South Sudan: IGAD – Resolution – Meeting of the Parties to the R-ARCSS 2018 on the Status of Implementation of the Pre-Transitional Tasks and the Formation of the RTGoNU (03.05.2019)

South Sudan: IGAD – Draft Resolution – Meeting of the Parties to the R-ARCSS 2018 on the Status of Implementation of the Pre-Transitional Tasks and the Formation of the RTGoNU (May 2nd – 3rd 2019)

The South Sudan Civil Society Forum: Civil Society Calls for Renewed Commitment and Allocation of meaningful National Resources for Implementation of R-ARCSS (01.05.2019)

SPLM/A-IO: Statement on the Execution of Comrades Aggrey Ezboni Idri and Dong Samuel Thot by the Regime (30.04.2019)

A brief look into the United Nations Expert Report on South Sudan of April 2019

Another day, another revealing story from the Republic of South Sudan. I will bring especially some few extract from a report to shed a light on some misgivings in the Republic. This as the state is still preparing and building on the R-ARCSS agreement and cease-fire. Therefore, the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) under the leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

What this report is doing is verifying existing news, also showing the systemic inefficiencies by the authorities itself. As they have not moved forward or not swiftly enough. However, there are several of revelations in the report, but I will just show three of them. First the way the NSS got rid of two government dissidents, as they kidnapped in Kenya and executed at the detention facilities in Luri. Also, showing how the UPDF is inside South Sudan and also the illegal gold export from the Republic. Finally dropping the conclusions of the experts, because that is important.

Execution of Idri and Luak in January 2018:

The Panel has received and reviewed a number of independent reports from multiple, highly credible and well-placed sources. These accounts corroborate each other across a number of key details, leading the Panel to conclude that it is highly probable that Aggrey Idri and Dong Samuel Luak were executed by Internal Security Bureau agents at the Luri facility on 30 January 2017, on orders from the commander of the National Security Service training and detention facilities in Luri, the Commander of the National Security Service Central Division and, ultimately, Lieutenant General Akol Koor Kuc. Their tragic deaths offer a sobering reflection of the challenges posed to the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement by the violent legacy of South Sudan’s conflicts, while highlighting the increasingly unchecked discretionary power of the National Security Service” (UNSC, P: 15, 2019).

UPDF inside South Sudan:

Also in its interim report, the Panel noted the presence of armed Uganda People’s Defence Forces in the Equatorias. Soldiers from these Forces continued to be present in Yei River State in subsequent months, including in Yei town and along its connecting roads between 18 and 21 January 2019. Reports suggest the presence of a significant number of troops (40-50) as well as around six military vehicles. The Panel is not aware of any exemption having been sought for this deployment, as required by paragraph 5 of resolution 2428 (2018). In a meeting with the Panel, representatives of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces confirmed the presence of these forces in Yei, noting that they were providing protection to Ugandan engineers who were surveying the road between Yei and Uganda. The Panel also discussed this deployment with the Minister of Defence of South Sudan, who reiterated that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces were there for the purpose of protecting engineers” (UNSC, P: 26, 2019).

Illegal Gold Trade:

The trade in gold in South Sudan is almost entirely unregulated and there is no effective legal framework to regulate the export of South Sudanese gold. Few export certificates have been issued and no gold exports are recorded. While also partly the consequence of limited state capacity, all of South Sudan’s gold exports are therefore, in principle, illegal” (…) “A significant number of these traders are foreign nationals, with the majority of gold “smuggled” across the border into Uganda where it is sold in border towns such as Arua and Koboko, but also in Entebbe and Kampala. Members of both SPLM/A-IO and NAS confirmed to the Panel that they had sold gold mined in South Sudan in Uganda. Some smaller volumes are also traded directly to Dubai via Juba International Airport. As is common in the region, most gold is hand-carried and transported by road or on civilian flights” (UNSC, P: 37, 2019).

Conclusions:

The revitalized peace agreement represents a significant milestone in efforts to bring an end to the conflict in South Sudan. The outcome of the agreement, however, remains uncertain, as challenges continue to face its implementation, particularly with regard to accountability, security provisions, financial transparency and the devolution of centralized power. Careful monitoring of the implementation process will therefore be essential to providing effective and meaningful support to the accord” (UNSC, P: 44, 2019).

This is a lot of information, also very striking. That is the sort of stories, that break a heart. This shows the acts of the government, the techniques and choices of oppression. The execution of these two gentlemen are really proof of how far the government goes to get rid of dissidents and activists.

Also, how it decides not to follow protocol to have a foreign force within its borders. Even for the most noble causes, the UPDF shouldn’t be there, unless the TGoNU had sought the exemption as it should. Therefore, the deployment is illegal.

Just like the gold-trade from South Sudan, which is hugely exported through Entebbe and Kampala. This meaning the Ugandan traders are earning fortunes on the illegal gold trade from South Sudan. That shows the reasons for the closeness between Juba and Kampala. As they are both earning on the misfortune there. It seems also intentionally from the state, as they have no legislation or certification of it. This is so, that its not traceable.

