Thousands fleeing new violence in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State (12.02.2019)

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

GENEVA, Switzerland, February 12, 2019 – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is seeing a surge in refugee arrivals from South Sudan in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Over the past few days thousands of desperate people have been crossing the border to escape fighting and violence against civilians.

It’s estimated that 5,000 refugees have arrived in several border villages near the town of Ingbokolo, in north-east DRC’s Ituri province, according to local village chiefs. There are reports that an additional 8,000 people are displaced inside South Sudan, on the outskirts of the town of Yei.

People are fleeing clashes that started on January 19 between the army and one of the rebel groups, the National Salvation Front (NAS). This is in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State that borders DRC and Uganda. The clashes are blocking humanitarian access to the affected areas.

In DRC, those fleeing the violence arrived by foot over the weekend. Most are women, children and the elderly. They arrived exhausted, hungry and thirsty. Among them are people suffering malaria or other illnesses. Many have suffering from trauma from having witnessed violent incidents, including armed men reportedly murdering and raping civilians and looting villages.

UNHCR staff in DRC’s Ituri province say that desperate people are seeking shelter in churches, schools and abandoned houses, or sleeping in the open. This is a remote area and border villages have almost no infrastructure or health centres. New arrivals are surviving thanks to food that is being shared with them by local villagers.

The areas in which refugees have arrived are difficult to reach, with roads and bridges badly damaged and in a state of disrepair. The Congolese authorities are encouraging people to move away from the volatile border area and move further inland, where they can get better help.

UNHCR has sent additional staff to Ituri to register refugees and support their possible relocation. However, we need funds to set up shelters and provide assistance including food, water and medical services in the nearest refugee settlement, Biringi. Biringi is located further south and has an existing population of over 6,000 South Sudanese refugees.

The conflict in South Sudan has created over 2.2 million refugees since 2013. UNHCR repeats its call for all parties to the conflict to take all possible action to ensure the safety of civilians and their freedom of movement, and to guarantee safe routes for civilians to leave conflict areas.

More than 3,000 children released from armed groups in South Sudan since conflict began, but thousands more continue to be used (12.02.2019)

Tuesday’s release took place in the south-west town of Yambio where the children had formerly been associated with the South Sudan National Liberation Movement, which signed a peace agreement with the government in 2016.

NEW YORK, United States of America, February 12, 2019 – One hundred and nineteen children were released by an armed group in South Sudan Tuesday, bringing the total number of those freed since the conflict began to more than 3,100. Forty-eight girls were among the group, with the youngest child being 10-years-old.

“Every child no longer with an armed group represents a childhood restored and a future regained,” said UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, who visited South Sudan in January last year. “More and more children are being freed from armed groups and armed forces in South Sudan, and while this is an encouraging development, there is a long way to go before all of the more than 19,000 children still in their ranks are returned to their families.”

Since February 2018, more than 1,000 children have been released by various armed Groups.

Tuesday’s release took place in the south-west town of Yambio where the children had formerly been associated with the South Sudan National Liberation Movement, which signed a peace agreement with the government in 2016.

During the process, each child was registered and provided with a certificate stating they were no longer affiliated with the group. They then met with social workers, health workers and education specialists to assess their immediate needs. They were also provided with a reintegration package including clothes, shoes, and other basic commodities. As with other groups, each child is provided with three years of reintegration support to assist their return to civilian life and prevent re-recruitment. For each released child assisted, one vulnerable child and their family from the host community is also supported to foster acceptance and promote a more sustainable reintegration.

“This year marks the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which requires governments to meet the basic needs of children and to help them reach their full potential,” said Fore. “Five months after the signing of a peace agreement, UNICEF calls on all parties to South Sudan’s conflict to recommit themselves to upholding these rights and to ensuring that children are never soldiers.”

The release coincided with International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers. While exact data on the number of children used and recruited into armed conflict are difficult to confirm because of the unlawful nature of child recruitment, UNICEF estimates that tens of thousands of boys and girls under the age of 18 are used in conflicts worldwide. Many have been taken by force, while others join due to economic or social pressure. Children who are displaced or living in poverty are even more vulnerable to recruitment. Children are recruited or used for various functions by armed forces and groups, including as fighters, cooks, porters, messengers and spies, or they are subjected to sexual exploitation.

CS Fred Matiang’i – Press Release: NISA targeting 50 Percent Reduction of Traffic-Related Deaths this Year (12.02.2019)

UNISFA helicopter crashes in Abyei (10.02.2019)

An Ethiopian military helicopter registration Number UNO 379P with 23 passengers on board has crashed today at around 1310H inside the compound of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) killing three of its crew members.

The MI-8 helicopter was on routine operation carrying Ethiopian troops on rotation from Kadugli to Abyei when it crashed. Ten passengers were injured with three in critical condition. The three who are in critical condition have been conveyed to Kadugli en route to Addis Ababa while those not in critical condition are being stabilized at the UNISFA Level II hospital in Abyei.

The immediate cause of the crash is not yet known. UNISFA’s acting Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Gebre Adhana Woldezgu said, “We are investigating the incident.” “We are deeply saddened by what happened this afternoon. We are extending our condolences to the families of those who died in the crash,” Major General Woldezgu said.

General Gebre Adhana Woldezgu commended UNISFA personnel who responded promptly to the crash by assisting to evacuate passengers from the helicopter, stressing that the casualty figures could have been much higher. “This show of solidarity reflects the spirit of peacekeeping and must be applauded”, General Woldezgu said.

