MEDIA MONITORING REPORT United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)

Media & Spokesperson Unit, Communication & Public Information Office

MONDAY, 4 MARCH 2013

SOUTH SUDAN • Security arrests senior medical doctor over Wau crisis (Catholic Radio Network) • South Sudan chief justice denies nepotism in appointment of his daughter (Sudantribune.com) • Security implements ban on alcohol in Rumbek (Gurtong.net) • Bars and liquor stores closedown in Rumbek (Sudantribune.com) • MP urges low dowry payment to promote equality (Catholic Radio Network) • Land disputes on the rise in Aweil as bribes flow (Theniles.org) • Book on women rights in pursuit of justice unveiled (Gurtong.net) • South Sudan’s proposed economic road hailed by Ethiopia’s regional leader (Sudantribune.com) • Over 4 million South Sudanese food insecure, says UN (Sudantribune.com) • UN official warns over attacks on aid workers (Sudantribune.com) • Two MPs involved in accident, transferred to Juba for treatment (Gurtogn.net) • Governor urges NGOs to partner with line ministries to boost service delivery (Gurtong.net) • Road connectivity will help boost peace efforts in Jonglei State: official (Gurtong.net) • Missionaries spread services to the rural community in old Fangak (Gurtong.net) • British embassy calls for vigilance against scams (Radio Bakhita) SOUTH SUDAN, SUDAN • Prospects for peace in Abyei remain "bleak", says group (Sudantribune.com) • South Sudan says Sudan’s rhetoric fooling international community (Sudantribune.com) • Sudan gov’t affirms its keenness to continue negotiations, and urges S. Sudan government to abide by its commitments (Sudanese Media Center) • South Sudan Accuses Sudan's Army of New Incursions (AllAfrica.com) • Abyei leaders call for review of UN peacekeepers’ mandate (Sudantribune.com) • Sudan, South Sudan to Resume talks in Addis Ababa (Sudanese Media Center) OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • Controversial S. Kordofan Governor may lead negotiations with SPLM-N (Sudantribune.com) • Fighting between rebels and army erupts in central Sudan (Reuters) • Sudanese opposition seeks to prevent its divisions going public (Sudantribune.com) • Sudan ambassador criticizes Egypt firmly over sheltering Darfur rebels (Sudanese Media Center) • Sudan determined to cooperate with all UN field missions, Dosa (Sudanese Media Center) OPINION/ANALYSIS/EDITORIAL/COMMENTS • Independence won but freedom yet to come for South Sudan (Arab news/AFP) • South Sudan’s vote on Palestine UN Status: How Amb. Nazario is victimized (Sudantriune.com) • Are Ngok Dinkas of Abyei South Sudanese? (Sudantriune.com) • The Conclave and the two Sudans (Sudantriune.com)

NOTE: Reproduction here does not mean that the UNMISS Communications & Public Information Office can vouch for the accuracy or veracity of the contents, nor does this report reflect the views of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Furthermore, international copyright exists on some materials and this summary should not be disseminated beyond the intended list of recipients.

Highlights

Security arrests senior medical doctor over Wau crisis Catholic Radio Network, 3/3/2013 – Security operatives arrested a senior medical doctor in Wau Teaching Hospital on alleged links to Wau’s December deadly protests. James Angelo Marcello, paediatrician and director for Leprosy and TB at Wau Teaching Hospital, was arrested last Tuesday at Wau North Court. A source in the Hospital told Voice of Hope that the doctor was arrested without prior notice. The source said two doctors from the hospital were arrested by the security personnel since December and their services were much needed in the hospital due to its low numbers of doctors. Another source said Dr Angelo was arrested on charges linked to Wau’s December protests. He was accused of having a hand behind the violence during the protest and he is now under police custody.

