Conflict Continues to Drive Displacement in South Sudan (06.09.2016)

displaced-families-wait-for-health-care-assistance-at-the-un-protected-site-in-wau-photo_iom_mohamm

The dynamic nature of the conflict has resulted in the constant movement of civilians as they attempt to escape shifting locations of insecurity.

JUBA, South Sudan, September 6, 2016 – Fighting between armed groups across parts of South Sudan continues to drive displacement, including in areas that had been relatively stable since the crisis broke out in December 2013. The dynamic nature of the conflict has resulted in the constant movement of civilians as they attempt to escape shifting locations of insecurity.

Current population movements are fluid in several areas, including Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Unity, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria and Unity. In the past two months, over 80,000 people have been displaced in Wau and 12,000 in Juba alone.

In southern parts of Central Equatoria, which had previously remained fairly stable, an escalating number of security incidents has pushed large numbers of civilians to leave their homes to seek safety. The movements have been particularly significant from Yei, with multiple reports of targeted violence and harassment against civilians and disruptions in the delivery of aid supplies.

“At the same time as we see the needs continue to grow, access constraints are making it more difficult for humanitarians to access vulnerable people or even measure the scale of displacement and unfolding needs as violence spreads to new locations,” said John McCue, IOM South Sudan Head of Operations.

Many of the recent population movements from Central Equatoria have been across the southern borders to Uganda and Kenya, but increased insecurity in parts of Yei, Morobo and Magwi counties is making it increasingly dangerous for civilians to move and may be preventing people from reaching safer areas.

In Leer, Unity, insecurity has forced civilians to seek protection in nearby islands, while others have reportedly moved south or reached the UN protection of civilians site in Bentiu. These patterns of movement in central Unity may increase as insecurity persists.

On 4 September, IOM joined a UN Security Council delegation to witness first-hand the needs of displaced communities in Wau since heavy fighting in late June. While IOM and humanitarian agencies are providing lifesaving aid at displacement sites across Wau town, access constraints have limited efforts to reach thousands of displaced families in some areas south of town since early July.

IOM recently regained access to Ngisa in southern Wau to deliver essential medicines and evaluate health and water needs. IOM has received reports of people returning to parts of Wau town, which may be a response to improved security in the area or a result of limited access to relief services in areas outside of the town.

More than 1.6 million people are internally displaced across South Sudan, in addition to 786,000 people who have fled to neighbouring countries since December 2013. More than half of the country (6.1 million people) are in need of relief aid.

 

In northern Ethiopia, the Amhara resistance is getting momentum (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr8x8Aof7T4

Amhara Region President Ato Gedu Andargachew Message to the People of Mahara Rigion, Ethiopia (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyUZJfRNrt8

Joint Communique by the Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan and the Members of the United Nations Security Council (05.09.2016)

Salva Kiir Poster

The Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan expressed its determination to implement the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.

NEW YORK, United States of America, September 5, 2016 – The Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan expressed its determination to implement the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, in particular the reform agenda, now that the Transitional National Legislative Assembly is in place. 

The members of the United Nations Security Council and the Transitional Government of National Unity agreed to work in a fresh spirit of cooperation to advance the interests of the South Sudanese people, particularly their aspirations for justice, liberty, and prosperity.  They agree that the humanitarian and security needs of the people are Paramount.

To improve the security situation, the Transitional Government of National Unity gave its consent to the deployment, as part of UNMISS, of the Regional Protection Force recently authorized by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2304.  The United Nations Security Council agreed that troop contributors and UNMISS and the Transitional Government of National Unity will continue to work through the modalities of the deployment, building upon the consultations of August 25 and September 1 and anticipating further imminent discussions.

The Transitional Government of National Unity commits to permit free movement of UNMISS in conformity with its mandate, including to protect civilians.  To this end, the Transitional Government of National Unity commits to devising a plan with UNMISS by the end of September 2016 on concrete steps to remove impediments to UNMISS’s ability to implement its mandate, including reviewing procedures related to movement of UNMISS and streamlining bureaucratic processes.  UNMISS commits to inform the Transitional Government of National Unity of all movements and of other details as appropriate.

