April 2019 - Page 6 of 12

Formation of interim govt fixed, ‘despite failures’- NPTC member

Posted on April 15, 2019April 15, 2019 by Memoscar Lasuba

An opposition leader has said the parties will form the reconstituted government of national unity as scheduled.

This is in reaction to a call by the main opposition leader, Dr. Riek Machar, to extend the pre-transitional period.

On Friday, Dr. Machar told Reuters that it would not be possible to set up the interim government, citing unimplemented security arrangements.

These include unification, training and cantonment of the soldiers.

However, the member of the Other Political Parties, Peter Mayen, who also represents his group at the NPTC, questioned:

“We will continue to be the same members, the mechanisms will remain the same, the parties will remain the same but the question is, what is going to be a new added value to the process?”

“If South Sudanese lose the momentum, and the army give up on this peace agreement, that is my biggest worry,” he said.

The end of the pre-interim period is just less than a month away.

So far, most of the key provisions in the accord such as cantonment of forces, establishment of tribal boundaries and determination of the number of states, among others, have not been implemented.

UNFPA urges partners to aid S.Sudan realize 2030 SDGs

Posted on April 15, 2019 by Memoscar Lasuba

The United Nation Population Fund has urged its partners to help South Sudan realize the international conference on population and development.

Held in Cairo in September 1994, the conference, abbreviated as ICPD, was agreed upon by 170 countries.
Its resulting Program of Action is the steering document for the United Nations Population Fund.

The program emphasizes the need to empower women and eliminate all forms of gender bias.

It also advocates for reduction in infant and child mortality, reduction in maternal mortality, and access to reproductive and sexual health services including family planning.

“UNFPA has charted a course to achieve three zeros by 2030: zero maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning and zero gender-based violence,” said Dr. Mary Otieno, South Sudan’s UNFPA country representative.

The others Ms. Otieno said are “harmful practices including early and force child marriage and female gentle mutilation.”

UNFPA says all these are key to achieving sustainable development.

“UNFPA alone cannot realize world of three zeros alone; governments, civil society, international institutions and activists and advocates must join forces to make it happen,” she appealed.

Ms. Otieno spoke during the UNFPA world population report titled: “Unfinished Business, the pursuit of rights and choices for all.”

According to UN reports, maternal deaths in South Sudan remain high at 789 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Public universities to reopen after receiving partial funding

Posted on April 15, 2019April 15, 2019 by Memoscar Lasuba

Public universities are expected to re-open next week or so after receiving two months’ operational costs.

This is according to the minister of higher education, science and technology – Yien Oral.

“They will operate soon. For the last weeks, the universities’ administrations have been paid two months’ operational fees,” he told reporters in Juba.

He said that each public university has been given 3 million South Sudanese Pounds except the University of Juba.

“The University got a 4 million SSP-loans and the other universities have got 3 million ssp, as well as the contractors’ companies that feed students have been paid 10% of the money,” said Oral.

Last month, a dispute over new fee structure led to suspension of the reopening of the public universities.

“So now, I would say this week, next week or as soon as possible, the universities will be re-opened,” he announced.

Yien Oral said this yearS’s accademic Continue reading “Public universities to reopen after receiving partial funding”

Torit loses huge revenues to illicit forest activities, says official

Posted on April 15, 2019April 15, 2019 by Memoscar Lasuba

Torit State Revenue Authority is losing millions of South Sudanese pounds in revenues to illicit forest activities including logging.

That is according to the revenue authority commissioner Charles Onen Lokwyaruk

“We have realized that the state on average is losing 30 million SSP per month,” he said.

Mr. Lokwyaruk said some individuals are illegally possessing the state form 15 which authorizes official collection of revenues.

He said this form is cheaply issued out to loggers at an amount ranging between 10 000 and 20000 pounds to have access to the forest.

“If you calculate in terms of per year, you will realize that you have billions of revenues, and yet our budget of state is around five-to-six hundred million per year,” he said.

Based on this, Mr. Lokyaruk issued a directive to all the state institutions and County commissioners to implement the order.

“They need to implement this directive to ensure that we safeguard our forest resources and also stop or minimize our revenue losses in the state.”

Mr. Lokwyaruk said he is soon releasing a report detailing illegal activities that are affecting revenue collection in the state.

Sudan’s Ibn Auf’s successor lifts curfew

Posted on April 13, 2019April 14, 2019 by Memoscar Lasuba

The newly appointed interim president of Sudan has lifted the curfew that was imposed by his predecessor Awad Ibn Auf. Continue reading “Sudan’s Ibn Auf’s successor lifts curfew”

Boundaries commission members resigning, reveals Dr Elia

Posted on April 13, 2019April 15, 2019 by Memoscar Lasuba

The minister of cabinet affairs has questioned why some members of the Technical Boundaries Commission are resigning. Continue reading “Boundaries commission members resigning, reveals Dr Elia”

IOM scales up support to returnees

Posted on April 13, 2019 by Memoscar Lasuba

The International Organization for Migration –IOM says it is scaling up its response to returnees across the country.

In a statement seen by Eye Radio, IOM says it is now putting into use the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund of 2.6 million US dollars to support those returnees.

It says the money is being spent to provide construction materials to more than 50,000 returning households – particularly in Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria and Unity States to rebuild damaged homes.

Those returning will also be provided small grants to enable them invest in local markets.

IOM South Sudan Chief of Mission, Jean-Philippe Chauzy said: “While it’s still premature to scale up these operations en masse, newly offered services should be available in areas where people are willing and able to return.”

In its latest round of mobility tracking, covering 87 per cent of the country and reaching 1.2 million IDPs, IOM said the DTM  identified over 860,000 returnees, of whom a third returned last year.
 
Apparently in Wau County, Wau State, the organization said relative stability in Wau town, has enabled increased returns.

However, it said in its surrounding areas such as Baggari, Beselia and Kuarjena, ongoing violence has triggered new influxes of IDPs to PoC sites and collective centers. 

Official clarifies reports of JIA shutdown

Posted on April 13, 2019April 17, 2019 by Memoscar Lasuba

The director of Juba International Airport says only flights that directly fly over Sudan’s territory have been affected by the ongoing protests. Continue reading “Official clarifies reports of JIA shutdown”

Dr Machar suggests six-month extension of pre-transitional period

Posted on April 13, 2019April 13, 2019 by Memoscar Lasuba

The First Vice President designate, Dr. Riek Machar has suggested that the pre-transitional period should be extended for six months to enable its full implementation.

Continue reading “Dr Machar suggests six-month extension of pre-transitional period”

Stolen teen reunited with family after eleven years

Posted on April 12, 2019April 13, 2019 by Memoscar Lasuba

During the long years of civil war in the then united Sudan, the family of Kang Mawich–not his real name, who was an infant at the time, moved to the Sudanese capital – Khartoum where they lived at his uncle’s house. Continue reading “Stolen teen reunited with family after eleven years”