Day: October 28, 2021

More than 100 traditional leaders were part of a five-day workshop on peaceful coexistence for effective participation of the community in development in Mundri East County of Western Equatoria state over the weekend.

The workshop brought together chiefs from all payams of Mundri East County and was organized through support from the county commissioner’s office.

Speaking during the closing in Kediba on Saturday, the chief of Kediba Boma, Chief William Kebiir said, “This workshop we attended was good and there are issues which we have learned from it. I think it will help us and am appealing for more workshops in the future.”

Chief Repent Awi of Witto Boma said, “We must join hands and make peace possible. No one can stay alone, we need to join hands and be together.”

Meanwhile, the County Commissioner of Mundri East Margret Fozia urged the chiefs and the people of Mundri West to adopt a culture of peaceful co-existence.

“Change must take place, next year we do not want relief in Mundri East unless if it is caused by natural disasters. I will accept the help to come from Payam to Payam before any person comes in with help,” said Fozia.

Fozia urged the chiefs to implement lessons from the workshop and become peace ambassadors.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

South Sudan’s Warrap state government and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) conducted a two-day training on the importance of peace and reconciliation in Kuajok town on Monday.

The training which brought 80 participants including chiefs from all counties of Tonj East, Tonj North and Tonj South, Twic and Gogrial counties ended yesterday.

Its main aim was to enhance peace and tranquility among the communities of Lou Paher, Luachjang, and Thiik who have been fighting each other since last year.

Warrap State Governor, Aleu Ayieny Aleu, while addressing the participants urged his people to embrace peace which would allow infrastructural development including roads, schools, and health facilities to take place.

Mary Angara, one of the participants, said she came from Marial Lou to attend the training and urged the three communities to embrace peaceful coexistence.

Another participant, Ayak Ater, appreciated UNMISS and said, “We need peace, fighting every day can’t take us anywhere. If you don’t need peace, then you are not born by a woman. We pray to God to bring us peace.”

Tonj East County commissioner John Deng Kok said the participants agreed to preach peace to their communities.

“During the presentation of the root causes of the conflict, the communities agreed to embrace peace and take peace home. The current chiefs and cattle camp leaders understood that conflict was not beneficial and they have appealed to the government to provide military forces to help county commissioners to restore peace,” he said.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Thursday requested the UN Secretary-General to set up a dedicated team to assist the electoral process in South Sudan towards the country’s democratic future.

The 15-member organ endorsed a presidential statement (to be issued as document S/PRST/2021/20), presented by Kenya, Council President for October, by which the Secretary-General is requested to establish an integrated electoral assistance team led by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), in support of the electoral road map detailed in the 2018 peace agreement, the UN said.

The UNSC further underscored that elections must be preceded by an inclusive, transparent constitution-drafting process, carried out in an environment that respects freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, and encourages civic engagement.

The Council then urged the South Sudanese authorities to make progress on key milestones, including the necessary security arrangements, the establishment of the legal framework for elections, and the establishment of a functioning National Election Commission both in Juba and at the subnational level.

UNSC on Abyei

The mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and its support to the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, which monitors the demilitarized zone along the border between Sudan and South Sudan will expire on November 15, 2021.

The statement quoted Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, as saying that the United Nations strategic review of UNISFA proposes two viable options for the reconfiguration of the mission. One would keep overall force numbers close to what they are currently, and the second would slightly reduce the troop ceiling, a move that will require more operational adjustments but should encourage Sudan and South Sudan to move forward on outstanding issues with increased urgency.

Lacroix further recommended that the UN establish a rule of law support strategy, and keep the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism intact, adding that negotiations towards a political settlement concerning Abyei remain crucial building blocks towards an exit strategy for UNISFA.

On the developments in Khartoum, Lacroix said: “It is too early to know what the impact of this week’s developments… will mean for UNISFA on a day-to-day basis.” But all parties in Sudan are and have been, strong supporters of the Force, he said, noting that planning towards a full replacement of the current military contingent with a multinational one will continue in full speed.

The members of the UNSC condemned the military coup in Sudan, with many of them saying it is a great loss for the Sudanese people who have worked hard for democratic transition and it could potentially destabilize the wider region.

Speaking after Council members, South Sudan’s representative Akuei Malwal expressed his deepest condolences to the family and UNISFA for the peacekeeper who lost his life in Gok Machar.

He said South Sudan, the African Union, and the United Nations should also determine an interim legal framework that would regulate operations of international organizations in the Abyei Area, including issuing visas and other documents.

Malwal pointed out that the repatriation program to resettle Dinka Ngok, who have been living as refugees and displaced persons, to their original homes should be agreed upon and implemented.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

Sudan remains in the grip of the military who took over power in a coup on Monday. Detentions are continuing, while steering bodies of government and non-government institutions have been dissolved. Flights at the Khartoum International Airport reportedly resumed on Wednesday.

