As South Sudan marks the 68th anniversary of the Torit Mutiny, the unity government have been urged to follow in the footsteps of retired leaders Abel Alier and Joseph Lagu in delivering service to the people. Continue reading Torit Mutiny: Leaders urged to follow footsteps of Abel Alier, Joseph Lagu
Category: Governance
Saboteurs of single army process against interest of S. Sudanese – Adler
Individuals obstructing the deployment of the unified forces are harming the interest of the South Sudanese people, said the United States Ambassador to South Sudan. Continue reading Saboteurs of single army process against interest of S. Sudanese – Adler
YALI 2023 fellows back home after six-week training in US
South Sudanese participants of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders have arrived Juba today after completing a six- week training in leadership and managerial skills.
Ten youth traveled from South Sudan in June to participate in leadership programs in top American universities.
The Young African Leaders initiative trains accomplished young leaders with established records of promoting innovation and positive impact in their communities and countries.
The President of the South Sudan Youth Union, Gola Boyoi who attended the training in Leadership in Public Management at Syracuse University said he will work with the government to impart the knowledge and experiences he gained from the training.
“We would like to assure the public that we have come back with a lot of experience and knowledge and these Youths who have been selected actually are mostly young people who do credible jobs in their different sectors.
“We have committed ourselves to come and deliver to our people and we are going to work collectively with government of South Sudan and the people in order to transfer the knowledge and skills we gained from this training,
He urged youth in the country to apply for the fellowship.
“I would like to urge the youth of South Sudan to apply more in this program because it is beneficial and most of the countries are participating with big numbers except South Sudan.
“So, we want to encourage the Youth of South Sudan to apply the process is competitive but it just need commitment.”
Meanwhile, Advocate Reech Malual who attended Leadership and Public Management training alongside Youth Leader Boyoi at the same University with expressed his gratitude to the government of the United States.
“I am thankful to the United State of America government and the people. Thankful to our government because if we did not have an independent country called South Sudan, we would not have got this opportunity to be able to participate.”
Like Mr. Boyoi, Malual appealed to South Sudanese youth to invest in themselves and he encouraged them to seek similar opportunities.
“We encourage you to try and be able benefit from such trainings they empower young people. We also see they are a lot of potential young people who are interested in public management and governance we can also increase our numbers.”
The Mandela Washington Fellowship takes 700 young Africans to the United States for academic courses and leadership training at local universities, as well as to a summit in Washington D.C.
Redeployment of forces to take place after budget approval-official
The Necessary Unified Forces (NUF] will be deployed after the national legislature approves the 2023/2024 fiscal budget according to Minister of Information Michael Makuei. Continue reading Redeployment of forces to take place after budget approval-official
Govt approves $0.6 million for federalism conference
The Council of Ministries on Friday, August 04 approved more than 600.000 US dollars for a national conference on federalism.
The amount was requested by Federal Affairs Minister, Losuba Ludoru at the regular Council of Ministers meeting on Frida.
The cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir directed the Minister of Finance to release the approved funding for the yet-to-be-officially announced conference.
“He [Minister] was assigned to study and find how best he can come out with recommendations to the people of South Sudan on the system of federalism we need.
‘So, he made this presentation and he asked for the fund in order to fund this conference, and the cabinet approved it, ” said Minister Michael Makuei after the cabinet meeting on Friday, August 4th.
In recent months, the Ministry of Federal Affairs conducted several workshops in Juba, Yambio, Aweil, and Benito to sensitize the public and seek the views of the locals on the type of federalism system to be adopted in the country.
South Sudan is expected to transition into a federal system of governance at the end of the current transitional period.
Yakani urges Dr. Bak to toughen financial reforms, fund R-ARCSS
An activist has urged the newly appointed Finance Minister to take bold steps to bring reforms in the sector and ensure the peace agreement is fully funded.
Mr. Edmund Yakani who is Executive Director of CEPO says Finance Minister Dr Bak Barnaba Chol Bak has a critical role to play in ensuring the country’s transition from violence to peace and political stability.
In a five-point bulletin, Yakani urged Minister, Dr. Barnaba to prioritize the allocation of funds for a peace road map -including the transitional security arrangements and electoral processes.
On the national budget before the national legislature, he called for proper operationalization of the new improved salary scale for civil servants and soldiers.
Yakani also stressed the need for the minister to commit to yet-to-be passed the national budget and exercise regular reporting to the August house as demanded by the financial year 2023/2024 and other legal frameworks.
On financial reforms, he said it is incumbent upon the Minister of Finance to enforce transparency and accountability through the operationalization of Anti-Corruption Commission functions.
