World is failing South Sudan – Former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown

By Gordon Brown; Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Education Without Borders

04/17/2012

A boy listens to his teacher during a lesson at the improvised Hai Kugi School on the outskirts of Juba, South Sudan. © UNESCO /M. Hofer (2011)

Every child has a right to an education. Yet millions of children are living in countries where that right is systematically violated as a result of armed conflict. It is time for the international community to stop this state of affairs by getting serious about its responsibility to protect education in all countries, irrespective of the barriers created by armed conflict.

Education seldom figures in media reporting from conflict zones. Yet the effects are devastating. In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the education system has collapsed in the face of mass displacement and ongoing violence, over 1 million children are out of school. When the surge in refugees driven from Somalia by hunger and violence arrived in camps in northern Kenya last year there was no provision made for additional education. And the conflict in Yemen has pushed tens of thousands of children out of school.

Apart from violating the rights of children, failure to protect the right to education fuels the cycle of violence. One of the greatest fears of Somali mothers in the refugee camps of northern Kenya is that limited opportunities for schooling will draw their children into the ranks of al-Shabaab. You hear the same concerns among refugees from Darfur in the camps of eastern Chad.

Parents living in conflict zones make extraordinary efforts to keep alive the hope that comes with education. Sadly, the same cannot be said of the international community. Currently less than 2 per cent of humanitarian aid is dedicated to education. And it is not just a case of too little aid arriving too late. Agencies trying to provide education in conflict zones have to secure their funding through unpredictable annual appeals processes, where money tends to follow the most recent wave of media interest — and where children living in long-running conflicts are seen as yesterday’s news.
South Sudan is the latest country to demonstrate the inadequacy of the current aid architecture for education. In 2005, when a peace agreement ended a brutal 21-year civil war, hopes for a better future were running high. Seven years on, much has been achieved. More than half a million children have entered education for the first time. Child death rates have fallen by 20 per cent. There have also been improvements in immunization, nutrition and access to clean water.

Yet despite the progress that has been made, over 80 percent of South Sudan’s population lives on less than $1.25 a day. The country has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world. Half of primary school age children are out of school, and just 400 girls make it through to the last grade of secondary school. In fact, girls are more likely to die in childbirth than they are to make it through primary school.

With tensions running high, it is now critical that both sides in Sudan draw back from the brink of conflict and resolve their differences. But South Sudan also needs support for reconstruction. As an all-party committee of the United Kingdom’s parliament noted in a report this week, if South Sudan is to develop as a prosperous peaceful nation “it will need to invest in health, education and infrastructure.” Nowhere is this more evident than in schooling. South Sudan’s parents have demonstrated extraordinary resolve, innovation and ambition in attempting to get their children into school. Their efforts are inspiring and humbling in equal measure. Schools for their children was the most important demand of parents crossing as refugees from the old Sudan into the new South Sudanese state. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the international aid community.

Since the peace agreement, aid for education has arrived in an uncoordinated trickle. The Global Partnership for Education, which operates under the financial auspices of the World Bank, has yet to put a program in place. Most bilateral donors are operating on a small scale. To make matters worse, there is now talk of cutting back on long-term development assistance and transferring aid into short-term humanitarian budgets.

This is the last thing that South Sudan needs — and there is an alternative. In a report published today, I set out the case for an ‘education catch-up’ plan aimed at extending learning opportunities for 2.5 million children by the end of 2015. The cost: around $400m annually over the next four years. Around half of this amount could be co-financed by the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) — and the IMF-World Bank Spring meeting in Washington DC this week-end provides an opportunity to set the wheels in motion.

Some people will doubtless argue that getting all of South Sudan’s children into school in the current climate is ‘unrealistic’ and that we should wait until the threat of war has receded.

But where is the ‘realism’ in denying a whole generation of children the chance of an education that could transform their lives? And why waste an opportunity to build an education system that could spur growth, create jobs, and nurture the attitudes on which a peaceful future depends?

When it comes to education, there should be no borders — only rights. Organisations like the Red Cross and Medicine Sans Frontieres do not recognise borders in the provision of health care. Yet when it comes to education, the international community’s commitment to the rights of children is weakest in precisely those conflict-affected states where support is most urgently needed. That is why I have been calling for the creation of a new type of initiative — Education without Borders — that will work to support and deliver education for children trapped-in conflict zones, and for those forced to flee their homes as displaced people and refugees.

We need to stop viewing education as part of the collateral damage that comes with conflict. We know that education gives children their best hope of escaping poverty. And we know that education — especially of young girls — can act as a catalyst for progress in other areas, such as nutrition, child survival and combating infectious diseases. For children trapped in conflict, education can help to create a sense of normality and keep alive the hope of a better future.

Never again should the right of a child to education depend on boundaries set by geography or conflict.

These children need our help — and they need it now.

To learn more about the campaign to get 1 million children in South Sudan in school, please visit The Office of Gordon and Sarah Brown.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gordon-brown/education-without-borders_b_1432183.html?ref=yahoo&ir=Yahoo

World is failing South Sudan –  Brown

Former PM launches attack on global community for failure to improve education in world’s newest country

Young women in South Sudan are more likely to die during pregnancy or in childbirth than to make it into secondary education. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA

The former prime minister Gordon Brown is to deliver a strong attack on international aid donors for their failure to tackle an education crisis in the world’s newest country, South Sudan.

In a report timed to coincide with this week’s spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington, Brown said that action to put an extra 1 million children into school in the conflict-ravaged country was a test case.

Brown criticised the “half-measures, hesitation and indifference” that meant that a girl in South Sudan is more likely to die during pregnancy or in childbirth than to make it into secondary education.

He called for $1.6bn to be mobilised over the next four years. This would, the former PM said, provide better education for 2 million children, half of them currently out of school; give financial support for the schooling of half a million girls; make provision for the education of 300,000 children displaced as a result of armed violence or living in conflict zones; train 30,000 teachers; and build 3,000 schools.

“There is one country that illustrates more than any other what is not working in the current international aid architecture on education. That country is South Sudan, Africa’s newest nation.”

Brown, co-chair of the Global Campaign for Education’s high-level panel on education, said children were being pushed to the back of the queue for development assistance. He added that he was planning a new type of organisation – Education without Borders – to galvanise support and deliver education aid in the places where it was most needed.

The millennium development goals set by the United Nations include universal primary education by 2015, but Brown said the body responsible for financing the multilateral donor effort in South Sudan – the Global Partnership for Education – had yet to establish a programme.

“This is a wasted opportunity – and not just for South Sudan. The GPE needs to establish its credentials as an innovative and dynamic force for change in countries affected by conflict.”

Bob Prouty, head of the GPE, said he was baffled by Brown’s criticisms. He said his organisation was working actively with South Sudan to step up investment in education, but did not operate in a top-down manner. “We are giving the government time to work out what it wants,” he said.

Brown said: “I am, of course, aware that some people will argue that the goals that have been set are too ambitious, that the costs are not affordable, and that South Sudan should concentrate on taking small steps in the right direction, rather than attempting a great leap forward. I do not accept these arguments.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/18/brown-south-sudan-education?newsfeed=true

World is failing South Sudan – Brown The Guardian The former prime minister Gordon Brown is to deliver a strong attack on international aid donors for their failure to tackle an education crisis in the world’s newest country, South Sudan. In a report timed to coincide with this week’s spring meetings …

Mbeki urges UN Security Council to act on Sudan BlueRidgeNow.com By ALEXANDRA OLSON AP African Union mediator Thabo Mbeki urged the UN Security Council on Tuesday to take action to stop the fighting between Sudan and South Sudan, warning that both sides are locked in a “logic of war” with hardliners increasingly in …

Sudanese opposition calls on South Sudan to withdraw from Heglig Sudan Tribune April 16, 2012 (KHARTOUM) –Leaders of Sudan’s mainstream opposition parties have added their voices to calls for the immediate withdrawal of South Sudan from Heglig and cessation of hostilities between Khartoum and Juba. The National Consensus Forces …

Mosaic News 4/16/2012: Released Jordanian Political Prisoners Recount Torture linktv Released Jordanian political prisoners recount torture by security forces, Afghanistan’s Karzai slams NATO over Taliban attack, Sudan rules out talks until South Sudan withdraws from Heglig, and more. Today’s headlines in full: Released Jordanian … UN council mulls Sudan, South Sudan sanctions to end clashes Reuters By Michelle Nichols | UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The UN Security Council discussed on Tuesday possibly imposing sanctions on Sudan and South Sudan if the African neighbors did not stop border clashes that were threatening to spiral into full-scale war, … South Kordofan Legislature Leads Campaign to Uncover Dimensions of Assault on … Sudan Vision Khartoum – The South Kordofan Legislative Council described the attacks on some of the areas in South Kordofan launched by the South Sudan army as implementation of a plan orchestrated by some entities to transform the state into a platform to sabotage … Sudan Vision Sudan theatre troupe brings Shakespeare’s plays to life ntvkenya http://www.ntv.co.ke Wreaked by decades of civil war and now trying to build a new nation from scratch, South Sudan has been unable to put the arts at the top of its priority list. The impoverished nine-month-old country is sponsoring one of 37 … East Africa: Khartoum, Juba War Must Be Averted – Kibaki AllAfrica.com President Mwai Kibaki has called on East African Community (EAC) members to jointly find ways of diplomatically addressing the unfolding events on the Sudan and South Sudan border because the two nations must not return to war so soon after a peaceful …

Heglig (Paanthou) War: Should the SPLA completely destroy the Oilfields if forced to withdraw?

By South Sudan Nation Website Editor

“I am a head of state accountable to my people and do not have to be ordered by someone I do not fall under his direct command. I will not withdraw the troops,” Pres. Kiir to UN Sec.Gen. Ban Ki Moon, April, 11/2012, Juba

Unreservedly, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, deserves all the accolades for his momentous decision to send the gallant SPLA to (re)-capture our lost territory of Paanthou that the jellaba former Republic of Sudan president Nimeri illegitimately and arbitrarily sequestered from us after the discovery of oil in the area.

