A senior official at Juba Teaching Hospital says the facility registered 223 traffic and gang violence injury cases including four dog-bite wounds during the Christmas festival. Continue reading “Juba Teaching Hospital records 223 injuries from traffic accidents, gang violence, dog-bite”
Author: Memoscar Lasuba
13 babies born on Christmas day at JTH
A midwife at Juba Teaching Hospital says the maternity ward registered the birth of 13 newborn babies on the Christmas day.
Joyce Peace Abuni, a registered midwifery told Eye Radio that babies including twins were born through normal delivery.
According to her, six were delivered in the morning hours of the Christ Mass day and seven others at night.
“There were six babies given birth to on 25th, December 2023 from morning hours till evening, and other six babies were given birth to at night making a total of 13 babies, from 12 mothers. One woman has given birth to twins,” she said.
“Most of the deliveries had no complications except one woman with umbilical cord prolapse who was booked for an operation but thank God, she had safely delivered before being operated on,” she added.
According to Peace, one of the babies whose mother is suffering from umbilical prolapse, developed difficulty in breathing, but the hospital has put it on oxygen.
‘Unfortunately, the baby is not breathing as normal. Therefore, we tried our best and the baby is on oxygen for some health supervision.”
However, the specialized midwifery raised concerns about expectant mothers being brought to the hospital only when they are in critical condition.
Peace is urging pregnant women to regularly attend antenatal care services to avoid such situations.
“We the midwives at the hospital want mothers to carry their children and save their lives as they head home. However, some of the pregnant come to the hospital in critical conditions.
“I am urging pregnant women to come on time so that we attend to them properly. Therefore, my message is having regular anti-natal care services in the hospital is very important,” she appealed.
Govt hands over siblings trafficked into GPAA to Kenyan authorities
The government of South Sudan has officially handed over two siblings who were trafficked to Vertet County of Greater Pibor Area to the Kenyan Embassy in Juba. Continue reading “Govt hands over siblings trafficked into GPAA to Kenyan authorities”
NRA seals loopholes in customs revenue collections
The National Revenue Authority has introduced a single financial remittance form for collecting non-oil revenues at the one-stop center in the border town of Nimule.
The acting Commissioner for Corporate Services, Dr Daniel Kon Ater says the Revenue Authority introduced 10 developed forms for revenue collection.
The institutions authorized to use the forms with specifications include immigration, customs, external trade, livestock, and fisheries among others.
“The operation we brought here is a single financial remittance form; number one is customs’ and it tells exactly what type of revenue customs collects, then forms for directorate of external trade; And road user charges book, this book is for traffic and Interpol to inspect second-hand cars brought to the county that may be stolen from other countries and end up in South Sudan,” he said.
Additionally, he said, “We also have a form for immigration and a form for livestock and fisheries.”
On the 28th of November, the Minister of Finance and Planning shut down security organ offices that were allegedly involved in collecting illicit fees at the border town of Nimule.
They include the Criminal Investigation Department and the traffic police among other institutions.
Those left to operate are the Ministry of Trade, the National Revenue Authority, the South Sudan Bureau of Standards, and the Eastern Equatoria State Revenue Authority.
In 2022, the National Revenue Authority introduced an electronic tax portal that will be accessible to all taxpayers within the Republic of South Sudan
Collo chief urges return of displaced natives
A traditional leader is encouraging the natives of Shiluk land to return to their homes amid improved security in the Upper Nile region.
The call comes after the arrival of the Chollo King returns to his Fashoda Palace on Sartuday.
His majesty Kwongo Dak Padiet of Shilluk Kingdom arrived in Malakal town on Saturday and proceeded to the Kingdom headquarters in Fashoda the same day– a year after he was airlifted to Juba due to insecurity.
While in Malakal, the King reportedly urged “politicians to never again engage in fighting,” adding “Upper Nile needs peace now than ever before.”
Speaking to Eye Radio this morning from Kodok in Fashoda County, the Paramount Chief of the Shiluk community in the Equatoria region, James Amum said there is total stability in the region.
He urged the locals to return to the places of their origin.
“To make it short, the security is ok, it is l stable as of now, compared to the last time, we need people who went to the north or everywhere to come back to their old place and homes,” he said.
Asked about the purpose of the return, Chief Dak said the King went to perform a winter season ritual.
“We made traditional rituals but the main one will be for this lunar month. We have four seasons, but we talk about two seasons, the wet season and the winter season.
‘So, the king has come but the wet season has gone as per the situation everyone knows, but now he has come to do the winter season ritual because it ( air ) must be blessed.”
Traffic personnel told to stop interrupting motorists
The Inspector General of Police warned traffic personnel against creating unnecessary checkpoints and topping motorists on the roads to allow the citizens to celebrate the festive season peacefully.
Lieutenant General Atem Marol Biar’s vehicles should only be stopped over “questionable nature or notes.”
He made the remarks while addressing the deployed joint operation force in Juba on Friday.
“As for the traffic police personnel, I told you not to stop vehicles on the street without a reason. You are only allowed to stop vehicles of questionable nature or notes, and this is done through consultation.
“Let the citizens celebrate in peace and reduce checkpoints.
“We are ready to provide protection and security for all citizens in the capital and the states during the holiday periods, and we will expand the process of deploying forces to reach Nimule, Yei, Trikaka, and the rest of the outskirts of the capital,” he said.
This week, the joint operation collected about 4,000 firearms including anti-aircraft machine guns and anti-personnel mines from the hands of civilians and military personnel.
