Category: Politics

South Sudan, Ethiopia to ‘deepen’ ties

President Salva Kiir and Ethiopia’s foreign minister met on Wednesday and discussed ways to “deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation” between the countries, the office of the president has said.

Mekonnen said the meeting centered on strengthening people to people relations between the two neighbors.

“The relationship between Ethiopia and Juba (South Sudan) is deeper and we need to strengthen on that through people-to-people relations, business policies and government to government relations,” he said while speaking on state-owned television SSBC.

South Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Dr. James Pitia Morgan hailed “historic relations” with Adis Ababa and said Juba and Addis Ababa are working on bringing their people closer by building a highway connecting the two countries.

“The people of South Sudan know the role of Ethiopia has played to help the people of South Sudan to reach where we are today,” Morgan said.

“His excellency (Kiir) has resounded that message to deepen and strengthen this relationship further by linking Juba and Adis Ababa by road.”

 

Continue reading South Sudan, Ethiopia to ‘deepen’ ties

Yakani blames ‘bootlickers’ for bad blood in presidency

A civil society activist has blamed loyalists to the two peace principal parties for creating a trust deficit between President Kiir and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar.

Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, believes that it is crucial for members of political parties to question their leaders to prioritize the interests of the country.

“Some of you who are the party members, can you question your principals, can they put the interest of the country first, asked Yakani on Tuesday during the peace and security conference organized by  Young Women Christian Association.

Yakani blames some supporters for what he says their messages are amplifying the trust deficit between President Salva Kiir, Dr. Riek Machar, and others.

“Because your messages are amplifying a deficit in trust and confidence among the principals, it is not the principals, I will not blame President Salva.”

He says such supporters are investing in their own personal gain to obtain luxury vehicles such as V8s and titles.

‘I will not blame Riek I will blame the members who like to invest in the deficit to grow between Salva and Riek for their benefits to remain in V8s or titles.

“You go from contributing to the growth of trust between Salva and Riek, between Salva and Taban Deng, Taban Deng, and the rest,” he appealed, adding that: When we vote you come to parliament as MP through the power of our vote you will feel the beauty of politics.”

 

  

Kiir vows to fix South Sudan-Uganda border disputes

President Salva Kiir on Monday pledged to resolve the border disputes between South Sudan and Uganda after receiving reports on the issue, his office has said.

Fresh tension has engulfed Central Equatoria’s Kajo-keji County at the frontier with Uganda as a local official said on September 17, that UPDF troops have moved deep into South Sudan and were seen setting up new bases.

Phanuel Dumo, the commissioner of Kajo-keji, also disclosed that the foreign troops appeared to have permanently settled in three locations and may not be leaving any sooner.

The alleged incursion also followed directives from the Central Equatoria government to border communities urging them to leave the border dispute in the hands of the national government.

South Sudan People’s Defense Forces Spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang told Eye Radio early that army has agreed to stand by and let the border tensions be addressed through diplomatic channels.

Meanwhile, President Kiir on Monday pledged a peaceful solution after CES governor, Emmanuel Adil Anthony briefed him on the latest situation.

“The President assured the Governor and people of central Equatoria of his administration’s commitment to peace, tranquility and development stability in the state,” reads a statement published by the Office of the President.

– Colonial boundaries –

The modern-day international boundary between South Sudan and Uganda has its origins as a colonial administrative line separating Anglo–Egyptian Sudan from the Uganda Protectorate, both colonies then managed by the United Kingdom.

Today, it runs from the tripoint with Kenya in the east for approximately 500 km to the tripoint with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the west.

However, there are several locations on the boundary that were originally described in unclear terms, which have led to at least two areas of boundary disputes between South Sudan and Uganda.

According to Sovereign Limits, lack of government control, problems with refugees, and general lawlessness in border regions have made demarcation and formalization of the international boundary between South Sudan and Uganda almost impossible.

– ‘Not a meter of land to Uganda’ –

On Thursday, September 28, South Sudan parliament spokesperson gave a stern warning to Uganda that his country will not allow an inch of its territory to be annexed by the southern neighbor.

John Agany made the remarks two days after lawmaker Joseph Kiju tabled a motion over insecurity along the South Sudan-Uganda border.

In that same deliberation, the national parliament called for a swift solution to the reports of encroachment on South Sudan territories by Uganda and Kenya.

While speaking on Eye Radio’s Sundown Show on Friday, lawmaker Agany said South Sudan will handle the issue in a discipline and diplomatic manner.

However, Agany said if diplomacy fails, his countrymen are prepared to die defending their country.

“Let me remind him (Museveni) if he is listening to me. We are very diplomatic, we are very sensible, but if he refuses, let Museveni get the necessary weapons to finish all of us,” he said.

Agany added: “We will never never allow even one meter (of land) to be taken by Uganda.”

 

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