
Letter: Buzzfeed try to claim that South Sudan’s National Courier and the Newspaper answers (16.01.2017)




In early January 2017, fighting in and around Yambio in Western Equatoria resulted in a further displacement of at least 7,000 civilians, mostly women and children.
GENEVA, Switzerland, January 16, 2017 -A UN report published today details the grave human rights violations and abuses – including killings and gang rapes – as well as serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in Juba during and after the fighting that occurred between 8 and 12 July 2016. Six months after the violence there remains widespread impunity, as violations continue unabated.
The report by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the UN Human Rights Office found that throughout the fighting between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), “the belligerents blatantly ignored international human rights law and humanitarian law.”
The July 2016 events in Juba demonstrated the extremely fragile political and security situation in South Sudan and the complete disregard of civilians by the SPLA and SPLM/A-IO, given the serious human rights violations and abuses that were perpetrated, including the direct targeting of civilians, along ethnic lines and the extreme violence against women and children, the report states.
“Information documented and verified by the Human Rights Division suggests that hundreds of people including civilians were killed and many more wounded during the fighting in various areas of Juba,” the report states. “Moreover, UNMISS documented 217 victims of rape, including gang-rape committed by SPLA, SPLM/A-IO and other armed groups during and after the fighting between 8 and 25 July. According to victims’ testimonies and witnesses’ accounts, most cases of sexual violence were committed by SPLA soldiers, police officers and members of the National Security Services (NSS).”
Testimony from victims interviewed by the Human Rights Division paints a horrifying picture of the violence that civilians were subjected to during the fighting. On one occasion, women and girls were ordered to cook for the soldiers at checkpoints when their friends or family members were raped. According to other testimony, Nuer men and women appeared to have been particularly targeted for attacks, including killings and arrests, during house-to-house searches, with Nuers with tribal markings on their foreheads particularly vulnerable. The whereabouts of some of those arrested remain unknown.
“The fighting that erupted in July 2016 was a serious setback for peace in South Sudan and showed just how volatile the situation in the country is, with civilians living under the risk of mass atrocities,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said.
“In total, a staggering 1.38 million South Sudanese have fled to other countries and another 1.8 million are displaced in their own country. In the absence of any semblance of justice and accountability for the violations perpetrated – including possible war crimes – such unbridled outbursts of violence could quickly escalate civilians will continue to suffer immensely. Concrete steps to halt this downward spiral must be urgently taken, beginning with justice and accountability.”
The report emphasizes the need for accountability and justice for all human rights violations. It urges the Transitional Government of National Unity to take action to “break the cycle of violence and impunity” and take steps to fully support the prompt establishment and operationalization of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan by the African Union. The report also recommends that the State ensure that all victims of human rights violations and abuses, as well as violations of international humanitarian law, have access to an effective remedy, just and fair reparation, including compensation and rehabilitation.
The human rights situation remains grave in South Sudan. In Greater Equatoria, the UN Human Rights Office has received credible reports of serious human rights violations and abuses committed by SPLA and SPLM/A-IO in and around Yei, including killings, sexual violence, abductions and destruction of civilian property. As a result, thousands of civilians have fled Yei and surrounding towns. They have sought refuge in other regions and in neighboring countries. In early January 2017, fighting in and around Yambio in Western Equatoria resulted in a further displacement of at least 7,000 civilians, mostly women and children.
High Commissioner Zeid reminded the Government of its obligation to protect the rights of all South Sudanese and bring to an end the desperate suffering of the people.

