South Sudan: Arrests without Warrants is now legal in the Republic

“54. Arrest without Warrant

(1) Any person who is found committing any one of the offences against the state as provided under section 7 of this Act, or who is reasonably suspected of having committed, or having attempted to commit or being about to commit such an offence shall be arrested without a warrant by any service officer and detained

2)Any person arrested under the provisions of this section shall, whether or not the Service inquiries are completed, be brought before a magistrate as soon as is reasonably practicable within 24 hours.

(3) Once an arrested person is produced before a magistrate or judge the process shall proceed as provided for arrests with warrants under section 55 below” (National Security Service Act 2014, Amendment Bill, 2024).

The National Security Service Act 2014, Amendment Bill, 2024 got a majority vote in the National Legislative Assembly and therefore the act is now passed. This means the authorities and the state can arrest people without warrants. That is giving the law enforcement more power and citizens can easily be apprehended.

This is what that happens when there is no check and balances of power. When a state can use their power and give the authorities the power to arrest someone without a warrant. There is no need to investigate or have a reason for the arrest. The state can just detain and arrest someone on the spot. That’s the power of the state of South Sudan.

The Members of Parliament or the TNLA shows their arrogance and entitlement when they are able to enact and pass a bill like this. Because these people don’t fear the will of the people or what they are supposed to do. The Republic is now endangering civilians and they can easily get punitive actions against them. That can now be done without any justification and the citizen are now in the mercy of the law enforcement.

The citizenry and the activism of the state can easily be muffled now. The authorities, the state and the law enforcement have the legalities on its side. They can just arrest someone and they don’t have to worry about the rights of the individuals doing so.

J-1, SPLM-IG and the other stakeholders in the TNLA are now complicit in the arbitrary arrests of people. They are now allowing it to happen and accepting the misuse of power from law enforcement. Because they have given the law enforcement this ability by passing this law.

President Kiir and his associates are now allowing this to happen. This is a way of silencing the citizenry and activism in the nation. They have the powers and legality to just apprehend someone without any consequence or the needs of investigation. That is a vast power on the sole custodians of law enforcement. They are now people who can easily use force and take someone in. Peace.

South Sudan: The R-ARCSS wll never be finalized…

The High Level Committee on the implementation of the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreements has agreed to extend the Transitional Government of National Unity for another 24 months. This decision comes from the Parties to the agreement as the Revitalised Peace Agreement is coming to an end in December, and the country is not financially ready to hold elections at that time” (South Sudan Eagles Media, 02.07.2024).

The R-ARCSS and the current leaders aren’t interested in implementing or even trying to institutionalize the state. President Salva Kiir Mayardit and others are earning on the transitional period. The stakeholders and everyone else are benefiting on the hold-out and lack of proper mechanisms. They are all stalling the preparation of a proper state.

The R-ARCSS is a life-line to more of the same. That’s why the R-ARCSS aren’t properly implemented or done with care. It is rather stalled and continue the “rule by decree”. J-1 and his allies are able to live without transparency, accountability or even have to stress to make a constitution or even hold elections.

The elections of December 2024 wouldn’t do any good. We have seen deadlines come and go. The R-TGoNU wouldn’t be prepared legally or even with organizations to hold a credible election now. That is done on purpose. So, the ones in office and has power can prolong their stay. This can be done because they haven’t done what they are supposed to do.

It is really magnificent how slow and lacking the leadership of Juba is. They have had years upon end to make things happen. The Transitional Government is becoming permanent and only changing a few ministers now and then. Those are changed by decree and the President is happy with this.

President Kiir gets to stay in office and he can prolong the agony. The Republic can lake the proper legislation and institutions. There is a lack of bureaucracy and building of state. Instead it is all personalized and that seems to besiege the offices.

This extension means the next election will possibly be held by 2026, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. The R-TGoNU or R-ARCSS will most likely not be fully implemented by then. There will always be a crisis and a reason to not be able to fix the promise stipulations in this peace agreement. The J-1 will say they lack funding or manpower. There will always be a reason and we can expect another extension.

I’m old enough to remember that this was supposed to be finalized by 12th May 2019. Now we are in June of 2024 and they need another two years. That means the extension and prolonged period is now continuing without no end. There is just beyond imagination of how long it takes. That’s when you know it is deliberate and for a reason. The President and his associates are benefiting so much. That they are worried when this gravy-train will end.

A credible election could mean another leader and another Head of State. That could mean the end of Kiir and his party. This is a reality that Kiir and his allies does whatever it take to stop. Therefore, they do whatever they can to pursuit longevity over the price of building a functional state. A functional state would be end of the quagmire and need of Kiir himself. That’s why they keep on doing this…

Juba and South Sudan deserves better than this. They deserve leaders who will ratify a working constitution and institutionalize the state. The citizens deserves and they should pressure the ones in-office to do so. Peace.

South Sudan: Integrity Sout Sudan (ISS) – A Call for Urgent Action on Reconstituting The South Anti-Corruption Commission (01.07.2024)

South Sudan: SSOMA and Other Opposition Groups Position on the High-Level Mediation “Tumaini Initiative” for South Sudan – Purpose of the High-level Mediation (Tumaini Initiative) for the Republic of South Sudan (22.06.2024)

South Sudan: Tumaini Initiative – SSOMA, Other Opposition Groups, and the PCCA – Press Statement on the Status of South Sudan Peace Process (13.06.2024)

South Sudan: No laughing matter – but a comedian has become a rebel…

Times like these is a warning. When the likes of Phillip Omon aka Comedian Feel Free has not only started a rebellion movement, but an armed organization to change things in the Republic. His the Commander-in-Chief of the Peoples Freedom Movement (PFM).

