Category: Rubrique

Sudan’s foreign minister, Ali Karti, has announced that South Sudan’s former vice-president turned rebel leader, Riek Machar, will arrive in Khartoum soon, adding that his visit comes in the framework of regional efforts to restore peace in the neighbouring country.

Machar resides currently in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, the venue of the peace talks since several months. He was received in Nairobi, Djibouti, and Pretoria, respectively, where he held talks with the leaders of those countries in which dismissed accusations that he attempted to overthrow president Salva Kiir in December last year.

The former vice-president also called on the regional leaders to support his plan for democratic political reforms.

The government in Juba which signed a cessation of hostilities agreement since 23 January observes with scepticism the moves of the rebel leader. Officials at different times openly or implicitly accused Khartoum of harbouring or supporting the rebels.

Speaking to the press after his return from Mauritania on Sunday, Karti told reporters that Machar will meet president Omer al-Bashir and government officials to discuss the peace process.

The Sudanese foreign minister denied accusations that his government supported either side in the conflict.

“Sudan has no interest in the continuation of the war in the South (Sudan) and it does not support one party against the other,” Karti said adding, “our interest that both sides sign a peace agreement, and we hope it would be soon.”

Karti did not give the date of the visit but unconfirmed reports say he may arrive in Khartoum on Tuesday.

Machar’s spokesperson James Gatdet Dak when contacted by phone on Sunday said his boss would visit Khartoum in the next few days.

sudantribune

South Sudanese rebels led by the former vice-president, Riek Machar have downplayed calls to relocate the country’s national capital to Wau in Western Bhar el Ghazal state, saying the proposal was unjustified and unnecessary.

Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal state, Rizik Zechariah Hassan, last week publicly proposed that the national capital should be relocated from Juba in Central Equatoria state to his home state capital after meeting president Salva Kiir in Wau.

During his 16 July visit to the state, president Kiir hinted the desire to move to Wau and commended the host communities for maintaining unity and stability.

“You intermingle here as your tribes of Western Bahr el-Ghazal to the extent that we will bring you other people from other places. If your area becomes good and there is security, many people will come here,” president Kiir was quoted in the media as telling community elders from Baggari payam in Wau.

Sources in the government also revealed that the idea was discussed during the visit to the state by the president, adding that the governor was made to sell the idea in the country in order to make a proponent decision look like an initiative from the state government and host communities.

Observers said the decision was prompted by fear of increasing insecurity in Juba given the growing odd relationship between the national and state governments over proposed federalism as well as with host communities in Juba over lands.

sudantribune

Burundi’s national assembly has passed a revised budget bill proposing new taxes on essential items despite resistance from a Tutsi-led faction in the government and Hutu opposition legislators, who say it will worsen living conditions.

Under the proposal, wines, liquors, cosmetics, tobacco and mobile phones would pay a $0.25 “new stamp tax”, and washed coffee, sugar, flour and mineral water would also have new taxes imposed.

There would also be a new fuel and airport departure tax.

The government argues the measures would help reduce the deficit expected in revenues this year. Burundi’s budget for this fiscal year had predicted tax revenues of 633 billion francs ($411 million), but the government expects a shortfall of 44 billion francs.

Finance Minister Tabu Abdallah Manirakiza has said the new taxes would raise funds for new roads and power supplies.

Burundi has suffered a power shortage because of a sharp fall in water reserves in the country’s main hydroelectric plant because of a drought.

The country is also trying to wean itself off international donors who provide 50 percent of the country’s budget resources.

Only parliament members of the ruling CNDD-FDD party approved the bill late on Wednesday.

agencies

A new round of peace talks between South Sudan’s warring parties has been delayed, but officials from the rebel movement and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) say they expect negotiations to resume on Monday.

The fourth round of negotiations between the South Sudanese government and the rebel faction led by former vice-president Riek Machar were scheduled to resume on Wednesday 30 July in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

“The talks are postponed to Monday, 4 August,” reliable sources told Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity as they are not authorised to speak to the media.

IGAD, which is mediating the two conflicting parties, hasn’t yet officially given an explanation for the postponement.

In Juba, South Sudan’s Information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth, attributed the postponement of talks to logistical issues and the Eid-el-Fitr Muslim holiday.

However, the minister in a short statement broadcast by South Sudan Television on Wednesday reiterated Juba commitment to the peace process and expressed hopes to be in Addis Ababa between Thursday and Friday.

He further added the circumstances under which the talks would resume remain unclear.

“We still don’t know whether it will be multi stakeholder dialogue or it will be limited to only the two parties, I mean rebels and the government. This is something we will know when we are in Addis,” Lueth further said on Wednesday.

The rebel delegation in Addis said they are ready to resume talks with the government delegation when the government side arrive at the venue of the peace talks.

A rebel official, Miyong Kuon, aide to the rebel leader, said logistical arrangement presumably was a reason for the postponement of the talks. He further reaffirmed their readiness to rejoin the negotiating table at any time.

sudantribune

Burundi’s ruling party is waging a “relentless campaign of intimidation” against its critics ahead of presidential elections next year, Amnesty International says.

Its youth wing was responsible for attacking and killing opposition supporters, the rights group said.

The CNDD-FDD party has not has yet commented on the allegation.

Burundi is recovering from a brutal civil war that ended with President Pierre Nkurunziza’s election in 2005.

Speculation is rife that he intends to run for a third term in the June 2015 election, despite opposition claims that this would be in violation of the constitution which imposes a two-term limit.

The CNDD-FDD’s youth wing, Imbonerakure, has “strong links to the security services and are responsible for perpetrating human rights abuses with impunity”, Amnesty said in a report.

At least one opposition member was shot and killed by two soldiers on the orders of a local official and an Imbonerakure member, Amnesty said.

“Another opposition member had his teeth knocked out during a beating,” the report said.

wirestory

The Ethiopian government on Sunday dismissed allegations that it was providing support to opposition forces led by South Sudanese former vice-president Riek Machar.

Last week, Gordon Buay, an unofficial South Sudan army (SPLA) spokesperson claimed Addis Ababa was allegedly providing medical treatment to wounded opposition fighters in its Gambela region.

He specifically cited the recent clashes between government forces over control of Upper Nile’s key town of Nasir, alleging that rebels wounded in the battle found their way to Gambella town for medical aid.

“More than 54 wounded rebels are being treated in Gambella right now”, claimed Buay in a statement.

He urged the Ethiopian government to respect the border security agreement signed with Juba in 2010, and keep wounded rebels out of their territory.

“Therefore, the Ethiopian government must implement the agreement by preventing wounded rebels to have access to hospitals in Ethiopia, particularly in Gambella region,” further noted the statement.

Officials from Gambela could not easily be reached for reactions on the matter.

A senior Ethiopian government official, however, dismissed Buay’s claims that South Sudanese rebels were allegedly receiving support from the East African country or using its territory to distabilise the new nation.

wirestory