“It may be recalled that the United Nations Security Council in its Resolution 2304 decided that UNMISS force levels should be increased to a ceiling of 17,000 troops, including 4,000 for a Regional Protection Force”.
NEW YORK, United States of America, January 16, 2017 – The United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan has confirmed that it continues its discussions with the transitional national unity Government on a 4,000-strong regional protection force, which was authorized by the Security Council last August but has yet to be deployed.
The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) “confirms that in preparation for the arrival of the Regional Protection Force, it continues to be engaged in discussions with the Transitional Government of National Unity as to the various modalities for the new Force, including where they will be deployed in Juba,” said a statement issued by the Mission’s Office of the Spokesperson. The confirmation followed various media reports, including those suggesting that the Government may have changed its position on the deployment of the Force.
The Mission’s attention has been drawn to recent statements reported in the media concerning the deployment of the Regional Protection Force, said the spokesperson’s statement.
“It may be recalled that the United Nations Security Council in its Resolution 2304 decided that UNMISS force levels should be increased to a ceiling of 17,000 troops, including 4,000 for a Regional Protection Force. This was reaffirmed by the Security Council in its recent Resolution 2327, renewing the United Nations Mission in South Sudan for one year,” the spokesperson’s statement added.
Further in the statement, the Mission noted that the Transitional Government of National Unity confirmed its “unconditional” consent to the deployment of the Regional Protection Force by communique to the Security Council on 30 November 2016, and in renewing the UNMISS mandate, including the deployment of the Regional Protection Force, the Council reaffirmed that the security situation in South Sudan remains fragile, with serious consequences for the civilian population.
In early July last year, close to the fifth anniversary of the country’s independence, the youngest nation was plunged into fresh violence due to clashes between rival forces – the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), loyal to President Salva Kiir, and the SPLA in Opposition, backing former First Vice-President Riek Machar. That led to deaths and injuries, including many civilians and several UNMISS peacekeepers, jeopardizing the peace agreement between the political rivals in August 2015, which formally ended their differences.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s attention has been drawn to recent statements reported in the media concerning the deployment of the Regional Protection Force. It may be recalled that the United Nations Security Council in its Resolution 2304 decided that UNMISS force levels should be increased to a ceiling of 17,000 troops, including 4,000 for a Regional Protection Force. This was reaffirmed by the Security Council in its recent Resolution 2327, renewing the United Nations Mission in South Sudan for one year.
The Mission notes that the Transitional Government of National Unity confirmed its “unconditional” consent to the deployment of the Regional Protection Force by communique to the Security Council on 30 November 2016. In renewing the UNMISS mandate, including the deployment of the Regional Protection Force, the Security Council reaffirmed its determination that the security situation in South Sudan remains fragile, with serious consequences for the civilian population in South Sudan.
The Mission confirms that in preparation for the arrival of the Regional Protection Force, it continues to be engaged in discussions with the Transitional Government of National Unity as to the various modalities for the new Force, including where they will be deployed in Juba.
“The unity pledge by the opposition is already showing signs of fracture just a day after it was made.
Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula now claims his party does not recognise the national super alliance that was formally unveiled yesterday. Sam Ogina reports on NASA unity test” (Kenya Citizen TV, 2016)

I have a conspiracy theory and it is not verified, but I have a hunch why that the leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga is launching a new Opposition outfit and coalition right before the General Election of 2017. It is not so it is ready and amended correctly and following the new electoral laws that the Jubilee government passed this January 2017. No, Raila Odinga has other plans and it will be uncovered!
Honourable Baba, Raila Odinga, has been the opposition kingpin and head honcho for a decade or so. He has steadily been the prince and been the underdog, but never become the Executive. Therefore this hurts his pride, as it did to his father who also became an issue for the ruling elite.
So now that the opposition is gearing up for the general election and deciding their flag-bears and the presidential candidate, that is important for any party and even more vital to a opposition to a consolidated party, which is the Jubilee with key figures like Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto. They will not give up easy and therefore they amended the laws to make it easier to get one more term in power.
So the strength of grand coalition and collective is needed if the Opposition should be covered in the new election. They should act and sound like a possible opposition who is different than the ruling regime under Jubilee. The Jubilee will not go as a coalition, but as one stronger party that we’re created and made ready for the 2017 election. Though their track-record is far from perfect and their years in power have been filled with scandals.
So the National Super Alliance (NASA) which will take-over for the Coalition for Demcratic Reform (CORD), so the parties that in the NASA is mostly the same as in the Cord. Therefore you can wonder why they are changing name of the outfit. That is the reason why I believe there is one main reason for this. Not that NASA or National Super Alliance is the most brilliant name ever. Neither is the timing for changing well-known outfit and PR move to trade the CORD name in.
CORD has been a structure of promise, still fragile and also there we’re agreements made for who was to run in the coming terms. That is why I believe the main reason for the NASA is Hon. Odinga, not anybody else; there might be other deals and backroom kickbacks between the parties. Still this here can be seen as a way of administrating away the old-agreement of CORD. Therefore the new agreement might open ways for Raila Odinga to run again as the Presidential Candidate since this is NASA and not CORD. Also by doing so, he will be most known and biggest political adversary to the Jubilee government.
Odinga, seems to be tactically ready to ambush and silence the old-agreement of Cord, that is well-known. Honourable Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka we’re in the Cord agreement the next in line to try and become the Presidential flag-bearer under the Cord umbrella, as well as the last big-man of the giant trio under Cord Honourable Moses Wetan’gula we’re supposed to run for the Cord in the 2021. But with a new outfit Odinga can outsmart them with the highest flag and popularity; therefore he should run and be again trying to win over the Kenyan citizens.
Because why this coming in January 2017 when they have been is partners since their agreement in 2013, it is 4 years into the agreement and soon renewal of the old pledges between the leadership and secretariat of the Cord. Those protocols are now put into the folders and some of them into the bin. The NASA has to make amends with the old agreements and the other parties that had pledges from the ODM and others should be capable to give way to other than Odinga. If not, than Odinga cannot trust anybody else than himself; that isn’t leadership or stewardship, he has tried and tried and now should open to somebody else to try. It would be big of him, though I think that Wetan’gula and Kalonzo Musyoka will be left behind in NASA is most likely, if Gideon Moi (KANU) or Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) will not be put forward in the pot of Presidential leadership in NASA. That would be even more demeaning for the Wiper Democratic Movement Kalonzo Musyoka or Forum for Restoration of Democracy (FORD-K) Wetan’gula who themselves deserves to come out of Odinga’s shadow!
So Odinga is smart and resourceful, uses tactics and wise words to sell a dream where he can only run and win over the Jubilee, therefore he cannot continue with the Cord. In Cord he is bound to stepdown and gives way to others. That is a path Odinga doesn’t want to do. The NASA coalition is a new way to secure his Flag-bearer and Presidential Candidacy in the opposition. Also an outfit he can use and also try to gain more power. I could hope I am wrong, but I would be surprised if this was created to levitate somebody else. That would be a grand day for Kenya when somebody who wasn’t related to the ones who liberate Kenya from Britain.
It might be high time for somebody else to run in the opposition, to prove that they should get a chance to rule and get Executive power in the proud nation. The Kenyan deserves a proper option to the Jubilee Party and their misgiving leadership. Kenyatta and Ruto has together with their eating elite, really been feasting without breaks since running the office. Therefore someone has to come in and shake it up a bit. If it going to be without scandal and without grand corruption. But if the leadership behind Odinga shadow gets allowed to shed light on, there might be leaders or even ideology, even political craft that could revolutionize the Kenyan government. That wouldn’t be dangerous, but could be prosperous. Peace.


