Eswatini: People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) – PUDEMO Statement on the Ongoing Political Unrest (12.10.2021)

Eswatini: The Pupils or Students who got arrested yesterday will be left behind

MBABANE: Phila Buthelezi, the Minister of Labour and Social Security has finally confirmed on behalf of Mswati’s government that protesting students will be denied scholarships. Speaking during a press conference at Sibane Hotel on Monday, Buthelezi said children who were arrested and convicted for protesting would not get government scholarships. “Children who were arrested and convicted for protesting will not get government scholarships”, said the Minister” (Wendy Magagula – ‘Minister confirms protesting youth will be denied scholarships, Students President says coming democratic government will award them’ 12.10.2021, Swaziland News).

Yesterday, there was demonstrations at 50 schools. The Police and Army arrested, used live-bullets and hurt kids even. The authorities used harassment, assaults and attacked the children and youths who protested at their schools. The state has today closed down 82 schools.

We have some reports of arrests of these kids. We don’t know the amount of children who was arrested. Neither do we know how many youths who was detained either. That is unknown as of today. There is no numbers or verified amounts of people/pupils/students

This is all on the orders of King Mswati III who isn’t in favour of losing his absolute monarch status. He isn’t interested in democracy or people’s representatives. No, he wants to have all power and now that the pupils and students are challenging him. They have to suffer for it. Just like the two MPs who fights for democracy. That’s why his taking away their future, because they insulted him and his reign.

That’s why the King and his government is taking away scholarships and opportunities for participating and being part of a national demonstration against him. This is what is happening. It is silly, because these kids, pupils or students aren’t felons or criminals. They are civilians who defied the King. That’s it reality and the monopoly of violence is clear. As the kids was sent into cross-fire for doing their civic duty of protest against something they saw as unjust. That says it all and now the state will punish them in the future too.

It says a lot about the King and his reign when they are willing to do this. However, it is not shocking. Knowing that he believes he has the rights to take lives of citizens for a ritual too. Therefore, this just follows a pattern of his massive power in the Kingdom. Peace.

Eswatini: The King who has ordered the police and the army to silence school-protests

In the Kingdom of Eswatini where the absolute monarch, King Mswati III controls everything and appoints anyone he sees fit. The King decides and orders. He can decide if people lives or dies. That is the mere reality of the situation in the Kingdom. It isn’t a myth or a relic of a medieval kingdom in our age. However, that is the mere truth of what is going on.

Today in over 50 schools across the Kingdom there been protests for the Two Pro-Democracy Members of Parliament who is currently detained. They want these two released. As they are fighting for their rights and ability to vote in their leaders. Since, at this very time the King appoints everyone and its all technocrats.

At some schools the army came with live-bullets where the pupils had to run away from schools in question. There is even reports of one deceased. However, that might quickly rise, as the situation is unclear. In other schools, the pupils have gone into hiding in the bushes as they are hiding from the police officers hunting after them. There been reports that the police officers has assaulted pupils who was protesting at some schools too. Therefore, it is a lot of police brutality as well.

It is tragic that state answer with violence against pupils and students. They are using live-bullets, harassment and assaults to silence the protest. It is tragic. That the King is willing to do this. The blood will be on his hands and this is nothing new. He is responsible and the ones that takes charge. This is done while his the absolute monarch and he has the power to shut it down if he cared.

We will know more, as the information leaks, videos and such from the Kingdom. For now, we are uncertain how many the police is arresting, harassing, assaulting or even possibly killing. Peace.

South Sudan: National People’s Movement – Press Statement (09.10.2021)

South Sudan: OCHA – Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. in South Sudan condemns the latest threat against humanitarians operating in Greater Pibor Adminstrative Area (05.10.2021)

South Sudan: Office of the President – Cancellation of Sovereign Guarantee for Amok General Trading USD 650 Million (24.09.2021)

South Sudan: OCHA – Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. in South Sudan condemns attack on a humanitarian convoy in Yei County, Central Equatoria (22.09.2021)

South Sudan: Joint statement by IGAD, R-JMEC, Representatives of the African Diplomatic Community, Norway and UNMISS on the situation in Tambura (19.09.2021)

South Sudan: New South Sudan Parliament can ‘infuse urgency’ into peace process (16.09.2021)

The constitution making process – an important peace process benchmark – marks a critical step forward in its own right.

