The UN mission in South Sudan has commended the government and the army for holding culprits accountable for committing what it said are horrific crimes in Yei County.
Continue reading UN commends govt for punishing soldiers accused of crimes
Category: Peace
Peace
Machar’s party distances itself from Kiir’s roadmap
The SPLM-IO has said the draft proposal of a road map submitted to President Kiir for completion of the remaining tasks in the 2018 peace deal does not represent the views of the parties.
Continue reading Machar’s party distances itself from Kiir’s roadmap
Public consultation calls for credible feasibility studies before river dredging
The public consultation on the Nile Water and Management has called for credible feasibility studies before dredging of the Nile tributaries takes place.
The team also suggest for establishment of the national water commission that will focus on regional and international issues.
Continue reading Public consultation calls for credible feasibility studies before river dredging
Kiir’s office made ‘false’ claims about dredging machines – Machar
The claims by the office of the President that the government has not approved the dredging equipment are false, the First Vice President has said. Continue reading Kiir’s office made ‘false’ claims about dredging machines – Machar
Lobong back to Torit as calm returns to Nimule
The Governor of Eastern Equatoria Louis Lobong Lojore has returned to the state headquarters in Torit after an improved security situation at the border town of Nimule. Continue reading Lobong back to Torit as calm returns to Nimule
“Set aside 1929 Sudan-Egypt Nile water deal for new initiative,” Makuei
The government spokesperson has told the national legislature to enact the Nile Basin Cooperation Framework agreement to enable South Sudan to become a member.
It’s not clear what prompted the call, but the recent reception from the Egyptian government of dredging equipment by the Unity state government sparked a public outcry.
The equipment were to be used to open the Bahr-el Ghazal-Naam tributaries to the Nile River.
This, according to some officials, was aimed to mitigate the devastating impact of floods in the Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal regions.
However, President Salva kiir over the weekend suspended the project until a proper environmental socioeconomic impact studies are carried out.
Historically, the 1929 Anglo-Egyptian treaty granted Egypt a veto power over construction projects on the Nile River or any of its tributaries to minimize any interference with the flow of water into the Nile.
The 1959 agreement increased water allocations to both Egypt and Sudan.
Egypt’s water allocation was raised from 48 billion cubic meters to 55.5 billion cubic meters.
However, due to controversies surrounding the shares of the Nile, the Nile basin countries came up with an agreement framework in May 14, 2010.
Four countries that participated in the deal known as Cooperation Framework Agreement were Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda – with Burundi and Kenya signing it later.
Between 2013 and 2019, member states; Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda except Kenya and Burundi ratified the agreement.
Meanwhile, Egypt and Sudan are non-signatories to the agreement.
Speaking during the ongoing public consultations on the suspended planned to dredge the Nile tributaries, Minister Michael Makuei said South Sudan is not yet a member of the Nile Basin agreement.
He said there is need for the country to join the bloc, but the parliament should enact a bill that can allow the country to be a member.
“I think as a new state, if there is a new initiative, call the Nile Basin Initiative, let us set aside all the agreements and commitments that were made by Sudan government.
“Why should we not sign the Nile Initiative and forget about it because we are not bound by it, we are not a party to it. And Sudan government did not come to remind us about the water agreement.
“If we are not reminded, then let us proceed. So, issues of agreement should not worry us.
“The most important thing is my request to the parliament to pass a Nile Basin Initiative act so that we approve it and finalize it. Whoever will come to talk about it, we will face him.”
NILE BASIN TREATY
The regional treaty established principles, rights and obligations to ensure long-term and sustainable management and development of the shared Nile waters.
According to its provisions, the Nile Basin States shall assume the obligation to cooperate on the conservation, management and development of the Basin and its waters.
The treaty establishes a legal basis for a permanent and joint management institution, the Nile River Basin Commission (NRBC), which is vested with legal personality as well as enhance Nile cooperation.
The institution is to ensure that national development projects are coordinated with basin-wide development to achieve optimal use of the Basin’s resources and increase national benefits of regional cooperation.
Ratification process and entry into force.
Ratification process and entry into force
AN EXCERPT FROM NILE BASIN FROM NILE BASIN ORGANIZATION
The Treaty is subject to ratification.
It will not enter into force until at least 60 days after six countries have ratified or acceded to the document and deposited with the African Union.
