

Burundi: CAVIB – Communique Conjoint du Collectif des Advocats-CAVIB et de la Radio Inzamba Agtekakawe a l’Occasion de la Cloture de la Campagne “Uburenganzira Bwawe” – (21.10.2019)










The text of the following statement was issued jointly by the governments of the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom:
South Sudan faces a critical moment in the journey toward a peaceful and prosperous future. There are now less than four weeks for political leaders to form a transitional government as they committed to in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Norway (the Troika) have consistently welcomed assurances by the parties to implement the agreement and meet its deadlines, and hoped that recent meetings between South Sudan’s leadership show a renewed spirit of cooperation. We commend the actions of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to broker the agreement and maintain momentum and take hope from the continued reduction in overall violence in South Sudan.
For too long, conflict has been waged at the expense of South Sudan’s most vulnerable and continues to exacerbate humanitarian needs. We encourage the parties, especially the current government, to take concrete steps to build trust through enhanced cooperation. With the November 12 deadline looming, extended from May, much more needs to be done urgently to ensure the success of the transitional government. Progress would help maintain the confidence of all the parties and the international community, demonstrate that the parties have the political will to work together during the transitional period, and provide the opportunity for the international community to engage productively with an inclusive, new government.
We welcome the discussions of IGAD countries in Addis Ababa last week; the region and the international community’s investment and engagement in a peaceful South Sudan remains important. The Troika will continue to stand with and support the people of South Sudan, who want and deserve peace and a government that that protects its people. We urge the South Sudanese parties to meet the November 12 deadline to form a transitional government that will enable the conditions for a constructive relationship during the next phase of South Sudan’s peace process. The UNSC visit to South Sudan offers an opportunity for the international community to discuss with South Sudanese leaders how to accelerate such progress.
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Well, today’s reports from Juba says itself. The deadline for the R-ARCSS of 12th November 2019 will not be met. Even if the foreign stakeholders and United Nations pressure the parties to settle it by that time. This might be a push to hard, as the positioning of the South Sudan Opposition Movement (SSOM), SPLM-IO and others might not be met. The cost will be another marriage, which will end in tanks on the streets of Juba like in 2016. And we don’t want to see that.
Therefore, even as the deadline looms. Maybe give the parties time to settle things. Even if it costs. Because, SPLM, SPLM-IO, Real-SPLM, SPLM-FD and SSOM needs to be part of the new transitional government on terms accepted by all. This means, that Kiir and Machar doesn’t only need to keep their soldiers at bay, but also ensure that the others doesn’t violate the requirements made. That is not an easy task. That’s why the IGAD, the UNMISS, CSTAMVM, RJMEC and so-on needs to continue to oversee and ensure the stakeholders do their thing. Since, they are all there already and we don’t want to see it go out of hand. Let them stop the cease-fire and let the full force of contained soldiers on the loose. We don’t want that, because that might happen if we force the R-TGoNU to fast.
Here’s today’s statements, which is interesting, but telling.
Government Press Release:
“President Salva Kiir Mayardit and the opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar were briefed by the leadership of the Security Council, the Joint Defense Board at the State House on Sunday. The meeting focused on addressing the outstanding critical issues related to security arrangements and number of states hindering the implementation of the peace deal. The Minister of Information and Telecommunication, Michael Makuei Lueth who is the official government spokesperson said, President Kiir and Dr. Riek were presented with the security report concerning the implementation of the security arrangements. Michael Makuei said, the two parties will meet again to come out with the final decision on whether the transitional government of national unity will be formed or otherwise” (South Sudan Presidential Press Unit, 20.10.2019)
SPLM-IO Press Release:
“On the Meeting of President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar with the R-ARCSS Security Mechanisms. H. E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan and H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, Chairman and Commander in Chief of the People’s Movement SPLM/SPLA (IO), held a fruitful meeting with the R-ARCSS Security Mechanisms today at the State House (J1), as agreed upon by the two principals during the face-to-face consultative meeting held yesterday October 19, 2019. The Two principals received comprehensive updates from all Security Mechanisms on the status of the security arrangements, the achievements, the ongoing activities, the timeline and the challenges. The Mechanisms was instructed to proceed conducting their activities as per the Revitalized Agreement. Cde. Puok Both Baluang, SPLM (IO) Director for Information and Public Relations” (SPLM-IO, 20.10.2019).
Let us all remember that its just a little minute ago since the parties agreed upon the 27th June 2018 and sign the Khartoum Declaration. Later last year they agreed upon R-ARCSS on the 12th September 2018. So, November 2019 would only be one year and month after the signing of the comprehensive agreement and ceasefire arrangement. Therefore, to consider the implications and the implementation of it in that short span was well, in hindsight that was a short time-frame to finish such an extensive agreement.
That should also the foreign stakeholders considers, as the costs of giving-up or even force it upon the parties. Might cost more, than actually just give way to them. So, that they can find the stipulations and the statutes to reconfigure again. Since, the try-out in 2016 didn’t go well. This time around, the parties might want to do it more. Because, they see the goodwill it gives both in Khartoum and in Addis Ababa.
Nevertheless, the situation and stalemate cannot last forever. This is one more hitch along the road. But that shouldn’t mean the process is over yet. Just that its one more hurdle and a little more to give before it hopefully returns a R-TGoNU and such. Peace.


