Monday, 15 October 2012

Written by Peter Moi

President Salva Kiir on Monday called upon Parliament to ratify the cooperation agreement, signed between him and his Sudanese counterpart on September 27.

The cooperation agreement summarises the nine agreements signed between the chief negotiatiors on oil, security, nationality and trade.

South Sudan’s Parliament is expected to debate and vote on the cooperation agreement tomorrow, Tuesday.

“It’s my hope that the August House will ratify the cooperation agreement to improve our economy,” Kiir told MPs. He explained that this would lead to the resumption of oil production. He, however, stressed that the oil would not start flowing immediately but the process would take a few months.

On the borders, he reiterated that the 1956 borderline was the basis for discussion, as was stipulated in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. “There is no basis for deciding borders by force,” the President said.

In a bid to reassure the people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Kiir stressed that Mile 14 belongs to the Malual Dinka, adding that it was the British administration which allowed the Rizeigat to use the strip for grazing.

“Now our people are demonstrating that the land has been given away. I do not think the negotiating team and I have given a piece of land of South Sudan to anybody,” he told Parliament.

Kiir said it was anybody’s democratic right to express their opinion but warned those inciting the public for political reasons.

“They must be doing it for the interest of the people and not the interest of a small group which wants to gain by inciting people against the Government,” he said.

Outside Parliament, protestors carried banners with writings such as “No compromise on 14 miles”, “Our land is our life”, “SPLA must contain Khartoum’s encroachment on our land” and “Never give up the rights of our ancestral land”. The protestors were dispersed by the anti-riot police.

Earlier, Speaker James Wani also appealed to the legislators to approve the agreement.

“You are kindly called upon to ratify the cooperation agreement. Some of you might know that Khartoum has already ratified on its part,” Wani told the MPs.

He said that those who were against the agreement were misinformed and did not study the document before making a judgment.

“All people should know that any genuine agreement, even with a girl that you want to marry, is a matter of give and take, the principle of reciprocity,” the Speaker said.

Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Written by Peter Moi

Juba - South Sudan has accused Sudan of scaring away investors from the country by arming rebels.

Information minister Benjamin Marial told reporters on Tuesday that weapons were dropped in Pibor county of Jonglei state, meant for the forces of David Yau Yau.

Yau Yau started an armed rebellion in his native Pibor county, home to largely disenfranchised Murle, after he lost the 2010 Jonglei state elections.

Marial said there are oil companies and there is abundant wildlife in Jonglei, waiting to be explored by investors.

“There are those in the National Congress Party who believe in war. The intention of Khartoum is… to scare investors. We will not be dragged into war,” he told the media.

“Bashir right now is meeting Salva Kiir so why would he be arming rebels?

This is a sign of divisions and a problem of authority.”

He said South Sudan was considering writing a protest note to the UN Security Council.

“They are not supposed to violate the territory of another nation,” Marial said, adding that the UN mission in South Sudan witnessed the airdrops.

UNMISS confirmed seeing packages being dropped but could not confirm who dropped them and what was in the packages.

UNMISS spokesperson Kouider Zerrouk said their peacekeepers witnessed a white fixed aircraft drop seven or eight packages three kilometers from Likuangole town on Saturday morning.

“The mission is not in a position to confirm who was in the aircraft or what was dropped,” he told Reuters.

Wednesday, 19 September 2012

Written by Aping Kuluel

Juba - The first direct flight from Khartoum, carrying 87 passengers, landed in Juba on Tuesday.

Its arrival ended a five-month suspension of flights, which started on April 9, as a result of rising tensions between Sudan and South Sudan.

Passengers at Juba airport expressed relief and happiness about the agreement to resume flights, which was reached on August 31.

Christina Abdalla, a South Sudanese student studying in Khartoum, explained how she suffered when there were no direct flights between the two capital cities.

“When I came back to Juba two months ago, I had to use the Ethiopia route. It was very expensive and tiresome,” she said.

Nasser Isizik, a Sudanese trader based in Juba, said he had not visited his family for half a year since he could not afford the flights.

“I feel very happy. The resumption of Khartoum-Juba flights will enable me visit my family. I am going to visit my wife and children, including my baby who was born in my absence,” Isizik said.

Omar Mahajub, who works with Ayat Company and is based in Wau, said the agreement was good for both Sudan and South Sudan.

Before flights resumed, he used to go to Khartoum via Kenya or Ethiopia and it would cost him SSP2,800 one way. Now he pays the same amount for a return flight, he explained.

Kau Nak, the South Sudanese deputy ambassador in Khartoum, called the move an important step in improving the political, economic and diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“This is the beginning. The resumption is temporary and will last for six months. It will be extended if the ongoing negotiations in Addis Ababa are not yet finalized,” he explained.

He urged both Khartoum and Juba to address the issue of visas so that nationals of both countries can access them easily.

Khalid Altjani, the manager of Marsland Airlines, which brought in the historic flight, thanked both governments for signing the deal.

He stressed that it is important for both Sudans to have a cordial relationship since they already have a shared history behind them.

The airline will operate three flights this week, two for passengers and one for cargo, he announced. “After these first days, we will introduce daily flights.”

The managers of Kush Air and Sudan Airways also confirmed that they will resume flights.

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Written by Aping Kuluel

JUBA – President Salva Kiir has urged Police officers to fight crime and keep away from corrupt practices.

He was speaking during the graduation ceremony of 109 Police cadet officers, the first since Independence, held in Juba on Monday.

“You combat crime because there is a lot of insecurity in our country. If you don’t know how to detect those harmful individuals from civilians, then you are not doing your job as Police,” the President said.

Kiir also took the opportunity to urge the ministers responsible for tax collection to ensure that no taxes are embezzled.

“I call upon the ministers of interior, finance and commerce not to allow taxes to go into the teeth of individuals,” he said.

The officers, led by justice minster John Luk, took an oath of diligence, presided by the President. The ceremony was attended by Government officials, as well as dignitaries from Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, India, Eritrea, Egypt and UN agencies.

The Police Training College was established in Rejaf, outside Juba, only five months ago. The cadets were trained in Uganda and Sudan and completed their final lapse at the training college.

Out of the 109 graduates, 71 were degree programme cadets who were dismissed by Khartoum when relations between Sudan and South Sudan soured in April.

The other 38 cops were sent to Kabalye Police Training School in Masindi District, Western Uganda, where they completed a 22-months training with a diploma in Police Sciences.

Among the new Police graduates, 26 are women. Seven officers, including one woman, were awarded for their excellent performance.

The officers completed several practical training sessions and fieldwork in various courses, such as law, police sciences, management and administration, explained the deputy Inspector General of Police, Kur Michael.

During the ceremony, the Inspector General of Police, Achuil Tito, reminded that it is the right of all citizens to get protection from the Police.

He, however, said the communities should assume part of the responsibility for the insecurity since their sons are the ones causing it.

He urged the officers to work closely with the communities and the community police in tracking down crime, adding that security was the basis for any development.

“I know you will efficiently deliver the services all over the ten states. In doing that, we will be able to achieve socio-economic development in our country,” he said.