SPLM – Eastern Lakes State, Yirol: “the Appointment of the SPLM Youth League Interim State Executive committees and Advisors” (06.07.2017)

South Sudan: Letter from Bor Community to UNOCHA – “Re: Clarification on Bor community Youth Association Bor Letter dated 28th June 2017 about Evacuation of all Equatorian working in Bor” (04.07.2017)

SPLM-IO: Press Release on the Communique of the 57th Extraordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers on South Sudan (04.07.2017)

FVP Deng Gai garnering support in the Diaspora for Political Millage to legitimize the National Dialogue !

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Opposition (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of First Vice-President General Taban Deng Gai are trying to gain support and political millage in the South Sudanese diaspora, as chapters of SPLM-IO part of the SPLM-IG or the SPLM/A, which is lead by President Salve Kiir Mayardiit. This here proves clearly, that the SPLM-IO under Gen. Taban Deng Gai are clearly trying to find ways to find support by the refugees in both Australia, Canada and United States of America.

This is a proof that the civil-war in South Sudan are now being played out across the borders, not only in Uganda, where there are reports of Youth and others capable being recruited to either sides of war. The rebels of SPLM-IO, SPLA or any other new rebel outfit. There are so many new militias either created out of the SPLM-IO under Dr. Riek Machar Teny or from the SPLM/A under the President. Clearly, this is not making the situation better.

The Youth and the Diaspora should know their value and not trade themselves and commit themselves into any fraction at this point, unless they are really sure they investment will bear positive fruits. Since the SPLM-IO/Machar or SPLM-IO(Deng Gai) are of two different sides. Both of them are using guns, using violence and creating both famine and scores of refugees that leaves the Republic. The building of parties and gaining strength in the midst of this. Is clearly just a ploy to gain strength and show numbers compared to the other.

As the SPLM-IO(Machar) has already chapter here and there, in Egypt and other nations where they are following his protocol. The same will be done by ones following SPLM-IO(Deng Gai). So, the initial partaking of these efforts are either supporting a militant government or rebellion against the government. With this in mind, there aren’t much greatness or helpfulness to join either at this moment.

Especially as the core-essential the National Dialogue is flawed with wrong mediation and also not trying to get all the parties into the fold. When not all are talking, the other will still believe in bullets, more than believing in negotiations. That the SPLM/A-IG initiated talks has grand flaws, as the IGAD, AU, UNMISS and JMEC cannot find the grounds to build a sustainable talks between all the fighting parties. There are more troubling talks and within this bounds, the SPLM-IO(Deng Gai) are trying to get political millage by getting more members in the diaspora to become even more relevant and have a bigger organization.

This can easily be seen as getting loyalty abroad and getting support group for the constant in-fighting and in-security produced by all fighting parties, but the SPLM-IO(Deng Gai) should rather as it is direct government with SPLM/A-IG get them to start again to have conservation with the other SPLM-IO, also with all other rebel group and newly created political parties. As the level of people defying and rebelling against the SPLM/A-IG are getting bigger and more troubling. Peace.

SPLM/A-IO refutes attacking foreign soldiers and denied abducting people in Uganda territory (26.06.2017)

Press Release.

The Juba government claimed that its forces captured Kaya town on 23/06/2017 after coming from Yei. That convoy included Uganda People’s Defence Force that returned from their base at the border of Central Africa Republic and South Sudan. Juba Militias just found a way out with the presence of the UPDF. The SPLA IO does not attack foreign soldiers on mission not related to destruction of South Sudan.

According to IO deputy spokesman, Lam Paul Gabriel, the SPLA IO also strongly refutes the accusation circulating on media that its forces abducted some people and raided hundreds of cattles from around Moyo in Uganda. This is a base less allegation aimed at derailing the good relationship that the civilians of Kajo keji has with the people of Moyo. The government of Juba has got two bases at the border of Moyo; Jale and Bamure. Its unfortunate that the forces from these two bases always enter with their weapons to Moyo. They should be investigated for the abduction and the raid other than wasting time pointing fingers in the wrong direction.

