UNMISS acts to deter further violence between communities in Maper (03.12.2019)

Intercommunal clashes continue to result in the killing and injuring of civilians, cattle raiding and the looting of property.

JUBA, South Sudan, December 3, 2019 – Seventy-five United Nations peacekeepers have been temporarily re-deployed from Rumbek to Maper to deter further violence between communities in the northern Lakes region of South Sudan.The fresh deployment of Nepalese troops serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan follows reports from local authorities that as many as 79 people have been killed and a further 101 injured in a series of communal clashes and revenge attacks between the Gak and Manuer communities, about 100 kilometres north of Rumbek.

While political violence has largely subsided in South Sudan since the signing of the revitalized peace agreement in September 2018, intercommunal clashes continue to result in the killing and injuring of civilians, cattle raiding and the looting of property.

“This fighting must stop,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS, David Shearer. “We are urging the communities involved and their leaders to put an end to the violence and to come together in reconciliation and peace for the good of their people.” 

An attempt was initially made by UNMISS to deploy its troops to Maper by road. However, damage caused by heavy rains left the main route impassable. Instead, the Mission transported the peacekeepers into the area via helicopters. It is also flying in heavy equipment, including vehicles, to enable the peacekeepers to travel more easily between the remote communities. The troops will continue to patrol the area in the coming weeks to provide a protective presence.

The UNMISS Force Commander and the Head of the Mission’s Field Office in Rumbek along with human rights and civil affairs staff also travelled to Maper yesterday to assess the security situation. They were welcomed by local authorities and community members who indicated a willingness to take part in mediation and peace-building activities supported by UNMISS.

South Sudan: National Dialogue Leadership, Steering Committee & Secretariat – The Communique of Civil Society Organizations’ Conference (15.11.2019)

Opinion: The NRM proves again that the IPOD is worthless…

“The NRM has boycotted the meeting of IPOD scheduled for the handover of IPOD seat from Democratic Party to FDC. This as FDC insists the discussion should focus more on the meaningful dialogue and smooth transfer of power in Uganda” (NBS Television 27.11.2019).

Not to long ago, actually for two IPOD Summits the FDC boycotted these, as they did boycott the first IPOD Summit, as an reaction to the police brutality and harassment from the authorities. The second one was because they didn’t want just a photo-op and a friendly greeting with the President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

The IPOD Summits haven’t resolved anything or made any amends with the electoral reform or dialogue between the NRM and the opposition. The IPOD is just a paid journey from the Dutch, to preoccupy the parties on the way to yet another General Election in 20201.

Just a friendly reminder of what NRM said when the FDC boycotted it:

Kasule Lumumba: NRM is the minority in IPOD. FDC is the leading opposition party. FDC shouldn’t run away from responsibility. NRM remains committed. Come and offer leadership and we work together, Come and show Ugandans that you can lead” (NBS Television, 17.10.2019).

I have always said FDC is a radical extremist party behaving like a millenarian cult & hostile to dialogue. This was on display yesterday when they boycotted the first IPOD meet. They used to say they would only attend IPOD MEETINGS if Museveni attends. What is their excuse now?” (Andrew Mwenda, 18.12.2018).

I don’t know why anybody [FDC] who says they are democrats would not like dialogue. I always welcome opportunities for dialogue because when you don’t dialogue, you miss an opportunity to be understood clearly” – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the 12th December 2018 at the Speke Resort Munyonyo

Therefore, I wonder what will be the excuses of the NRM in the upcoming days. One that has already come out, which is unbelievable is that they wasn’t invited. That one is just a lie, I don’t believe that Norbert Mao forgot to send the invitation to the NRM Secretariat. The DP head wouldn’t miss that one out.

It is weird that FDC comes now after boycotting for so long. It seemingly a play for them. It is insincere to take the helm. That it is, after calling out the other parties for being involved in the months ahead of this. The FDC knows this. Yes, this is politics, but the perception of this isn’t brilliant. It is insincere at best.

The FDC should have pulled out, unless it seems they are just in it for the party-funding and possible billions promised after the second summit in May 2019. The environment for the FDC isn’t better. Their party offices has been raided both in Kampala and in the up-country. Not like the FDC leadership is secure and safe for police brutality. Neither is their ability to conduct party activity in general.

What is weird is the NRM who has harassed and diminished the FDC for boycotting from before Christmas last year until the present IPOD takeover. That is very rich of them to not sit in the yellow chairs. Because, its not like the NRM will end up behind bars or get detained for participating. Neither house-arrested nor awaiting court-cases because of their loyalty elsewhere, than the President himself. Since all of them are loyal to him.

I never have believed in IPOD. Just like the Apple IPOD, I believe the relevance is gone and not vital for the changes in the Republic. It is just a tool for the NRM to keep the others in check. The NRM will only use this to settle the score and use the platform to ensure they are following guidelines and supposed protocol. The IPOD will not challenge or have any significant power, as the NRM and the government haven’t given it that.

The IPOD and IPOD Summits are PR stunts and play for the facade. It is weird that the FDC wants to play now. They should have dropped out and been righteous. Instead, they wanted a little spotlight and look decent now. That’s a bit late, but the NRM are totally in the wrong. When they have called the FDC out, but bails out themselves. That proves again the real value of it.

The real value of the IPOD is none, except for the Dutch donors who pays for the “dialogue”. Peace.