Whatever errors of omissions and commissions committed by our leaders since the signing of the CPA that have now brought us to the current predicament, all South Sudanese nationals must look forward, not backwards, on what actions we must embark upon hereafter.

Just like we can’t continuously keep blaming the unfortunate and ill-prepared Chiefs and politicians who attended the 1947 Juba Conference or Joseph Lagu’s Addis Ababa Agreement that only served to exacerbate our political predestination, we shouldn’t be wasting our energy ruefully lamenting and reproaching our leaders now for the past errors done.

At this critical moment in our destiny, let’s all join hands and minds to support the leadership on the current political perplexity pertaining to the outcome of the war in Paanthou, but more importantly, what should our forces do about the oil infrastructures should the jellaba North Sudan take possession again.

Due to its very significance as the number one oilfield, the repossession of or the loss of Paanthou, for us, South Sudanese, is really crucial just as ownership of the land itself and the restoration of the right of the original citizens of that area.

Similarly, the same predication goes for Abyei region and those areas now being besieged by the belligerent aggressors from the North who want to usurp all our God-given natural resources prevailing in those areas.

As a people, we, South Sudanese, in our long and tortured progression to nationhood and liberation since being politically orphaned and betrayed by colonial Britain in 1947, have gone through unfathomable mishaps and calamities that severely hampered and retarded our evolution.

We must resolve with absolute determination what and how to deal with the issue of Paanthou oil field especially if we are going to involuntarily cede it once again to the nefarious jellaba with the serious ramifications and implications detrimental to our very survival.

Recognizing jellaba historical intransigence and obfuscation, we can neither be assured nor hopeful of equitable share of or fairness of deals pertaining to our own oil revenues if the jellaba got hold of Paanthou and resume pumping our oil northwards.

Inevitably, in the stark reality that the jellaba come out as victors in this war, we can most certainly accede that any further negotiations on the remaining issues will be meaningless and inconsequential.

For sure, we can’t rely too much on the international community that currently is pro-Arab and too scared to hurt Islamic sentiments, so we’re unfairly doomed in whatever continuation of negotiations we shall have with the jellaba.

The next few days will be very decisive and crucial for South Sudan nation and as such, President Kiir must decisively decide what action we must take if by some misfortune, the jellaba emerge victorious in the Paanthou war.

If the South is militarily forced to withdraw from Paanthou, what do we do with the oilfield infrastructures, leave them intact so that the jellaba continue to exploit our resources to grow stronger and perpetuate their aggression against the South?

Alternatively, should the SPLA forces be ordered to set the place ablaze so that the jellaba don’t use our resources to advance their egregious policy of destabilization of our nation?

President Kiir should rest assured that there is already legal precedence where oilfields have been set ablaze by the withdrawing forces, including the destruction of arsenal on the battlefield to prevent your adversaries for taking advantage.

Where and when our national interest is potentially or actually under threat, as this spate of war truly proves, we’d never hesitate to take action, whatsoever, to secure the nation and our survival.

President Kiir and SPLA commanders on the ground in Paanthou: Please don’t accord the jellaba any advantage to exploit that which is to our own detriment.

http://www.southsudannation.com/index.html

South Sudanese Communities in the Diaspora Aliiny/Panthou/Heglig’s Petition LETTER to the International Community

South Sudanese Communities in the Diaspora’s Petition LETTER to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, over Aliiny/Paanthou/Heglig crisis between South Sudan and Sudan. 

TO: UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon
CC: UNSC, EU, AU, IGADD, US Department of State, White House, US Congress.

April 17, 2012

The South Sudanese communities in the Diaspora, united through a joint initiative known as the South Sudan Volunteer Initiative (SSVI), are deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis between South Sudan and [North] Sudan, instigated by a year-long bombardment of South Sudan’s territories by Sudan’s armed forces (SAF). The US-based community in particular, in conjunction with the global SSVI, is calling on the international community, particularly the US government and congress, to immediately stop the ongoing carnage being committed by Sudan, and facilitate an immediate return to the negotiation table in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in order to tackle the outstanding issues, which are the root cause of the ongoing crisis.

While the Sudan government’s activities, particularly its continuous attacks on South Sudan since its independence in July of last year, and its defiance of the international community’s plea to respect human rights, implement the remaining provisions of the CPA, withdraw from Abyei, and stop aerial bombardment of innocent civilians deep inside South Sudan’s territory, are not startling to us – for we are used to them (that is the reason we are here), we find it shocking to see the level in which it has been able to easily deceives the international community on the current crisis. The fraudulent account of Panthou (Heglig) – also known locally as Wunthow, Aliiny – among others names, gained an unprecedented acceptance among some international circles, essentially raising major concerns about the global community’s attention span. The Sudan government has never been honest in its dealing with anyone, leave alone the international community, and for the international community to take its words for anything, much less at face value, is synonymous to allowing a child molester keeps your children under the pretext that he tells you he has recovered.
Although we categorically oppose military solution to our problems, and support the calls of the UN Security Council, the African Union, and the UN Secretary-General, amongst others, for an immediate end to all confrontations, we urge the international community to refrain from making premature statements about Panthou’s status until the demarcation of the South-North border, which Sudan has been avoiding with the false hope that it will demarcate it using its military. Making these kinds of statements will be nothing short of a permission slip for the Sudan government to do as it pleases, which is already the case anyway. We also want to note that the Sudan government’s conviction of demarcating the borders by force is not hard to believe since it has successfully moved the border southward, resulting in the annexation of Panthou (Heglig) – which, as per the 1/1/1956 border, is part of South Sudan’s Unity state, and other areas where oil was discovered. One doesn’t have to be smart to see the pattern, and thus the reason of the continuous attack; an apparent attempt to annex South Sudan’s oil producing state of Unity, to the North. This goes without saying that the rude awakening SAF received from the SPLA came as a result of continuous provocations, which deserve enumeration, however brief, here for the benefit of our readers.

On Saturday April 14, 2012, at 1:30 PM local time, a SAF MiG 29 plane bombed Bentiu town in South Sudan’s Unity State, killing 5 civilians, and wounding 6 others. The aerial attack set ablaze the main Bentiu market, leaving the locals running for their dear lives. On the same day, SAF also released three bombs on Bentiu Bridge, with the intention to destroy the corridor between Bentiu and Rubkotna. More SAF bombs were dropped on Panakuach – also in unity state, wounding 5 civilians. Two bombs were also dropped on Abiemnhom in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State on the same today. As if this wasn’t enough and despite the UN Security Council’s statement on April 12, two days earlier, calling for an immediate stoppage of the aerial bombardments, SAF Antonov plane dropped two bombs a day later on Ajakkuach in Warrap State of South Sudan while also conducting aerial bombardments of Majoknhom, also in Warrap State. This was in a very short order and does not include the previous air raids. There have been total of 60 bombs dropped inside South Sudan territory thus far!

From the above campaign, it is easy to see that South Sudan has been and continues to be the victim of Sudan’s sustained aggression. We also want to remind our readers that South Sudan has been a faithful partner at the negotiation table despites lackluster effort by the Sudanese delegation to accept any recommendation from the African Union’s High Implementation Panel (AUHIP). For instance, before talks broke down an April 4, 2012, the delegation of the Republic of South Sudan accepted the February 10, 2012 memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Non-aggression pact, the June 29 and July 30, 2012 agreements to create a safe Demilitarized Border Zones. However, the Sudan delegation rejected these proposals, again counting on its perceived military might over South Sudan. On March 30, 2012, AUHIP leader, Thabo Mbeki called a Second Extraordinary meeting of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) at the level of the two respective defense ministers, but the Sudanese defense minister arrived in Addis Ababa three days late.

Many international experts and South Sudanese alike expected this behavior from the Sudanese delegation because its refusal to either sign peace pacts or dishonored the ones it signed has been consistent over a long period of time. Eric Reeves, A renowned Sudanese expert from Smith College, put it eloquently when he said “Khartoum has consistently refused to negotiate these areas of the border either within the Technical Boundary Committee (TBC) or through high-level political engagement. Over more than seven years, it has repeatedly refused to convene or participate in good faith in the TBC, to accept the findings of the Abyei Boundaries Commission (ABC) stipulated by the Abyei Protocol of the CPA, or to accept the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (July 2009)”.

To further illustrates South Sudan’s desire for peaceful coexistence between the two neighboring states, South Sudan leadership has been consistent in making it clear that it will only fight in self-defense. Despites the aerial bombardments listed above, South Sudan’s armed forces – the SPLA has never responded in kind; that is attacking SAF position inside Sudan. Since the talks broke down in Addis Ababa in early April, as a result of Sudanese delegation’s refusal to sign deals, Sudan’s true motive, that is the invasion of unity state continued. The SPLA positions inside South Sudan continued to come under heavy attack from SAF in and around Panthou (Heglig). On March 26, 2012, SPLA repulsed an SAF attack and pursued them past Panthou (Heglig), resulting in temporary takeover of the town. They withdrew two days later to give the AU mediators a chance to find a solution. The last straw was on April 10, 2012 when another heavy attack was repulsed, and the SPLA decided to take over the town to deter further attacks from there, a move that is now receiving unwarranted criticism, because Khartoum seems to have duped the global community.

It has now becomes clear that South Sudan’s reluctant and patience in pressing the issue of Panthou (Heglig) is misconstrued by many, particularly the international community, as an indication that this Southern town belongs to the North. It is not. It appears that the current source of misunderstanding with regard to the status of the Panthou area stems from the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) award of July 2009, defining the boundaries of the Abyei Area, and placing Panthou outside of the Abyei Area. This has been misunderstood, however, to mean that Panthou is not part of South Sudan. Nevertheless, the PCA did not rule on the border between north and south Sudan – it ruled only on the boundaries of the Abyei Area! South Sudan accepted that ruling, and continues to accept the PCA ruling as it applies to the Abyei Area.

