A Nagero man detained for possessing firearms manufacturing materials has been released by authorities in Western Equatoria State, according to the County Commissioner.
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Category: News
Inkomoko South Sudan to empower over 20,000 entrepreneurs in 3yrs
Inkomoko South Sudan, a regional business firm has announced its commitment to empowering over 20,000 South Sudanese entrepreneurs, including refugees, within the next three years.
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Eye Media, UNICEF train journalists on enhancing citizen participation through media
Twenty-five journalists from various media outlets in South Sudan are currently undergoing training on the pivotal role of media in bolstering citizen participation.
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IGAD anticipates a week-long heat stress in South Sudan
The IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Center has anticipated what it calls ‘episodes of elevated heat stress in South Sudan’ from now up to the end of this month.
In its weekly weather forecast released yesterday, ICPAC said temperature is predicted to be warmer than average across the Greater Horn of Africa.
According to environmental health and safety experts, heat stress includes a series of conditions where the body is under stress from overheating.
Heat-related illnesses include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat rash, or heat stroke, each with its own symptoms and treatments. Symptoms can range from profuse sweating to dizziness, cessation of sweating, and collapse.
The IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Center now says South Sudan is expected to experience the heat stress from April 23 for seven days.
Other countries that are expected to experience the heat stress within the same period are Sudan, eastern Kenya, and central to southern Somalia.
However, during the same period, ICPAC predicted heavy rainfall in parts of western and northern Kenya, north-eastern Uganda, southern Ethiopia and Somalia.
Last month, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry issued an extreme heat advisory – forecasting temperatures varying from 41 to 45 degrees Celsius for two weeks in Juba and most parts of South Sudan.
Joseph Africano Bartel, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Environment, urged the public to take precautions and avoid direct exposure to sun rays.
Bartel cautioned the public to avoid tedious outdoor activities during the daytime, stay hydrated, take cool showers, stay indoors as much as possible and avoid direct sunlight.
He also suggested regular check on those most at risk including infants, elderly and critically ill several times a day and advised against leaving children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
If in South Sudan, you are also encouraged to wear light weight, light-colored clothing, find an air-conditioned shelter if possible, and the phone number of your doctor or health facility readily available in case of emergency.
Menimen threatens to sue official over unpaid entertainment dues
South Sudanese dance-hall artist Meen Mabior Meen commonly known by his stage name as Menimen and standup comedian Simon Ajonga have threatened to sue the Ministry of Finance over unpaid dues after performing during the welcoming into office of former Finance Minister Dr Baak Barnaba Chol.
Jele and Associates law firm that is representing the artists has served the ministry with a legal notification.
The artists reportedly agreed with a finance official on the payment of $ 12, 100 to perform at the ceremony, but were only paid $3,200. They have been demanding a balance of $ 8 900.
According to the law firm, its clients had tried to follow up on the dues with the Director General of Finance for the payment for several months but all efforts were in.
It has given the undersecretary seven days to clear the artists or else it will institute a legal proceeding against the ministry.
Efforts to contact the ministry for response were not immediate successful at the press time.
South Sudanese artist recounts escaping human traffickers in Thailand
Lul Tuach Dojiok, a 34-year-old South Sudanese artist recounted a traumatic tale of escaping human traffickers in Thailand.
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S. Sudan enormous resources is ‘mind-boggling’ -EU Ambassador
The EU ambassador to South Sudan says the country’s enormous resources should provide solutions to problems regionally and to the globe rather than becoming a source of issues and problems.
Timo Olkkonen has described the natural resources the country has a mind-boggling and called for their preservation -some he said, should be the pride of the country.
“When you look at the resources that this country has, it is mind-boggling, and the country really should not be a source of issues and problems, but really a part of providing solutions regionally and to the globe, ” he told Eye Radio on Tuesday.
He said there is a wealth of opportunities to tap in South Sudan especially with its abandoned water, wildlife and fertile land, among others.
Timo said South Sudanese people should benefit from their natural resources.
“We want to keep an eye on the long game of looking at the tremendous potential that the country has in terms of agriculture, in terms of biodiversity, in terms of its benefit for combating climate change issues, water management, there is a wealth of opportunities here.”
Diplomat Timo Olkkonen went on to say South Sudan should avoid the mistakes of other countries in managing resources and ensure proper environmental conservation.
However, he said providing security and stability is key for the country to utilize the untapped resources.
“The key issue is to provide security and stability and then you can really start tapping these resources.
