
South Sudan: UNMISS – PoC Update (27.11.2018)




Yesterday, there was a bad accident on Lake Victoria as a party boat had an accident. This marine tragedy are showing the dire need for laws and regulations to be followed. Instead, the President are showing his magnitude of blame game. Which has been his Modus Operandi (M.O). The President could have used his position for something good. As the reflection of his non-caring and lax attitude is clearly showing.
The President and his regime isn’t really hands-on it. The President will not act upon this, expect for some PR exercises like being in a boat on Lake Victoria without a life-vest the day after the tragedy. Because, that is just showing his prime example of ignorance and care. As there are still plenty that the authorities are looking for, as the helicopters and police-boats have been looking for missing people.
That the President lacks care for his people is clear. That is evident with his statement, he comes with a message of condolences in the beginning paragraph, but from there. It is more blame-game, than anything else. That is proven by the quotes I have taken from his message. Because reading more, than that at this point. Is utterly pointless, as he recklessly before any proper investigation throws the owner of the boat overboard. Also, the mechanical status of the vessel too. Even if both is true, it is early to assume and assess that.
“It seems the boat was overloaded because whereas it had capacity for 50 people only, it had about 120 passengers on board. The passengers also seemed to be partying with a lot of music. They might not have heard the emergency commands of the captain, who is still unaccounted for” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 25.11.2018).
“This is why, apart from the anti-bad fishing campaign which the UPDF has been carrying out for some months now on the lakes, the government has also ordered the electronic registration and monitoring of all the boats so that we can know who is where on the lake and why. The five times I crossed in small boats or canoes some of the lakes of East Africa (thrice Lake Victoria and two times Lake Tanganyika), I found them very dangerous to cross when you are not fully prepared; no overloading, standby engines, life jackets, reliable navigation etc etc. Let everybody take the warning from this tragedy” (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 25.11.2018).
So that President Museveni comes with a stern warning to everyone to be prepared in a written statement, to show up with no life-vest himself in his vessel on Lake Victoria. Will forever be imprinted on my mind, as people are waiting for the remains of people drowning in the Lake yesterday. These are family, friends and loved-ones who are gone. They are all missing because the laws and the regulatory affairs for marine vessels are not followed.
That the company didn’t follow the regulations with the Ministry, might not even follow protocol on the amount of people on the vessel, might all be true. But that isn’t the point after the tragedy. It is more the lack of control and the of real consequence of breaking the laws. If they are already in place, the business could still move-on, without consequence if the vessel had gone as usual. However, the tragedy hit and lives have been lost. This because the state, the marine units of the Police and the Ministry of Works and Transport. Even other authorities that didn’t have the ability to fulfill their mission, that is because the President haven’t cared or seen the need.
The President should have consoled the Republic, the President should have shown care and asked to wait for the Police and Army to investigate. As the families and friends are mourning their loved-ones, who died in the accident yesterday. The President didn’t do so, he came with arrogance and guns to shores of Lake Victoria. Showing his attitude and his vision. Blaming anyone in sight.
Even promising new ways of registration of vessels. However, this methods will not stop boats from running with to many in the crew or on-board. Just as long as there are no Fika Salama on the roads, the drivers of special and taxis are filled to capacity and far over the reach of seats with passengers. People knows this and the President does too. There are even bodas with dozens of people, and these are only supposed to have two persons on-board.
Therefore, the President has laws and regulations, but his authorities are not able to comply or even care for the public. That is a disgrace and shows how little other than self interest for being there. That is why he warns others, but doesn’t use it himself. He could even have a life-vest on, while being on the Lake. That is the kind of man he is. Peace.







