Bashir, Salva Kiir End Juba-Khartoum Tension

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir in January 2014 (Reuters)
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir in January 2014 (Reuters)
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Bashir, Salva Kiir End Juba-Khartoum Tension

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir in January 2014 (Reuters)
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir in January 2014 (Reuters)

Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to resolve pending disputes and to implement existing agreements between the two countries, in an attempt to end tensions and establish comprehensive reconciliation.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit concluded on Thursday a two-day visit to Khartoum, where he held talks with his counterpart Omar al-Bashir on the outstanding issues between the two countries.

During a joint news conference, Bashir underlined the strong political will to promote cooperation between Khartoum and Juba, and to end the period of tensions that have inflicted heavy burdens on the population.

The Sudanese president described Salva Kiir’s visit as a real and new breakthrough for the relations between the two countries, saying in this regard: “We have agreed to sponsor the implementation of the existing arrangements and to overcome all obstacles through direct communication.”

For his part, Salva Kiir said his talks with Bashir have led to a road map for moving forward.

“We have started and will not retreat ... I ordered my team to implement what we signed immediately, especially the security files, and I am confident that we will achieve positive results,” he stated.

The two presidents concluded their talks by signing a joint statement, stressing the acceleration of joint cooperation agreements, the formation of a border commission, the convening of political consultation committees and the continuation of humanitarian aid to southern Sudan.

According to the statement, the two parties agreed to activate the joint political and security mechanism emanating from joint cooperation agreements, accelerate the establishment of a demilitarized zone, and play an active role in the African Union.

The joint statement, for the first time since the outbreak of oil disputes between the two countries, emphasized the approval of the Government of South Sudan to pay the debts of Sudan, resulting from arrears of fees for the use of Sudanese oil facilities to export oil from South Sudan.



Tunisia Hands Lengthy Prison Terms to Top Politicians and Former Security Officials

Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)
Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)
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Tunisia Hands Lengthy Prison Terms to Top Politicians and Former Security Officials

Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)
Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)

A Tunisian court on Tuesday handed jail terms of 12 to 35 years on high-profile politicians, including opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi and former security officials, a move that critics say underscores the president's use of the judiciary to cement “authoritarian rule”.

Among those sentenced on charges of conspiring against the state in the major mass trial, were Nadia Akacha, the former chief of staff to President Kais Saied, local radio Mosaique FM said. Akacha who fled abroad received 35 years.

Ghannouchi, 84, veteran head of the Islamist-leaning Ennahda party, was handed a 14-year term.

Ghannouchi who was the speaker of the elected parliament dissolved by Saied, has been in prison since 2023, receiving three sentences of a total of 27 years in separate cases in recent months.

A total of 21 were charged in the case, with 10 already in custody and 11 having fled the country.

The court sentenced former intelligence chief Kamel Guizani to 35 years, former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem to 35 years, and Mouadh Ghannouchi, son of Rached Ghannouchi, to 35 years. All three have fled the country.

Saied dissolved the parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree, then dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and sacked dozens of judges, a move that opposition called a coup which undermined the nascent democracy that sparked in 2011 the so-called “Arab Spring” uprisings.

Saied rejects the accusations and says his steps are legal and aim to end years of chaos and corruption hidden within the political elite.

Most opposition leaders, some journalists, and critics of Saied have been imprisoned since he seized control of most powers in 2021.

This year, a court handed jail terms of 5 to 66 years to opposition leaders, businessmen and lawyers on charges of conspiring as well, a case the opposition says is fabricated in an attempt to stamp out opposition to the president.