The South Sudan Civil Society Forum: Statement – Civil society’s 60-day countdown to the formation of the new government in South Sudan ends with disappointment and a call for a renewed sense of urgency (13.05.2019)

Coalition of Advocates for South Sudan – The Voice of the Diaspora: Planned Peaceful Demonstrations in Juba and Beyond (10.05.2019)

Communiqué of the 67th Extra-Ordinary Session of IGAD Council of Ministers on the Situation in South Sudan (07.05.2019)

Gainful Solutions: Press Release on Contract with the Government of South Sudan (07.05.2019)

Vaccines are saving millions of lives of children in Somalia: urgent need to scale up routine immunization programme (07.05.2019)

Immunization saves millions of lives every year and is widely recognized as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective public health interventions.

GENEVA, Switzerland, May 7, 2019 – From the moment we’re born, we’re all at risk of contracting diseases. So the question is, are we aware enough? Are we responsible enough? Are we immune enough? Not long ago infections like influenza, tetanus, chickenpox and measles were prolonged, painful illnesses, which often resulted in death. Immunization saves millions of lives every year and is widely recognized as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective public health interventions.

The Expanded Programmme on Immunization (EPI) started in Somalia in 1978 with the support of WHO and UNICEF. Due to the prolonged conflict and instability Somalia’s health system, including immunization services, is very weak, fragmented and severely under-funded. Control of vaccine-preventable diseases remains a huge challenge in Somalia, due to the low routine immunization coverage and the continued inability to reach children in security-compromised areas, hard-to-reach areas, nomadic children and competing health priorities for parents other than immunization of children. Low routine immunization coverage and a history of serious outbreaks that have hit Somalia in the past are a strong reminder of the risks posed by large cohort of un-immunized children. Vaccine-preventable diseases are prevalent in Somalia and child mortality is 137 per 1000 live births.

Somalia has been providing the traditional 6 antigens in routine immunization and with the support of GAVI – the Vaccine Alliance and immunization partners like UNICEF and WHO. The country has introduced pentavalent vaccine in 2013 and inactivated polio virus vaccine in 2015 and plans to introduce measles-containing-vaccine second-dose (MCV2) in 2020. With the continuous support of GAVI, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Rotary International and other important donors immunization coverage has improved in recent years; however, Somalia has still not attained the desired levels of coverage.

To improve immunization coverage more efforts needs to be in place for integrated approach along with other programmes like nutrition, malaria, water and sanitation and communication programmes to complement the reach of immunization and improve coverage of all eligible children with equity.

Somalia faced a deadly measles outbreak in 2017; out of the 31 000 people affected, 83% were children under the age of 10. WHO Somalia’s Emergency Response team, Somali national authorities, and partners targeted 4.7 million children in the nationwide measles campaign. During this intervention, around 4.5 million children were vaccinated. As a result of the nationwide immunization campaign conducted, as of April 2019, Somalia witnessed a decline in the trend of cases reported this year. This steady progress can be attributed to partners’ commitment to strengthen routine immunization and to reach out to unvaccinated children to boost their immunity. However, Somalia’s children are still not out of danger – measles outbreaks are likely to spread in security-compromised inaccessible areas.

Somalia’s last outbreak of wild poliovirus, which occurred from 2013 to 2014, affected 194 children. Since then, as a result of mass and more focused immunization campaigns, and robust surveillance for polio symptoms to guide immunization activities, the country has been free of wild poliovirus. However, due to the challenges faced in reaching hard-to-reach areas, the country is currently experiencing 2 outbreaks of rare strains of the poliovirus, which have affected 13 children so far. The last nationwide polio campaign, conducted in March, vaccinated more than 2.7 million children under 5. More than 84 000 children were vaccinated for the first time.

Marked during the last week of April, World Immunization Week aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. WHO wants to assure parents and communities in Somalia that vaccines are safe, effective, and can lead to lifetime immunity from diseases.

While celebrating World Immunization Week with the theme “Protected Together: Vaccines Work”, Dr Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Representative for Somalia, called for scaling up the routine immunization programme in Somalia through working together with partners, communities and grass-root level organization. In 2018, Somali authorities, WHO and partners vaccinated more than 400 000 children against measles as part of routine immunization programme. Yet, about 170 000 children were missed or did not receive the first dose of measles vaccine last year. “Our priority is to reach out to all these children who misses the routine vaccine doses or remain unvaccinated owing to access or any other barrier. Leaving no child behind, we can ensure every child’s right to lead a healthy and productive life- if all who need to vaccinated are vaccinated in a timely way,” he stated.