The helicopter flew from Kadugli for the Mission’s regular troop rotation. UNISFA’s sole troop contributing country Ethiopia is currently rotating its soldiers from Kadugli to different sites in the Abyei area.

Ethiopia has around 4,500 personnel on the ground to support UNISFA’s efforts of ensuring peace and security in Abyei.

Opinion: Kalonzo bows down for Kenyatta!

Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka has been called a watermelon, a sissy and a fraud. For various of reasons, as he has flipped the script. Changed loyalty to stay vibrant and always tried to find the way to narrow streets of power. By alliances and being committed to the ones of power.

Yesterday, he let the whole scenario out of the bag. As he committed to possible amend the Constitution, so that two term President Uhuru Kenyatta could run for a third. Because, Kalonzo thinks its a good idea that his Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) should join Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) and together with William Ruto/ Uhuru Kenyatta Jubilee Party become one strong alliance. That is what this man saying, in front of everyone at the Unity Meeting of the Ukambani on Friday the 8th February 2019.

This shows, that the man wants to be sucked in and be a loyal crony. Even to the extent where the political families, the dynasties own the Republic and he eats as well. That is what it seems. The rule of law can be bent, as long as he is viable and his friends are getting the cut. There is not other way to see it.

If he thinks this shows strengths or courage, if this shows leadership or even a mere hope. The Ukambani leader Kalonzo is very wrong. This shows his cronyism and his shallowness to a level that is insane. This is the blind leader who follows into levels of worship, where they ability to change laws for selected individuals are lack of respect for rule of law, even for justice and liberty. As it seems like in the vision of Kalonzo, that Kenyatta is bound to rule for life and every is supposed to follow suit.

There is nothing to be captured by the will to change and amend the constitution so that Kenyatta can have another term. Because, when you have first open the opportunity. Why shouldn’t Kenyatta get a fourth? Or a fifth? Maybe even a sixth term?

When you can take away the two terms, why not open the whole can of worms and give him a free ride to eternity, right?

If you let Kenyatta have three, why not more?

Kalonzo has really shown his loyalty and that he bows downs to the dynasties. As he knows in the end, that makes him some ends. He gets checks and titles, he get cash to spend and lives lavish. So, as long as he shows respect and loyalty, that will pay-off in the long run. That why he stays for the long-con. That why he didn’t show up for the inauguration, but was in trouble in his own home. Now, he shown his true face.

That he is minor, a fringe player, who cannot play unless someone gives him a ball. He needs to await the coach on the side to give him that. So, his allowed to play and get ability to be in circle of power. Peace.

P5-Platform: Press Release – DRC: Mass Killing of Rwanda Hutu Refugees reveals the Cruel Farce of Humanitarian Intervention (07.02.2019)

FDU-Inkingi: Press Release – Rwanda: children and wife of Boniface Twagimana make an appeal to Rwandan President Kagame (06.02.2019)

Kenya: Statement on New Unfounded Accusations on Governor Ali Hassan Joho (06.02.2019)

Kenya: ODM letter to Kipchumba Murkomen – “Re: Purported Appeal Against the Decision of the ODM NEC to Expell Hon Aisha Jumwa and Hon Suleiman Dori” (06.02.2019)

Opinion: Dr. Wagacha undress the debt trap, that Jubilee have created!

[Credit is a system whereby] a person who can’t pay, gets another person who can’t pay, to guarantee that he can pay.” Charles Dickens

We have seen it for a while, as the Kenyan government have spent much more, than they are actually collecting revenue and getting grants. The Jubilee government have not only siphoned funds, but borrowed funds like a drunk sailor. This administration have not considered the implications of the loans and the deficit, they have created.

Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto has ordered this ship, it has been known. The Grand Corruption by this government alone has made huge losses. Jubilee knows this and the ones that has followed this government. Have seen it with time and discussed it.

Now suddenly Dr. Wagacha says this:

Dr Mbui Wagacha, a policy analyst who left the advisory role in the top office last December after five years, says Parliament has looked the other way as the National Treasury gave the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) unrealistic revenue targets only to fall back on debt and expenditure cuts. “We borrowed so much and our headroom for debt has narrowed … there was an over-commitment to capital borrowing and that has left us with narrow headroom for debt,” said Dr Wagacha. “If you look at 2011/2012, we were spending only about 11 per cent of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) directly to repay debt. We are now talking about 57 per cent of GDP in public debt.””(Alushula, 2019).

We know that the state has issues, when the Jubilee are putting austerity measures given by the International Monetary Funds (IMF). While the Jubilee are taking more debt, taking more infrastructure grants and loans, as well as the state is not having the revenue to cover the deficit that has created. This is why the state is paying more of the GDP now, compared to what they did when Kenyatta and Ruto took power.

The Jubilee government could have carried it differently. The Jubilee have used the Eurobonds twice to get fiscal stimulus, but it was also a loan. Therefore, the Jubilee will have to repay those. Just like it has to do with the Chinese loans for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and others, loans that the state has absorbed within the years of Jubilee.

Dr. Wagacha is speaking the truth, but the state has taken the Kool-Aid. Will it find a way to move forward wisely or will it continue the negative cycle of loans to pay-off the old loans, instead of finding revenue and creating a healthy economy. If not just living within its means and not pushing for more, than you can pay for without credit. Peace.

Reference:

Patrick Alushula – ‘Ex-Uhuru adviser says debt may affect growth in Kenya’ 05.02.2019, link: https://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/smartcompany/Ex-Uhuru-adviser-says-debt-may-affect-growth-in-Kenya/1226-4967482-b1tau4z/index.html