Riek Machar talks to NBS LiveAt9 live from South Africa (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW0CZLj4u24

“Riek Machar : “I came for a medical checkup after I was nearly assassinated. I am fit. After the collapse of the peace agreement, war is raging in South Sudan. It is intensifying. We are only defending ourselves when we were attacked in Juba. We didn’t start this war  are waging a war of resistance against the regime for our own survival. We also want resolution of the war  I am free to return in South Sudan whenever I can. No one can stop me. They don’t control me. Transitional govt of national unity needs to be formed again. Juba govt is no longer implementing original deal  the peace agreement was forced by IGAD. It has failed. We need a new solution” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016)

Statement attributable to the Principal Public Information Officer, UNMISS, on Increased Incidents of Violence in South Sudan (12.10.2016)

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JUBA, South Sudan, October 12, 2016The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is extremely concerned over increased reports of violence and armed conflict in various parts of the country in the last few weeks.

UNMISS Force in Leer town have reported heavy artillery and gunfire exchanges between SPLA and  SPLA in Opposition leading to several reported deaths and the continued displacement of the civilian population in the area into the bush and swamps.

We have also received continued reports of clashes in the Equatorias, and we are verifying accounts of attacks by unidentified armed men on a civilian convoy travelling from Yei to Juba, which led to the deaths of over 20 people, including women and children, and retaliatory actions by responding military personnel, which led to the deaths of a further five civilians. The Mission is yet to be granted access to these areas to place us in a position to independently verify the reports on the ground. UNMISS has attempted to launch a number of patrols to the scene of the incident, and have been stopped on each occasion. We are in direct communication with several government agencies, including the SPLA, in order to have these restrictions to our movement lifted, as yet without success.

The Mission condemns in no uncertain terms these acts of violence and attacks against non-combatant civilians, and reiterates its urgent call for an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities, and more particularly, an end to any form of violence perpetrated against unarmed civilians, reminding all parties that such attacks may constitute serious human rights violations, including crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The Mission further calls on all parties to immediately end the fighting throughout South Sudan, and further demands that they ensure that their commanders control their forces and protect civilians and their property, cease all hostilities, and work together for the good of the people of this country.

UNMISS condemns in the strongest possible terms, any calls for a return to the violence that has plagued this country, and urges all parties to cease the rhetoric of incitement, which is not the answer to South Sudan’s problems.

We encourage all parties to put the people of South Sudan first, and work to bring an end to suffering of the people of this country.

The Worsening Crisis in South Sudan (11.10.2016)

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3 Uganda bound buses attacked on Juba-Nimule highway in South Sudan (Youtube-Clip)

“Three Ugandan bound buses were attacked this morning along the Juba-Nimule highway in South Sudan. The UPDF 4th Division Spokesman, Maj. Caesar Olweny confirmed the attack in the restive young nation. Passengers of one of the buses were abducted and later released by the attackers” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

UNMISS Statement on Yei; Call for immediate Cessation of Hostilities (10.10.2016)

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Statement attributable to the Principal Public Information Officer, UNMISS.

JUBA, South Sudan, October 10, 2016 – The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is extremely concerned by the continuing deterioration of the security situation in Yei, Central Equatoria, where the Mission continues to be denied access.

The Mission is alarmed that deadly attacks on civilians and looting of private property on 11 and 13 September, and the displacement of several thousand others from nearby Lainya County since mid-July, has affected over 100,000 South Sudanese in Yei, despite their civilian noncombatant status.

The Mission has received deeply disturbing reports of horrific violence perpetrated against innocent and vulnerable civilians, including women and infants.

UNMISS is also concerned at the humanitarian crisis unfolding, with a population unable to move freely, tend to their farms, or feed themselves, due to various restrictions on their movement, and the inability of humanitarian partners to freely access the area and provide much needed assistance. 

UNMISS calls on all parties to refrain from further violence, ensure that commanders control their forces and protect civilians and their property and to cease all hostilities. We also call on the authorities to grant immediate and unfettered access to UNMISS and humanitarian actors, and to work together for the good of the people of this country. We further reiterate that there can be no military solution to the situation in South Sudan.

