The ceasefire monitoring body has commended the governor of Western Equatoria State for deploying a security force to Tambura County to de-escalate tensions in the area while apportioning blame to NAS for insecurity in Mundri East County. Continue reading CTSAM-VM commends Futuyo’s response to Tambura violence
Category: Governance
Govt, holdout group kick-off peace talks in Nairobi
A high-level peace negotiation between the unity government and the non-signatory groups to the 2018 peace deal on Thursday kicked off in Nairobi. Kenya.
The government is negotiating with Real SPLM lead by Pagan Amum, General Paul Malong of the South Sudan United Front and Stephen Buay of the South Sudan People’s Movement
The National Salvation Front led by Thomas Cirilo has remained out of the process.
Some heads of state including Kenyan and Zambian Presidents William Ruto and Hakainde Hichilema took part in the opening of the Nairobi peace process.
Others in attendance were US Ambassador to Kenya, former African Union Commission chairperson Mousa Faki and representatives of the regional body IGAD, among others.
Speaking during the event, the leader of Real SPLM who represented the opposition groups describe the peace talks as their last opportunity, and called on the parties to take the process seriously and engage in an inclusive dialogue.
Amum also called on the parties to over come hatred, saying this is not the time for it.
” We are the founding mothers and fathers of this new nation. Our historical task is to lay the foundation of this new nation. This is our historical task after Independence and to achieve that, we have to engage in dialogue.
“We have to be positive. We have to overcome this hatred that has filled our hearts. This is not the time for that. Especially now that the world is changing and many crises are even coming up beyond the one that we have created ourselves.
“I believe this is our last opportunity and we must take this seriously and engage in dialogue and it must be an inclusive dialogue. What we need is not another peace agreement peace agreements are not being implemented.
“What we need is serious, we need to stop seeing ourselves as enemies. We are brothers and sisters President Kiir. We are brothers and sisters.”
For his part, the high-level peace negotiation chief mediator Lazarus Sumbeiyo urged the leadership of the parties to mandate their representatives to fully engage on issues, and makes decisions in the best interests of the people of South Sudan.
“In view of this we appeal to the leadership of the parties in the negotiations to mandate their representatives to fully engage on issues and makes decisions in the best interests of the people of South Sudan.
“We have to learn from the past and one of the clear lessons is that implementations of series of agreements on South Sudan has remained a challenge.
“The question that will concern us and occupy our efforts is to come with a brand-new birth on implementation, the innovation around are responsive implementation programs that is clearly numerated, costed and enforceable.”
Meanwhile, Kenyan President William Ruto has encouraged the Unity government and the non-signatory groups to the negotiation to redouble their efforts and reach a conclusion on the Sant’ Egidio peace process
He said the peace negotiation presents an opportunity to the parties to design a path good for all of them.
“I encourage the revitalized transitional government of national unity, the real SPLM and the South Sudanese United Front to stay the course and redouble their commitment to this mediation.
“The path you have chosen is noble and what you have accomplished so far under this initiative is admirable, here is your opportunity to design a future worthy of all of you and all the vision you have.
“I take this opportunity to welcome all delegates from South Sudan to Kenya and encourage you to feel at home because indeed it is home. I also wish the parties successful mediation and to our partners I argue you to stay with us all the way until we settle this.”
For his part, President Salva Kiir who officiated the peace negotiation process hopes that non-signatory opposition groups have a similar conviction and desire as the unity government for peace in South Sudan
“ We have to negotiate in good faith and with an open mind we hope that the non-signatory opposition groups have a similar conviction and desire for peace in South Sudan, which if achieved will bring everlasting stability and economic development in the region,” he said
“Let Clement Boro Bridge be a source of unity “, Bahr el Ghazal citizens told
The Minister of Roads and Bridges has called on the citizens of greater Bahr el Ghazal to use the Clement Boro Bridge as a uniting factor after the Chinese government handed it over to the unity government.
In 2020, the government of China offered to build a bridge over the Jur River in Wau.
One year after the construction, the national Council of Ministers resolved to name it as Clement Mboro Bridge in remembrance of the late veteran politician who hailed from Western Bahr el Ghazal.
The naming angered natives of Jur River County.
Yesterday, the Chinese government handed the bridged to the government of South Sudan in Juba on Monday.
The Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan MA Qiang said the clement Mboro bridge is one of the fruits, nourishing bilateral relations between his government and the people of South Sudan.
Amb.Qiang made the remarks after the handover ceremony yesterday
“2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the initiative which was proposed in 2013.The clement Mboro bridge is one of the fruits nourished by the initiative between China and South Sudan,” he said.
Meanwhile, the National Minister of Roads and Bridges Simon Mijok Mijak said the bridge should be symbol of unity among the people.