Furthermore, there is no any negative effect of the fake peace of those of Yakani and Governor Lokonga in Yei state. Yakani deserted already and is in Kampala seeking asylum while Yuma Sabastian is under detention in Yei by government securities for not providing the 6000 soldiers they claimed to have. The struggle continues.

SPLM-IO letter to TGoNU National Dialogue chairman – “Re: Request for Appointment” (24.06.2017)

SPLM-IO: “Subject: July 8, 2016, Anniversary Commemoration” (24.06.2017)

President Museveni’s speech showed his real sentiment at the Uganda Solidarity Summit on Refugees 2017

I don’t believe that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni hold the Refugee Summit in Kampala this week out of solidarity. It was of an operation to secure his state the lost funds that the state has to raise through loans. So yesterday he had the massive speech for the event, which had lot of information, but for me this passage was telling why he had the summit and what value the refugees really have for him. You wouldn’t see them as bargain chips if you didn’t say it this way. Why do I say that, the districts with the refugee camps are in his mind deserving infrastructure, not supported by the state, but by the International Community. Therefore, it was held to raise sufficient funds for the refugees, but if he could, he could sponge of the funds. Not like the National Resistance Movement (NRM), though he was speaking in the beginning of this passage like it is NRM Regime who pays of all infrastructure, but the World Bank and others are giving either grants or direct loans to infrastructure projects.

That is why I’m kind of not surprised of the real solidarity would be pay the bills for the President and his own pledges, instead of really helping the refugees. They are just needed people to gain popularity abroad and solidarity for ones fleeing for refugee in Uganda. Instead of looking into the draconian laws of Uganda, the oppressive behavior of the NRM or even famine made by lacking governance in many districts in Uganda itself. That is why I particular looks into this part of his speech from the Solidarity Summit, as these words prove the value of the summit for the President himself.

The hosting districts of Uganda should also be rewarded. Especially in the area of the road infrastructure, the government of Uganda is already doing most of the development required. On account of many demands, however, there are certain roads that over-night become of high demand because of the sudden big numbers in the area on account of the influx of refugees. There are, in particular, two roads that should be bituminized but the government is not yet able to take on. These are: Moyo-Yumbe-Koboko, in the neighbourhood of the famous Bidi Bidi camp in Yumbe district that is hosting 272,168 refugees today; and Kabiingo-Rugaaga-Magabi-Rakai that starts from the famous Nakivaale Refugee Settlement camp that looked after the Rwanda refugees between 1960 and 1994 and is still hosting different waves of subsequent refugees” (…) “The Uganda government will, eventually, do these roads. If, however, the International Community was to expedite that process and we informed our people in the areas, they would understand that their hospitality has not been in vain” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 23.06.2017).

You can really tell that the President has significant plans for using the solidarity and raised funds for needed infrastructure. Ugandan government wants to use the refugee situation to get funds for national projects and roads. That it just happens to be between the Refugee Settlements in the Northern Uganda. Where the South Sudanese refugees are settled because of the civil war in South Sudan. Certainly, the political stalemate are the ones that even President Museveni is involved in. Therefore, him trying to use it for road development.

Clearly, his real sentiment is for road development not helping the refugees. That is why the districts should be rewarded, not by the state itself, but the international community. If you ever wonder where his heart was, you got it right there. It is not like President Museveni has the refugee settlement for charity, more for leverage and use to get solidarity since the direct donor funds to his government has dwindled over the recent decade. So he has found another trick to get raised funds for his pledges. Peace.

South Sudan: Humanitarian Response Eases Famine, But Food Insecurity Reaches Unprecedented Levels (22.06.2017)

Following the famine declaration, humanitarian organizations ramped-up their response in Leer, Mayendit, Koch and Panyinjiar, reaching more than 320,000 People.