The same week, the South Sudan National Police Service mobilized 3,000 security personnel to maintain law and order during the festive season
According to Interior Minister Angelina Teny, the joint force now must uphold their mandates of protecting the citizens and ensuring the country’s reputation.
” I collected weapons from the hands of people who were not authorized to carry them because the law assigns you this right to protect the country, the homeland, and its property.
She goes on to say, “You will go to do one job, which is to provide protection and security for the citizens because you are mandated according to the law to provide this service,” adding that “You are responsible for ensuring the country’s reputation.”
Collo King returns to Upper Nile, calls for peace
The King of Shilluk Kingdom has upon his arrival on Saturday in Malakal called on politicians to desist from activities that can trigger violence citing Upper Nile needs peace now more than ever before.
His Majesty Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet arrived in Malakal en route to his palace in Fashoda after a year in the national capital, Juba according to the Office of Upper Nile State governor.
The King was received by Governor James Odhok Oyay along with community leaders.
In a statement to the media, the King urged “politicians to never again engage in fighting,” adding “Upper Nile needs peace now than ever before.”
Intensified fighting in Panyikang and Fangak Counties between July and August last year prompted President Salva Kiir to order the evacuation of the King to Juba from Fashoda.
It started as factional fighting involving the former Kitgwang factions led by General Simon Gatwech and General Johnson Olony. But it later escalated to involve armed youth.
Following a military intervention from the national government, relative peace and stability returned to the area
Companies, individuals possessing illicit gadgets ordered to surrender
The Joint Security Force has ordered companies and individuals having illicit communication and military equipment to hand over before the government goes after them for legal action.
The call comes after the security apparatus seized the communications devices from a private company during the recent disarmament exercise in the national capital, Juba.
Colonel Kaka Gabriel Roric who was the operation commander told the press yesterday that security personnel stormed a building of one of the local security companies in Juba and found unauthorized communications and military equipment.’
“During operations, we stormed one of the local security companies in Juba and found communications and military equipment that entered the country illegally and we transferred them to the Joint Operations headquarters, said Col. Gabriel.
According to Colonel Gabriel, the sophisticated devices including GPS systems, drones, and sniper rifles among others, entered the country illegally.
He said the devices were reportedly being used to monitor and collect information from any targeted location or people.
“These equipment were not authorized for private companies to possess, only government agencies. So, I order any companies or individuals who own such equipment to report it and hand it over to the government, or we will take legal action,” he said.
The security officer Gabriel warned security companies possessing such devices to hand them over to security.
Over 4,000 firearms, including an anti-aircraft machine gun by the Joint Security Force, were impounded during the five-day disbarment exercise to ensure a secure celebration of the festive season.
The weapons collected from civilians and members of organized forces include anti-aircraft machine guns, RPGs, PKMs, AK-47s, G3s, and pistols, among others.
Minister Morgan apologizes to diplomatic corps over Juba arms search
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has apologized to foreign heads of mission and UN agencies for inconveniences caused during the recent disarmament exercise in Juba City.
Minister Dr. Pitia Morgan made the remarks while briefing heads of diplomatic missions and UN agencies in Juba on Friday.
It’s not clear what concerns foreign missions in Juba raised regarding the five-day roads and house-to-house search in the national capital.
But the unannounced search caught many by surprise, prompting the SSPDF spokesperson General Lul Rua to apologize to non-governmental organizations over similar concerns.
Addressing foreign diplomats Dr. Morgan said if his ministry was aware of the exercise, it would have done what was supposed to be done.
“Unfortunately, the ministry wasn’t aware of it, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could have done what was supposed to be done but the intention was good, it’s about security, and every one of us living in this city to be protected, ” he said.
However, he said, although the intention of the search was good, the diplomatic community which is protected by international conventions, should always be respected.
“We in the diplomatic community believe that you are protected by international conventions and this immunity given to you should always be respected.”
According to Morgan, he protested the move but vowed such incidents will not happen again.
“It is also our apologies to you although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has protested on your behalf that this shouldn’t happened.
“Take it from us that this will not happen again, the government of South Sudan is responsible for your security and every person living in South Sudan’s territory,” he implored.
However, Morgan emphasized the government’s determination to collect arms from unauthorized individuals, to create a safe and secure environment for all, including the diplomatic community.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering relations with all countries and advancing the interests of South Sudan while expressing his gratitude to all the foreign ambassadors and UN agencies’ representatives for their continuous support and cooperation.
Meanwhile, the Head of Mission of Sweden Ambassador Hilding Lundkvist called on the government to provide contacts for communication in case of any emergency.
“We encouraged the government to provide a number 24/7 for emergencies that any officers could call. we are calling on the director of the protocol number in case there is any emergency case we can be informed,” he appealed.
Ex-official Gatwech Kulang bounces back as RRC head
President Salva Kiir has appointed former Undersecretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Peter Gatwech Kulang as head of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission.
This was through a Republican Decree read on the state-run TV, SSBC Friday evening.
Gatwech has replaced Manasseh Lomole Waya who was relieved in a similar decree announced on the SSBC on Friday.
Gatwech made the comeback to the Ministry after his relief from the role of undersecretary two years ago.
In a separate decree, Kiir relieved, Athieb Okech Ajang Ukech, the Peace and Security Advisor in Upper Nile State Government who hails from the SPLM party, and replaced him with Joakino Fideli.
