South Sudan: The Upper Nile Regional Conference – Communique (26.05.2019)

Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Uganda Ministry of Foreign Affairs: A Rebuttal Note regarding the Incident on the 25.05.2019 (26.05.2019)

Rwanda National Police: Press Release – Rwandan security shoot as smugglers turn violent (25.05.2019)

Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Rwanda Ministry of Foreign Affairs: A Protest Note on Rwandan Soldiers entering Ugandan Territory (25.05.2019)

Uganda Police Force: Police Investigations Cross Boarder Shooting (25.05.2019)

Burundi: OLUCOME – Communique de Presse – Portant sur la Carrence de Carburant plus Particulerement le Diesel, une piste qui peut Occasionner la Hausse de Prix des Products Petroliers et ses Consequences sur la vie des Citoyens Burundais Pauvres (25.05.2019)

UNMISS and partners aim to de-militarize civilian facilities; improve conditions for returns in Upper Nile (24.05.2019)

South Sudan People Defense Forces evacuating Kodok Secondary School 20th May 2019. “I hand it officially to the ministry of education witnessed by the Acting governor, head of Child Protection in UNMISS and other organizations and my colleagues, said happily the Division II Commander Majior General Akol Majok on May 20th 2019 at Kodok State. Adding that “this school is for all of us, it’s for our children and citizens. As far as education is concern, we must make sure that our children has gone back to school, because school is one of the pillars of the country.” UN Photo: Isaac Billy

Some community members in the Upper Nile area have said they do not feel safe to return to their home areas.

JUBA, South Sudan, May 24, 2019 –  The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and partners are working with military commanders and government officials to create a safe and secure environment for displaced people to return home, including by demilitarizing civilian installations such as schools and hospitals in the Upper Nile area.

“We are now looking at key areas and activities. On Monday we are going to Kodok, looking at demilitarizing the places the military occupied during the fighting in the last five years,” said Hazel De Wet Head of the UNMISS Field Office in Malakal.

“This will contribute to building trust and understanding for displaced people, that it’s now safe to return to their places of origin,” said Ms De Wet. some community members in the Upper Nile area, especially those living in the UN protection site, have said they do not feel safe to return to their home areas, which are currently occupied by the military.

Recently, several representatives of the displaced people from the UN protection site were taken by UNMISS to the Shilluk King in Fashoda on a “go and see” visit so that, on return to the site in Malakal, they can inform their peers about the conditions in their home areas, which they have not been able to visit for the last five years.

“They are going to stay with the king from the 16th to the 20th of May, and we will be able to facilitate another transportation for them so that they come back to Malakal,” said Braima Keikura from UNMISS’ Relief, Reintegration and Protection Section, who led the team to the king, explaining the significance of the visit.

Creating a safe and secure environment is a major element for returns, and a solution-based working group headed by UNHCR – the UN refugee agency – and key substantive components of UNMISS have developed principle guidelines for this.

“This is the first organized visit to the king. The king is in support and the last time I saw him, he requested support for his subjects to come back,” said Ms. Dewet.

Ms. Dewet pointed out that displaced people had raised concerns about the absence of the services they have been receiving in UN protection sites in their places of origin.

However, she said humanitarian partners were looking at that and they had taken intent surveys and held focus-group discussions on how to scale up their services in the various places that communities have identified as target areas of return.

“Managing expectations of each household in terms of return and what they can expect once they return is a difficult task,” said Ms. De Wet.

She appealed to the international community, including donors, to help returning communities with early recovery intervention efforts to make them self-reliant.

Rwanda: M.R.C.D. Rebel Sankara worked directly with Ugandan authorities!

On the 30th April 2019, the news of the arrest of Callixte Nsabimana, aka Sankara became public. As he was awaiting trial of his involvement in armed rebellion against the state. This was done from July 2018 under the outfit of the Mouvement Rwandais pour le Changement Democratique (M.R.C.D) or Rwandan Movement For Democratic Change (M.R.C.D), which he came from the National Forces of Liberation (FNL) part of this. Another rebel-group that has had and currently have military operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

All of this is now on trial, as the former Rebel is answering for his crimes. What is striking, is how openly he is claiming that Ugandan authorities helped them out. There was even promises of more from the CMI. This is clearly stating the facts of covert operations done and the meetings reported on earlier in the year, that the Ugandan authorities held meetings with DRC rebels to topple and cause havoc in Rwanda. This information comes directly from one of the parties, as the secrecy is now out.