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 22, 2017 – The Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Eugene Owusu, today welcomed the findings of the latest Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) data which highlight that early warning and the mobilization of a large-scale, multi-sectoral humanitarian response, have eased famine in Leer and Mayendit counties, and prevented it in Koch and Panyijiar counties, in South Sudan.

“I applaud the humanitarian community for the rapid scale-up of humanitarian response in famine-affected and at-risk areas in Unity,” said Mr. Owusu. “We deployed teams to dangerous and difficult locations and faced many challenges along the way, including clashes which forced us to relocate aid workers and delay distributions. But we were not dissuaded, and our collective efforts ultimately prevented the catastrophe from escalating.”

The Humanitarian Coordinator, however, urged the international community and humanitarian actors not to become complacent, as an unprecedented 6 million people are now severely food insecure, including 45,000 facing catastrophic food insecurity in Leer, Koch and Mayendit in Unity, and Ayod in Jonglei, and 1.7 million in IPC Phase 4, on the brink of famine.

“Half of the people across this country are severely food insecure, we are facing the longest and most widespread cholera outbreak since South Sudan became independent, and the number of people internally displaced has topped 2 million,” warned Mr. Owusu. “These are the devastating consequences of conflict, which has taken a daily toll on the desperate civilians of this nation.”

Following the famine declaration, humanitarian organizations ramped-up their response in Leer, Mayendit, Koch and Panyinjiar, reaching more than 320,000 people. Rapid response missions were carried out in at least 17 locations, and humanitarian organizations delivered vital and life-saving services, including food, emergency healthcare, vaccinations, nutritional treatments, seeds and tools for livelihoods, clean water, and critical non-food items, such as blankets, kitchen sets and mosquito nets. Each of these interventions played a critical role in halting and preventing famine.

“Despite the good news today that we have arrested the localized famine in Leer and Mayendit, we face greater needs in South Sudan than ever before,” said Mr. Owusu. “This is the time to redouble our efforts and expand our response. To do this, we urgently need free, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and funding to respond to the escalating crisis. I call on all parties to the conflict to cease attacks against civilians, and to uphold their responsibilities under international humanitarian law. Until the violence stops, humanitarian needs will continue to grow.”

“Nimble and pro-active” peacekeeping response to be replicated in other crisis situations in South Sudan (22.06.2017)

David Shearer, the Head of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, was speaking in Aburoc in the Upper Nile region where up to 25,000 people had taken refuge from conflict.

JUBA, South Sudan, June 22, 2017 – United Nations peacekeepers in South Sudan have been praised by the most senior UN official in the country for a “nimble and pro-active” response in support of humanitarians dealing with an emergency.

David Shearer, the Head of the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, was speaking in Aburoc in the Upper Nile region where up to 25,000 people had taken refuge from conflict.

The village, which numbered some 5,000 people before the arrival of the displaced people, was lacking in water, food and health services.

UNMISS helicoptered in 80 Rwandan peacekeepers together with armoured vehicles to Aburoc at the beginning of April creating better security conditions for the arrival of the humanitarian community, two days later.

Mr Shearer, who is also the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, in South Sudan said “the presence of peacekeeping troops undoubtedly provided the security and confidence that humanitarian agencies needed to operate in this remote and dangerous area.”

“A cholera outbreak was stopped,” he added, “and hundreds of lives were saved as a result of this combined action together with a highly effective response by humanitarian agencies.”

“With the possibility that Aburoc was going to become a humanitarian disaster area it was important that everyone moved quickly,” Mr Shearer said. “I was very pleased peacekeepers were ready to deploy nimbly and proactively. A light and effective footprint on the ground was what was needed.”

“It’s great that UNMISS has shown this response to an emergency situation and are ready should another crisis occur in other parts of South Sudan,” he added.

The UNMISS deployment to Aburoc was planned to last a month but was extended by two weeks.

Humanitarian agencies remain in Aburoc providing life-saving services to the almost 11,000 people who remain there. UNMISS support is being continued through air patrols from Malakal.