In the last decade, Somali health authorities and WHO worked with Gavi and other key partners to strengthen routine immunization. This protected 2.4m children against 8 vaccine-preventable childhood diseases.

Somalia has shown remarkable progress in achieving good immunization coverage for some diseases that is realistically feasible to achieve in a fragile state, lot of works still need to be continued and scaled up to fill the immunization gaps through enhancing partnerships with other local stakeholders which is the key theme of this year’s World Immunization Week. Responding to outbreaks of measles or polio is a priority but can be prevented through achieving high coverage in routine immunization programme and also by reaching out to the children who do not receive any vaccine during the first year of their life.

Despite the gains made by vaccination over the years, there are still unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children in Somalia today. As a consequence, millions of children are being put at risk against vaccine-preventable diseases. As part of this year’s campaign, grass-root level vaccinators who spearhead all barriers to reach every child in inaccessible areas of the country were honoured as immunization heroes. Their roles in keeping children healthy and securing a safer future has been acknowledged throughout the country.

South Africa’s State-owned Oil Company Signs Deal to Explore Highly-prospective Oil Block B2 in South Sudan (06.05.2019)

South Africa today signed an exploration and production sharing agreement (EPSA) with South Sudan for Block B2.

JUBA, South Sudan, May 6, 2019 – South Africa’s state-owned oil company Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) will own and operate Block B2; In 2018, South Africa agreed to invest $1billion into South Sudan’s energy infrastructure; South Sudan has the third-largest oil reserves in sub-Saharan Africa, estimated at 3.5 billion barrels, with just 30 percent of the country explored.

South Africa today signed an exploration and production sharing agreement (EPSA) with South Sudan for Block B2.

The deal – which is strategic for South Africa as an energy consumer – will see Block B2 operated by the state-owned Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF), the Ministry of Petroleum and Nilepet –  the national oil company of the Republic of South Sudan. This is the second EPSA signed since South Sudan gained independence in 2012 and shows progress for the country’s oil industry as production resumes at existing oilfields and new exploration begins.

South Sudan is an established, world-class petroleum producing region, whose territory includes a large part of the Cretaceous rift basin system that has proved petroliferous in Chad and Niger as well as Sudan. It currently produces 160,000 bopd, and aims to increase production capacity to 270,000 bopd by the end of the year. The country has the third-largest oil reserves in sub-Saharan Africa, estimated at 3.5 billion barrels, with just 30 percent of the country explored to date.

Under this new EPSA which includes a six-year exploration period, the SFF alongside Nilepet, will launch a comprehensive aero gravity survey exploration campaign, seismic acquisition and drilling wells with great prospectivity. The SFF will also invest in capacity building initiatives, training of South Sudanese citizens, investing in social and community development projects and ensuring local content and women empowerment.

“The petroleum resources of Block B2 are vast. For South Sudan to reach its target of bringing back production levels of around 350,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) and beyond, we need committed new entrants like the SFF,” said the Minister of Petroleum Hon.  Amb. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth. “South Sudan has great potential, yet our country remains vastly under-explored, and we believe the entry of new players like the SFF will lead to new world-class discoveries very soon given the aggressive exploration program and great petroleum viability of Block B3. This will support South Sudan’s economic revival and improve trade with other African countries.”

“We are bullish about this strategic and unique opportunity into Block B2 with great petroleum potential. It provides South Africa with a chance to further strengthen its energy security while entering one of the top three most lucrative onshore oil and gas markets in Africa,” said Hon. Jeff Radebe, South African Energy Minister. “South Africa has supported peace and economic development in South Sudan since the country’s independence and this is the continuation of long-term cooperation between both our countries and people. Investment is key to guaranteeing the economic progress of South Sudan”

Last year, South Africa’s Department of Energy pledged to invest $1 billion into South Sudan’s petroleum industry, with the aim of securing affordable energy supplies for South Africa. The countries are now in talks to set up a 60,000 barrel per day refinery to supply oil products to the local market in South Sudan, as well as to secure exports to Ethiopia and other neighboring countries.

