Govt to respond to grievances of holdout groups on Monday -Makuei

Spokesperson Michael Makuei says the government will on Monday respond to grievances of the non-signatory groups to the 2018 peace in the ongoing Nairobi peace talks.

The high-level peace negotiation between the unity government and the non-signatory groups to the 2018 peace deal kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya on Thursday.

The government is negotiating with Real SPLM led by Pagan Amum, General Paul Malong of the South Sudan United Front and Stephen Buay, the leader of South Sudan People’s Movement.

According to Makuei, the groups including a wing of Thomas Cirilo dubbed as NAS RRC  and South Sudan People’s Movement led by Stephen Buay of t made presentations on Saturday.

He said Real SPLM made a presentation focusing on justice in economic affairs and governance.

“Today (Saturday), we started our continued interaction with the non-signatory groups. As of today (today), Real SPLM led by Pagan Amum made a presentation on some issues in question and that was on justice in economic affairs and governance.

“(This was) followed by presentations from NAS RCC, the wing of Thomas Cirilos and Stephen Buay, the leader of the South Sudan People’s Movement army who has a big force in Sudan,” said Makuei.

Minister Makuei did not explain the position of the holdout groups but said that the government will respond to their presentations on Monday

After this, Makuei said, the chief mediator Lazarus Sumbeiyo will draft an agender for the continuation of the talks

“On Monday, the government delegation will be responding to the presentations to move forward the position of the government on all the issues that were in question.

“It is thereafter on Tuesday or Wednesday, the mediator will come out with the agenda for the meeting.

RCC has come and they have made their presentation accordingly because in this process we don’t want to live out anybody because we need an inclusive agreement and inclusive talks that will bring peace to the people of South Sudan.

“We are pressing hard so that all the parties join us in this person,” he added.

On the 10th of May, Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization called on the politicians in the ongoing Nairobi peace talks to show political discipline and maturity in finding lasting solutions to what he termed as ‘political instability in South Sudan’. –

 

 

SSRA notifies Kenyan oil dears on order exempting UN from e-permit

South Sudan Revenue Authority (SSRA) has notified the Kenyan oil dealers about the abolition of  petroleum accreditation permits imposed on UN genies in the country.

Anyieth Jacob Ajak  who is the Chief of South Sudan Revenue Authority Customs Office in Kenya’s Eldoret, Kisumu and Nakuru on 7th May informed managers of the Kenyan Pipeline Company about the decision.

In the letter addressed to KPC General Mangers and oil marketing companies, Mr. Jacob said: “I would like to propel these directives to all OMCs and shipper who tensely deal with SSRA Customs office that all fuel cargoes designatedd for UN agencies are fully exempted from paying e-petroleum accreditation permits in accordance with Ministerial order NO RSS/MOFP/J/M/05/2024/017 issued by the minister of Finance and Planning South Sudan.”

Mr Jacob also notified the Kenyan oil dealers of the abolition for fly booking for fuel cargoes destined for South Sudan.

The government’s decision comes after the embassies of Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States express concern over the imposed taxes including the e-Petroleum Accreditation Permit, customs fees, and charges, among others, hindering humanitarian aid efforts in South Sudan.

 

Three S. Sudanese fish traders jailed in Uganda

Three South Sudanese fish traders have been sentenced to three months in jail in Uganda for allegedly transiting to DR Congo with trucks not licensed by the country’s Fishery Protection Unit.

A Ugandan Magistrate who spoke to Eye Radio didn’t disclosed his name said that the South Sudanese fish traders were brought to court by the Enforcement from Protection Unit Department in the Ministry of Fisheries in Uganda.

The Ugandan magistrate who spoke to Eye Radio on condition of anonymity confirmed the jailing of the three South Sudanese fish traders at Sura Prison which is situated in the border with DR Congo.

Joseph, not his real name, who handled the case said, the convicts were taken to the Kikronga court by the Protection Unit Department of the Ministry of Fisheries in Uganda.

“I am the magistrate who handled that case, I am not the person who arrested them. There is an enforcement office (FPU) Fishery Protection Unit that manned the road blocks and does the protection,” he said.

John Anyuat and two others were altogether fined Sh27 million ($7,100) for breaching an enforced license regulations which restricts the traders to only use designated Ugandan trucks to transport their products to DR Congo.

Asked about why the traders must use Ugandan trucks, the magistrate cited unclear issues surrounding the case and urged the Eye Radio to reach out the Fish Protection Department.

When contacted, an officer in the Uganda’s in The Fishery Protection Unit who identified himself only as Richard and is based at Elegu border town declined to comment on the issue.

“For us they only bring suspects who already charged and the charges are brought by the state.

“You would rather to go to of FPU Fishery Protection Unit headquarter in Kampala and say your citizens are being arrested and charged with such offenses such that you come in compromise with the head office.”

