Memoscar Lasuba, Author at Eye Radio

Estimated 17% electricity access in South Sudan is not true -Kang

Posted on January 8, 2025 by Memoscar Lasuba

The Petroleum Minister has said the estimate that 17 percent of South Sudanese Population has access to electricity is not true while explaining efforts to move the country towards green energy despite limited resources for the institutions that are tasked with the responsibility.

“..the continent of Africa is more than 900 million -has no clean cooking gas. More than 600 million have no access to electricity.

“A country like South Sudan has been saying that we have 17% which I believe is wrong. It is not true that we have access to electricity, and the only resource that we have at hand today is oil resources.”

Puot Kang made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists after he announced the resumption of oil production in Upper Nile state on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, he said South Sudan would want to move to green energy but the institutions that are tasked with this responsibility are given limited resources.

“South Sudan is not exceptional. We would want to move forward, we would want to move to green energy, and the institutions that are tasked with this responsibility are given limited resources and are also trying the level best for the country to move toward that direction.”

The green energy is a global call for efforts to combat climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Green energy is any energy type that is generated from natural resources, such as sunlight, wind or water.

It often comes from renewable energy sources are solar energy, wind power, and hydro-power.

However, the lack of adequate resources for institutions responsible for overseeing this transition is a significant hurdle.

It is believed if South Sudan which heavily relies on oil revenue, adopts green energy South Sudan, this could diversify its economy, improve energy access for its population, and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Govt, UNICEF scale up cholera vaccination campaign in Rubkona County

Posted on January 8, 2025January 8, 2025 by Memoscar Lasuba

The government and UN children agency on Tuesday carried out vaccination campaign in Rubkona County of Unity State in a bid to address the disease outbreak Continue reading “Govt, UNICEF scale up cholera vaccination campaign in Rubkona County”

Persons with disabilities encouraged to participate elections preparedness

Posted on January 8, 2025January 8, 2025 by Memoscar Lasuba

The Chairperson of Persons with Visual Impairment is encouraging persons with disabilities to participate in civic processes to promote inclusion of the group ahead of the next year elections.

Mawut Luise who is one of the visually impaired persons called upon his associates to engage in making changes by active involvement in policy shaping.

While emphasizing on the importance of their participation in policy making, Mawut called upon the public to recognized the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities.

Mawut urges the government and partners to quickly implement the United Nations convention on rights of persons with disabilities.

He made the remark while commemorating the World Braille Day celebrated on Monday at the Physical Rehabilitation Referenced Centre in Juba.

“Participation in civic processes is crucial for persons with disabilities, including participation in elections, representation in different associations and participation in the community as a whole, while maintaining that persons with disabilities have the capacity to live independently but still have the right to be included fully in the community

It is also crucial to emphasize the fact that persons with disabilities, as important members of the community, are entitled to all the fundamental rights recognized by the international human rights law.

On his part, Yona Sabri a visually impaired youth advocate asked that the voice of persons with disabilities be included in the permanent constitution making process and appeals for consideration of their affirmative action.

“I don’t know whether it has started or not, but the voice of persons with disabilities needs to be included in the constitution-making process, the 2% affirmative action of persons with disabilities, it must be included in the constitution-making process”, he added.

Two civilians killed in Abyei road ambush

Posted on January 8, 2025January 8, 2025 by Memoscar Lasuba

Authorities in Abyei Special Administrative Area have reported the killing of two civilians by suspected armed youth from Twic County and a tribal militia group from Ajak Kuac last week, an accusation Warrap government denies.

According to the press statement released by Abyei’s Acting Information Minister on Monday, suspected armed youth from Warrap State believed to have attached themselves with another tribal militia group in Ajak Kuac launched an ambush at the road of Mathiang Deel -Wal of Rum-Ameer.

The incident resulted in the killing of two civilians.

The letter condemns what it describes as continues attack on civilians and called upon UNISFA and the SSPDF deployed forces within Abyei Box to beef up their mandate and render effective security and protection of civilians.

When contacted, Warrap State Information Minister William Wol Mayom denied the accusation saying it is a mere lie.

Mayom says its government is only aware of the SSPDF forces who had been deployed at the buffer zone and have been preventing Warrap youth from crossing to Abyei area with risk measures outlined.

He also stresses that Warrap youths are abide by the directives of the President.

“This is completely a mere lie. Our state is not aware of this, what we know is that there is Abyei and Twic Mission forces are being deployed under the administration of Maj. Gen. who is currently at the buffer zone and there is no any person allowed from the side of Warrap State, particularly Twic to cross to the scene because there has been an area under deployment of the SSPDF.

“Unless otherwise, they must check their file and ranks. Otherwise, Warrap State abides by the directive of H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan.”

