Category: News

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.

 

 

Saudi Arabia govt contributes $1.4 million in funding for S. Sudan, Sudan

The United Nations food agency, WFP  has inked a $1.4 million in funding agreements with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to treat and prevent malnutrition across Sudan and South Sudan.

The funding according to WFP, will help more than 35,000 children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers impacted by conflict, economic shocks, and climate events.

It targets “29,000 in Sudan who have been caught up in the war and almost 6,000 in South Sudan who are impacted by an ongoing humanitarian crisis driven by conflict and economic and climate crises.”

“This funding comes at a critical time, it’s been one year since the conflict in Sudan began and has since spiraled into what may soon be the world’s largest hunger crisis,” said Michael Dunford, WFP Regional Director for the East Africa region.

“With extreme hunger comes malnutrition and we have already started to receive reports of children in Sudan dying of starvation. Support for our nutrition programmes is critical to prevent these deaths as well as the long-term impacts of childhood malnutrition,” he added.

WFP’s Executive Director, Cindy McCain, and the Royal Court Advisor and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah signed the agreements  in Paris .

The deal comes ahead of a pledging conference for the Sudan crisis slated to take place soon.

Dr. Abdullah Al Moallem, Director of KSrelief’s Health and Environmental Aid Department said “these programs will enable those in need to access vital food and medical assistance and will help the us to fight famine and malnutrition in both countries.”

“We are committed to supporting vulnerable population groups in Sudan and South Sudan, and to fostering a healthier and more resilient future for all communities,”he added.

According to WFP, “in Sudan, 4.9 million children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished – a 22% increase from the previous year.

Of this, 730,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition. 

In the case of South Sudan, it said “1.6 million children and 870,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are expected to be malnourished this year.”

Holy See suspends Rumbek priest over attempted murder on Bishop-elect

The Holy See has suspended Rumbek catholic priest Mathiang Machol who was convicted for aiding the shooting of religious leader Christian Carlassare in 2021.

Christian Carlassare, an Italian Comboni priest bound to become a bishop at the time, was shot twice in his legs by gunmen at his residence in Rumbek town of Lakes State, in April 2021.

Clergy Mathiang, the former diocesan coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek was handed a 7-year-jail term by Juba High Court in 2023 for abetting and aiding an attempted murder on Bishop.

But last month, the Supreme Court overturned the guilty verdict against him after finding, what his defenses lawyer said, no evidence against his client.

Speaking the media on Tuesday, 16/04/2024, the President of the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference,Stephen Ameyu Martin Cardinal Mulla announced that the Holy See has been suspended Machol over the violent act.

“In solidarity with the whole Church, the Holy See has suspended this priest.

‘The main reason was that, this matter was very complicated and so as a result, we asked the Holy See to do its duty because once there is that tension, the local Church in agreement with the Holy See and is always ready to cooperate,” said Cardinal Mulla

Cardinal Ameyu said the suspended priest will not receive sacraments nor celebrate mass.

“According to the Code of Canon Law, a person who does this against a bishop incurs a latae sententiae interdict and if he is a cleric, also a latae sentiatae suspension.

“This means that Fr. Machol by his actions against a bishop has automatically incurred an interdict and suspension from the exercise of his priestly ministry. He shall not receive sacraments nor administer them until further notice”.

Cardinal Ameyu further said “the Code of Canon Law states that, if a censure prohibits the celebration of sacraments or sacramental or the placing of an act of governance, the prohibition is suspended whenever it is necessary to care for the faithful in danger of death.

However, he said, ” this exception does not apply in the case of Fr. Machol, as the interdict and suspension have been formally declared.”

 

 

Yakani welcomes move to probe illicit Morobo teak logging

Activist Emund Yakani has welcomed Speaker Nunu Kumba’s decision to probe alleged illegal logging  in Morobo County of Central Equatoria state, and called for those involved to be held to account.

Last week, national legislature speaker formed a seven-member committee to investigate reported logging activities, and its environmental impact in Morobo County after some area MPs raised the concern.

In a statement to Eye Radio newsroom on Monday,  Mr. Yakani said “the rampant illegal logging in Morobo County is carried out by influential individuals in the government, security and defense institutions including some countries in the region.”

He said the established committee should bring out results, citing  past  investigations in Kajo-keji and Lainya Counties of Central Equatoria Sate ended in vein.

“No tangible decisions were generated and concrete actions undertaken to preventing further illegal logging,” said Mr. Yakani.

The activist added that illegal logging is fueling violence in South Sudan and denying the host communities their right to wealth.

He also said  illegal logging has direct negative implication on the environment and climate, and that the loggers should be placed on international  sanctions list for causing extreme negative impact on humanity.

‘With all these negative implication individuals or companies dealing in illegal logging should be held accountable before competent court of law,” he urged.

In the meantime, Yakani said,  the organization – “CEPO, will be effectively and proactively tracking the work of the established committee that is tasked to investigate the rampant illegal logging in Morobo county.

 

 

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