South Sudan: Hundreds wounded, villages looted in intercommunal fighting in Jonglei State (04.03.2020)

The ICRC supported the South Sudan Red Cross to deliver essential items to dozens of families who fled the fighting and found refuge in Anyidi.

JUBA, South Sudan, March 4, 2020 – Hundreds of people have been wounded, families forced to flee their homes, and villages looted amidst intercommunal clashes that erupted mid-February in Jonglei State. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has evacuated dozens of injured people for surgical care and calls on those engaged in the clashes to respect human life and the principles of humanity.The ICRC treated nearly 70 people suffering from gunshot wounds over the past two weeks, as fighting broke out between thousands of armed men in several parts of Jonglei State.

“It is the first time we are forced to mobilize all three surgical units we run in the country for one series of related incidents,” said Katja Lorenz, ICRC’s deputy head of delegation in South Sudan. “We have received hundreds of requests for medical evacuations and we are struggling to meet the needs.”

In Akobo, Ganyliel, and Juba, ICRC surgical teams have treated dozens of patients with gunshot injuries from different communities involved in the fighting. “We were able to evacuate the injured only when we had the guarantees from all communities that our team and aircraft would not be targeted,” added Lorenz. “We can’t land and transport the wounded if people are shooting in the area.”

This violence also forced hundreds of families to flee their homes in various parts of Jonglei State. “I don’t know if my wives and children are still alive,” said Jion Angabal Arut, a 50-year-old man from Manyabol. “My livestock was taken, the house burnt down. How can I start over again?”

The ICRC supported the South Sudan Red Cross to deliver essential items to dozens of families who fled the fighting and found refuge in Anyidi.

These clashes come as a new unity government was formed, an important milestone in the country’s peace process. However, violence between communities, driven by competition over resources and fueled by easy access to guns, continues.

Other parts of the country are also affected by high levels of violence. Between November 2019 and February 2020, clashes between different communities close to Rumbek in central South Sudan killed more than 250 people and injured over 300.

“In 2019, we treated 769 persons with gunshot wounds, 111 more than the year before. We are worried that 2020 could follow the same trend, deepening the suffering of families who are already struggling to recover from years of war,” concluded Lorenz.

South Sudan NGO Forum Statement on the Formation of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (27.02.2020)

South Sudan: Statement on the 1st Meeting of the Presidency – 2020 (27.02.2020)

South Sudan: Statement on the 1st Meeting of the Presidency- 2020 (26.02.2020)

South Sudan: Statement of the Chairpersons of the Woman, Peace and Security Working Group calling on all the parties to include at least 35% woman in the formation of an inclusive Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan (R-TGoNU) – (20.02.2020)

South Sudan: National Democratic Movement (NDM) – Press Statement (23.02.2020)

IGAD: Press Statement on the Formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (22.02.2020)

South Sudan: Today we celebrate the R-TGoNU [after that we need to give them time to work things out]

Well, the celebrations and the praises has been spread around as today on the 22nd February 2020 the Revitalized-Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) are inaugurated, as yesterday the decrees was put out and the people from all the various of fraction accordingly to the Revitalized Agreement for a Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) of 2018.

So, today is a big day. Only four short years of the last inauguration of the Transitional Government of National Unity on the 26th April 2016. Therefore, this time its even more dire to set the record straight, compromise and ensure the prolonged peace. As the last endeavour opened up new wounds and battles between the rebels and the government. Which is today putting all that behind to form the R-TGoNU.

What is happening today is a big feat, it is something that should be celebrated and give hope. Even as bloated as the cabinet is and that there are 5 Vice-Presidents. Still, if that what it takes to have peace. Let it be and then change the system later on. Configure the Parliament and the Cabinet as deemed fit over time. This is a transitional government and that has to work out all the obstacles ahead and also work together to build the Republic.

The cabinet is filled 35 ministers and 10 deputies. All shared across the board. Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Government (SPLM-IG) have 20 ministers and 5 deputies. Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Opposition (SPLM-IO) have 9 ministers and 3 deputies. South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) have 3 ministers and 1 deputy. Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – Former Political Detainees (SPLM-FDs) have 2 ministers and Other Political Parties (OPP) have one minister.

Plus the cabinet, the National Assembly will be filled with 550 Members of Parliament. Clearly have a big representation from across the 10 states with the 10 governors and three administrators of the three special administrative areas. We can see there is a lot people gaining and getting positions out of it.

Hopefully that buys peace. Buy time and also get them all to work together towards a common goal. That they implement protocol and structures, that they are leaving egos behind and try to finds ways for lasting peace. The TGoNU of 2016 went into a blister, but we can hope this doesn’t happen now in 2020. Because, its the same gentlemen in power of the biggest outfits. They know the cost and troubles ahead.

The parties, the stakeholders and the international community have to support all efforts. Even if they are going slow. Because, it is better like this, than the prospects of another civil war. Which will only create more havoc and suffering. More pain and lack of a good government for the citizens, as the battlefields and the guns blazing will overtake the society again.

The gentlemen in power. Need to talk, sit down and work things out. This being President Salva Kiir, but also Dr. Riek Machar, all the Vice-Presidents and the whole cabinet. They are forced to work together and find a way for a better tomorrow.

Today is the day to celebrate, but also to give them time. Even if they had a long time getting here. Because, they need it and the public has to see it. Since, if they are forced to quickly and disagreeing. These men are used to take it to the field, instead of negotiating. That is why they need new methods and new measures to secure a peaceful outcome. Where they are not promoting war-games, but instead building the state together. Peace.

South Sudan: SSOA letter to President Kiir – Sub: SSOA Nominees for Vice President (VP) position per R-ARCSS (20.02.2020)

South Sudan: National Democratic Movement (NDM) – Press Statement – A Dark Day for SSOA (22.02.2020)