Son of Sudan’s leader dies in Turkey

Mohamed Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, son of Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman and Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, reportedly passed away on Friday in Turkey, the Sudan Tribune has reported.

He had been hospitalized since March after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle accident.

Genera al-Burhan arrived at Ankara Airport in the early hours of Saturday, where he was received by Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz ahead of his son’s funeral.

Details surrounding the accident remain unclear, but reports indicate Mohamed Abdel Fattah al-Burhan collided with a commercial vehicle last March.

He received treatment at Bilkent Hospital in Ankara until his passing.

Several Sudanese officials, including governors and ministers, offered their condolences.

These included Minni Minnawi (Governor of Darfur), Gibril Ibrahim (Finance Minister), Mohieldin Naim Mohamed (Minister of Energy and Mining), Ahmed Osman Hamza (Khartoum Governor), Mohamed Ahmed Hassan (Governor of Gedaref), and Al-Tahir Hajer (leader of the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces).

Neither the Sovereignty Council nor the Sudanese government has issued a formal announcement or condolence regarding Mohamed’s death.

Uganda’s Catholic church running out of wine – reports

The Catholic Church in Uganda is facing a critical shortage of altar wine, local media report.

The shortage is said to have persisted since February. It is being attributed to the war in Gaza, which has delayed imports.

Local media report that the church’s holding firm, JW InterServices, this week alerted dioceses regarding the matter, and advised them to cautiously use the stock they already had.

The church gets its wine from Spain and the product is normally shipped through the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

But because of a change in route, a consignment that had been due to arrive at the beginning of April, was now due by the end of this month.

“The ships have been diverted to take longer and safer routes through the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean which has caused a major crisis and delays of their arrival to Mombasa port,” the Observer newspaper quoted 

JW InterServices’ managing director, Father Asiku Alfred Tulu, as saying.

Altar wine is an important part of the ritual of Holy Communion – through which Christians remember the sacrifice of Jesus’ death.

Ugandan govt closes Karuma Dam bridge

Uganda National Roads Authority has announced the closure of Karuma Bridge on Monday citing the bridge structure have deteriorated.

“Karuma Bridge will be closed to all lorries, trailers and buses from Monday 06th May 2024. Only passenger vehicles carrying up to 28 passengers will be allowed to use the bridge.

“The continued exposure of the bridge to the ever-increasing heavy traffic is likely to accelerate its deterioration and serviceability, if not addressed in time,” it said.

UNRA said it has commenced the process of identifying a competent contractor who will undertake the restoration of the bridge structure as quickly as possible.

The intervention is expected to be completed in 03 months. In the meantime, UNRA has identified alternative routes to all road users.

According to the advisory, “Motorists from Kampala heading to Gulu/West Nile are advised to use Luwero — Kafu – Masindi – Paraa (Murchison Falls National Park) to connect to Pakwach or Gulu via Olwiyo and vice versa from motorists from Gulu/West Nile.”

While Motorists to Lira are directed to use Iganga – Nakalama – Tirinyi – Pallisa – Kumi – Soroti – Lira and vice versa.

“The Government of Uganda is currently fast-tracking the process to secure funding for the construction of a new bridge at Karuma as a long-term solution,” UNRA added.

Kiir removes his executive director, appoints envoy Juach as successor

President Salva Kiir on Friday relieved the Executive Director in his office, Kiir Yor Lual, and his private secretary, Bang Wieu in a Republican Decree read on the state-run TV, SSBC.

In a simila decree, Kiir replaced Yor with South Sudan’s Ambassador to Uganda, Simon Juach Deng, as Executive Director and Wieu with Atak Santino Majak as the new private secretary.

Ex-director Yor, a former commissioner of Aweil East County was appointed to the President’s office in May, 2023 when he replaced James Deng Wal who previously held the office.

His successor, Simon Juach Deng was South Sudan’s Ambassador to Uganda since October, 2022, when he  replaced Simon Duku Michael.

GPAA condemns native raiders for deadly attack in Kapoeta East

Authorities of Greater Pibor have condemned the recent attack by armed youth from their area on Kapoeta East County of Eastern Equatoria State that left 32 dead.

According to lawmakers from Eastern Equatoria State at the national legislative assembly, 26 others were wounded and nearly one hundred – mainly women and children were abducted in the 23rd April – raid on Kauto Payam.

The raiders reported made away with 16,877 heads of cattle and 6,853 goats and sheep.

In a statement dated May 2nd, obtained by Eye Radio, the government of greater Pibor Administrative Area expressed disappointment over the attack it describes as “wrong decision” by the youth.

GPAA Minister of Information, Abraham kelang confirmed that the recent cattle raid claimed several lives in Kauto.

“The government of Greater Pibor administrative  area expressed disappointment and condemned in the strongest term possible the armed cattle raiders for their wrong  decision made on 23rd  of April  to attack Kauto Payam  of Kapoeta East County , Eastern Equatoria State.