South Sudan: Teaching Staff Association (TSA) – Ref: The Current Appalling Condidtion of Academic Staff at Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology (27.11.2019)

South Sudan: The Position of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan on the Formation of the Revitalized Transition Government of National Unity (26.11.2019)

A look into the UN Interim Report of November 2019 on South Sudan

Today, I went through the “Interim report of the Panel of Experts on South Sudan submitted pursuant to resolution 2471 (2019)”, which was interesting to say the least. Especially, considering the United States is backing away. They are dispatching their ambassador and dropping out of the picture. While the Troika partners haven’t supported the US nor shown any significant interest in the sudden moves. Neither has there been any big-talks about the new US sanctions on South Sudanese officials and such. Therefore, this report sets the standard, as we are seeing the hundred days of delay to implement the revitalized peace agreement of 2018. Which has been postponed twice and surely, will need more time. Even if the supposed allies are determined to push it through without any consideration on the affects on the ground.

This is why the UN Experts Panel Report is important. As it shows what they are considering the issues at this very moment. It is compelling and telling. This is not the biggest report, neither the most shocking one either. This is a straight forward UN report with very little left to imagination.

I’m just leaving down here a few figments of the UN Report. To show to what extent that the UN experts see as the issues and the unresolved matters in South Sudan.

The Panel assesses that Mr. Kiir is unwilling to alter the current situation of states and boundaries because changes would displease various sectors of his ethnic Dinka power base and also limit the allotment of local administration posts to government loyalists. Meanwhile, Mr. Machar is aware that entering the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity with no government concessions on this issue risks alienating significant portions of his constituency. In particular, these include supporters outside the core Nuer base of SPLM/A-IO, such as the Shilluk under the leadership of General Johnson Olony, Fertit communities and most of the forces still loyal to SPLM/A-IO in the former Eastern Equatoria, Central Equatoria and Western Equatoria States. In this case, SPLM/A-IO has already lost many supporters to one of the non-signatory armed groups, NAS, which is led by General Thomas Cirillo Swaka” (UN – ‘S/2019/897’ 2019).

On the basis of conversations with political and military representatives of the various signatories to the Agreement, including the Government, the Panel assesses that some of the outstanding issues will take months to resolve. For example, the creation of the 83,000 strong necessary unified forces is far behind schedule. By 7 October 2019, only 7,474 SSPDF personnel had been registered, compared with about 32,000 opposition fighters“ (UN – ‘S/2019/897’ 2019).

Mr. Kiir has exhibited no intention of relinquishing key security powers retained by the National Security Service, which continues to operate unchecked. As the Panel has previously reported, the Director General of the Internal Security Bureau, Lieutenant General Akol Koor Kuc, has continued to suppress dissenting voices with no regard for legal due process (see sect. IV)” (UN – ‘S/2019/897’ 2019).

Uganda has inconsistently engaged in the South Sudan mediation process. When it does, the Panel notes that it has emboldened the hard-line positions of the incumbent Government. Furthermore, the Panel has also corroborated information that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces are inside the territory of South Sudan, further complicating the Ugandan role in pushing for the implementation of the Agreement (see sect. III)” (UN – ‘S/2019/897’ 2019).

These few figments shows a dire reality, which only scratches the surface of what is ahead of the Republic. There is no short-cuts and no easy way out. Even as the stakeholders, the mediators and everyone involved got to see this. Even as the US is bailing out like a spoiled brat for not getting their way. Like they don’t know what has happen over the years, like they haven’t followed the decades of liberation battle, than after liberation the prolonged civil war. It’s like they think can fix that in year. Which is dangerous thinking, but shows how bad they are at diplomacy and negotiations at the moment.

However, the UN Report is really saying some things, which is vital. That the President Kiir haven’t held his bargain and given away powers. Tried to give way or shown the needed steps for progressing the implementation of the revitalized agreement. Machar of SPLM/A-IO has also shown reluctant movements of his forces and his team, as he is afraid of losing foothold in his strongholds of the Republic. Therefore, the half-baked approach of both parties are undermining the process of implementation.

What was more striking is that the supposed mediator of Entebbe and Uganda are still having forces within the Republic. His also backing one party, which is favourable for the neighbour. This is yet another time, the Ugandans are violations of the sovereignty and a peace agreement. While the government has no issues of silencing dissidents and not following up on requests of human rights violations nor getting steps of helping the refugees elsewhere. All of these are warning signs, but the stakeholders, the leaders themselves and the ones who wants to be statesmen has to step up and make the plate. So, that they can serve the public what it need, a meal and safety, not more war-games and looting. That will not be easy for former war-lords, but if they will be favourable remembered, this is the best time as ever to do that.

Conclusion:

By focusing on elite-level compromise and a deadline for the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, this approach has favoured the absence of war over building the conditions for durable, inclusive and genuine peace for the millions of exhausted civilians. Regional and international mediators should focus on facilitating a return to constructive and inclusive dialogue and to the letter of the Agreement, which is the only agreed framework for peace” (UN – ‘S/2019/897’ 2019).

This conclusion says it all and what has been the point of it all. Instead of making something genuine, the leaders have bought time. They have tried to buy time to re-up, instead laying the groundwork for something sustainable. To build that will take time and effort, this will not be built in a 100 days. Even if one part of the Troika believes that, which is foolish at best.

The South Sudanese needs time, they need time to continue their pursuit and finds ways to lay down their arms. That will not be easy, it will cost, but if we are just bargaining for cease-fires over sustainable peace. We will not end anywhere else, than a new cycle of warlords and a never ending story of endless suffering in the hands of haste. A haste that we could have been avoided. Because, some gentlemen wanted to eat all the spoils. Peace.

South Sudan: National Dialogue Leadership, Steering Committee & Secretariat – The Communique of the Business Community Conference (22.11.2019)

South Sudan: UNMISS – Violence against civilians and peacekeepers at UN protection site condemned by community leaders and UNMISS (25.11.2019)

South Sudan: Statement of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the AU Ad Hoc High-Level Committee for South Sudan (C5) – (20.11.2019)

South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA): Communique (20.11.2019)