NEW YORK, United States of America, September 16, 2021 – South Sudan has made history with the appointment of two women to senior leadership positions within its Transitional National Legislature, the top United Nations official in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday, as he encouraged parties to build on these gains in efforts to overcome significant political and security headwinds.

Nicholas Haysom, UN Special Representative and head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), said 30 August saw the inauguration of the reconstituted Parliament, with members sworn in on 2 August – including the first female Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and female Deputy Speaker of the Council of States.

“This development paves the way for a much-delayed charge on the legislative programme envisaged by the Peace Agreement”, he said, stressing that it must now be complemented by the reconstitution of state legislatures.

He said the extensive legislative agenda includes passage of priority bills already prepared by the National Constitution Amendment Committee on the reform of security, financial, judicial, constitutional and electoral institutions.

Third anniversary

With 12 September marking the three-year anniversary of the revitalized peace agreement in South Sudan, “certainly, the reconstitution of the national parliament presents an opportunity to infuse urgency in the implementation of the peace process,” he stressed.

A ministerial task force has presented a bill on the constitution-making process to the Minister of Justice and regional development body IGAD, he added.

The constitution making process – an important peace process benchmark – marks a critical step forward in its own right, the Mission chief said, signifying a social contract between all South Sudanese on the arrangements by which they can live together in peace and harmony.

Elections:  prepare, prepare, prepare

In parallel, electoral preparations should be conducted, he said.  While there is no consensus on the timelines, the two extensions to the transitional period would see elections being held in early 2023, requiring the completion of a voters’ register by late 2022.  Without adequate technical and political preparations, “this event could be a catastrophe instead of a national turning point,” he said.

He pointed to the consultative process for the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing as another important development.

To be sure, the lack of progress in the transitional security arrangements is now the major challenge.  He encouraged parties to agree on the unified command-and-control structures of the national security institutions without delay, citing fractures within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), as an “unfortunate result” of the slow pace.

Avoid ‘adversarial politics’

Mr. Haysom warned that desertions of forces led by Generals Gatwech, Olony and Thomas Dhul – and the conflicts between these groups and forces loyal to Riek Machar – will undermine the peace process. The delays also have widened the imbalance between the main parties to the revitalized peace agreement. “It is imperative that the parties put aside adversarial politics to work as a unity Government.”

Record food insecurity

Reena Ghelani, Director of Operations and Advocacy Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OHCA), said people in South Sudan are facing the highest levels of food insecurity recorded since independence: over 60 per cent of the population is severely food insecure.

The combined effects of conflict, climate shocks, displacement, COVID-19 and the lack of investment in infrastructure and basic services, have driven them deeper into need.

More than 8.3 million people need humanitarian assistance, including 1.4 million children, she said.  Estimates in December 2020 found that 2.4 million people faced emergency levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 4 or above) between April and July 2021.

In five of these six locations, she said conflict was the major driver fuelling displacement and leading to the loss of lives, assets and livelihoods.

‘A lifeline out of starvation’

She said humanitarian agencies scaled up the multi-sectoral response in the at-risk counties, reaching over half a million people between January and June. “We have managed to give thousands a lifeline out of starvation.”

The response is part of a larger aid operation that has assisted 4.4 million people across the country between January and June with food, medical and nutritional care, water and sanitation, protection support and shelter.

Attacks along supply routes

However, she said non-State armed groups and certain youth groups continue to hamper access, looting humanitarian facilities and frequently attacking civilian and humanitarian convoys along key supply routes.  The disruptions have fuelled higher prices of essential goods for an already vulnerable population.

Meanwhile, she said flooding for a third consecutive year has affected nearly 426,000 people along the Nile river, the Sudd wetland and the Sobat.

Funding gaps

The World Food Programme (WFP) was forced to reduce food rations in all Refugee, Protection of Civilian and IDP camps from April 2021, due to inadequate funding – a move that affected 700,000 people. In October, it will be forced to stop support in IDP camps in Bor, Juba, and Wau, as resources were re-prioritized to counties where people were at the brink of famine.

Going forward, she called all actors to de-escalate the violence, stressing that humanitarians need Government support to ensure safe and unhindered access to people in need. The $1.7 billion Humanitarian Response Plan – the largest ever for South Sudan – is only 56 per cent funded and she urged donors to give at scale early in 2022, so aid efforts can get ahead of the needs.

 

South Sudan: South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat – Pastoral Message – A Call to ‘Servant Leadership’ in our Nation (08.09.2021)