Signature of the CFA is an intermediate step by which countries indicate their willingness to ratify the Treaty in the future; yet they are under no legal obligation to ratify.
Signature of the treaty puts countries under an obligation not to set any acts that would undermine the objective and purpose of the CFA. (As of March 2011, the CFA has been signed by six countries.)
As long as the treaty has not entered into force the text can be renegotiated; if this results in text changes the new document will be again subject to the two step process of signature and ratification. The Treaty has not legal effect on States that do not sign or ratify the document.
Nile Basin Countries which do not sign or ratify the CFA are not bound by it.
Cattle raid death toll in Kapoeta North rises to 235
The death toll of cattle-related violence in Kapoeta North County, Eastern Equatoria State has risen to 235, with Pibor area deputy chief blaming his youth for participating in the attack.
Last week, more than 70 people were reportedly killed following a cattle raid which the county authorities said was carried out by a coalition of youth from Budi, Lafon and Greater Pibor areas.
When contacted on Monday, Kapoeta North County Commissioner, Emmanuel Epone Lolimo said a total of 235 have been confirmed dead, a figure Eye Radio could not independently verify.
“We are not celebrating the death, but we also blame them for coming to raid us. It has been sixteen years since we had conflict.”
“ So, during this incident, the death toll rose up to two hundred and thirty-five which is not good. We are not celebrating this big number. But we blame them for coming to attack us.”
Meanwhile, John Abula, Deputy Chief Administrator of Greater Pibor Administrative Area confirmed some youth from his area were involved and similarly blamed them for crossing into Eastern Equatoria State to raid.
“Cattle raiding always involves loss of lives, so we are not worried about that incident because they took their lives to that extent.”
Abula said Eastern Equatoria state governor, Louis Lobong informed him about the incident adding, the losses are not a surprise.
“So, we learned that there were some casualties and loss of lives also there but it is not new because they were the ones who decided to go there.”
He asserts that they have organized a conference to change the mindset of the youth in the area to desist from cattle raiding and child abduction.
Dr. Lam suggests roundtable conference to discuss elections
The leader of the National Democratic Movement has suggested a roundtable conference for signatories to the revitalized peace agreement to discuss the remaining provisions in the deal before elections. Continue reading Dr. Lam suggests roundtable conference to discuss elections
Kiir, Machar parties trade blames over political space
The SPLM Party has accused the main opposition SPLM-IO of denying it from campaigning in some counties under the control of its commanders, an accusation rejected by Machar’s party.
Continue reading Kiir, Machar parties trade blames over political space
President Kiir calls partners to fund crippled peace mechanisms
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has added his voice to IGAD’s call on the donor countries to reconsider their decision to cut support and fund the peace monitoring mechanisms.
On Tuesday, the regional heads of state during an extraordinary assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, revealed that the US government scaled down its support to the South Sudan peace process.
According to the IGAD leaders, the withdrawal of support to South Sudan is crippling the work of critical agreement mechanisms.
The affected mechanisms include the Revitalized Transitional Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, R-JMEC and the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism, CTSAM-VM.
In his state of the nation address last evening for the marking of the country’s 11th Independence Anniversary, President Kiir said his government is concerned with the donors’ funding cut to what he calls vital peace monitoring mechanisms.
“We are concern by the decision taken by our partners to the monitoring mechanisms that is the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC), and the Ceasefire Transitional Security Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAM-VM)”, he said.
The head of state appealed to the peace partners to reconsider their decision and provide the necessary funding to the mechanisms.
This, he said, will enable the peace bodies to discharge their oversight role in the peace implementation.
“These bodies are vital in proving oversight on the issues arising from the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement,” stated Kiir.
“Given their vital roles played by these institutions, I’m adding my voice to that of IGAD to call our partners to reconsider their decision and provide the necessary fund to these institutions to carry out their functions.”’
Early this year, Kiir’s office appealed to the Joe Biden Administration to support the Unity government in its quest for lasting peace.
According to the press secretary in the office of the President, Ateny Wek Ateny, the government required support of the American people to hold free, fair, timely and peaceful elections.
The country’s transitional period is due to end in February next year, but key provisions of the 2018 peace deal such as putting in place a permanent constitution, holding general elections among other key reforms required, are unaccomplished.
However, the US government has often emphasized it would support the peace process if it sees tangible commitment from the peace leaders.