict, while at least 1.8 million others have fled their homes, according to aid agencies.
Oil production has slumped by 30% to 160,000 barrels-a-day and oil regions continue to experience the heaviest combat as both sides battle for control.
Write to Nicholas Bariyo at nicholas.bariyo@wsj.com

South Sudan admits summoning its ambassador to Addis Ababa - Sudan Tribune:

October 21, 2014 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan government has unexpectedly recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia in a move an official described as "a normal administrative practice".
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South Sudan foreign affairs spokesperson Mawien Makol (Photo credit: citizen-news)
Family sources told Sudan Tribunethat David Dang Kong was asked by the foreign affairs ministry to return to capital, Juba within 72 hours.
But Mawien Makol, the foreign affairs spokesperson downplayed the incident, saying it was done within the ministry’s jurisdiction.
"This is a normal administrative practice to recall any of our diplomats for briefing at the headquarters on policy matters and for them to get other directives to help them be able to carry out day to today activities and foreign services with confidence while in countries of deployment,” he said on Tuesday.
Unconfirmed reports, however, say Kong’s summons were mainly due to his alleged involvement in covert activities with South Sudanese opposition forces.
“He is claimed to have leaked sensitive and classified diplomatic information to the rebels,” a source who preferred anonymity told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, sections of the Nuer community in Ethiopia have expressed fears that the summoned diplomat could be harshly treated if he returned to Juba.
“As a community we suspect something behind his instantaneous call,” said Peter Jack Kuon, a spokesperson for the community.
“We advocate for reinstating Kong if the government has no intention behind his immediate call,” he added.
Kuon also claimed that the first secretary at the South Sudanese embassy in Eritrea, David Mayan Gatkuoth, was previously summoned in a similar manner, but was never heard from again.
Conflict in South Sudan, which erupted in mid-December last year following a political dispute within the ruling SPLM party, has led to fierce fighting between government forces and those loyal to former vice president-turned rebel leader, Riek Machar.
The conflict, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 1.5 million, has increasingly divided communities along tribal lines.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Fresh fighting resumes between S. Sudanese rival forces - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan

Heavy fighting has resumed between rival forces in South Sudan in yet another violation of cessation of hostilities agreement as the two warring parties trade accusations over who was responsible for the new upsurge of violence in the oil-producing Upper Nile state.
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Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) on guard in Bentiu, the capital of South Sudan’s Unity state on 12 January 2014 (Photo: Reuters)
The fighting in two locations of Doleib Hills, south of the state capital, Malakal, and Achabnil or Zinc comes barely a week after peace talks to end the political crisis mediated by the East African regional bloc (IGAD) was adjourned in Ethiopia.
Speaking to reporters at South Sudan’s army headquarters in Juba, military spokesman Col. Philip Aguer said troops belonging to the opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-in-Opposition) under the leadership of the former vice-president Riek Machar launched twin raids on separate locations early on Friday.
“The rebels of Riek Machar today on 10th October, 2014, at 6:00 am launched attacks on the positions of our forces in Doleib hill and Achabanil, as a result the fighting is ongoing in Doleib hill but our forces have repulsed the one on Achabanil. The general command at the general headquarters has communicated this violation to the IGAD monitors,” Aguer told reporters Friday.
He said fighting was still continuing in Doleib hill while the army repulsed the other attack in Achabanil.
Aguer categorically refuted media inquiry whether the government was responsible for the attacks.
“How do we attack ourselves? The rebels are talking to you media who do not know the geography of Upper Nile; who do not know where is Doleib hills, where Al-chap-al-nil and where is Malakal,” he said.
The rebel group has however dismissed Aguer’s version saying their forces were only responding to government’s continuous attacks and heavy artillery shelling which had been going on for a number of days against their defensive positions including relief centers.
“For over a week, our forces have been closely monitoring unusual movement of government troops and equipment in a number of active Fronts. In anticipation of imminent attacks, our combat and combat service support units were put on high alert and defensive measures put in place to thwart any attacks. This morning, government troops under overall command of Sector Commander, Lt. Gen. Johnson Gony Beliu launched coordinated attacks on our defensive lines at Dolieb Hills and Zinc south east of Malakal town, said Brig Lul Ruai Koang in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday.
Koang further added that in retaliation they overran the areas and their forces were in pursuit of government’s troops who retreated towards the state capital.
“Government troops attacking Dolieb Hills and Zinc fled towards Malakal town with our forces in hot pursuit,” he added.
He said the opposition forces inflicted heavy losses on government troops and captured a number of war equipment including two T-72 Tanks and one Anti-Tank (B10) mounted on Toyota pick-up.
According to him, futile attempts by government to make more territory gains prompted the latest clashes.
“The military leadership of SPLA calls upon IGAD special envoys, the region and international community to condemn government’s intransigence and disregard to efforts geared towards finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing civil war. The latest assaults on our positions confirm government’s strong belief in a military solution. SPLA remains committed to all agreements but reserves the right to fight in self-defence,” he added.
PANIC IN MALAKAL
Local officials and independent sources told Sudan Tribune on Friday that heavy gunfire and explosions were heard around Malakal town, forcing shops to close and residents to stay indoors.
Streets are said to have remained empty with no movement while places which provide essential services in town including restaurants, fuel stations and humanitarian agencies have closed or on standby.
Government soldiers have also placed roadblocks in some parts of the town in anticipation of assault on the town and asked for reinforcements from other locations.
Upper Nile state’s information minister, Peter Hoth Tuach confirmed in an exclusive interview with Sudan Tribune from Malakal that “intense fighting” had erupted in two separate places outside the town and that government troops were moving towards the two areas for reinforcement.
“The rebels have launched an attack on the two places today, one on Doleib hill and the other on Achabnil. The one in Achabanil has already been repulsed by our forces but the fighting in Doleib hill is continuing,” Tuach explained.
He confirmed that situation inside Malakal also became tense as many shops were closed in fear the fighting might reach the town.
“Yes, some of the shops have been closed but others are still opened. The army is out patrolling the town and we have asked people not to panic because the fighting is taking place outside the town,” he said.
Sudan Tribune was unable to independently verify the claims by the rival forces as clashes occurred in places which are inaccessible to non-military personnel, mostly in remote locations.
South Sudan is embroiled in a deadly conflict since mid-December when political debates within the ruling SPLM party turned violent with president Salva Kiir’s government battling against the rebel group led by his former deputy Riek Machar.
The renewed violence jeopardizes the ongoing IGAD mediated peace talks in Ethiopia in order to end the conflict. Both sides reportedly prepare militarily for coordinated full blown civil war.
Tens of thousands of people have died and over 1.5 million displaced for the last nine months.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