South Sudan chief justice denies nepotism in appointment of his daughter Sudantribune.com Juba, 2/3/2013 – South Sudan’s chief justice, Chan Reec Madut, has been forced to deny nepotism in his decision to appointment of one of his daughters as a legal assistant. The appointment has drawn strong public criticism in South Sudan where unemployment, nepotism and corruption are rife. In the eight years since South Sudan gained self-rule, the ministry of justice has not prosecuted a single official for corruption despite billions of dollars going missing. The revelation about Justice Madut’s daughter has reinforced the perception among many South Sudanese that the government is both corrupt and nepotistic. Achok Chan Reec, a daughter of the chief Justice Chan Reec Madut, is among the 78 legal assistants appointed on 26 February but whose official appointment comes into effect on the 1st March. Sudan Tribune understands that there have been attempts at a family level to persuade her decline the appointment in order to avoid public indignation and claims of nepotism, which is already perceived as rampant in government institutions in South Sudan. Ms Reec did not respond to calls on Friday and none of her siblings have come forward to comment. Officials at the judiciary have also avoided commenting on the issue. Neither the deputy chief justice nor aides responded to requests for comment on Friday afternoon. Some South Sudanese see the appointment is seen an attempts by the government to tighten its control of state institutions through employing close relatives. However, Justice Madut vehemently denied charges of nepotism, maintaining all appointments were made on the basis of qualifications. “There is nothing wrong in the appointment. It is constitutional. Any citizen of South Sudan can be appointed regardless of whether they have family in the government or not. They are citizens. This is their right”, Madut told Sudan Tribune. Justice Madur said that provisions in the 2008 judiciary act as the basis of appointing legal assistants. However, the provision, which some of the judges say does not include clear criteria for appointment of judicial officers. The judicial order for appointing the judicial assistance, which Sudan Tribune has seen, says: “Pursuant to the powers conferred upon me under section 26(1) of the Judiciary Act, 2008, I Chan Reec Madut, Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court do hereby appoint the people list below as Legal Assistants with effect from 1st March, 2013. The appointee shall remain under probation for eighteen (18) month with effect from the date of their appointment as provided under section 26(2) (a) and section 26(3) (b) of the Judiciary Act, 2008”.

The order gives appointees a probationary period of 18 months before being considered for permanent service in the Judiciary of South Sudan (JOSS) in accordance with provisions of section 26(4) of the Judiciary Act, 2008. Justin Deng Mawien, who is a native of Warrap state, studied law at Nileen University in Khartoum, Sudan. He came to South Sudan after he graduated in 2004 but has not managed to get a permanent job since leaving university. The law graduate told Sudan Tribune he was surprised by the appointment of the daughter of the chief justice as a legal assistant. He said: “How can he do that? This is a clear act of nepotism. Such practice is itself a corruption. We are done. The government should simply declare South Sudan a corrupt state and dissolve the so called anti-corruption if the chief justice without fear can approve appointment of his daughter, while millions of our citizens including myself are jobless. Just tell me what does this mean to you people in the media. To me it is pure corruption and nothing more”. “I couldn’t believe Justice Chan would do that when I saw the name of his daughter on the list of those he appointed. If you have looked at the list you will find number 28 is his daughter. I know her myself. They were at Juba University when I was at Nileen University. They were by far behind me. I finished high school when they were still in Primary. I finished university when some of his children were sitting Sudan school certificate. I have not gotten permanent job until now because of the claims of lack of jobs. Where these jobs in which they are employing their own children did comes”. Sabit Alfred, a resident of Juba who did not want to mention where he works told Sudan Tribune on Friday: "The general concern is about what they are doing. The behaviours of some of our leaders as you know have reached uncontrolled level. They no longer listen to people. What is alarming is the way they are putting in place so many of their family members into all kinds of positions of state authority, so much so that if they lose power, they will still control much of the institutions in the top civil positions."

Security implements ban on alcohol in Rumbek Gurtong.net Rumbek, 4/3/2013 – The Lakes State security agents on Saturday carried out intensive search in shops selling alcohol in Rumbek Central Market as part of implementing the ban on selling alcohol in the town. The search resulted in all shop selling beers being affected by decision where the beers and all types of alcoholic drinks were destroyed on the main public road. “All my beer in the shop were collected out in the shop and were being destroyed in the main market. All bottles were broken. They destroyed everything that contained alcohol and those security people told me nothing. No compensation to all that they did to my shop,” said Joseph Lemi, a businessman selling beer in Rumbek. Lakes State Caretaker Governor Matur Chut Dhuol had issued an extra order banning the selling of alcohol in the market except at some designated hotels in the town. The order also had banned selling vegetables, Boda Boda operators, and garages from operating inside main market and he directed them to be stationed at Malith market which three kilometers away from the town Centre. Rumbek Central County Commissioner Abraham Mayen Kuc was also ordered to closely monitor the smoking of shisha as it was banned. Last Friday, the governor ordered the immediate arrest of pastoralist youth involved in the inter- communal fights in Rumbek East County where six people were killed. Dhuol also instructed members of the security forces to arrest on sight anyone found drinking, either in town or in the cattle camps.

