Friday, 03 February 2012

Written by John Acually

BOR-The United Nations Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, visited Jonglei State on Thursday to see UN humanitarian aid operations first hand and meet representatives of the government and aid agencies, as well as those affected by recent inter-communal clashes in the area.

“I am here to talk to the authorities and to see for myself the impact of the recent conflict, and to look at the work that the UN partners are doing in the state, and to see some ways we should assist the government in dealing with immediate humanitarian needs,” said Amos.

 Accompanied by South Sudan Humanitarian Affairs Minister Joseph Lual, Amos met with Jonglei’s governor and other state officials before proceeding to Wal-gak in Uror County, one of the areas affected by the recent tribal conflicts.

Amos planned to view the humanitarian situation on the ground for herself and draw international attention to the continuing challenges.

“South Sudan faces significant challenges including hundreds of thousands of people displaced in 2011, people returning from Sudan, and refugees from the ongoing conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states in Sudan. In addition, conflict, poverty, and increasing food insecurity are having a major humanitarian impact. The people of South Sudan need our support,” Amos said. 

In South Sudan aid organizations are dealing with approximately 30 simultaneous emergency operations in a vast, remote, and insecure country. 

Aid agencies also briefed Amos in Juba on their efforts to provide humanitarian aid in Jonglei State, the site of recent fighting between the Murle and the Lou Neur. 

“I am concerned about the scope and magnitude of the violence communities have inflicted on each other in Jonglei, as well as about the conflict between rebel militias and the army that has killed, wounded, and displaced so many,” Amos said.  

“Diversity in South Sudan should be a source of both communal and national pride.  I hope that everyone in South Sudan will embrace their identity as South Sudanese, and achieve long-term reconciliation and peace,” she said. 

Amos is also scheduled to meet President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Joseph Lual Acuil, Chairperson of the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, Duer Tut Duer, and members of the diplomatic community.  

Thursday, 02 February 2012

Written by David Majur

SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum has accused Sudan of ordering a Chinese-Malaysian oil company to load 600,000 barrels of oil for export at the marine terminal in Port Sudan.

Amum, the country’s lead negotiator, showed a communication sent to South Sudan Ministry of Petroleum and Mining by the Chinese-Malyasian joint venture Petrodar, which indicates that the Sudanese government ordered the company to load the crude oil for export.

He spoke to journalists on Tuesday upon returning to Juba from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, where negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan on oil concluded with no agreement.

 “Sudan is not only stealing oil but robbing it,” said Amum.

Petrodar rejected the Sudanese government’s instructions to load the oil according to the email message shown to reporters, which was dated January 30.

 “This action is not acceptable as the crude belongs to the Republic of South Sudan and prior approval is needed from the Government of South Sudan,” said the president of Petrodar, Liu Yingcai, in the email.

Earlier instructions to Petrodar from Sudan dated January 16 requested the company to transfer 120,000 barrels of Dar Blend to the country. The company refused to cooperate.

The general manager of Sudan’s Directorate of Petroleum supplies and Marketing also instructed Petrodar to load 650,000 barrels of South Sudan crude oil entitlements on January 13, according to the email communications shown to reporters.

“They are more than thieves; they are robbers,” Amum said, referring to the Sudanese government.

Amum said that Sudan had diverted three million barrels of oil from November to December 2011 and another three million between December and January, which resulted in a loss of oil revenues for South Sudan.

The secretary general also pointed out that Sudan had imposed a total blockade and economic embargo on South Sudan.

Amum outlined the conditions set by the Government of South Sudan for the opening of the oil pipeline, the closure of which was announced two weeks ago.

“Sudan must pay the value of oil they have stolen, accept not to obstruct the flow of oil, and accept 69 cent payment per barrel,” said Amum. “If they accept, we will proceed on how to assist them.”

The Government of South Sudan recently shut down the country’s 350,000 barrels per day oil production as a result of the row with Sudan over pipeline transit fees. It has said that instead of continuing to use the pipeline through the North, it plans to build an alternative route to the Kenyan coast.

 “So what is the purpose of pumping our oil through the Republic of Sudan?” Amum asked.

“The people of South Sudan will build an alternative economy and an alternative pipeline,” he stated.

The SPLM secretary general described the shutdown as an attempt to pursue economic independence, saying that the country has an abundance of resources apart from oil.

