The Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization said the anticipated December 2024 elections can be held with or without population census. Continue reading “Yakani says election possible without population census”
Month: April 2024
Cleric urges Kiir to declare state of emergency in Tambura
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tambura has called on President Salva Kiir to declare a state emergency in Tambura County as inter-communal tension sparked by banditry attacks engulf the area. Continue reading “Cleric urges Kiir to declare state of emergency in Tambura”
Gov’t agrees $13B UAE loan for 20 years of crude oil: Report
The government of South Sudan has agreed with a UAE company to lend the country about 12.9 billion US dollars in exchange for millions of barrels in crude oil payment in the next 20 years, according to a leaked report from a United Nations panel of experts.
Continue reading “Gov’t agrees $13B UAE loan for 20 years of crude oil: Report”
74 medical practitioners sat for accreditation tests
South Sudan General Medical Council has conducted exams for 74 medical students to obtain accreditation to practice the profession in the country.
The medics including 23 pharmacists and 9 dental surgeons took the exams on Thursday.
Dr. James Alphones, the Deputy Chairperson of the South Sudan Medical Council says the practice is to legalize and regulate medical practitioners in the country.
He said the exercise is to ensure that they are safe when rendering services to the people.
” We have tested your clinical skills so that when you (they) go to any health facility, you become safe to render service to our people.”
Some of the examined students, according to Dr. Alphones were already practicing in some health facilities.
“Some of you before these exams are already practicing in some of the health facilities, which is a grave mistake from today.
The medical council warned those practicing without accreditation says “maybe up to the next month, this practice will be illegal in the Republic of South Sudan if you don’t have permanent registration from the Medical Council.”
On his part, Dr Arkangelo Ayigo Mona, the Principal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons says some of the students passed through is hands are qualified.
“I’ve seen most of you passing through my hands and you are already qualified to be a doctor, but you need to be accredited very to be recognized worldwide.”
Meanwhile, Joy Rubena, a dentist examiner said the exercise was the first of its kind in the country.
“It is the first time for us to get into the system of examination and doing (issuing) licenses for our doctors.
The officials spoke during the launching of the medical test at Juba Teaching Hospital on Thursday.
The General Medical Council is the body responsible for the registration and regulation of medical, dental and pharmaceutical professions as well as the regulation of health institutions and services in the country.
It was established through the SSGMC Provisional Order, 2014.
In November 2023 the Deputy Secretary General of the Government urged the newly appointed South Sudan Medical Council to collect and provide database for all medical facilities and practitioners in the country
Parties reviewing peace roadmap for Kiir, Machar to decide
Peace parties are expected to endorse a review implementation status of the 2018 agreement next weekend to determine elections at the end of the transitional period.
The parties have been in recent weeks engaged in dialogue to break the impasse over the December 2024 slated general elections.
The positions of the SPLM In Government and SPLM-In Opposition have been a zero same as the latter rejected the holding of polls, citing un implemented key provisions of the peace agreement.
The differences prompted the parties to dialogue on the way forward.
According to Cabinet Affairs Minister, Dr Elia Lomuro, the parties have reviewed six chapters of the 2018 deal except chapter four that provides for the funding of the process.
“Reviewed things related to Chapter 1 chapter 2-chapter 3 chapter 5 and Chapter 6 regarding the constitution-making process,” he said.
The reviewed chapters include the agreement’s preliminary provision, mechanisms of the permanent constitution-making process, stages of the constitution-making process and financial provisions, among others.
Dr Lomuro who is also the Secretary General of High-Level Standing Committee on Status of the Peace Implementation says the parties were outstanding on chapter four on provision of funding.
The chapter he said, has been referred to the ministry of fiancé and relevant institutions get a full report next Saturday for signing.
“We are still outstanding on the report on chapter 4 which is now being looked at by the Ministry of Finance and the related institutions, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Justice , Ministry of Animals and Fisheries , Minister of Mining and so on. All areas being reviewed by the concern institutions.”
“So, we have agreed that next Saturday when we get the full report of the implementation status of chapter 4, we will now review it as well and agree and sign on what has been reviewed.”
After that, Dr Lomuro says, the parties will then engaged on the way forward to the pending tasks.
“The next step is just to discuss if something is not completed. How would we move forward if something is pending. For example, if the constitution-making process is pending, how do we move forward, particularly the relationships? So, these are the discussions that be followed.”
