Continued Impunity Following Grave Human Rights Violations in July 2016 (16.01.2017)

 

South Sudan Rebels

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.

UN mission in South Sudan confirms discussions on regional protection force continuing (16.01.2017)

unmiss-southsudan

“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.

RDC: Ministere de la Defense Nationale Anciens Combatiants et Reinsertion – Demande de Verification du M23 (15.01.2017)

m23-15-01-2017

DRC: Alert – M23 have crossed from Uganda into Ishasha!

M23 Goma

“We have just learned carefully the M23 are en-route to the DRC with weapons, ammunition with the objective to attack.” (Congo Mon Pays, 15.01.2017)

The Governor of Nord-Kivu Julien Paluku have confirmed that there has been movement from the M23 rebels, some even complies that Mouvement du 23-Mars (M23) have crossed from Uganda and gone into the Democratic Republic of Congo. It’s been reported that 200 armed rebels have moved across the border. If they have done as in the past, than they have crossed from Kisoro, where they even got guns and ammunition from the Ugandan Government; this isn’t confirmed, but has happen in past. This time they have been verified that they crossed into the DRC through the Ishasha, that means they crossed from Kihihi in Uganda.

“(Alert Suite 1): 7 AKA47 weapons and 1 PKM arrested in a toyota Corolla car, plate 798B in KISORO in front of BUNAGANA” (Julien Paluku, 15.01.2017).

M23 we’re after the peace-agreement in peace staying in Uganda, some we’re supposed to carry out trials from their treason and cession of land from the government in Beni, Goma and in general the provinces of Kivu, as well as they we’re threatening to continue and even make way to take the capital Kinshasa. So they we’re supposed to become civilians in Uganda, as there been reports that they we’re guards in Kampala around May 2016 and the Swearing-In, as their we’re French speaking soldiers in Mukono and Kampala guarding the streets as the President we’re entailing on his officiating for his 7th term.

So, that the movement of M23 and even CNDP (National Congress for the Defence of the People) has crossed from Uganda into the DRC are a frightening and worrying. As Laurent Nkunda has been house-arrest and silent in the Rwandese capital Kigali. This after another agreement of discharging his rebels across the Rwandan borders. There we’re similar agreements between the DRC government and M23. So the news today that they after years in the republic of Uganda has returned is worrying.

M23 will be another group and rebels who will create more havoc in an area who already have their groups who kills and burns villages. While the FARDC and MUNISCO cannot contain or stop their violent behaviour that kills and loot society. So with the recharged and well trained guerrilla of M23 returning to Kivu and North Kivu’s isn’t good news, it is terrible news and the escalation of violence and killings will be turned up; now the ADF-NALU, Mayi-Mayi and others will not be alone doing damage and destroying the region. They will have well-trained and supplied guerrilla that has had time for a few years to reload and prepare to battle in the Kivu-Provinces.

Late last year in November 2016, General Sultani Mukenga we’re missing and gun-fire erupted at border town of Kivu, close to Uganda. This as he has a household in the Republic after the peace-agreement that we’re mediated with the Ugandan Counterparts as well, where they got to stay in peace; so now they have decided to actually attack the Kivu again!

We can just follow and know that there will be reactions and also rising violence when the M23 goes into the country, to what extend and how they will plan to attack is only known by the M23 leadership. What they want out of it this time, isn’t known. The last thing we known is the documents sent to M23 in the 3rd January of 2017. So they will I drop, so you can see them. But this is isn’t great news, it’s terrible and there will be innocent who will die in the cross-fire as the rebels will create massive horrors to gain control, yet again! Peace.

m23-03-01-2017

Letter Numeber 2:

m23-05-01-2017-p1m23-05-01-2017-p2

RDC: “Communique Officiel de la Presidence de la Republique” (14.01.2017)

rdc-14-01-2017

International community expresses concern over developments in Galmudug (12.01.2017)

galdmuudug-state-09-01-2017

The United Nations, African Union, European Union, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, Ethiopia, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States are concerned about the unfolding dispute within the Galmudug regional assembly and between members of the assembly and President Abdikarim Guled.

The dispute, which has led to a vote to remove the President from office, with the President and the Speaker of the assembly rejecting the vote as illegal, is potentially destabilizing.

The international partners call on all the stakeholders in Galmudug, in particular members of the regional assembly, the Speaker of the assembly and the President, to resolve the underlying issues through dialogue and refrain from resorting to any acts of violence.

The international partners call on all Somalis, including the security forces, to now focus on consolidating and building on the gains from the electoral and state-building processes and make every effort to avoid actions that could undermine the progress that is unfolding in the country.

South Sudan: Statement attributable to the Office of the Spokesperson on the deployment of the Regional Protection Force (13.01.2017)

south-sudan-gov

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.

Incumbent Speaker of Somalia’s House of the People re-elected (11.01.2017)

somali-election

Mogadishu, 11 January 2017 – The incumbent Speaker of the federal parliament’s House of the People, Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari, was re-elected to another four-year term during voting that was held today in the Somali capital.

Mr. Jawari received 141 votes to defeat three other candidates for the key legislative post.
In his victory speech, Mr. Jawari appealed to his fellow members of parliament (MPs) to put aside their political differences for the sake of their constituents. “Today there is no winner or loser. It is the Somali people who have won,” he said.

The runner-up in the voting for the Speaker’s post was Abdirashid Mohamed Hidig, who garnered 97 votes, followed by Abdifatah Mohamed Ibrahim Geesey and Idriss Abdi Dhaqtar, who received 17 votes and two votes, respectively. Two ballots were spoilt.

“It was an honour for me to contest for the seat of Speaker of Parliament. Speaker Jawari is my friend and I congratulate him for the win,” said Mr. Hidig, who pledged to explore other avenues for serving the Somali people.

Members of parliament expressed confidence in Mr. Jawari’s leadership. “I look forward to his leadership, seeing him set up parliamentary structures. We have high expectations of him because he has the experience,” said Mariam Haji Abdi Gedi, an MP from Galmudug state.

Two hundred and fifty-nine members of the House of the People voted in the landmark election that was witnessed by representatives of the international community, key stakeholders and senior federal government officials.

Mr. Jawari was elected Speaker of the country’s ninth federal Parliament in 2012, after having previously served as a cabinet minister in the Siad Barre regime.

As Speaker of the House of the People, he will preside over the election of two deputy speakers later this week. Mr. Jawari will then join his counterpart as speaker of the Upper House in overseeing the upcoming presidential election in both houses of the federal parliament.

British Embassy In South Sudan Denies Organising Doha Talks (09.01.2017)

british-embassy-rss-09-01-2017

RDC: Arrangement Particulier a l’Accord Politique Global et Inclusif du Centre Interdiocesain de Kinshasa (11.01.2017)

cenco-11-01-2017-p1cenco-11-01-2017-p2cenco-11-01-2017-p3