Several women groups, mainly comprising of widows who lost their husbands during the long civil war protested the governor’s decision to ban their alcohol brewing businesses in the state. Many said that life had worsened in the state, citing the arbitrary arrest of youth by security forces and restrictions posed on movement. The governor has put in place a number of security reforms to restore peace and stability the state prone to conflicts and cattle raids. The Rumbek East County authorities have issued a ban on drinking of alcohol in social gatherings and ceremonies to curb the rising levels of insecurity in the area.

Bars and liquor stores closedown in Rumbek Sudantribune.com Rumbek, 3/2/2013 – The Lakes state’s security operators carried out an intensive search for alcohol in Rumbek Central market on Saturday just days after the military caretaker governor banned the sale of alcohol in the state. The announcement on Thursday to ban alcohol sales will deprive some citizens, mostly poor widowed women, of their daily income source.. Beers and other alcoholic drinks that were discovered were been destroyed in front of the public on the main road. Joseph Lemi, a businessman selling beer in a bar in Rumbek market told press that all the beer from his shop was collected and destroyed in main market. "All bottles were broken. They destroyed everything that contained the alcohol and those security people told me nothing. No compensation to all what they did to my shop.” Lakes State’s military Caretaker Governor ,Major-General Matur Chut Dhuol, issued an order banning the selling of alcohol in the state apart from at five hotels; Palm tree, Afex, Safari Style, Canal and South Sudan logistic hotel. The permission granted to the hotel to sell beer did not indicate how many hours are allowed to them to continue selling alcohol. The order also banned the selling of vegetables and garage for motorcycles (Boda-boda) and bicycles from operating inside main market. He directed all Boda-boda, bicycle garage to be stationed in Malith market which is three kilometers away from town Centre. Governor Dhuol ordered the Rumbek Central County commissioner, Abraham Mayen Kuc, to closely monitor the smoking of shisha. He stated that smoking of shisha is ban. Dhuol also banned the practice of smoking Shisha in local restaurants. Last Friday governor Dhuol ordered the immediate arrest of all young men suspected of taking part in recent violence between pastoralist groups in Rumbek East County.

MP urges low dowry payment to promote equality Catholic Radio Network, 3/3/2013 – An MP representing Magwi County at the National Assembly called upon parents not to charge high prices for allowing their daughters to marry because they reduce the dignity of woman to the level of property. Beatrice Abbe said all women desired to be equal with men irrespective of some conditions, Bakhita Radio reported. She warned men not to think that they own a woman because they paid a bride price. The MP explained that the dowry is a token of appreciation to the in-laws for raising his wife. Mrs Abbe said charging a high dowry was not good because it deprived the husband of resources to look after his wife and family. She explained that although the practice is cultural, the society will gradually get transformed and changes it. Ms Abbe was speaking to reporters after the official launch of a one-weeklong celebration of the International Women Day in South Sudan. 4

The President of the Republic Salva Kiir, the SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum and Rebecca Nyandeng, wife of the late leader John Garang, will attend the candle lit ceremony. Women will participate in talk shows in the local Radios and TVs to advocate for women’s rights. SPLM Deputy Secretary General Anne Itto encouraged women in the next week to ask the Government to provide a conducive environment for investment, cultivation and business in order to discourage food insecurity in the country.