“It’s the opportunities that are out there and the resources that are considerable should be a sources of pride for South Sudan and I’m firmly believe that they will be a source of pride for the people of South Sudan.”
South Sudan is home to the world’s second-largest land mammal migration, comprising various animal species such as Elephant, Giraffe, hippopotamus, Tiang, and Mongalla gazelle.
In addition to petroleum, South Sudan is believed to have significant mineral resources such as gold, copper, diamond, limestone, Nile River, forests, and wildlife.
“So, it is something that absolutely you should preserve and we want to be a partner for the South Sudanese in doing that,” he added,
Lokiliri directors working from Juba ordered back to area
Commissioner Emmanuel Tete Ezbon has directed Lokiliri Payam directors and chiefs who are operating from Juba to report to their respective areas and deliver services to their people.
“You cannot be a chief of the Jebelen or Lokiliri while you live in Gomba or Rock City or Gudele2 , you must go there,” the county official made the call during his visit along with Central Equatoria State Governor to Lokilri Payam on Friday.
Commissioner Tete criticized the local administrators of working remotely from Juba.
He directed the local administrators to return to their respective areas for deployment.
Tete tasked the local leaders to develop action plans and submit monthly reports to the county headquarters regarding their work.
“We as a government want you to submit reports to us. We want you to have an action plan in order for us to provide services.
“For the people, our chiefs, the directors of Bomas and payams, if you are chosen from Payam as a Boma Director, you must go there and work from there. There is no such area called as a remote and bushy area.
Lokiliri had in recent years faced cattle-related in security, displacing the locals to Juba and the neighboring areas.
3 Killed, 6 wounded in Tonj East cattle-raiding
At least three people have been killed and six others wounded in a cattle-related violence in Tonj East County of Warrap State.
The state Information Minister told Eye Radio suspected armed men from Rumbek North County attacked a cattle camp in Makuac Payam on Sunday resulting in the fatalities.
William Wol Mayom said the unidentified armed raiders fled with hundreds of heads of cattle.
“On date 21st , Sunday, suspected armed men from Pakam of Rumbek Nort County attacked a cattle camp called Wunliet of Makuac Payam, Tonj East County.
“The raiders from Luanjang raided over 900 hundred heads of cattle, three innocent people killed and six others wounded, this happened last week on Sunday,” he said.
Efforts to contact authorities in lakes State were not immediately successful at the press time.
Govt to exempt taxes on ‘genuine’ humanitarian aid providers
The government has taken measures to exempt taxes on what the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs has described as ‘genuine’ humanitarian aid providers.
Albino Atak’s statement comes after Western Embassies in Juba urged the transitional government of South Sudan to halt newly imposed taxes and fees on humanitarian agencies.
These include the Embassies of Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States,
The foreign missions said the imposed costs are hindering humanitarian aid efforts in South Sudan.
In an exclusive interview with Eye Radio this morning, Minister Atak said the government has embarked on arrangements to ensure – in his words – “genuine humanitarian assistance is exempted from taxes.”
“I want to state that the government of South Sudan is committed to facilitating humanitarian operations and delivery of assistance to the needy in the Republic of South Sudan because we are aware of all the challenges that our people are facing.”
‘We have already embarked on arrangements that will make sure genuine humanitarian assistance is exempted from taxes and that exemption is considered the Government of South Sudan’s contribution to humanitarian assistance to its people,” he said.
The Minister said the exemption is part of the government’s contribution in humanitarian assistance to its people and is one of its obligations.
‘That is one of the obligations of the government, and we know so, there is no need for us to tax those assistants that are coming to our people.
“What is there is just the arrangements to be made and put in place. So that it should not be misused.”
Minister Atak added that the government has already taken measures to eliminate the imposed taxes and will soon formalize its implementation.
” We have already taken measures to make sure that we eliminate the taxes on humanitarian assistance, and we are now formalizing it with the concerned authorities.”
“When this was brought to my attention, I immediately contacted and consulted the concerned authorities including the minister of Finance Revenue Authority. Yesterday we concluded a very very fruitful meeting with His Excellency Dr. James Wani who is the chairperson of the economic cluster.
“So, it is a commitment of the government of South Sudan that we facilitate humanitarian operations across the country,” he added.
These exemptions are expected to cover excise duties, customs duties, and fees, as well as any other taxes, charges, and fees levied on goods and services directly associated with diplomatic missions or projects funded by donors.