South Sudan celebrating Martyrs’ Day

JUBA, 30 July 2011 – The independent Republic of South Sudan is today celebrating its first Martyr’s Day. The day is meant to celebrate the selfless sacrifice of the heroes and heroines of liberation who paid the ultimate price for the liberation of the country.
The celebrations kick off in Juba this afternoon and are expected to go on until dusk when the people will light candles in the memory of the martyrs. President Salva Kiir Mayardit will lead the country in paying tribute to the people who lost their lives fighting for the independence which the country officially won this month.

 

The late Dr. John Garang de Mabior who is one of the martyrs.
The celebration is a demonstration of the fact that even though the martyrs are dead their memory lingers on in the hearts of all South Sudanese who appreciate the sacrifice they made for their homeland.

“Let’s build the nation as a tribute to the heroes”, President Kiir

JUBA, 30 July 2011 – President Salva Kiir Mayardit has called on all South Sudanese to participate actively in building the Republic of South Sudan as a tribute to the heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle.
President Kiir made this appeal today when he led the nation in celebrating the “Martyrs’ Day” to commemorate the selfless sacrifice of the national heroes and heroines who lost their lives fighting for the independence of the Republic.
“The heroes did not die in vain. Though we cannot reward them materially, building this nation is a befitting tribute to them”, he said adding that South Sudanese can only show that they are proud of their country by developing it.

 

President Kiir addressing the nation during the Martyrs’ Day celebrations in Juba.
[Photo: Matata Safi]
The President said that building the nation requires sacrifice, hard work, honesty, transparency, accountability and nationalism. He called on the youth to shun tribalism and join hands with all the citizens to build a unified nation. He warned them against violence. “Those calling you to pick up guns and kill your brothers are enemies of peace”, he cautioned. He said that South Sudanese have fought many wars for many years and that it is now time to consolidate peace.
President Kiir also appealed for dialogue in resolving differences. “If there are problems, let us sit down and an answer will be found”, he said. He also appealed for patience among the citizens emphasizing that development takes time to materialize. He explained that the government has only been in office for a few years but has achieved beyond expectation under challenging circumstances.
He also called on the South Sudanese to engage in agriculture and produce food for their families. He said that the new country cannot continue importing food. He also cautioned against the over-reliance on oil resources which, he said, can be depleted.
“From today we are getting into serious business; let us redouble our efforts if we are to be role models. Nothing comes easy; we have to double our efforts”, he said.

 

Citizens holding candles lit in memory of the martyrs.
[Photo: Matata Safi]
President Kiir also called on the armed forces to remain disciplined and respect human rights. He said the role of the army is to protect the sovereignty of the Republic and its boundaries. He cautioned members of the organized forces against misuse of arms. “The fact that you have a weapon in your hands does not give you the right to harm another human being”, he warned adding that those perpetrating such vices will be dealt with according to the law.
The same message was echoed by other speakers at the celebration who urged the people to put the past victories and pains behind them, unite and work to build the nation. The “Martyrs’ Day” is celebrated on 30th July every year in honour of the fallen heroes and heroines of liberation. It coincides with the day Dr. John Garang de Mabior, the late leader of the SPLM/A, died in a helicopter crash on his way back to South Sudan from a meeting in Uganda in 2005.

With diplomatic ties established, Israelis doing business in South Sudan

Israeli entrepreneurs moving into the nascent country, planning to establish farming communities for former soldiers along border with the Muslim northIsraeli entrepreneurs have been active in South Sudan for the past two years, and now that the Christian enclave has become an independent country, they’re willing to let their presence there be known.

At the head of the group of Israeli entrepreneurs stands Tamir Gal, a member of the Kfar Vitkin moshav. He and his partners have business operations in communications and agriculture in countries around the world, including in Africa.

	Sudanese refugees celebrating South Sudan’s independence, at a party in Tel Aviv, July 10, 2011.
	Photo by: Sara Miller

Gal and his partner Rafi Dayan, CEO and owner of Yarok 2000, are planning major agricultural projects for the new South Sudanese government, including a fruit and vegetable farm and a poultry business with henhouses and a slaughterhouse, scheduled to begin operating at the beginning of next year.