Kenya African National Union, KANU supports the idea in its formative stage of opposition unity in that this and the resolve by opposition leaders to field one presidential candidate is a milestone for Kenya’s growing democracy.
However, the remarks made by Hon. Nick Salat, the Secretary General of KANU today at the Bomas of Kenya are his personal sentiments and do not reflect in any way the position of the party on the matter of an election coalition at this juncture.
KANU policies and decisions are guided by the party’s constitution which stipulates that such a decision must first be discussed by the supreme decision making organ of the party, the National Delegates Conference (NDC) upon a resolution.
Since the party has not convened the NDC as per the constitution to deliberate on this particular matter, the remarks by the Secretary General are therefore not official as they have not been subjected to the internal constitutional processes for ratification.
Kanu Chairman, Gideon Moi

The Somali refugee crisis is one of the longest-running in the world, with people who have been displaced for more than 20 years.
NEW YORK, United States of America, January 11, 2017 – More than one million Somali refugees who have been displaced from their homes for decades are becoming despondent as they continue to be unable to return home and donor support is growing fatigued, according to the United Nations refugee agency.
“There is a growing sense of helplessness in the camps because people are feeling forgotten,” said Mohamed Abdi Affey, the Special Envoy to the Somali refugee situation for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Somali refugee crisis is one of the longest-running in the world, with people who have been displaced for more than 20 years. Some one million live in camps throughout the Horn of Africa, while an additional 1.1 million are displaced within Somalia.
“There has been some real progress in Somalia over the past few months, including the successful organization of elections inside the country,” acknowledged the Special Envoy. “What’s needed now is to build up infrastructures across the country so refugees do not suffer when they go back.”
UNHCR is backing a regional summit, led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Eastern Africa, which will take place in March to determine lasting solutions for Somali refugees. A proposed regional response would provide continued protection to 262,000 Somali refugees in a camp in Kenya that has been hosting people for more than 20 years. When a decision was made last year to close the camp, UNHCR lobbied the government with a new plan of action and successfully delayed its closure.
“Nobody wants to be a refugee forever. A regional solution is the most viable solution for the Somali situation,” said Mr. Affey.
Mr. Affey, who previously served as the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister in Kenya, spoke in Geneva yesterday following a visit to Somalia and to refugee camps in Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda, where 905,060 Somalis live – some since the 1990s. He also visited Yemen last month, where refugees face increasingly desperate conditions in a country torn apart by war.
Because of emergencies elsewhere – particularly in Syria and South Sudan – donors have been unable to continue their support.
“Meanwhile, hunger is growing; meanwhile, frustration is growing; meanwhile, desperation is setting in and people are becoming angry,” reported the Special Envoy.
In addition to dwindling food rations, Mr. Affey said that the ongoing drought in East Africa has led to further complications, including limited access to education and skills training, especially for young people.
“Refugees should be skilled enough, trained to prepare them for an eventual return so that they can participate in the reconstruction of their country. So that they don’t go back after 30 years without skills – within the camps we must create these conditions and possibilities.”
UNHCR began supporting the voluntary return of Somali refugees from Kenya in 2014. Since then, a total of 39,316 have returned. However, Mr. Affey noted that security and socio-economic conditions in many parts of Somalia are not yet where they need to be in order to support large-scale returns. He appealed to the international community to strengthen efforts to build stability in a country that has suffered under more than two decades of armed conflict.