Media & Spokesperson Unit, Communication & Public Information Office

MEDIA MONITORING REPORT United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)

THURSDAY, 4 APRIL 2013

SOUTH SUDAN • UDF says national government too big, too expensive (Bakhita Radio) • Rebellion and revenge in South Sudan's Jonglei state (Agence France Presse (AFP) • South Sudan raids rebel base in Jonglei (United Press International (UPI) • Wounded South Sudan Soldiers Tax Jonglei Hospital (Voice of America,) • General promises changes in military attitude (Catholic Radio Network) • Three killed in Rumbek East County clash (Gurtong.net) • Deaf man arrested after Rumbek market murder (Sudantribune.com) • Nine killed, six wounded in Kapoeta east cattle raid (Radio Emmanuel) • South vows commitment to build strong ties with Sudan (Sudantribune.com) • Machar detests tribal-based urban settlements in towns (Sudantribune.com • Regional investors eye investment in South Sudan (Gulf News) • Robbers break into CES ministry of physical infrastructure (Bakhita Radio) • SPLA officers accused of poaching in Upper Nile State(Gurtong.net) • Unity state prepares for national reconciliation process(Sudantribune.com) • W. Equatoria governor appoints two new commissioners (Sudantribune.com) • Union Hall man to be honored at White House for work in Africa (Roanoke Times,) SOUTH SUDAN, SUDAN • Sudan and South Sudan to hold juba talks on oil exportation (Gurtong.net) • CGS Thapa oversees Sudan peacekeeping force training (Himalayan News Service) • Sudan finance ministry hopes 2013 oil transit can earn $1.2 bln (Reuters) • Sudanese MP warns that South Darfur capital may soon fall into rebel hands (Sudantribune.com) OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • S. Kordufan key beneficiary of cooperation agreement: Abdul Gadir (Sudanvisiondaily.com) • Egypt's president to visit Sudan Thursday (Xinhua) • Uganda suspends hunt for warlord Kony after Central African coup (Reuters) • Sudan should face war crimes charges for burning villages near South Sudan (Washington Post) • Freed Islamist leader vows to continue seeking regime change in Sudan (Sudantribune.com) • EU delegation welcomes amnesty for political prisoners (Sudantribune.com) • Sudan security forces Editor-in-chief of a newspaper to resign, detains Al-Jazeera Bureau chief (Sudantribune.com) EDITORIAL/ANALYSIS/OPINION/INTERVIEWS • Women, affirmative action and justice (Sudantribune.com)

NOTE: Reproduction here does not mean that the UNMISS Communications & Public Information Office can vouch for the accuracy or veracity of the contents, nor does this report reflect the views of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Furthermore, international copyright exists on some materials and this summary should not be disseminated beyond the intended list of recipients.

Highlights

UDF says national government too big, too expensive Bakhita Radio Juba, 3/4/2013 – The United Democratic Front Party or UDF said the Government of South Sudan is too big and too expensive consuming too much public money. UDF Political Committee Chairman John Aurelio told Bakhita Radio that the SPLM ignored his party’s advice to form a small government that could deliver. He said it was good that the SPLM was paying for its decision through the austerity measures. Mr Aurelio said it was much cheaper to form a slim government made up of 15 ministers dedicated to deliver services to the citizens. He also asked why South Sudan should have two houses of parliament. Mr Aurelio made the remarks over Bakhita Radio’s Wakeup Juba morning show on Tuesday.

Rebellion and revenge in South Sudan's Jonglei state Agence France Presse (AFP) Walgak, 4/4/2013 – Nyaguol Bayak wants revenge: her three children were slaughtered when gunmen attacked in this remote and impoverished eastern region of South Sudan. Still reeling from more than two decades of civil war that left this region awash with guns and riven by ethnic hatred, traditional cattle raiding between rival tribes has escalated into a wave of brutal killings. In the dusty village of Walgak, some 350 kilometers (220 miles) north of Juba, people are bitter over a massacre in February in which over 100 people were shot, speared or hacked to death. "I want to mobilize my people to go after those who killed them," Bayak said. Few here in this remote village appear willing to listen to government and international messages about the need for reconciliation, and warnings are growing that militia forces are gathering once again for a large scale revenge attack. More than two years since South Sudan voted to become the world's youngest nation, few in troubled Jonglei state are seeing the benefits of peace. Bloody clashes between the army and a former theology scholar turned rebel called David Yau Yau -- who Juba accuses of taking arms from foes in north Sudan -- have devastated large parts of this troubled region. The Lou Nuer people in Walgak, attacked as they moved cattle herds to find fresh pastures, blame the rival minority Murle tribe -- the same people Yau Yau's soldiers come from -- for the massacre. "The situation is deteriorating", said Hilde Johnson, the top UN official in South Sudan, warning there are "signs of Lou Nuer mobilization complicated by an element of rebellion with David Yau Yau forces." UN peacekeepers, stationed in small numbers across a vast land with limited mud roads impassable for months during heavy rains, are preparing "contingency plans", she added. But in previous attacks, the few peacekeepers did little to halt the killings. -- Revenge attacks target women and children -- Yau Yau launched his rebellion in 2010 after alleging state elections were rigged, later agreed to an amnesty, but then returned to war. His agenda is unclear, but several hundred Murle are believed to have flocked to his army after a spate of massacres and an army-led disarmament process marred by abuses against civilians. The Murle took arms from Sudan during the 1983-2005 civil wars that led to a referendum on South Sudan's independence, and are still viewed with suspicion by other groups in the region.

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"I want them to be killed," said 17-year-old Nyapuoch Khor. "They don't want to put their guns down and they don't want to listen to the government," she added. However, in Yau Yau's home region of Pibor, some 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of Walgak, the Murle say they are simply defending themselves. In late 2011, up to 8,000 Lou Nuer youths -- a militia known as the White Army -- armed with automatic rifles and rocket propelled grenades went on a rampage targeting the Murle, killing scores, torching villages, stealing cattle and abducting women and children. "There is a major risk that the cycle of violence starts again," Johnson added. Security sources say that there are links between the army and militia forces on all sides. The Small Arms Survey, a Swiss-based independent research group, said the Lou Nuer attacks in 2011 marked an "unprecedented level of organisation and scale of violence", noting that the youths were armed with weapons believed to have come from both rebel sources and security forces. This week, Britain, Canada, France, The Netherlands, Norway and the United States issued a joint warning about the situation in Jonglei, "where the rule of law is scarce and civilian lives are endangered." South Sudan's army has been battling Yau Yau's forces for months, with spokesman Philip Aguer claiming troops had last week killed scores of rebels and captured an airstrip where "secret planes carrying weapons from Khartoum" had landed. Khartoum rejects claims it backs the rebels, and when South Sudan's army shot down a helicopter in December it believed was supplying insurgents, it turned out to be a United Nations helicopter. Four Russians on board were all killed. Although impossible to verify victorious army claims of rebel deaths, eyewitnesses have seen truckloads of wounded soldiers leaving Juba airport in recent days. As warnings grow of the risk of further violence, the numbers of refugees fleeing into neighbouring Ethiopia and Kenya grows too. Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have condemned a string of reported abuses -- including shootings, torture and rape -- as security forces crack down on those seen to support the rebels. Doctors Without Borders (MSF), whose clinics were attacked and looted last year, has documented multiple cases of rape, and warns that women and children have been deliberately targeted. Those it has treated recounted stories including babies speared or hurled into huts set on fire.

