South Sudan: Looking for Incentives in the Bare Land

By Malith Alier, Perth, Australia

April 30, 2018 (PW) — It is not only bullet battles being fought in South Sudan but also words and phrases are at the front and end of the political soul of the nation. Political leaders including the president are wrongly or rightly quoted by media wherever and whenever, they attempt to explain themselves to the sceptical, traumatised masses.

While visiting Khartoum late last year, president Kiir said something to El Bashir and social media went frenzy. He murmured to Bashir that the vote to separate was imposed by the majority in 2011.

This time round it’s what will be my “incentives” if I sign myself out of peace agreement as the opposition demanded. To put this in context, I should define the term incentive as in Merriam Webster dictionary:

INCENTIVE: something that incites or has a tendency to incite to determination or action

Wow, so, nothing incites the president and his government to action at this depressing time. This means that the president has no determination to bring peace to South Sudan as he contrarily claimed in the past.

CEPO welcomes the timely release of the 10 aid workers from Yei

KIDNAPPED AID WORKERS IN YEI FREED

April 30, 2018 (PW) — South Sudan’s main armed opposition group allied to former first vice president turned rebel leader, Riek Machar says it has released the 10 aid workers who were abducted near Yei. The humanitarian workers were held for more than five days, since 25 April.

“The leadership of the SPLM/A IO has released the 10 aid workers detained in Yei and they are now heading to Juba. The aid workers have been handed over to the International Community of the Red Cross (ICRC),” said Paul Lam Gabriel, rebel deputy spokesman told Radio Tamazuj this afternoon.

Community Empowerment for Progress Organization appreciates the release of the 10 aid workers. This is a remarkable act from the SPLM/A-IO under Dr. Riek Machar for respecting the international humanitarian law. But this mistake should be control since it become a repeated act of recent.

Deng Vanag: Why I am Defecting from SPLM-IO to Federal Democratic Party

By Deng Nyang Vanang, Nairobi, Kenya

My dear comrades and compatriots,

April 30, 2018 (PW) — There comes a time when one can be a member of certain political formation by an act of personal volition.

Whereas the same volition can again be freely withdrawn through similar voluntary consent.

It doesn’t matter whether one holds a position of influence or is just another non-descript member.

Since according to normal best practices the world over, one must first be a member of an organization whose creed, objectives and policies he either formally or informally agrees to before being Deng Vanang assigned duties to carry out.

Sultan Chuot Makur Chuot: The youngest law graduate of South Sudan

By Deng Chuor Goldit, Nairobi, Kenya

April 30, 2018 (PW) — Here is a young man who still have hope for South Sudan. Chuot Makur Chuot still believe there is still “something” special about South Sudan regardless of its current trail of failures. He believes that this “something” should prompt every young patriotic South Sudanese to stand up and dedicate their lives to raising their voices and speak for Justice for their nation. Moulana Chuot, South Sudan’s youngest law graduate lost his father at a very young age during the events of the liberation struggles; a lost which the 26 year old still mourn deeply but believe to have planted an immense love for his people even at a very young age.

Kerbino Agok Wol: The South Sudanese entrepreneur who founded “KASS” security services

By FRED OLUOCH

While South Sudan is predominantly known for war and human suffering, one 35-year-old former child soldier turned entrepreneur and philanthropist is giving hope to the youth.

On our first encounter, Kerbino Wol comes across as a well-educated young man with connections in all the right places. His American accent confirms that he has travelled and lived abroad.

Yet Kerbino, who joined the South Sudanese rebels at the age of 13, has never seen the inside of a classroom. He has risen through self-education and interacting with the right people.

Here is a man who believes that one can build a business in a war-torn country that has seen inflation hit an all-time high of 117 per cent and has a virtually collapsed banking system.

Kerbino has built a security business that provides opportunities and hope to the youth whose education has been disrupted by war and poverty.

