South Sudan: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) available to facilitate release of detainees (09.10.2018)

As a neutral intermediary, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is not involved in any negotiations preceding any release of detainees.

JUBA, South Sudan, October 9, 2018 – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is prepared to facilitate the release of detainees for all parties to the conflict in South Sudan. This is in-line with the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, which mentions the ICRC as a facilitator of persons detained in relation to the conflict.

“We have offered our services to all sides and confirmed our readiness to act as a neutral facilitator for the release of detainees,” said François Stamm, the head of delegation for the ICRC in South Sudan. “The ICRC has previously acted as a neutral intermediary in release operations in South Sudan and we will do so again at the request of the parties to the conflict and with the consent of detainees.”

As a neutral intermediary, the ICRC is not involved in any negotiations preceding any release of detainees. The ICRC facilitates the release with the consent of those detained who have the opportunity to share their concerns confidentially and then provides them with safe transport. The ICRC is in confidential dialogue with the parties to the conflict.

South Sudan: National Security Service (NSS) – Press Release (07.10.2018)

South Sudan: Meeting of the Chief of the South Sudan Defence Forces with the SPLA/IO Chief General Staff, Khartoum, Republic of the Sudan, October 30, 2018 (02.10.2018)

South Sudan: Formation of SSOA Interim Executive Body (02.10.2018)

South Sudan signs the 1951 Refugee Convention (01.10.2018)

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, today welcomes South Sudan’s accession to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. President Salva Kiir signed the accession instrument in Juba on Friday (September 28) after it was ratified by the Transitional National Legislative Assembly.

South Sudan has become 143rd country to accede to both the 1951 Convention on Refugees and its 1967 Protocol.

The country hosts some 300,000 refugees, despite all the challenges of civil war that has displaced a large number of its own population.

“This is a milestone for the world’s youngest nation as South Sudan commits to assuming more responsibility to protect refugees and asylum-seekers in the country,” said Valentin Tapsoba, Director of UNHCR’s Regional Bureau for Africa.

In 2016 the country also became a party to the 1969 Organisation of African Union Convention on Refugees, a regional instrument governing the specific aspects of refugee problems in the African continent.

Conflict can lead to positive change, ‘if we learn from it’, South Sudan tells UN Assembly (28.09.2018)

Drawing lessons from conflict – particularly the causes and ultimate resolution – can be a vehicle for positive change, South Sudan’s Vice-President told world leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly, highlighting his country’s efforts to ensure lasting peace.

DAKAR, Senegal, September 28, 2018 –  “As brothers and sisters, we have hurt each other,” said Taban Deng Gai, the First Vice-President of South Sudan, telling delegates at the Assembly’s annual general debate that his country, gripped by conflict for nearly five years, is seeking “national healing” through and inclusive, nationwide dialogue process.

A multi-layered approach has been launched in South Sudan to repair its “social fabric”, he added, and its “grassroots component” is working with local communities to identify causes of division while also searching for solutions on how to heal them.

“The process allowed for those who didn’t have an opportunity to have their voices heard to begin putting across their various viewpoints,” said Mr. Deng Gai, noting that such information will be vital as the country moves forward in its peace process.

The South Sudan leader also highlighted the recent agreement between President Salva Kiir and his former Vice-President Riek Machar on ending violence that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions across the world’s youngest nation.

He added that the Government of South Sudan welcomes the guarantors of the agreement to monitor its implementation and that it encourages the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD, an eight country trade bloc in Africa) and the African Union (AU) to work with the UN Security Council on the support that can be provided by the UN-mandated Regional Protection Force in the country to ensure that peace holds in his country.

The Vice-President also informed the UN Assembly of his country’s commitment to security sector reform, combat impunity and upholding human rights.

In particular, he noted the recent verdict by a military court, finding South Sudan soldiers guilty of horrific crimes against civilians and journalists in the infamous Terrain Hotel attack in July 2016.

“The Terrain trials demonstrated the commitment of the SPLA [the Sudan People’s Liberation Army] to make its members account for their crimes, including abuse of civilians,” asserted Mr. Deng Gai.

Also in his address, the Vice-President of South Sudan said that his Government awaits the settlement of the final status of Abyei, reiterating its support for the recommendations made by the UN Secretary-General. The Government of South Sudan also urged speedy resolution of contentious issues in Blue Nile, Southern Kordofan and Darfur.

“This emanates from our strong belief that stability in these areas is critical for total and lasting peace in the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan and the region as a whole.”

South Sudan: Death rarely comes alone, estimated 382,000 killed in the 2013-2018 Civil War!

Just as the times goes, the fatigue of all the cease-fire violations. The high numbers of refugees to Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan is baffling alone, as the year-long internal conflict in South Sudan has been costly, but to keep control of the numbers and study them must have taken time. As these estimation is accurate, but reveal a certain amount of deaths to an extent that could be believable. That because of the numbers of Refugees who has fled the civil war in 2013 to 2018.

The South Sudan has been in dire needs ever since, therefore the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the other Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) mission to are in-charge for different reasons, as well as various international organizations who are coming in with the needs of the people in the Republic. As the massive violations against the people, the continued civil war and the killings done by government soldiers, from rebels or from militias themselves. There are just so many lives touched by this conflict, into numbers so vast, that its hard to imagine. This are people that could have been our neighbors, brothers, sisters or even class-mates. All left planet earth because of the ambition and the need for total control by the leadership in Juba. This because the state are using violence to get all control and all power. However, that has had a cost. So, many lives has been lost.

As explained by Professor Checchi:

They then applied a statistical model to estimate the death rate and death toll attributable to the war in South Sudan from its start in December 2013 to April 2018, and the number of people killed during the same period. The analysis covered the population living within South Sudan at any point during the above period and excludes both refugees to South Sudan and South Sudanese refugees abroad. An estimated 1,177,600 deaths due to any cause occurred among people living within South Sudan during the period, while the team estimated 794,600 deaths would have occurred in the absence of the war, yielding an excess of 382,900. Nearly 190,000 people were estimated to have died of violent injuries. Professor Checchi said: “It is clear that the war has severely affected the health of the South Sudanese population, and that the humanitarian response to the crisis has been insufficient. Inadequate resourcing and sub-optimal performance of humanitarian services should be addressed urgently” (LSHTM, 2018)

These numbers are showing possible amounts of deaths, it might be more, might be less. Whatever it does show and signs in the sand. As there are no coherent numbers made and collected of all the battles between the SPLA(SSDF) and the rebels. These numbers could have been different, but not like the state has collected the head-count or even tried to show it. As this acts of impunity would make their enterprise look even worse, than they want to be. Since, President Kiir wants to look good, as he needs donors and his budget needs funds from stakeholders, they need promise and prospects. They do not need the deaths and tragedies.

Therefore, he could get away with that, as the public have been preoccupied with the refugees and silencing the guns, without knowing the consequences of all the skirmishes, operations and the continued civil-war in the Republic. Peace.

Reference:

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) – ‘War in South Sudan estimated to have led to almost 400,000 excess deaths’ 26.09.2018 link: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2018/war-south-sudan-estimated-have-led-almost-400000-excess-deaths

Statement from South Sudanese Woman Leaders – 26th September 2018, Djibouti

South Sudan: Jieng Council of Elders & President Salva Kiir Mayardit – Report on The Situation of South Sudan after Peace Revitalization Signing (22.08.2018)

South Sudan: SSNMC Public Statement (21.09.2018)