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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Somalia: International Community notes Nominations for Upper House and Urges Rapid Review in line with NLF Commitments, particularly on Woman’s Representation (10.10.2016)

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Statement by the Spokesperson on Ethiopia’s announcement of a state of emergency (10.10.2016)

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The government of Ethiopia announced over the weekend a state of emergency for six months.

Fundamental human rights must be respected at all times as announced by Prime Minister Hailemariam. The suspension of political and democratic rights should be avoided.

Today’s parliamentary session offers the opportunity to open the way for an inclusive dialogue in response to the grievances of the population. This should lead to a comprehensive reform package.

Violence, whichever side it comes from, has no place in this endeavour.  Now it is time for all forces, inside and outside Ethiopia, to restore calm and join in ensuring that Ethiopia can pursue the path of democracy and development.

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.

The Ethiopian protests in the provinces end in ‘State of Emergency’ another way to oppress the Amhara and Oromo regions!

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Just as the months of demonstrations in Amhara, Oromo and Ogaden regions the Ethiopian Government under the Tigray Central Government under Prime Ministre Hailemariam Desalegne has order a State of Emergency. This happens as several foreign businesses are either pulling out of the regions or feeling the fear of being burned down by protestors. The reality is that the Government have already set in the Agazi Squad of the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) under the Ethiopian People’s Revolution Democratic Front (EPRDF).

The Amhara demonstrations and Ogaden demonstrations has been in general peaceful, but with some reactions towards the government has given land to foreign companies instead of giving the needed support to the locals. 

PM Hailemariam Desalegne said on TV:

“A state of emergency  has been declared  because the situation posed a threat against the people of the country” Hailemariam said on state run tv” (Reuters, 09.10.2016).

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State of Emergency:

“The Council of Ministers has declared a state of emergency that will be effective as of Saturday evening so as to deal with anti-peace elements that have allied with foreign forces and are jeopardizing the peace and security of the country,” the state Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation announced Sunday morning” (FaroukFahima, 2016).

Breaking News: The minority and most hated regime in #Ethiopia declares state of emergency. The regime is in war against the people” (ERITREA Hadelibi, 09.10.2016).

There has also been reported on Friday that both Dutch Flowering companies working in Oromia and Amhara are planning to shut-down production in the area. This being Esmeralda Farms, Africa Juice and other 11 companies has been or trying to close their operation in Ethiopia. Other businesses have been burned down by the demonstrators as they are feeding the government with tax monies and do it weakening the authorities. This company has also been reported being behind the land-grabs in the regions, something that are escalating the anger towards the Central Government and their policies towards the citizens.

Zewya Prison have been set a blazed by demonstrators as the government are using their army. There been heard of gun shootings as well.

There been reported that the TPLF are keeping their loyal henchman in Amhara, as the regional president Hon. Ato Gedu Andargachew are to stay in power. Even with all the problems and demonstrations he is still trusted by the Addis Ababa government.

The army and Agazi Sqaud have been reported being responsible for the killings amounting up to 700 people, because the #OromoProtests are violating the control and insecurity of the Central Government. The Oromo people are fighting for their justice as the Central Government are keeping them under control now with surveillance, army and curfew in the region. Since November 2015, the amount of fallen people during the Oromo Protest has been calculated to 2500. That is extreme numbers to die under protests in peace-time.

That is happening as the Army has also sent brigades to the Amhara region where towns has been attacked and taken over by the Agazi squad. They have had assassins on the roof tops of Bahar Dir and Gonder/Gondar.

There also been reports that the TPLF and the EPRDF has moved all ammunitions and heavy artillery to the Tigray district. As they have sent major armies that we’re reported a month ago or so to be in the levels of 25,000 soldiers to Amhara alone. That is not setting the levels of army presence in the Oromo region.

In Addis Ababa the roads are now blocked by the government as the locals and demonstrations are throwing rocks at the cars moving in the area.

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This here proves the vital problems of the State of Emergency created by the Central Government as they are trying to kill their way into silencing the Amhara, Oromo and Ogaden, this is happening the same week as the Government supposed to celebrate a feet of having a new railway between Addis Ababa and Djibouti where the Chinese are operating and training Ethiopians to run it.

The Central Government are now using excessive force as they are not even happy with the martial laws set in regions, therefore added their repressive behaviour and killing squads of the Agazi Squad of the ENDF. The ENDF are there to stop the burning of foreign businesses, because that hurt the pocket of the controlling TPLF government.

There will be more, when the reports are coming, this is a worry and the world should care that the country that has the African Union and seemingly are in-charge of the  Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). So with that in mind the Government should care more for their citizens as their responsibility to be a example is now far-gone because of the ways the silencing and killings of their citizens are happening in Oromo and Amhara regions. They are continuing as the government are not only having issues in Ogaden, as they are acting questionable in Somali Region as well. Peace.

Reference:

Faroukfahima – ‘Ethiopia Declares State of Emergency’ (09.10.2016) link: http://www.forumspotz.ng/ethiopia-declares-state-of-emergency/

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

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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 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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