South Sudan raids rebel base in Jonglei United Press International (UPI) Juba, 3/4/2013 – South Sudanese forces captured a rebel base in the restive border state of Jonglei, a general in charge of a disarmament campaign said. The International Committee of the Red Cross last week said that more than 60 people were treated for conflict-related injuries following clashes in Jonglei in South Sudan. South Sudanese army Gen. Peter Gadet Yaak said his forces captured an airbase used by rebel forces allegedly getting support from Sudan, the independent Sudan Tribune reports. Sudan and South Sudan agreed recently to pull forces away from the border and set up a demilitarized zone. Border conflicts are among the issues threatening a fragile peace agreement that secured South Sudan's independence in 2011. "We have captured the areas of military power from the rebel forces together with their airfields," Yaak said. U.N. special envoy Hilde Johnson told the U.N. Security Council in March that violence in Jonglei, South Sudan's largest state, is a "major concern" for the U.N. Mission in South Sudan.

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She said South Sudan was committed to finding a peaceful solution but warned time was running out.

Wounded South Sudan Soldiers Tax Jonglei Hospital Voice of America, 3/4/2013 – A hospital in the capital of Jonglei state is running out of vital medicines and beds as it is flooded with government soldiers who have been wounded in fierce battles with David Yau Yau's rebel group. “We are almost running out antibiotics that we use to inject patients with to fend off any incident of infection," said Dr. Bior Kuer Bior, the director of the hospital in Bor. "The hospital is also running out of space. We have a building that we can convert into wards but we don’t have beds and mattresses and bed sheets." South Sudan vowed in February to defeat Yau Yau's rebellion before the end of the dry season, which is usually around May. The South Sudanese Army, the SPLA, fought a pitched battle several days ago with Yau Yau’s rebels in Okello, an area east of Pibor town. Officials said 143 rebels and 20 soldiers were killed in the fighting. More than 50 SPLA soldiers wounded in the battle were sent to Bor State Hospital for medical attention. Many of them had bullet wounds to the neck, legs and arms, according to Kuer. Kuer says the National Ministry of Health in Juba supplies the hospital with drugs once every three months. “We just received ours last month," Kuer said. "Normally that drug consignment would last for at least three months if we are only treating our regular civilian patients. But now that we have this medical emergency on our hand, it is possible that we may not reach the three months' mark when we normally get our drugs," Kuer said. In addition to lacking antibiotics and beds, the hospital has no program in place to feed the patients. The state government, youth groups and women’s associations have stepped in to provide meals for the injured soldiers. The battle in Okello was part of a push by the SPLA to end the rebellion launched by Yau Yau last year to overthrow the Juba government. The rebel group is thought to have been behind the deadliest cattle raid in years in South Sudan, in which 103 civilians, mainly women and children, and 15 SPLA soldiers were killed in early February.

General promises changes in military attitude Catholic Radio Network, 3/4/2013 – A general for Greater Bahr Ghazal has promised a change in the military attitudes to organize the army well. General Gabriel Jok Riek made the statement during the Easter Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Wau, Voice of Hope reported. He said the celebration of Easter reminded the history of South Sudan. The general added that looking at the life of Jesus from his birth up to his death there were similarities with the life of South Sudanese people, who have been through suffering and sorrow before getting independence. General Jok explained that Jesus’ life and history teach that grace comes through suffering and at the end the gain is bigger. He urged people to be united and gain peace and stability in all the regions of the country. General Jok asked all citizens to forgive the mistakes made by the SPLA. He promised that a change will take place in the army to stop wrong attitudes and behaviours. General Jok urged all communities in the ten states of the country to shy away from violence and look always at unity to improve living conditions.

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Three killed in Rumbek East County clash Gurtong.net Rumbek, 3/4/2013 – Clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) forces from Western Equatoria State’s Mvolo County and the Rumbek East County residents have left three people dead. The clashes erupted when Western Equatoria authorities sent organized forces into Rumbek East County cattle camp called Nuta-Abyei to track stolen cattle from Mvolo. It is alleged that the soldiers opened fire on the citizens. Rumbek East County commissioner David Marial Gumke said that “three people were killed during the clashes; those killed include two girls and one man”. He added that the state government will undertake serious steps to bring those culprits to book.

Deaf man arrested after Rumbek market murder Sudantribune.com Rumbek, 3/4/2013 – Police in Lakes state arrested a deaf man on Wednesday who they suspect killed a man in Rumbek Central market following a dispute on Tuesday afternoon. The murdered man, Awuor Majur Bec, who is reported to have have had mental problems, is believed to have been killed by Matur Makur Ruai after an argument broke out. Awuor, who died of a broken neck, is alleged to have started the dispute at around 1pm by throwing a stone at Ruai. Lakes state police intervened and captured Matur Makur Ruai but investigations have stalled once they discovered he was death and they could not easily question him about the incident. Abraham Mayen Kuc, the Rumbek Central County commissioner said: “Matur Makur Ruai is a deaf man. He killed Awuor Majur Bec, who is also a person with mental problem”. According to eyewitness, the reason for Awuor and Makur’s quarrel was unclear.

Nine killed, six wounded in Kapoeta east cattle raid Radio Emmanuel Torit, 3/4/2013 – Nine Ugandan and Kenyan nationals were killed and one captured alive during an attack on a cattle camp in Kapoeta East County of Eastern Equatoria state. A Turkana from Kenya who was captured alive identified two of the dead as his tribe mates and two others as Dodoth and five Karamojong of Najie, Kotido district of Uganda. Kapoeta East County Commissioner Titus Lokwachuma told Radio Emmanuel that six Toposa, including two children, were wounded in the raid. Some were admitted to Narus Primary Health Care Centre for treatment. Nine cattle were also killed, 42 wounded and 20 stolen by the foreign raiders. Mr Lokwachuma said a combined group of criminals from Turkana of Kenya, and Dodoth, Jie and Karamojong of Uganda on March 29 midnight attacked a Toposa cattle camp at Lomil village in Natinga Payam. He added that the attack occurred few days after he evacuated the cattle keepers from Ugandan game park protected areas where they were grazing their animals. The Commissioner said due to the remoteness of the location, it was impossible for the victims to communicate in time to get rescue. Ugandan and Kenyan authorities said they were not aware of the attack and promised to cooperate in tracking the suspects down. Commissioner Lokwachuma called the attack a criminal act by small elements from neighbouring foreign communities. He noted that the Karamojong and Dodoth of Uganda could not launch an organized cattle raid on their close Toposa friends of South Sudan.

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Mr Lokwachuma blamed criminals among the Turkana of Kenya for allegedly instigating such violent attack on the Toposa community.

