Press Statement of the United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of Human Rights in the Sudan, Mr. Aristide Nononsi (24.04.2018)

KHARTOUM, Sudan, April 24, 2018 –  Press Statement of the United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of Human Rights in the Sudan, Mr. Aristide Nononsi:

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, I conclude my fifth visit as Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Sudan. I would like to thank all of you for attending this press briefing. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Government of the Sudan for its invitation and cooperation, the Office of the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Khartoum, the United Nations country team and UNAMID for their kind support in facilitating my visit from 14 to 23 April 2018.

During this mission, I visited Khartoum and North Darfur State where I met with a wide variety of stakeholders. In all my meetings with the Government, I have received assurances of cooperation, some commitments to take steps towards implementing the recommendations contained in my report of September 2017. In this regard, I welcome the appointment of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Commissioners of the Sudan National Human Rights Commission, which I hope will enable the Commission to function effectively. Most importantly, I would like to reiterate my call on the Sudanese authorities to ensure that the Commission is functioning in compliance with the Paris Principles relating to the status of national institutions.

Some interlocutors, whom I met, acknowledge some improvement in the human rights situation in the country over these last months, while others remain anxious about the human rights environment in light of the restrictions on fundamental freedoms and rights, including the rights to freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as the general lack of accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations.

In this context, I have expressed concern to government officials in connection with the Sudanese authorities’ reaction to the January and February 2018 protests. I had received reports of human rights defenders, political activists and journalists being arrested and detained in relation to protests to denounce the 2018 budget austerity measures. I was particularly concerned about their physical and psychological condition during the time of their detention. I met with some of them after their recent release following a presidential pardon.

I welcome the decision of their release and encourage the authorities to ensure that all those still arbitrarily detained are released, and no such detentions should happen in the future. I have received assurances from the relevant Sudanese authorities that those who have been released would not be rearrested, charged or prosecuted further.

I also call on the Government to lift restrictions on freedoms of expression and association, and allow civil society actors, as well as political activists to demonstrate peacefully, and engage in public action. The National Security Service should cease using prolonged unlawful detentions to silence human rights defenders, journalists and political activists.

I am of the view that the realization of economic and social rights of Sudanese people is key to long-term stability in the Sudan. I call upon the Government to effectively implement the national poverty reduction strategy in order to address the root causes of inequalities in the country.

I have received information that security forces use violence, intimidation, and other forms of abuses to silence women across the country. These abuses are made worse by the wider context of gender inequality in the Sudanese society and the legal framework that institutionalizes it. Public morality offenses, including indecent dress, discriminate against women and are limiting their movement and role in public life. Humiliating corporal punishments of lashing violate international human rights norms. More specifically, I call on the Sudanese authorities to put an end to the “Kesha” phenomenon, a practice which appears to be an harassment targeting women in Khartoum for alleged indecent dress or street trading by public order security police.

During my meeting with the Unit on Combating Violence against Women, I was made aware of a series of initiatives undertaken to address violence against women. These include the submission to Parliament of an amendment to the Criminal Act aimed at criminalizing female genital mutilation, and the development of a 5-year national plan (2018-2023) focusing on access to justice for women in Darfur. I would like to see these initiatives transform into concrete steps to address violence against women in the Sudan.

I visited Darfur where I met with State authorities, UNAMID and civil society actors. I was informed of a significant decline in military clashes in the region. I commend the Government for having taken positive steps towards improving the security situation. I also commend efforts of State authorities to address community level conflicts and foster social cohesion by drawing diverse communities together through processes of dialogue and consultations. However, I have to note that the root causes of the conflict are still largely unaddressed. In addition, land occupation and violence targeting IDPs, including sexual violence against displaced girls and women, continue to hinder their return to their areas of origin.

I call on the Government to put in place a coordinated response to the issue of IDPs. Such a response should include an important rule of law dimension to ensure accountability for various human rights violations committed against IDPs in Darfur. Impunity for human rights violations continues to send the wrong message to victims, perpetrators, and wider public. I have received assurances from the Acting State Chief Justice and the Special Prosecutor for Darfur Crimes that steps are being taken to address the issue.

