South Sudan voices alarm over US warning to businesses about the risks of business dealings

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: No matter what the UN, US et al want to impose on South Sudan and pressure it into doing in the coming year, Messrs Kiir and Machar are the best and most experienced leaders to steer South Sudan through global recession and peace. Everyone's time could be best spent on working to hold South Sudan together and stop civil war in Sudan.

The last thing South Sudan needs is Americans breathing down its neck and twisting arms for a democracy that doesn't work in Africa. I say, African solutions to African problems! Libya's Col Gaddafi strongly supported a United States of Africa and championed African land for African people!

All African states are members of the African Union.  

Map of the African continent as in 2011-07. -Wikipedia

_________________________

From AFP News via The Barron’s Daily

By AFP - Agence France Presse
Dated Tuesday 15 August 2023 - here is a full copy:

S.Sudan Voices Alarm Over US Warning To Businesses

South Sudan voiced alarm on Tuesday over a US warning about the risks of business dealings in the troubled country, which is facing a myriad of problems more than a decade after independence.

The United States and South Sudan's other international partners have been piling pressure on its leaders over their failure to meet a raft of deadlines in the country's transition process.

The government in Juba said it was "seriously alarmed" by the advisory issued on Monday to US businesses in South Sudan.

The US Departments of State, Commerce and Labor warned of "the growing reputational, financial and legal risks" to transactions linked to the government or companies controlled by officials' families.

The advisory called on US businesses to do "due diligence on corruption and human rights issues" and to avoid any dealings that involve South Sudanese officials who are under sanctions.

And it faulted the transitional government for its "failure to adhere to its own laws" including on transparency over oil revenue.

Business dealings could "adversely impact US businesses, individuals, other persons and their operations in South Sudan and the region," it said.

Two-way trade totalled $88 million in 2019 according to US data.

South Sudan's foreign ministry said it respected the right of the US to issue such advisories and acknowledged challenges in the government's efforts to implement a 2018 peace agreement, particularly in economic reforms and public financial management.

But it added: "The government believes that cooperation and partnership are more effective than confrontation and isolation in achieving mutual interests and objectives."

Since becoming the world's youngest nation in 2011 when it achieved independence from Sudan, South Sudan has been bedevilled by crises including a five-year civil war that cost nearly 400,000 lives before a 2018 peace deal was signed.

But the fragile unity government led by President Salva Kiir and his rival and deputy Riek Machar has largely failed to deliver on its promises.

Kiir has vowed to hold South Sudan's first ever presidential poll by the end of 2024 after the government a year ago controversially extended the transition period outlined in the peace deal.

But Western powers accuse him and Machar of dragging their heels in order to cling on to power in one of the poorest and most corrupt countries on the planet.

"There has been neither any meaningful progress since (the extension) nor evidence of political will," the so-called Troika of the United States, Britain and Norway said last week.

"Deadline after deadline has been missed, laws remain unpassed, commissions unformed and implementation bodies unfunded."

The Barron's news department was not involved in the creation of the content above. This story was produced by AFP. For more information go to AFP.com.

View original: https://www.barrons.com/news/s-sudan-voices-alarm-over-us-warning-to-businesses-9e66d19f

_________________________

Further reading

Press Release at US Department of Commerce

By Office of Public Affairs

Dated Mon 14 Aug 2023 

US Government Issues a Business Advisory for South Sudan

For more information, see the complete advisory.

View original: https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2023/08/us-government-issues-business-advisory-south-sudan

_____

Report at VOA (Voice of America News)

By Henry Wilkins

Dated Thur 17 Aug 2023 2:05 PM - excerpt:

Northern South Sudan's Economy 'Decimated' by Sudan Conflict

Sudan's conflict has caused prices in the border region of neighboring South Sudan to rise sharply, according to local market traders. Meanwhile, the production and export of South Sudanese oil through Sudan, which the World Bank says makes up 90% of the country’s revenue, is being strangled by the conflict too. Henry Wilkins reports from Renk, South Sudan.