If your thinking the 2015 General Election in Burundi was bad. The launch of 2020 is already hectic, as the public are extra taxed and the imbonerakure is doing the CNDD-FDD bidding. There is enough warning signs, but the recent revelation of media black-out of the results. That is what will happen now.
That is because the authorise sets this up. This is a media blackout. The way of silencing the stopping the leakage of results. The counting and the ballots will taken care of in darkness. There will be no lights and the only reports the ones that is accepted and acknowledged by the state itself. This is securing the whole thing and shutting down everything else. This is the message the state sends. No transparency and no check-up, as the media cannot do their job and only be a microphone of what the state already wants out.
“Article 10 of the code of conduct established by the National Media Regulator – CNC to the Burundian media and journalists, stipulates that journalists aren’t allowed either to publish or air by any channel whatsoever, including the internet, the provisional or final results of an election other than those officially announced by the National Independent Electoral Commission or its local Commissions” (Diana Uwimana – ‘2020 elections: Politicians disagree over announcement of election results’ 18.10.2019, IWACU English News).
You cannot expect a clean and orderly election, when the state has to take all control and silence the media, months ahead of the polls. Because, that is what this is. It is nothing else. The media is not allowed to shed lights on what is happening in the provinces or anywhere else. The CNDD-FDD will control it and say what the numbers are. The CENI and CNDD-FDD will initially tell what the final say was. The media cannot say or state what the prognoses are or the possible outcome, because that is a breach of contract with the state. Then the media is actually doing something illegal.
That shows the state of affairs, that the hidden agenda, that the act behind closed doors is so important. That even a sure given win, that a literal one-party state, where the opposition is either in exile or dead. Only one accepted opposition party (CNL), which also get into trouble and loses supporters now and then. The CNDD-FDD still has to secure how the victory is reported and how they have achieved the win in 2020.
It is naive to think otherwise. That would give to much way to President Pierre and his cronies. Peace.