South Sudan: “Under Fire: The July 2016 Violence in Juba and UN Response” (05.10.2016)

UN House Juba

South Sudan: UN Falls Short During July Violence in Juba

UNITED NATIONS (Oct. 5, 2016)—The United Nations needs to ensure transparency and accountability for the inadequate response of its peacekeepers during the July crisis in Juba, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) said in a report released today. For its part, the Security Council should immediately impose an arms embargo, both to help protect civilians from further harm and in response to the national government’s obstruction of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

The 84-page report, Under Fire: The July 2016 Violence in Juba and UN Response, documents how, during four days of intense fighting in Juba in July 2016, the parties to the conflict killed and injured civilians in displaced persons camps with indiscriminate gun and artillery fire. Government forces also broke into a hotel and apartment complex to brutally attack international and national aid workers, and, in the weeks following the crisis, raped South Sudanese women who went outside the displaced persons camps in search of food.

Much of the fighting occurred in close proximity to the main UNMISS bases, which were themselves hit by more than 200 rounds of likely indiscriminate fire. In that environment, the Mission’s defense of the 37,000 displaced persons sheltered on its bases was inconsistent, with some peacekeepers abandoning their posts during heavy fighting while other peacekeepers assisted civilians trying to enter the base perimeter. Outside the UN bases, the Mission’s protection was almost nonexistent, with devastating consequences for South Sudanese civilians and aid workers targeted by government forces.

“The UN peacekeeping mission faced a challenging environment during the July violence in Juba, but it underperformed in protecting civilians inside and outside its bases,” said Federico Borello, Executive Director at CIVIC. “To ensure that such problems are not repeated, it is critical that the UN be transparent about what went wrong and hold accountable any individuals or units that failed to live up to the Mission’s protection mandate.”

Many of the problems exposed during UNMISS’s response to the July violence are not new. In February 2016, government forces attacked the Malakal Protection of Civilians (POC) site, on which 47,000 displaced persons were sheltered. At least 30 civilians were killed and one-third of the camp was burned down. CIVIC’s investigation into that incident, as well as a UN Board of Inquiry (BOI), identified major failings. However, UN leadership refused to divulge which particular troops underperformed, and CIVIC’s new report also shows there was scant accountability, despite promises to repatriate units and specific officers.

In August, the UN Secretary-General appointed a Special Investigation to examine issues related to UNMISS’s response to the July violence in Juba. It is essential that the Special Investigation’s report be made public and lead to meaningful accountability for peacekeeping units as well as for individual civilian and military officials who underperformed, CIVIC said.

Although the Mission needs to perform better in protecting civilians under threat, many of its difficulties are compounded by the inadequate support it has received from the UN Security Council and UN leadership in New York. The crisis exposed major problems with medical care and evacuation; two peacekeepers died, including one who bled for 16 hours, after a UN position was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and the Mission was unable to get them proper medical attention. During critical parts of the fighting, peacekeepers were also unable to stay in their sentry posts along the POC site perimeter, as they were not reinforced with bulletproof material.

For almost three years, the Mission has been repeatedly blocked, harassed, and, at times, even attacked by the parties to the conflict. Civilians throughout the country have also been targeted deliberately, including for killings, sexual violence, abductions, and the destruction of homes and crops. In response, the Security Council has issued numerous condemnations, but failed to take effective action.

“The Security Council has sat idly by as the parties to the conflict have repeatedly obstructed UNMISS’s movement and used weapons, including heavy weapons, against civilians,” Borello said. “It is time for the Council to finally implement an arms embargo.”

Under Fire is based on more than 100 interviews during two weeks of field research in Juba in August 2016 as well as on meetings and Skype interviews in Nairobi, Washington, DC, and New York in July and September 2016. CIVIC also sent a letter to UNMISS requesting official response to seven specific issues related to the July violence. The Mission’s written responses have been incorporated into the report.