See video report: https://www.voanews.com/a/northern-south-sudan-s-economy-decimated-by-sudan-conflict-/7229419.html

_____

Report at DW (Deutsche Welle)

Why fewer Africans are able to own land

By Martina Schwikowski

Dated 19 Jan 2021 - excerpt:

Research has shown that inequality in access to land is increasing across the African continent. Experts are calling for more rules and controls on the sale of land to counteract poverty.

https://www.dw.com/en/dwindling-number-of-africans-own-land/a-56273543

_____

Report at land coalition.org

NEW REPORT REVEALS LAND INEQUALITY IS WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT AND IS FUELING OTHER INEQUALITIES

Dated 24 Nov 2020 - excerpt:

The International Land Coalition is a global network of over 250 organisations around the globe working together to put people at the centre of land governance, responding to the needs and protecting the rights of women, men and communities who live on and from the land. For more information, visit: www.landcoatition.org and www.unevenground.org - and  Uneven Ground: land inequality at the heart of unequal societies

https://www.landcoalition.org/en/newsroom/new-report-reveals-land-inequality-worse-we-thought-and-fueling-other-inequalities/

[Ends]

Egypt's Sisi zooms AUPSC meeting to discuss Sudan, urges int'l community to support Sudan’s neighbours

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi participates in a virtual meeting for the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) at the Heads of State and Government level on the situation in Sudan. AU

Report at Ahram Online

Dated Saturday 27 May 2023 - full copy:

Sisi urges int'l community to support Sudan’s neighbours in resolving crisis

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi urged the international community to support the efforts of Sudan's neighbours in resolving the conflict as well as in dealing with its immediate humanitarian consequences.

The Egyptian president made these remarks in a speech during a virtual meeting for the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC), held at the level of heads of state and government, to discuss ways to resolve the conflict in Sudan.

The meeting was chaired by Uganda’s President Yoweri K Museveni and was attended by a number of African heads of state and government as well as a number of high-level officials, including Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Hanna Tetteh.

It discussed efforts toward finding a sustainable ceasefire and resuming a civilian-led democratic process in the country, effective humanitarian action, and ways to ensure regional stability.

"I call on humanitarian organizations and donor countries to provide the necessary support to Sudan's neighbouring countries so they can continue to fulfil this role," El-Sisi said.

The Egyptian president stressed that the humanitarian consequences of Sudan's crisis extend beyond its borders and impact neighbouring countries, thus necessitating close coordination with them.

"Egypt has met its obligations in this regard by accepting approximately 150,000 displaced Sudanese citizens to date, in addition to hosting approximately five million other Sudanese citizens who are treated as nationals," El-Sisi noted.

Egypt will continue coordinating with its partners and relief organizations to provide urgent humanitarian aid to alleviate a deteriorating situation, he said.

During his speech, the Egyptian president emphasized the necessity for regional parties "to assist the Sudanese in ending the current crisis and achieving a consensus to address the underlying causes that led to its outbreak in the first place."

The Egyptian president stressed the need for close coordination among Sudan’s neighbouring states to resolve the crisis, noting that "these states are the most affected by the crisis and, therefore, are the keenest to end it as soon as possible."

He also outlined Egypt’s efforts in cooperating with the African Union and the Arab League to end the crisis in Sudan based on finding a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire and preserving state institutions.

"Egypt backs the efforts of the African Union and all the existing mechanisms that aim at ending the current conflict," El-Sisi said.

“Preserving national institutions in Sudan is the basic guarantee to protect the state from the danger of collapse,” he stressed.

The Egyptian president also reaffirmed Cairo's respect for the will of the Sudanese people in their internal affairs, stressing the need to prevent foreign interference in Sudan's affairs.

Meeting humanitarian challenge

Egypt has supported regional and international efforts to end the conflict in Sudan since its start in mid-April, pushing for a sustainable ceasefire between the two warring parties.

The conflict in Sudan has left 700 dead, including tens of children, according to UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan Volker Perthes.

 

Related

Egypt, UNHCR discuss mobilizing aid for displaced Sudanese

Egypt’s FM discusses humanitarian efforts in Sudan with UN officials in Geneva

UN allocates $5 mln to support refugees fleeing Sudan in Egypt

View original: https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/1234/501763/Egypt/Foreign-Affairs/Sisi-urges-int;l-community-to-support-Sudan’s-neig.aspx

________________________________

Africa Press Release at Zawya.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of 

The Presidency, The Arab Republic of Egypt

Dated Saturday 27 May 2023 - full copy:

President El-Sisi Participates in African Peace and Security Council Summit via Video Conference

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi participated via video conference in the African Peace and Security Council Summit to discuss the current crisis in Sudan, in the presence of a number of African heads of state and government, headed by the President of the Republic of Uganda and current Chair of the AU Peace and Security Council, President Yoweri Museveni, in addition to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Secretary-General of the Arab League, Secretary-General of IGAD and Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Horn of Africa.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Counselor Ahmed Fahmy, said the summit focused on discussing de-escation in Sudan, coordination among all parties concerned with the ceasefire, enhancement of humanitarian corridors and return to peaceful dialogue.

Addressing the summit, President El-Sisi  thanked President Museveni for the initiative to convene this important summit, which is of great value to support Sudan to restore its security and stability. The President stressed the utmost importance of close coordination with neighboring states to solve the crisis in Sudan, as they are the most affected and most keen to end the crisis at the soonest.

