Day: February 17, 2023

The Turkish government on Thursday donated the first batch of 75,000 military uniforms to South Sudan’s recently graduated unified forces.

While handing over the uniforms at Juba International Airport, Erdem Mutaf, Turkish Ambassador to South Sudan, said his country will continue to support the implementation of the agreement.

“Up to now, in the Turkish Embassy, we have mobilized our resources to contribute to the peace process in an early manner in South Sudan. However this donation of 75,000 military uniforms is the most important part of our assistance to South Sudan,” said Mutaf.

He added, “This is a gift from one of the oldest armies dated back to 209 BC to the youngest army in the world and this donation is also a sign of strong support of Türkiye to the revitalized peace agreement of South Sudan.”

Tut Gatluak, Presidential Advisory on Security and Chairperson for National Transitional Committee (NTC) said the contribution will boost the security sector.

“We pray to God to save the Turkish nation and citizens, we thank Turkey for the effort and support and the good relations between Turkey and South Sudan,” said Gatluak.

Gatluak said the government has sent thoughts and prayers of South Sudanese people to Turkey following the devastating earthquakes which killed thousands of people.

“Turkey is passing through a difficult situation and the world is forwarding rescue missions. Turkish citizens have lost their lives, and Turkey has been supporting South Sudan. We thank the president and Turkish army,” he added.

Angelina Teny, Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs hailed the Turkish government for supporting the recently graduated unified forces uniforms.

“We thank our sisterly country, Türkiye not only because of this contribution but I think there is something we can learn from their people and leadership,” said Angelina.

“Despite the tragedy of the earthquake in Türkiye, you see the level of commitment and feelings for others, they couldn’t postpone what was arranged early on this day of 16 February and they delivered the first consignment,” she added.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

A leading South Sudanese civil society and rights body has said it is perturbed by the emerging trend of cyber-attacks on media houses and their social media handles.

The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization’s (CEPO) executive director, Edmund Yakani, in a statement on Thursday evening strongly condemned the attacks.

“CEPO is strongly disturbed by the recent negative developments towards online media outlets and their social media platforms,” he said. “We strongly condemn the individuals or groups of persons perpetrating these negative and unlawful acts which constitute a violation of freedom of expression by engaging in the hacking of social media platforms.”

Yakani said it is a bad indicator that in less than a month, two online media houses’ social media platforms have been hacked.

“Sudans Post’s official Facebook account was hacked two weeks ago and now 16 February, Radio Tamazuj’s official Twitter handle is hacked. These negative developments are disturbing especially now when the country is undergoing a political transitional process around constitution making, conduct of elections, and transitional justice,” he said. “These political processes require observation or respect for freedom of expression and free media.”

“Finally, CEPO is urging donors to invest funds in strengthening media outlets’ digital security and safety,” he added.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

South Sudan’s Warrap State governor has vowed to bring an end to the cycle of communal violence among communities in Warrap by end of May this year.

Governor Manhiem Bol Malek made the remarks on Thursday while addressing the opening session of the state legislative assembly after a long recess.

“I dare to declare before this August House that my government will have to end communal violence in Warrap State before 31 May 2023 to allow our communities to cultivate without fear,” he said.

Last November, the governor held consultative meetings with Warrap state stakeholders in Juba and came out with resolutions to resolve communal conflict in the state.

“I would request this house to deliberate on the resolutions of the consultative meeting and approve it so that we address security situation once and for all,” he said.

The meeting resolved among others, comprehensive disarmament, the establishment of community policing, the empowerment of traditional chiefs, and the deployment of organized forces at hotspots.

Governor Bol added that the disarmament plan will be extended to Twic and Ngok areas.

“The ongoing inter-communal conflict between Twic and Ngok communities remains a stumbling block for the peaceful coexistence and rule of law. However, the previous security exercise will be reactivated again with the support from the presidency to allow the resolution of conflict in the disputed areas within the context of law,” he assured.

He further pledged to work collaboratively with the national ministry of education to improve the quality of education.