However, both Sudan and South Sudan maintain that the North-South border is not yet fully agreed upon, but South Sudan knows that Panthou lies within its territory. For this reason, South Sudan has always contended that Panthou is one of the disputed areas (since the North also claims it), along with other areas such as Kafia Kingi, Hufar Nihas, and Maganis. It is South Sudan’s position that the 1/1/1956 border, which has been stipulated under the terms of the CPA, is and should be the basis for the North-South border, which in fact lies well to the north of Panthou. It is an open secret that the former Federal Affairs minister, Nafie Ali Nafie signed a document on June 14, 2004 informing the governor of Unity state that Heglig region did not belong to Unity State in the South but rather to Western Kordofan state in the North. This leads to the current bogus claim that this region belongs to the North.
Despites the current deadlock, South Sudan is committed to peace, and continues to call for immediate resumptions of talks. This is best illustrated by South Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardit’s statement that South Sudan has no intention to remain in Heglig. It is prepared to “withdraw its forces from Heglig, as long as an internationally – monitored mechanism is put in place to guarantee that the area cannot be used to launch further attacks against South Sudan and the United Nations commits to deploy neutral forces to Heglig until the parties reach a final settlement of the disputed area.” This does not get any simpler, and we cannot say it any better.

Finally, we want to reiterate that we are for peace and will work for it, but we want to also caution the international community to carefully look at the facts presented herein and consider our call for an immediate third party involvement in resolving Panthou conflict. This cannot happen unless Sudan is pressure to coming to the negotiation table and accepting the AUHIP recommendations for a positive way forward. Furthermore, we will be remiss if we did not remind the international community of the gross human rights violations that are currently taking place in Sudan and two areas of Nuba Mountain and Southern Kordofan. While everyone knows that the Sudan government has been doing these things in the past with no particular reason, it now has a reason and one cannot imagine the magnitude of the atrocities.

Examples of these mass killings and violations are plenty, and we only know a small number of them. Just yesterday, the Khartoum residence of South Sudan’s Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, was not only raided, but all properties were looted and 7 relatives of the VP were rounded up and taken to an unknown location. A UN camp was also bombed by the SAF and South Sudanese camp of displace persons (IDPs) in Darfur was burned to ashes. If no action is taken sooner, we are afraid it will be too late to do anything when we all find out the realities. We must act now.

SSVI OPSTAT16Apmt2012a.pdf 49K   View   Download

Signed:

South Sudan Volunteer Initiative (SSVI)–– a worldwide initiative from concerned South Sudanese in the Diaspora and back home in RSS.

For more information, contact our SSVI Envoys and Representatives:
UN REPRESENTATIVE: JANE ANANIAS – ngironakakwa@yahoo.co.uk
AFRICA:
ENVOY: FLORA MINALLA – fmst45@yahoo.co.uk
ENVOY: AUGUSTINO MAYAI – augustino1982@yahoo.com
CANADA:
ENVOY: SURAYA BAIFA ISSA – kantaazu@gmail.com
USA:
USA HEAD ENVOY: ELISABETH KUCH – ekuch2000@gmail.com
USA MIDWEST/CENTRAL ENVOY: JOHN DORTEO – jomunu@yahoo.com
USA SOUTHERN REGION ENVOY: ISSAC K. GANG – isaac@isaacgang.com
USA WEST COAST ENVOY: ROSE JOSEPH – toritgirl2@yahoo.com
EUROPE:
EUROPE HEAD ENVOY: MARY LODIRA – M_lodira@yahoo.co.uk
UK ENVOY: KONYEN NAKUWA JNR – mjnakuwajnr@gmail.com
NORDIC REGION ENVOY: TUT GATWECH – tut_gatwech@yahoo.com
OCEANIA/ASIA ENVOY: SANTINO ATEM DENG – atem_deng@yahoo.com.au
ADVISORY GROUPS (ELDERS):
SUZANNE JAMBO (Chair of Advisory Group)
HON: DANIEL WUOR JOAK; DR ALFRED LOKUJI
ANNE LINO WUOR ABYEI; JOHN NASSAR
INTELLECTUALS:
DR JAMES OKUK; DR LAURA BENY
DR HAKIM MOI; HON. NYALANG DUOP NYANG CHAN
MIDDLE EAST ENVOYS:
ANTHONY MAKANA – makana67@yahoo.com ;
TONGUN FARAGALLA – tongunfaragalla@hotmail.com
GLOBAL SSVI COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES:
USA COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE: JAMES LOMOLE SIMEON – jsimeon153@yahoo.com
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE: AREK AKOT – arek.akot@gmail.com
OCEANIA/ASIA COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE: DANIEL LEE – dan.jlee@yahoo.com.au
For further assistance, contact Abu Deng, SSVI Principal – dengjoseph1@yahoo.com

U.N. council mulls Sudan, South Sudan sanctions to end clashes

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS | Tue Apr 17, 2012 

(Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council discussed on Tuesday possibly imposing sanctions on Sudan and South Sudan if the African neighbors did not stop border clashes that were threatening to spiral into full-scale war, said the U.S. envoy to the United Nations.

Fighting along the ill-defined border between the former civil-war foes has led to a standoff over the Heglig oil field after it was seized a week ago by troops from South Sudan, which declared independence last year.

The 15-nation Security Council reiterated its call for a “complete, immediate, unconditional” end to all fighting and for Sudan to stop air strikes and South Sudan to withdraw troops from the vital oil field.

“Council members discussed ways to leverage the influence of the council to press the parties to take these steps, and included in that a discussion potentially of sanctions,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice told reporters.

Rice, who is the Security Council president for April, gave no further details on possible sanctions that could be imposed.

“Members expressed grave concern over the situation and committed to make every effort to convince the parties to cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table,” she said.

South Sudan’s envoy in New York expressed the hope that diplomacy could help prevent a war but warned that her country would not give up its territory.

“We believe that the current crisis can be resolved through negotiated and agreed upon solutions,” South Sudan’s U.N. envoy Agnes Oswaha told reporters.

“We are not going to go for the offense because we are for peace,” she said. “However, we will stand on the defense and defend our territory.”

Distrust runs deep between the neighbors, who are at loggerheads over the position of their border, how much the landlocked south should pay to transport its oil through Sudan, and the division of national debt, among other issues.

South Sudan has accused Sudan of launching air strikes on some of its major oilfields. Sudan has denied launching air strikes but said its ground forces had attacked southern artillery positions that had fired on the north.

South Sudan seceded from Sudan in July, six months after a referendum agreed under a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of civil war that killed more than 2 million people.

(Editing by Eric Beech)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/17/us-sudan-southsudan-un-idUSBRE83G1BX20120417

Sudan Expels South Sudanese Students for Celebrating the Capturing of Heglig by SPLA

Sudan expels southern police cadets

South Sudanese students who rejoiced at their country’s armed occupation of Sudan’s main oilfield have been expelled from a police college in Khartoum, the interior minister said on Tuesday.

“We dismissed Southern students from the police college because they celebrated after Heglig’s occupation,” Ibrahim Mahmud Ahmadtold parliament.

He did not say how many were expelled.

The action comes after South Sudan eight days ago invaded Sudan’s main oilfield of Heglig, along the border.

One dismissed student, a woman, said there were a total of 23 male and female candidates in her class. She did not know the number of cadets in two other classes.

“In the ladies’ residence I didn’t see any celebration but maybe it happened in the men’s residence,” said the student who asked not to be identified.

Fighting broke out last month between the armies of Khartoum and Juba along their disputed border, but the clashes escalated last week with waves of aerial bombardment hitting the South, whose troops seized Heglig.

The clashes are the worst since South Sudan won independence last July after a 22-year civil war that ended in 2005, and have heightened nationalist feeling in the north where an estimated half-million ethnic Southerners remain.

Since April 9 they have had to either move South or formalise their status in the north.

Students are allowed to stay for their studies.

Khartoum dismissed southern police and other members of the civil service before South Sudan’s independence, meaning those officer-candidates who have been expelled would not have been given police jobs in the north anyway.

http://news.yahoo.com/sudan-expels-southern-police-cadets-minister-000041341.html

5,000 South Sudanese forced out of Darfuri camp 

South Sudanese citizens living in a camp in the Sharef area of East Darfur had their homes burned down and destroyed on Monday by a group of militia.

Witnesses told Radio Dabanga their camp was completely looted yesterday including the clothes they were wearing.

They said today the militants came back and indiscriminately burned down their homes forcing the traumatised camp residents out into the surrounding areas.

Sudanese citizens from neighbouring villages went out to help the camp residents and many took families into their own homes.

The razed camp was reportedly set up in 1991 and was home to more than 5,000 people of South Sudanese origin.

The witnesses said this attack came about after president Bashir gave orders for citizens to mobilise for jihad against rebels.

http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/28840

Sudan says cost no bar to recapture of oil region

By Yara Bayoumy and Alexander Dziadosz | Reuters

NAIROBI/KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Sudan said on Tuesday the cost of a full-blown conflict with South Sudan would not deter it from recapturing the disputed Heglig oilfield, and that newly tapped oilfields would help to sustain its struggling economy.

South Sudan took control of the contested oil-producing Heglig region last week, prompting Sudan’s parliament to brand its former civil war foe an “enemy” on Monday and to call for a swift recapture of the flat savanna region.

Both countries’ faltering economies are likely to be important factors in the conflict’s outcome.

“Despite the high cost of the war, despite the destruction that the war can cause … our options are very limited. We can tolerate some sacrifice, until we can liberate our land,” Sudan’s ambassador to Kenya, Kamal Ismail Saeed, said.

“So from our side, yes, it is expensive but that doesn’t deter us or that doesn’t stop us from exerting all effort to liberate our land,” he told reporters in Nairobi.

“We have been in war without oil for several years and we survived … As a matter of fact … the good news (is) we have developed other sources and fields of oil and that will really compensate our loss.”

Fighting over oil payments and territory has withered the combined crude output of both countries.

The Heglig field is vital to Sudan’s economy because it accounted for half the 115,000 barrels per day output that remained in its control when South Sudan seceded in July. The field’s output has stopped due to the fighting, officials say.

The landlocked South had already closed its 350,000 bpd output after failing to agree how much it should pay to export via Sudan’s pipelines, a Red Sea port and other facilities.

The latest clashes have also dampened hopes that Sudan and South Sudan can reach a deal soon on disputed issues such as demarcation of their 1,800-km (1,200-mile) border, division of debt and the status of citizens in each other’s territory.

