Monday, 21 May 2012

Written by Pascal Ladu and Peter Moi

Chief African Union (AU) mediator between Sudan and South Sudan, Thabo Mbeki is optimistic that the date for the resumption of talks between the two feuding nations will be set this week.

Mbeki made the remark in Juba Monday after  after a meeting with President Salva Kiir and South Sudan lead negotiator, Pagan Amum.

 “We are going back to Khartoum to consult and I am quite sure that within this week we will agree on a date,” he said.

Mbeki is trying to bring the two Sudans back to the negotiating table at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa to try to resolve oil, security and border disputes that triggered an outbreak of border fighting between the two countries' armies last month.

The April clashes over a border oil town of Heglig raised fears that the two countries might plunge back into an all-out war, prompting the UN Security Council to warn Juba and Khartoum earlier this month to negotiate peacefully or face sanctions.

Mbeki arrived in Juba from Khartoum on Monday morning to consult the leadership of South Sudan on the implementation of the AU roadmap and the UN Security Council resolution on the two countries.

The former South African President said he was happy with the position of President Kiir, the negotiating team of South Sudan and the members of the joint political and security mechanism that talks resume urgently.

“The message they communicated to the panel is that it is very urgent that the programs indicated in the African Union roadmap and UN Security Council resolution need to be implemented as a matter of urgency,” he told reporters after the meeting.

Mbeki said the government of South Sudan had committed itself to respecting all the processes and producing positive results as required by the AU roadmap and UN Security Council resolution..  

“It is important that our panel convenes the two parties as urgently as possible so that they can together look at the practical steps that would be taken,” he said.

 The mediator said the panel was in agreement with the leadership of South Sudan.

 “We are in complete agreement about the steps to be taken to make sure that we are able to speed up the process of negotiating all the outstanding issues so that a final resolution is reached,” Mbeki noted.

Speaking earlier upon arrival at Juba International airport from Khartoum, Mbeki said the two governments need to meet urgently.

 “Everybody has the view that everything needs to be done urgently to get the two governments to meet and address the security matters,” Mbeki told reporters.

 He added that action needs to be taken as quick as possible on the security of the two countries.

 “Everybody is conscious of the decisions taken by the African Union and United Nations Security Council and we are here to consult on that so that action can be taken as quickly as possible.” He said.

He pointed out that the Sudanese President, Omar Al Bashir had committed himself to implementing the existing agreements between the two countries on security matters to ensure peace.

 “President Bashir said he will direct his own people to act to engage in these negotiations as it is required,” Mbeki said.

Thursday, 17 May 2012

Written by Sanya Kenyi

UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) says an additional 500 million dollars is needed to deliver humanitarian assistance to South Sudanese returnees and internally displaced people (IDPs).

The UNOCHA coordinator for South Sudan, Lise Grande said this on Tuesday while addressing journalists in J.

“We need additional 500 million US dollars in order to deliver humanitarian assistance to the returnees and internally displaced people,” she said.

Grande said that the consolidated appeal by aid agencies covers 271 projects worth 776 million dollars, but so far only 32% of the funding has been secured.

Grande also note that the number of refugees is increasing drastically, with arrivals from Southern Kordofan state of Sudan averaging 550 per day in May; almost six times more than the number in March.

She added that an estimated 8000 refugees recently arrived in Maban county in Upper Nile state from Blue Nile state of Sudan.

 The humanitarian coordinator said she visited the area last week and food and clean water had been provided and children were vaccinated against measles.

She told of refugees arriving exhausted and hungry after walking long distances for days.

“Many are traumatized,” she said.

Grande commended humanitarian agencies for working hard to receive the over 12,000 returnees who had been stranded in Kotsi, Sudan and started arriving in Juba on Monday.

“Many of these families have been waiting for months and months to return. We saw babies who had been born in Kosti and were coming to start a new life in a new country,” she said.

Grande said that government had agreed to provide temporary sites before transporting the returnees to their homes of origin.

“Central Equatoria state and the ministry of humanitarian affairs and disaster management and the relief and rehabilitation commission have secured a new transit site within Juba to host a larger group,” she said.

Grande said that UN agencies have to deliver emergency supplies to the places where IDPs and returnees are settled before the rains make the roads impassable.

“As humanitarians, we always hope for the best, but we have to be ready for the worst. That is why we preposition,” Grande said.

The combination of food shortfalls, conflict related displacement, agricultural disruption, a deteriorating economy and border closure are making the humanitarian situation worse, Grande said.

She added that conditions are worse for border communities where prices of basic commodities have risen between 100-200%.

“We are worried about the situation along the border. In Northern Bahr el Ghazal the price of sorghum, a staple food has doubled in just two weeks,” Grande said.

Grande said that according to assessment done by the Government of South Sudan and humanitarian agencies, 4.7 million people; half of the population is facing food insecurity in the first year of independence.

She added that the situation requires 400,000 tonnes of food.

Grande said that World Food Program (WFP) plans to reach 2.7 million people with food assistance.

She explained that food shortages are normally worst after people have planted all the crops and remain with nothing to eat as they wait for the crops to mature and harvest.  

“The situation peaks during the lean season between harvests, when destitute households are unable to sustain their families and are forced to sell their assets or go hungry,” she said.

On her part, the UNHCR country representative, Mireille Girard advised people along the border to move to safer zones where they can access humanitarian assistance.

She said UNHCR will continue delivering food aid to those who have already returned home and also to those who will return later.

Girard noted that malnutrition in children is on increase.

“We will continue to distribute food as malnutrition cases are on increase and need urgent attention upon arrival,” Girard said.