Kerbino Agok Security Services (KASS), which he started in 2010 with just $200 that he had saved as a soldier, has grown to be one of the leading local security firms and employs more than 2,000 youth in South Sudan.

Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba: A loyal, committed and hardworking SPLM member

By Deng Akok Muoradid, Juba, South Sudan

 

April 28, 2018 (PW) — Hon. Nunu Kumba is a loyal, committed, hardworking and patriotic senior member of SPLM who had dedicated her life to serve the party and the entire people of South Sudan. She is a successful and patient comrade who had been in SPLM since 1991, the year she abandoned her studies and joined the people’s movement at kidepo valley in the Eastern Equatoria State.

She is a career politician with over 27 years of political experience in various fields at the national, regional and continental levels and she had served in several positions during the liberation war, after the CPA and after the independence of South Sudan. She is one of the patriots who had played a great role in the liberation struggle that later resulted into the birth of the Republic of South Sudan.

The “Incentive Debate” and the “Useful Idiots” of South Sudan

Dear Useful Idiots of South Sudan, President Kiir is 100% Politically Correct on his “Incentive” Statement

By Comrade Deng Deng Akuei, Juba, South Sudan

April 29, 2018 (PW) — Much more has been talked about President Kiir’s incentive remarks. At the most negative view of this, are the virtual patriots/passive patriots whose faked revolutionary ideals and their presumptive patriotism ends with cheap talks at evening tea points and online passivity.

How ugly it is, that most youth are in such wild illusions. In fact, one may never be mistaken to conclude that South Sudan now has a generation equalled to what Lenin once referred to as “Useful idiots” ; passive, misguided and disillusioned youth whose daily life is awkwardly permeated by a cheap axis of negative propaganda against their state.

Indeed our pundits or regime dissidents are much more of this ,to say the least. Otherwise what would be the incentives of president Kiir to relinquish power to a disorganized group of gangs whose political ideologies are malicious, outdated, exclusive and conform to personal tummies and ethnic chauvinistic inclines.

Tributes to the late Chief of Defense Forces, Gen James Ajonga Mawut Unguec

“It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle; it takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into the battle,” Says Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.

By Bol Madut Ayii, Juba, South Sudan

 April 28, 2018 (PW) — It is always not easy to write about the dead for there is that nagging fear that they would want to be remembered for particular things which may not necessarily be the focus of the writer. The painful part is they aren’t there to make the needed amends. Still, writing a tribute for General James Ajonga Mawut Unguec is necessary, for he was a freedom fighter, a loyal officer, a man of the people a humble and honest army officer.

More importantly, he was a South Sudanese who paid his dues, he fought for the independence and take off any assignment offered to him by the leadership and indeed he served his nation without fear or favor, those are the dues of good and loyal citizen. General Ajonga left a good name, excellent deeds, the respect of his family, friends, colleagues and the nation at large.

This tribute is a recognition of his achievements, his perseverance, his struggle, his wisdom, loyalty and humbleness and all that even those things that this writer do not know about him.

South Sudan Embassy in the DR Congo issued with an eviction notice over unpaid rent

CEPO Welcomes the IGAD Consultative Visit to Juba on HLRF Outstanding Issues

IGAD DELEGATION TO GO TO JUBA ON 30 APRIL, 2018

April 28, 2018 (PW) — A team from the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is expected to arrive in Juba on Sunday to carry out behind the scene consultations on the outstanding issues, a top official said. Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth said the IGAD delegation will come to Juba on Sunday for consultations with the South Sudanese government on the revitalization process. Makuei, who is also the government spokesman, said his government will hold preparatory meetings on Saturday before the IGAD team arrives in Juba.

Community Empowerment for Progress Organization welcomes the decision of IGAD to directly engaged the South Sudan negotiating parties on matters of effective compromises prior the phase of the High Level Revitalization Forum( HLRF). It is great that IGAD responded to our past calls for lobbying the South Sudan negotiating parties for effective compromises.