The loss of Heglig, a shock to many Sudanese, has also stirred tensions in the north. Sudan’s interior minister said on Tuesday the police college had dismissed its South Sudanese students after “their violation of police regulations and their celebration of the occupation of Heglig”.

U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay said she was alarmed by the South’s “unwarranted” occupation of Heglig and urged both sides to halt the violence, including the North’s bombing campaign against the South.

“I condemn the indiscriminate aerial bombing by Sudanese forces in civilian areas in South Sudan, including in Mayom and Bentiu in Unity State, resulting in the deaths of at least 8 civilians and many injuries since Saturday,” she said in a statement.

“In the past week we have seen an intensification of the use of Antonovs as well as jetfighters dropping bombs and launching rocket attacks, including in areas dangerously close to the offices of international organizations. Such deplorable attacks must stop immediately.”

South Sudan’s military (SPLA) spokesman said its positions were bombed on Monday, but no clashes were reported on Tuesday.

“We are aware they are trying to advance, and the SPLA is ready to receive them,” spokesman Philip Aguer said, describing the conflict as a “limited war”. Sudan’s army spokesman was not immediately available to comment.

NEW OILFIELDS

Saeed insisted Khartoum could weather the latest conflict, which has sent food prices soaring and hit the currency as officials try to make up for the sudden loss in revenues.

He said production from new fields in the west of the Kordofan region, in Darfur and in the states of White Nile and Blue Nile would offset much of the loss of Heglig’s output.

“We used to produce 115,000 barrels a day before the attack, we lost about 40,000, and now we’ll get another 30,000.”

South Sudan insists Heglig is rightfully part of the South and says it will not withdraw its troops unless the United Nations deploys a neutral force to monitor a ceasefire. Saeed said that was unacceptable.

“They have two options: either to withdraw very quickly or withdraw. We will reserve the right to use all means at our access to kick them out of there, and we will do it,” he said.

“They will be thrown out of there very soon.”

Pillay and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm over reports of a buildup of militia forces in the disputed Abyei border region.

The U.N. statement did not say where the reports were from or give details but called it a violation of a June agreement in which both sides said they would withdraw forces from the area.

Ban called on Khartoum to “ensure the full and immediate withdrawal of these elements from the area”.

Abyei, which is prized for its fertile grazing land and produces some oil, was a major battleground during Sudan’s civil war and is symbolically potent for both sides. Both countries lay claim to it.

Khartoum seized Abyei in May last year after a southern attack on an army convoy, triggering an exodus of tens of thousands of civilians. The Security Council authorised the deployment of 3,800 U.N. peacekeepers in Abyei in June.

Some 2 million people died in Sudan’s civil war, waged for all but a few years between 1955 and 2005 over conflicts of ideology, ethnicity, oil and religion.

(Additional reporting by Louis Charbonneau at the United Nations and Tom Miles in Geneva; Writing by Yara Bayoumy and Alexander Dziadosz; Editing by Jon Hemming)

http://news.yahoo.com/u-n-ban-alarmed-militia-buildup-sudan-border-084612241.html

South Sudan defiant after week of fighting with Sudan

By Waakhe Simon Wudu | AFP 

South Sudan’s army vowed Tuesday to hold their positions in a contested oil field seized from Khartoum’s army, one week after the outbreak of bitter fighting that has raised fears of a wider war.

Despite air strikes and a reported counter-attack by Khartoum’sSudan Armed Forces (SAF) to retake the disputed Heglig oil field, the South’s Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) said it would not withdraw from the battle zone.

“If they advance, definitely SPLA is ready to fight back and repulse them. … The SPLA is ready for them outside Heglig,” Southern army spokesman Philip Aguer told reporters.

The hostilities are the worst since South Sudan’s independence fromSudan in July, and world powers have condemned the fighting, as fears grow that clashes could spread beyond the current border conflict.

In Geneva, UN human rights chief Navi Pillay urged both sides to halt the hostilities, warning of the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.

“There is still time to pull back from the brink and bring all parties to the table to negotiate diplomatic solutions to disagreements over borders, oil, citizenship and other crucial issues,” said Pillay in a statement.

“I call on all parties to work to avoid an escalation of armed confrontation, bearing in mind the dire human rights and humanitarian consequences for civilians,” she added.

Fighting broke out last month between Khartoum and Juba in the Heglig oil field — key to Sudan’s already struggling economy, as it supplied around half of its oil production — before an escalation of violence on April 10.

The South has reportedly placed tanks and artillery around oil infrastructure in Heglig, which both sides say belongs to them. Aguer said Khartoum had damaged wells as they sought to dislodge Southern troops by aerial bombardment.

“The border is still fragile, tension is still very high,” Aguer added. “The SAF continue to bomb indiscriminately. … On Tuesday they bombed one of the oil wells outside Heglig, it is still burning.”

Khartoum has launched a wave of air raids on Southern border areas, killing several civilians and hitting a UN peacekeeper base on Monday in the village of Mayom, in the South’s oil-producing Unity state.

The United Nations confirmed the attack, although Sudan denied the air strike.

However, the region appeared calmer Tuesday, with “no reports of fighting so far”, said Gideon Gatpan, Unity state’s information minister.

World powers have also called for restraint and voiced deep concern at the escalating violence.

Khartoum seeks the South’s unconditional withdrawal from Heglig. But Juba has said it will not pull back unless Khartoum removes its troops from the contested Abyei region nearby, among other conditions.

Leaders on both sides have also exchanged angry rhetoric — accusing each other of starting the violence and of wanting war — with Khartoum’s parliament on Monday voting the government ofSouth Sudan an enemy, a move dismissed by Juba.

“They have declared war against the people of the Republic of South Sudan … they have declared jihad war against the infidels of South Sudan,” Southern Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjaminsaid Tuesday.

“I think this is a crazy decision. Our position is we consider the Sudanese people as brothers and sisters. … We don’t see them as an enemy.”

Questions are being raised in Khartoum over how easily Southern forces managed to seize Sudan’s main oil field, dealing another blow to an economy mired in crisis.

The Sudanese military is already severely stretched in the face of the major insurgency in South Kordofan, a smaller uprising in Blue Nile, and ongoing fighting in the war-ravaged Darfur region.

Some two million people died in Sudan’s 1983-2005 civil war, one of Africa’s longest, before the peace deal that opened the way to South Sudan’s independence.

When the South separated, Khartoum lost about 75 percent of its oil production and billions of dollars in revenue, leaving the Heglig area as its main oil centre.

http://news.yahoo.com/sudan-parliament-brands-juba-enemy-042146751.html

Sudan’s frontline: Dead bodies, circling Antonovs KSWO South Sudan’s army, known as the SPLA, moved north into Heglig earlier this month, sparking the bloodiest fighting since South Sudan broke off from Sudan last July and became the world’s newest nation. A top SPLA official said the south plans to keep …

Pillay urges Sudan and South Sudan to pull back from the brink StarAfrica.com GENEVA, Switzerland, April 17, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Tuesday urged the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to stem the violence on both sides before it seriously undermines the …

Who Do You Believe? War Crime Indicted Sudan President Bashir? Or Your Eyes … Huffington Post (blog) As you know, I went to South Sudan and Sudan over the past weekend with Reverend Franklin Graham and Samaritans Purse. The President of Sudan, President Bashir, is under indictment for war crimes and genocide for atrocities he committed in the western …

SSDF and SSLA Forces Captured three SPLA’s barracks in Maban

SSDF and SSLA Forces Captured three SPLA’s barracks in Maban

For immediate Release

SSDF and SSLA Joint Command, Maban, South Sudan

April, 17, 2012

The gallant forces of South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF) and South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) today attacked three outposts of SPLA and captured them at 11:30 am, April, 17, 2012. The Joint Forces of SSDF and SSLA were commanded by veteran fighter, Lt. Gen. Gordon Koang Chol, who was member of SPLM/A Political Military High Command in 1980s. Lt. Gen. Gordon Koang, along with Dr. Riek Machar, staged a coup against the leadership of John Garang in Nasir in 1991 and was number three in the SPLM/A-United faction.

The revolutionary forces captured twelve SPLA soldiers including one Major called Peter Deng Awan from Warrap. They also captured one Toyota Land cruiser; destroyed one T-72 tank; captured 23 PKM machine guns, 42 AK-47s; four RPG-7; one B-10; two 12.5 mm and five mortars. Lt. Gen. Gordon Koang said the revolutionary forces will advance to Maban town on Tuesday onwards.

The SSDF and SSLA call upon UNHCR to immediately evacuate refugees from Blue Nile who are in Maban town. Our forces are only 35 KM away from where the refugee camp is located. For their safety, the UNHCR must immediately instruct refugees to go to Ethiopian border which is only five hours walk. The SPLA forces in Maban surrounded the refugees and want to use them as human shields in violation of international laws. We therefore advise the UNMISS to evacuate refugees as soon as possible before Thursday, April, 19, 2012.

We call upon civilians in Malakal to evacuate the town before our forces arrive because SPLA forces intermingle with civilians in the town making it difficult to avoid civilian casualties in the crossfire. It is extremely important for NGOs, civilians and UN personnel to make immediate arrangements to leave Malakal before May.

For Contact:

SSDF and SSLA Joint Command

Maban, Upper Nile State

South Sudan

Email: southsudanliberationarmy@hotmail.com

Pride and prejudice in Heglig

The South Sudanese People’s Liberation Army has moved into an oil town on the South Sudan/ Sudan border. While nationalist sentiment runs high, the newly separated states can ill afford renewed conflict: political dialogue is both difficult and urgent.

Erwin van Veen and Ann Fitz-Gerald, 17 April 2012

About the authors

Erwin van Veen works as policy analyst on peace and security for the OECD’s International Network on Conflict and Fragility

Ann Fitz-Gerald is a senior academic with Cranfield University’s Department of Management and Security.

The air in Juba was thick with excitement when South Sudan declared its independence in 2011 after its referendum. Yet, it was never going to be easy and now both Sudans seem close to falling into the jaws of the ‘conflict trap’ – the phenomenon by which countries with recent experience of conflict are more likely to fall back into conflict. On April 10, the South Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) took control of Heglig, an oil town perched on the border between Sudan and South-Sudan. It is unclear at the moment whether this is another incident in a long series, or the spark that will explode the powder keg. But it is even more urgent to assess what can be done to prevent a slide back to violent conflict.