I also visited the Shallah Federal Prison in North Darfur State and had the privilege to speak to men and women detained on the basis of Emergency Laws. They have not been presented in or appeared before a court for several months. I call upon the Sudanese authorities to repeal Emergency Laws in Darfur and to review all cases of 117 men and women currently detained in the Shallah Federal Prison in relation to Emergency Laws, with the aim of ensuring compliance with due process and fair trials standards. Should it be found that these cases were not compliant, I appeal for the immediate release of these individuals.

During my interaction with the detainees, I was also made aware of the situation of 56 of them sentenced to death. This number includes a woman whose appeal for presidential pardon was recently rejected. These individuals are at risk of being executed any time. They need protection and international attention must be directed to addressing this issue as a matter of urgency. I would encourage the Government to halt the execution of these individuals, and to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

More broadly, I took the opportunity of my meetings with Sudanese authorities to recall that the Sudan should comply with its international human rights obligations. In this regard, I reiterate my call on the Government to undertake effective measures, including the reform of its current legal framework, to address the serious institutional gaps in the security and justice system in a coordinated manner in order to promote respect for the rule of law and protection of human rights.

In all my meetings with Sudanese authorities, I continued to receive requests for technical assistance to the Government in the field of human rights. Technical assistance and capacity building programmes are, however, capital-intensive and should be provided on the basis of needs assessment. I therefore encourage the Government to facilitate the deployment to the Sudan of an Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ technical assessment mission in order to discuss and agree on areas for possible technical assistance.

In the meantime, I was made aware of the fact that some funding to key government bodies was made by donor States and that technical assistance provided by various United Nations agencies will continue. I would like to reiterate my call on the donor community to increase its financial and technical support to the Government and civil society in order to improve the human rights situation in the country.

I thank you.

South Sudan: Dr. Martin Ella Lomuro appointed as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs (23.04.2018)

South Sudan: Gen. Paul Malong Message – “Re: Condolanences” (20.04.2018)

South Sudan: President Salva Kiir Mayardiit Condolances Message for Gen. James Ajongo (20.04.2018)

South Sudan United Front: Notice to Public and International Community (18.04.2018)

South Sudan: Public Notice – Rumor on Shutdown of MTN Operations (17.04.2018)

SPLM-IO claims the UPDF has returned to South Sudan!

“In peace one is despoiled by the mercenaries, in war by one’s enemies.”Niccolò Machiavelli (The Prince)

There has been speculations and even reports of the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) return to the war-torn republic of South Sudan. President Salva Mayardiit Kiir and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has long-standing friendship and they have helped each other out in the past. This is a continuation of this; there has been reports of technical help and also support of weapons from Uganda. Now, the opposition and rebel force SPLM/A-IO are claiming they have returned.

“Rebels disclosed that Ugandan soldiers are already in Bentiu and warned that more troops should arrive in other locations within days or weeks to help Juba fight against the SPLA-IO. “We have solid information that Ugandan soldiers are now in Bentiu area,” Khamis Mawwil, an officer with the SPLA-IO intelligence branch told the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) in Maiwut. Khamis claims that the armed opposition has a good number of intelligence operatives in Uganda and that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni ordered the return of Ugandan troops to the war-torn young nation. “Uganda’s leader ordered the deployment of his troops to South Sudan, there is no question about that,” Khamis charged. “We will crush them if they don’t want peace,” he vowed” (South Sudan News Agency – ‘Uganda accused of secretly sending troops to South Sudan’ 17.04.2018).

This is not a surprise; this has been a waiting game for the parties. They have both worked slowly towards this. That the UPDF would support the SPLA would be like weapon brothers coming in to crush the all the rebels in the republic.

That the UPDF would support SPLA in their endeavours at this point is to be estimated. Especially, when during the last month, President Museveni said he would support SPLA even if the United States would enact an arms embargo. Therefore, the one who keeps the refugees from the South Sudan. Is also a major part in the reason for the refugees. The safe haven, is also the place where the support of military actions is from.

