Category: Current Affairs

The governors’ forum, which started on Monday in Juba, discusses the states’ role in implementing the revitalized peace agreement.

The five-day, 5th governor’s forum brought together states delegates and three areas chief administrators to discuss.

The first vice president of the republic, Dr. Riek Machar, called on the governors and three areas chief administrators to work with recently reconstituted states assemblies to incorporate the agreement into their respective state constitutions.

“I am hoping that you, the state government, should begin to think in trying to review your constitution for it to conform with the transitional constitution amended,” said Dr. Machar.

He told the governors to protect the peace agreement and ensure not dragged back to conflict. He said that despite the peace agreement, inter-communal violence and child abduction is destabilizing some areas.

He says the forum will help governors address challenges facing the states and encourage them to implement the reform stated in the peace agreement.

The governor of Eastern Equatoria state, Luise Lobong, says the forum is a good opportunity for the governors to discuss the challenges facing people at the grassroots.

He said the forum shouldn’t be for states leaders alone but a collective responsibility of all government levels to participate and implement the outcome.

“I wish the leadership of this country attend this kind of briefing so that they make policies resolution on it.”

Lobong said there are very few resources that go to the state’s government. “We don’t know even what percent of the total revenue goes to the states,” said Lobong.

He said that if such a forum is used to decide and allocate a percentage of the total budget that can go to the state help elevate the lives of people in the rural areas.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Residence Coordinator Dr. Samuel Gbaydee Doe said the forum would strengthen inclusive governance as the country accelerates the revitalized agreement implementation.

“The forum provides a platform for the ten governors and three chief administrators to interact H.E the President and the national government to reflect on the progress of peace implementation.

The forum was organized by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and the UN development program.

The Governor’s Forum was initiated in 2006 before South Sudan gained independence in 2011.

The Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has welcomed Sudan’s return to civilian rule after Prime Minister Dr. Abdalla Hamdok reinstate on Sunday.

The military reached a deal with civilians to restore civilian rule and release political leaders detained in October.

The Executive Secretary of IGAD, Workneh Gebeyehu, commends all those who participated constructively in the dialogue that led to the Agreement in line with the 2019 constitutional declaration and encourages Sudan’s political leaders and civil society to build on the momentum to unite the country.

In s statement, IGAD said the Agreement should lead to the formation of an inclusive government and expressed the readiness to work with the new government to implement this Agreement. It stated the effort is to serve the people and build a new democratic Sudan that responds to the legitimate aspirations of all sectors of its society.

South Sudan congratulates its neighboring Sudan for its leadership courage to forge a way out of its current political situation.

It described the Agreement that parties signed as a “significance landmark achievement” that displays Sudan’s will and determination to return the path of peace.

As part of that Agreement, Gen Burhan had been due to step down as head of state, handing over to a civilian this month.

The reinstated prime minister Dr. Hamdok will lead a cabinet of technocrats until elections are held, the Agreement stated.

Media, at least 40 people had died in mass protests the coup since 25 October, when the military declared a state of emergency and dissolved the civilian leadership.

President Kiir fired the minister of finance and economic planning, Athian Ding Athian, and Interior Minister, Paul Mayom Akec.

The two ministers were relieved through presidential decrees readout on the state-run SSBC on Friday evening.

In a separate decree, Kiir also discharged the undersecretary in the ministry of trade and industry, Agak Achuil, and appointed him as the new minister of finance in a separate decree.

 Kiir appointed Mahmud Solomon, a former governor in the defunct western Lakes state, as the new interior minister, replacing Gen. Paul Mayom Akech.

There were no reasons cited for the dismissal of the two cabinet ministers.

Two drivers, driving public transport vehicles say they survived road ambush as their vehicle came under attack by unknown gunmen on Kapoeta-Ngauro road.

One of the drivers who spokes to Singaita FM narrated how he managed to maneuver dodging the bullets as his car came under fire at Lorobola Kraals in Kapoeta South.