“The new Minister of Finance and Planning is required to really take a stronger stand without any form of compromise or fear to deliver the required Financial reforms in all sectors of finance and economy as required by the provisions of chapter 4 of the R-ARCSS,
“The new Minister of Finance and Planning should really take the decision for stopping the wrong practices observed in the Ministry of Finance and Planning where individuals are receiving financial gifts or assistance, and fake business persons access income,”
Yakani warned the Minister against the concern raised by US Ambassador to South Sudan regarding the country’s over-reliance on donors’ support and appealed to him to invest the oil revenue in the agriculture sector to improve food security, and provide social services to the population.”
“CEPO is urging the new minister of finance and planning to really take the alert raised by USA Ambassador to South Sudan recently that the country should stop depending on donors,
“This advice is critical because investing the oil revenue for strengthening the production sector is the strategy to fighting poverty, improving food security, and creating employment opportunities for the population,” he said.
Upper Nile governor sacks Mayor Tharjath
Upper Nile State governor, James Odhok has relieved the town Mayor of Malakal City Koang Tharjaz Thoch Chuol and appointed Chuol Lualweng Wol Tel as the new mayor, according to the governor’s press unit.
Tharjath who is a member of the SPLM-IO was appointed by Governor Budhok Ayang in October 2021.
He replaced Francis Anyang who was then made the deputy mayor for infrastructure.
Chief Chol Deng hails Twic-Ngok improved relations
The Chief of Abyei Administrative Area has reported improved relations between Twic of Warrap State and Ngok Dinka saying the two communities are now living in peace.
Dr. Chol Deng Alaak spoke in a meeting with President Salva Kiir at the weekend, the Presidential Press Unit reported.
According to the Abyei Chief, the implementation of the agreement between Twic and Ngok Dinka was going on well, and the security situation in the area is relatively stable as the people are engaged in farming.
In April 2023, the two communities held a peace dialogue in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and agreed to a cessation of hostilities, free movement of the citizens, and withdrawal of youth allied to the warring parties.
But the chiefs from the neighboring areas disagreed on the terms and definition of a buffer zone that was outlined in a communique.
Juba, Russian Company ink deal on digital mapping of S.Sudan’s minerals
The Ministry of Mining has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Russian Company to identify and create digital mapping of South Sudan’s minerals.
This was on the sideline of the just concluded two-day Russia-Africa summit in Moscow where Vice President of the Infrastructure Cluster Taban Deng Gai represented South Sudan.
Speaking to the state-run Television, SSBC at the weekend, the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Mining said the deal will enable the government to locate where exactly the minerals are.
According to Dr. Cosmas Pitia Kujio, South Sudan is endowed with over 22 minerals, but their exact locations are yet to be identified.
“This agreement is to provide us with digital mapping of the country, we have been in dilemma. Several times we talked saying we have 22 types of minerals in the country but we have more than that,
“We will work together with Russia to identify what we have and where. There is other green energy mineral that is very important but we don’t know where they are that IS why we signed the agreement so that we locate where they are exactly,” he said.
Minister Pitia added that the Russian Geological Holding Growth Company will train our national staff on mineral-related skills.
On his part, the Director General of the Russian Geological Holding Growth Company Alexey Sergevich said the imaging technology will expand aerial mapping, data collection, and seismic investigation of the country’s underground wealth.
“The main goal of our cooperation is to develop a mineral data base through high technology and experience,
“We use our highly qualified and trained manpower to create a geological digital map and I hope together with the ministry of Mining we reach to good results,” he said.
The Ministry of Petroleum in June 2023 announced the purchase of a geophysics airplane to conduct aerial surveys of the country’s mineral resources.
“We don’t have sanitary pads, mosquito nets” says Aweil female inmate
Female Inmates in Aweil Central Prison are complaining of poor living conditions citing a lack of menstrual pads, inadequate food, and poor hygiene.
They also told Eye Radio’s reporter they do not have mosquito nets to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
According to some of them, they have been suffering from malaria and other illnesses without treatment due to a lack of drugs.
Meanwhile, 30-year-old convict Abuk Deng says the female prisoners do not have access to menstrual pads.
“The situation is affecting us her, women have periods and we don’t have always, we don’t move,”
Meanwhile, inmate PPhilip Tong decries the general situation in the prison saying: “We have a very terrible hygiene here in prison, there are no soaps, we have no good hospital and the one we have has no drugs for a lot of Malaria cases,
“We have a lot of people who need mosquito nets and even things to sleep on is not there in Aweil prison, said Philip Tong, one of the inmates describes their situation as terribl,” he added.
When contacted, the Director of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Prison Service confirmed the dire condition in the prison.
Major General Valentino Wol Kon is urging partners to support the prison and equip it with farming tools and logistics to produce food for the institution.
“I urge my partners if possible to support my prison through mobility, and give material or tools that can make me work and not ask anybody fort food because I can use my power because I have the manpower,
“I have one thousand and something prisoners, and when I have mobility, I will send them to the different camp sites to go produce foods for themselves.”