Tag: Ethiopia
South Sudan Journalists reporting in Refuge (Youtube-Clip)
“Africa’s youngest nation is in turmoil. Tens of thousands of South Sudan’s citizens are living in refugee camps, fleeing from a conflict instigated by their leaders. Tens of thousands lie dead in different parts of this young nation. In contrast, many of South Sudan’s leaders and their families live in comfort in the capital cities of surrounding countries. South Sudan’s journalists could be telling the world these and other important stories about their country, but many of them have fled as well, fearing the state oppression that came with the war. Our cameraman Elijah Kanyi spoke to a few of them who made it out of South Sudan to Uganda” (Africa Uncensored, 2016).
Ethiopia says it won’t entertain Riek Machar (Youtube-Clip)
“Ethiopia has issued warnings with regards to former South Sudan first Vice President Riek Machar visit. It says Machar’s only welcome to the country on a temporary basis. The Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalgen was quoted in an interview saying, Ethiopia will not entertain leader of an armed struggle. According to Hailemariam, Machar, will only be allowed to pass through Ethiopia in his travels. The former South Sudanese first Vice president was recently replaced by Taban deng Gai. This came after he left Juba following violence in July. He is currently in Sudan” (CCTV Africa, 2016)
Ethiopian government rejects calls for an independent investigation (Youtube-Clip)
South Sudan: A Statement from Brig. General Abraham Wani Youone Bondo (15.09.2016)

United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) responds to Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) allegations (18.09.2016)

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) notes with concern recent accusations made by the SPLA of UNMISS of supposedly fostering criminal activity and harbouring armed elements in the UN protection of civilians (PoC) site in Juba.
The Mission would like to clarify the circumstances surrounding one incident which took place on Friday 16 September. At approximately 6 o’clock in the morning small arms fire could be heard coming from the vicinity of a checkpoint, manned by South Sudan National Police Service (SSNPS), located North West of the protection site. On being informed by the SSNPS that the checkpoint was under attack, UNMISS deployed a Quick Reaction Force to prevent the perpetrators from entering the POC site. The attackers withdrew from the checkpoint and, later in the morning, SPLA forces deployed to secure the area.
In the early hours of the morning on Friday 9 September, a similar incident occurred and again, following notification by the SSNPS, UNMISS responded. On this occasion, medical assistance was rendered to a wounded SSNPS officer.
UNMISS acknowledges and appreciates the professionalism of the SSNPS and SPLA forces who engaged constructively with UNMISS during these recent incidents to ensure security in this area. UNMISS continues to coordinate proactively with those at the checkpoint to deter and prevent any future insecurity.
UNMISS rejects the allegations of impropriety in our operations, and in keeping with the UN mandate on protection of civilians, and the impartial nature of our actions; we would like to report that Thursday afternoon two SPLA soldiers in plain clothes entered POC3, where they were assaulted and held captive overnight. When UNMISS UN police were notified, a formed police unit deployed immediately and conducted a successful rescue operation. The individuals informed UNMISS they had entered into PoC3 at their own free will, and after receiving medical assistance by UNMISS force; the two were handed over to National Authorities.
The mission conducts regular cordon and search operations in all of its PoC sites, in keeping with its arms free policy, and have clear entry and exit procedures. Since the July clashes, search operations have been increased in the Juba PoC site and have yielded positive results.
UNMISS condemns the continuing violence, and calls on all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement, to allow the country to move forward and put personal and political differences aside.
The UN can only work with the cooperation of the Transitional Government to reinforce the protection of civilians.
On the International Day of Democracy, UNPO Vice-President Delivers a Statement at the Human Rights Council (15.09.2016)