The project is intended to enable the South Sudanese to produce their own food. The area’s agricultural sector was destroyed by the northern Sudanese army and Muslim militias, leaving the residents without food sources. Currently, South Sudan imports 99% of its food and pays high prices.

The agricultural initiatives are also designed to provide employment for a large number of people and to teach agricultural methods. South Sudan’s autonomous government approved the project two years ago.

Israeli entrepreneurs also are helping to set up farming communities for former South Sudanese soldiers along the border with the Muslim north. These projects are expected to begin next year.

One large project with Israeli involvement is a 3,000-dunam irrigated vegetable farm, and a 10,000-dunam unirrigated farm for growing seeds. These initiatives were financed by a local investor.

In addition, Israelis helped the country set up its first Internet service provider, Bilpam Telecommunications.

Gal’s company will be working on projects worth a total of $20 million to $25 million by 2012, barring no unexpected political upheaval, he said.

AJC Applauds Israel-South Sudan Diplomatic Ties

July 30, 2011 — New York — AJC applauds the establishment this week of formal diplomatic relations between Israel and South Sudan. Africa’s newest nation declared independence on July 9.

“It is gratifying that South Sudan has entered into mutually beneficial ties with Israel,” said AJC Executive Director David Harris. “We celebrate the courage of those Israelis and South Sudanese whose dedication over the decades to nurturing relations under difficult conditions made this day possible.”

AJC, through its Africa Institute and Project Interchange program, contributed to the evolving relationship.

Israel-South Sudan interactions began as early as the late 1960s, when leaders of the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army, waging an insurrection against the North from the South, and impressed by Israel’s victory in the 1967 Six-Day War, reached out to Jerusalem.

Visiting Israel was a punishable offense in Sudan, and southerners maintained ties with Israel at great personal risk. The Islamist regime in Khartoum not only refused to engage Israel, but Sudanese passports included language explicitly stating that they were valid everywhere except for Israel.

A large South Sudanese diaspora in Israel advocated for ties to be formalized, and the Israeli government found ways to engage constructively with the leadership in Juba, mainly through Mashav, the international cooperation division of Israel’s Foreign Ministry.

Non-governmental organizations also played a critical role. AJC’s Africa Institute visited South Sudan in 2008 to meet with government officials and learn of ways in which the diaspora in Israel might be involved in the state-building efforts in preparation for independence. The AJC visit was carried out in cooperation with the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem, Samaritan’s Purse, and HIAS. AJC’s Africa Institute also introduced senior members of the South Sudanese leadership to officials in Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Through AJC Project Interchange, a senior public health official from Juba visited Israel in October 2010. He was part of a delegation of East African medical research doctors exploring joint projects with colleagues in Israel.

AJC’s Africa Institute was established in 2006. Its director, Eliseo Neuman, has been a key liaison with South Sudanese leaders.

