Dear UNMISS, IGAD and AU: Don’t bring back Riek Machar to Juba AGAIN: Keep him in exile

By Manyang David Mayar, Juba, South Sudan

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August 19, 2016 (SSB) — Although the United Nations could not protect a number of unarmed foreign nationals from rape, torture and killing of a South Sudanese journalist in Juba last July, the organization has carried out a successful evacuation of a South Sudanese armed opposition leader Riek Machar on Wednesday.

The news of the evacuation was both a great joy to supporters of Riek and also a heartbreaking and shocking story to millions of South Sudanese who would want to see this nation stay in peace and stability. Personally, I was hit by two emotions when I heard the news.

At first I celebrated the fact that Dr. Riek Machar was alive and breathing just like the rest of us would love to stay alive for as long as the creator allows. But a short while later, a sense of fear for the future took control over me. I couldn’t comprehend what the future holds for my wife, our one and half year old daughter and me.

Why the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (ARCISS) FAILED

By Kuol Alberto Makuach, Juba, South Sudan

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August 19, 2016 (SSB) — South Sudan got her independence on the 9th of July 2011 and exactly 29 months later, it was shrouded in civil war within itself. That conflict erupted over long grievances that have been shelved for a number of years due to the fact that, all the Southerners in the then united Sudan, were united for the separation that would grant freedom to Southern Sudan.

Depending on whichever side one gets the explanation on what transpired on the 15th of December 2013, which brought about the conflict, one would get a different story. However, a neutral person, would simply conclude that, what happened was just but a normal power struggle.

The group that was not in the cabinet by then, led by Riek, Pagan, Nyandeng and others saw that, it was wrong and unimaginable for President Kiir and his allies to shut them out so soon just like that. So, they fabricated stories on so many things so as to cause that confusion that would make them be brought back to the government. Simply put, it was and still is, a struggle between those that want to maintain their grip of power and those that either need to take part or overthrow the other group.

Nation Mirror newspaper suspended in Juba for reporting the evacuation of Riek Machar

PRESS STATEMENT: THE NATION MIRROR NEWSPAPER IS SUSPENDED BY THE GOV’T FOR REPORTING THE UN EVACUATION OF RIEK TO THE DRC CONGO

The Dark Ages of Liberation

August 19, 2016 (SSB) — The Nation Mirror Newspaper would like to bring to light circumstances leading to its suspension of publication for Friday August 19, 2016.

As you may well notice, the newspaper did not come out today as expected because of the following reasons;

When The Nation Mirror publication packaged news for printing at Ganesh Printers Co. Ltd in Juba, little did it know that the story about Riek Machar was a national security threat.