“SFF is looking forward to working with our partners in South Sudan to make discoveries on this block. We believe there are highly significant quantities of oil in Block B2. Our work program and acquisition of new seismic will reveal better information on various structures. We look forward to a few wildcats and appraisal wells in the near future. We are thankful to the Government of South Sudan for this opportunity,” stated Godfrey Moagi, acting CEO of SFF.

The B2 area includes productive parts of the Muglad Basin and is part of the 120,000km2 Block B which was split into three in 2012. There has been much interest in South Sudan’s Block B acreages since the entry of Oranto Petroleum to Block B3 in 2017.  Much of South Sudan’s oil and gas blocks are yet to be fully explored and resources assessed.

The CEF group is responsible for discovering solutions that will meet South Africa’s energy needs. Through its subsidiaries, the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa (PetroSA), Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA), Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF), African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation (AEMFC) and iGas, the group also manages the operations and development of the country’s oil and gas assets.

UNMISS: Extension of the pre-transitional period a sign of goodwill between the parties in South Sudan (04.05.2019)

South Sudan: Is the R-ARCSS extension only to buy time?

Today, I have to ask this question, because there been so many fault-lines, so many bothering revelations along the way. Since the Khartoum Declaration last year to the R-ARCSS agreement that was supposed to be initiated and finalized by May 12th 2019. However, this is not happening, as the stakeholders, parties and all sorts of functions are keeping pushing it away. If not the TGoNU is currently also paying lobbyist in the United States not to put pressure on them finalizing one piece of it, the Hybrid Court. Alas, there is the mere question from me today. Was it all built on the wrong foundation, on a false pretext and a false hope?

By all means, I wish it isn’t so. Because the Republic of South Sudan. Needs peace, needs diplomatic efforts and need to be rebuilt. This will be painful, as the suffering and time of warlords are in the veins of the current leadership. Where everyone who disagrees starts their own armed rebellion and besiege any given territory, instead of building up a function and institutionalized state. Maybe, the stakeholders wasn’t interested in that, if they were, maybe they wouldn’t have invested so much in guns and training of personnel, right?

This is what it all seems, that the ones steering the ship has been buying time. Establishing networks for trade of resources, to again secure the ability for more prosperous warfare. Because, why the hassle of talk, when you can get rid of the person your supposed to talk too. I know it is sinister, raw and brutal, but for a Republic to have such vast amounts of people in Refugee camps in the neighbour countries, for Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites and Peacekeepers. Surely, they are amass in issues, which needs to be resolved. Not only knit-picking illegal gold smuggling for the heist of the stakeholders at this current day. But the whole system created by the warlords, the ones who used their armies and their rebels. Who are all now nearly together, accept a few chosen groups who isn’t there or saying it is dying already.

I don’t know, but if this seems like buying time. It seems more likely now. That the ones who are getting their spears, their shields and the cash-flow for more possible violence later. Who knows right? But why didn’t the TGoNU work harder with the stakeholders like SPLM/A-IO, SPLM-FD, SSOA or anyone else.

Let me say this again. I hope I am dead wrong, that they are really serious and want to finalize the implementation of the R-ARCSS. Since, it seems like this. The only good is that they are together in Addis Ababa declaring the resolution today, but does it has any value? Or is the asking for money for implementation the key aspect of it all?

Because, the state was together with all parties was supposed to be finished next week, but now has postponed it six more months. This is really a sign to come, unless there are some signals and proofs of implementation, that is showing pure intent. Not just paying Gainful Solutions or anyone to stifle the process. Having illegal deployment of foreign forces in parts of the Republic. Therefore, there is enough warning signs, which isn’t only the lack of will to implement it.

So, lets hope this is not to buy time… not to buy time, but to actually do this correctly. Peace.

South Sudan: IGAD – Resolution – Meeting of the Parties to the R-ARCSS 2018 on the Status of Implementation of the Pre-Transitional Tasks and the Formation of the RTGoNU (03.05.2019)

South Sudan: IGAD – Draft Resolution – Meeting of the Parties to the R-ARCSS 2018 on the Status of Implementation of the Pre-Transitional Tasks and the Formation of the RTGoNU (May 2nd – 3rd 2019)