The natural response of the international community when faced with such escalations of violence is to call for restraint and dialogue, which is precisely what the United Nation’s Secretary General (UNSG), Mr. Ban Ki Moon, the US government and the African Union’s mediator, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, have done. However, we know that political dialogue requires a sufficient degree of commitment from both parties to have a chance of success. The list of failed attempts at dialogue is a long one. So, to assess whether this call for dialogue is likely to be heeded, at least two questions need to be answered:

First, how much pressure is the international community willing and able to exercise? This is difficult to assess from the outside, but, given the choice, it is likely that key global players such as the US and UN may prioritize Syria and Iran over Sudan. Regionally, the situation is hardly more favourable with Kenya and Ethiopia embroiled in Somalia, and Egypt focused on domestic issues. Libya’s chaotic situation ensures a ready supply of highly mobile manpower and weapons, as evidenced by the situation in Mali, which may make matters worse. Hence, international calls for dialogue may sound louder than the pressure and support the international community can actually generate.

Second, is dialogue welcomed by participants? Several considerations must be taken into account here. To start with, the trail of broken agreements and promises between Sudan and South-Sudan is a long one and mistrust runs deep.  Recent analysis ^↑ suggests that the SPLA has been stockpiling weapons and that both the SPLA and the Sudanese Armed Forces are arming South Sudanese rebel militia groups. However, little reliable, open-source analysis is available on what exactly is happening in the contested border areas. One also needs to take into account that South-Sudan has limited diplomatic capacity to tell its side of the story. Publicly, however, both sides state they welcome dialogue, which the international community can capitalize on. Yet it is also clear that they are gearing up for other scenarios.

In addition, South-Sudan is a young and proud state that cherishes its land and its sovereignty. It may well take the view that it now must defend its hard-won autonomy. The country took a drastic step in January by shutting down its oil production in protest over transit fees, and escalation may well be one of its few strategic options left. The South has proven before that it can survive with food distribution lines cut off and oil wealth denied – large parts of its territory have no electricity anyhow – but its leaders would have to make radical political and financial decisions and be accountable to their people for the ensuing hardship. South-Sudan’s domestic peacebuilding and statebuilding agenda would certainly suffer setbacks, its recent commitment to the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding ^↑ notwithstanding.

And yet, on the face of it, there seem to be sufficient common interests to provide a basis for dialogue.  For one, the human suffering and economic damage of renewed conflict will be huge. Collier and Chauvet have conservatively estimated the domestic and regional cost of a civil war to amount to about 85 billion dollars ^↑ . The cost of a state descending into conflict with its neighbours can account for two thirds of this amount. This is the figure against which Sudan, South-Sudan and their neighbours must gauge their appetite for dialogue and war.

In short, the signs are not overly hopeful that calls for dialogue can or will be heeded. What can the international community do to help prevent another civil war? Three lessons stand out from the international intervention in the FYR Macedonia in 2001, one of the most successful examples of conflict prevention.

Co-ordinated, fast action between the OSCE, NATO and EU proved critical to an integrated political-security response that was sufficiently context specific. In the case of Sudan, it would be easy to argue that UNMIS and the AU need to swiftly deploy peacekeeping troops into disputed areas like Heglig and that their mediators must immediately commence facilitating a longer-term process to resolve the range of outstanding issues.  However, a lesson from the last few years is that third party intervention, of the UN in particular, has not always been welcomed by Sudan. Moreover, President Kiir stated on April 12 in the South-Sudanese parliament that he had rejected calls from several international leaders, including UNSG Ban Ki-Moon, to pull his troops out of Heglig. Hence, a leading UN role near the contested border seems unlikely. In keeping with the model which kept the pre-Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) talks on track, an alternative option could be that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) partners’ forum steps up and provides an AU-led initiative with logistical, financial and advisory support. The UN could consider supporting this quietly from behind the scenes.

Strong leadership is essential. It was Kenya that kept the many pre-CPA talks on track and that helped realize several way-stations towards the CPA, such as the Machakos protocol of 2002. Such leadership was also a key ingredient of the successful international intervention in FYR Macedonia, where Mr Van der Stoel, as personal envoy of the OSCE chairman in office, was a highly respected and trusted facilitator who enjoyed the confidence of all parties. As noted above, Kenya may not be able to fulfil this role again at this point in time. In that case, Ethiopia remains one of the few trusted parties for both sides. If its top leadership could convince the presidents of Sudan and South-Sudan to work towards a political agreement, the tide might be turned and Ethiopia would render the region a very valuable service. This is one of the calls that international leaders could consider making. Given the trail of broken promises, however, the conflict must be addressed at the highest levels. It would be helpful if both sides could refrain from any aggression to Ethiopian peacekeepers patrolling Abeyei in the meantime.

Finally, the intervention in FYR Macedonia showed that confidence building is vital. This could begin with credible and verifiable information being collected and shared from the conflict-affected border areas – the lack of reliable information being one of the major difficulties to date. Rumours spread too quickly at the moment, feeding distrust and risking catalysing ill-considered action. An international monitoring mission, possibly IGAD sponsored and AU-supported, might be a way out of this conundrum – but speed will be of the essence.

http://www.opendemocracy.net/opensecurity/erwin-van-veen-ann-fitz-gerald/pride-and-prejudice-in-heglig

Sudan-South Sudan War: Heglig, Disputed Town, Full Of Dead Bodies, Circling Antonovs

By MICHAEL ONYIEGO 04/17/2012 

HEGLIG, Sudan — The road to Heglig, an oil town that South Sudan and Sudan are fighting over, is lined with discarded furniture, destroyed buses and tanks, and clusters of dead Sudanese soldiers.

South Sudan’s army, known as the SPLA, moved north into Heglig earlier this month, sparking the bloodiest fighting since South Sudan broke off from Sudan last July and became the world’s newest nation. A top SPLA official said the south plans to keep moving north, taking territory the south believes it owns. The crisis threatens to widen into all-out war.

http://cfiles.5min.com/FlexPlayers/SmartPlayer_182.swf

An Associated Press reporter was among the first foreign journalists to reach the disputed border since fighting began two weeks ago.

As 2nd Lt. Abram Manjil Kony sped north from the South Sudan military base at the Unity State oil field, he pointed out clusters of fallen Sudanese soldiers. Birds stalked the corpses.

“Jalaba, jalaba,” Kony said, meaning “Arab” and, by extension, people from Sudan, which is predominantly Arab while the south is predominantly black.

The area around Heglig produces about half of Sudan’s oil, but the south lays claim to it and says its ownership is in dispute.

South Sudan army spokesman Col. Philip Aguer said that Sudan’s military bombed an oil well outside Heglig on Monday and that it continued to burn Tuesday. He said Sudan forces are trying to open other fronts along the border and that southern forces are on high alert in Western Baah el Ghazal state.

“The border is still fragile. Tension is very high. The Sudan Armed Forces continue to bomb indiscriminately most of the areas north of Unity State. This is on a daily basis, more than twice a day,” Aguer said.

SPLA soldiers occupy deserted oil facilities and a Sudanese Army base in Heglig that bears signs of a hasty retreat: Military uniforms, blankets and boots litter the ground.

Farther up the road is the Heglig market, its hundreds of stalls empty. It now serves as a forward base for SPLA forces. Just beyond, through a dry forest and up a road that is believed to be mined, is the front line. Commanders of the SPLA – the Sudan People’s Revolutionary Army, a holdover name from a civil war that killed millions of people – seem unconcerned about the proximity of Sudanese troops.

They’re more concerned about an attack from above. Throughout the day, Antonov planes belonging to Sudan prowl the sky, occasionally dropping bombs. Sudan’s Sukhoi and MiG fighter jets have also recently been used for strikes in Bentiu, the capital of Unity State, located south of Heglig inside South Sudan.

On Saturday, two Sukhoi fighters dropped bombs within 100 meters (yards) of a bridge linking Bentiu to Rubkona, home of the SPLA’s 4th Division, killing four civilians and one soldier and wounding four people. The bridge was untouched, said Maj. Gen. Mac Bol, the SPLA’s deputy director for military intelligence. The next day, two bombs landed near the center of Bentiu, falling just short of the residence of the governor of Unity State.

Bol said a Sudanese military aircraft was seen “hovering” over South Sudan’s capital, Juba, last week, underscoring Sudan’s cointrol of the skies.

In 2005, Sudan and South Sudan signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, ending more than two decades of civil war. As part of the truce, the two accepted the line drawn in 1956 by the departing British colonialists as the legitimate border between the two halves of Sudan. But South Sudan says former Sudanese President Jafaar Nimeiry steadily pushed those borders southward after the discovery of oil.

Brig. Gen. Makal Kuol Deng – the SPLA’s field commander for the Heglig area – says his troops have been in control of Heglig for about a week. Whether the south or the north started the clashes around Heglig two weeks ago is in dispute. Both claim to have acted in self-defense.

The former Sudan military base in Heglig provides shelter for South Sudan fighters and troops from the Justice and Equality Movement, a rebel group currently battling Khartoum in the western Sudan region of Darfur. JEM recently announced an alliance with another Sudanese rebel outfit, the SPLM-North, to form the Sudan Revolutionary Front. The JEM soldiers, wearing distinctive black and brown turbans, race around in machine-gun mounted pickup trucks.

Some 70 kilometers (45 miles) north of Heglig lies Karsana, where the SPLA believes Sudanese forces are massing. A further 28 kilometers (17.5 miles) north is the town of Keliak.

Bol said South Sudan’s historical border rightfully lies between Karsana and Keliak. SPLA Field Commander Makal Kuol Deng said his troops are ready to keep pushing north if given the order.

“The order comes from the 4th Division,” Deng said. “If they say we go, we go. If they say we stop, we stop.”

“We don’t have any intention of going farther north into the areas we think are northern areas, but of course we’ll go to any place that we think is within our territory,” added Bol.

Sudan has promised to push back.