Each year on the 15 September, the world celebrates the International Day of Democracy, highlighting the global importance of maintaining democratic values for nations and peoples. As one of its fundamental principles, UNPO is committed to advocating and supporting democracy around the world. Democracy is a form of government by and for the people, where freedom of expression, protection of human rights and the rule of law ensure that all its citizens are treated equally. For many nations and peoples, however, autocratic governments not only fail to uphold democratic values but also are the very perpetrators of gross human rights violations. On this day, the international community turns its attention to victims of undemocratic governments and reflect on what can be done to promote inclusive, participatory, representative, accountable and transparent political systems.
On this year’s International Day of Democracy, UNPO would like to draw particular attention to the case of Ethiopia. Despite its complete lack of democratic setup, the country is generally hailed as an African democratic role model and a beacon of stability in an otherwise troubled region. Aiming to raise awareness of the human rights abuses in Ethiopia committed by the authoritarian Tigray-dominated regime, Mr Abdirahman Mahdi, the leading representative of the Ogaden People’s Rights Organization and UNPO Vice-President, spoke today [15 September 2016] at the 33rd United Nations Human Rights Council on behalf of the Nonradical Party, Transnational and Transparty.
In his speech, Mr. Mahdi highlighted that “while Ethiopia, in theory, has a federalist constitution that guarantees wide-ranging autonomy for the nations-based federal states and equal participation in national politics – in practice almost all the nations have no real say in political, economic and military affairs, instead these fall under the sole control of a Tigray-dominated elite, who does not shy away from using excessive violence”.
Ethiopia is but one case of many governments that adopt features to portray itself as democratic to the international community when, in reality, the complete opposite is true. The Ethiopian government has denied its people all the fundamental democratic rights promulgated in its constitution. Elections are consistently rigged and external observers are banned from coming to Ethiopia to monitor them. Armed and security forces extend their reach through all levels all society while trying to showcase to the world that a federal system has ensured the right to self-determination to its ethnic groups, as stated in the constitution.
However, 500 people were killed since November 2015 in various protests, including the most recent protests outside of Qilinti jail against the detention of Oromo politicians and activists which, according to Mr. Mahdi, is “the latest evidence of the readiness of the government to exert brute force against civilians”. Systematic use of rape as a weapon by the Ethiopian army and paramilitary forces as a way to exercise total control through fear and violence was also highlighted by Mr Mahdi in his speech at the HRC. In addition to systematic persecution, the victims of the Ethiopian regime are silenced due to the criminalization of free speech, impeding the news of their plight to be widespread throughout the international community. Journalists from abroad are banned access and local journalists are jailed, while NGOs on the ground are forbidden to report the facts.
Against this background, recently the Oromo athlete Feyisa Lilesa’s powerful gesture of resistance at the 2016 Rio Olympics brought much-needed media attention to the plight of the Oromos and the other ethnic groups in Ethiopia. Concomitantly, the European Commission’s decision not to send money from its Emergency Fund to Ethiopia in consideration of the serious violations of freedom of speech and right to protest in Ethiopia contributed to drawing the international community’s attention to the lack of democracy in the country. On the International Day of Democracy, UNPO reaffirms its commitment to its core values and will continue to raise awareness of violations committed by states which, in many cases, claim to be “young democracies” to conceal its appalling human rights records and dictatorial structure.
Tens of thousands of protesters call for a regime change in Ethiopia (Youtube-Clip)
“Tens of thousands of protesters have flooded the streets of Gonder in the Amhara region of northern Ethiopia on Sunday demanding a change of government due to the unfair distribution of wealth in the country. The protest, reported to have been staged in defiance of a government order, is also in solidarity with the Oromia protests held between November last year to March 2016 in opposition to a government development plan in the region which could affect poor farmers” (Africa News, 2016)
South Sudan surpasses one million refugee mark, joins Somalia & Syria (Youtube-Clip)
“The number of South Sudanese refugees sheltering in neighboring countries has passed the 1 million mark. With this milestone, South Sudan joins Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia as countries which have produced more than a million refugees. Most of the recent arrivals have crossed into Uganda. Aid agencies are finding it difficult to provide assistance for the hundreds of thousands in need, including the 1.61 million internally displaced. UNICEF is now warning that without funding and support, it will continue to provide assistance only to the needy” (CCTV Africa, 2016)
Monthly Humanitarian Update South Sudan Conflict August 2016 (31.08.2016)

Situation Overview
- The resurgence of violence in July and August resulted in increased inflow of civilians into Protection of Civilian (POC) sites, particularly in Juba and Wau.
- Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that there are now 197,000 internally-displaced population (IDP) seeking shelter in UN protected sites across South Sudan.
- At the UN House POC site in Juba, the number of IDPs has reached 37,200 following the fighting between government and opposition forces.
- In Wau, more than 2,500 new civilians have arrived in various IDP camps in August.
- In Bentiu, the POC site is now host to some 98,600 IDPs.
- 78 health facilities have been damaged across the country and among those forced to flee by the violence were health workers, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
- The conflict has hindered movement of civilians, affecting their access to health services. The dire situation increases risks of maternal mortality for pregnant women, as well as protection issues for women and girls in general.
- Several pregnant who fled the fighting in Leer and Mayendit Counties have travelled for days on foot to reach the Bentiu POC site.
- In the semi-urban areas of Rubkona and Bentiu town, young people are looking for opportunities for livelihood and economic activities.
UNFPA Assistance to Humanitarian Needs
The United Nations Population Fund works with the Government, donors and other partners to deliver lifesaving reproductive health services, including prevention and management of gender-based violence, to the crisisaffected population especially women and young people.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
- UNFPA has delivered emergency reproductive health kits and other supplies to various partners for Central Equatorial, Upper Nile region, including Maban County,
Cueibet State, Yei, Nimule, Aweil and Bentiu. - Additional RH Kits, medicines and dignity kits worth USD320,000 are expected to arrive in early September.