Surely, this report is damaging to the regime in Juba. This whole report is not a good look, but should be a reality check, if it want to be transparent and be just. The stories told in this report is really heartbreaking. All the various testimonies done to the UN Experts are really shattering.

Like this one: “When we arrived here we thought we were safe. Women go out to fetch water or fire wood they are raped. Recently, in late January, a 30-year-old and a 13-year-old left the POC and just outside they were both raped. You can talk to both survivors – they are in this camp. We are humiliated and we have scars and mine has not healed since that time, a reminder that we are hunted like animals to be humiliated.” (…) “Interviews with confidential sources, in Bentiu, February 2019” (UNSC, P: 23, 2019).

Still, in the midst of the Republic, the innocent civilians are still suffering. The rebels, the state officials and the authorities are still not keeping them safe. The United Nations are also not able or capable to keep them safe either. This is all troublesome and its just sad to read, that even more people are scorn by the ones with weapons. There is no end and the cycle of violence has to end.

Still, there are people working for the cease-fire for the peace. To Save the Last Train. However, these people combined with the ones in power, need to step-up and show their intentions. Government of South Sudan should address the concerns and recommendations of the UN Experts Reports of April 2019. Not just talk, but actually do something about it. Peace.

Reference:

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Report – ‘Final report of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan submitted pursuant to resolution 2428 (2018)’ – S/2019/301

Opinion: President Al Bashir given a doctorate in ‘Philosophy in Peace and Diplomacy’? This should be satire, not real life!

You are blacks, no blacks can stay here, and no black can stay in Sudan…The power of Al BASHIR belong to the Arabs and we will kill you until the end”Omar Hassan Al Bashir

There is very little peaceful ways in the ways of Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir, who for all strange reasons was getting an honorary doctorate of Philosophy in Peace and Diplomacy. The same guy that has been violently oppressing his own people. The man that has caused massive bloodshed in Darfur, Kordofan and the Blue Nile. Also, supporting proxy-war inside of South Sudan. Even keeping the Civil War with South Sudan as long as he could. To have the whole Republic as his and not have parts of it seeding from Khartoum.

Will show that some proof, but first lets shows the utter nonsense!

Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Juba on Wednesday in recognition for his role in bringing South Sudanese warring parties to sign a peace deal. University of Juba Vice Chancellor Proffessor John Akech while presenting the award said the university’s Senate decided to honor President Bashir with a Doctorate of Philosophy in Peace and Diplomacy from the Institute of Peace, Development and Security studies” (Radio Tamazuj – ‘President Bashir awarded an honorary degree at University of Juba’ 31.10.2018).

Now, that we have seen what the University of Juba did on the Peace Celebration in South Sudan today. As they celebrated the newly minted peace deal and even gotten SPLM/A-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar to return the capital from exile. Clearly, there are hope in the air and we can hope. Even as many parts of the party today, haven’t been all truthful and even following the cease-fire. As the CTSAMM have shown violations in Wau and other parts of the Republic since the latest peace agreement.

However, this is more about the Doctorate of Peace, that first took over his Republic by armed coup d’etat in 1989. Al Bashir have been in-charge since then and that is soon 30 years. That the man given this doctorate are in-charge of the massive killings and creating prolonged war-zones. This isn’t just words, but the civil war, which started before he took power in 1983, but he kept it going until 2005.

The reports of the costs of lives was 2.5 millions who died either by the Sudan Government Forces or by Sudanese People’s Liberation Army. This is the numbers of what was lives taken within today’s South Sudan. However, there are also studies into the cost of live within today’s Sudan, which: “Burr published a second working document in 1998,[xvi] following similar methodology, and adding information about government aerial assaults, and attacks on the Nuba Mountains, in Equatoria, Upper Nile and Bahr al-Ghazal, which, he wrote, ‘suggests that no fewer than 600,000 people have lost their lives since 1993” (Mass Atrocity Endings – ‘Sudan: 1985 – 2005’ 07.08.2015).

This is not mentioning the reported numbers of 38,000 died because of his conflict in Darfur, 2,8 million displaced by this. That is why it is hard for me to take University of Juba seriously, when they offer someone of the stature of Al Bashir a doctorate in ‘Philosophy in Peace and Diplomacy’. If it was practical joke or satire. I would have understood. But this man is legendary war-lord, who has blood on his hand. He has ordered direct killing and destruction of communities. Just because he could and had the ability to it.

No one that has caused this much bloodshed, to stay in power deserves a doctorate of this kind. If it was doctorate in warfare and combat, even in militia training. It would have made sense. But right now, it is just foolish and a mockery of the University of Juba. The Professors there cannot think in their right mind.

They have made a butcher and meat-lover, saying that he is vegan for the day. Let’s get real, if the Sudanese President had the option, he would continue the proxy war to secure the profits of the oil-fields in South Sudan. We know that and that is why he back-in-the-day sponsored the Nasir Rebellion. Peace.

UNMISS condemns attack on peacekeeping convoy in South Sudan (15.09.2018)

SSUF: Statement on the recently signed South Sudan Peace Accord (14.09.2018)

SSOA: The Revitalized Peace Agreement is Unsustainable for South Sudan (13.09.2018)

The Chairperson of the Commission welcomes the signing of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (13.09.2018)