The President stressed that Egypt's efforts to end the current crisis in Sudan complement the various relevant regional tracks, including those of the African Union and Arab League. They are also based on a number of pillars, most notably the need for a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire and the protection of national institutions in Sudan, which primary safeguard against the threat of collapse, in addition to affirming that the conflict in Sudan involves the Sudanese people, and therefore the regional parties' role is to help them stop it and to achieve consensus on resolving the causes of its eruption.

President El-Sisi emphasised Egypt's respect for the will of the Sudanese people and non-interference in its internal affairs, as well as the need not to allow foreign interventions in its current crisis. The President reaffirmed Egypt's continued efforts to end the current crisis by supporting the African Union's efforts and all existing mechanisms to end the current conflict, as well as to continue coordination with all partners and relief organizations to provide urgent humanitarian needs for Sudan, to alleviate the deteriorating humanitarian situation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, The Arab Republic of Egypt. 

View original: https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/africa-press-releases/president-el-sisi-participates-in-african-peace-and-security-council-summit-via-video-conference-n5dprw76

[Ends]

Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) starts 2-week training rapid reaction forces at UN centre in Uganda

COULD THIS BE what I hope it is: a long awaited African rapid reaction force for crises such as Sudan? This report says 10 East African countries started a 2-week joint training at a UN Regional Service Centre in Uganda.

Report at The Independent Uganda

By Xinhua

Dated Tuesday 23 May 2023 - full copy:

East African countries start training of rapid reaction forces

Joint training started. FILE PHOTO

Kampala, Uganda | Xinhua | Troops from 10 East African countries on Monday began a two-week training at the United Nations Regional Service Centre in Uganda.

Personnel from Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda participated in the training that aims to create synergies and enhance the knowledge and understanding of peace support mission planning, said the East African Standby Force (EASF) in a statement.

“We cannot fulfil our mandate of enhancing peace and security without an effective planning entity for our region,” said Uganda’s Chief of Staff of the Air Force Brig. David Gonyi.

He said the training will enable regional countries to respond to scenarios like terrorism, election violence and disaster management.

“There is no doubt that the commitment given to this learning process is a clear testimony that capacity building and enhancement have a place they deserve in Africa and the region,” Gonyi said.

The EASF, which consists of military, police and civilian components, was established to provide capability for rapid deployment of forces to carry out preventive deployment, rapid intervention, peace support and stability operations, and peace enforcement.

View original: https://www.independent.co.ug/east-african-countries-start-training-of-rapid-reaction-forces/

___________________________

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

AFRICAN STANDBY FORCE (ASF) 

The African Standby Force (ASF) is an international, continental African, and multidisciplinary peacekeeping force with military, police and civilian contingents that acts under the direction of the African Union. The ASF is to be deployed in times of crisis in Africa.^[2] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, serves as the Force's Headquarters. Douala, Cameroon, was selected in 2011 as the site of the AU's Continental Logistics Base (LOGBASE).^[3]

Map of the partitioning of RECs and RMs of the ASF

___________________________

EASTERN AFRICA STANDBY FORCE (EASF)

In the East of the continent, the regional agent of African Standby Force (ASF) is known as the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF).

The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), formerly Eastern Africa Standby Brigade (EASBRIG), is one of the five regional forces for Peace Support Operations (PSOs) of the African Standby Force, consisting of military, police and civilian components. 

EASF constitutes the regional operational arm of the peacekeeping elements of the African Peace and Security Architecture, put in place by the 2002 Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.^[1][2]

East Africa Standby Force Logo

[Ends]

UN chief Guterres: “With international cooperation and solidarity, this can be Africa’s century”

Stand with Africa: Guterres

Meanwhile, UN chief António Guterres noted that cooperation and solidarity to advance the continent’s future is more needed than ever.

“I look forward to African governments continuing to seize the opportunities presented by the continent’s natural, human, and entrepreneurial richness, by working to increase private investment and raise resources at home,” he said in his message for Africa Day.

The annual commemoration May celebrates the founding of the Organization of African Union, the African Union precursor, on 25 May 1963.

The Secretary-General urged the international community to stand with Africa as multiple rises – from COVID-19 to climate and conflict – continue to cause great suffering there.

He further stated that African countries are underrepresented in global governance institutions, such as the UN Security Council, and denied the debt relief and concessional funding they need.

“Africa deserves peace, justice and international solidarity,” he said.  “With international cooperation and solidarity, this can be Africa’s century.” 

Read full story at UN News report 25 May 2023:

Security Council urged to step up on financing for AU peace operations

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1137047

[Ends]