The Transitional Government of National Unity signals its readiness to implement Chapter V of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, including to work with the African Union in setting up the Hybrid Court for South Sudan as soon as the African Union provides proposals for its work as provided in the Agreement. 

The Transitional Government of National Unity commits to immediately improve humanitarian access, including by providing assistance in eliminating illegal checkpoints and by reviewing by the end of September 2016 with the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, modalities for streamlining bureaucratic processes and access to populations in need.

Audio: Statement regarding meeting between UNSC and President Kiir

#AmharaProtests: Continues killings from the Agazi Squad and Mercenaries in the Province!

 

Peace Ethiopia

Amhara proverb goes “a kid whose mother died and another, whose mother went to fetch water, cry equally.”

There been dropped bombs in Amhara province, there snipers in Baha Dir, killings in Gondar and so much more. The constant violence and massacre in the area from the Agazi Sqaud of the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF), the Ethiopian government with their heavy artillery and troops are no going against the leaders of the Amhara people and also killings civilians who has been in streets.

Rumors are not only claiming that the hired mercenaries are South Sudanese who left the army, but hired men from the Former Vice President of South Sudan, who is in exile in Khartoum; Dr. Riek Machar and his deflected army of rebels has been hired by the Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegne and his Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). If he has hired these men than the problems of South Sudan moves over the borders and hurt not only internal civilians in South Sudan, but now they are used to cause havoc in Ethiopia on hire by the ruling regime in Addis Ababa.

Amhara 03.09.2016

Displaced in Gondar because of the military:

Tigray regional government confirms the arrival of 4,060 people displaced from North Gondar zone in the past days. The displaced people are currently in Humera and Maykadra, Western Tigray zone. The regional government have assigned a coordinating committee, chaired by Haile Asfha, chief of Agriculture Bureau. Haile Asfha reportedly went to Humera to monitor the situation. The regional government allocated $200(4,500 birr) cash per household for the displaced people. Update: Another 2,000 people are expected to arrive tomorrow” (SiiTube, 03.09.2016).

As the worrying signs of brutality and killings continue and the desperation as the numbers of civilians officially killed during the last two months only in this region is 71. That is the official number and worries that it is much worse as the artillery and bombing of Gondar has happen. Together with the sniping and killings in Baha Dir; also the attacks in other parts of Amhara proves the systematic killing of the people. As the Ethiopian Parliament recently admitted that 2,5m people we’re missing from the region! 2, 5 million people just vanishing from the Ethiopian Parliament, this is not like missing a napkin, this is families upon families a giant city that disappeared into thin air. If that is isn’t staggering, than nothing goes under your skin!

In Gojar in Burie West at the Teshale Hotel there been found 6 dead today! And this is alone in one town today, one single incident of killings from the hired mercenaries and Agazi squad in the region.

In Metema the army has been having air-strikes over the people. How many and how much damage the Agazi and mercenaries has done in the town is troubling to say, as the only clear report is that the airstrikes has happen!

This numbers, this insane action and the even more silenced international community shows that killings and martial law without impunity is happening in the right zip-code because the sanctions against the EPRDF and ENDF is not happening. The Ethiopian Government and their army should get arms embargo and be sanctioned for their human rights violations. Their systematic killings that are genocidal. They should not be let of the hook. The Heavy Artillery and airstrikes towards their own citizens should not be something that doesn’t concern the rest of the world. It does, because they are just people like you and me. And they have the same values as the rest of us, the only difference they have a hostile government that is now currently doing what they can to kill and silence them, while the world doesn’t shed a single tear. Peace.

SPLA-IO rebel forces back to the TGoNU Government (Youtube-Clip)

“6000 men from the SPLA – IO join to Support TGONU government in the implementation of the peace agreement in South Sudan. it is the second video of my assignment to the rebel held territory to extend government support to the initiatives of the former rebel comanda that was fighting alongside Dr riek machar to join Taban Deng in the implementation of the peace agreement designed to end nearly three years of conflict” (Arusi James, 2016)

#AmharaProtests: The Western Media doesn’t care about it!

