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UN slaps sanctions on six DR Congo rebel leaders

The UN has imposed an arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze against six rebel leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid violence in the country’s east.

Those sanctioned include the military spokesman of the M23 rebel group, a general in the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and two senior leaders in the Ugandan armed group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

The others are the leader of the National Coalition of the People for the Sovereignty of Congo (CNPSC), a Mai-Mai group, and a commander in the armed group Twirwaneho.

The announcement followed a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, aimed at discussing the dire security situation in DR Congo.

“We are pleased that as of today, six additional armed group leaders will be designated by the UN DR Congo Sanctions Committee,” Robert Wood, US Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs in the UN said.

“These individuals are responsible for numerous abuses,” he said.

The M23 and the FDLR have been at the centre of tensions between the Congolese and Rwandan governments.

DR Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the Tutsi-led M23 group while the Rwandan government blames its neighbour for collaborating with the Hutu-dominated FDLR rebels whom it says have links to the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

During Tuesday’s Security Council briefing, members took turns to condemn the M23’s recent advance towards the town of Sake, which has led to the forced displacement of thousands of people.

Norway, UK, US Embassies condemn recent violence in Abyei region

The Embassies of the United Kingdom, Norway and the United States have vehemently condemned the recent surge of violence in the Abyei Administrative Area, which resulted in the tragic loss of over 75 lives, including two humanitarian aid workers.

In a joint statement emailed to Eye Radio’s newsroom on Thursday, Troika countries consoled the families of the victims affected by the tragic violence and ‘strongly’ denounced the senseless act of violence against aid workers who selflessly provided crucial life-saving support.

The diplomats of the three countries urge the government, community, and religious leaders who hold sway to take immediate action to put an end to the ongoing cycle of violence.

“We renew our calls on all government, community, and religious leaders with influence to act with urgency to help end the cycle of violence,” reads the statement.

The three diplomats called on the transitional government to ensure that those responsible for the ongoing violence are held accountable.

They said the perpetrators of these acts of violence must be brought to justice, as this will not only provide a sense of justice for the victims but also serve as a deterrent for future acts of violence.

By holding the perpetrators accountable, the diplomats say, the government can send a strong message that violence will not be tolerated and that those who engage in such acts will face the full force of the law.

In the recent past, South Sudan had witnessed widespread renewed violence in parts of Unity State, Warrap, Abyei, and Central Equatoria State.

 

Almost all parties to Rome talks responded positively -Ruto

President William Ruto has said Kenya is currently making the necessary arrangements to welcome parties to Rome peace talks to Nairobi for per-mediation consultations after parties responded positively to his call.

On Tuesday, he accepted on December 25, 2023 President Salva Kiir’s request to mediate peace talks between South Sudan government and the hold out groups.

“I accepted the request of my brother President Kiir to host and conclude the remaining phase of the peace talks that have been going on between the Government of South Sudan and hold-out opposition parties in Rome, Italy, under the auspices of the Community of Sant’Egidio.”

In a post on his official Facebook page Tuesday afternoon, the Kenyan Head of State said he had a phone conversation with President Salva Kiir.

Ruto said he explained to President Kiir on the steps his government has taken to realise this imperative.

According to him, upon receiving the President’s request, he reached out to the Community of Sant’Egidio, applauded them for hosting the talks, and invited them to work with his government to bring these talks to a fruitful conclusion.

He also said he personally reached out to all the hold-out opposition parties under the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance while expressing his desire to ensure an all-inclusive and equitable mediation.

Ruto said he was “encouraged that almost all the parties have responded positively to our call and Kenya is currently making the necessary arrangements to welcome the parties to Nairobi for pre-mediation consultations.”

He added that they invite all friends of South Sudan, including IGAD, the East African Community, the UN, the AU, the Quad and all Partner countries to support this noble effort.

Mr Ruto ended his remark saying ‘this is the time to give the people of South Sudan an opportunity to enjoy lasting peace and prosperity.”

Dr Lam hails Friday’s meeting with President Kiir as fruitful

Opposition leader Dr Lam Akol says he had a fruitful discussion with President Salva Kiir during his Christmas visit to congratulate the head of state on Friday.

The leader of the National Democratic Movement says the meeting was centered around how to prepare the country for the next stage where South Sudanese will hold elections in 2024.

“We touched on how to prepare the country for the next stage as we enter 2024 which has been earmarked by the roadmap to be the year when South Sudanese will hold elections in the country.

According to Dr. LAM, the discussion was fruitful, and he thanked President Kiir for receiving him in his office yesterday.

” It was very fruitful, and we are thankful for his excellency to have received us when his schedule was full, especially during this season,” he added.