He spoke to reporters after the meeting yesterday in Juba.
Meanwhile, Tut Gatluak, the chairperson of the standing committee said upon completion, the report will be submitted to the presidency while assuring the citizens that the parties are moving in the right path..
“We have agreed among ourselves, the parties that signed the agreement to discuss and build on what we agreed upon,
“And I would like to tell our citizens that we are moving in the right path and we will submit the report to the leadership,” he said.
Mvolo County decries lack of roads
Authorities in Mvolo County of Western Equatoria states have decried lack roads in the area they say has hampered farmers from accessing market for their plenty of produce.
The County Commissioner, John Komo Dei raised the concern during the visit by Presidential Affairs Minister Bangasi Joseph Bakasoro and Chief of Administration in the office of the President, Yel Lual Koor at the weekend.
Komo said the locals have cultivated abundant of crops but the farmers are unable to transport their produce to the market due to the lack of roads.
“We, as the people of Mvolo are agriculturalists who care about agricultural activities. We planted crops at the river side, but the biggest challenge for us is the road so we can transport our products to the markets. We do not have passable roads,” he said.
In 2021, the inhabitants of Mvolo mobilized themselves to open up roads manually.
In a photo, the locals were seen using machetes, hoes and other hand equipment to clear through a forest to create a path to ease movement and service delivery within area and aid trade with neighboring communities .
Kombo appealed to the national government to help the community and connect the area through roads.
“We appeal to our national government to help us in this matter.
Komo also invited Juba-based companies to invest in the county, saying the area is rich in minerals.
” The companies that market things and resources are all based in the capital, Juba, but in Mvolo here we are have other things and resources, such as gold.”.
The County official was speaking on the state-owned TV, SSBC on Friday.
SSFA President Maduot pays visit to Upper Nile’s football clubs
The President of South Sudan Football Association and his accompanying delegation on Friday paid a visit to Kaka Payam, Manyo County of Upper Nile State where he engaged with the newly established sub-local football association seeking recognition of the football governing body.
In photos posted on the association’s official Facebook page, hundreds of jubilant sport’s lovers and football players from different football clubs in Kaka on Friday welcomed Mr. Augustino Madout and his accompanying delegation.
He was accompanied by Mr. Thiong John, the Chairperson of the Players’ Status Committee, Mr. Sebit Dok, the Deputy Chairperson of the SSFA National Teams Committee, and the President of Melut LFA, Mr. Deng Abdulrahaman.
President Augustino Madout’s visit to Kaka town is said to be ” part of his mission to engage with local football associations, and stakeholders across the nation to extend support for the greater good and prosperity of football in South Sudan.”
In a meeting with the administrator of Kaka Payam, Thomas Othow, Mr. Maduot urged the leadership of the County to render necessary support to the growth of football, pointing out the need for the allocation of enough land for football grounds.
He also called on the Commissioner to assist the Kaka Sub Local Football Association in promoting women’s football through sensitizing communities to give girls equal rights to participate in football.
In a separate meeting with the board members of Kaka Sub Local Football Association, The President of Kaka Sub LFA, Mohamed Budo reportedly urged the leadership of SSFA for the approval of the Kaka Sub Local Football Association as a sub-local football association.
He also called on the delegation to offer capacity building of coaches, referees and administrators as well as asking provide football equipment Kaka Payam.
The delegation concluded its visit at Kaka playing ground by witnessing a friendly match between Al Merriekh FC Kaka and Salam FC Kaka – held in recognition of what is decried as special and historical.
Yakani calls for restraint after fresh attacks in Tambura
Activist Edmund Yakani has called for restraint, and a pathway for dialogue after bandits carried out series of attacks in Tambura County of Western Equatoria state leaving one dead, and several houses burned down.
According to the county commissioner, the first incident occurred at 8:30 PM on Thursday in Lingemo Boma where armed bandits attacked the residence of a sub chief and set his house on fire.
Mathew Mabenge said the second attack occurred at 2 AM on Friday in Tambura town, where seven houses were burned down and one person was injured.
He stated that the assailants tried to kidnapped the sub-chief in Lingemo Boma at the border with Central African Republic, adding that the chief escaped.
The incidents, according to Edmund Yakani, has resulted in a wave of displacement in the two areas.