Baha Dir Snipers 02.09.2016

“We have also found evidence that foreign interests have actively been financing anti-peace elements based in the diaspora” – Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegne

It’s sad day for all the ones that are tormented by the Agazi Squad of the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) in the Amhara State, as a prison in Debretator burns and inmates escapes. That the Army is using helicopter and snipers killing civilians is not appalling the Western Media anymore apparently. They are appalled by the state of affairs that the fellow demonstrators are burning down Dutch Owned Flower Factories in the area.

Not amounts of citizens killed the cut of communications like Social Media, Internet connection and telephone; as the civil disobedience that is silenced by Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and their special unit of Agazi. Together with 25,000 soldiers sent for the mission to silence them. That doesn’t the Associated Press, Washington Post or any other Western Media in general.

Like ESAT have reported:

A source from Bahir Dar who spoke to ESAT said over a thousand troops have arrived at the City Airport on Thursday and had received instructions from the Chief of Staff Samora Yunis, who established a command post in the city two days ago. The forces were warned about mingling with the public, the source said” (ESAT, 01.09.2016).

That is one city in the region that is taken over by the army as the soldiers are not supposed to engage the public or mingle with them. A thousand soldiers are occupying the local airport, not creating peace, but uncertain stability. That should make the world stutter, but for some reason it don’t.

More from ESAT:

In Amba Giorgis, TPLF forces shot and killed 26 people in the last two days alone. An eyewitness told ESAT that he suspect some soldiers were mercenaries bought by the regime to carry out the massacre. The source did say about the origins of the mercenaries but residence of Amba Giorgis believe they were Sudanese border security turned mercenaries by the TPLF. The forces went door to door, beating residents. Most of the youth in Amba Giorgis were hiding in the bushes to escape the massacre, the witness said adding that the town was under a complete siege by the forces” (ESAT, 01.09.2016).

That the flower farm burnings are worrying signs, but it is a reaction to the government violence in the region, as the citizens has no way of answering the government with force. They answer with peaceful means as their lives are on the line, the troops, heavy artillery and tanks taking over the streets. Still, the Western Media cares about the flower factories more than the dozen of lives that in the mercy of mercenaries and Agazi squad. Why doesn’t this create havoc and doesn’t make the world stunned about the shady ways of silencing the public in Amhara? Why nothing of any sort, but Dutch owned roses burning are the grand issue?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote this about it today:

The Prime Minister himself said foreign elements who do not want to see Ethiopia use its natural resources were distributing huge amounts of money to extremist Diaspora groups. In fact, this is not confined to those organizations which are given arms, money and support by the regime in Asmara, and which, like “Patriotic Ginbot”, make no secret of their aim to overthrow the government by force” (…) “Those taking advantage of the situation include critics of Ethiopia or supporters of Eritrea like Bronwyn Burton at the Atlantic Council who organized a roundtable in Washington on Wednesday this week. This offered two opposition politicians the opportunity  to discuss the current state of political affairs in Ethiopia without contradiction, allowing them to hold forth on what they claimed had been “primarily peaceful demonstrations”,  the cost of living, lack of employment opportunities and a restrictive political and media environment” (02.09.2016, Link:    http://www.mfa.gov.et/weekinthehorn/-/asset_publisher/2h3rKVhCHgKq/content/prime-minister-confident-in-the-government-s-ability-to-deal-with-problems?_101_INSTANCE_2h3rKVhCHgKq_viewMode=view).

EPRPF and PM Hailemariam Desalegne cannot be serious that snipers, mercenaries and tanks will bring peace? Giant rockets and heavy artillery to calm people down. If they wanted peace with Amhara people they wouldn’t come with troops and the strong national army they would come with dialogue and offering to justify the legitimacy of the actual government. Something that isn’t appearing or consideration, it is easy to kill the Amhara people because they are disposable; the international community only cares about the investments there anyway. That is why I am mad at the media.

