March 25, 2021 (JUBA) - The head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan will meet with the head of the SPLM - North Abdel Aziz al-Hilu in Juba Saturday to discuss the stalled peace process, said the chief mediator. Al-Burhan had previously met Al-Hilu at Juba Airport on March 3. The holdout movement, at the time, said that the meeting aimed at breaking the deadlock and revitalizing the stalled peace process between the two parties since August 2020. "The Chairman of (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_SECONDARY, Peace talks with SPLM-N, Darfur groups

March 25, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese Ministry of Interior distanced itself from calls by the Khartoum state police chief to reinstate the public order law and urged police commanders to show discipline. The Director-General of the Police Forces recently called for granting police officers full immunity enabling them to end insecurity. Also, he expressed dissatisfaction with what he called the «Sudanese feeling of increased freedom after the Revolution». In the same vein, the Khartoum (...) - News

March 25, 2021 (JUBA) – A group of the organized forces in South Sudan have warned of an imminent “chaotic transition”, if President Salva Kiir fails to manage his political exit from power. The warning is contained in March 17, 2021 letter to the South Sudanese leader. The letter was authored by a «patriotic» officers of the mother army (SPLA), who now serve in various units of the national army (SSPDF), national security service, police and on reserve. “Your Excellency, we have critically (...) - News / South Sudan, Military

March 24, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan and United Nation agreed to start the civilian use of UNAMID team sites immediately after the evacuation of the peacekeepers to avoid vandalism attacks. On 4 March, Atul Khare head of the UN Department of Operational Support (DOS) signed a Framework Agreement with the Sudanese Government on the handover of UNAMID team sites and assets, intended exclusively for civilian use. In an audio interview with the UN News Service released on Tuesday Khare said (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_DISPLAY

March 24, 2021 (JUBA) - A South Sudanese official has dismissed claims that President Salva Kiir has imposed himself on the citizens. The Minister for the Presidency, Nhial Deng Nhial was reacting to renowned South Sudanese activist, Peter Biar Ajak's recent address before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington. Biar, once detained by the country's national security service, accused President Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar of imposing themselves on the people of (...) - News

March 24, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Cabinet Affairs Minister Khalid Omer Youssef has tested positive for the coronavirus, on Wednesday after participating in a meeting with Hamdok and several ministers. «The Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Khalid Omer Youssef, will be in self-isolation at his home after he tested positive for COVID-19 this Wednesday evening,» said a brief statement. On Wednesday Youssef took part in a meeting to discuss the preparations for the Paris conference for Sudan (...) - News

March 23, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan unveiled on Tuesday an Emirati initiative to end the border tensions with Ethiopia and to reach an agreement over Renaissance Dam. Also, the Ethiopian Prime Minister stated that his country does not want to go to war against Sudan. Relations between Ethiopia and Sudan are strained due to the border dispute over the Fashaqa area. Ethiopian recently had claimed the border area and rejected the 1902 and 1972 agreements. Meanwhile, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt (...) - News / Ethiopia, FRONT_PAGE_DISPLAY

March 23, 2021 (JUBA) - Five SPLA-IO soldiers were killed Mondy in an attack by unknown gunmen on their cantonment site in Eastern Equatoria State. According to Lam Paul Gabriel, SPLA-IO Deputy Military Spokesperson, the attack took place in the morning hours on the SPLA-IO in the cantonment base of Lowereng in Kapoeta South and burned down. «This surprised attack led to the loss of five SPLA-IO soldiers including the commander of the cantonment site, Gabriel said. »The attackers are yet (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_SECONDARY

March 23, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - A U.S. diplomat said on Tuesday he discussed with Sudanese officials ways to develop a partnership to build a more capable, transparent, and accountable civilian-led military in Sudan. On 26 January, Ambassador Andrew Young accompanied by U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, U.S. Africa Command director of intelligence met in Khartoum with the head of Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and Sudanese army commanders. "Among the (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_SECONDARY

Council Stresses Need for Justice, Rights Monitoring, Civilian Protection by Nyagoah Tut Pur South Sudan should heed last week's call from the UN Security Council to establish a hybrid court with the African Union, support the protection of civilians, and cease interfering with the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan's (UNMISS) monitoring of human rights abuses. That message came last week in a resolution that renewed the mandate of UNMISS, adopted under the Security Council's (...) - Comment & Analysis

March 22, 2021 (JUBA) - The European Union (EU) has imposed sanctions on a South Sudanese army general allegedly involved in serious human rights violations, such as arbitrary executions and killings. The EU, in a statement issued on Monday, said Major Gen. Gabriel Moses Lokujo of South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF), directed the abduction and execution of three armed opposition (SPLA-IO) officers in May last year. "As a consequence, several deaths and injuries were reported on (...) - News / South Sudan, FRONT_PAGE_SECONDARY, Military

March 22, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's national census will include the areas under the control of the armed movements to provide complete and accurate census information. Last February, Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok announced his government's plan to conduct a national population and agricultural census from April 2021 until April 2022. In statements to the Sudan News Agency SUNA on Monday, the Director of the Sixth Population and Housing Census, Alnaim Suleiman Abbas, said that the census (...) - News / Democratic Transition in Sudan