The success of the South Sudan Oil & Power 2018 conference, which was attended by over 750 participants is a step in the right direction.
JUBA, South Sudan, November 22, 2018 – The African Energy Chamber (EnergyChamber.org) is encouraged by the progress made in South Sudan’s oil sector after the peace agreement. The success of the South Sudan Oil & Power 2018 conference, which was attended by over 750 participants representing upstream, midstream and downstream sectors of the oil sector from Africa, Europe, North America and the Middle East is a step in the right direction.
We are also encouraged by the Ministerial delegations from many countries like Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Russia, Uganda, etc. The success is an indication of South Sudan’s increased attractiveness for African and international investors, as the East African nation works to ensure a stable peace and has doubled efforts to ramp up production and drill more wells.
“The presence of several international oil companies in Juba this week is very encouraging and shows that South Sudan is doing its best to restore the trust of the international investment community and should be encouraged by all parties,” declared Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk form Juba.
The Chamber supported South Sudan’s efforts to build a lasting peace, which resulted in a new peace agreement signed last month between rival factions. “The local and international oil community has an obligation to support both peace talks and the South Sudanese leadership to promote peace and reconciliation. We also call on the government to continue its efforts in encouraging an enabling environment, promoting local content and prioritizing the role of women in the oil sector” said NJ Ayuk.
We commend H.E. President Salva Kiir for meeting with H.E. Azhari Abdel-Gadir Abdalla, Minister of Petroleum and Minerals of the Republic of Sudan; H.E. Gabriel Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; Hon. Lokeris Peter, Minister of State for Energy and Minerals Development, Republic of Uganda; and H.E. Mahaman Gaya, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) to encourage collaboration on oil and gas matters.
H.E. President Kiir and the Minister of Petroleum of South Sudan, H.E. Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth’s continuous efforts to work with other Africans, OPEC and Non-OPEC nations in balancing and stabilizing the oil market is very encouraging to our members as we all work to prevent another supply glut in the oil sector. The Chamber continues to support all efforts to do balance the oil markets including trimming supplies as it is good for African producers, its citizens and the investors.
South Sudan remains under-explored, despite being East Africa’s oldest and biggest oil producing nation. Although, production is being ramped up, South Sudan’s latest oil & gas entrant, Oranto Petroleum, started exploration on Block B3 a year ago.












JOINT PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE OFFICES OF JMEC AND IGAD
Tuesday, 20, November, 2018, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission reconstituted
The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) was reconstituted at a meeting convened on Monday 19 November 2018 by H.E. Dr Ismail Wais, the IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan.
The Special Envoy commended the IGAD Council of Ministers for their support of the Revitalized Peace Agreement as well as the Government of South Sudan and the Parties for their commitment to the peace process.
JMEC Interim Chairman Ambassador Lt. Gen. Njoroge told the members of the reconstituted JMEC: “This august body is now reconstituted, made more inclusive, and bestowed with significant power and responsibility to monitor the Parties’ and stakeholders’ adherence to the implementation of the revitalized Peace Agreement. I can assert that we have the attention of the region as well as the people of South Sudan, and we must do our utmost to deliver.”
The meeting was attended by the Parties to the Agreement and other stakeholders, comprised of faith-based leaders, eminent personalities, and representatives of women’s groups, the business community, civil society, youth, and academia. Also present were the Regional Guarantors and the International Partners and Friends of South Sudan.
The reconstituted JMEC resolved as follows:
• Welcomed the reconstitution of the reconstituted JMEC by IGAD and expressed deep appreciation to H.E Dr. Ismail Wais, the IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan for his personal contribution that led to the success of the revitalization process;
• Congratulated the Interim Chairman Ambassador Lt. Gen. and all the representatives nominated to the reconstituted JMEC;
• Endorsed the statement of the reconstituted JMEC Interim Chairperson on the status of implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement;
• Commended the Parties for the positive steps taken in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, in particular nominations of representatives to the various institutions and mechanisms of the Peace Agreement and for the ongoing confidence building, and encouraged further progress;
• Endorsed the reconstituted JMEC Rules of Procedure 2018;
• Took note of the reports of the UNMISS, National Constitutional Amendment Committee (NCAC) and Ceasefire and Transition Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), and thanked the SGSR H.E Mustafa, and the Chairperson of NCAC Mr. Gichira Kibara for the good work and called for the immediate implementation of their recommendations;
• Called upon all parties and stakeholders to observe the permanent ceasefire in all parts of the country without exception and to guarantee unimpeded humanitarian access;
• Commended the outgoing Chairperson of CTSAMVM Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Abduljelill for his contribution to the peace process in his tenure and welcomed the new CTSAMVM Chairperson Maj. Gen. Desta Abiche;
• Appealed to the international partners and friends of South Sudan to support implementation of the Pre-Transitional activities of the Revitalized Peace Agreement;
• Called upon the IGAD Office of the Special Envoy to ensure the immediate establishment of the Joint Defense Board, International Boundaries Commission and Technical Boundaries Committee;
• That next reconstituted JMEC meeting should be convened on 12th December 2018 in Juba.