Notes to editors:

The Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) works to make warring parties more responsible to civilians before, during, and after armed conflict. We are advocates and advisers finding practical solutions to civilian suffering in war. We believe that warring parties should do everything in their power to avoid harming civilians and that it is never acceptable to walk away from the harm they do cause. More information available at civiliansinconflict.org.

South Sudan Crisis: Nespresso suspends operation; Machar is losing friends and allies; Updates from Yei and Unity!

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Just as the news of Nespresso suspending their imports of coffee from South Sudan, the South Sudanese Authorities are saying that they need to cut in the Health Care budget for next year. This is happening as the possibility for a peace between the fractions becomes smaller and the window is closing. Because the SPLM/A-IO of Dr. Riek Machar has fewer friends as the Ethiopian, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya or Uganda does not want to host the Rebels.

While the news  awhile back we’re that Dr. Riek Machar and his close allies we’re taken through DRC and on the Congolese soil with help of MONUSCO and the United Nation Peacekeepers sent him after fleeing Juba. This happens as the violence between SPLM/A-IO and SPLM/A, the Government party that are led by President Salva Mayardit Kiir and new First Vice-President Gen. Taban Deng Gai who has been part of SPLM/A-IO and we’re even a close ally of Dr. Lam Akol back-in-the-day when there where rifts between Gen. John Garang and Dr. Riek Machar.

Machar shows the history of rebellion towards the leadership around him, as he wants to be leader of all leaders and run it; something he seems to think he is entitled too. That is my opinion, when he even tried in early 1990s to overcome the liberation hero Dr. John Garang de Maribor. That President Kiir has taken oven for and got now the same accusation from the SPLM/A-IO as Garang got from SPLM-Nasir in the 1990s; strange how the past gets recycled in the present?

Just reported from the DRC:

Riek Machar’s militia are not welcome in northern Democratic Republic of Congo where locals say they are a security risk. DRC’s government, after protests from the locals, has asked the UN mission in the country, MONUSCO, to move the 750 militiamen. The Congolese government has asked the UN to remove them by October the 10th. Last week, local officials wrote to the government in the capital Kinshasa warning that the South Sudanese militia are a security risk in the area” (The National Courier, 04.10.2016).

As written the Congolese Authorities are not welcoming Machar’s rebels and for certain the MONUSCO, blue helmets are moving rebels from one area to the next as they are seen as threat in DRC, but okay to have in Khartoum. Even as Sudan has said they won’t really cater to him either they are still letting him be there after the MONUSCO left him there earlier in the is calendar year.

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On the Coffee Export:

“The Governor of Yei River State David Lokonga Moses says his state has lost investment and development opportunities due to the presence of insecurity in the state” (…) ““The prevailing insecurity in the state has hampered the use of these tractors and other plans for this sector. In a related development, the USAID has earmarked a grant of 3.5 million US dollars through the National Government to promote coffee growing in Yei River state. Only that we have been interrupted by this insecurity. All this efforts will strengthen the economy of the state. We are really by far being eyed by the international community to be given support for development.” (…) “Notice of Correction: An earlier version of this story emphasized that USAID had given millions for coffee development in Yei River State. This was based on a remark by Governor Lokonga taken out of context. He was in fact stressing that insecurity in the state has resulted in a loss of investment and development opportunities” (Radio Tamazuj, 03.10.2016).

clooney-nespresso-quote

As the Nespresso suspends the operations in South Sudan, the USAID coffee growing project have been also interrupted by the insecurity of the state. Yei River and Yei have been in the cross-fire and surely makes farming impossible.

More on trouble in Yei: 

Jacob Aligo Lo-Lado, MP and Minister of Local Government in Yei River State has admitted that roughly 100,000 people trapped in the town amid increasing insecurity in the area as reported by the UN refugee agency last week” (…) “Aligo told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that Yei residents fled their homes following fighting in July, but they returned after the security situation was restored in the area. He pointed out that the locals are currently experiencing shortages of food and basic services due to the closure of roads” (Radio Tamazuj, 04.10.2016).

