Category: Peace

Peace

Govt kick-starts preparations for 2024 elections

The government has started preparations for the 2024 general elections, according to National Cabinet Affairs Minister, Dr. Martin Elia Lumoro

He made the remarks after the meeting of the Joint Task-force for the Electoral and Constitution-making Process in Juba on Thursday.

Lomuro said the task force’s secretariat will in two weeks discuss the challenges of the process and identify how to go forward with them.

According to the cabinet minister, ‘There is an absolute determination that the country may go for elections because that is the only option and the surest way of turning the country into peaceful and stable nation.”

He said putting in place the requirements will empower the citizens to elect the leaders of their choice and deal with those who want to take government through unconstitutional means.

Meanwhile, the head of the UN Mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom says they are ready to support South Sudan in its journey towards free, fair, and credible elections.

“We had an opportunity of identifying the issues we need to confront immediately and the steps we can take jointly. From the perspective of the UN, it is our intention to support South Sudan in its journey to free, fair, and credible elections,” he said.

However, he described the process as a mountain to climb.

Gov’t condemns arms embargo, sanctions extension

The Government has condemned and objected to the extension of the arms embargo and ssanctions the United Nations Security Council imposed on South Sudan.

On Tuesday, the 15-member security council extended the arms embargo and sanctions including asset freezes and travel bans for an additional year until 31st May 2024.

It condemned the past and, allegedly, ongoing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by all parties, including armed groups and national security forces.

It said that civil society, journalists, human rights defenders, and humanitarian personnel continued to be targeted.

The council emphasized that the unity government bears the primary responsibility to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The Council decided to renew the arms imposed in 2018 and directed all Member States to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of arms to the territory of South Sudan.

In a statement on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the renewal of the arms embargo on the country as deplorable.

The statement said the decision ” has not taken into account the significant strides that the Government has made in implementing the Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan as well as developmental progress in the country.”

The government said the sanctions affect not only target segments, but the country’s economy as well as the peace and security council was trying to maintain.

However,  praised China, Russia and the three African countries of Ghana, Gabon and Mozambique for abstaining from what it described as unfair vote.

Juba remains committed to implementing the peace agreement and ensure a democratic, free and fair elections  by end of 2024.

” The Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity will continue to redouble efforts to implement R-ARCSS and thereby create a conducive atmosphere for democratic, free and fair elections by December 2024.

 

Gov’t, UN launch multi-million dollar youth peace fund

The government and two UN agencies have launched a three-million US dollar-project to engage youth in peace building activities across the country.

The two-year project is known as “Youth Leading Peace”.

“We have launched a three-million dollar Youth Leading Peace project that will be implemented across the ten states and three administrative area in the Republic of South Sudan,” Peace-building Ministry Undersecretary  Pia Phillip Michael confirmed  to Eye Radio

The funding from the United Nations Peace-building Fund will be Implemented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and United Nations Population Fund.

“It is given to our two key partners, UNFPA and UNESCO plus search for common ground,” he said.

The peace project gears towards establishing participatory and inclusive local and national mechanisms for implementation of the Youth Peace and Security Agenda for South Sudan.”

It targets youth in the ten states and three administrative areas with focus on enhancing accountable institutions to promote justice, peace and inclusivity.

“This project which is supported by the peace-building fund under the leadership of the Ministry of peace build is  to ensure that we institutionalize that process,” said UNFPA Country Representative Dr. Ademola Olajide.

“We built system at all level including in the communities where young people are able to have a voice and are able to actively engage in all processes including the monitoring of the peace plans,” he said

Mr. Olajide also hopes that will help the partners to push and accelerate the implementation and adoption of the national youth policy.

State Ministers of Peace building and youth representatives as well as the, lawmakers and other developmental partners took part in the launch.

The funding use is expected tol empower young women and men to lead the peace building process in South Sudan.

 

 

 

 

Kiir instructs top officers to speed up security arrangements

President Salva Kiir has directed the security organs to expedite the implementation of the security arrangements.
The Commander-in-Chief on Friday met with senior Security officers to review the implementation of the Security Arrangements, as stipulated in the Revitalized Peace Agreement, the presidential press unit reported.
They include Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Santino Deng Wol, his Deputy Gen. Gabriel Lam Duop, Inspector General of Police Gen. Majak Akech Malok, Director General of the General Intelligence Bureau Lt. Gen. Simon Yien Makuac.
The meeting focused on strengthening the nation’s security network and maintaining law and order in all parts of the country.
National Security Advisor Tut Gatluak Manime told the president that the deployment of the graduated Unified Forces would begin soon.
The Advisor stated that the country is stable, despite isolated incidents in some areas.
Tut reportedly added the implementation of Phase II of Security Arrangements will commence within the next 14 days.
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