South vows commitment to build strong ties with Sudan Sudantribune.com Juba, 3/4/2013 – South Sudan foreign minister on Tuesday expressed his country’s commitment to establishing and strengthening friendly, strong and stable long-term bilateral relations with all neighbouring countries including Sudan. The young nation is in the process of incrementally implementing a six-month-old cooperation agreement on borders, security, freedom of movement, oil and other issues relating to the South Sudan’s 2011 separation from Sudan as part of a landmark peace deal. Relations between the two have been rocky since the South’s independence but despite alleged north-to- south cross-border attacks in recent weeks the two sides have taken steps since the beginning of March to improve relations. South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Nhial Deng Nhial, made the remarks at press briefing after holding talks with the visiting Finish Foreign Affairs Minister, Erkki Tuomioja, in the country’s capital Juba on Tuesday. The senior government official told journalists that he was pleased to have received visiting Finland delegations who were interested to know the level of his country’s relations with neighbouring countries. “It was a positive discussion which looked around what we have done and what did we achieve in the country and with the neighbouring countries in term of relations. I also briefed the minister and the accompanying delegation the current political developments in the region, especially the agreement with the government of Sudan and how it will contribute to positive political climate in the region”, Nhial told reporters. He commended the role played by the government of Finland in the past, especially during the decades of Sudanese civil war, which resulted in South Sudan’s independence referendum in 2011 in compliance with the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. “Finland, as you know is one of the countries in the world which stood with our people during our struggle which eventually culminated into the independence of this country. The people and government of Finland supported us a lot. Finland also enjoys cordial relations with our people and the government not only because of the role it played during struggle but even after gaining independence. They are working very hard with other countries to promote our relations with them," the minister said. "Finland also provides humanitarian assistance to this country. So we had frank and fruitful discussions where I stressed on our interest and commitment as the government on behalf of the people being the democratically elected government to establish and build not only a long term cooperation with Sudan but interested to ensure these efforts grow into a stable and friendly cooperative relationship on the basis of principle of peaceful coexistence”, Nhial explained. Meanwhile Finland Foreign minister, Erkki Tuomioja, expressed happiness with recognition of the assistance his country had given South Sudanese during their struggle for independence and in the development of the new nation. He wished the world’s newest nation good luck and prosperity for the future. “I must say that I have been encouraged by what I have so far seen and heard about the situation in this country. I have heard a lot of things have been done in a very short time and Finland government and people would always continue to provide support whenever there is a need to do so. We will be ready to do as government and people. Already we have NGOs working here. They are supporting government of South Sudan fill gaps where assistance is required”, said minister Tuomioja. He said his country spends six million euros ($7.7mn) every year to support humanitarian and development organizations working in the areas of governance as well as water sanitation programs.

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Machar detests tribal-based urban settlements in towns Sudantribune.com Juba, 3/4/2013 – South Sudan’s vice-president, Riek Machar Teny, has advised against urban settlements that are based on tribal groupings, saying no nation can be built on segregated communities. Cities such as the nation’s capital, Juba, has sections settled by specific tribes, which he said discouraged interactions and sense of togetherness between various communities. “If you are a Nuer, for instance, you can have a neighbour from Bari or Zande communities, not necessarily from your own tribe,” he said. The Vice President made the remarks in a 45-minute exclusive interview on the national reconciliation process with the state-owned South Sudan Television, which was broadcasted on Wednesday evening. He blamed the situation on the decades of war in the region, which he said had created barriers between communities, traumatized the society and left many still fighting wars in their minds despite the achievement of independence. The reconciliation process, he explained, was very important to heal the wounds emanating from the past as well as correct the status quo. Inter-communal violence is anti-development because rival communities destroy schools, health centers and carry out attacks on roads to interrupt free movement of people and traders. The first phase of the process this April will conduct a number of workshops and seminars on important aspects such as leadership in a traumatized society, hope in the cities, democracy and transitional justice, among others. He said the leadership of the 20-month old independent state will devise programs in order to heal the society from the trauma and move the nation forward. The process, which is expected to go on for 5 to 10 years, will address security, economic, development and socio-cultural issues. 200 young people, 15 from each of the ten states and 50 from the capital, Juba, will be trained starting this week, he said, further explaining that they will be deployed to their respective states to begin peace mobilization and reconciliation. A consultative conference is scheduled for June this year where renowned international figures will attend it and share their own experiences with the South Sudanese. The country’s vice-president recalled that the reconciliation process was provided for in the 2005 comprehensive peace agreement, but did not feature during the implementation of the agreement which would have reconciled the former regions of north and south Sudan. “South Sudan split from the former Sudan without the reconciliation done between the peoples of the two regions,” he said. While giving a priority to internal reconciliation among the communities in South Sudan, Machar who spearheaded the CPA implementation on the side of the ruling party, added it was also important to reconcile the peoples of Sudan and South Sudan in order to become peaceful good neighbours. Machar hailed the cooperation agreement between the two countries, saying it has brought the atmosphere of peace. He however called on Sudan to stop its militias from attacking South Sudan such as the recent attack in Kiir Adem in Northern Bhar el Ghazal state where a number of people were killed. The two countries, he said, need each other as they will continue to share the over 2,000kms border and conduct trade between them.

Regional investors eye investment in South Sudan Gulf News Dubai, 3/4/2013 – Many investors from the oil and gas-rich Gulf region, including Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs), are showing interest in investing in South Sudan, the “youngest” country in the world, a top executive in a Dubai-based investment bank said. 7

Eric Essigner, chairman and chief executive officer of Emirates Capital Limited, told Gulf News that the African country offers “a pioneer job in order to develop the whole country”. “We are already in talks with several Sovereign Wealth Funds from the GCC and we already have received a tremendous interest from those entities, who not only would invest directly in cash, but also would like to expand their activities into of south of Sudan,” he said. While he preferred not to mention any party at this stage, he said “most of them like to go into a county where they can participate in the tremendous growth of this country, But also in the direction of food procurement as well as other infrastructural investment, they are very interested in.” “I strongly believe that this is one in a lifetime opportunity to build a country and moreover, a pan- African hub,” he added. Emirates Capital Limited, which is a European Merchant Bank offering services in investment management and Corporate Finance, has signed an investment agreement with the government of South Sudan during the visit of South Sudanese Vice-President Riek Machar to Dubai last month. In an interview with Gulf News, Machar said his government is working on attracting foreign investment to develop its infrastructure and accelerate its economic wheel. According to the agreement, Emirates Capital Limited will mandate the first-ever Investment Fund initiated by GPS3 investments and dedicated to the development of African country. Already, the government of South Sudan has put a 5-year-plan that is going up to $55 billion (Dh202 billion). And according to the agreement reached in Dubai, the government of Sudan has made an allocation to the investment Fund in the amount of 35,000 barrel of oil per day for the duration of 20 years, explained Essiger. This will be equivalent to $25 billion. While Emirates Capital and its partners will raise the amount of $30 billion from the international community in the form of direct investment. Essiger noted that “we are very confident that we will be able to raise the remaining amount from the international community. As a matter of fact, we have already letters of interest of about $20 billion investments.” Opportunities South Sudan offers foreign investors scores of opportunities in different fields, said Eric Essiger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the investment Bank of Emirates Capital Limited. These opportunities include infrastructure, agriculture, mining and energy in the oil-rich and African country that became independent in 2011, added Essigner. “When we say that we are focusing on energy, that means they are looking towards building a refinery, but in addition, they plan to build a pipelines other than the one currently existing. And there will be additional petro-chemical units based out of the refinery, which will be one of the initial investments in this direction.”

Robbers break into CES ministry of physical infrastructure Bakhita Radio Juba, 3/4/2013 – An unknown gang took advantage of the Easter break to rob Central Equatoria Ministry of Physical Infrastructure. Central Equatoria spokesperson Jacob Aligo Lo Ladu told the press on Wednesday that some unknown persons intruded the minister’s office last Saturday. He added that nothing was stolen and investigations continue to hunt the gang. He said a committee was set up to investigate the guards on duty. Mr Aligo said similar incidences occurred in various government offices in the state and in the republic. He said Central Equatoria Government wants to strengthen the security of its offices and make guards accountable for breaches of security.