In New York, Sudan’s U.N. Ambassador Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman said last week that if South Sudan does not withdraw, Sudan will “hit deep inside the south.”

At the front lines, the fighting often begins at dusk. Before the sun sets the thumping drone of Sudanese Antonovs can be heard as they circle the sky. As the circles grow tighter, SPLA soldiers scramble into foxholes, hoping to avoid the bombs that are rolled out of the cargo bay.

Crashes can be heard in the distance, far south of Heglig. Along the road, perhaps a dozen truckloads of soldiers race north, honking their horns and cheering as they head for the front.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/17/sudan-south-sudan-war-heglig_n_1430851.html

South Sudan: Blasts at UN Site New York Times The United Nations said Monday that one of its peacekeeping compounds in South Sudan sustained “material damage” over the weekend when it was hit with five bombs. No United Nations employees were hurt, but two people on the base were killed, …

UPDATE 3-Sudan parliament calls South an “enemy” Chicago Tribune Khartoum parliament urges quick recapture of oilfield * Border clashes raise spectre of relapse into war * South Sudan says province hit by air strikes (Adds Sudan denying bombing in Unity state) By Khalid Abdelaziz and Ulf Laessing KHARTOUM/JUBA, …

Warrap governor declares public mobilisation against insecurity, economic crisis Sudan Tribune By Julius N. Uma April 16, 2012 (KUAJOK) – The governor of South Sudan’s Warrap state has officially directed the public to embark on a massive mobilisation to counter escalating insecurity, food and economic crises in the newly independent nation.

Anyuak to crown new King next week in Pochalla, Jonglei Sudan Tribune April 16, 2012 (JUBA) – The Anyuak ethnic group have announced that their new King, Akwai Agada Akwai Cham, will be inaugurated on 25 April in the tribe’s traditional palace in Otllo village in Pochalla County of South Sudan’s Jonglei State.

Sudanese Parliament Calls South Sudan an ‘Enemy’ Voice of America (blog) Sudan’s parliament has declared South Sudan an “enemy” amid escalated violence along the countries’ shared border. After the vote Monday in Khartoum, South Sudanese Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin rejected the decision, saying his country …

Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Sends Message to the Archbishop of Sudan On … AllAfrica.com He assures Dr Deng of prayers for a successful outcome to negotiations, delivering a settlement between Sudan and South Sudan ‘which will bring lasting peace with justice to both nations and all who live within their borders’ and also offers prayers …

Anglicans Welcome International Development Select Committee’s Report AllAfrica.com UK Parliamentary recommendations on the Church’s role in education and peacebuilding have been welcomed by Anglican Alliance partners in the UK and South Sudan. The recommendations come in the report from the UK Parliament’s International Development …

Oil shut-down hits South Sudanese hard AFP Ever since South Sudan shut down oil production in a row with Sudan over transport costs, the price of goods across the country has risen. In the town of Malakal, the capital of oil rich Upper Nile state, shoppers say they are struggling to buy food as …

Crisis Between Sudan, South Sudan Intensifies NPR The crisis between Sudan and South Sudan is heating up, with the north branding its recently-independent southern neighbor “the enemy.” This follows two weeks of bitter fighting in the disputed, oil-producing, border area between the two Sudans.

Factbox: How Sudan and South Sudan shape up militarily Reuters (Reuters) – Fighting in a disputed border region between Sudan and South Sudan has raised fears the two countries could resume full-blown war. Here is a look at the two countries’ military capabilities according to the International Institute for …

Sudan-South Sudan War: Heglig, Disputed Town, Full Of Dead Bodies, Circling … Huffington Post By MICHAEL ONYIEGO 04/17/12 08:05 AM ET HEGLIG, Sudan — The road to Heglig, an oil town that South Sudan and Sudan are fighting over, is lined with discarded furniture, destroyed buses and tanks, and clusters of dead Sudanese soldiers.

UN Chief Calls On Sudan, South Sudan to End Fighting Immediately AllAfrica.com Addis Ababa — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday voiced his “deep concern over continued hostilities” between Sudan and South Sudan, and called on both parties to “end the fighting immediately.” A statement, issued here by Ban’s spokesman, …

South Sudan defiant after week of fighting with Sudan Ahram Online South Sudan’s army vowed Tuesday to hold their positions in a contested oil field seized from Khartoum’s army, one week after the outbreak of bitter fighting that has raised fears of a wider war. Despite air strikes and a reported counter-attack by …

Sudan, South Sudan clashes need urgent attention – ABETO New Vision BY SAUDHA NAKANDHA Always Be Tolerant (ABETO) has called for international immediate response to clashes between South Sudan and Sudan to avoid any further bloodshed clashes on the continent. ABETO is an NGO with an objective of creating tolerance and …

Sudan: 5000 Citizens Forced Out of Darfuri Camp AllAfrica.com Sharef — South Sudanese citizens living in a camp in the Sharef area of East Darfur had their homes burned down and destroyed on Monday by a group of militia. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga their camp was completely looted yesterday including the …

Barrels of conflict

Barrels of conflict

By Atok Dan Baguoot

In between barrels, there is death and live

It is the barrel of live and death

In the barren lands of Sudd, barrel kills

In the contest of two barrels, human life extinct

In the barrel of gun, armies of people kill

In the barrel of crude oil, armies of people contest bitterly

Barrel of oil and gun tend to serve the interest of masters

It is the battle of two barrels

Bitter arguments between masters end through the use of barrel

It is the barrel of problem and solution

Even automobiles move through one barrel

It is the barrel of crude that move the barrel of force,

the barrel of gun

Barrel of gun intimidates the barrel of crude oil

Crude masters go for barrel of gun

Barrel of crude oil buys crude use of force

Crude leaders go for both barrels

Poor kill themselves with crude weapons,

rich kill the poor with crude force of barrel of crude oil

Crude masters buy barrel of gun with barrel of crude oil

They enrich themselves with barrel of crude oil

They protect their riches with barrel of gun

In the interest of barrels,

even Heglig oil field is fortified by barrels

Armies protect barrel of crude oil with barrel of gun

They protect with barrel and die with barrel

It is the barrel of life and death

With barrel of crude, life and happiness reign

With barrel of gun, death and despair prevail

With barrel of crude, tanks and armored vehicles move

With barrel of crude, military fatigues are procured

Tanks, armored vehicles and military fatigues prevail to protect barrel of crude oil

Both barrels safeguard interest of the rulers

Both barrels safeguard interest of democracy and dictatorship

Both barrels are instruments of governance

Even in the execution of justice, both barrels still prevail

Life without barrels end in barrenness

Fossils and ore make two barrels,

they are barrels of curse

Atok Dan is a media Specialist based in Juba. He is reached at atokbaguot

Atok Dan

Radio Production Specialist

USAID/Economic Governance Project in South Sudan

atokdan@dcopllp.com

Letter to Jesus of Nazareth

Dear Jesus of Nazareth,

Though I’m not your faithful, I want to talk to you today. My friends say you’re a good friend of theirs. They say good things about you. They even encouraged me to read your biography written in a book titled The New Testament. In that book, I learned a lot about you; you performed miracles: raised the dead, fed a multitude with only two fish & five loaves of bread. You even walked on water. Wonderful! Well, the most stunning thing I got to know about you is where you were born, in a manger!! Under poor conditions! Damn! And the then ruler wanted to have you slain because he learnt you were to be great, a king, forcing your parents to flee to Egypt with you. Sadly, you lost your life to some ungrateful folks, your own people. Sorry, mate.

You know what? We share one or two things in common; I was born in a forest, under a tall tree where there were no medicines, no food no nothing. Worst of all someone lied to my then president, Omar Bashir, that I would be great. So, he ordered his soldiers to make man-made rains of bombs and missiles rain on my village, causing my mother to sneak me and my siblings into Kenya. See? We share some significant similarities though your father was a carpenter and mine, a soldier. Your mother, Mary, according the book, was a church thing; my mother, Martha is addicted to your teachings. She spends most of her time around the church. Since I was a kid, she has been reading a big book named “Kitap de Duor” that I later learned it’s the “Thuongjang” translation of your life history.

Now to the point, having danced with angels, having drunk holy wine, having eaten heavenly birthday cake and having delighted during your two-thousandth and something birthday anniversary on Sunday, I want you to think about my countrymen, leaders in particular. Do me a favor; just concentrate on my country’s issues. Don’t even think about our neighbors. Kenyans are strong now. They hold any stubborn politician by the ear. Ugandans are super fine; they frog-march thief leaders to police stations. Forget about the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. They’re gone. Corruption has swallowed them alive, whole and intact. It’s too late to rescue them. North Sudanese will be okay. They just realized that Bashir’s 22-year regime has been nothing but thievery plus dictatorship. The youths have been politically charged. They will topple the bhang-smoking Bashir the Ghadafi way. Wait and see. Give them few days. Though Ethiopians are practicing the word “exodus”, don’t worry about them. You will find out what they are running away from, later on. Deal, right?

I’m from South Sudan, an African state that just attained independence from the descendants and believers of Prophet Mohamed, the founder of Islam who happens to be your religious rival. No, the word rival is more of a sport; he is your religious enemy.  By the way, I was made to understand the other day that his followers are converting more people all over the world as many turn away from Christianity on grounds of failure to uphold Christian values by church leaders. I heard that big church leaders, really big ones, sleep around with young boys, some, with married women. Someone said catholic is the worst. It’s crazy.

Back to the point, my leaders liberated us from Arabs, a fact that makes them think that they’re untouchable, unquestionable. They’re running the affairs of the nation the way that pleases them. They have customized the national affairs. They talk too much and do little or nothing at all. They invest outside the baby-nation. They have bought expensive houses in the neighboring countries; some have houses in America and Europe! The vehicles they ride are like those of the U-S hip hop musicians – highly costly. As the people they allegedly went to the bush for get consumed by acute poverty, most of them spend money, public money, on travels and unnecessary projects. I heard they recently had a retreat in Mombasa whereby they “burnt” millions of Shillings.

