South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) Statement (15.04.2018)

Council of the European Union: “South Sudan – Council Conclusions” (16.04.2018)

Joint Communiqué of the African Union and the United Nations on the Peace Process and the Situation in Bangui (12.04.2018)

BANGUI, Central African Republic, April 12, 2018 –

Joint Communiqué of the African Union and the United Nations on the Peace Process and the Situation in Bangui:

We, representatives of the African Union and the United Nations, decided to undertake a joint visit to the Central African Republic (CAR) to express our solidarity and full support to the Central African people and for the peace process in the Central African Republic. We also share a message of complete unity and common resolve of the African Union and the United Nations.

We are pleased in this regard that our visit coincides with the first meeting in Bangui of the International Support Group for CAR since the country’s return to constitutional order. During our visit, we will have the opportunity to talk with the Central African authorities, and have also held talks with President Touadéra.

Having arrived yesterday, we are also concerned about persistent tensions in the PK5 neighbourhood of Bangui. The operations conducted by the Government and MINUSCA on 8 April were aimed at putting an end to the activities of criminal elements that endanger the lives of peaceful citizens, in a neighbourhood that is also the economic hub of Bangui.

In these difficult times, we wish to express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and we deplore the many wounded, to whom we wish a speedy recovery.

Above all, we wish to emphasize that this operation to restore order and State authority has the sole purpose to protect the people who seek our protection against the criminal elements who oppress them. We want to make it clear that we are determined to act to protect the entire population, across the country.

We strongly deplore and condemn the attempts to instrumentalise this operation, as well as the attacks perpetrated against peacekeepers, about 20 of whom have been wounded, and one who succumbed to his wounds.

We would like to remind you that any attack against peacekeepers is a war crime. Their authors and those who support them will certainly have to answer for their crimes in court.

We also wish to express that an offer of a peaceful settlement had previously been made to the targeted groups, who rejected it.

Finally, we wish to emphasize that, in close coordination with the Government of the Central African Republic, we are ready to use all means available to the international community to create conditions for the restoration of peace in CAR. Among these means, dialogue will be our first action followed by, if necessary, the use of force.

Our joint presence here, in collaboration with the Central African Government, is intended to reaffirm our unambiguous commitment to the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in CAR, which, as the United Nations Security Council has stated, represents the only way forward to exit from crisis.

To the people of Bangui, we also call for calm. We ask them not to be victim to rumours and manipulation. Your authorities are working hard with MINUSCA to restore public order and ensure the protection of all civilian populations, without distinction.

Signed,

Mr Smaïl Chergui
Peace and Security Commissioner of the African Union

Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations

The IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan Communces Consultations on the Outstanding Issues at HLRF (10.04.2018)

10th April 2018, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: The IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan, accompanied by representatives of the Office of the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers, held consultations on 10th April 2018 with representatives of the South Sudanese Civil Society Stakeholders to the HLRF to discuss key outstanding issues at the Forum, including positions of the various parties and possible compromises. The consultations are pursuant to the decisions of the IGAD Council of Ministers at its 61stExtra-Ordinary Session on South Sudan held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 26 March 2018 to reconvene the continuation of Phase II of the High-Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) to conduct consultations and undertake shuttle diplomacy with the parties and stakeholders to the HLRF to narrow the gaps between the Parties, prior to the next reconvening of the Forum.

The consultations focused on the key areas of disagreements on governance and security arrangements at the HLRF. Under governance, the following issues were discussed: the composition of the transitional government; structure of the government; responsibility sharing; number of states and size and composition of the Parliament.

On security arrangements, the following issues were discussed: timeframe for reintegration/unification of forces and approach to the formation of one national army; security for Juba during the Transition; demilitarization of civilian centers; cantonment of forces and Security sector reform or establishment of new security services.

Following extensive deliberations, the representatives of the Civil Society and stakeholders at the HLRF   made recommendations for considerations by the Parties at the HLRF.

Opinion: Evidence of Warlord mentality appears within the Kiir government with the plot to assassinate Machar!

“a military leader of a nation or part of a nation, esp one who is accountable to nobody when the central government is weak” (Collins English Dictionary – ‘Warlord’).

There one of these days, something striking and so profound, that you lose your grip of reality. It will come one of these days, when all glass shatters and everything you believe in will vanish. That is not today, since the Juba administration, the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU), which has led to another brutal civil war in South Sudan. Have evidently given an offer to one of their generals to assassinate Dr. Riek Machar, the former First Vice-President of South Sudan. If that doesn’t make the alarm-bell running, nothing does. I am sure the same offer came within the time the tanks was driving down the streets of Juba and the rebels of SPLM/A-IO went into the bush of the Democratic Republic of Congo, after failed peace-agreement and settlement between SPLM/A and SPLM/A-IO.