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A similar incident occurred in 2011 when some people broke into the Revenue office

SPLA officers accused of poaching in Upper Nile State Gurtong.net Malakal, 3/4/2013 – The Upper Nile State Wildlife Directorate has accused the South Sudanese army (SPLA) officers of illegally killing hundreds of wild animals in the state. The Director for Wildlife Colonel William Kai Liej said they have arrested bush meat from the Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA) officer meant to be sold in Malakal markets. Col. Liej said his forces have on Monday arrested an SPLA Captain identified as James Puok with 14 bags of bush meat from the Eastern counties of the state. “We have arrested 14 bags of bush meat brought by an SPLA officer from Longechuk County. These 14 bags are equal to 212 animals being killed,” Liej revealed. He said the killing of wildlife is commonly committed by senior SPLA officers. He condemned the killing of the animals saying “It is a big loss to the country and a great destruction and setback in the national economy.” “We are investment forces. We protect wild life to attract foreigners to come for tourism. Wild Life department brings in hard currency to the country,” he noted. Liej said his forces are for the protection of the national resources but get setback because they have means of transport to visit forests where animals live. “The SPLA got the chance to kill animals in the forest because wildlife forces have no transport like vehicles or planes that can be used for monitoring such activities in deep forests. There would be nothing to prevent us in protecting our animal resources. We have enough forces to do that but there are no means of movement,” he said. He asked the citizens to value wild animals and never temper to kill them at any circumstances for the economic importance to the nation. “Is there any South Sudanese note without animal images? That alone can tell everybody that animal life is very important in the country’s economy. If the oil is closed and we have wild animals can’t we develop our economy on that?” Liej asked. He said SPLA should behave responsibly to protect the country’s natural resources to strengthen the economy of South Sudan because they are a national army that could construct instead of destructing. He asked the citizens to stop from destructing the country’s economy by killing animals in the bush. Col. Liej asked the National government to instruct out orders to all commanders of divisions to tell their subordinates to stop killing wild animals in the forests.

Unity state prepares for national reconciliation process Sudantribune.com Bentiu, 3/4/2013 – The Unity branch of South Sudan’s Peace and Reconciliation Commission has selected 15 community mobilisers from across the state to travel to Juba for a six week training programme to prepare for the nationwide peace-building process that is scheduled to begin in June. A 2005 peace deal ended decades of civil war and allowed South Sudan to secede in 2011. There remain many items outstanding from agreement but there is also a need for ties to be repaired between communities in South Sudan, which suffered severe upheaval during the conflict which displaced around four million people and killed an estimated 1.5 million of 22 years. The South was not a unified entity during the civil war with some groups changing sides on numerous occasions, often along ethnic lines. Since independence the young nation has struggled to stop the cycle of cattle raids between rival pastoral groups.

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The country has also had to deal with various rebellions mainly based in Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei, which Juba insists have been actively, aided by the Sudanese government in Khartoum a continuation of the tactics it used during the civil war. Such problems have led the South Sudanese government to create a national reconciliation process to encourage people to work towards peace and prosperity. James Gatguok Makuong, the acting peace coordinator in Unity state, says the community mobilisers will play important roles promoting peace and national building. “The intention is that these people will be community mobilisers so that they will disseminate the information that they received during the training to the community, how people reconcile among ourselves how people will change from previous lives and that is the intention of our commission here we work hard so that at least to change the life of our people to make peace sustainable to our communities”, Makuong said. Makuong says the peace mobilisers were nominated from communities across Unity state and were selected based on a 500 word application to peace commission’s office in Bentiu. Makuong said: “The recruitment that we have just made it was about 25 people and these 25 people and the selection was about 15 each person he has to bring along with him, his CV, his documents his qualification and also he should represent their own respective counties so it defend on the committees who selected there are some counties which they chose one and there some counties there are two-two". The national peace and reconciliation process was supposed to run in April but due to inadequate funding it has been postponed to June, to allow more time to mobilize resources and train those involved. Daniel Kai Juach, one of selected peace mobilisers, who represents Payinjiar County, told Sudan Tribune in a phone interview on Wednesday that the national peace reconciliation process will help bring an end to practices like cattle raiding, which he said he claimed too many lives since the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed in 2005. On Easter Sunday South Sudan’s vice president, Riek Machar, calls on the South Sudanese people to implement the spirit of national reconciliation during his address to a Christian congregation at Nyakuron cultural center in Juba. The vice president urged Church leaders and civil society groups to fully participate in order to adopt for the country to modernize and become more prosperous. South Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world with some of the worst human development indicators.

W. Equatoria governor appoints two new commissioners Sudantribune.com Juba, 3/4/2013 – The governor of South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state, Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro, has issued an executive order appointing James Abdulahi Arona and Wilson Thomas Yanga as new county commissioners. Arona replaces Paul Tier as the new Mvolo county commissioner and Yanga as a new Maridi County commissioner, replacing Adel Sandri. The office of the state governor has not released any explanation for the dismissals. Critics of Adel Sandri, who previously served as Western Equatoria state’s minister of education before his appointed as Maridi county commissioner, was fired on allegations he was involved in signing memorandum of understanding with foreign business companies to log teak trees in the area without seeking approval from the central and state governments. Paul Tier, who had served as a member of Western Equatoria’s state parliament before being appointed Mvolo county commissioner, while he was an MP his critics made repeated petitions that the official was not available in the area to listen to and respond to constituency issues.

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During his time in office he was also accused of not cooperating with local people. It is also alleged that he practiced nepotism when making appointments in the local government. The two new commissioners were sworn in to their new posts on April 2 in a ceremony attended by governor Bakosoro, state-level ministers and members of the public. The officials have reportedly pledged to respect the constitution and laws of the Republic of South Sudan and to preserve its independence and territorial integrity, as well as pledging to work hard with the people to embrace collective consultations to implement the government’s commitment to the people. The newly-appointed commissioner Yanga reportedly said that he had faith in and respect for the country’s constitution and the laws and thanked the governor for the confidence he had shown in them. He warned that South Sudanese citizens should be aware that they faced conditions that had not been seen for many years, referring to the country’s economic problems since independence from Sudan in 2011.

Union Hall man to be honored at White House for work in Africa Roanoke Times, Virginia, 3/4/2013 – Walter Hughes has helped lead a multi-national Rotary campaign to rid the world of Guinea worm disease by providing clean water in Ghana and South Sudan in Africa. On Friday, Walter Hughes will receive a Champions of Change award recognizing his volunteer work to improve lives in the United States and elsewhere in the world. At the White House Friday, Walter Hughes of Franklin County will be among a dozen Rotary Club members from across the nation who will receive a Champions of Change award recognizing their volunteer work to improve lives in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Hughes, 52, of Union Hall, is a member of the Rocky Mount Rotary Club who has helped lead a multi- national Rotary campaign to rid the world of Guinea worm disease by providing clean water in Ghana and South Sudan in Africa. “I am humbled and honored to receive this award,” Hughes said Tuesday. Hughes recently learned that five new water wells have been completed in South Sudan; where efforts to eliminate Guinea worm disease continue. He said he will accept the Champions of Change award on behalf “of a great team of people from Rotary clubs and churches” who have worked together to provide clean drinking water in Ghana and, more recently, in South Sudan. Efforts in Ghana are focused also on Buruli ulcer disease. The White House said the Champions of Change award is meant to honor “ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things” in their communities and across the world. Hughes, who became a Methodist minister in 2009, has been involved in mission work in Africa since his first trip to Ghana in 2003. He was once pastor of the New Hope United Methodist Church in Callaway. His wife, Susan, will graduate next month from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., and is on the staff of Redwood United Methodist Church in Franklin County. The couple has four children. At the White House Friday, Hughes will receive the Champions of Change award alongside men and women “who truly exemplify the Rotary Club motto: ‘Service Above Self,’ and in doing so show that the American spirit is a generous one,” Paulette Aniskoff, deputy assistant to the president and director of the White House office of public engagement, said in a news release. Other Rotarians honored Friday will include people who have worked to eradicate polio in Africa and India, to provide nourishing food to low-income students in Colorado, to establish the Haitian Health Foundation, to coordinate relief efforts after Super storm Sandy and more. Hughes, a graduate of Virginia Tech, said he hopes the recognition will help raise awareness about clean water needs in South Sudan and Ghana.

