UNSC Resolution 2304 (2016): Intervention or Protection Force for South Sudan?

By Reagan Gatluak Gatwech, Kampala, Uganda

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August 15, 2016 (SSB) — Following the fighting that broke out outside the presidential palace in Juba on the eve of independence celebrations, IGAD called for an intervention brigade. Such a brigade was first proposed in 2014 during the mediation but weakened as the UN and IGAD could not agree on its relationship to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), or on the mechanisms of financial and logistical control.

When a State interferes in the political affairs of another State by invitation, or on request, it cannot be considered as an unlawful act. Interference of a State can never be unlawful if it is for the sake of humanity. It is necessary that the two States agree on the matter of intervention through a treaty. A request for assistance is not an unlawful act.

Similarly, the 27^th African Union assembly in Kigali, Rwanda also resolved that Uganda, Sudan, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Kenya shouldcontribute a regional force to South Sudan whichfollowing the renewed fighting in Juba. However, there is need to clarify on what intervention really means, circumstances that warrant it, legal grounds for intervention in civil wars and also draw a distinction between military intervention and a protection force.

The big but unanswered question: Where is Dr. Riek Machar?

By South Sudanese writer

The battle over the SPLM-IO leadership

August 15, 2016 (SSB) — SPLM In Opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar left Juba between July 8 and July 11 [when fighting started & ended in the capital] and have officially remained “around Juba.”

Supporters of his opponents and die-hearts critics have gone ahead and declared Riek dead.  His supporters on the other hands, said he is “around Juba” waiting for the international community to live to its pronouncement of sending a protection force for their man before returning to Juba or taking over Juba militarily.

Right so, the fighting in Presidential Palace J1 on July 8 and the aftermath warrant godly certified security details, if any, before Riek return to Juba.  The regional & international community is the godfather in this complicated.

So where is Dr. Riek?

South Sudan: The Nation of the Traumatized (Part 3)

Intellectuals – Manipulating Our People in South Sudan

Thiik Mou Giir, Melbourne, Australia

The Genius of Dr. John Garang: Tributes to the Late SPLM/A’s Leader Dr. John Garang de Mabioor (Volume 3) Paperback – July 11, 2015 by PaanLuel Wël (Editor)

August 15, 2016 (SSB) — Following my last article, one of those who made some comments expressed his disapproval of my use of the term, “Intellectuals” to apply on those who are engaged in such kind of writings.  One out of four dictionary definitions he provided reads, an intellectual person is “an extremely rational person; a person who relies on intellect rather than on emotions or feelings.”  He went on to suggest that those who are inciting violence and promoting hatred as “War mongers” or “Propagandists.”  This is a good point but I would continue using the term “Intellectuals” for the sake of consistency.

The use of the Internet comes with responsibility or the lack of it.  We, who use the Internet in Diaspora, can use it to help our people build bridges (strengthen relationships) and that is a good thing.  We can use it in order to share ideas, ideas that would help us mature and let us make sense of our world, and that is a good thing.  We can use it, moreover, to help us resolve the issues we have had for so long and issues that have surfaced after South Sudan gained its independence, and that is a good thing.  In short, we can use it to build our new identity and that is a good thing.

President Obama and Mr. Banki-moon: South Sudan is not a department within the USA or UN

By Mariak Chol Majok, Kampala, Uganda

UN secretary general, Banki Moon, and JMEC chairperson, Festus Mogae

August 15, 2016 (SSB) — Perhaps Mr. Barack Hussein Obama, the President of the United States of America and Mr. Banki-Moon, the current and Outgoing Secretary-General of United Nations are still behind the news that South Sudan seceded from the oppressive regime and slavery from the Sudan five years ago; when we were declared an independent nation on 9^th, July 2011and subsequent ascension as United Nations’ Number 193^rd member country. It is called the Republic of South Sudan, for Christ’s sake, infallible in all its own affairs; it has her own sovereignty and the president, who also doubles as the Commander-in-Chief of National army (The SPLA) and the Supreme Commander of Other Regular Forces.

It lies in the eastern part of Africa and a member of East Africa Community (EAC) and Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD; perhaps the acronym ‘D’ has to be changed and be called Inter-Governmental Authority on Destruction because this bloc is the one destroying the region), endowed with all natural resources, cultural heritage, secular in its state and has its rules and regulations as enshrined in the transitional constitution (2011 and amended in 2015).

But Amb. Molly Phee, US overthrown 9 governments with no langauge supporting them

“There is absolutely no language that would support the allegation that there is any effort on behalf of the United States or any other member of the United Nations Security Council to try and return to colonialism or return to UN protectorate,” said United States Ambassador to South Sudan. Molly Phee .

