Category: National News

National News

Sudanese refugees seek shelter in Juba mosques

The South Sudan Islamic Council has called on Sudanese refugees who left the camp at Gorom area of Juba County to reside at the mosques to return.

Abdullah Baraj who is the Secretary General of South Sudan Islamic Council told Eye Radio that hundreds of refugees left the camp and occupied premises of worship in parts of Juba city.

“We have received complaints from mosque committees regarding this crisis,” he said.

They reportedly fled harsh living conditions in the camp.

Baraj acknowledged the difficulties the refugees are facing, but said it is unacceptable for them to stay in places of worship.

“I call on them to return to the camp because mosques are not a place to live, and we must adhere to it. A person fleeing war from his country is called a refugee and has to live in a refugee camp or now.

” South Sudan in general treats Sudanese as citizens, so whoever has possibility to rent can live in a house, but the mosque is not a place to live,” he said

The religious leader has directed all mosques committees to make sure that refugee occupants are facilitated back to the camp.

Meanwhile Abdullah Baraj said he is in contact with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster management to address their concerns.

“At the time I was speaking, I was in the office of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management after we heard about this situation. So currently  have a meeting regarding it and we will inform you of its outcomes,” he added.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kiir, Machar failed to meet standards for elections, says Washington

The US government says President Salva Kiir, First Vice President Riek Machar, and other South Sudanese political leaders have collectively failed to meet the standards necessary for genuine and peaceful elections to take place in December.

The Biden Administration is citing the UN Secretary-General Guterres’ April 8 Negative Assessment of Preconditions for Elections in South Sudan which outlined numerous “critical preconditions necessary to hold genuine and peaceful elections that the South Sudan transitional government has yet to meet.”

The United States says it “remains concerned about ongoing reports of human rights violations, as well as inadequate investment in key democratic institutions.”

“Transitional government leaders should act with urgency to address these deficiencies and create the necessary preconditions for a genuine and peaceful electoral process, including by protecting civic space, standing up politically neutral security forces, strengthening electoral institutions, and holding dialogue among leaders to resolve outstanding election decisions,” it added.

Meanwhile, Washington urges that the “UN electoral support to focus on establishing these preconditions.

It warns of greater risk of additional violence should South Sudan’s leaders not take these steps.

U.S  stressed that its “strong U.S. advocacy for the necessary preconditions for a genuine and peaceful electoral process is designed to avoid a return to civil war.”

Will South African President Ramaphosa break elections impasse?

South African President’s three-day working visit to South Sudan comes as South Sudanese leaders have differed on the conduct of elections in December 2024.

While the SPLM-In Government said it was ready for the polls, the main opposition peace party, the SPLM-In Opposition said the country is not ready for elections and called for extension, citing key provision of the peace agreement especially the security arrangements have not been completed.

The opposition group also said the civil and political space have been compromised and refugees have not returned to the country.

There have been calls from both SPLM-In Government, politicians and civil society on the need for dialogue to agree on the way forward.

The outcome of President Ramaphosa meeting with the South Sudanese leaders remains to be seen.

Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Juba on Tuesday where he is expected to spend three days of his working visit, meeting with signatories to the peace agreement.

His visit is expected to  facilitate dialogue among the peace parties  in a bid to break the impasse on the implementation of the peace agreement as the country gears towards elections.

According Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ramadan Abdullah Goc, Ramaphosa was scheduled to meet with President Salva Kiir, First Vice President Dr Riek Machar and the political parties.

He will also meet the three key institutions such as the National Elections Commission, the Political Parties’ Council and National Constitution Review Commission.

“The meeting is important for us. We do believe that the president of South Africa as guarantor will sit with the leaders of South Sudan to see how they are prepared for the elections.

“We assure him that every one, the government of South Sudan and the institutions are ready for the elections to be conducted,” said Goc.

 

Bishops demand probe into Carlassare’s shooting as main suspect freed

The Catholic Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan are calling on the authorities to do thorough investigation into the shooting of Rumbek Bishop Christian Carlassare in 2021.

Clergy John Mathiang Machol, the former diocesan coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek was handed a 7-year-jail term by Juba High Court in 2023 for aiding the shooting of the religious leader.

But last month, the Supreme Court overturned the guilty verdict against him after his defence lawyer Malith Jokthiang said the court found no evidence against his client.