March 22, 2021 (JUBA) - Police in South Sudan and Ethiopia have agreed to work together to fight cross-border crimes and ensure security on borders. South Sudan's police spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Justin was quoted saying the agreement includes cooperation on security intelligence, information sharing and the control of organized crimes. The accord, he added, also involves training of police officers in both nations. South Sudan police chief Gen. Majak Akech Malok and Ethiopian police (...) - News / Diplomacy - International Relations, Ethiopia, South Sudan

March 20, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Saudi Arabia and Sudan kicked off on Sunday biannual joint naval exercises dubbed «Falak 4». The Sudanese Naval Forces units participating in the maritime drills arrived at King Faisal Naval Base in Jeddah Governorate on Friday. In a statement issued by the Sudanese military media, the commander of the participating Sudanese naval forces, Brigadier General Alaa al-Din Abdallah, stated that the exercise is a good opportunity for the exchange of experiences and (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_SECONDARY, Saudi Arabia

March 20, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sovereign Council, Commander in Chief of the Sudanese Army reiterated on Sunday that all the armed groups will merge with the reformed national army at the end of the transition. In his speech to the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) officers of the Khartoum North Military Region, al-Burhan spoke at length about reforming the armed forces and the need to rebuilding it on new foundations without favouring any component of the Sudanese (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_DISPLAY

March 21, 2021 (JUBA/KHARTOUM) - A delegation from South Sudan's Civil Registry Directorate in the Ministry of Interior are on a five-day study visit to Sudan's capital, Khartoum to learn about Civil Registry and Identity Management from their counterparts. The visit, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said, is intended to provide an opportunity for members of the Civil Registry's Technical Working Group to enhance their knowledge on the operational aspect of Civil (...) - News / South Sudan, International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Telling the truth get you in trouble and lying set you free, this is the tragedy of South Sudan By Lul Gatkuoth Gatluak Telling the truth in South Sudan is a row to unforgivable punishment. On Sunday evening, a good number of informants in Juba had indicated, the Ex-Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs who is currently serving as a Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk is facing an arrest warrant in the capital Juba. According to the informants, a huge (...) - Comment & Analysis / Governance & Civil Service

Let us Honour and Celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on its 55th Anniversary on SUNDAY, March the 21st 2021 By Mahmoud A. Suleiman Do we know that March 21 is the International Convention/Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD)? On this day in 1960, police opened fire on a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against «apartheid laws,» killing 69 people. In 1966, on the occasion of the proclamation of the (...) - Comment & Analysis

March 20, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan Armed Forces, Saturday defended the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) saying they protect the revolution and democratic transition in Sudan. Al-Burhan addressed on Saturday 3000 SRF militiamen who ended a training course in the military college before heading to Darfur to take part in the civilians' protection force the government decided to deploy in the region to (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_DISPLAY

March 20, 2021 (GENEVA) - The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and partners are appealing for $1.2 billion to provide vital humanitarian assistance for more than 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees living in five neighbouring countries in 2021. South Sudan gained independence a decade ago, but millions of its population are still displaced inside or outside the country. The crisis continues to be a children's one with more than 65 per cent of the refugee population under 18, (...) - News / South Sudan, Humanitarian

March 20, 2021 (NYALA) - The Coordinator of Darfur Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees accused the Governor of South Darfur of forming and financing tribal militias to dismantle IDPs camps. “Why the (transitional) government does not keep an eye on the South Darfur Governor, and hold him accountable for his criminal acts and the formation of tribal militias to dismantle the (IDPs) camps,” said Yaqoub Mohamed Abdallah Fury, the general coordinator, in a statement extended to the Sudan (...) - News

March 19, 2021 (JUBA) - South Sudan on Friday moved to Juba a popular singer arrested and detained in the Western Bahr el Ghazal capital, Wau, despite public protests. Family members told Sudan Tribune that Larson Angok was badly handled. «The way they treated him today became a great concern to us as the family, but we appeal to members of the public to remain calm. We are following the case with the authorities», the singer's brother said in an interview. The director of the Criminal (...) - News

March 20, 2021(NAIROBI) – Severe cuts to British aid budget to South Sudan will cost lives as the country teeters on the brink of famine, the Archbishop of Wales, Rev. John Davies warned. In a joint appeal with Christian Aid, the religious leader called on the British government to halt its proposed 59% cut in aid to South Sudan, arguing that it would “tip the country into deep crisis”. “I understand the need for fiscal responsibility, but these are the wrong cuts, at the wrong time, for the (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_SECONDARY, South Sudan, Famine

March 19, 2021 (JUBA) - 24 soldiers and rebel fighter were killed during recent clashes between government and rebels forces in Central and Western Equatoria states of South Sudan. According to a statement extended to Sudan Tribune by the National Salvation Front (NAS) Spokesman on Friday, the fighting broke out near Mugwo Payam of Central Equatoria State and Movolo area of Western Equatoria State on 18 and 14 March respectively. Samuel Manase said on 18 March NAS fighters repelled an (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_SECONDARY