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“If one more village gets a well and we can celebrate eliminating Guinea worm disease in the world, that’s the prize,” he said. Sudan and South Sudan to hold juba talks on oil exportation Gurtong.net Juba, 4/4/2013 – The Sudanese and South Sudanese governments are expected to hold a round of talk on oil this week in Juba, a move that targets to gear up preparations for resumption of oil flow, an official said. Paul Adong, the Managing Director of NilePet, a South Sudanese oil company told media in Juba that, the visit by the Khartoum delegation to Juba comes after Juba delegation last week visited Khartoum and held fruitful talks on the arrangements of the oil flow. “We were in Khartoum last week and they [Khartoum delegation] are coming this week and our discussion is no longer should the oil flow or not, it is how do we technically coordinate to ensure that the oil flows smoothly without any interruption,” Adong said. Based on the last week’s talks, Adong expressed optimism on the will of the two governments in gearing up efforts for the oil to start flow. “I’m sure that there is a political will this time from the two countries to make sure that this agreement- [Cooperation Agreement] is implemented. For now the opportunity is there for oil to flow,” Adong said. He also said most of the oil facilities in South Sudan are ready to start oil production. Last month the South Sudanese Minister of Petroleum ordered the oil companies in the country to start preparations for oil production. The efforts of the two governments come after the duo last month strike a deal in the Ethiopian Capital, Addis Ababa dubbed “integrated matrix,” that commits both the two long-term foes to fully implement the cooperation agreement reached last year in September. The agreement beside other terms, demands both countries to seize obstructive moves that stop the production of oil from South Sudan, revenue that both countries greatly depend on. Sudan and South Sudan after striking the Cooperation Agreement, failed to immediately fully implement the deal, a situation that created great concern; within and internationally. Last year South Sudan shut down her oil production which it used to export through Sudan after the two countries went into difference. The situation later on brought both countries into a brink of war in April 2012.

CGS Thapa oversees Sudan peacekeeping force training Himalayan News Service Kathmandu, 3/4/2013 – Chief of General Staff Lt. General of Nepal Army Netra Bahadur Thapa observed Pre-Deployment training of the NA's Shree Force Reserve Company and Sector Reserve Company who are set to be deployed on peacekeeping duty at the call of the United Nations in South Sudan and under UNAMID MISSION. The training was carried out jointly by these two companies in Suryabinayak of Bhaktapur on Wednesday. Highlighting the high discipline, faithfulness and dedication in the peacekeeping process maintained by the NA, CoS Lt. Thapa congratulated all the trainees for being nominated for peacekeeping mission in African country, Sudan. He expressed his hopes that such mission oriented training will boost the knowledge for the peacekeepers and called on to deploy themselves for the grave responsibility of peacekeeping to work with dedication. On the occasion, Thapa, briefing about the nature and situation in Sudan, extended wishes to the participants for their success. The function was attended by high-level NA officials including Under Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Kedar Nath Sharma.

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According to the NA, major duo Chhatra Bahadur Malla and Purna Prasad Dhakal have led these two companies which are scheduled to leave for Sudan in the third week of April in peacekeeping mission

Sudan finance ministry hopes 2013 oil transit can earn $1.2 bln Reuters Dubai, 3/4/2013 – Sudan hopes to collect up to $1.2 billion in transit fees in 2013 after oil starts to flow from South Sudan, and is considering a new tax on gold trade, Finance Minister Ali Mahmoud said on Wednesday. The African state may also have to raise the official 4.42 rate of the Sudanese pound against the U.S. dollar to match black market rates, he said in an interview. Landlocked South Sudan, which needs to export its oil through pipelines crossing Sudan, shut down its entire output of 350,000 barrels per day in a row with Khartoum over oil fees last year. The two countries have now agreed to resume shipments and Sudan hopes to receive $2.4 billion in transit fees annually. But since shipments are expected to start arriving in mid-May, this year's fees are likely to total $1-1.2 billion, Mahmoud said. "I do not know when the full oil flow will (resume). The shutdown affected the wells ... so at the start it will be less than what is expected. "It could be half, $1 billion, something like that," he said in Dubai, where he attended Tuesday's meeting of Arab finance ministers and central bank governors. GOLD TAX Gold became Sudan's biggest export product worth $2.2 billion in 2012, partly replacing oil revenue lost after South Sudan's 2011 secession. Mahmoud said the government was studying how it could tap into the lucrative trade with a new tax to help plug its budget deficit. "We are trying to find a way to impose a tax like VAT (value-added tax) that will increase our revenue. It's a technical issue but we need that because it is huge money. "This (gold) is produced by the people. They are now getting rich, building houses, they have vehicles, they have everything and it is quite difficult to find a way of taxing them." A small-scale mining industry, scattered across the vast country of 32 million, and a chain of middlemen complicate efforts to impose the tax, which could be as high as 15 percent, Mahmoud said. Currently, budget receipts from gold are very small, Mahmoud said, as they come from a 15 percent business profit tax paid from traders' commissions. Gold producers pay a 7 percent royalty. POUND DEVALUATION Sudan's pound rebounded to 5.9 from as low as 7.1 against the dollar on the black market after Khartoum signed the oil transit deal in March, Mahmoud said, adding that a sharp rebound could hurt exports and therefore the state budget. The official rate "may not be achievable but if we manage to raise the rate of the pound a little bit higher than 4.42, it can come closer to the point of intersection with the current (black market) price of the dollar," he said. "This needs a technical study by a team from the IMF. After that you will see a possible price to keep the exchange rate stable is maybe 5, something like that, so we will have to raise the official rate." The International Monetary Fund told authorities last November that the pound's rate should be 5.7 per dollar, Mahmoud said. "But now we have a new situation, we have new facts; we have new resources so it will be different. It needs to be reviewed according to new facts." He did not elaborate on when the IMF review would take place. Mahmoud said Sudan would use a $1.5 billion loan from Beijing's state-run China Development Bank to invest in its oil industry, to gradually double its output by 2016.

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"We want now to increase our oil output from Sudan so that we don't heavily depend on South Sudan. We expect our output to reach 300,000 barrels per day in 2016," he said. Sudan's current oil output is 140,000 bpd, Mahmoud said, adding it should reach at least 165,000 bpd and a maximum 180,000 at the end of 2013. FUEL SUBSIDIES The loss of oil revenues sent Sudan's inflation rate to 46.8 percent in February, but Mahmoud said it should drop to around 20 percent by end-2013 and return to single digits by 2015. More fiscal and currency stability thanks to oil transit revenues should help push consumer price growth down, Mahmoud said, adding that the government aimed to keep its budget gap at 3 percent of gross domestic product this year. The IMF projected in November, after concluding regular talks with Sudan that its fiscal gap would narrow to 3.2 percent of GDP in 2013 from an estimated 3.7 percent last year. Sudan's GDP was projected to shrink 0.6 percent in 2013 after an 11.1 percent drop in 2012. However, Mahmoud insisted GDP actually grew last year, by 1.4 percent, and he predicted 3.6 percent growth in 2013. "The driver will be the agriculture sector because we had a good rain season this year." Aiming to rein in the budget deficit, the government will continue to phase out fuel subsidies, Mahmoud said, but the process will be gradual to avoid fuelling inflation. "Maybe every month we can remove a little bit, half a pound or a pound," he said adding that the subsidies - which make up around 12 percent of state spending - should be fully removed by mid-2015. He said Sudan had not received any recent aid pledges to support its budget but expected to get $300-400 million in project-based funds this year, mainly from wealthy Gulf Arab countries.