Something keeps telling me that South Sudan is a polite word for corruption. Everyone talks about it; in the streets, in bars, in matatus, under trees, everywhere. Everyone speaks against it; church leaders, politicians, women, boys and girls. And nothing happens. Every new day is just like the other day. Even the president, a bearded man who always wears cowboy hat, always says he’s fighting it but his efforts are ever abortive. I’m afraid, if the president doesn’t do anything about corruption in his government, I think, dogs, cats and even cows would begin to complain about it!

My leaders are busy. In fact, they have been busy, busy working on personal projects and stealing. Yes, stealing. Even the anti-corruption guys who supposedly prevent corruption are involved. One of them is, this week, in the news for embezzling millions of pounds. See?

Opposition leaders who are suppose to act as check and balance of the ruling party are useless. They represent tribes. They don’t have substantial agendas. They’re all nothing but a bunch of sycophants.  All they strive for is position.

Civil society organizations are not any better. They are run by lazy mutes.  I’m not sure if they really understand their roles. Or if they do, the fact that they get funding from the government deactivates them. They’re good at keeping silent.

If you’re going to do anything, please start with SSTV. Shut it down! News bulletin begins with a minister and ends with another. All they say is where they visited and when, where they will visit and when.  What they plan to do. That’s all. Directors work hand in hand with the government. They waste the young reporters as they instruct them what stories to chase and what not to, leaving no room for creativity, thus “murdering” their potentials and stunting journalistic growth. The journalists are warned against asking big men “bad questions”. You should see them in the field. No questions are asked. If any, it could be after the minister forgot to include, in his yapping, the duration of his or her visit. They shamelessly blamelessly place a minister before a camera. He then talks, talks and talks, talks about nothing. No one understands the contents of SSTV programs.  They are hosted by old dudes with ancient mentality. Don’t hesitate to shut it down. Please!

The riches of the newest nation are being looted by foreign nationals with the help of our leaders. Let’s talk about job opportunities. Companies are mushrooming. Organizations are already in place and others are coming soon, both local and international. Instead of channeling all these opportunities to the badly needy employable youth, our rulers give them out to their friends across the borders. This is how it goes; an influential guy orders his friend or brother in the department of immigration to process national IDs for his girlfriend, her friends and even friends of her friends. Remember, they’re not southerners. They are economic immigrants who escape economic crises in their states. These guys eventually get jobs because they’re highly qualified and experienced.  All this goes undetected because the labor ministry seems to be reluctant on this matter. It should have a committee that monitors the activities of NGOs. Most NGOs think South Sudanese are incapable of working, or more precisely, unemployable. This is why foreigners have taken over almost everything in Juba; public transport industry, hotels. And leaders pretend that there is nothing wrong with it. Hail Mary!

The youth are good for nothing either. I think they choose to tolerate poor governance because the leaders are their uncles and aunts who sometimes support them. However, making necessary noise against corrupt individuals would be like biting the fingers that feed you. There’s a representative in the government. The dude is rarely seen. Nobody knows what he is up to. Perhaps he fits well in the skirts of, “if you can’t beat them, join them.”

In conclusion, please make them realize what they are leaders for. President Salva says his government is zero-tolerant to corruption. Make him mean it. Make him differentiate friendship from government business. I want to see him act upon any official who fails to account for his spending. Once more, make the MPs represent their constituents, not their football teams of children and concubines. The people they go to the parliament for are pretty poor. Living standards haven’t changed since your father created earth. No roads, no health centers, no running water. It’s worst in my birth place, Jonglei. Insecurity tops the list of things to worry about when you get to my state. It’s easier to kill someone than buy a bottle of beer in Jonglei. The issue needs a simple solution but no one seems to long for it. Thanks to too much nose picking amongst the top leaders……..! Don’t tell them what I told you lest someone shaves my dreadlocks with a broken piece of glass.

A moment of truth, I lied to you about who actually wanted to murder me. It wasn’t Bashir; it was the current Vice President, Riek Machar. He got deceived by some witch that I would one day be a problem to him. He ordered his soldiers to kill me. They went about killing everyone of my kind in Bor but they couldn’t harm me because my mum fled with me. His soldiers drove away our cattle, about seven-hundred and fifty heads; our only means of livelihood by then. I was born to be a cattle keeper or maybe a cattle rustler. His actions changed the whole thing. I’m now counted amongst learned South Sudanese. My friends call me white collar hustler… [Smiles].Besides, I’m friends with him now. And he happens to be my favorite politician.

Say hi to your dad. Bye

South Sudan Deserves a “Planet”!

By Deng Elijah

South Sudan just gained independent, and it’s still the youngest, the poorest and most vulnerable state. If South Sudan can’t adjust within the current socio-politico-economics constraints, if the international community can’t nurture a nine-month-old infant, if the fellow African Union can’t cope with South Sudanese trauma, If South Sudan is not listened to, then the only hopes for South Sudanese will be establishing a new “planet”. Or perhaps, help Nigeria establish Nigeria-South Sudan continent. But that would be efficient if and only if the new continent would invite Libya, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, and perhaps pioneer the once proposed “Gold-currency” to cut off the current politico-economic headache with the rest of the continents. Well, that was just a slip of a tongue!!

Alternatively, it would be unfair, or some may even conclude that the father of a prodigal son would be psychopathic, if instead he fined his youngest, lost son when he returned. Or perhaps his judgments were extraordinary, but it is also true that our judgments depend on our perceptions, experiences and prior knowledge.  Possibly, South Sudanese have their own context on this situation that they are competitively resolving with many other concern groups. However, the concern groups were somehow hasty to have imposed sanctions on the aid that they endow. How would you sanction a nation that feeds on less than 2% of her economy, aid and debts? Seriously, South Sudan deserves a planet!

Maybe the truth remains that you never argue with a fool because they would drag you to their level then beat you with experience. Controversially, Bashir dragged South Sudan to his level, but surprisingly, he must confess that he entered the wrong ring.

Nevertheless, we would be biased to predict South Sudanese’s long run victory based on either Heglig or on ground tactics alone. Or else Sudanese would be the only outstanding African champions, having been in war for over 5 decades.

It’s grievous indeed that many South Sudan allies are currently “aligning” behind the ICC indicted, and one of the world’s most wanted criminals. Bashir must celebrate his short term winning of empathy from international community, if South Sudan refuses to withdraw; however, he remains the criminal who is accountable for over 4millions lives in Sudan. Bashir must face ICC or South Sudan tribunal. Needless to say, South Sudan must pursuit the criminal, however, they have to keep an eye on their advocators.  They may have to instantiate better platforms, find amicable solutions or else re-launch a seizure!

As noted in Khartoum, Sudanese pound (one of the world’s strongest currencies) is drastically depreciating. It is currently traded at SD 6 per dollar¹in Khartoum and prices² are sky-rocking

Despite that, there could be ban on trade, possibly on armaments, or other essentials commodities if South Sudan never obeys the international call of withdrawal from Panthou (Heglig). Yet, South Sudan’s image is being distorted in favor of the blighted Khartoum regimes.

It would also be consequential for South Sudanese to remember that the same convict was and is still a king in Arab world despite his atrocities. Bashir had prominent support from big powers like Russia³, China⁴, Turkey⁵ etcetera. He had support from within AU, and African countries. If not, Bashir would have been prosecuted before South Sudan got independent, in July 2011. In other words, Bashir was mindful of whom he was trading with and how he plays his games. So, can South Sudanese really conclude Bashir’s cowardice at this point? Or could he possibly be trying to fit South Sudan in his shoes, and beat them with experience? Either way, South Sudan should keep an eye on the enemy without neglecting her allies!

Heglig

Heglig was originally and currently (as of mid- April) a South Sudan territory, which is undeniable. However, for some explainable reasons Heglig is being shown⁶ on the map as a Sudanese region. This is what the international community seems to base their warning of withdrawal on. However, for South Sudanese, this scenario should not be surprising as it is one of the major disputes in many parts of South Sudan including Juba. Thus, could South Sudanese apply the same principles they used in solving land disputes in Juba and other disputed areas?

Of course, withdrawal would be viable if Khartoum government withdraw from Abyei, and accept peaceful negotiations to resolve all these disputes. Also, the UN, AU and EU would have to deploy their forces in the disputed areas including Panthou.

Apparently, South Sudan would have to reconsider their decision on their next options; either advancing to Abyei and other contested regions on a full-scale war or unconditionally withdraw from Panthou, regardless. That means, adhesiveness to only panthou is never a solution since South Sudan will only be entertaining Khartoum’s accusations and yet the international community won’t implement any traded accusations.

South Sudanese has to commit to either full-scale war or no war. In either case, their decision has to be quick, efficient and achievable within a given time.

On the other hand, withdrawal from Panthou (Heglig) would be a win for South Sudanese in the long run. If the South peacefully withdraws, they would be able to work out their current misconceptions with UN, US, AU, Egypt, EU and others. They would be able to bale out economic sanctions and further depreciation of their currency. South Sudan would retain their status quos that the Khartoum regime has witnessed their inflated biceps, which would be a bail for reaching agreements on the remaining issues. Moreover, Sudan would also stop their “undercover” bombardments of innocent civilians in Unity states and any other areas along the border. Both parties may postpone a full-scale war, which could be more advantageous to the South since their economy may boom when the North would be barely surviving.

In other words, there would be no point clinging to the same straw with a dying man or else we would both be willing recruits of a never ending streams of tribal, religious, social and political curse. Try to analyze this report⁷!!

Consequences:

“The recent violence threatens to return both countries to full-scale war and the period of tragic loss of life and suffering, destroyed infrastructure, and economic devastation, which they have worked so hard and long to overcome”, the Council said in a statement delivered⁸ by Susan Rice of the United States.

After the oil shutdown in January, South Sudanese economy² has been struggling, and now it would be Sudanese pound and development in both countries.

If the bombardment continues in Unity state, Bentiu, then it would be hard for investors to invest in South Sudan oil, and the country will remain as it has been for the last centuries. Similarly, the agriculture and any other industries that would have been established will be affected due to lack of services, war and its aftermath. Well, because South Sudanese know these consequences, then there would be no need to polarize them!