Secretary General of South Sudan’s ruling party “persuaded” to stay at the helm

Written by Mading Ngor, The New Sudan Vision (NSV), newsudanvision.com

Monday, 25 July 2011 09:00

Pagan Amum (Juba NSV) – Pagan Amum called a press conference this afternoon to address issues surrounding his alleged resignation as Secretary General of the SPLM and Caretaker Minister of Peace and CPA Implementation.Addressing reporters at the SPLM National Secretariat Hall in Juba on Monday, Pagan confirmed it was “true” he tended in his resignation on 11 of July as Minister and SG of the SPLM. He said he “took a whole day, fasting and praying over [his resignation].” The Secretary General’s resignation leakage to the press last week caused a lot of consternation and left many Southerners asking more questions than they had answers for. Some media reports suggested Pagan resigned due to internal disagreements within the SPLM and allegations of corruption. In his explanation to the media, Pagan said these reports were “absolutely not true.” Instead, he added his move was triggered by his desire to serve the society as a private citizen and to vacate the positions for “fresh blood.” He dismissed any reports of disagreements, saying the SPLM was “more united” than previously and his “relations with the President have been excellent.” Meanwhile, Pagan was sworn in as Caretaker Minister last week, a reversal of his previous position. The move encouraged further speculations about the ironic turn of events. After nearly two weeks of close secrecy around his decision, the Secretary General’s explanations on Monday did not satisfy some members of the press. A journalist asked whether it was “dictatorship” on Mr. Kiir’s part to “turn-down” Pagan’s wish, and whether Pagan would be productive in such an “unwilling” position. “I will not be carrying out my duties with unwillingness,” Pagan replied, denying that he was dictated on. He added that he was “persuaded” by Salva Kiir to remain as Caretaker Minister and Secretary General of the SPLM until the party’s next Convention. Another reporter quizzed Pagan whether his temporary resignation was a “cover-up” for the accusations of corruption which were recently leveled against him. On the question, Pagan responded that Kiir’s decision to retain him was “clear response that the allegations were false.” He told the journalists to conduct their own independent investigations. He also shot back that the allegations were peddled by people who were “covering up unpatriotic” stands, giving the north 48 per cent of “our oil.

South Sudan commences processes of issuing new travel and ID documents

By Ngor Arol Garang

July 29, 2011 (JUBA) – The Republic of South Sudan on Friday confirmed it was in the process of issuing new travel and ID documents to all the citizens, explaining that the process is expected to help the government know the number of citizens in need and those that are holding legitimate documents.

The Inspector General of South Sudan police, Acuil Tito, told journalists on Friday that the process will also help the government to get rid of ghost workers in its pay rolls, identify students who deserve loans in institutions of higher learning and bolster security related information across the country.

“Processing all the necessary traveling like passport, birth certificate and the national identification is very important at this time since we have just attained our independence. The process was started this week and it will continue”, said General Acuil.

“The ministry of interior will set up offices in all the ten states and possibly in the counties,” he said explaining further that the government has informed state authorities to facilities the processes in their places in collaboration with the national ministry of interior.

The senior officer said IDs would equally be issued to citizens aged above 18 years old and foreigners resident in South Sudan who have accepted and recognized by the constitution of South Sudan. Meanwhile, he said that the country is enjoying relative peace, but expressed concern over the tendency by some opposition political leaders of inciting public unrest.

“Some political leaders have been causing unrest by mobilising and providing military support to some renegade[s] after the 2010 general elections. They are using Khartoum as their supporting base”, he said.

There are several rebel groups active in South Sudan.

He said that although on one hand the leaders have the right to criticise the government, it was unfair to interfere with the and safety of the people of South Sudan.

He blamed politicians for interfering with what he called valuable time which could have otherwise been spent on more productive activities and expressed concern that it was the same leaders who claimed that the South Sudanese lived in abject poverty, but who convinced people to engage in taking up arms.

“If the time spent on mobilising people and talking tribal politics is used on matters that could improve the welfare of South Sudanese surely this would help in reducing poverty in the country,” he said.

(ST)

South Sudanese oppositionist accuses Kiir of killing rebel leader Gai, warns of war

July 29, 2011 (NAIROBI) – A South Sudanese opposition figure has overtly accused the country’s leader Salva Kiir Mayradit of liquidating rebel leader Gaultak Gai, warning that his death has antagonized the Nuer Community and curtailed any prospect for peace in the country.

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir waves to his supporters as he arrives at the John Garang mausoleum before the Independence Day celebrations in the capital Juba, July 9, 2011 (REUTERS PICTURES)Gai, who had been leading a localized rebellion against the government of South Sudan in Unity State since his defection from the country’s army known as Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) following the announcement of elections results in April last year, was shot dead in mysterious circumstances on 23 July along with a number of his bodyguards in Koch County.

Three days before his demise, Gai signed a peace deal with the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) after six weeks of talks. Under the deal, he was meant to integrate his forces into the SPLA and given the rank of a Lieutenant-General in the SPLA.

The SPLA denied any involvement in Gai’s death, accusing his deputy, Marko Chuol Ruei, of opening fire on his leader following internal squabbles.

