Month: April 2021

The minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, Angelina Teny, has declared the long waiting graduation of Joint security forces to kick off on 31^st May. Several reports in dedicated that soldiers are deserting training centers and cantonment sites.

According to the presidency, the implementation of transitional security arrangements delays due to the absence of guns and military uniforms.

Minister admitted enormous hitches deterrent forces graduation. But she assured parties’ commitment to implement a security arrangement on the redeployment plan before the pre-transitional period.

She said failure for the graduation of security forces might negatively impact the future of the agreement, not limited to a single party. 

Minister has outlined that the transitional arrangement is the “back born” of Revitalize Agreement and Reunification of Forces. In contrast, Teny reminding people that an agreement required all forces to be one command under President Salva Kiir Mayardit. 

“So here we cannot afford not to graduate these forces, I want to emphasize that. It is an agreement itself, it is the future of this country, and it is what will give us lasting peace in this country.”  

She stated it unified command shall be conducted first before forces graduated from governing the armies. Ministry confessed challenges in implementing transitional arrangements, including internal conflict, political context, economic downturn, corruption, and undemocratic. 

She said forces graduation needs commandment, and they are waiting for the parliament reconstitution to amend security laws.

The defense minister said the Security Council demanded the Unity government to implement the graduation of forces, the reunification of commands, and redeployment of unified forces before considering lifting the armed embargo.

Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) revealed that most cantonment sites are looming collapsing due to logistical support.

National Media Authority has announced a code of conduct (regulatory law) for journalism in South Sudan.

Media Authority and Community Empowerment for Progress Organization initiated the document to guide media practitioners.

The deputy Minister information, communication, and postal services Baba Medan, UNMISS human rights representative, UNSECO, civil society, police, AMDISS, and Union of Journalists of South Sudan attended the events.

Deputy Minister of information Baba Medan urged the media to observe the law, report credible factual information, and avoids bias reporting base social media allegations.

Media Authority registered one hundred and ninety-two media enterprises, and accredited nine hundred international journalists.

Managing director Media Authority Elijah Alier Kuai says the code of conduct for the practice of journalism will enhance the standard realization public’s rights to have access to information through media reporting.

Alier observed that the public has the right to impartial, accurate, and balance information from the media on political, social, and economic development.

He warned journalists to practice professional journalism, cease disseminating bias information of hatred, discrimination, and provocative language in public statements.

Chairperson for Association of Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) Mary Ajith urged the government cooperation to protect press freedom and end news censorship in the media house.

National security was accused several times of removing news articles published in the newspapers, which journalists viewed as a violation of their constitutional rights to disseminate information to the public.

Executive Director of CEPO Edmund Yakana worried about the lack of law implementation in the country while appealing to the media fraternity and government to implement the code of conduct.

Secretary-General for RTGoNU Hon. Abdon Agaw Jok advised journalists to improve news writing for professional media credibility from the readership.

He mentioned some newspapers in Juba continuously published stories with errors on the front pages that undermine the excellent of journalism.

South Sudanese activists have called for accountability of government officials alleged of misusing 5% oil share allocated to oil-producing states.

Auditor General released a report on Saturday, April 24th, in unjust separate misappropriation of 2% and 3% oil share to the producing states.

According to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, 5% were allocated to the oil region producing states for development and the community affected by the environmental pollutions.

Unauthorized officials paid under illicit deals in the states’ oil share money include Bior Tong Bior with $151,500 and Angelo Beda with $30890. And other eight officials received thousands of dollars under unjustified reimbursement.

The ministry of finance and Oil revenue received more than two million dollars without reason. The report indicated in 2016, unknown officials in the office of the president were paid 1.3 million dollars below uncertain circumstances. 

Between 2015 -16, the finance ministry was further naked for paying 22.2 million dollars to unknown accounts. And 7.5 million were transferred to foreign companies without payment justification.

National Auditor General said the ministry of finance and Banks of South Sudan had denied them access to credible data (documents) from July 2011 to November 2013 for transparency and accountability purposes.

Mr. Wani Michael said oil money misappropriation by individuals is unlawful. And more investigation is needed from the ministry of justice to persecute an alleged group responsible for misuse of public funds. 

He condemned public funds misappropriation and the Unity government and Anti-corruption commission quick intervention to recovery embezzled community resources.

“We appealed to the president to take this matter seriously because if we don’t see what is happening, so that means the government is encouraging corruption, the government is encouraging looting.”

Unity state activists were so shocked by the severe misappropriation of public funds calling for justice against the officials.

Ruot George Wal is the executive director Organization for Peace and Development Agency (OPDA). He welcomes National Auditor-General Report and demanding reimbursement for vulnerable community money in the oil-producing region.

The radio community contacted Governor of Unity State Dr. Joseph Nguen Monytuil and minister of information, Gabriel Hon Makuei. Still, they declined to comment, citing the unavailability of the National Auditor General’s Report in their office.

Authorities in Rumbek Lakes state say they have 24 people in detention after a catholic bishop was shot and wounded at his residence in Rumbek.

Police spokesman said those arrested include four priests and seven security guards who were around in the vicinity of bishop residents when the incident happened.

Unknown shooters shot and wounded Fr. Christian Carlassare, the bishop-elect of the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek, at 2:00 am on Monday.