So yesterday’s revelations says a lot:

“South Sudan’s presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told reporters in Juba today that the failed plot to pursue and kill the former first vice president turned rebel leader Riek Machar originated with Gen. Paul Malong. “The Central Bank of South Sudan was opened at night and $5 million was released for military operations against Riek Machar,” Ateny said. The government blamed Paul Malong for failing to kill the main opposition leader after receiving as much as $5 million for military operations after rebels forces had been driven out of the capital Juba. “Malong took the money but Riek Machar was not killed. He [Malong] failed to pursue Machar and Riek Machar did not face any difficulty. But he [Malong] took the money,” Ateny said, while accusing the former military chief of massive corruption, barely one day after he officially declared himself a rebel” (Radio Tamazuj, 10.04.2018).

That the government today, years after the brutal attack on Machar in Juba and left him fleeing, after the sacking of Gen. Malong last year and his sudden, but not strange new rebellion against the state. Then the state reveal their devious plan to kill Machar. Not like that would be surprising in some aspect, these are violent affairs and death follows. The SPLA and SPLM/A-IO has fought dozens of skirmishes and certainly not the last. Because, none of them seems to be willing to back down. While more rebels appear, more groups and some coalitions of rebels, also comes out of the dust.

That the state doesn’t think this implicate themselves and only tarnish Malong, that is really foolish. This shows how little lack of governance and will of institutions, that the central government, which was supposed to co-operate with Machar. Would actually hire someone, a fellow general and his troops to kill him. The problem isn’t directly that Malong would kill him, but that the government gave him money and a contract to do so.

The TGoNU has really with this story sold themselves short. They thought it was a brilliant way of tarnishing the efforts of Malong to start his rebellion. Well, it shows that he does whatever to get by and get wealthy, but it also shows how the state moves and tries to make people disappear, that they don’t like or don’t want to co-operate with. That is what this signals, that they are putting money on people’s head. If they start to test the structures and the people on-high.

We can just imagine who sanctioned this and who payed Malong, that is the big-deal and that shows who thought it would be a good arrangement. To settle the difference not with consensus, but by the guns. That is why this is War-Lord mentality. Peace.

South Sudan: Humanitarian Coordinator condemns killing of aid worker, calls for the release of seven others held by armed group (10.04.2018)

Darfur: Mukjar Camp to Close as Chadian Refugees Return Home (09.04.2018)

Over 8,300 Chadian refugees were living in Sudan prior to the start of the voluntary return at the end of 2017.

KHARTOUM, Sudan, April 9, 2018 – After more than 10 years of hosting Chadian refugees in Central Darfur, Mukjar refugee camp in Central Darfur is set to close, as the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Commissioner of Refugees (COR) assisted the last refugees to return to their home country.

On Friday 6 April 2018, over 500 Chadian refugees still living in Mukjar camp were provided with return packages and transportation to a reception center in Eastern Chad, where UNHCR and the Government of Chad will provide further assistance for reintegration. UNHCR and COR are now making the final arrangements to hand over the land and camp facilities to local authorities and the host community.

“Throughout the time I lived in this refugee camp, I had never lost hope that one day I will be able to return home,” says Eissa Abakar, a 44-yearold Chadian refugee who fled to Sudan 12 years ago after conflict broke out in his country. “I feel privileged that I can finally be able to return home with my family.”

Taken by emotions as she boards the bus to Chad, Eissa’s wife, Acha Abdala is more than happy that her six children, half of them born in Sudan, are going to see their relatives and home village in Chad. “I have never wished for anything other than returning home. I feel like my dreams have come true,” she says as she sweeps tears with a shaky hand.

Mukjar camp was established in 2006, after refugees fled to the area following surge of hostilities between the government and opposition in Chad in 2006 and 2007. Since then, with the support of UNHCR, COR and Save the Children, Sweden, refugees have accessed basic services alongside the host community and internally displaced Sudanese, and have also been provided with protection services, non-food items, and food.

Upon the request for assistance of the Chadian refugees and with conditions improved in Chad, a tri-partite agreement was signed in May 2017 by the Governments of Sudan and Chad and UNHCR to provide a legal framework for the voluntary return of Chadian refugees in Darfur. In December 2017, UNHCR began assisting refugees to return to Chad, and has since supported the voluntary repatriation of nearly 4,000 refugees from Um Shalaya and Mukjar camps.

“UNHCR extends its appreciation to the Government of Sudan and residents of Darfur for welcoming and hosting the Chadian refugees for more than a decade,” said UNHCR Representative, Noriko Yoshida. “Finding durable solutions is a cornerstone of our work, so we are very pleased to be able to work with the Governments on both sides of the border to help refugees return home in dignity and safety”.

Over 8,300 Chadian refugees were living in Sudan prior to the start of the voluntary return at the end of 2017. UNHCR continues to assist the voluntary return of the remaining refugees who wish to do so in 2018.

South Sudan: Gen. Paul Malong launch South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) – (09.04.2018)

South Sudan: Twic East Youth & Students Association (TEVSA) – “Subject: Decree for the relieve of TESVA Chief Advisor, Title and Commencement (31.03.2018)

South Sudan: SPLM-IO Letter to Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali – “Subject: Protest on the Conditionss Imposed on the Release of Dr. Riek Machar as Stated in the Communique of the 61st Extra-Ordinary Session of IGAD Council of Ministers on the Situation in South Sudan, Addis Ababa, March 26, 2018” (26.03.2018)