The movement and rebellion is only going back to late April 2024. A comedian that has been creating headline for years. A man who was known are now not making jokes or hiring artists to his company anymore. No, his using guns and being fought by the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF).

That’s a sign of how dire things are… when the Comedian doesn’t create a political party or a CSO to push in one direction or another. No, he goes to the bush and take arms against the government. That isn’t a sign of strength, but how things are lingering in the republic. As a man only see one choice and that’s to take arms and try to forge order by lethal conquest. That’s not building institution, but individuals taking power by arms.

Philipp Omon shouldn’t see the need to take arms and use weaponry for his cause. The government and institutions should lead him in other ways. Nevertheless, this is a sign of where the state has failed its citizens. When a guy like this becomes a rebel and start fighting on the battlefield. This shouldn’t be the case, but it is.

A comedian have become a rebel and warlord. Sooner or later he will make himself a general and say he runs parts of the Eastern Equatoria State. We know the army is now going after him and his rebellion. However, this is all a proof of how the government and the authorities have failed.

A comedian shouldn’t need to take these steps. He shouldn’t have the need or see it fit to start an armed rebellion. That just shows how J-1 and the leadership of Juba has failed. This is on them and the years of transition. They could have created opportunities and mechanisms where this wouldn’t be needed. It is just repeating an evil cycle and usage of weaponry to settle grievances, which is only creating more instability and cause havoc.

Some might laugh and giggle out of it, but this is a template of what is wrong. A man shouldn’t have the need or see it as the only way out. However, that’s where we are and it’s tragic.

A man calling himself “feel free” is becoming a rebel and warlord just to make a difference. That shouldn’t be the case, but it is. The administration and leadership of the Republic should feel dismayed and work tirelessly to end this practice. Also show the difference between their time and our time. As there… are a need for contrast and hope for the future.

As this is just a repetition of history and the republic deserves so much better. Peace.

South Sudan: Jonglei State – Clarification regarding the shooting incident that unfolded yesterday evening at Former Governor’s Residence (01.06.2024)

South Sudan: South Sudan United Movement (SSUM) – Press Statement (30.05.2024)

South Sudan: R-JMEC worried about the lack of progress in regards to hold credible elections…

As you may recall, in March this year, RJMEC wrote to the Executive of the RTGoNU expressing its concerns on the lack of consensus on the prospects of conducting credible elections as scheduled in December 2024, and called for urgent inter-party dialogue on the way forward, in the spirit of collegiality and consensus, as per the requirement of the R-ARCSS. It is therefore important that the interparty dialogue be expedited to provide clarity on the way forward. This would help the South Sudanese to prepare sufficiently and enable timely mobilisation of resources by the regional and international community to support the process” (…) “It is concerning that barely seven months to the elections, there is still no evidence of sufficient preparation for the conduct of elections and implementation of critical election-related tasks” (R-JMEC – ‘STATEMENT BY H.E. AMB. MAJ GEN (rtd) CHARLES TAI GITUAI CBS INTERIM CHAIRPERSON – RJMEC TO THE 35TH RJMEC MONTHLY MEETING, THURSDAY, 23 MAY 2024 JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN, 23.05.2024).

The SPLM and the allies of J-1 should listen in to the R-JMEC. The statement released yesterday by the Interim Chairman Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, which describes a worrying sign and signals the lack of institutionalization of the state and laws ahead of the December 2024 elections. There is only a few months and the R-TGoNU and R-ARCSS haven’t been fulfilled. Therefore, it will be a hollow election with lack of paperwork and framework to be credible.

If President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his associates thinks this is a good idea. That he pushed the election and get the nod to be legitimately elected in this atmosphere. The nature of things might become even more fickle. The narratives will run crazy and around, as there is a lack of trust or credibility. Therefore, the Head of State that is used to live on decree. He needs to rethink and reconfigure, if he wants to be a sincere leader.

This here is about the lack of progress, the lack of will and the stalling. The R-TGoNU and the slow movement of the mechanisms regarding the R-ARCSS. The state has stopped and haven’t tried to fix the needed things ahead of the elections. They have been busy looting, eating or scheming. If not sending cash to Nairobi or elsewhere where they can live like Kings. Because, in Juba and other regions of the state. There is a lack of government services and proof of changes after the meetings abroad.

The talks is happening outside of the nation. They are meeting stakeholders in conferences and huge mediation forums, instead of trying to fix the nation from within. It is better infrastructure and possibilities elsewhere, but that is a sign of how the government has failed. The SPLM and the other parts of government needs to act upon this.

The R-JMEC warning should be the final straw. It is should be a reason to act in haste. Now is a time to move quickly and assess the situation even further. That’s if J-1 or anyone else in power wants legitimacy with the election in December 2024. The few months ahead. Just about a half-year is left before the polls are on.

There been so much postponement and the transitional period has just lasted and laster. It seemed like a never ending story. If Kiir and his associates pushed for these polls. That will not help him and only damage his reputation. As his forcing himself on the people and it won’t be a credible affair. Peace.

South Sudan: Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs – Clarification on Recent Social Media Allegations (20.05.2024)