“The name did not come just simply… It should not be a dividing factor, the name should be a unifying factor and Veteran Clement Mboro was a uniting factor of South Sudanese.”
For her part, the governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal Sarah Cleto says the bridge is not only important to Bahr el Ghazal region but to the whole country.
” Bridges are among the most powerful and important symbols in human society, symbols of connection, cooperation and harmony. When peace and healing comes then it is the construction and rehabilitation of bridges that marks our progress.
“Clement Mboro is very important for our communities in greater Bahr al Gazal region, Western Equatoria state and the whole of South Sudan,” she said.
The official launch of the bride has been halted due to disputes over its naming.
Abyei authorities defend SSPDF troops’ presence in the area
The deployment of government troops to a demilitarized zone in Abyei Administrative Area is due to a small number of UNISFA forces in the area, according to spokesperson Bolis Kouc.
Bolis Kouc is reacting to the call by the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations on South Sudan’s government to withdraw its troops from the demilitarized area of Abyei.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix warned their presence could further fuel tensions in the area.
He was cited on Tuesday by AFP as saying “We are deeply concerned about the presence of South Sudanese security forces in southern Abyei since October 2022,” adding that “additional military deployments took place in March and April of this year.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the security council that Several thousand UN peacekeeping forces are deployed in the region and their work is being hindered by South Sudanese forces.
In response, Abyei Information Minister Kouc said the SSPDF soldiers were deployed in the area to defuse tension between the communities of Ngok and Twic.
” The army came and centered in the area of Agok. Agok is a vital area and it’s an area that faced a conflict between the two communities of Twic and Ngok.
“When the army entered the Agok area by the permission from the government and it was during the time of the former administrator Kuol Dem,” he said
He said the soldiers are out of the Abyei box, and are only concentrated in the Agok area to monitor the situation in the area
“They will be deployed in the bordering area between Twic and Ngok, and this bordering area between Twic and Ngo.”
Besides, he said the Ghanaian peacekeeping forces of UNISFA in the Southern Kiir river are small in number.
“The argument and the issue are that the peacekeeping forces of UNISFA which is from Ghana in the Southern of Kiir river is small in the number,” he added.
Gola bans security & public personnel from age-set fight
The government of Pibor Administrative Area has prohibited security apparatus, public personnel and community based organizations from participating in age set fights in the area.
Chief administrator Gola Boyoi Gola issued the order 3rd May.
” I Gola Boyo Gola, Chief administered of greater Pibor administrative area, do hereby issue this administrator order prohibiting all security apparatus, civil servants’ employees, staffs of international, national and community base organization from participating in age-set fight in 2024, with immediate effect from 3rd May,” his order reads.
Gola further warned any individual against violation of his order, else, each will face a consequence including arrest and termination of working contract with humanitarian organizations.
Others include arrest and dismissal from the rank and file of military or organized forces and civil servants’ employees from the government.
Age sets, according to Murle heritage, are social groups that are mostly for men in a particular age group that they will typically belong to for the rest of their lives.
Boys are born into a specific age-set distinguishable by name, colour and scar patterns traditionally made on the skin. One generation has an age span of 10 to 15 years.
Traditionally, there comes a time for each generation to become decision-makers for their people.
Age-set fight involves fighting between the opponents often for influence in the community but since the civil war, the traditional form of entertainment has been compromised as it involved the use of guns.
Six officers arrested in Kuajok tragic civilians detention
Authorities in Warrap State have arrested six officers including the commander of Brigade 4 in Kuajok over death of seven suspects in a military detention container early this week.
The deceased were reportedly locked in a 20-foot shipping container on Sunday when they suffocated to death.
One of the eight initially arrested was said to have survived.
Warrap Information Minister William Wol said the suspects who were accused of various crimes were held in a facility not designated for detention and those responsible did it without authorization from the state government.
Wol said six officers including the commander and military intelligence responsible for the Barpuot Military Barracks as well as a captain in-charge of detention were arrested yesterday on the orders of the governor.
The three other suspects are non-commissioned officers who were managing the detention container.
“They were arrested yesterday (Tuesday) immediately – all of them , no one escaped,”Wol confirmed to Eye Radio
Rival armed civilians behind Tambura insecurity, says army
The SSPDF has blamed the insecurity in Tambura County of Western Equatoria State on rival Balanda and Azande armed youth groups who have been carrying out targeted killings and looting.
Tambura County witnessed in recent weeks experienced skirmishes that left one person dead, and several houses razed down.
Catholic priest Luke Yugue and his boda-boda rider was also reportedly abducted along the Nagero-Tambura County road.
The incident involving the disappearance of a clergy is the first of its kind in South Sudan.