“We would prefer not to have oil revenues than to be humiliated,” Amum told journalists at the SPLM national headquarters in Juba.

Amum concluded that the Suth Sudan is a sovereign state, with the sovereign right to protect its oil.

“Our policy is peace in South Sudan; peace in the region,” Amum added.

Amum also revealed at the press conference that the French oil giant Total is set to begin oil exploration in a large concession in Jonglei state.

Total has previously said that any oil found in the Block B concession could be transported through the alternate pipeline to be built through Uganda to the Kenyan coast.

Wednesday, 01 February 2012

Written by Oscas Gama

TORIT- Fire has gutted Torit High Quality Hardware store, destroying commodities worth SSP140, 000.

The shop was one of the biggest Kenyan investments in hardware and furniture in Torit market

The fire, that broke out at around 2:00pm Wednesday, brought businesses in the town to a halt as traders, local residents and civil servants rushed to the scene to see the inferno.

There were loud explosions and thick plumes of repulsive smoke.

One of the labourers in the shop, Charles Odongo, said the fire started when a wielding generator caught fire and burst spreading fire it to the store and neighboring kiosks.

Cement, generators, mattresses, chairs, plastic drums, iron sheets, beds, painters, timber, window glasses and other valuable commodities were destroyed.

The manager of the shop, Sami Maima, said commodities destroyed amounts to Ksh3.5million, an equivalent of SSP140.000.

He said he got shocked when he discovered the whole generator room where his labourers were working, was covered by fire.

“I heard someone calling my name and when I rushed behind, I found the fire was too much to control, especially when we tried pouring water to extinguish it,” he explained

Maima said that they had received just received a new consignment of goods amounting to Kenya shillings one million the day before.

He commended efforts of the fire fighters and the general public in controlling the fire from further spreading to the neighboring shops and kiosks.

Few items, mostly metal windows and doors which were outside store were recovered during the rescue operations.

The state director of civil defence, Col. Cyprian Odiongo described the incident as “a real disaster”.

He said an assessment will be carried out by his team to establish the level of damage and forward the report to the state ministry of humanitarian affairs and disaster management for necessary assistance.

Odiongo advised individuals and institutions should carry out thorough cleanliness in and around their premises and avoid unnecessary use of candles and sale of petrol in shops.

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Written by Emmanuel Data

Business in Jebel market was yesterday brought to a standstill when the town council authorities demolished part of the market which they say is owned illegally.

Within a short time, the structures of the hitherto busy market were heaps of rabble, courtesy of a bull-dozer and able bodied men.

The exercise was commissioned by the chairman of the demolition committee, Vincent Kujo and the deputy Mayor of Juba, David Lokonga and heads of the various security organizations.

Business people tried to mobilize and stage a demonstration, but were dispersed by anti riot police, emergency police and the military police.

They were left in tears.

“If this place is demolished, where shall I feed my family? I have children, father and mother where shall they get their food?” Richard Justin lamented.

Justin, a businessman who owned a bar at the market, wondered why the authorities were treating them like that.

“We relocated here after the customs was demolished and established our businesses here,” he said.

Justin appealed to authorities to have a good approach to people for what they want.

“I call for the government to register those affected and compensate them for the losses. I am worried because I wasted up to fifteen thousand South Sudanese pounds on my structure,” he said.

A Uganda business lady, Susan Aida, complained that the notice given within a short time.

“We thought it was a joke, now we have nothing to do at the moment,” Aida said.

The deputy mayor David Lokonga told journalists that the plots which were not demarcated and have no legal documents will be demolished except those with legal documents.

The deputy mayor said that, we are already a new nation and we need systems to be put in place.

 “We are doing this because we need systems to be in place. We informed the people since December last year and gave them seven days notice on microphone announcements,” Lokonga explained.

He added that, “Those who have not removed their goods will face it, because it will not be our own mistake, we informed them earlier,” he said.

Lokonga explained that traders are represented by chamber of commerce and those groups who have mobilized to protest the exercises are groups who are against the systems.

“If we have organized the systems, we shall make the process for everybody even those whose houses are affected,” Lokonga added.

He warned those with legal plots in the Jebel market to build good structures within three months.

Lokonga warned that the next action will target Suk Sita and Konyo-Konyo market.