That should be a warning sign, that the SPLM/A-IG would say it isn’t so, is to be expected. That the UPDF without any mandate would counter it too, but every time the UPDF can be a hired gun in a conflict, they will take it. The need for foreign exchange and be used in mercenaries in foreign land, that is okay in the eyes of the President. UPDF are used in Equatorial Guinea, Yemen, Somalia, Central African Republic, sometimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo and possibly after reports now in South Sudan.

The Ugandan army doesn’t come in peace, but to gain monetary funds from conflict. They are doing this as a service to Kiir and his government. Not for the betterment of the Republic, but to secure their war-lord in South Sudan. The friend of Museveni, the man who is loyal to him. That is what matters. Not peace or justice. No, that comes short in this tale of weapons.

So, I am not shocked for the return of the UPDF in Bentiu area. That was expected, because that is how Museveni acts and one of the vital relations of Kiir. Kiir needs the help from Museveni, and Museveni knows this. Time will tell how long they will stay and what sort of manpower they bring this time around. Peace.

South Sudan: JMEC Statement on HLRF (17.04.2018)

United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Commissioner of Refugees (COR) joint Press Release on return of the first group of Sudanese returnees from Chad (17.04.2018)

This return follows the signing of a tripartite agreement in May 2017 by the governments of Sudan and Chad and United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) for the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees from Chad.

NORTH DARFUR, Sudan, April 17, 2018 – On 14 April 2018, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Commissioner of Refugees (COR) welcomed the first convoy of 53 Sudanese refugees who have returned to Sudan after more than 14 years in exile, in eastern Chad.

Accompanied by Deputy Representative of UNHCR in Chad and Commissioner for Refugees and other senior government officials in Chad, the returnees were warmly received by the Commissioner of Tina locality, the Commissioner of Refugees and UNHCR Representative in Sudan as well as leaders of local administration and community in Tina.

Sudanese refugees fled to Chad following eruption of conflicts in Darfur in 2003 -2004.  Many refugees have indicated their interest to return to Sudan with the stabilization and improvement of general security in Darfur.

This return follows the signing of a tripartite agreement in May 2017 by the governments of Sudan and Chad and UNHCR for the voluntary repatriation of Sudanese refugees from Chad.

The Sudanese returnees were assisted with a reintegration package and transportation from the reception Centre in Tina to their home villages in North Darfur.

The Commissioner of Refugees, Hamad El-Gizouli said: “this is an historic moment to receive the first group of Sudanese returnees from Chad.

I would like to emphasize the importance that the Sudanese Government attaches to the voluntary return of refugees as being the best solution for them so that they can begin to rebuild their life as Sudanese citizens.” 

The Representative of UNHCR in Sudan, Noriko Yoshida said: “It is very moving to see refugees returning to their home country after many years in exile.  I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to the international community to assist the efforts being exerted by the Sudanese government for the sustainable and durable return of the Sudanese refugees from Chad, which would equally benefit internally displaced persons and the local community through promoting peaceful co-existence among them”.

Adam El-Nour Abakar, who left to Chad some 15 years ago and returned home voluntarily said: “I’m so happy to return back to my country with my family.  I really feel comfortable and content.  I cannot thank UNHCR and the Governments of Chad and Sudan enough for facilitating our return to Sudan. I am eager to catch the agricultural season in my home area in Kebkabiya.” 

UNHCR and two Governments concerned are targeting the repatriation of 20,000 refugees from Chad during the course of 2018.  Registration will continue in Chad and refugees will be assisted should they express their intention to return to Sudan.

UNHCR and the Government of Sudan acknowledge the existence of spontaneous returnees from Chad to Sudan, and these return areas are also in need of urgent rehabilitation.

It is to be noted that some 300,000 Sudanese refugees are currently reside in eastern Chad.

South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA): SSOA Position – IGAD Post Phase II Consultation (14.04.2018)