Minister Kang to govt: Let us use oil cash on other sectors

Posted on January 8, 2025 by Memoscar Lasuba

The petroleum minister is appealing to the government of South Sudan to invest oil revenue in other sectors to stop reliance on the proceed.

Puot Kang Chol said this during a press briefing on the resumption of oil production in the Upper Nile state in Juba yesterday.

“What we have been appealing for as the Ministry of petroleum to the government of South Sudan, is that whatever proceeds that we get from the oil proceed, let us use it on other sectors so that we don’t rely on one sector,” said Kang.

South Sudan is currently dependent on food from the neighboring countries despite its vast fertile land due to years of conflict and insecurities.

The country has also be grabbing with inflation, a situation exacerbated by the shutdown of the oil production last year -with the government being unable to pay civil servants salaries and delivers critical social services including health and the education sectors.

A rich oil country endowed with the Nile River, 83 percent of its population do not have access to electricity- and significant number lacking clean drinking water.

According to economic experts, utilizing oil revenue is a strategic move to reduce the country’s economic dependence on the oil industry.

A latest global report on energy capital found out that over-reliance on oil leaves the economy vulnerable to price volatility in global oil markets.

It suggests oil-dependent economies work to establish more resilient and sustainable financial structures.

Investing in other sectors like agriculture, infrastructure, education, and manufacturing can create more employment opportunities.

Channeling oil revenue into sectors like health and education can improve the quality of life for citizens and also developing agriculture could reduce food imports and ensure the country is self-sufficient in feeding its population.

Ladu’s double against Malakia Juba FC earns Young Star FC first win in SSPL

Posted on January 8, 2025January 8, 2025 by Memoscar Lasuba

In a significant match of the South Sudan Premier League on third week Young Star Fc from Torit achieved their first win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Malakia Juba FC at the Juba National Stadium today .

Young Star FC, coming off two consecutive losses to Yei Lion Hunt and Bentiu City FC, were determined to bounce back. They took the lead in the 36th minute through Ladu Pelegrino, who scored after a well-timed exchange of passes inside the penalty area.

Despite Malakia’s aggressive attacks, they were unable to break through Young Star’s solid defense. The defensive structure, with well-organized lines and compact spaces, effectively neutralized Malakia’s offensive threats.

In the second half, Malakia intensified their efforts to find an equalizer, but Young Star’s defense, combined with the vigilance of the goalkeeper, kept them at bay.

On the counterattack, Young Star capitalized on Malakia’s vulnerabilities, and Ladu Pelegrino doubled their lead in the 65th minute. He intercepted the ball from Malakia’s midfielder, combined with a quick exchange with the winger, and then confidently dribbled past the goalkeeper to score his second goal of the match.

The game continued with Malakia pressing for a goal, but Young Star maintained a strong defensive performance, and the match ended with a 2-0 scoreline in their favor.

Interior Ministry cancels DG Akot’s unilateral driving license decision

Posted on January 8, 2025January 8, 2025 by Memoscar Lasuba

The Ministry of Interior has cancelled the order by the Director of Traffic Police reducing the drivers’ license validity period from five years to only one year for nationals and six months for foreigners.

The order issued by the office of the Inspector General of Police on Tuesday came following a meeting between officials from the parliament and the Interior Ministry over John Akot’s unilateral decision to amend changes in the issuance of drivers’ license last Friday.

The move sparked a public outcry with prominent human rights activists, Edmund Yakani and Godfrey Victor Bulen rejecting the changes, citing it a violation of the traffic law and constitutional provision.

In a statement yesterday, the spokesperson of the National Police Service Colonel John Kasara urged the relevant agencies to adhere to the directive reinstating the previous driving license validity period and the licensing fees.

Juba PoC 3 residents decry night robberies by armed masked men

Posted on January 7, 2025January 8, 2025 by Memoscar Lasuba

Residents of former Protection of Civilians’ Site three in Juba are calling on the police to intervene and curb recurrent robbery within the area, involving armed civilians.

The latest incident according eyewitness who identifies himself as only Ujum occurred last night at 8 PM in the camp 3, where a man was shot in the back while at a charging station.

“There is a serious looting happening these days or for the past week. To be honest, these people(tags) are not soldiers but civilians who are looting people with guns.

“We don’t know exactly who these people are. Even yesterday at 8pm looting happened inside here in Camp3. They shot a man in the back at a charging place but he is fine as he was taken to then hospital”, he said.

Fortunately, the unnamed victim survived after he was rushed to the hospital.

Mr Ujum said the situation is normal during the day, but the looting often takes place at night.

“At the day time, the situation is normal but the problems happened at night time”, he added.

Ujum is appealing to police to deploy forces to curb the looting and violence in their area.