March 19, 2021 (JUBA) - Kuol Manyang Juuk, Senior Presidential Adviser in South Sudan said the ruling party of President Salva Kiir, SPLM, has been hijacked by the former ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in Sudan. Juuk who is one of the first South Sudanese to join the late John Garang in December 1983 to establish the SPLM/A spoke publically about the ongoing power struggle in the entourage of President Kiir during a video-interview with a South Sudanese journalist Mathiang Cirilo (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_DISPLAY

March 19, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese Foreign Minister held talks with her counterpart in Comoros to explain Sudan's position regarding the ongoing negotiations on the Renaissance Dam between Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia. Mariam al-Mahdi arrived in the Comoros capital, Moroni, where she was received by Dhoihir Dhoulkamal, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Union of Comoros, on Friday. The foreign ministry said in a statement released in Khartoum that al-Mahdi held (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_SECONDARY, Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD)

March 18, 2021 (JUBA) - The International Organization for Migration, (IOM) on Thursday handed over 100 tablets to South Sudan National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in preparation for the upcoming Population Estimation Survey (PES) in the country. PES is hybrid census that will provide updated data on the country's population. The survey which will be conducted in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the initial step in the broader preparedness for conducting the (...) - News / South Sudan, International Organization for Migration (IOM)

March 18, 2021 (NAIROBI) – South Sudan's Vice President in the country's unity government, Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior has contracted and tested positive for Covid-19, her office said. Nyandeng, who is in-charge of the gender and youth cluster, is currently in Nairobi, Kenya, where she confirmed contracting the virus. She said she remains in isolation to monitor her health condition. «I am feeling well now. My oxygen level is good, it is just the cough and the sore throat,» Nyandeng said (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_SECONDARY, South Sudan, Coronavirus

March 18, 2021 (NYALA) - The former hybrid peacekeeping mission handed over its team site in the Kalma area of South Darfur State to the Sudanese authorities on Thursday, after a week of delay. In a statement issued on Thursday, UNAMID said the handover ceremony of the Kalma site took place in the presence of representatives from the Government's Joint Taskforce, local officials, and representatives of the community. "The handover documents were signed by Mr Houston Fergusson, the Director (...) - News / Darfur peacekeeping mission (UNAMID)

March 17, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok announced that military companies operating in the civilian sector will be placed under the supervision of the transitional government. On Wednesday, Hamdok visited the Military Industry Corporation (MIC) Wednesday accompanied by several ministers and the director-general of the corporation and inspected the Yarmouk Industrial Complex factories. In a statement issued after the visit, the Minister of Information and (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_SECONDARY

March 17, 2021 (NAIROBI) – The former Secretary-General of South Sudan ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), Pagan Amum has accused president Salva Kiir of dividing citizens. He made the remarks while addressing members of the South Sudan United Front (SSUF) in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi on Tuesday. “[Salva] Kiir is applying policies that are dividing our people. We apply policies that unite our people. We must unite. All of us must be united and we must build this country for (...) - News / Politics, South Sudan

March 17, 2021 (JUBA) – A former adviser to South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has urged the country's ruling party (SPLM) leader to step down and peacefully hand over power. Addressing a group of the country's elders on Sunday, Daniel Awet Akot said the South Sudanese leader should hand over power to presidential affairs minister, Nhial Deng Nhial. He described those currently leading the country as “mentally incapacitated and exhausted” to continue serving citizens. “When we call for the (...) - News / FRONT_PAGE_SECONDARY, South Sudan, Governance & Civil Service

March 17, 2021 (KHARTOUM) - The Ethiopian government must recognize the border treaty of 1902 before negotiating with Sudan, said Abdel Fattah al-Burhan head of the Sovereign Council on Wednesday. The government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says they do not recognize the border deal of 1902 and 1972, claiming the ownership of the fertile Al-Fashaga area. The claim came after a series of clashes that started in April 2020 between the Sudanese army and Ethiopian army or the Fana (...) - News / Ethiopia, FRONT_PAGE_DISPLAY

March 17, 2021 (JUBA) – The opposition National Salvation Front (NAS)s led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo has accused the South Sudanese army (SSPDF) of military offensives on its positions. “On 14th March 2021 at around 10: 45 am, a contingent of SSPDF from Loka Round attacked NAS forward tactical base. NAS combatants fought back and repulsed the attackers forcing them to retreat back to their position. Two (2) SSPDF soldiers were killed; several others suffered injuries and one (1) NAS combatant (...) - News / National Salvation Front (NAS), Military

March 16, 2021 (JUBA) - The governor of South Sudan's Upper Nile state, Budhok Nyang Kur has appointed the mayor of Malakal town despite protest from a section of the opposition alliance in the coalition government. Kur appointed Francis Nynyang Awok Ajang in a decree issued on Monday. The National Democratic Movement (NDM), a member of South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), questioned the decision to divide up the area. The opposition group cited the capital, Juba as the basis for (...) - News / Upper Nile State, Politics