He said the passengers that were in his vehicle are safe and no one was hurt in two separate attacks on Wednesday morning.

Michael Belbel explain that the attackers were wearing civilian clothes, but he could not identify them as his focus was to get out of bullets range.

“They did not injure anyone it is like they intend to scare us and loot our personal belong” said Belbel.

He said the place has become hotspot where criminal ambushed people between Kraals and Lorobola area.

He appealed to the government to deploy some soldiers along Ngauro- Kapoeta road for safer road movement of citizens.

Brigadier Garang Deng Jurkuch is the acting police commissioner in Kapoeta county. He said they are aware of multiples road ambushes but urged the community help identify criminals and reported them to the police.

Brigadier Jurkuch assures the public that his office is working hard to arrest those involved in criminal activities and make sure the road is safe for the travelers.

In August this year, three public vehicles were attacked along Kapoeta-Ngauro road of which six people lost their lives.

The formation of the state’s parliament raised mixed reactions among members, some welcoming reappointment and others dismayed for being left out.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a republican decreed, reconstituting the long-awaited states assemblies in four, Lakes, Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, and Upper Nile state.

This is seen as a critical step toward fully implementing the 2018 revitalized peace deal signed in Khartoum.

Peace monitors and the UN have urged the unity government to reconstitute states assemblies that can work closely with the transitional parliament to review and enact the laws such as security bills, financial and judiciary reforms.

The new reconstituted states parliament has new faces and welcomed the appointments. At the same time, those left out say Kiir should revise the list because they were duly elected in the 2010 Sudan general elections.
Hon. Jacob Ladu, MP representing Lanya County in Central Equatoria, said they plan to visit their constituencies after the swearing-in. He added his mission is to disseminate peace and create awareness for people in remote areas to know peace is worthy.

Hon. Madhieu Makuach MP from Lakes State parliament says the formation of the state assembly is crucial when communities face challenges, including insecurity and national disasters like floods.

“The state parliament plays a critical function for check and balance, as the people’s eyes, ears, and voices, said Mdhieu.

He said they provide an oversight role as the body that checks the executive in the state. Hon. Makuach said they hope to see the remaining states and administrative areas parliamentarian appointed.

However, some left-out members say they are disappointed in the process despite having won elections in 2010. They say it is unfair and urged President Kiir to look into the matter and revise the list.

Hon. Mabor Ater Dhuol was elected in 2010 on the SPLM ticket unopposed. Ater say he felt let down by the party SPLM, he strongly believed in but said he is happy the peace implementation is ongoing.

The expanded states parliaments of a hundred MPs per sharing ratio include representatives from the parties to revitalize the peace deal.

A joint defense board, a body that oversees the successful integration of unified forces in the revitalized agreement, says lack of funds is stalling the graduation of the unified army.

This came after the joint defense board announced last week that they are set to graduate the long-awaited unified forces across the country.

General Lul Ruai Koang is the spokesperson for South Sudan Defense Forces (SSPDF). He says the national transitional committee (NTC has not provided funding to start the screening and other logistical needs.

He said that the secretariat for the joint defense board is in discussion with the NTC chairperson and political leadership to mobilize resources for the exercise. He did not provide an estimated amount needed for the graduation of forces.

He says the security arrangement team can’t suggest any new timeline until they have secured the graduation budget.

“This stage, I can’t tell the date. You know I announced the date last month on the instruction of joint defense board chairperson with the directive from the presidency.”

South Sudan civil societies activist says failure by the parties to establish a unified army is a tactical attempt to extend the duration of the transitional unity government.

Edmund Yakani is the Executive Director for Community Empowerment and Progress Organization CEPO. He warned the parties to stop delaying tactics and embark on the full implementation of the peace agreement. He says the unity government should avail the budget for the graduation of unified forces.

There are 83,000 unified forces drawn from various parties to create unified national forces to take security during the transitional period.