Conflict Continues to Drive Displacement in South Sudan (06.09.2016)

displaced-families-wait-for-health-care-assistance-at-the-un-protected-site-in-wau-photo_iom_mohamm

The dynamic nature of the conflict has resulted in the constant movement of civilians as they attempt to escape shifting locations of insecurity.

JUBA, South Sudan, September 6, 2016 – Fighting between armed groups across parts of South Sudan continues to drive displacement, including in areas that had been relatively stable since the crisis broke out in December 2013. The dynamic nature of the conflict has resulted in the constant movement of civilians as they attempt to escape shifting locations of insecurity.

Current population movements are fluid in several areas, including Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Unity, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria and Unity. In the past two months, over 80,000 people have been displaced in Wau and 12,000 in Juba alone.

In southern parts of Central Equatoria, which had previously remained fairly stable, an escalating number of security incidents has pushed large numbers of civilians to leave their homes to seek safety. The movements have been particularly significant from Yei, with multiple reports of targeted violence and harassment against civilians and disruptions in the delivery of aid supplies.

“At the same time as we see the needs continue to grow, access constraints are making it more difficult for humanitarians to access vulnerable people or even measure the scale of displacement and unfolding needs as violence spreads to new locations,” said John McCue, IOM South Sudan Head of Operations.

Many of the recent population movements from Central Equatoria have been across the southern borders to Uganda and Kenya, but increased insecurity in parts of Yei, Morobo and Magwi counties is making it increasingly dangerous for civilians to move and may be preventing people from reaching safer areas.

In Leer, Unity, insecurity has forced civilians to seek protection in nearby islands, while others have reportedly moved south or reached the UN protection of civilians site in Bentiu. These patterns of movement in central Unity may increase as insecurity persists.

On 4 September, IOM joined a UN Security Council delegation to witness first-hand the needs of displaced communities in Wau since heavy fighting in late June. While IOM and humanitarian agencies are providing lifesaving aid at displacement sites across Wau town, access constraints have limited efforts to reach thousands of displaced families in some areas south of town since early July.

IOM recently regained access to Ngisa in southern Wau to deliver essential medicines and evaluate health and water needs. IOM has received reports of people returning to parts of Wau town, which may be a response to improved security in the area or a result of limited access to relief services in areas outside of the town.

More than 1.6 million people are internally displaced across South Sudan, in addition to 786,000 people who have fled to neighbouring countries since December 2013. More than half of the country (6.1 million people) are in need of relief aid.

 

Joint Communique by the Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan and the Members of the United Nations Security Council (05.09.2016)

Salva Kiir Poster

The Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan expressed its determination to implement the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan.

NEW YORK, United States of America, September 5, 2016 – The Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan expressed its determination to implement the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, in particular the reform agenda, now that the Transitional National Legislative Assembly is in place. 

The members of the United Nations Security Council and the Transitional Government of National Unity agreed to work in a fresh spirit of cooperation to advance the interests of the South Sudanese people, particularly their aspirations for justice, liberty, and prosperity.  They agree that the humanitarian and security needs of the people are Paramount.

To improve the security situation, the Transitional Government of National Unity gave its consent to the deployment, as part of UNMISS, of the Regional Protection Force recently authorized by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2304.  The United Nations Security Council agreed that troop contributors and UNMISS and the Transitional Government of National Unity will continue to work through the modalities of the deployment, building upon the consultations of August 25 and September 1 and anticipating further imminent discussions.

The Transitional Government of National Unity commits to permit free movement of UNMISS in conformity with its mandate, including to protect civilians.  To this end, the Transitional Government of National Unity commits to devising a plan with UNMISS by the end of September 2016 on concrete steps to remove impediments to UNMISS’s ability to implement its mandate, including reviewing procedures related to movement of UNMISS and streamlining bureaucratic processes.  UNMISS commits to inform the Transitional Government of National Unity of all movements and of other details as appropriate.

The Transitional Government of National Unity signals its readiness to implement Chapter V of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, including to work with the African Union in setting up the Hybrid Court for South Sudan as soon as the African Union provides proposals for its work as provided in the Agreement. 

The Transitional Government of National Unity commits to immediately improve humanitarian access, including by providing assistance in eliminating illegal checkpoints and by reviewing by the end of September 2016 with the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, modalities for streamlining bureaucratic processes and access to populations in need.