According to him, they reached out to local government officials and security organizations for assistance but are unsure about whether their appeals will be taken seriously.

“We tried to talk the government body that’s inside here in POC3 so that they pass our message to the government.

“We want police to be deployed inside the camp so that such incident does not happen again, but I don’t know where they did…”

When contacted, the Chairman of POC-3, Elijah Hon confirmed the recurrent incidents, saying the thiefs frequently come masking their faces, and shooting into the air before looting the residents’ belongings.

“They fired into the air and the people who were there ran, at the same time there shot one person and then they fired 9 bullets into the air, and they cover their face with black clothes”, he said.

Elijah Hon is calling on the government to intervene and send police officers to protect those living in the POC3.

“I was the one who send my message to the government because I know a place without security is not good. I said that if there is way the government can bring police such things will not happened.”

Asked about the incidents, police spokesperson Colonel John Kasara said that they have not receive any report concerning the incidents, but said that they will investigate the matter.

“I actually do not receive any report with regards to such case, but I will still be searching for more information and see if the authorities are well aware of about happened and then I will forward it to the IGP.

Parliament, Interior Ministry disapprove John Akot’s driving license validity order

Posted on January 7, 2025January 7, 2025 by Memoscar Lasuba

The Ministry of Interior has been directed to rescind the order by the Director General of National Traffic Police reducing drivers’ license validity period from five years to one year, First Deputy Speaker of the National Legislative Assembly Oyet Nathaniel has said .

The resolve followed a Tuesday meeting bringing together the chairperson of the RTNLA’s Specialized Committee on Security and Public order, Kom Kom along with his deputy, the Deputy Minister of Interior, Mangar Buom and institution’s spokesperson Colonel John Kasara.

On Friday the Director of National Traffic Police has issued an order reducing the validity period of driver’s license from five years to one year for South Sudanese nationals and six months for foreigners.

The order issued by Maj. Gen. Kon John Akot imposed different amendments for drivers’ license.

His decision was promptly rejected by two prominent human rights activists who cited the move it as a violation of the law and constitutional provisions.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said the order contradicted regulations in the appropriation bill of the financial year 2024-2025.

Tuesday morning, Nathaniel Oyet told Eye Radio that the interior ministry was directed to return back to the five years as the validity period of the driving license.

“Today we did not approve the order by the Director General of Traffic. That’s why we summoned the Ministry of Interior’ acting minister, who is the Deputy Minister of Interior and then we were able to direct them accordingly.

“We told them please no, you must go back to the five years. That one is a normal practice”, he said.

Pagan urges rally for peace amid staggering Tumaini Initiative

Posted on January 7, 2025 by Memoscar Lasuba

The leader of South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance and other opposition groups in the Tumaini peace initiative is calling on South Sudanese people to rally behind and support the process.

Pagan Amum – who is also the leader of Real SPLM – says the 2018 revitalized peace agreement has not been implemented citing lack of political will among the signatory parties.

According to Pagan, Tumaini can rescue the country from its current deteriorating situation.

He described Tumaini as the only hope for lasting peace in South Sudan.

“My message to the people of South Sudan is to support the Tumaini, the Tumaini is the only rescue plan for South Sudan that exist today. R-ARCSS has not been implemented, cannot be implemented as the parties themselves who signed it.

“President Kiir is saying that R-ARCSS was not designed to be implemented. Dr. Riek Machar is saying that his partners do not have the political will to implement it and they are stuck with it.

“How many transitions, how many extensions are they going to go through without bringing peace to our people? Our people must intensify their struggle to bring peace and Tumaini is the only hope now”, Pagan told Eye Radio from Kenyan capital, Nairobi Tuesday morning.

Last week, the Government Rapporteur to the Tumaini Initiative suggested the inclusion of all armed groups in the Kenya-led peace process to comprehensively eliminate all conflicts in the country.

Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro was addressing the media after an extraordinary presidency meeting to discuss progress and challenges facing the peace talks expected to resume on January 6.

Commenting on the inclusion of all hold-out groups to the Tumaini, pagan Amum said it has been the principle position of SSOMA and other opposition groups.

He also emphasized the need to include all other stakeholders.

“It has always been our position that we need an exclusive talks and we need the inclusion of all the South Sudanese stakeholders from political parties in the government, political parties in the opposition, all the armed groups, all representatives of our civil society, our Church leaders, our women groups, our youth groups for us to rescue our country.

“We in the opposition have actually called for a round-table conference where South Sudanese can sit together and rescue the country. So, we are for inclusive process.”

The Nairobi-led peace process was supposed to resume on Monday, but Pagan Amum said the government has not turned up in what he terms as lack of seriousness from Juba.