By David Aoloch Bion, Juba, South Sudan

Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) Chairperson Festus Mogae visits Malakal.

August 15, 2016 (SSB) — Ambassador Phee was responding to demonstration of South Sudanese against US proposal of sending 4000 regional force into the country. In fact , Mrs. Phee is trying to spin doctoring her country image after the US  imperially overstep its mark in the internal affairs of South Sudan through UN , UN is new version of US or the Western Imperialism or  Colonialism .

Mrs. Phee, it is true that, there is no  language supporting the South Sudanese claims of the US colonially meddling in South Sudan affairs  directly but US is plotting  covertly  to overthrow the Government of South Sudan in ‘’covert operation’’  through coordination of the CIA under the smokescreen of the UN.

Well , Ambassador Phee , there is no language of return to colonialism or return to UN  protectorate , what about the language of regime change ? .There is a language of the regime change , that South Sudan are hearing being spoken at the UN . This regime change will be carried out the by CIA intelligence agents.

President Salva Kiir calls for dialogue and understanding with the UN Security Council

In paraphrase, here is the summary of President Kiir’s speech to the national assembly: “I am neither against nor for the UNSC resolution on South Sudan. Be patient, after wider consultation with my constituency, I will submit my “reservations” to the UNSC resolution on the 4,000 regional protection forces for South Sudan. This is not a rejection of the UNSC resolution per se, it is simply a call for dialogue, negotiation and understanding on the better way forward in resolving the conflict in South Sudan. Please bear with me and remember that anyone (Michael Makwei, Ateny Wek etc.) speaking against the UN, IGAD is not speaking on behalf of the gov’t.”

Overview of the Speech of the President from Pal Chol, Juba, South Sudan

August 15, 2016 (SSB) — The President, during the inauguration of the opening session of what they called an expanded Parliament, said the implementation of the ARCISS did not happen as planned because of the petty political differences and lack of cooperation from his brother Dr. Riek Machar (sic).Now with the commitment demonstrated by the SPLMIO under the stewardship of Gen Taban, the agreement will be implemented in letter and spirit. He said he is not again the UN, AU or IGAD. Those voices out or individuals who talk against these organizations have not been mandated to speak for the government. He said they will deliberate on the IGAD communique which was resolved by the UNSC on the 12th August 2016 and will then make their position public. He said the country with two armies explained the incident on the 7th of July. By May 2017, there would be one army. I instructed the army chief of General staff to start the process. The recruitment, promotion and command will not be on ethnic bases. The SPLA, President Kiir admitted that, they have not yet been trained and indoctrinated to the conventional military codes of conduct. The police will also be trained. The army must be made to know that they fall below civil authority. The President said he would form a commission of Inquiry to be headed by the former Chief Justice. He invited the UN SG and the IGAD to appoint their representatives to the commission to help in investigating the causes of the crimes committed during the July crisis. He lamented that he is not happy to see South Sudanese living in camps in their own country. He said he instructed the Ministers of the National security and interior to ensure that their movement is unthreatened and unhindered. On the economy, he said they will regulate the non-oil proceeds and resume oil production so that there is dollars to stabilize the already deteriorated economic downturn .The idea of intervention force needs to be discussed by the people of South Sudan. It needs dialogue but not decisions taken outside. He called on the people of South Sudan to unite and work harmoniously to develop this country. He said he would make South Sudan safer like any other country in Africa. He praised the US and President Obama for having stood and helped the people of South Sudan and hopes that the US will continue to be a strong ally and friend of South Sudan.

Why China and Russia abstain from UNSC resolution on regional force for South Sudan

By Jaya Ramachandran, New York City

August 15, 2016 (SSB) —- Two of the five veto wielding members of the Security Council, China and Russia, and two from among the ten non-permanent ones, Egypt and Venezuela, abstained from the resolution renewing on August 12 the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until June 30, 2017, authorizing the expansion of peacekeeping forces and stressing the priority of civilian protection in its mandate. The Council adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution that also threatened to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan if the government blocks the deployment of a robust force of 4,000 troops.

All the four abstaining countries faulted that the text of the resolution did not reflect the principles of peace keeping, which included the consent of the South Sudanese authorities. They stressed that consent was a cornerstone of the principles of peacekeeping. Egypt went further and bashed what it called the Council’s “increasing tendency to overstep the established principles governing United Nations peacekeeping operations”.

While the four shared in principle the concern of the 11 Security Council members who voted in favour of the resolution, the Council document SC/12475 provides a summary of the reasons of those who preferred to abstain:

The Robbed Nation: Who is Responsible for the Mess in South Sudan?