Speaking to Eye Radio this morning, SSPDF spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai said that armed civilians – mainly youth from Balanda and Azande communities in Tambura have been carrying out targeted killing and looting along ethnic lines.
“I would like to make it very clear that those who are posing security problems are armed youth from two rival communities -armed youth from the Balanda ethnic group versus the Azande ethnic group.
However, General Lul said there has been no direct confrontation between the groups.
“Those are the armed civilians who are responsible for the insecurity, and the insecurity that they are causing is targeted. They are not involved in physical confrontations.
“What they are doing is carrying out armed robberies being targeted killings looting and they are doing it at along the line.”
General Lul added that the Chief Défense Force of the SSPDF has ordered the command of the 6th Infantry Division to relocate his headquarters temporally from Maridi to Tambura to oversee offensive operations.
“The SSPDF command under the Chief of Defence Force, General Santino Deng Wol ordered the command of 6thInfantry Divisio n Major General Akech to relocate his headquarters from Maridi to Tambura, so that he overseas offensive operations so that the normal security situation is restored.
” So, we are getting on top of it here. It started deploying forces based on security threats that were being posted by this rival armed youth,” Gen. Lul said.
He added that commander Major General Akech is also tasked to carry out peaceful civilians’ disarmament.
“There will be peaceful disarmament, and once it’s fails or geared little fruit, they will carry out of forceful disarmament. We want to collect all the firearms that are in the hands of the civilians who are killing themselves.”
A week ago, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tambura urged President Salva Kiir to declare a state emergency in Tambura County as inter-communal tension sparked by banditry attacks in the area.
Early this week, Western Equatoria State governor said he would not tolerate not group causing insecurity in the county, and will launch a hunt after them in the bushes.
Political analyst backs call for state of emergency in Tambura
A political analyst has added his voice to the call by Western Equatoria State religious leader for declaration of state of emergency in Tambura County, and initiation of dialogue to address the root causes of the violence.
Tambura County has witnessed a series of violence that left one person dead, and several houses razed down.
Catholic priest Luke Yugue and his boda-boda rider was also reportedly abducted along the Nagero-Tombura County road in what is the first of its kind in South Sudan.
A week ago, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Tambura urged President Salva Kiir to declare a state emergency in Tambura County as inter-communal tension sparked by banditry attacks engulf the area.
They have also called for independent probe into the conflict and humanitarianism assistance to the tens of thousands of displaced persons.
“These tribal tensions have raised a lot of concerns, and the call that has been made by the clergy leaders is one of the areas that people can just work on because we need some kind of reconciliation now,” said Atem Simon.
Atem Simon called for a community-based solution, but suggested the declaration of state of emergency as the first step going forward.
“We need some kind of communal-based resolutions that concentrate on how to maintain peace in the area and how to reconcile the local communities. The Declaration of state of emergency is the first step but it will not solve the problem as usual,” he said.
For a state of emergency to work if decided, Atem said it will “need more serious steps towards implementing government strategy or civil society strategy or church mediation imitative or also to get some kind of help and support to start dialogue openly.”
According to the State Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, as of last week, over 51,000 people – mainly women, children, and elderly persons, were displaced from various locations in Tambura County.
On Monday, national lawmakers formed a nine-member committee by Kom Kom Geng who is an SPLM member, and deputized by lawmaker James Mabor, an SPLM-IO representative.
According to the parliament, the committee members are independent individuals who do not hail from western Equatoria state and are non partisan to the conflict.
They are tasked to interview victims, County and State authorities and other stakeholders to establish the root causes of the violence, and identify the parties involved.
245 members of gang groups charged with violence in Juba
At least 245 young men charged with gang violence were on Tuesday arraigned in court in Juba, the police spokesperson Major General Daniel Justine has told Eye Radio.
The suspects were arrested during a police crackdown between November in 2023 and early this year.
Following their arrest, the Interior Ministry in collaboration with Central Equatoria State Legal Department had formed a committee to investigate the suspects.
According to General Justin, the suspects arrested were more than 400 in number, but some of them have be discharged.
“Now we have 245 cases and they have been taken to the court and the court started today. We registered cases of death where some of them killed their colleagues,” Gen. Justin said.
Some of the suspects are being detained in Rajaf Payam of Juba County. “We shall see tomorrow (Wednesday) how many will be convicted, or released, or remain under detention.”
Gen. Justinesaid the cracking down on criminal activities among young people is still ongoing.
MP calling for protest was interrogated, says another lawmaker
The leadership of the national parliament says it will follow up on a member who was interrogated for speaking out about the plight of citizens in the country and hinting at peaceful protests due to inaction of the August House over the rise of commodity prices. Continue reading MP calling for protest was interrogated, says another lawmaker