Thursday, 17 May 2012

Written by Emmanuel Data

President Salva Kiir Mayardit has advised the citizens of South Sudan to work hard to cope with the economic hardships in the country caused by the closure of oil production.

“After we shut down our oil production we are running short of fuel and other services, but we are going to struggle like this until we get a solution. We must tighten our belts until a solution is found,” Kiir advised.

The President made the remarks at the occasion to mark the 29^th anniversary of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army at the Dr Garang Mausoleum in Juba yesterday.

South Sudan shut down its oil production in January over transit fees dispute with Khartoum. Juba authorities also alleged that Khartoum was stealing their oil.

Kiir further advised that rather than spend time talking about the past, people should concentrate on the current challenges in order to address the situation for a better future.

“You all know we need infrastructure, health centre, clean water, roads, and electricity. Whom do you think will do it for us? We must work hard to develop this country,” he said.

He called on the citizens to get away from the culture of getting free food and instead take advantage of the vast fertile soils and rains to engage in agriculture to ensure food security. Kiir particularly deplored the unproductive practices of some youth.

“Whenever I am going to church on Sunday, I see many youth sitting and talking, playing cards, dice, chess, and domino. These are not the activities for the rainy season if we are to get rid of hunger, but we must till the land,” he said.

The President advised against drinking alcohol in the morning.

“Bars should not open in the morning hours, but when we say this people say we want to bring Sharia law,” the President said.

Speaking about Jonglei disarmament the President said the SPLA has done a good job there and are still hunting down civilians who do not want to hand over guns.

He warned against increasing child abduction in Central Equatoria, as reported by the deputy Governor.

“What do you want to do with people’s children, stop these things,” he warned.

Earlier the deputy Governor of Central Equatoria, Manase Lomole had said that 164 children had been abducted in his state, especially in Lokiliri payam over the years.

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Written by William Katawa

Ceasar Acellam Otto, a senior commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), captured by the Uganda People Defence Forces (UPDF) on Saturday has said his capture is a major blow to the LRA movement.

“It is a major blow. A big blow to Kony,” Acellam replied when asked how his absence will affect the LRA.

He explained that the rebel force has been weakened because a number of other commanders had either been killed or surrendered in response to Uganda government amnesty call.

“The size has reduced and people are no longer enjoying on hearing that Major General Acellam is out of LRA,” he said.

Acellam, who said he was a high profile and active commander of Joseph Kony’s LRA, was captured on Saturday, May12  at River Mbamu in Central African Republic (CAR) near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

“We were engaged by the UPDF near Mbamu river, they got hold of me and three other people; my wife, my child and another lady from Central African Republic but she was handed over to the Central African government to be re-united  with her family,” Acellam said.

Upon capture, Acellam and his wife and daughter were flown by military chopper to the UPDF base in Nzara, 20 kms from Yambio, the capital of Western Equatoria State where The New Nation interviewed him.

Acellam said capturing Kony will not be easy.

“I cannot rule out the possibility that Kony will be defeated or captured, but to get him as a man is difficult,” he said.

Asked whether Kony was still alive, Acellam answered in the affirmative.

“Oh, yes he is very alive, but only that nobody knows his whereabouts, because of late he doesn’t trust anybody, he works with what comes in his mind,” he said.

Acellam however said that he had not seen the LRA leader for three years, despite being one of his top commanders.

“The last time I was with Kony was way back in 2009 when we were in DR Congo since then I have never seen him again,” Acellam said.

He explained that it was difficult to know Kony’s whereabouts because as a rebel, he cannot say in one location.

“Today he is here, tomorrow he is there. I can’t tell exactly where he is at the moment,” Acellam said.

On the number of fighters still in the LRA ranks, Acellam said: “I cannot tell exactly, but what I know is that there are still people who are loyal to him.”

Acellam said that they have not been getting supplies from Khartoum since the Juba peace talks with the Uganda government fell through.

“You see, we used to get back-up from the Khartoum before the peace talks failed in Juba, but since then we don’t get any help from anywhere,” he said, and added that that sometimes they get weapons when they defeat the UPDF in battle.

“Not all the time that we engage each other in the front line we are the losers; sometimes we defeat the UPDF and confiscate their ammunitions,” he explained.

Acellam talked of how he lived in Juba from 1991 to 1992, and recalled how they used to attack SPLA and the UPDF. 

Commenting on Acellam’s capture, the UPDF officer in charge of intelligence in the operations against the LRA in the region, Col Abdul Rugumayo said the UPDF apprehended him without a fight.

 “He was armed and was with his wife, a child and another lady from Central African Republic, but he did not fire back,” Rugumayo said.

Rugumayo added that LRA threats have reduced drastically and sooner there will be no more threat from the rebel outfit.

“We have disorganized the LRA until they have resorted to feeding on wild fruits and wild animals,” Rugumayo said.

He noted that the people who were displaced by the LRA have now gone back to their places and have embarked on farming,

“I want to assure the people in this region that we came to put a final end to the LRA and we have dedicated our efforts to bringing stability to the region,” he said.

Rugumayo thanked the government of South Sudan and Western Equatoria in particular for allowing the UPDF to use their facilities and land to carry out the operations against LRA.

“We would like to tell the South Sudanese that the same way they feel anger for the atrocities committed by the LRA is the same way we feel sorry for what our brother Kony has caused in the area,” he consoled.

Rugumayo said that they have rescued about 8000 women and children from LRA over the last two years.

He thanked the American government for supporting the UPDF, saying that even “before the 100 soldiers were deployed here they had given us logistic support.”