Here you see the more troubles in Yei, as there been reported that SPLM/A-IO had taken over the area and the fighting between SPLA and rebels have continued since July as the reports we’re then that SPLM/A-IO closed the roads towards Uganda. Because the Machar rebels fears the support of UPDF that has helped President Kiir in the past.

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Shooting Police Officers:

“Police spokesman Justin Daniel said that a group of attackers assaulted the police post at Nyelo Sunday before fleeing the scene of attack to Nelo village, where they purportedly shot dead a village chief. “The general security situation is under control except some isolated incidents by some people trying to cause havoc and to cause panic to the citizens but our police personnel are there. The incident of Nyelo is being investigated and as police, we condemn and treat it as a barbaric and terrorists act. There is no justifiable cause to kill some people trying to secure the safety of the road for travelers. We are also told that the same attackers after fleeing the scene of the crime went and killed an innocent village chief at Nelo”, police spokesman said in a statement broadcast also by South Sudan broadcasting corporation” (Radio Tamazuj, 04.10.2016).

This is incidents happening on the road between Juba – Nimule road, as the village is on road. Therefore the Police Command and Police Post is on an important roads as it led to the capital and the proof of occurring violence as a reaction to another act that involve the Village chief of Nelo killed. This might be a “small act”, but significant in the matter of who it concerns and the extent of killings happening.

In Morobo and Kaya:

“The SPLA says Morobo and Kaya have never been under the control of the militias as they have claimed for the last few days. The SPLA spokesman says the militias have been celebrating fictitious victory won from Nairobi hotels on the social media” (The National Courier, 04.10.2016).

This is the official reports and what is the honest truth is hard to say, but if there we’re battles its not likely that the SPLA will concede defeat, either does the SPLM/A-IO as they want to be ahead of SPLA/M in the matter of territory. Even as they need shuttles to get out of foreign territory as they don’t want their 750 rifles and personnel away from Congolese Soil. Together with the establishment of the rebel outfit of National Democratic Movement of Dr. Lam Akol who has been a sworn ally of Dr. Riek Machar; proves that the rebels and opposition is not as solid following the instruction and leadership of Machar as they once did.

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Killings in Unity:

“James Yuaj, spokesperson for the SPLM-IO in South Sudan’s Unity State on Monday accused government forces of opening fire on civilians killing three people and injuring four other including two women. Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Yuaj accused government forces of being behind the attack in Adok area” (Radio Tamazuj, 04.10.2016).

So here we can also see that there been killings in another state, this in Unity as the proves of the state of affairs and fragile instability of the government versus the rebels who know has a plan to use arms to move and get rid of the SPLM/A as they want to install the SPLM/A-IO, but they have also the NDM who has their powers. Together with the rebels in Darfur who are the SPLM-N who also fights and could also prove their flexibility and pour into the states on the border.

This here crisis is far from over, the South Sudan leaders are more used to their guns and ammunition instead of dialogue; it is ironic that Dr. Lam Akol that are grabbing guns and arming people as he was blaming Dr. John Garang de Maribor for his wishes to use military option over dialogue to deal with the SPLM/A-Nasir of the 1990s. People tend to forget that part too. But that is two decades ago and think Dr. Lam Akol forgotten himself and how he defended dialogue during that time; now he grabs the guns as well!

Well, this is enough for now, depressing enough. Peace.

South Sudan government tells Machar to stop violence, wait for 2018 elections (Youtube-Clip)

“South Sudan’s government is urging its former first vice president Riek Machar to denounce the violence and wait to contest the 2018 elections if he wants to take part in the country’s politics again. The government is also urging its neighbours not to support Machar’s declared war on South Sudan. CCTV’s Patrick Oyet speaks to South Sudan’s Deputy Information Minister, Akol Paul” (CCTV Africa, 2016)

RDC: Nord Kivu – Information sul l’organisation d’un sit-in (27.09.2016)

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Looming reports from South Sudan; the day after Machar’s war-cry!