Sudanese MP warns that South Darfur capital may soon fall into rebel hands Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 3/4/2013 – The former Information Minister and current member of the national assembly Abdullah Massar lashed out at the Sudanese government, security apparatuses and the army saying that all these institutions are currently in their weakest state at the federal and the states level. Massar also called on the Minister of Defence Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein to appear before parliament to be probed on his failures and setbacks of his ministry. The MP claimed that Darfur rebels could soon take over South Darfur capital of Nyala saying that the town is besieged while security inside it is lacking. He went on to say that the Sudanese army lost in its most recent battles more than 350 soldiers while of 70 others remain missing. The Sudanese government is reportedly considering sacking South Darfur governor over a recent breakdown in security in the state. For that to happen the president will have to declare a state of emergency in South Darfur per the constitution. Last week, a cargo train which was on its way from Nyala, capital of South Darfur state to the city of Daein in eastern Darfur has been attacked by unidentified armed robbers near Khor Taan area which is located 60 km east of Nyala. Over the weekend, Sudanese paramilitary force attacked El-Geneina bus stop market in Nyala, on mid- day robbing merchants and bystanders, according to eyewitnesses. Yesterday merchants in Nyala said that a commercial raft comprised of 800 vehicles is stuck in the city of Ed Daein due to lack of security threatening a shortage in basic commodities. Massar also criticized President Omer Hassan al-Bashir’s speech in parliament this week saying it was out of touch with reality.

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He said that the government and parliament are broken down into power groups that are running the country as such. "The state is not going right. Either we review it or we lose it," Massar said. He also criticized his peers in parliament saying their job is not to "applause and praise". "If the situation continues like this, we will all go down. It is best that we speak transparently about these pressing issues. If we continue wiping out lint will the wound will not be treated" Massar said.

S. Kordufan key beneficiary of cooperation agreement: Abdul Gadir Sudanvisiondaily.com Kadugli, 3/4/2013 – Idriss Abdul Gadir, state minister at the Presidency, said that implementation of the matrix of cooperation agreement with South Sudan represents a push toward resolving all outstanding issues between the two countries – whether related to Abyei or other disputed regions. “South Kordufan is the main beneficiary of these agreements because it shares longest border line with South Sudan,” Abdel Gadir said in a speech to a workshop on provincial arrangements for carrying out the matrix. He called the government and the people of the state to support and create appropriate conditions for carrying through the matrix. He stressed the necessity for protect this agreement, he called (8+1), through political, popular and native relations at federal and parliamentarian level. He said that a committee headed by Dr Al Haj was formed to oversee border issues, stating that there is a difference between international borders and the rights of traditional communities on border lines to mobility across borders. Dr Yahya Hussein, member of delegation to the negotiations, said that the issue of oil was major force behind most of these accords. The agreement provided that Sudan should bear estimated USD40 million in foreign debts, while countries should concert efforts toward writing off the debts.

Egypt's president to visit Sudan Thursday Xinhua Cairo, 3/4/2013 – Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi will arrive in Sudan Thursday for his first official visit to the country since taking office in June 2012, official MENA news agency reported Wednesday. During his two-day visit, Morsi will hold talks with his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir as well as senior Sudanese officials, focusing on trade, investments and the contribution of Egyptian companies to development projects in Sudan to cement the bilateral relations between the two countries, MENA reported. Morsi and Bashir will attend a joint meeting of Egyptian and Sudanese businessmen Thursday evening, Egyptian presidential spokesman Ihab Fahmy said. Fahmy said that the visit reaffirms the strength and depth of the strategic relations between the two countries, as well as historic and brotherly ties between the Egyptian and Sudanese peoples. The visit also reflects Egypt's keenness on establishing real economic partnership with Sudan in a way that achieves growth and prosperity, according to Fahmy.

Uganda suspends hunt for warlord Kony after Central African coup Reuters Kampala, 3/4/2013 – Uganda has suspended the hunt for fugitive warlord Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army fighters, blaming hostility towards foreign troops by Central African Republic rebels who seized power last month. Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. He and his commanders are accused of abducting thousands of children to use as fighters in a rebel army that earned a reputation for chopping off limbs as a form of discipline. Uganda provides more than 3,000 troops of a 5,000-strong African Union force hunting Kony and his fighters, who are thought to be hiding in jungles straddling the borders of Central African Republic, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo. 15

A separate coalition of rebels in Central African Republic, known as Seleka, toppled President Francois Bozize last month. They swept into the capital Bangui in a lightning offensive which triggered days of looting and drew international condemnation. The Seleka rebels also killed 13 South African soldiers during their attack on Bangui. "These rebels have been openly hostile to us and following that, the president (of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni) has ordered us only to be in defensive positions," said Dick Olum, head of Ugandan troops in the force hunting Kony, and also the overall force commander. "So we've temporarily suspended offensive operations against the LRA for now until we receive further orders," he told Reuters on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if troops from other countries in the regional force were also giving up the search. Ugandan media reported that about 100 U.S. Special Forces helping with intelligence and logistical support had suspended operations. "We have temporarily paused the operations against LRA to give us time to consult with the State Department," Crane Elise, U.S. embassy information officer in Kampala, told Uganda's Daily Monitor newspaper. LRA fighters fought the Ugandan government for nearly two decades before being ejected from their strongholds in the north of the country in 2005, forcing them to establish bases in the jungles of other countries in the region.

Sudan should face war crimes charges for burning villages near South Sudan Washington Post Nairobi, Kenya, 3/4/2013 – A U.S. based advocacy group alleged in a new report Wednesday that Sudan’s government has committed war crimes since mid-2011 in two of its southern states near the border with South Sudan. The Enough Project said that two years of eyewitness reports, photos, video and satellite imagery present strong evidence that Sudan should be referred to the International Criminal Court and that the U.N. should open a commission of inquiry. The group said it has documented the deliberate burning of nearly 300 square miles (756 square kilometers) of farms, orchards and grasslands for grazing cattle, and the deliberate destruction of 42 villages in the states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile. Residents there are more aligned with South Sudan than Sudan. When those two countries peacefully separated in 2011 following decades of war the residents found themselves on the Sudan side of the new border. Residents in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains region have faced aerial bombardment from Sudanese bombers for more than a year in addition to the deliberate burnings. A spokesman for the government of Sudan could not immediately be reached for comment. Sudan’s leader, Omar al-Bashir, already stands accused by the ICC of genocide and war crimes for violence carried out in the western Sudan region of Darfur. He has never been arrested despite travel to other African countries. If the Enough Project’s push for more international charges to be filed comes to fruition, it would appear unlikely to change the realities on the ground for Bashir or the conflict. Jonathan Hutson, a spokesman for the Enough Project and its affiliated Satellite Sentinel Project, said that it would be wrong to give up the pursuit of justice. “Justice demands that the international community investigate evidence of ongoing atrocities by the Khartoum regime against its own people. Consider Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda, also indicted years ago for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Many believed he would never be hauled into court. Last month, he surrendered; he is now in The Hague, facing those charges,” Hutson said.