Meanwhile, Kuec Deng Mayar, Warrap Speaker urged the executive to submit the amended bills for consideration.

“I am urging the executive to urgently submit an ammendment bill of state constitution so that it is deliberated. Other bills including security, budget, and appropriation are also important for the state cannot operate without these laws,” he said.

He urged the executive to implement the Local Government Act 2009 to minimize communal conflict.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

Authorities in Upper Nile’s Fashoda County said they have received four abductees freed from their captors in Jonglei State’s Fangak County.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, Joseph Aban, the Fashoda County commissioner, said the former abductees aged 10 to 18, include two females and that they had already been reunited with their families.

“Yesterday (Wednesday), the Red Cross handed over three children to us in Fashoda. One child was left behind in Malakal town with its family who lives at the PoC Site,” he said.

The local official added that the rescued are just a tiny fraction of several children whom he said are still missing since the violence late last year when an armed group from Jonglei State’s Greater Fangak area invaded part of their land.

For his part, Boutrus Biel, Fangak County Commissioner, said the recovery and return of the abductees is a gesture of their commitment to peace.

“As being part of the government, we decided that all the children be released. So we traced and talked to the people who brought the abductees and we learned that seven people have been brought to Fangak County. We managed to trace four through traditional chiefs,” he said.

“The four are Nyakhamisa Joseph Mayik, 18, Nyabiel Adwok Ojang, 14, John Adwok Joseph Chan, 10, and his younger brother Kwajwok. This is very important because no one should be held under captivity under our law,” he added.

John Samuel Manyuon, the state information minister, while confirming the handover, said there is uneasy calm in parts of Jonglei State bordering Upper Nile State and that the state leadership plans to engage Upper Nile State counterparts and the national government to de-escalate the looming tensions there.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has implored South Sudanese political leaders to seize the opportunity to reset the country toward peace, democratic transformation, and prosperity after nearly five years of delays in the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.

Two members of the commission, Barney Afako, and Andrew Clapham are concluding an eleventh country visit, from 14 to 18 February.

“We always appreciate the opportunity to visit South Sudan, and to have meaningful discussions with a range of people, to learn more about the human rights situation and prospects for the credible conclusion of this transition period,” said Commissioner Barney Afako. “The suffering across the country remains immense. South Sudanese women and girls continue to face unspeakable sexual violence. Political leaders must reorient their priorities and work together to put an end to this needless violence and protect the human rights of South Sudanese.”

“Without a change of approach, the transition will falter,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Andrew Clapham said they were still shocked by the continued attacks on civilians.

“Our Commission has documented human rights violations in South Sudan for many years, but we were still shocked by the sexual violence and continuing attacks against civilians,” he said. “The accounts from survivors are horrific. Many people the Commission has met have experienced attacks over and over again. At the same time, people responsible for crimes walk free.”

The Commissioners visited the capital Juba, and Upper Nile State where the UN runs a protection of civilians (POC) site that accommodates tens of thousands of new arrivals fleeing violence, the statement said.

According to the Commission, organizations, and agencies providing humanitarian support in the areas recounted their struggle to provide the required assistance to the large number of people seeking shelter.

“In the past year, the Commission has documented widespread attacks against civilians in several states, including southern Unity State where Government officials led the attacks. Conflicts in Upper Nile State and northern parts of Jonglei State have involved multiple armed groups, with minimal response from the State, despite months of widespread attacks against the civilian population,” the statement read. “Extrajudicial killings also continued, implicating senior State officials, who have enjoyed impunity even where the crimes have been caught on camera. Civil society leaders and other observers told the Commissioners that political and civic space in the country has continued to shrink.”

Afako said that on a visit to South Sudan one year ago, they warned that the country was at a tipping point, given the limited time left to implement critical parts of the peace agreement.

“Although the transition period has now been extended, there is still an enormous amount of work to do to advance the peace process,” he said. “South Sudanese are desperate to see greater energy and determination among their leaders to address human rights.”

The Commission will present its report on the human rights situation in South Sudan to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2023, in Geneva.

Source: Radio Tamazuj