Mr President, What is my incentive in this war?

By Deng Barach Paul, Juba, South Sudan

April 28, 2018 (PW) — What is my incentive if this war continues?

I am a widow.

My husband was killed in this war,  what is my incentive if this war continues?

I am an ordinary citizen.

I feels insecure, my childrens died of diseases,  hungry, because there’s no health facilities. What is my incentive if this war continues?

I am refugee.

I sleep under tree, and I have no food and water, and treatment.

What is my incentive if this war continues? 

Keep Motorcycles Out of Juba!!

By Madit Them Arop, Juba, South Sudan

April 28, 2018 (PW) — Motorcycles’ operation activities have remained much brutal and unsafe to owners, road users and general public in absent of strict traffic laws. As riding service flow in streets of Juba, thousands have benefited in double ways. Owners received income when users paid for riding services. The little income supports either family or individual.

A good thing! Despite that fruition, all motorcycles imported into the country ended up in streets for different purposes, whether for commercial or personal use. On reality stand, trading motorcycles are mainly for sales to public after traders’ importation. Here, the interested public buys at an affordable cost.

Anxiety comes up during utilization of these valuable properties. Scale of benefits and result of services have undisclosed facts worth peeling further. It is known, at present capacity, traders who supply this country with commercial motorcycles do it in good course even buyers who used them as “boda-boda” means for local transport.

No incentives, no peace, President Kiir says so!

By Sunday de John, Nairobi, Kenya

April 28, 2018 (PW) — Do we have a country? This question is what most South Sudanese ask. However, it goes without saying that after long struggle with Khartoum successive regimes under able leadership of Dr. John Garang de Mabior, South Sudanese achieved their lifetime dream.

Through the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the Republic of South Sudan was born. That alone created sense of belonging. The entire South Sudan was in awe because the then opppressed were now freed at last.

As if South Sudanese were to embark on establishing schemes so as to create what they would call home, the fateful demise of Dr. John Garang de Mabior happened and thus, a huge vacuum was created and the man trusted to take over couldn’t fill the vacuum because he accepted to take it yet he had motives meant for himself and only himself.

The “Kwak legacy” of the SPLM and the age of Demokiiracy in South Sudan

By Jon Pende Ngong, Nairobi, Kenya

April 26, 2018 (PW) — KWAK (as in the picture) is Kiir-Wani-Awet-Kuol conclave, the only top SPLM/A High Command Council members remaining alive and in Juba.

The KWAK Conclave has been hijacked by ‘NCPLM’, an intermarriage between NCP of Bashir and SPLM of Kiir, bringing us a hybrid system of the bloody ‘SALBASHIR RULE’ in Juba, with ten tentacles under handpicked governors thrown on the neck of the of the fledgling country, then mutated to 28, now 32 ‘Kiirlets’ controlling the periphery through ‘dekiirees’ and reign of terror in this era of error.

This misrule will leave Salva Kiir in the ugly pages of modern African history. I call it the ‘divide-and-ruin policy’, a predatory type of nation building process practiced through division of communities into ethnic administrative units called ‘states’ instead of networking these ethnicities into one monolithic nation state.

CEPO: Free the 10 Aid Workers Missing in Yei River State

Press release on the ten missing humanitarian workers in Yei River State

April 26, 2018 (PW) — Ten aid workers have gone missing in Yei River State, says the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Their convoy was en route to Tore from Yei town, early on Wednesday to conduct a humanitarian needs assessment.

OCHA said their whereabouts and well-being are unknown.“We are deeply concerned about the whereabouts of these humanitarian workers and are urgently seeking information about their well-being,” said Alain Noudehou, the Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan.

The hate that never quit: South Sudan is too big to be Gogrialized

The negative sweep generalization of Gogrial’s communities is an act of dishonesty: South Sudan is bigger to be Gogrialize “haters should be told”.