Juba, 18 October 2019: To enhance capacities for timely confirmation and prompt response to emerging disease outbreaks, South Sudan is establishing molecular testing capacities for influenza and other high-threat infectious diseases like Ebola virus disease (EVD), Yellow Fever, Marburg virus disease (MVD) and Rift Valley Fever (RVF).
The absence of in-country capacities for molecular testing has been a significant setback for prompt initiation of recommended public health responses to influenza outbreaks and other emerging threats. This gap prompted WHO Regional Office for Africa to fund procurement of a Real-Time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine.
“This is very exciting and a big step forward for South Sudan”, says Dr Olushayo Olu, WHO Representative for South Sudan. “The National Public Health Laboratory has successfully tested two cases from Nimule with an average turnaround time of four hours from the receipt of the samples to reporting of results. This is a milestone in the country’s capacity reducing the time for diagnosis from days to hours.”
Diagnosing infectious diseases using PCR offers conclusive test results to support prompt initiation of recommended public health response. It also reduces the cost of transporting samples outside the country; and enhances national compliance to the International Health Regulations (2005) core capacities.
With the installation of the PCR machine, South Sudan is able to perform confirmatory testing for influenza, EVD and other high threat diseases, thus putting the country at par with other countries in the region., Real-time PCR technology options are increasingly being used in resource-limited settings because they are faster and have higher output.
As part of its efforts to strengthen the National Public Health Laboratory, WHO is providing ongoing mentoring and support of laboratory staff as testing methodologies and processes are setup. WHO will also support the establishment of a Laboratory Quality Management System for the molecular laboratory in South Sudan.
Since the declaration of EVD outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a total of 92 alerts have been reported and tested in South Sudan using GeneXpert, of which 45 met case definitions, tested negative by GeneXpert in South Sudan and were sent to Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for confirmatory testing, once again all tested negative for EVD.
ABOUT WHO:
The World Health Organization is the specialized agency of the United Nations Public Health Organization. Its goal is to bring all people to the highest possible level of health. WHO’s role is to lead and coordinate international health within the United Nations system. It leads on key health issues and encourages partnerships where joint action is needed. Through offices in more than 150 countries, the World Health Organization supports countries in achieving their health objectives and supports their national health policies and strategies. For more information on WHO and its activities, visit www.who.int.
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Tel : +211923362401
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Communications Officer
Mobile: +211 921 647 859
Email: ebrahimj@who.int








The Government of South Sudan to produce a multisectoral strategic plan for nutrition.
JUBA, South Sudan, October 15, 2019 – An alarmingly high number of children under five years of age are suffering from the physical consequences of poor diets and a food system that is failing them, UNICEF warned today in a new report on children and nutrition.The State of the World’s Children 2019 report finds that in 2018, at least 1 in 3 children under five globally, were either stunted, wasted or overweight, reflecting poor growth, and putting them at risk of increased infections, weak learning skills, low immunity and, in many cases, death. In addition, 1 in 2 children – or 340 million globally- suffered from deficiencies in vitamins and minerals such as iron and iodine, further undermining their growth.
Also, in South Sudan the numbers are alarming. The prevalence of acute malnutrition among children has increased from 13 per cent in 2018 to 16 per cent in 2019, which is above the 15 per cent emergency threshold. An estimated 1.3 million children under five will suffer from acute malnutrition in 2020. This calls for a paradigm shift in addressing malnutrition by shifting from focusing on treatment to prioritizing prevention- reducing the need for treatment.
“Every child in need of treatment for malnutrition is a failure, a failure in preventing the suffering,” said UNICEF Representative in South Sudan Dr Mohamed Ag Ayoya. “Preventing malnutrition is an essential part of realizing every child’s right to health. Young children can suffer lifelong consequences and in worst case die if malnutrition is not addressed timely during the first crucial years in life.”
The challenge is not only securing enough food, but ensuring children are eating the right things and get the nutrients they need to develop to their full potential. Only 7 per cent of children under five in South Sudan has an adequate diet. Furthermore, common diseases such as malaria must be prevented and treated, as they are often the starting point for malnutrition. Only 50 per cent of households have access to clean water and only 10 per cent access to improved sanitation. Ensuring clean water and addressing poor sanitation and hygiene practices are also essential to preventing diarrheal diseases causing malnutrition.
“Malnutrition is complex and must be fought on all fronts simultaneously. Together with partners and donors we have become exceptionally good at treating children for acute malnutrition, now we must up our game and become even better at preventing it,” said Dr Ayoya.
To strengthen diverse diets and healthy food for children, UNICEF and partners are promoting age-appropriate feeding practices for children, including cooking demonstrations with locally available food. UNICEF is working with sister agencies such as FAO to improve resilience by providing families with seeds and livestock preventing future shocks. Hygiene promotion, improving access to clean water and sanitation and providing health services are also contributing to prevention of malnutrition.
UNICEF is issuing an urgent appeal to help children in South Sudan to grow healthily and calls on:
“With good food and nutrition, we can set a child up for success, and yet we are losing ground in the fight for healthy diets,” said Executive Director of UNICEF, Henrietta Fore at the global launch of The State of the World’s Children Report in London “This is not a battle we can win on our own. We need governments, the private sector and civil society to prioritize child nutrition and work together to address the causes of unhealthy eating in all its forms.”