Day: April 21, 2022

The South Sudanese government has appealed to the United Nations Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to intensify its operations and prevent the recurring attacks in the contested oil-producing region.

In an interview with Sudan Tribune on Wednesday, South Sudan’s Minister for East African Affairs, Deng Alor Kuol said Sudan government was informed about the situation Abyei as efforts continue to ensure there is stability and peaceful co-existence of people living in the disputed region.

“Recent developments in Abyei and indeed in other border areas are regrettable. There has been a spike in attacks on areas in South Sudan from the Sudanese side in areas of Northern Bahr El Ghazal, especially in Abyei. These attacks have resulted into loss of lives and destruction of properties. Markets were burnt down, people killed and villages destroyed,” said Kuol.

He added, “These violent activities have forced people who were preparing to clear their farmlands to leave because of repeated attacks”,

The minister said he briefed South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir as well as the Sudanese embassy in Juba about the latest attacks in the disputed region.

He further disclosed that authorities in the region spoke to the leadership and command of the UN mission for Abyei to pacify the contested area.

“UNISFA and its leadership and command have been able to minimize some of the violence against everyday civilians, but there is a feeling from the residents that they are slow to react when there have been massacres and attacks on particular communities like in recent attacks which occurred in the area,” he stressed.

The minister said he is optimistic the Sudanese leadership and UNISFA will carry out an investigation into last week’s attack in which 14 people died.

The attack was carried out by unidentified armed nomads and forces.

The incident is the latest in a series of deadly clashes in Abyei Special Administrative Area in recent months. Despite the presence of foreign troops on the ground, the political situation in northern Abyei, where armed nomads are active, remains dire.

UNISFA is a UN peacekeeping force in Abyei, a contested between Sudan and South Sudan. It’s primary objective is to monitor the border between the two Sudans and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The mission is also authorised to use force in protecting civilians and humanitarian workers in the oil-producing region.

Source: Sudan Tribune

The Islamist Popular Congress Party (PCP) on Wednesday rejected a political initiative endorsed by political groups allied to the al-Bashir regime, saying it aims to consolidate the coup leaders’ grip on power.

An initiative made by the African Center for Governance, Peace and Transformation Studies and the Center for Peace and Development Studies sparked widespread controversy.

The move forced the National Umma Party and the Democratic Unionist Party to mark their distance from a text drafted by some people suspected of being close to the security service, as they said.

In turn, on Wednesday, the PCP rejected the document and underscored that the presence of one of its leading members, Bashir Adam Rahma was not linked to the party.

PCP Spokesman Awad Falestini told the Sudan Tribune that Rahma attended in his capacity as a member of Sudan’s Elders Committee.

“The initiative aimed to hinder the efforts to solve the problems that the country is facing,” said Falestini.

Normally, all the initiatives that have been made by the political forces and alliances have to be submitted to the tripartite mechanism including the UNITAMS, the African Union and the IGAD, which prepare to launch a Sudanese-led dialogue process.

PCP Political Secretary Kamal Omer, in separate statements, criticized the document stressing that it proposes to hold the elections in May 2024 while there is a consensus on 2023.

In addition, Omer said there is a rejection of a coalition government between the civilian and military components while this initiative calls for partnership between the two sides.

This initiative is “a clear “procrastination on the part of bodies that have lost impartiality and nationalistic figures who have lost their will and are working in favour of the military’s grip on power,” he said.

He added that the remainder of the transitional period should not exceed a year.

Also; he stressed that the Sovereign Council must be entirely composed of civilians and a technocrat government with an independent prime minister.

Source: Sudan Tribune

The Commissioner of Yirol West County in South Sudan’s Lakes State, Andrew Acheng has resigned, citing the manner in which he was arrested, humiliated and denied access to his residence.

Acheng’s letter was addressed to the First Vice President Riek Machar and copied to Lakes State governor Rin Tueny Mabor as well as his deputy, Poth Madit Dut.

The ex-commissioner, in the April 14th letter, narrated how he was detained at a military prison, humiliated and allegedly forced out by the governor.

“Your excellency, it has been two months since I was humiliated as the sitting commissioner in Yirol Freedom Square and arbitrarily arrested, put behind the bar in Babur-Zeit Military prison, and forced out of the county by Governor Rin Tueny,” Acheng stated in a letter obtained by Sudan Tribune.

According to the former commissioner, the unilaterally-appointed executive director of the county denied him the right to use his residence.

He cited, in his resignation letter, sabotage and responsibility interference, intimidation and security threat and illegal search of his private residence.

Acheng, however, commended Machar’s efforts to resolve the stand-off.

The First Vice President’s office acknowledged the ex-commissioner’s letter.

Machar’s spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang accused the governor of allegedly been working to undermine the authority of the ex- commissioner.

He said the former commissioner was denied his right to serve the people.

“The leadership of the SPLM-IG, and SPLM – IO accepted the resignation of comrade Andrew Acheng, and we wish him all the best,” said Both.

Until recently, relations between President Salva Kiir and Machar have been restrained over how a unified command structure was to be established.

Source: Sudan Tribune