Freed Islamist leader vows to continue seeking regime change in Sudan

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Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 3/4/2013 – The leader of the Islamic Wasat Party Yousif al-Koda, who was released from prison earlier this week as part of a presidential amnesty, appeared unapologetic about his anti-government sentiments stressing that he is determined to help bring about a regime change dominated by the National Congress Party (NCP). Al-Koda, who spoke at a press conference in Khartoum yesterday, called on the government to open up towards political and armed opposition and put forward mechanisms to facilitate success of a national dialogue in an atmosphere of full freedoms. “We can’t talk about dialogue while political parties are unable to organize seminars and political rallies because of laws restricting freedoms, arrests [by authorities], and lack of freedom of speech” Al-Koda said. “Dialogue is not just talk, it is a process which has dues” he added. However he doubted the government’s seriousness in creating a climate conducive to dialogue saying that he didn’t deserve imprisonment saying he should have been rewarded even if he had engaged in dialogue "with the devil". The outspoken Islamist figure was arrested last January at Khartoum airport upon his return from a trip abroad where he officially joined the ranks of the opposition seeking to topple the government led by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir. He had signed a joint statement in the Ugandan capital Kampala with the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) chairman Malik Agar who acted as representative of the signatories to the “New Dawn” charter. The SRF is comprised of several rebel groups fighting the Sudanese army on several fronts in Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile and occasionally in other areas such as North Kordofan. Its notable members include Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Malik Agar, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Gibreel Ibrahim, Sudan Liberation Movement of Abdul- Wahid Nur (SLM-AW) and Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM). Last January a number of Sudanese opposition parties along with SRF signed the “New Dawn” charter which calls for the toppling of the Bashir government, preventing the exploitation of religion in politics and restructuring the state’s institutions such as the army and security services to make them national non-partisan ones. Al-Koda fell short of signing the agreement but expressed support to many of its provisions that was included in the joint statement he signed in Uganda with SRF chairman. Today he also praised the SRF leaders saying that they enjoy high Islamic morals and values. "I met the leader of Justice and Equality Movement Gibreel Ibrahim and head of Sudan Liberation Movement Minni Arco Minnawi, Abdul-Wahid Mohammed Nur and Malik Agar..... I told authorities that they are Sudanese Muslims whose hands are always holding beads and even if they were Christians I would have went to them as well," the party leader said. " I went there for a religious duty before being a national duty and must rewarded for this move....If the government doesn’t mind receiving envoys of Kufr (blasphemous) countries then it might as well negotiate with Sudanese opponents with whom it shares the country and religion” Al-Koda said. Al-Koda defended his signing of Kampala statement, recounting that he went to the Ugandan capital at the invitation of the SRF’s leading figure Al-Tom Hago revealing that he managed to persuade signatories of the “New Dawn” charter not to rush to decide on the issue of the relationship between religion and state and leave it for approval by a future constitutional conference, “I went to Uganda to fulfill a religious duty in the first place, a national duty in the second place and I should be rewarded for this move” he reiterated. The Sudanese government launched a fierce media campaign against the charter and detained some of the parties’ representatives who attended the signing upon their return to Khartoum. Some officials even

17 threatened to ban and prosecute all parties that joined the agreement unless they officially dissociated themselves from it. Al-Koda denied being subjected to physical torture but said he was subjected to psychological torture by depriving him of performing Friday prayers for the entire seven weeks he was in jail. He also called on SPLM – N not to engage in bilateral negotiations with the NCP, saying that negotiation process should include the entire opposition forces in order to decide on the future of the country and the peoples adding that the only alternative for comprehensive dialogue is tribal and regional conflicts.

EU delegation welcomes amnesty for political prisoners Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 3/4/2013 – The delegation of the European Union to Sudan has welcomed Monday’s announcement by president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir ordering the release all political detainees and calling for dialogue with opposition groups. Speaking at the at the opening session of parliament, Bashir said his government was willing to engage with all political bodies and civil society groups without exception, including those that have taken up arms against his regime. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the EU delegation said the release of an initial group of detainees was the “first step”, adding that it encouraged “the government of Sudan to release all the political prisoners as announced, paving the way for the national dialogue”. The delegation also confirmed “its conviction that a national reconciliation process will strengthen Sudan’s democratic credentials and its prospects for a sustainable development”. The US has also praised Bashir’s announcement, saying calls for dialogue were particularly pleasing. Bashir has not said when and how many prisoners would be released and it remains unclear whether the decree would include rebel fighters and high-level officials currently on trial for plotting a coup to overthrow the government. Seven political prisoners were released overnight on Monday following the announcement, including six prominent members of opposition political parties that participated in signing the New Dawn charter earlier this year in Uganda, which called for military action to topple the existing government. However, rights groups and opposition members have questioned the credibility of Bashir’s pledge, saying it dodged the issue of law reform, needed to end conditions allowing for arbitrary detention. “Freeing seven political prisoners does not indicate the government is truly serious about ending arbitrary detention and releasing prisoners of conscience,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International’s Africa programme director, in a statement on Tuesday. Opposition groups have largely dismissed Bashir’s comments as a political stunt. Spokesman for the National Consensus Forces (NCF), Kamal Omer Abdel Salam, was quoted by Radio Dabanga as saying Bashir’s statements are “worthless and a waste of time”. He told the station that past experiences had shown that Khartoum’s motivation for dialogue with other political forces was solely “for gaining time and acquiring legitimacy which ended in the regime’s betrayal … and brought Sudan to what it is now”. Abdel Wahid, who heads a faction of the Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLA), described the president’s calls to release prisoners as “false and futile”, adding that the solution to ongoing issues affecting Sudan lies not in dialogue with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), but in changing the entire regime. He told Radio Dabanga that if Bashir was sincere then he would disarm militias operating in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan, which has forced thousands of refugees and internally displaced people to flee their homes and cram into “prisons called camps”. According to Yasser Arman, secretary-general of the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N), there are currently more than 600 prisoners in detention whose whereabouts remain

18 unknown, including at least 240 from the Nuba Mountains, as well as an unspecified number from Darfur and other places. Meanwhile, Amnesty says more than 118 people are reportedly in arbitrary detention in relation to the conflict in Sudan’s Blue Nile and South Kordofan states, including women detained without charges and being held in custody with their infant children. Rights groups say political prisoners in Sudan are routinely held in detention for indeterminate periods without trial and are often denied access to their families, legal representation and medical care.

Sudan security forces Editor-in-chief of a newspaper to resign, detains Al-Jazeera Bureau chief Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 3/4/2013 – Sudan’s National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) today notified the Editor-in-chief of Al-Sahafa daily newspaper, Al-Nur Ahmed Al-Nur that he must resign his post and see that his name is removed from the paper’s letterhead. The paper which has been established in 1961, received a warning from the authorities that if Al-Nur continues his work as Editor-in-chief in defiance of this directive, the paper will be confiscated. Al-Nur served in this position at Al-Sahafa newspaper since 2007. He also works as a correspondent for the London–based al-Hayat newspaper. Security authorities did not cite reasons for Al-Nur’s suspension, but the newspaper has recently came under enormous pressure in the form of pre-printing censorship and was barred from publishing news reports and articles critical of the ruling National Congress Party or the government. Sudan officially ceased direct press censorship in 2009 but continues to suspend and confiscate newspapers as a way of retaliation if they report on a long list of issues considered sensitive. Newspapers also complain that they continue to receive phone instructions, usually via text messages from the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), ordering them not to report on certain subjects. Last year authorities suspended columnist Haidar Al-Makashfi who works for the same newspaper for 11 months and prohibited him from writing in any newspaper. They also shut down three newspapers including the independent al-Tayar newspaper and two Islamist newspapers - Alwan and al-Rai al-Shaab. Al-Nur said that his suspension is likely due to his clash with one of the security men on publishing news regarding the defense team assigned by the Islamic Movement for the coup attempt detainees, adding that authorities told him that he could continue writing in the newspaper but no longer as an editor-in-chief. Authorities announced last November that they had arrested 13 suspects, including ex-spy chief Salah Gosh and Brigadier General Mohamed Ibrahim Abdel-Galil from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), on suspicion of standing behind a “subversive attempt”. Last month, the trial of military personnel accused of involvement in the attempt began amid intense secrecy. A defense team comprising of Omer Abdalla Elshiekh, Hashim Abubakr Elgaali, and others has been formed. Mekki Elmograbi, President of the non-governmental Sudan Press Freedom (SPF) told Sudan Tribune in an emailed statement that the NISS also summoned Al-Masalami Kabbashi, the Al-Jazeera bureau chief in Khartoum. "They investigated him from morning to evening with some hours for break and prayers," Elmograbi wrote. "The authorities gave things with the right hand and took others with the left hand; they lifted the ban on writers Osman Shabouna and Ishag Fadl Allah, but still three journalists [remain] under the ban, today they banned the Editor of Al-Sahafa from his job" he added. 19

The crackdown comes days after Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir issued an amnesty on political prisoners which resulted in release of seven opposition figures and two ex-NISS officers arrested in connection with in last years’ coup attempt. Bashir also hailed what he said was great freedoms enjoyed by the press in Sudan. "On the media front and due to our conviction that the media is a vital partner we have allowed various media bodies’ ample room and high space to increase the coverage of radio and TV broadcasting. Radio FM stations increases and new satellite TV emerged and the number of newspapers increased" Bashir said at his speech before the national assembly this week. "We have not banned any pen critical [of government] but only those who took advantage of the freedom for demolition, anarchy and crossing red lines" he added.