Audio: Statement regarding meeting between UNSC and President Kiir

SPLA-IO rebel forces back to the TGoNU Government (Youtube-Clip)

“6000 men from the SPLA – IO join to Support TGONU government in the implementation of the peace agreement in South Sudan. it is the second video of my assignment to the rebel held territory to extend government support to the initiatives of the former rebel comanda that was fighting alongside Dr riek machar to join Taban Deng in the implementation of the peace agreement designed to end nearly three years of conflict” (Arusi James, 2016)

UN Security Council in Juba to discuss deploying troops (Youtube-Clip)

“Delegates from the UN Security Council are due in South Sudan on Friday. They’re going to discuss the deployment of an additional 4-thousand peacekeepers to the country. However, President Salva Kiir’s government is hoping to convince the UN to scrap the plan. CCTV’s Patrick Oyet has this report from the South Sudanese capital, Juba” (CCTV Africa, 2016)

RDC: Communiqué du Chef d’État Major des FARDC RDC pour le secteur opérationnel SUKOLA au Kivu (30.08.2016)

Operation Sukola 30.08.2016 P1Operation Sukola 30.08.2016 P2Operation Sukola 30.08.2016 P3

Beni : le Chef de la MONUSCO Maman Sambo Sidikou estime qu’il faut une stratégie différente contre les massacres (30.08.2016)

Beni Pray

Beni – 30 août 2016 : « Il est évident que pour la MONUSCO, les discours et la compassion ne suffisent plus ! Il faut travailler avec le gouvernement et de façon très rapprochée. Il est évident qu’il faut travailler avec les FARDC de façon très rapprochée et arrêter une stratégie différente.» a déclaré le Représentant spécial du Secrétaire général de l’ONU en RDC (SRSG), Maman Sambo Sidikou, lundi 29 août 2016 à Rwangoma, localité située à 4 km du centre-ville de Beni.

«Parce que nous comptons les morts, les uns après les autres et ça ne peut plus continuer », a expliqué le chef de le MONUSCO.

C’est à Rwangoma que le 13 août dernier, une cinquantaine de personnes ont été massacrées par des présumés ADF.

M. Sidikou, accompagnait le nonce apostolique, Luis Mariano Montemayor, dans sa visite pastorale au Diocèse de Butembo-Beni. Le nonce apostolique a d’ailleurs présidé une célébration en la mémoire des disparus, avant d’insister sur la protection des civils, priorité majeure du mandat de la MONUSCO.

Le mardi 30 août 2016, trois temps forts ont rythmé la fin de la visite du SRSGG à Beni : une rencontre avec les leaders religieux – imams, pasteurs, protestants -, une autre avec la société civile ainsi qu’une conférence de presse.

Pour l’essentiel, ces échanges ont permis de comprendre que la gestion d’un tel dossier nécessite l’implication et la collaboration de tous les acteurs qui, par leurs propositions, leurs idées, peuvent contribuer à la résolution d’une telle crise.

Le chef de la MONUSCO a encore une fois insisté sur le fait que le remède à cette crise n’est pas seulement militaire, que seule une approche multidimensionnelle peut apporter une réponse à cette problématique et qu’il y a lieu de revoir la stratégie actuelle.

C’est dans cette optique que M. Sidikou a annoncé que, très prochainement, en compagnie d’autorités politico-militaires congolaises, il se rendra à nouveau à Beni.

Alain Coulibaly

Presidential spokesperson: No political future for Riek Machar (Youtube-Clip)

“CCTV’s Clementine Logan spoke to South Sudan’s presidential spokesperson. She began by asking Ateny Wek Ateny whether the army is, as Riek Machar recently claimed, still pursuing the former first vice president” (CCTV Africa, 2016)

Africa Union seeks solution to end recent fighting in South Sudan (Youtube-Clip)

“African leaders have been scrambling for a solution to end the crisis in South Sudan. A peace agreement signed last year collapsed last month, before the world’s youngest nation could celebrate five years of independence. Hundreds of people have lost their lives and at least 40-thousand have been displaced. CCTV spoke to Doctor Aisha Abdullahi, the Commissioner for Political Affairs at the African Union about viable solutions the organisation has for South Sudan” (CCTV Africa, 2016)

RDC: Communique du G7 (28.07.2016)

G7 27.08.2016