Land disputes on the rise in Aweil as bribes flow Theniles.org Aweil, 4/3/2013 – Land grabbing is a hot topic in Aweil town, in Northern Bahr el- Ghazal State, where bribery and land theft is widespread, locals report. Residents of Maper-North residential area and Riang-Aluel-Weng say most of their villagers are being evicted and their land is then given to high-profile officials in the state government. “It’s very difficult to own land permanently here in Aweil particularly at Riang-Aluel-Weng,” said Akot Deng, a local resident. “Someone who claims to be a boss could come and say ‘get out of this place’, and when you ask why they instruct you to leave your house.” “Someone who claims to be a boss could come and say ‘get out of this place’.” Akot Deng He said documents often showed that a local’s home actually belonged to an official. “This is a big pressing issue here,” he said. The lands at Riang-Aluel-Weng were allegedly surveyed two years ago, but title-deeds have still not been issued. “Even if you have completed the procedures of acquiring land, you can find out that your land has been given out to someone else,” he said, adding that the poorest were at greatest risk from the land- grabbing trend. Locals said lands with temporary shanty shelters had become easy targets. An absence of land policies and a wider legal framework has added to tensions between the local residents and officials, residents complained. “We are poor people: we can’t afford paying that money.” Angeth Deng Angeth Deng, a local woman whose house is close to the Aweil-Aroyo road, said the surveyors told them to leave their homes so the land can be re-surveyed. “Officials tell us that we need to go away from our homes here at Riang- Aluel-Weng,” she told The Niles. “They say if one fails to get out then he or she can pay 7,000 SSP so he is allowed to live there, but we are poor people: we can’t afford paying that money.” Officials at the Physical Infrastructure Ministry, which is in charge of distributing land, say those complaints, do not correspond with the South Sudan land ACT policy which gives every individual access to land. William Anyuon Kuol, a town planner at the physical infrastructure Ministry, says they are increasingly transparent in issuing lands to the individuals in Aweil. “Now we are giving investment areas to investors regardless of whether you are an American or an Arab. There is nothing discriminatory about what the Ministry is doing. We are transparent and we give the land accordingly,” Anyuon explains. “We are transparent and we give the land accordingly.” William Anyuon Kuol Anyuon adds that they plan to go to Riang-Aluel-Weng and Maper-Akot Aru to check on areas disputed by locals and government employees. Residents told The Niles, however, that many controversial cases are still in unresolved in court. They say it is hard to establish the truth in land-grabbing cases as the evidence is often clouded by the payment of secret bribes to surveyors.

Book on women rights in pursuit of justice unveiled

Gurtong.net Juba, 2/3/2013 – The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of African (SIHA) has launched a research paper reflecting on the customary law and the imprisonment of women in South Sudan. Titled “Falling through the Cracks,” the paper addresses traditions, practices and views related to dowry, domestic violence, divorce and adultery that perpetuate prejudice and the violation of women's rights in the country. According to Deidre Clancy, there need to be an understanding between those working with customary and statuary laws on how these laws are affecting women on a day-to-day basis. “The new laws that the new state of South Sudan has developed need to be implemented because there are many protections from those laws,” Clancy said. The book was a result of research and discussion carried out in Juba, Wau and Rumbek. According to their findings, a large number of women were imprisoned because they had bridged a number of prohibitions. Access to legal support is a fundamental problem that prolonged women’s detainment and perpetuates the uncertainty that comes with many of their prison sentences. Over the past half-century, the women of South Sudan have carried the burden of violent conflict and the accompanying disintegration of their communities as well as endured the agony of displacement and life in refugee and displaced camps. The SIHA Chairperson, Dolly Aneto Dwon said the objective is to set out possible avenues of action and progress. “The book will help a lot in the fight for violence in South Sudan, since we need to more ahead,” Aneto said “We don’t talk of protecting women, we talk about women and men working together, a man and a woman should co-exist equally.” There is no fixed solution to the problems faced by the women in South Sudan, different actors and stakeholders can exert influence on the system through a variety of approaches. The women remain resolute in the face of racism, discriminatory policies and attitudes during the 39 years of the civil war that plagued the Sudan, striving to earn a living and sustain their families and communities amid extreme hardships. The book dwelt on dowry which lies at the heart of social and cultural dynamic, as well as livelihood and basic survival. It is the cornerstone of the marriage bond and the creation of new social relationships aimed at increasing the wealth of the community and reducing the possibility of conflict. The book is to shed light on women’s human rights in the newly independent nation and to call attention to the thousands of women who are adversely affected through their engagement with the current customary and statuary legal system. Falling through the Cracks explores the dynamics and impact of customary and statutory legal systems on women’s human rights and the capacity of women to negotiate either or both system in pursuit of justice. The complexities of the parallel system ostensibly see women falling in between the two; struggling to find justice in either. It identifies key issues inclusive of dowry, early and forced marriage, domestic violence, existing cultural prejudices and patriarchy alongside a customary system which fails to fully recognize the human rights of women and a statutory system which is still in development and is alien to the vast majority of South Sudanese as major obstacles in attaining justice for women. The paper is a part of the SIHA’s project which aspires to address the impact of specific traditional practices and concepts on women’s human rights across Horn of Africa countries.