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As the Battle cry of the Dr. Riek Machar and SPLM-IO towards the SPLM/A in Juba from the Sudanese capital Khartoum. There are new reports that shows the movement on the ground as the loyalty to Machar comes in W. Equatoria, battles between forces  in Bentiu, Sudan warning SPLM-IO as using the Sudan as launching pad to oust Kiir Government, supposed bases of SPLM-IO in DRC/Nord-Kivu and Dr. Lam Akol has created his own rebel group!

Battle in Bentiu:

“Goc Machar, military spokesperson of the SPLA-IO faction in Unity State, told Radio Tamazuj that forces loyal to President Salva Kiir attacked their forces in Rubkona area yesterday morning. He pointed out that about three soldiers were killed from their side and several others injured in clashes. Goc claimed that they also killed dozens of government soldiers. Meanwhile, Weirial Puok, member of the armed opposition faction claimed that the government forces attacked their position near Bentiu town, but they were repulsed. He said yesterday. “There were clashes today after the government forces attacked our position near Bentiu, but our forces managed to repulse the attackers,” said Pouk” (Radio Tamazuj, 2016)

Western Equatoria the SPLM-IO won’t accept Gen. Taban Deng Gai as FVP:  

“The approval of the cantonment areas for Greater Equatorial region will never bring peace because Cantonment is not the real grievance that made us to go to the bush, and fight against the regime of SPLM under the leadership of Salva Kirr,” party reads the statement signed by Brigadier General John Sunday Martin, SPLA (IO) 3rd Brigade Commander, Division 9 based in Western Equatoria” (…) “We will neither accept any transitional Government without Dr. Riek Macher being part of it, nor accept cantonment areas in Greater Equatoria without Dr. Riek Macher being part to the Transition Government,” the statement declared” (Sudan Tribune, 2016).

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More intelligence on battles between the parties:

There have been clashes in and around Morobo border town, but it has intensified on Monday morning when the government forces according to some people who left Morobo town heading to Kaya said the armed men have overrun the military garrison and have burnt all the buildings in Morobo military garrison” (…) “Further report said Morobo was captured at dawn by the heavily armed men, mostly believed to be the local youth who have taken up arms against the government after members of their families were either killed or arbitrarily being kept in detention by government security forces” (…) “In similar development, Amadi in Western Equatoria, is reported to have seen heavy fighting between government forces and unknown gunmen since last weekend. It is predicted that in a matter of days if not weeks before the armed men will capture it from the government forces according to the report coming from Amadi” (…) “Groups of armed men fighting in the area have predicted that government forces are now overstretched with no resources, they predicted that without fresh recruitment from Equatorian regions joining the Dinka-centric army, this has left the government in a very vulnerable and weak position; the government could no longer afford to send their exhausted and malnourished militias from Bahr el Ghazal to every corner to protect the Dinka interests” (Swaka, 2016).

Sudan won’t support SPLM-IO:

“Sudan is a key member of the tripartite committee set up by the regional block IGAD to follow up the implementation of South Sudan’s peace agreement” (…) “Sudan wouldn’t allow any armed opposition to be launched from its territory against South Sudan” (…) “Sudan’s top diplomat underscored his country’s keenness to achieve peace in South Sudan, saying peace can’t be achieved in the two Sudans unless it was achieved in the other country” (…) “He said that Sudan under the leadership of President Omer al-Bashir was the first country to recognize the independence of South Sudan, pointing to the joint history and interests between the two nations” (NewsAfricaNow, 2016).

North Kivu view

Are the bases of SPLM-IO in North Kivu?

“The fear is that this presence was not explained by the government authority. We know that MONUSCO cannot be allowed to bring in foreign population on Congolese soil without the government’s agreement” (…) “As notables, it is our duty to warn. We just make a call for a general mobilization for greater vigilance in Walikale, Masisi and Nyiragongo and in Goma. This call is also addressed to the population that must require the government to repatriate these South Sudanese rebels in other African countries” (…) “We believe make a call to a sit-in outside the governorate of North Kivu Friday, September 30, 2016. We believe that the time is not well suited to receive these rebels among us” (…) “said focal point notables of North Kivu” (Actualite, 2016).