South Sudan is just a toddler but with great potentials. As estimated in 2009 census, South Sudan is only 8millions in population compared to 32 millions (well, including their rebels) in the North. However, as South Sudanese say “it’s not the flesh that goes to war, but the mentality”. Therefore, just as they captured Panthou, they would also capture Khartoum depending on South Sudanese definition of “mentality”. This may be right, as it was Biblically the case between David and Goliath. However, if Goliath also had a sling or perhaps the “blessings” that David had, then it would have been by chance that David would gather his courage.

Postponing war.

Many South Sudanese had no intentions of returning to a “meaningless war” as president Salva Kiir repeatedly announces in his speeches. Therefore, ignoring the chances of a full-scale war, let’s first brainstorm on how far we would reach before taking this upper hand of “teaching Bashir a lesson”.

As it is the case today, chances of delaying a war have to come at a cost. It would be asymptotically bounded to how much we give up today for tomorrow. And since we can’t sacrifice without our consciences, let’s take a few second to reevaluate any possibility:  is South Sudan willing to constraint within the fundamentally acceptable self-defense? That is would South Sudan abide to international community’s definition of “self-defense”? Could South Sudan only vindicate by presenting any necessary proofs to Permanent Court of Arbitration⁹ (PCA) instead of exchanging accusations with Khartoum government? After all, the satellite recordings may prove any traceable proof, if need be.  Can South Sudan afford to delay a full-scale war? And if so, do South Sudanese have cause(s) of this mini-war?

It’s possible that South Sudanese have most answers to their questions that would prevent the conflicts today, if they need to. My naïve instincts believe the main reasons that forced Khartoum to start bombing South Sudan, Unity State were due to oil shutdown, intentions to disestablish the South and perhaps due to mere Jealousy of South Sudan sovereignty. But South can solve only the oil shutdown since defending South Sudan territory is a natural right, and yet the cure for jealousy is already known.  As a Kenyan suggested, “mwenye wivu ajinyonge” meaning let’s the jealous ones hung themselves, South shouldn’t be bothered of Bashir’s jealousy.

Moreover, Khartoum’s intention on South Sudan’s oil is clear. They budgeted what they are currently demanding. Demanding $36 dollars per barrel, just for transit, was a sign of aggression. And where on Earth would the international community “back up” such a huge demand? Or is it a myth that such pipes would only transport dust if the South decides to shut off on oil issues with the North? Fortunately, it would be South Sudan demanding 28% of Heglig’s oil production very soon (well, assume you haven’t heard that).

This price is negotiable, and hoping that this delegates used door-in-the-face technique, which South Sudan delegate appropriately encountered with a foot-in-the-door.  70 cent per barrel was unbearable but it may be valuable in the upcoming agreements. However, South Sudan may sympathize and offer a little bit more.

Why postponing war!

The relationship between the two Sudans may resemble the Koreans’. It’s very hard to predict when the two countries may return to a full-scale war, but it’s very likely. Chances are, the two sides may amend an ideal CPA to finalize the remaining deals.

However, South Sudan may sign an expensive deal on oil transit with Khartoum, in order to buy time, which is hurtful. But better half bread than none. It is very important that South Sudan would complete her current projects with Eastern Africa and within the young nation.  Besides, South Sudan would be able to obtain equipment and trainings at better prices. South would be able to train air forces (maybe marine and navy too, if need be), and they may decide to demarcate whatever they would afford to, if war were unrestrainable.

South Sudan army would be well equipped both on ground and in air.  Her development and economy would also get a chance to catch up with other regions. And if the third civil war between Sudan nations is inevitable, say in four years from now, then South Sudan army would not only target to recapture Heglig in a short time, but the entire 1956 border. That would be effective and efficient compared to the today’s undecided war. Or if the contract ends, and the border have not been demarcated, then the South might only request the international community to wish them luck at the border(take that for a joke). Just in case!!

In sum, “People don’t plan to fail they just fail to plan” Alan Lakein.

Deng Elijah is a South Sudanese who lives in British Columbia, Canada. He can be reached @ dengsimon2000@gmail.com

Open letter to public of the Republic of South Sudan for second massive contribution

By Atok Dan Baguoot

Dear fellow citizens;

At the onset, I would like to thank the leadership, citizens in attires of defense and the entire public for having stood bold in defense of our territorial integrity, properties and the pride bestowed upon us by nature as people of this nation.  We have seen and tolerated enough of aggressions, loot of our resources, abuses and humiliations against the people of Southern Sudan by few confused human elements in Khartoum in the name of Jihad as it wasn’t enough; the same behaviors are transcended into an independence sovereign state.

Much is still being tolerated as Abyei and other resourceful areas of South Sudan are still in satellite control of Khartoum by the use of threats using warplanes bought with money of oil looted in South Sudan. Our populations at the delicate edges of this country are subject to daily bombardments from the same Khartoum yet we are paying minimal attention.  Parts of us are bleeding but we still procrastinate on the pretext that International Community will pinch Khartoum to reverse its intransigent attitudes.

At this high-octane atmosphere, am appealing to us individually whether from opposition or ruling party, male or female, young, old and rich or poor that our relatives in defense clothes have shown our pride in defending all our territories from our true and ancient enemy and they are continuing doing so. Parties come and go, likewise generations but this nation will always be this very nation.

My sole simple message is to stand in defense of this country. I know you might not be in military cloth to go to Heglig or any other threatening targets but your contribution is valued. To the abled bodies you either stand on queues to face the baptism of fire and that is going physically in frontline but much needed from us is to deep our hands into our coffers whether you raise a piaster, all combined will cater for daily up keeping of our brothers in the battle fields. I know not all of us are paid highly but any form of little contribution you make is what needed.

Fellow citizens, remember that our brothers in the frontlines have made huge sacrifices. Though they are on winning side as stories trickle in day by day, we still owe them a lot. A little that you give them would boost their moral and they can fight a successful war that will let us sleep without worries in our huts, houses and cattle camps. We know very well that enemy is competent but we will emerge victorious at the end of the day.

Remember that our wounded relatives need nutritious food to regain their blood to go back to the battle, likewise there are those who need blood to boost their immune systems, cigarettes, clothes, cars for mobility and even supplements to their meager monthly incentives to give hope to their families.

Remember that our drug stores do not have enough antibiotics, pain killers and intravenous that can be used to administer first aid and treatment. Our combine position can substitute such areas of deficiencies. Having in mind that there is no more oil flowing into world market, knowing that our rural populations were left in destitute by long war, our taxes are insufficient to bridge all these gaps.

The working population is a drop of oil in the ocean in term of taxes, given that sustenance of government daily activities, soliciting military ware for modern warfare, our government would be left in no effort to render service to people.

Your bag of grains, piaster, gloves, bottle of antibiotics, liter of kerosene, goat any form of contributions are all that our soldiers need from us, besides spiritual, psychological and professionalisms like nursing. Out doctors, lawyers, teachers of contemporary history, geography and media specialists you are highly needed to exercise your professionalism meanwhile the fighting forces are doing their fronts.  This second call for massive contribution is no longer for liberation but to defense what we all liberated.

Of course anybody might still fear of corruption that what we shall contribute will again fall on wider mouths of corrupt elements before it reaches the designated destination. Yes you are right those elements still exist but I’m also appealing to them that in all that they have looted their sins are pardonable on condition that they give us back quarter of it in term of contributions.

I’m urging us to get out to public rallies to contribute in the Kenya’s like Harambe style in order to finish the unfinished business.

Atok Dan is a media specialist based in Juba. He is reached at atokbaguot@gmail.com

South Sudan Army shoots down Khartoum jet fighter over Heglig

Sudan Tribune reports that South Sudan Army shot down Khartoum Jet fighter over Paanthou/Heglig

http://www.sudantribune.com/BREAKING-NEWS-SPLA-shoots-down,42284

Sudan ‘At War’ With Neighbor, Says Ruling Party Official

Peter Clottey

Photo: Reuters

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir welcomes his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir for his first visit since southern secession to discuss key unresolved issues that have undermined north-south relations, during his arrival at Khartoum Airport, Sudan, October 8, 2011.

A prominent member of Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) says the country is officially in a state of war with South Sudan.

Rabie Abdelati Obeid condemned as unacceptable the “illegal invasion” of its territory after forces from South Sudan seized the key disputed oil town of Heglig. Obeid’s comments came after Sudan’s parliament unanimously voted to declare South Sudan an “enemy.”

He said the people of the Republic of Sudan assign the same status to South Sudan’s ruling party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

“They are now angry,” he said, “since the invasion of Heglig…,” where “the Sudanese Armed Forces are now chasing the remaining rebels … from corner to corner.”

He says the government should take as tough a stance toward Juba as has Sudan’s national assembly.

Obeid said the country’s southern neighbor continues to foment trouble by refusing to withdraw from the disputed border town it seized.

“Their language is a language of war,” said Obeid.

“How can we talk to those people in the language of peace, when they are against peace and stability? And they have now intentionally invaded an area which doesn’t belong to them.”

Violence has escalated along Sudan and South Sudan’s border despite the United Nations Security Council’s concerns about increasing conflict between the two neighbors.

Obeid said South Sudan has failed to abide by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), which effectively ended decades of war between the north and south.

“They are not respecting the CPA, and they don’t understand [it]. Their mind is actually oriented to war…and their culture is completely, different from a culture of peace,” said Obeid.

“There is no way now for talks unless we clean them out of the [Heglig] region…They started war; they invaded our area, and they distracted our localities. There is no way for any diplomacy.”

South Sudan said it will only withdraw from the oil town if the United Nations intervenes.

The African Union, which was helping mediate talks between the two neighboring countries, condemned south Sudan’s occupation of the town.

Obeid denied accusations that Sudan’s army uses Heglig as a base to launch attacks on unarmed civilians.

“If we want to do so, we should not have [allowed them to have] self-determination and the referendum,” he said, in reference to the ballot last year in which mostly Christian and black southerners voted to separate from the predominantly Arab and Muslim Republic of Sudan.

“Now we have clear evidence that they violated the peace, they violated the CPA, they invaded our area, they have committed a lot of mistakes and atrocities [and] they have caused a state of instability and insecurity.  [Theirs is] is the behavior of rebels, not …of a government.”

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Sudan-At-War-With-Neighbor-Says-Ruling-Party-Official–147678495.html