Elijah Mabor is the spokesperson in Lake’s state. He said the bishop is in stable condition and has been flown to Juba for further medication. He mentioned that the preliminary investigations are ongoing. “All security organs are investigating the detains suspect in connection with incident occurred at 2 am.”

Mabor said a resident is a well-secured place, but there no armed guards deployed.

“It’s a well secure place only that there are no soldiers deploy in that area; there are three concrete fences, two ahead of one fence for bishop house. The criminals sneak until they reach the third fence where bishop live,” Police said.

Stephen Mathiang Deng is the minister of cabinet affairs, said the suspect is still at large but said they would provide more detail later today about the outcome of preliminary investigations.

The Archbishop of Juba diocese Stephen Ameyu Martin told a church base radio that he was sadden by the shooting of bishop elect in Rumbek.

“We’re very saddened with this news of the bishop-elect being shot twice in his feet. Miraculous, the bones were not affected by these bullets. Both legs were shot in the lower limbs, and that’s a miracle from God,” Archbishop Ameyu said.

Fr Christian Carlassare was named the new bishop of the Rumbek Diocese in March this year. The Bishop arrived in Juba this afternoon and later put in a plane to Nairobi, Kenya for further treatment.

The Minister of cabinet affairs, Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, has slapped coalition parties of former Incumbent Transitional govt of National Unity (ITGoNU) for delaying the submission of the lists of lawmakers’ nominees for appointment by the President. The coalition parties were said to disagree over their proportion of three hundred and thirty-two in the power-sharing.

Hon. Elia’s naked secrets behind the political raw for the fourteen parties comprised of SPLM-IG, SPLM-IO (2), DC, and other opposition parties hindered the Transitional National formation Legislative Assembly (TNLA). The promised final list is due to be completed, and the President make an appointment. 

Minister Lomuro said other parties to the R-ARCSS include SPLM-IO, SSOA, and FDs, were said to have submitted their lists for appointment both in the national and state. 

The states and local government administration was formed in February this year, but reconstitution of parliament remained underground over disagreement not made public. South Sudanese citizens always hang up on social media propaganda, guessing time for forming the national parliament. 

“Let me be honest about it, the components of SPLM are yet to agree about the proportion of representation out of three hundred and thirty-two members of the parliament. And that is being dealt with because some members might not be there. Therefore, it has to be deal with in, diligent, delicate, and yet non-conflict manner. I can assure you the process is on now,” Lomuro explains.

Civil society activist Rajab Mohandis also attributed the delay to disagreement in former incumbent ITGoNU.

Mr. Rajap discourages parties’ scrambled over power-sharing proportion. And demand amicable solutions on parties’ differences for national and states’ parliament reconstitution. 

“They did not put so much attention to speed up this process to get the parliament reconstituted, to begin responding to the issues like both legislative issues and oversize intervention situation involving in the states,” activist echoed.

The Minister of peacebuilding in the Unity government, Peter Par Kuol, said R-ARCSS is not fully implemented. He said parties to the agreement had two years in Juba re-negotiating the deal, yet more are not being achieved. 

“There is no peace to be built in this country until we implement chapter two of security arrangement. And that is the merging of forces for us in this country to have one security force commanding by one President.”

Members of other parties include SSOA, IO, political detainees, and OPP expressed parallel views, demanding rapid implementation of Revitalize agreement. They reiterated that a trust-building political party is essential in the performance of the deal.

South Sudan missed to reconstituted the national parliament on time according to an agreement due to the political deadlocks that delay the peace implementation process.

The unity government in South Sudan has conducted a one-day discussion with international partners, foreign diplomats, parties to revitalize the Agreement about the Rome Declaration.

The government and South Sudan Opposition Alliance led by Pagan Amum (Real SPLM) Gen. Paul Malong Awan (SSUF/A) signed Rome Declaration on cessation of the hostilities Agreement on March 7th, 2021. The dialogue was negotiated under the auspices of the Community of Sante’Egodio in Naivasha, Kenya.

Vice president Dr. Wani Igga, the IGAD special envoy to South Sudan, TROIKA EU, and RJMEC, included members of the Sante’Egidio community who participated in one event juba hosted.

Government peace negotiator Dr. Marial Benjamin said the Rome Resolution with the holdout group, not in the spirit of negotiation, but brotherhood and comradeship.

He acknowledged an internal split in SSOMA, government distance itself from holdout political wrangling.

Vice president for economic cluster Dr. James Wani Igga affirmed government commitment to peaceful settlement political differences in the country. He said trust-building among the political parties is vital for democracy in R-ARCSS and preventing crisis through powers devolution.

The US Ambassador to South Sudan Larry Andre’ reminded political leaders that instated admirable unity in South Sudan’s independence on July 9th, 2011.

Diplomat uttered the essential adherence cessation of hostility for smooth implementation of the Agreement. He urges the peace signatory not to denying ceasefire monitors access to areas where conflict emerged.

The Secretary-General of the Sante’Egidio community, Dr. Paolo Impagliazzo, said the Rome agreement is complementary to Revitalize Agreement to allow political dialogue as the only way to silence guns in South Sudan.

The South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) and the government signed the Rome Declaration in January 2020 to recommend the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.