Ruei went on Bentiu radio to claim responsibility for the death of his commander, stressing that he now had command over the old rebel group and expressing his desire to see through the peace deal with the SPLA.

Gordon Buay, former Secretary-General of South Sudan Democratic Front (SSDF), on Saturday chided South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir over his “cowardice act to assassinate” Gai and warned that his death will spark a war.

“The assassination of Gatluak Gai is something unknown to Dinka and Nuer culture. In Nilotic culture, you cannot kill somebody who signed peace with you,” Buay said in a letter seen by Sudan Tribune.

He went on to cite the example of how the late southern leader John Garang signed a peace deal with Riek Machar but did not kill him.

Buay warned that the entire Nuer community is “angry” and that even Nuer intellectuals will now be going to “the frontline” because what Kiir allegedly did “is something unknown in Nuer and Dinka culture.”

“Very soon, the entire Warrap State will be on fire because of what you did to Gatluak Gai who wholeheartedly signed peace for the benefit of the people of South Sudan,” he said.

The southern figure warned that peace in South Sudan was now “dead” with Gai. “You need to polish your AK-47 because from now on you will go to frontline if you are not a coward,” Buay said in his address to Kiir.

Analysts have long been warned that South Sudan, which gained independence on 9 July, might descend into ethnic violence if the government’s focus does not shift towards addressing internal grievances.

Sudan, South to finalise talks ‘by end-Sept’ and Khartoum drops high transit fee demand

Khaleej Times Online > INTERNATIONAL
(AFP)

30 July 2011: JUBA – South Sudan said on Saturday it has agreed with the north to finalise talks on the key issues of oil, currency and borders by the end of September, after the first round of negotiations since independence.

“We have agreed that by September 30 we will reach a final agreement that will be the basis of the (economic) relationship between the two states,” the south’s chief negotiator Pagan Amum told reporters in Juba.

The agreement would cover the oil sector and the currency issue, Amum said after returning from Addis Ababa, where the African Union-mediated talks resumed this week following their suspension prior to southern independence on July 9.

The two issues had prompted Amum, who is the south’s minister of peace and secretary general of its ruling party, the SPLM, to warn Monday of an “economic war” with the north, which he accused of imposing oil transit fees that amounted to “daylight robbery.”

Around 75 percent of Sudan’s total crude production of 470,000 barrels per day is pumped from the south.

Khartoum’s cash-strapped government is desperate to offset the loss of southern oil revenues, which represented some 36 percent of its income prior to partition.

The north approved a law last week imposing fees on the landlocked south’s use of northern oil infrastructure.

But on Saturday, Amum said Khartoum had agreed to charge pipeline transit fees “according to international standards.”

The negotiating teams in the Ethiopian capital also discussed how the south and the international community would help Khartoum to recover its losses, which Amum said were about $340 million per month depending on oil prices.

The two sides launched new currencies in the past two weeks, and there have been widespread fears in Juba that Khartoum will refuse to buy back the estimated two billion old Sudanese pounds in circulation in the south and even flood the country with the old currency before it is withdrawn.

But Amum said on Saturday that the central banks from north and south had agreed to form a joint committee to replace the old Sudanese pound “in a transparent manner,” to build confidence in the new currencies.

Sudan sees progress with north in oil, currency row
By Jeremy Clarke

JUBA Jul 30 (Reuters) – South Sudan sees progress in resolving disputes with Khartoum over the sharing of oil revenues and launch of new currencies, it said on Saturday, striking a conciliatory note after earlier accusing its former civil war foe of starting an economic war.

South Sudan will a pay a pipeline transit fee for its oil in line with international standards after the North dropped its demand for a “discriminatory” $22.8 a barrel, said Pagan Amum, secretary general of the southern ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

South Sudan became independent from Sudan on July 9, taking with it 75 percent of the African country’s 500,000 barrels a day of oil production — the economic lifeline for north and south.

South Sudan will have to pay Khartoum a fee to carry its oil through a pipeline to the countries’ only Red Sea port but the two have yet to agree on how to divide oil revenues that have so far been split equally.