He called on the locals to abstain from using violence in resolving their disputes.
Yaksni also urged the Western Equatoria political elites not to take advantage of violence to escalate the situation, citing the 2021 violence.
“We have witnessed some few days of emerging of waves of new displacement of civilians in Tambura County due to misunderstanding between individuals or groups.
“I would like to urge our brothers and sisters in Tambura whatever the situation or dispute they have, never to resolve it in a violent manner or use it for waging a deadly violence among our communities
‘Let’s abstain from using violence as an instrument in resolving our misunderstanding or our tensions.
In 2021, UNMISS Human Right Department’s investigation said documented violations in the county of Tambura where increased violence and attacks saw over 440 people killed, 18 injured, 74 civilians abducted, 64 subjected to sexual violence, including seven men and four girls were raped.
Mr. Yakani called on the political leadership of the country to watch the situation in Tambura closely, and offer solution to the dispute to avoid the repeat of 2021, given the December slated general electons.
“I appeal the leaders in the country to be be vigilant in preventing communities from falling into any deadly armed violence into the face of looming elections,” he added.
Juba public clinic treats 150-200 Red Eye patients daily -official
The public clinic at Buluk area in Juba is receiving between 150 and 200 patients infected with conjunctivitis also known as Red Eye disease daily amid surge in cases, the Medical Director has said.
Early this week, the national Ministry Health issued a high alert about the disease outbreak.
This was after it recorded a total of 382 cases screened and managed in the border town of Nimule as of 16th April 2024.
The outbreak, according to the ministry, was first detected among travelers from Uganda at the Nimule border town of Magwi County, and later in Juba.
” It is the fourth or six day we are seeing around 150 to 200 patients in a day here with epidemic case of conjunctivitis.
“This virus is very contagious, it spreads very fast and actually the symptoms and signs are very difficult to manage because of discomfort redness ,pain and even sometimes difficulty in seeing light,” said Dr, Jospeh Manday Lawrence, the Medical Director of the Buluk Eye Clinic.
Dr, Jospeh Manday Lawernce has appealed to the public to adhere to the sanitation standards including frequent wash of hands with soap and clean water.
“People not panic, you just observe public health precaution. No shaking of hands. Don’t touch your eyes frequently, and don’t share a linens or even handkerchief and even the cosmetics especially ladies.”
Red Eye is caused by various factors including viral and bacterial infections, seasonal allergies, and reactions to eye medications.
The disease is highly contagious and can be spread from person to person through direct contact, and sharing of personal items.
The symptoms include redness in the white of eye or inner eyelid, increased tears, thick yellow discharge over the eyelashes, itching, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light.
The infection period is within the first 10 to 12 days but the disease can last up to three weeks.
3 drivers, trader killed in Akobo road ambushes
At least three drivers and a trader were killed, and five others wounded in two separate road ambushes in Jonglei’s Akobo County by unidentified armed youth, according to spokesperson of the area commissioner.
Sabit Lual told Eye Radio that the first incident occurred near Kaikuiny Boma of AKobo County at around 6AM on Friday – when five commercial vehicles were waylaid allegedly by armed youth from Greater Pibor.
The attack resulted in the killing of three drivers and a trader. Three others were wounded.
“The attack happened yesterday (Friday), 26th April 2024, at around 6 am in a location called Chot-roal – two kilometers meter away from Kaikuiny situation between Akobo East and Akobo West.
“The attack was carried out by Murle criminal youth from GPAA and in the incident, three drivers plus one trader were killed. These are just traders who go to Akobo east for trading.
The second incident, according to Lual, occurred last evening in Dangjuoth area where the assailants wounded two people.
“At evening time yesterday (Friday) there was another attack in a village called Dangjuoth by those criminal youth from greater Pibo. They wounded to two people there,” he said.
Authorities in Akobo County have condemned the attack and appealed to the Government of GPAA to exert pressure on Murle Youths to leave Lou Nuer area as agreed in the April 2024 -Akobo peace conference which called for end to violence.
When asked, GPPA Information Minister Abraham Kela said they did not have any information regarding the incidents.
“The information that was shared with you by these people is incorrect and has no basis. We were not informed of such incidents and we do not have any information regarding it.
“We spent yesterday (Friday) welcoming the new head of administration, Mr. Gola Boyaoi, and we did not hear anything about this incident.”