Is this Dr. Lam Akol’s new military outfit?

“Akol, according to a statement issued over the weekend, has named the new rebel group as National Democratic Movement (NDM) and said that his aim is to overthrow by all means the government of South Sudan under the leadership of President Salva Kiir” (…) “The National Democratic Movement was born to wage the struggle, together with others in the field, against the totalitarian, corrupt and ethnocentric regime in Juba that is bent on dragging our country into the abyss,” the statement reads in part” (Eagle.co.ug, 2016)

The stories keep piling with the reports. The Continuing bickering and constructive malfunctions of trying to institutionalize as the fragmented peace-agreement withers into thin air. The battles of Benitu, in Unity and other regions the bloodshed is happening. As the Government and rebels collide; the power-struggle of President Salva Kiir and former FVP Dr. Riek Machar continues with the price of the stability of a whole nation. With the cost of innocent civilians and their livelihoods! As so many as a 1,000,000 has fled the nation and that should mind-boggle the world and question to what extent society is destroyed to let this happen.

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What make this more worrying aren’t only the battles between armies and soldiers. It’s the implications of the MONUSCO in the movement of Dr. Riek Machar to Sudan; how Sudan is trying to deflect and say “We are not accepting these rebels here, but still let Machar speak here”. While this is happening there are rumours and they might be true as certain borders are very open as the North Kivu might have a new rebel group or guerrilla in the name of SPLM/A-IO so they can move back and forth to South Sudan. This proves that Dr. Riek Machar goes back to the steps of the past as the rebels have gone to neighbour countries with bases there until they have weaken the government they want to overthrow. The same did even Mugabe, Kagame and Museveni back in the day. History is sometimes goes in cycle.

Though the President Salva Kiir does not only have to get rid of SPLM/A-IO also the new NDM that sounds like bad knockoff sounds-system, but surely Dr. Lam Akol are a serious fellow and wouldn’t do something like this without a general concern.

President Kiir has lots of work to do and has now a new civil war on his hand. Seems like the men are battling for supremacy again for the war-torn republic; the wars of Sudan and South Sudan continues as the SPLM-N are continuing to fight in Darfur, while SPLM-IO either has bases in North Kivu or in Sudan. Even as the South Sudan are having trouble with the SPLM-IO inside the borders where they show loyalty to Machar and not FVP Gen. Taban Deng Gai. This proves the volatile situation and how concerning the reports of today are.

This cannot be hidden under a stone. That is vital and sure that the innocent is suffering for the power; as the struggle of these two men who want to rule and be in power. Peace.

Reference:

Actualite – ‘Nord-Kivu : Les notabilités appellent à manifester contre la présence des rebelles Sud-soudanais’ (26.09.2016) link: https://actualite.cd/2016/09/26/nord-kivu-notabilites-appellent-a-manifester-contre-presence-rebelles-sud-soudanais/

Eagle.co.ug – ‘South Sudan former minister forms new rebel group’ (26.09.2016) link: http://eagle.co.ug/2016/09/26/south-sudan-former-minister-forms-new-rebel-group.html

NewsAfricaNow – ‘Khartoum says won’t serve as launching pad for armed S. Sudanese opposition’ (26.09.2016) link: http://newsafricanow.com/2016/09/khartoum-says-wont-serve-as-launching-pad-for-armed-s-sudanese-opposition/

Radio Tamazuj – ‘Government and opposition clash near Bentiu town’ (25.09.2016) link: https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/government-and-opposition-clash-near-bentiu-town

Sudan Tribune – ‘SPLA-IO in W. Equatoria rejects calls to assemble in cantonment areas’ (26.09.2016) link: http://sudantribune.com/spip.php?article60356

Swaka, J. Roberts – ‘Morobo, Yei River (Equatoria) State, reportedly has fallen to SPLA-IO’ (26.09.2016) link: http://www.southsudannation.com/morobo-yei-river-equatoria-state-reportedly-has-fallen-to-spla-io/