S. Sudanese rebels say change of peace talks venue unnecessary - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan

Opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-in-Opposition) led by former vice-president, Riek Machar, has distanced itself from the demand by president Salva Kiir’s government to change the venue of the peace talks from Ethiopia to Kenya, saying the call was an unnecessary attempt by the government to cause further delays.
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IGAD chief mediator Seyoum Mesfin (L) and the SPLM In Opposition’s lead negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, attend the resumption of South Sudan talks in Addis Ababa on 11 February 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)
“Our leadership sees no necessity to change the venue. This would unnecessarily cause further delays in the peace talks,” Machar’s spokesperson James Gatdet Dak told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.
Information minister and government’s spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth on Tuesday floated the government’s demand to change the venue from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, where the two warring parties have been negotiating for the last nine months, to Nairobi, Kenya.
Lueth cited frustration in mediation as the reason in which he accused the former Ethiopian minister of foreign affairs and chief mediator, Seyoum Mesfin of allegedly favouring the position of the rebel faction in the negotiations and called for his replacement.
Mesfin was in December appointed by the leadership of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to mediate between the parties in which he is also assisted by Kenyan envoy General Lazarus Sumbeiywo, among others.
He however hinted that the final decision on whether to change the venue as well as the chief mediator will be handled by the heads of state and government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
“The question of the change of venue and even the change of mediation is still holding. We have raised this,” Lueth told reporters on Tuesday.
“It is not me or the [government] delegation that would demand it, but [it] will have to be decided by the IGAD heads of states and governments because they are the very people who decided the mediators from 27 December 2013,” he said.
The minister also accused IGAD leaders in general and Troika countries of the US, Norway and UK of allegedly being biased and breeding regime change in South Sudan.
However, Dak questioned the motive behind the government’s demand to change the venue when progress was made in Bahir Dar.
He added that the rebel group had no problem with either Ethiopia or Kenya as venue but said it was seriousness by the parties to negotiate in good faith that mattered in order to reach an agreement.
“What would the government benefit from changing venues? Is it a delaying tactic that the regime is trying to pursue?” Dak inquired, adding that the best thing the government could do was to negotiate in “good faith to end the violence which their leadership imposed on the people of South Sudan.”
Kenya was the venue for the peace talks between the former SPLM guerilla fighters and the Sudanese government which took many years to conclude.
Dak accused the government of “dragging its feet”, saying Juba position was marred by contradictions as they agreed to federalism as the best governance system but at the same time refused its implementation as part of the would-be peace agreement.
SPLM-in-Opposition also demanded that the would-be prime minister shall be the head of government while the president takes ceremonial role as head of state, arguing that this is an arrangement which is widely practiced in parliamentary leadership systems.
The government has rejected the proposal, arguing that this would make the prime minister more powerful than the president.
IGAD mediation on Sunday announced it adjourned the talks until 16 October in order to consult with the principal leaders of the two warring parties.
Tens of thousands of people have died and 1.5 million more displaced when political debates within the ruling SPLM party between the two top leaders and their supporters turned violent and developed into a deadly conflict pitting Kiir’s Dinka tribe and their internal and external allies against Machar’s Nuer ethnic group.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