Most bridges in Khartoum remained closed, and streets remained empty, except for military vehicles and groups of protesters blocking main streets. The protests grew into demonstrations in the evening.

Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan announced on Tuesday that all steering boards and committees in government institutions, unions, professional associations, as well as the employers’ union have been dissolved.

On Tuesday as well, the Civil Aviation Authority issued a circular suspending all incoming and outgoing flights at Khartoum International Airport until October 30. But later that day, they announced that flights would resume on Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday afternoon, the authorities partially restored telecommunications and the internet, after an outage of more than 30 hours. The network was quickly overstressed. Those who managed to connect to the internet, could see a large number of video clips posted of the street protests that erupted on Monday following the coup. A large number of state governors condemned the coup on their Facebook pages.

Yesterday, the internet services were blocked again. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan reported this morning that internet provider Zain is working sporadically. “This is affecting the operations of humanitarian organisations, with staff implementing alternative work modalities (where internet allows), and critical staff are working in their offices,” the UN agency stated.

Detentions continue

The military and security forces continued their massive campaign of detentions against political leaders, journalists, and activists, while Prime Minister Hamdok was reportedly returned to his home on Tuesday.

He was held on Monday morning, allegedly after he refused to issue a statement in support of the coup, and moved to an unknown location.

On Monday evening, Siddig El Sadig El Mahdi, a leading member of the National Umma Party, and Ismail El Taj of the Sudanese Professionals Association were detained.

Sources reported as well that Sovereignty Council member Mohamed El Taayshi and members of his office were held on Tuesday, following statements he made against the coup. On Wednesday, Minister of Health Omar El Najeeb, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Yasir Abbas, and Advisor to the Prime Minister, Hasan Nasrallah were detained following their return from Port Sudan.

Military forces are reported to have been going house to house in Khartoum detaining activists and protest organisers. The Sudanese Teachers Committee announced the detention of its president, Yasin Hasan Abdelkarim, on Tuesday.

The authorities also held journalist Fayez El Seleik and Sudan TV staff member Maher Abuljoukh.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Sudanese Journalists Network condemned the closing of telecommunications and the internet, “that prevent the people from their right to freely exchange information”.

The network also condemned “the continued targeting of journalists and preventing them from carrying out their duty to cover and obtain information”, and the detention of El Seleik and Abuljoukh, “in a way that recalls the practices of the former regime in dealing with journalists”.

According to the network, the cutting off of the telecommunications and the internet “enables the militiamen behind the coup regime, its security apparatus and its shadow brigades, to commit even more crimes against the Sudanese and the forces of the revolution, and to hide the evidence that proves their involvement in mass attacks like the massacre of the [June 3, 2019] sit-in”.

Source: Radio Dabanga

Authorities in Melut County of South Sudan’s Upper Nile State said about 200 oil wells in the Paloch oil field have been severely affected by floods and are out of service.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, Melut County Commissioner Deng Jo Ngok said the situation in the area is dire and concerted efforts are needed to reduce flood impact in the county.

He said most parts of his county, including 200 oil wells have been inundated by the floods.

“We hope that all sectors will move to confront this disaster,” he said.

Jo warned that if the floods continue, the population and environment will suffer from massive pollution, noting that the people cannot access clean water due to partial water pollution.

For his part, Doctor Ajang Deng, the director of health services in Melut Primary Health Centre, described the situation as floodwaters continue to rise.

He said health centers in the Galdra, Paloch, and Panomdeid areas have become inaccessible due to the floods.

“Under these circumstances, we expect the emergence of diseases such as malaria, diarrhea, and cholera amidst a lack of medicines in health facilities in the county,” he warned.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

Protests continued in Khartoum and the states following the military coup on Monday, while main roads and bridges in the capital remain blocked by military forces. New nationwide Marches of the Millions are planned for Saturday. Sudanese holdout rebel leaders, ambassadors, and communities abroad all condemned the overthrow, while eastern Sudanese leaders seem to welcome the coup.

Street protests against the military continued in particular in Khartoum and Atbara in northern Sudan.

The main roads such as El Sitteen Street in Khartoum and El Maouna Street in Khartoum North, and most of the bridges, remain closed. The majority of government institutions have stopped working, and most of the travel between Khartoum and the states has stopped. A large number of professional groups, unions, and associations announced strikes and other civil disobedience actions.

As telephone calls from abroad are still possible, Radio Dabanga managed to reach sources in various parts of Sudan. They reported “a complete paralysis” in government and educational institutions in the country, as many people responded to the calls by the Sudanese Professionals Association, the driving force behind the 2018 December Revolution, for civil disobedience actions.