He added that Pibor administration under the  leadership of Gola Boyoi conveyed his condolences to families of the victims and the government of Eastern Equatoria State over the fatal incident.

‘The leadership of Greater Pibor Administrative area led by H.E Gola Boyoi Gola expresseD his  heartfelt condolences  to the beloved communities, families of the victims and the government of eastern Equatoria  on the recent cattle raid which claimed several lives in kauto, ” Kelang read out a government statement to Eye Radio on Saturday.

However, Eastern Equatoria State MPs have appealed to the national government to pursue and apprehend the culprits to face justice.

They also called on the UN Mission in South Sudan to intervene and provide humanitarian assistance to the affected people in Kauto.

When asked what the Government of Greater Pibor Administrative Area has done towards the incident, spokesperson Kelang said, the leadership would take swift stiff action to recover the looted animals, and hold the perpetrators accountable.

“The authority of GPAA is shocked and dismayed by the recent attack, and it will apply all necessary power to take swift action against those found to be accomplice in Kauto cattle raid on 23rd April 2024″

“Children and women who were abducted will be recovered and handed over to the government of Easter Equatoria State to reunite with their biological parents, ” he added.

 

Soldier arrested in Lainya for shooting wife

An SSPDF soldier has been arrested after allegedly shooting and wounding his wife in Limbe Boma of Lainya County a week ago, according to the area authorities.

According to the victims’ uncle, Arkangelo Kur who holds the rank of Lieutenant in the military shot his nice six times at a close-range last Saturday, in Limbe Boma where the couple had disagreed over a family issue.

20-year-old Viola Monday Jacob is currently nursing bullet wounds in both limbs and arms.

She was first taken to Yei hospital before being transferred to the Giyada Military Hospital in Juba.

Chaplain Nemaya, who is an uncle to the victims said, after the incident, Viola’s husband was left wandering at the army Barracks in Limbe Boma, and was not arrested.

When contacted, Lainya County Commissioners Emmanuel Khamis confirmed the incident.

“This lady was shot in Limbe not Laniya because Lainya is the different village, and the husband is arrested now,” he said.

Experts say Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most critical threats to the protection and well-being of women in South Sudan.

 

National Cabinet approves recovery of grabbed public school lands

The national cabinet has approved the demolition of illegally constructed buildings on school premises and the return of grabbed learning spaces to Ministry of General Education and Instruction.

The cabinet reached the decision on Friday, 3 May, 2024,  after the Minister of General Education and Instruction Awut Deng Achuil presented a memo, demanding the return of grabbed public-school lands to the ministry .

“The purpose of this memo was to request the council of ministers to approve the demolition of illegally constructed buildings on the public schools’ lands and the return of the lands to the Ministry of Education and Instruction,” said Jacob Korok, the Deputy Minister of Information.

Korok said  the cabinet also banned the sale of public-school land and approved recommendations including the handing over of lands of other ministries that have been are occupied.

“Also, they ( Ministries of General Education and Health) requested the council of ministers to ban state authorities on the sale of school lands, and hold the private business who grab the land accountable.”

“So, the resolution was unanimously passed with recommendations that encompass all the ministries including the ministry of health because it also has lands that are grabbed.”

On April 24th 2023, The Vice President for Services Cluster had issued a two-week ultimatum for illegal occupants of school lands to vacate the properties, but he faced resistance from land grabbers.

In recent weeks, Central Equatoria State demolished squatters at state public schools include Dar el Salaam, Juba Commercial, Juba One  Boys and Juba Girls Primary and Secondary Schools in Juba.

 

NUF phase two training due soon as Machar submits list of forces

The training of phase two of the necessary unified forces is expected to commence in two weeks-time as First Vice President Dr Riek Machar submitted the list of SPLA-IO forces to President Kiir on Friday, according to Presidential Security Advisor.

President Salva Kiir and his first deputy reached the decisions during a close door meeting  Friday.

Today (Friday), we agreed upon the start of the second phase of training the unified forces. the leader of the opposition forces had delivered their lists which were presented to the President of the Republic,” said Tut Gatluak, the Chairperson of the National Transitional Committee,.

Gatluak who is also the Presidential Security Advisor said;  The forces of the second phase will enter the camps two weeks from today, according to the President’s directives, and they will be trained and distributed according to the agreement of the military leadership.”

The Presidential Advisor added that both parties are committed to implementing the key provisions of the peace agreement to achieve sustainable peace and stability in the country.

The unity government has so far graduated over 53, 000 of the unified forces, but only about 7% percent of them,a counting for over 4000 have been redeployed, according to the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC).

The announcement to start the training and deployment of the second phase of unified forces comes weeks after the UN Secretary General, US government and the peace monitoring body,  R-JMEC called for speedy implementation of the peace agreement.

They stressed the importance of provision of security to guarantee the conduct of , free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful democratic elections at the end of the transitional period.

 

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