South Sudan: SSUAF/GHQS – Declaration of SSUAF Chief of General Staff’s recognition to the recent elected Chairman and Commander-In-Chief of SSUM/SSUAF Eng. James Rab Gollong (08.12.2019)

South Sudan: Office of the President – Press Statement (05.12.2019)

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) appeals for US$180 million to respond to children’s immediate needs in South Sudan (05.12.2019)

In 2020, UNICEF is expecting an increase in number of children suffering from acute malnutrition, increasing from 860,000 in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2020.

JUBA, South Sudan, December 5, 2019 – 4.1 million children will need urgent assistance in South Sudan in 2020. Years of conflict have destroyed critical infrastructure hindering access to basic services such as clean water, health care and education. Gender-based violence is prevalent and unaccompanied children are at risk of exploitation and abuse. The unresolved political conflict and lack of essential services prevents displaced people from returning home to rebuild their lives.At the same time, the floods affecting 78 counties across the country, have devastated crops making an already difficult food situation worse. Critical infrastructure, including schools and health centres, will need to be rebuilt when the water subsides. In 2020, UNICEF is expecting an increase in number of children suffering from acute malnutrition, increasing from 860,000 in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2020. This includes 292,000 children under five years of age suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

UNICEF is appealing for US$180 million to respond to the most immediate needs of women and children in South Sudan the coming year.

“How can we expect children to grow if the water they are drinking is makes them sick?’’ asked UNICEF South Sudan Representative, Dr Mohamed Ag Ayoya. “While the country is struggling with finding a sustainable and peaceful solution to the conflict, our focus remains on the future which means the children of South Sudan.”

In 2019, UNICEF and partners were able to treat 186,000 children for severe acute malnutrition, provide clean water to some 460,000 people, delivered education to 610,000 children and vaccinated over 430,000 children against measles. Meanwhile, the overall humanitarian funding in South Sudan decreased. For 2019, UNICEF appealed for US$179 million, by end of August just over half was funded. This hampered UNICEF’s efforts to respond to the needs of women and children, including supporting demobilization of children from armed forces and groups and provide water and sanitation to some of the most vulnerable people in the country.

“The only thing that I am 100 per cent sure of is that the children growing up in South Sudan cannot be blamed for the situation in the country. Yet, they are paying the highest price – with their futures,” said UNICEF South Sudan Representative, Dr Mohamed Ag Ayoya. “If we want to see a prosperous South Sudan, we need to continue to invest in the current and coming generation of children, ensuring they are not only surviving but thriving. For that we need all partners and all donors to join in.”

In 2020, UNICEF is aiming at:

• 268,045 children under five years of age treated for severe acute malnutrition
• 518,000 children vaccinated against measles
• 340,000 pregnant women and children provide with mosquito nets
• 817,000 people have access to safe water and 303,500 people have access to safe and appropriate sanitation facilities
• 127,000 reached with psychosocial support
• 709,000 children accessing quality formal or non-formal education
• 2,500 teachers trained on education
• 42,030 households reached through the cash transfer programme

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)

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)