Meanwhile, Presidential Affairs Minister Bangasi Joseph Bakasoro said both leaders promised to work together and cooperate on political issues.

Bakasoro said the meeting symbolizes unity and togetherness -something he said leaders must embrace to cement relations and discuss issues that can drive the country forward.

“The president was grateful and happy to receive Dr Lam Akol in his office and both leaders promised to work together, cooperate, and be united to discuss political issues openly, frankly, and cordially.

” So, to the public, this is part of unity, part of togetherness that leaders must meet to cement relations and discuss issues that can drive the country forward,” he said.

 

Condolences pour in for late journalist Charlton Doki

South Sudanese journalists and fans are saddened by the demise of Veteran journalist and the Coordinator and Editor of Voice of America South Sudan In Focus Program, Charlton Doki who was reportedly involved in a grisly motor accident on Thursday evening.

According to a family member, “Charlton died at Juba Teaching hospital after an accident that involved two motorbikes-crush on Dec. 14, 2023.

The accident happened on the evening of Thursday at the roundabout located along Munuki-Bilpam road.
Reacting to the incident, Chief of Communication at UNICEF Sri Lanka Bismark Swangin, a South Sudanese said and I quote;

“I’m Profoundly shocked to hear that Doki’s life was claimed in a grisly accident. South Sudan has lost a dedicated journalist, a humble man, and a solid voice. It’s such a great loss, not only to the family but the media fraternity. May his gentle soul rest in peace,” end quote.

Meanwhile, Mabor Dhieu Majuac Dak, a reporter who was under the supervision of Late Doki said and I quote;

“On behalf of all VOA journalists who are under training, we convey our condolence messages to relatives and family of our late Doki,”

A former Co-Host for Voice of America’s South Sudan In-Focus program, Charlton graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the Islamic University in Uganda and a Master’s in International Applied Communication from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in the United Kingdom.

Before he took up the position of Coordinator and Editor at VOA South Sudan in Focus, he worked as a Communications Specialist for South Sudan Interactive Radio Instruction (SSIRI) – a project of the Education Development Center (EDC).

He also worked as a Senior Producer for Sudan Radio Service (SRS) – also a project of the Education Development Center and as a Copy Editor and Senior Reporter for the Sudan Mirror newspaper.

Charlton loved telling stories as a child and later became passionate about providing information to enable people to make informed choices and decisions.

Speaking to Eye Radio at the Juba Funeral home where the late’s body was kept, some VOA reporters described his demise as shocking and expressed their profound sorrow at his sudden and untimely departure.

Others described him as diplomatic a very committed journalist with a good heart.

“It’s with heartbroken and devastated news that our editor late Charlton Doki whom I worked with for the past few years died. He was a very professional editor and mentor as well as very diplomatic.

He worked professionally, he tried by all means to ensure that his work and everything you did together was to all standards and professional journalism.

“So, we are mourning a true hero in the media fraternity, this is a loss for the media fraternity in South Sudan,” said VOA’s Michael Atit.

VOA reporter Gai: “I am so sad to have learned about the untimely death of Charlton Doki, he has been my mentor. Just yesterday we were sitting together with him and this morning unfortunately, I heard he got involved in an accident that took his life, I am devastated,

“Charlton was a man I can’t compare with anything, he was dedicated to his job and worked with journalists, mentored them, and supported them in their work. it’s a great loss to have lost him at this time.

“Charlton was a committed journalist with a good heart – who understood the situation of the journalists always and as in solidarity with them and encouraged them to do their work.”

Dennis Logonyi of Classic FM said: “It is so sad at the moment, we feel sudden with this current situation we are in, we have nothing to say but we know the Almighty Lord who has taken his soul to the right place.

“We will always miss you, we love you and will continue to love you as one of our brothers, a colleague, and friends in the media fraternity.

“You have left a very big gap hard to fix  but we are very sure that God will strengthen us the journalists of South Sudan.”

Ugandan serial killer sentenced to 105 years in prison

The High Court in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, has sentenced a 25-year-old serial killer to 105 years in prison.

Musa Musasizi was sentenced on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the murder of three women said to be his girlfriends and a three-month-old girl who was the child of one of his victims.

He reportedly pursued romantic relationships with the women before sexually assaulting and killing them, then burning and disposing of their bodies, the court heard.

Justice Margaret Mutonyi said the long sentence was necessary to protect young women, including Musasizi’s six-year-old daughter, the privately owned NTV channel reported.

Musasizi had been arrested in March 2021 on suspicion of killing five women and an infant.

He was convicted for the murder of one of the women in July.

At that time, his lawyer asked the judge for mercy, saying that Musasizi, a former street child, had survived a difficult upbringing.

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