By Madit Them Arop, Juba, South Sudan

August 15, 2016 (SSB) —- Once upon time, there was a well-respected, admired, loved, and fairly seen with a provision of revelation wisdom as a wise man. Grew up in place called the Robbed Nation, located in the center of east and north along the equator line in Africa. The place has a snake-like river, divided the Robbed Nation into two, almost in halves. Such river was internally believed to have originated from West side of the nation leading toward east, closely bound to the north. The nation was reported as a landlocked baby, sources from the mentioned river are resources it considerably depended on. The other resources comes from vast minerals, vast arable lands, diamonds, gold and oil. The river also provides the nation with water, fish, river transportation, navy security protection, and dock for ships, electricity dams, irritation schemes and more to that direction. The same river offers other attributes to neighboring places it touched or crossed through.

One day, this wise man had a visitor. The guest was welcomed, accommodated, had shower, took hot tea and was escorted to the shade to take a nap because the humidity at the time stood at flammable level. During lunch time, however, his lunch was brought to him. While enjoying the lunch, a by-passer dog suddenly emerged, and had great fortune, the guest tossed portions of food on the floor for the dog. Under the same shade and around the compound, there were chickens at random, seriously aiming at their stomach’ concerns for the day. The restless chicken jumped to collect unsecured pieces of food some inches away from the dog. The hungry dog impatiently leaped to reach for the chicken. The chicken hurriedly gathered its mightier muscles and flown off, to avoid the wild dog before turning it into “free lunch.” Conversely, the chicken had uncalculated landing, it stridden out on tethered nearby calf. The calf’s situation got hijacked and bounded high letting halt rope loosen. The fearful calf ran toward the compound ended up stepping on laid child under the verandah. And for the heavenly sadness, the child innocently passed!

South Sudan should invest in education so as to restore peace, hope and trust

The South Sudanese Government, the communities, and the international communities should invest in Education in emergencies so as to restore peace, hope, and trust among the war-torn communities

By Ustaz Abraham Mabior Rioc, Juba, South Sudan

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August 15, 2016 (SSB) — Educational opportunities are the means in restoring peace, hope, trust, and confidence among the war-ravaged communities particularly during an emergency and in post-conflict reconstruction. According to the World Bank (2005) report on post-conflict education (as cited in Mundy & Sarah, 2011, p.27) recommends prioritizing education as a critical post-conflict intervention for reshaping the future and identifies the need to focus on reestablishing a functioning school system as a peace dividend that will foster confidence in the period of transformation toward peace.

An emergency situation can occur any time within nations or among the communities in any given country as a result of frustrations of people due political, economic or cultural grievances. But what has to be taken into consideration is that, the concerned authorities and the well-wishers are the application of possible modalities to deescalate it in order to avoid further implications and destructions of both human and material resources.

In the South Sudan context, the recurring conflicts and communal tensions have been on rise even before and after the independence of the Republic of South Sudan due to lack of education and other life-saving skills. When we revisit the history of south Sudan from the earlier years up to date, one can clearly understand and believe that endless conflicts have been on and off and so they seem to have been the true-life habits of different categories of south Sudanese communities.

South Sudan acrimonious relationship with African Union, IGAD and the UN

By Michael Chol Tor Deng, Juba, South Sudan

August 15, 2016 (SSB) — We all need to understand that a good relationship is about sharing ideas and enjoying moments with each other as well as sharing some of the painful experiences we may go through in life. This should rank top in vital or essential relationship. I might be wrong to assume that AU and IGAD wrongs doing, may affect South Sudan relationship due to Africans daily business.

African Union and IGAD were formed and the aimed were to unite Africans and Africa continent regarding Africa insecurity, the two organizations have been turned away from their rights to wrongs pathway of insecure leaders within for self interests therefore, the two organizations have turned to ruin line that driven them to demolish Africa motherland intentionally to get rich or well-off wealthy.

Let’s begin with the obvious or understandable. Most men in AU and IGAD feel inadequate when they compare themselves with other men who are more successful. They feel intimidated or scared when some corresponding person stand as pole working and learning together with other counterpart men who drive better cars, have better job and seem to have everything going for them.

The formation and fall of Aweil community in Nairobi, Kenya

By Luka Manyang Kuol, Nairobi, Kenya

August 15, 2016 (SSB) — Aweil community was form between 1994 and 1995 in Nairobi, Kenya then collapsed in 2003 and later revived in 2008 where the election is held every year in the second week of August according to the constitution.

Finally, its total collapse came as result from the presidential decree on 24/12/2015, which turned 10 states to 28 states in the Republic of South Sudan.

The creation of new states brought different changes in South Sudan and outside South Sudan especially the communities and the unions which were form during the period of ten states in South Sudan.