Yesterday, the Bishops announced the decision of the Holy See to suspend Fr. Machol over the incident, citing his act breached the canon law.

Speaking to the Press yesterday in Juba, the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference Stephen Ameyu Martin Cardinal Mulla says the Church is in solidarity with Bishop Carlassare after the release of clergy Machol.

“We express our deep solidarity with our brother, Bishop Christian Carlassare of Rumbek, following the recent release of Fr. John Mathiang Machol, the main suspect in the attempted murder of the Bishop three years ago,” he said.

The Roman Bishops condemned what they described as heinous act of violence against the Rumbek colleague and called on the authorities to ensure a thorough probe is carried out to bring perpetrators to justice.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the heinous act of violence against a shepherd of the Church. Attacks on religious leaders have no place in a just and peaceful society.

“We call up on the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation into this incident and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Amayu.

 

Only 6% of 83,000 NUF with boots on ground -Ceasefire monitor

The ceasefire monitoring body has expressed concern over delays in the security arrangements saying there has been no additional deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces since its last meeting  in March.

According to CTSAM-VM, only 6% out of the planned 83000 Necessary Unified Forces has been deployed so far.

General Gonfa also called for the deployment of the National Unified Forces, saying it is critical for addressing security issues in the country.

He said this is a vital prerequisite for the upcoming elections.

“The deployment of the National Unified Forces is critical for addressing security issues in the Republic of South Sudan and a vital prerequisite for the upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, he expressed concern about four cantonment sites and training centre for the unified forces that continue to report lack of logistical supplies of food.

“Four cantonment sites and training centre’s continue to report the lack of logistic supplies such as food.”

Major General Hailu Gonfa, the chairperson of the ceasefire, transitional security arrangements did not state which are these cantonment sites and training centre.

He urges the unity government to quickly implement the remaining unimplemented tasks especially the provision concerning the security arrangements.

“In regards to the roadmap of the Extended Transitional Period, CTSAM-VM urges RTGoNU to quickly implement the remaining unimplemented tasks especially Chapter 2 which concerns the provision of security arrangements.”

On peace agreement violation-related, General Gonfa said he obtained two reports with one concerning a unilateral creation by the SSPDF of its 12th Division in Rumbek, Lakes State.

Another is the recent fatal incident between SSPDF soldiers and armed youth in Nassir County of Upper Nile State recently.

 

PPC allocates SSP1.5 billion to eligible parties

The Political Parties Council has allocated 1.5 billion pounds to eligible political parties to promote multiparty democracy and expedite the electoral processes ahead of the December 2024 polls .

A week ago, the council confirmed receiving 7.6 billion South Sudan Pounds, an equivalent of 5 million US dollars from the government through a consolidated fund for pre-election activities.

EngineerJames Akol Zakayo, the Chairperson of the Political Parties Council says, the fund is allocated in line with section 37 of the political Parties act 2012 as amended.

“Therefore, the stated fund shall strictly be utilized in accordance with the provisions stipulated in section 37 of the political parties Act 2012 as amended 2022.

“Moreover, money allocated to political parties from the fund shall not be used for paying directly or indirectly remuneration, fees, rewards, allowances or any other benefit to a member or support of the political party other than a member of staff,”he said.

Section 37 of the Political Parties Act as amended states that money allocated to a registered political party from the fund shall be used for the purpose compatible with democracy.

This include promoting the representation of women, persons with special needs and youth in the state and national assemblies.

It is also to promoting active participation by individual citizens and persons with special needs in political life.

Other requirement includes covering the election expenses of the political parties and broadcasting their manifestos.

Parties are also obliged to us the funding to promote civic education in democracy and other electoral processes among others.

“Money allocated to political party from the fund shall not be used for any other purpose incompatible with promotion of multi-party democracy and electoral processes or with Constitution.

“We have rules and regulations in place and how to manage those funds that are allocated to political parties. So, they will be guided and will be told where to spend them, must be things to do with multiparty democracy and electronic processes.”

The Council, however, did not reveal how much each political party shall receive from the obligatory fund.

But the Political Parties act says the political parties shall within 90 days of the end of its financial year publicize a gazette or at least on two daily newspapers with nationwide circulation.

The Council, however, says there are only 14 registered political parties in the country, with 21 others having so far applied for registration since the reconstitution of the council.

 

 

error: Alert: Content is protected !!
Exit mobile version