By Longar Mathiec Wol, Nairobi, Kenya

April 26, 2018 (PW) — As the nation continues with it polarization, the situation continues to collide tribe against tribe, communities against communities and individuals against individuals. The war characterizes by political interest and tribal affiliation continues to deprive our nation a unity we have been yarning for since the beginning of the war.

However, the polarization has gone beyond expectation as some opposition figures specially the attention seekers, recognition seekers young aspiring opposition members who terribly failed to differentiate the differences between the communities and the government have it on social media that president Salva Kiir is working toward Gogrialization of South Sudan.

I wonder how feasible that statement is, but the nuisance knows better. I am not depending president since he is capable of depending himself but the truth should be told. Communities don’t appoint people to any positions in government.

Why is VP Dr James Wani Inciting Violence against the Church?

WANI IGGA IS INCITING VIOLENCE AGAINST THE CHURCH

By Clement Maring Samuel, Nairobi, Kenya

April 26, 2018 (PW) — The challenges of the Post-December 2013 crisis, as well as the crimes committed against the citizens of Republic of South Sudan has call on the outspoken Bishops of the Catholic church in Juba to voice out their prophetic role against the injustices committed by the government. But this is not going well will the State Vanguards, and the Bishops are incriminated for saying it.

This article responds to the most recent attack against the Auxiliary Bishop Santo Laku Pios; by Vice President James Wani Igga (Monday April 23rd 2018, The East Africa), preceded by the weird attack against Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro by Mathiang Jalap (April 8, 2018, “Bishop Lukudu for regime Change”) which are direct incitation of violence against the church.

Position Paper of the Gogrial Community Association in Australia

Position paper of Gogrial Community Association in Australia regarding the conflict and reconciliation in Gogrial State.

Sub: Gogrial State Peace and Reconciliation Conference – Ajiep-Kuach (April 2018)

Introduction

1. Opening Statement

Conflict forms part of every livings’ walk of life and existence of conflict within our communities cannot be a surprise, but rather expected events. What would be a surprise is the persistent continuation of the violent conflict among our communities, which claimed many lives. Intellectuals, chiefs, youth leaders, politicians and other prominent members of our community bear the blame and responsibility for the loss of lives throughout this conflict. It must be stated that, if these mention groups did not serve our communities with gross negligence, ignorance and unwanted rivalry, many lives and civilians’ properties could have been saved and social fabric, which is essential for social cohesion among our people might have been maintained.

Four more counties approved in Eastern Lakes state

Four additional counties for Eastern Lakes State have been approved by the President of the republic today in Juba. They are as follows:

1. Anuol County with its HQS in Anuol

2. Geer County with its HQS in Geer

3. Awerial East County with its HQS in Abuyung

4. Awerial Centre County with its HQS in Dor

Press release: IGAD Postpones the 3rd Phase of the HLRF to May 17th

Press statement: The joint statement from the office of H.E. Ambassador Ismail Wais, IGAD Special Envoy to South Sudan on the postponement of the HLRF to May 16-25th, 2018

April 26, 2018 (PW) — On 25th April 2018, the Office of the Chairperson of IGAD Council of Ministers met with IGAD Ambassadors in Addis Ababa and after deliberation and assessing the positions of the Parties decided to postpone the convening of Phase II of the High-level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) process for South Sudan.

The Office together with the Ambassadors group deliberated on the outcomes of the shuttle diplomacy meetings held with South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), South Sudan People Liberation Movement/Army – In Opposition   (SPLM/A-IO), Civil Society Groups and other stakeholders and has agreed that there still exist wide gaps between the different groups that need to be narrowed.

It is based on this that the office of the Chairperson of IGAD Council of Ministers decided to postpone the next HLRF Phase II to allow continuation of shuttle diplomacy meetings with the Parties to the South Sudan conflict in order to have a meaningful outcome of the mediation.

The office of the Chairperson gave the dates of the next session of the HLRF: 17th May– 21st May of 2018.