Amum said Khartoum had withdrawn an earlier request for a pipeline fee of $22.8 per barrel — about 20 percent of the oil’s export value based on June prices — after fresh bilateral talks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The two sides wanted to solve all disputes by September 30, Amum told reporters in the southern capital Juba after his return. Western diplomats had hoped they would reach an agreement before southern independence.

“We will be paying pipeline fees … and also we will be paying transit fees that are within the international practices and standards,” he said, without saying how much the South was willing to pay.

“This discussion brought to an end the attempt to impose discriminatory surcharges by the government in Khartoum, who announced they would impose $22.8 per barrel … They have withdrawn officially this position,” he said.

There was no immediate reaction by the northern government, which had not confirmed the $22.8 a barrel demand the South announced on Monday, calling it “broad daylight robbery.”

The dispute over sharing oil revenues could threaten to disrupt the flow of crude from the country, a significant exporter to China and Japan.

The South won its independence in a referendum in January agreed under a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of civil war with the North.

Analysts say there has been little transparency for years on how oil revenues are booked in Sudan, hit by years of conflict, inflation, corruption and U.S. trade sanctions.

CURRENCY TURMOIL

The countries are also discussing ways to build confidence in their new currencies, he said.

North and south each started circulating new money in July, without coordination, a move that poses risks for both sides. The north has said old Sudanese pounds held in the south will be worthless, which would hit the new nation hard.

But any efforts by the South to export the old notes north could add to strong inflationary pressures there.

“We have agreed to form a joint committee from the two central banks so that the replacement and exchange of the (old) Sudanese pounds with the (new) South Sudan pound, as well as the change of Sudanese pounds in Khartoum, will be done in a transparent manner,” Amum said.

“The old pound will be kept within a very clear framework of management so that there will be no dumping of the Sudanese pound,” he said, without being more specific.

The northern central bank has said it is open to more talks, but that if they came to nothing it would speed up replacing the old currency which would become worthless in the South.

Apart from economic issues, the dividing countries have to fix their long border, end violence in some border areas, and find a solution for the contested Abyei region which straddles north and south.

(Additional reporting by Hereward Holland in Juba and Aaron Masho in Addis Ababa; Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Catherine Evans)

S.Sudan says Khartoum drops high transit fee demand

JUBA, (Reuters) – South Sudan has agreed with Khartoum that it will a pay a pipeline transit fee for its oil in line with international standards after the north dropped its demand for a “discriminatory” $22.8 a barrel, a senior southern official said on Saturday.

The comments could ease tensions between the two countries after the South, the newest African nation, accused Khartoum on Monday of “broad daylight robbery” and starting an economic war.

South Sudan became independent from Sudan on July 9, taking with it 75 percent of the African country’s 500,000 barrels a day of oil production — the lifeline for north and south.

South Sudan will have to pay Khartoum a fee to carry its oil through a pipeline to the countries’ only Red Sea port but the two have yet to agree on how to divide oil revenues that have so far been split equally.

Khartoum has withdrawn an earlier request for a pipeline fee of $22.8 per barrel — about 20 percent of the oil’s export value — said Pagan Amum, secretary general of the ruling southern Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

Both sides agreed at talks in Ethiopia that the South would pay a fee in line with international norms, Amum said after his return from Addis Ababa, without being specific.

“We will be paying pipeline fees … and also we will be paying transit fees that are within the international practices and standards,” he told reporters.

“This discussion brought to an end the attempt to impose discriminatory surcharges by the government in Khartoum, who announced they would impose $22.8 per barrel … They have withdrawn officially this position,” he said.

There was no immediate reaction by the northern government, which had not confirmed the $22.8 a barrel demand announced by the South on Monday.

The dispute over sharing oil revenues could threaten to disrupt the flow of crude from the country, a significant exporter to China and Japan.

The South won its independence in a referendum in January agreed under a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of civil war with the North.

Analysts say there has been little transparency for years on how oil revenues are booked in Sudan, hit by years of conflict, inflation, corruption and U.S. trade sanctions.