Some roads in the capital witnessed hit-and-run actions between troops and protesters around the barricades. Military forces fired live ammunition in neighbourhoods in the southern part of Khartoum to remove the road blocks set up by protesters.

An unknown number of demonstrators sustained bullet wounds. Many were detained. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan reported this morning that seven people have died in the protests so far. At least 170 people have been injured. Hospitals in Khartoum are calling on the Sudanese to donate blood, and on medics to help out treating the wounded.

Small demonstrations were witnessed in Khartoum on Wednesday. They grew much larger in the evening.

Members of the Resistance Committees and other activists continue their preparations and calls for the Marches of the Millions protests against the military planned for Saturday – though military forces are reported to have been going house to house in the Sudanese capital detaining protest organisers.

The Joint Chamber of Marches of the Millions for Civilian Rule and Democratic Transition posted its “Revolutionary Escalation Schedule” on social media on Monday, before the internet went down. That day “Trade Unions and Facilitating Committees” were to hold public protest speeches and vigils in the entire country.

On Tuesday and Wednesday members of Resistance Committees would arrange speeches in public places on “the completion of the governance structures, the formation of a Revolutionary Parliament, and handing over the chairmanship of the Sovereignty Council to civilians.

More protest vigils are to be held on Thursday and Friday, demanding a civilian government and the establishment of a transitional parliament. More demos are planned for Friday night, as a prelude to the Marches of the Millions on Saturday.

In various places abroad, Sudanese held protest vigils in support of a civilian government in their country. The hashtags Oct30March (???????30??????#), No Way Back (?????_???????#), and Complete Civil Disobedience (???????_??????_??????#) are circulated widely on the internet.

Condemnations

Eight of Sudan’s ambassadors abroad condemned “the brutal military coup against the revolution” in a joint statement on Tuesday.

The Sudanese ambassadors to the European Union, the United Nations in Geneva, Belgium, France, Switzerland, South Africa, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and China welcomed the strong international reactions, called for international support, and affirmed that “the Sudanese embassies are embassies for the Sudanese people and their revolution”.

Abdelaziz El Hilu, leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N El Hilu) also denounced the coup. “Declaring a State of Emergency undermines the chances of peace and stability in the country,” he said in a statement on Tuesday. He called on SPLM-N “members, allies, and the Sudanese to take to the streets and officially resist the coup”, and on “patriots in the Sudan Armed Forces to protect the people”.

The movement called for the immediate release of PM Hamdok [who was allowed to return home yesterday] and all others who were “arbitrarily detained”. It further condemned the behaviour of the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces in dealing with people who “peacefully demonstrate against the coup”.

The mainstream Sudan Liberation Movement under the leadership of Abdelwahid El Nur (SLM-AW) also condemned “the reckless coup”, and called on the Sudanese to resist it. In a statement issued by its president on Tuesday, the movement demanded the immediate release of Hamdok and handing over the reins of power to a civilian government.

It called on “all political and civilian forces to unite, forget the differences, and work as one to defeat the coup and restore the hijacked revolution”.

On Tuesday as well, the Democratic Unionist Party demanded “the immediate release of all political detainees”, and urged the parties to return to the negotiating room to overcome this national impasse.

Eastern Sudan protests

There have been conflicting reports about the opening of the Red Sea ports and the Port Sudan-Khartoum highway in eastern Sudan that were blocked 42 days ago by angry Beja activists in protest against the Eastern Sudan Track protocol of the October 2020 Juba Peace Agreement.

Sources from Port Sudan reported that ports and roads were partially opened to lorries after the speech of coup leader Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan on Tuesday.

Members of the High Council of Beja Nazirs and Independent Chieftains allowed the passage of lorries carrying humanitarian aid items and other suspended materials. In a press statement, they said they are waiting for the return of the government delegation to further discuss their demands.

According to OCHA Sudan this morning, “A convoy with 29 containers of humanitarian cargo left Port Sudan on 26 October and is on its way to its final destination.”

Beja Nazir Karar Askar said that the closure of the ports and the Port Sudan-Khartoum highway that entered its the 41st day yesterday, will continue until their demands, the cancellation of the Eastern Sudan Track protocol of the October 2020 Juba Peace Agreement and the establishment of a new negotiating platform for eastern Sudan, have been met.

The head of the council, Nazir Sayed Tirik, announced his support for El Burhan on Tuesday, after the coup leader acknowledged the political demands of the Beja leaders concerning participation in the government. Tirik pledged that they will ease the blocking of the ports and the highway as soon as a part of their demands have been agreed on.

Source: Radio Dabanga