S. Sudan opposition demand measures against information minister that demanded Ethiopian Mediator Seyum Mesefn to be suspended

At least 11 South Sudanese opposition parties have demanded that Sudan government takes “necessary measures” against information minister Michael Makuei Lueth, who recently accused negotiators of bias.At least 11 South Sudanese opposition parties have demanded that Sudan government takes “necessary measures” against information minister Michael Makuei Lueth, who recently accused negotiators of bias.


“The mediators have selfless and studiously guided this [peace] process very well and those who followed the peace talks will bear witness to this fact,” the opposition said in a statement.Speaking at a news conference held in Juba on Friday, the leaders led by Lam Akol from Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) expressed concerns over statements made by Lueth and published by various media outlets.
“The lack of progress in the talks so far must be laid squarely at the door of the warring parties,” it added.
Lueth was quoted saying his government had lost confidence in chief mediator Seyoum Mesfin and suggested that the talks be moved to from Ethiopia to Kenya. The minister also accused the Troika countries of the US, UK and Norway of allegedly agitating for regime change in South Sudan.
Tens of thousand of people have died and nearly 1.5 million displaced since the conflict broke out late last year.
Last month, Akol who headed the opposition parties, was prevented by security operatives from traveling to Ethiopia for the sixth round of the talks, despite an invitation extended to him by the regional mediators.
A government-backed opposition leader currently represents opposition parties at the talks.
Akol said the main objective now was to reach a permanent peace agreement rather than blaming the mediators.
“The statement of the government’s spokesman can only be understood as unnecessary detraction from the search for peaceful settlement of the current armed conflict and can only confound an already complicated situation in the country,” stressed Akol on behalf of the other parties.
“We therefore call upon the government not only to distance itself from these statements but take the necessary measures to restore the damage already inflicted on the process by such unmeasured utterances,” he added.
South Sudanese government officials repeatedly declined to comment on Lueth’s recent comments.
(ST)
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SPLM-DC leader Lam Akol responds to questions at a news conference in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on 3 October 2014 (ST)
Speaking at a news conference held in Juba on Friday, the leaders led by Lam Akol from Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) expressed concerns over statements made by Lueth and published by various media outlets.
“The mediators have selfless and studiously guided this [peace] process very well and those who followed the peace talks will bear witness to this fact,” the opposition said in a statement.
“The lack of progress in the talks so far must be laid squarely at the door of the warring parties,” it added.
Lueth was quoted saying his government had lost confidence in chief mediator Seyoum Mesfin and suggested that the talks be moved to from Ethiopia to Kenya. The minister also accused the Troika countries of the US, UK and Norway of allegedly agitating for regime change in South Sudan.
Tens of thousand of people have died and nearly 1.5 million displaced since the conflict broke out late last year.
Last month, Akol who headed the opposition parties, was prevented by security operatives from traveling to Ethiopia for the sixth round of the talks, despite an invitation extended to him by the regional mediators.
A government-backed opposition leader currently represents opposition parties at the talks.
Akol said the main objective now was to reach a permanent peace agreement rather than blaming the mediators.
“The statement of the government’s spokesman can only be understood as unnecessary detraction from the search for peaceful settlement of the current armed conflict and can only confound an already complicated situation in the country,” stressed Akol on behalf of the other parties.
“We therefore call upon the government not only to distance itself from these statements but take the necessary measures to restore the damage already inflicted on the process by such unmeasured utterances,” he added.
South Sudanese government officials repeatedly declined to comment on Lueth’s recent comments.