Women, affirmative action and justice Sudantribune.com, 3/4/2013 – The discussion or debate on Affirmative Action, AA has been quite controversial and may have been unfairly judged or misconceived by many. I subscribe to Affirmative Action application subject to periodical review. Below I shall only share ’success’ stories of Affirmative Action, in a bid to see the humane aspect of it and not the ’bull dozing’ characterization of what many may wrongly perceive AA for. It’s about bringing justice to all and especially the socio-culturally- economically and legally, interalia, excluded-more-than half the population, often. I shall begin here by sharing with you the overwhelming feeling I got, very emotional indeed, seeing and watching Kenya’s Supreme Court and only Lady Justice Njoki Ndungu. In the just concluded Kenya’s March 2013, a precedent was set by six distinguished Supreme Court, SC judges, all male except for one lady justice. The SC is Kenya’s highest court and is part of Kenya’s new constitution promulgated in 2010 and has set record with its first most remarkable ruling on March 30th, 2013 on a presidential petition. Perhaps, the youngest judge among the six judges, the only Supreme Court Lady Justice Njoki Ndungu, watching her during a highly publicized SC proceedings, the graceful lady justice for seven days, hearing her legal comments, remarks and ’feminine’ appeal, I am even more convinced that Affirmative Action for a more conscious women’s inclusion in decision and policy-making processes is the way to go. Several months ago, I followed a highly debated public outcry on the need to include a COMPETENT, yes, competent but FEMALE judge in the Supreme Court of Kenya. Apparently, the Kenya’s judicial system then was ’gender equity blind’ not to have noticed that there was no female judge in the original suggested list of names of the SC judges. Hence, came the name of Lady Justice Njoki Ndungu of Kenya’s SC and her name was ’added’. The simple logical but constitutional argument was Affirmative Action. Lady Justice Njoki became Kenya’s first female Supreme Court Judge. History and JUSTICE was made. Women make up more than 50% of Kenya’s population and Lady Justice Ndungu comes with a long track record on women’s and girls’ rights including the ’famous’ Sexual Harassment Act. Other examples abound, Rwanda with its at least 50% representation in Parliament and in government came through a determined political will after its horrid 1994 Genocide to include women and Affirmative Action to heal, reconcile and build Rwanda. We all know how Rwanda is today considered one of Africa’s fastest growing and stable economy and development. Sure, time will tell us more. So is Uganda, another post-conflict example which has overcome the ’5-year relapse to war stigma’, more so its record fight against HIV/AIDS; ’Who was very instrumental in curbing the scourge and How?’ It has been Ugandan women and through its constitutional and political-willed Affirmative Action. Botswana’s ’Kutla’ traditional rule system presided over currently (for quite a few years now) by a paramount female chief, this also came about through Botswana’s success story of Affirmative Action. The Female Paramount chief, per her own story, lost her paramount chief father so it was decided that her younger brother (being a male) to succeed the father. Her brother also died shortly, and her uncle begun ’lobbying to succeed’ but and given the AA, she decided she is capable and today she presides over tens of small ’kutla’ ruling alongside Botswana’s ’modern’ government; Africa’s ’shinning democracy’ and extremely prosperous economic plans. The ’Kutla’ rule in Botswana is powerfully instrumental.

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The Republic of South Sudan history with Affirmative Action officially begun in August 1998 with the SPLM 1st Women’s Conference, a conference called for by the late Hero Dr. John Garang and fully attended by H.E. Cde President Salva Kiir. The conference brought more than 700 delegates including women leaders and chiefs who deliberated and mandated the SPLM to formulate a policy on women’s greater participation in the public domain through an affirmative action policy. I was an advisor to the said conference as appointed by the Late Hero Dr. John Garang. ’Mama’ Kezia Layinwa, the then SPLM Secretary for Gender and Child-welfare, in a letter (which I still keep) requested me to draft the said Policy based on the August delegates’ resolutions. A policy was subsequently formulated and deliberated on during a December 1998 National Liberation Council meeting. It was passed unanimously paving way for the ’famous 25% SPLM Affirmative Action’. Some fundamental clarifications; firstly, women have thus been reserved the 25% AA due to traditional and historical multi-layered injustices. To protect and preserve the rights of women and girls including in education, training, public participation etc. Not because women are lazy, incompetent or incapable ---- it’s because not all societies, cultures, customs and even personal beliefs of those in power (traditional and ’modern’ or even military) do not regard women as ’equal’ period Regardless of a woman’s competence or her ’counterpart male’s incompetence’ for that matter. She is just not equal and capable to do ’xyz’ assignment. The younger she is, the more negativity against her ’incompetence’. Secondly, the way women and girls are socialized, LARGELY, as I personally found out 1998-2000 in a book titled; ’Overcoming Gender & Conflict Bias, The Case of New Sudan Women’ that in several societies in RSS as insubordinate to men. So women and girls themselves in significant parts of RSS grow up feeling inadequate regardless of whatever the odd one/two ’brave female’ role models maybe. Today, AA is thus a ’large scale, multi-faceted including economic commitment and a constitutional obligation’ on first and foremost, the RSS government to commit itself to justice, equal social order and nation’s HEALTHIER and certainly sustainable building processes and secondly on the South Sudanese society at large. The SPLM, by passing the then AA 25% has committed itself to socio-econo-cultural-legal and development justice to women. The SPLM in 1998 had set a historical record for being the only liberation movement which had adopted such a policy. The onus on it now to fully develop bench-marks to review how much has been achieved and what are the gaps to be addressed. In addition, viable monitoring and evaluation mechanisms need to be developed to facilitate for periodical review. Review; by arguing AA here, am not saying we stay with AA forever! It’s a guiding justice principle for as long as the ’problem’ persists and for as long as policy-makers and ’beneficiaries’ alike not doing their part. Women of RSS are not only the very few handful ’privileged’ educated ones (like myself, BUT WE TOO, HAVE OUR MANY PAINFUL STORIES TO TELL, someday..), BUT she is the rural woman who is responsible for child-bearing under no medical health care, she has to walk long distances to fetch water, fire wood, she has to dig in the farm and she is also expected to overcome socio-cultural barriers, YES BARRIERS to get noticed, to be heard let alone go to school, get some education, training and a job? HOW?!?! Having positive discrimination for women and the other socially excluded including the youth, the physically challenged and minority people is about justice and justice must be seen to be done. It is through Affirmative Action and its various verifiable re-viewable instruments. Suzanne Jambo is a South Sudanese lawyer, communities & human rights activist and is the current SPLM Secretary for External Relations and can be reached via email: [email protected]

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