This happens as the Government clearly bans and summons the business community in Finfinne. As the paperwork here shows:

Ethio Finfinne Order P1

Ethio Finfinne Order P2

There are also reports that farmers from Amhara and Oromo are planning to boycott selling food to Addis Ababa as a reaction to the oppression.

It shows the ability of resistance in the Amhara public when they do what they can to answer the central government violence. What is worrying is how little the international media cares about the military seizure of the region, how the check-points, snipers, tanks and all other equipment is used to kill civilians, but Dutch owned flowers are the step to far. Kill a few Amhara people, we don’t care, destroy Western investments in the region and all of sudden we should care. That is just cynical and damn wrong.

The Papers who has pressed the Associated Press story, congratulation for suppressing the key-issue; the reality as your looking at one piece of a giant problem that are militarized and pure violence on own citizens. It’s like looking at a dead tree near a polluted lake. Writing about the state of the tree, but not caring about the polluted lake that is destroyed the ability of the tree to live in the area. The same is the evident covering of the crisis, the massacre and the designated army attack on civilians in Amhara. Peace.

Press Statement of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Human Rights Situation in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (02.09.2016)

EthiopiaProtest

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the Commission) is deeply concerned by the events unfolding in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Protests reportedly began in the Oromia region in November 2015, opposing the Federal Government’s plan to expand the boundaries of Addis Ababa. Reports indicate that despite the termination of the expansion plan, the protests continued due to the detention of activists, the use of excessive force, and killing of protestors by law enforcement officers.

More recently, protests reportedly erupted in the Amhara region of Gondar in July 2016 when armed police arrested members of the Welkait Committee who had rejected the Government’s decision to merge the Welkait community and its land into the neighbouring Tigray region.

Reports further indicate that from 6 – 7 August 2016, thousands of people around the country took to the streets calling for political reform, equality, justice and the rule of law. The Commission is seriously disturbed by reports which aver that law enforcement agents responded with excessive force, including firing live bullets at protestors in Bahir Dar killing at least 30 people, and beating protestors with batons in Addis Ababa. Reports indicate that nearly 100 protestors were killed from 6 – 7 August 2016.

The Commission has also received information that the Government completely blocked internet throughout the country for 48 hours in an attempt to stop the use of social media to organise further protests. It is alleged that most social media applications are still blocked, hampering communication.

Reports allege that following the first protests in November 2015, hundreds of protestors have been killed, and many more have been beaten, arbitrarily arrested and detained.

The Commission is equally concerned about reports that members and human rights monitors of the Human Rights Council of Ethiopia (HRCO) have been arrested and detained in the Amhara and Oromo regions, while allegedly monitoring and documenting the crack-down on protestors in these regions.

Without reaching conclusions on the above allegations, the Commission is concerned that if these allegations are correct they would amount to violations of Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter), as well as other regional and international human rights instruments to which the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is a party.

In view of the above, the Commission calls on the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to:

  • Fully investigate or allow the African Commission and other international/regional human rights mechanisms unimpeded access to the concerned areas in order to carry out prompt and impartial investigations into the allegations, so that these reports can be verified;
  • Ensure due process of law for those arrested and detained;
  • Respect peoples’ right to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and access to information;
  • Ensure that perpetrators of the alleged violations are held accountable;
  • Ensure that the victims and their families obtain full redress, including restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition; and
  • Uphold its obligations under the regional and international human rights instruments to which it is a party, in particular the African Charter.

The Commission will remain actively seized of this matter.

UN Security Council in Juba to discuss deploying troops (Youtube-Clip)

“Delegates from the UN Security Council are due in South Sudan on Friday. They’re going to discuss the deployment of an additional 4-thousand peacekeepers to the country. However, President Salva Kiir’s government is hoping to convince the UN to scrap the plan. CCTV’s Patrick Oyet has this report from the South Sudanese capital, Juba” (CCTV Africa, 2016)