A week ago, a lawmaker from the East African Legislative Assembly is calling on South Sudan to expedite the domestication of a treaty, enabling traders to freely export goods across regional borders. Continue reading Three S. Sudanese fish traders jailed in Uganda

NBS boss maintains census is impossible before slated polls

The Chairperson of the National Bureau of Statistics has maintained that conducting population census is not possible before the December 2024 elections.

The Revitalized Peace Agreement mandates the RTGoNU to conduct a National Population and Housing Census before the end of the Transitional Period.

The slated elections to signal end of the transition, are just six months away.

Dr. Augustino Ting Mayai says the government has approved the budget for the process but the Finance Ministry has not released the cash due to shortages.

“We know for fact that there is still a demand for census in order to inform elections but it is also known to a lot of people that the resources that are required for the census conduct has been approved but they have not been released because they don’t exist.

“The Ministry of Finance is not having enough resources. So, it’s not that the government is holding onto the resources, the resources are not there.

“We are waiting for revenues to come through and we begin with what is called planning and cartography process where we will put in place the committees at the County levels, at the State levels and also, we begin to map where people live and this is where cartography services,’ he said.

However, he said, even if adequate resources are made available today, he will need at least nine to sixteen months to roll out the exercise.

“All of these processes need about nine months to complete and given the fact that elections are basically not too far away.

“Even if resources were made available, I would like to reiterate this,  as I said it last time, the census as mentioned will not be available at the time”.

Dr. Ting expresses his institution’s readiness to provide input to the government to inform all processes that are associated with the democratic transition.

But he said, this still requires resources.

“As far as the political process in the transition, the leadership will sit down and decide what is done, my role as the Executive Chief is to provide input when I am asked to do so, and I will need the resources to do so.

“… those resources when they are  made available, the Bureau of Statistics stands ready to execute its mandate and we are happy to inform all the processes that are associated with this transition.”

In February, Dr. Ting suggested that the government can conduct elections for the Executive and the members of the Council of States while the Members of Parliament waits the census.

He also suggested for extension of the transitional period for three months to enable him have the census results in order to inform the electoral process but the time frame has relatively changed and that this needs over a year to implement.

Dr. Ting had also suggested for the usage of the 2008 census figures to inform the process if elections is to be conducted in December.

He also provided an option for the bio-metric registration if the government maintains December 2024 elections period.

Wau-based activist reports being threatened after students’ protest

The Coordinator of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization in Western Bahr el Ghazal has raised concerns over his safety after he was questioned by the security personnel following the recent students’ demonstrations in the state capital Wau.

“I’m seeing that my life and the lives of my colleagues and institution are in danger,” said Stephen Robo.

On Monday, hundreds of students at the University of Bahr el Ghazal took to the Wau town streets to protest the lack of food ratios at the campus.

According to the students, they had no food for three weeks, and despite raising the concern, the state government did not respond to their complaints.

The students chanted “No food, No Elections” slogans as they marched to the streets with sticks and pieces of bread, demanding urgent an intervention.

During the protest, Western Bahr el Ghazal Deputy governor ordered for a truck of food he said, was enough sustain the students for only one week.

According to CEPO’s Stephen Robo coordinator based in Wau, following the protest, security personnel summoned him, accusing him of instigating the protest.

Speaking to Eye Radio yesterday, Robo distanced himself from the Bahr el Ghazal University students’ demonstrations.

“I have been summoned by the National Security in the state on a report somebody wrote  about me in relations to the last students’ demonstration at the Bahr el Ghazal University.

“In the allegations, they’re saying you as Stephen Robo [and others] we are behind the school demonstration demanding for food while chanting Kiir must go.

We explained that as Stephen, I’m not a student at the University. We are not doing any activity with the students at the University.”

When contacted by Eye Radio, Western Bahr el Ghazal state Information Minister Nichola Samuel said he had no information about the threats against the activist.

“I have no information about this please. The Coordinator of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization in the state did not contact me. However, let me confirm and collect some information from this news,” he said.

 

 

Kiir returns to Juba after launch of peace talks in Nairobi

President Salva Kiir Mayardit has returned to the country after launching the Nairobi Peace Talks with the holdout groups, his office press unit has reported.

Mr Kiir arrived on Friday and was received by First Vice President Dr Riek Machar, newly appointed Governor of Central Equatoria State, Gen Agustino Jadalla, and his advisors, Tut Galuak and Kuol Manyang Juuk among others.

Speaking upon Kiir’s arrival in Juba yesterday afternoon, Foreign Affairs Minister Ramadan Abdalla Goc said the peace process aims order to restore a comprehensive peace in South Sudan.

Goc said President Kiir reiterated his administration’s determination to negotiate with the holdout groups to reach a peace deal.

During his opening address at the peace process, President Kiir said he hope the holdout groups shared the same conviction and aspirations as his government to bring peace to the country

 

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