“Terror suspect Callixte Nsabimana today appeared before Kacyiru Primary Court where he was charged with 16 terror-related crimes.The suspect pleaded guilty to all the charges but told court he only ordered attacks on security organs and not civilians” (…) “Nsabimana is now addressing court, starts by explaining circumstances under which the terror outfit to which he was leader attacked civilians in Southern Province last year. Nsabimana: We had given FNL specific instructions that whatever operation they launch, it should be about destroying bridges, ambush military cars, attack sector, district, police and military camps. When I was arrested and showed evidence of what had happened. I was shocked to see that six people were killed and most were women. After I saw the evidence, I made a decision that I would not to hide anything about FNL. I did not give them instructions to kill civilians and I take responsibility of my part in it. I would like to apologise to the President, the injured, the families of the ones that passed away and to Rwandans in general. From today on wards, I am done with FLN and whatever else they may do is on them not me. I have been working with people from the Intelligence in Burundi but to be specific, the government and military was not involved. They we’re not aware of our clandestine operations. We have met Ugandan military officials. There was a scheduled meeting with Brig. Gen Kandiho but on the day of the meeting, he had an emergency so he sent a Colonel. We requested for military and diplomatic support from Uganda and we got a positive answer. By the time of my arrest, our delegation was in the process of going back to Uganda to collect on the promise made by Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence. I apologise for the things I have done. I know the benefits of not making court go through a long unnecessary trial because most of my crimes are so damning and the evidence is overwhelming” (The New Times Rwanda, 23.05.2019).

I am not shocked or surprised that he would state this, that there been interest and that there been movement, where the Ugandan authorities have supported rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Is long well-known, as well, as there been knowledge of groups from Rwanda doing the same. So, its not like any of the states or their head of states is innocent on this matter.

What is more striking is the way its been said and documented, that the former rebel is saying this directly and without codes. His pinpointing directly at Kampala and CMI. Where he is even stating names to the Rwandan Court. That is what is more shocking, that he isn’t keeping it in, but revealing it to the public. What is also rare, is that the Rwandan Newspaper is stating what the Rwandan authorities at one point didn’t want to say. That they were attacked last year by the M.R.C.D. but now as they are weak and lost one of their leaders. They can reveal that matter too.

Surely, this is not an accident, but a mere reflection of the backroom, the shady underworld of the rebels and their arrangements with the various states. So that they can operate and even thrive. That is why, at one point, Sankara said he would topple Kagame. Something, he didn’t do, but instead will spend time behind bars for trying to do so.

There is surely more to this, as the group and outfit is still there. Just as the remains of the groups that it was combined off. What we only know, is the lingering questions, what was they about to collect and what was offered in the meetings? Not to talk about, how was they planning this and to what extent? Because, there is more underlying questions, which have been left unanswered. Except, that they might never tell, because its only the “high above” who knows that. Peace.

Burundi: CNARED-Giriteka – Communique de Presse (20.05.2019)

South Sudan Situation Report, 17 May 2019 (17.05.2019)

Inter-communal violence has displaced more than 20,000 people since early March.

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 17, 2019 –  HIGHLIGHTS

  • More than 20,000 people displaced in Jur River County
  • Almost half of displaced people intend to leave Malakal Protection of Civilians site
  • Measles outbreak confirmed in 11 counties in South Sudan, upsurge in cases globally
  • United Nations allocates $11 million to help displaced people return
  • home Food insecurity increases, humanitarians urge for scale-up of aid

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

More than 20,000 people displaced in Jur River County Inter-communal violence has displaced more than 20,000 people since early March and has prevented thousands of civilians from returning to their homes in Kuajiena and Roc-Rocdong, Jur River County.

Since early March, cattle keepers from Tonj have come to Jur River searching for pasture for their livestock. Their attacks on villages in the area have led to reports of killing, rape, beating, and looting. People said they fear to return because of more attacks.

In Kuajiena, nearly 4,000 displaced people are currently sheltering at a primary school and in abandoned public buildings in the town.

In Roc-Rocdong, humanitarians have reported that nearly 8,000 people, mainly women and children have been displaced in Marial Bai and other neighbouring areas. At least 200 people, mostly women and unaccompanied children, are sheltering in a church compound and a primary school in Roc-Rocdong town.

Since March, nearly 4,500 newly displaced people in Wau PoC site and

The displaced people have called on the Government to provide security so that they can return home. But attacks continue to be reported in some of the villages, even after the deployment of Government forces to the area.

Humanitarian activities and ongoing to respond to urgent needs: safe water, food, emergency items and emergency shelter, primarily. In April, in Kuajiena, 4,200 people received 15-day food rations, and nutrition supplies to 900 children aged under 5 years were distributed. In Marial Bai and neighbouring settlements, over 7,000 people received a 15-day food ration.
Humanitarian organizations continue to engage with the political leaders in Tonj and Wau states to provide security for the displaced people to return to their villages.