South Sudan’s proposed economic road hailed by Ethiopia’s regional leader 6

Sudantribune.com Juba, 3/3/2013 – A senior regional leader in Ethiopia has welcomed the proposed road project in South Sudan that would connect the two sisterly countries and promote trade between them. Gambella region’s vice president in Ethiopia, Gatluak Tut, told the Sudan Tribune on Sunday by phone from the regional capital, Gambella, that the two countries would benefit from the road connectivity as “volumes of mutual trade would significantly increase.” South Sudan’s minister of information and official spokesman of the government, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, on Friday announced that the cabinet had approved as a top priority the construction of all- weather road that will connect the oilfields in Falluj of Upper Nile state and Gambella region of Ethiopia. The Falluj-Pagak road will be tarmacked to alternatively transport oil by trucks through Ethiopia to Djibouti and facilitate trade with the neighbouring Ethiopia, which has a population of nearly 90 million people. Tut, who also chairs the Ethiopia’s ruling party at the level of Gambella region, said his country was ready to utilize the road connectivity. Ethiopia has already constructed a tarmacked road through Gambella region which ended close to the South Sudan’s border town of Pagak. Gambella region is predominantly inhabited by Nuer and Anyuak ethnic who also share cultures with their neighboring South Sudanese communities across the border, particularly in Upper Nile and Jonglei states. There are also other minority ethnicities in the region which include Majanger, Komo and Opoe as well as highlanders from the rest of regions in Ethiopia. The region also served as a gateway through which Ethiopia supported the current South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) during its 21 years of liberation struggle. South Sudan has embarked on seeking alternative routes to transport its oil to the international markets following the disagreements with the neighbouring Sudan over the terms of oil transport through Port Sudan. The two presidents, Salva Kiir and Omer Al-Bashir of South Sudan and Sudan, respectively, signed a cooperation agreement on 27th September last year which included a resolution on resumption of oil transport to Port Sudan but the two countries have since failed to implement the new deal. Besides the road project, South Sudan and Ethiopia have also agreed on proposed construction of oil pipeline from Upper Nile through Ethiopia to Djibouti.

Over 4 million South Sudanese food insecure, says UN Sudantribune.com Juba, 2/3/2013 – At least 4.1 million people in South Sudan are likely to be food insecure this year, a new report released by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) reveals. The FAO-WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission to South Sudan (CFSAM) report, carried out between October and November 2012, is an assessment of the agricultural production and food availability in the world’s newest nation. Food production, according to the report, increased by over 35% between 2011 and 2012, due to good rains, improved cultivation practices and expanded area under cultivation. However, on addition to the 40% population already at risk of food insecurity, the report anticipates more than one million people are likely to be severely affected. Chris Nikoi, WFP Country Director said South Sudan despite the country’s tremendous agricultural potential, and the improved harvest estimate, it’s overall food security situation remains very precarious.

“We must redouble efforts to improve the livelihoods of the poorest and most vulnerable South Sudanese, and ensure they can produce their own food or can afford to buy food to meet their needs, and are more resilient to shocks,” Nikoi said in a statement. This year’s assessment, officials say, is an improvement in the food security situation in a country, where more than 4.7 million people were project to be at risk of facing hunger last year alone. “The CFSAM is our best estimate, but it’s imprecise,” Sue Lautze, FAO’s Head of Office in South Sudan. “What we need is a comprehensive agricultural census covering fish, livestock and crops. This would provide a more accurate baseline against which annual production can be more precisely measured”, she added. In addition, with the increasing high food prices in the country, the report says a significant amount of food supply will be required in parts of the country, where commercial supply is equally poor, with a “cereal gap” of 371,000 metric tons. Another 2.8 people, WFP says, remain in dare need for food and nutrition assistance, including food insecure rural families, vulnerable children, internally displaced people (IDPs), refugees and returnees. “This will require about 224,000 tons of food of various kinds,” it notes. The report, also extended to Sudan Tribune, further warns that increased conflict and economic instability could increase the number of people requiring food assistance by more than a million. “Insecurity remains a major constraint to optimizing South Sudan’s agricultural potential. Incidents of armed cattle rustling, conflicts between and among communities, and the activities of militia groups continue to inhibit farmers in affected areas,” it says. Nearly $1.2bn has been allocated as Consolidated Appeal (CAP) for South Sudan, reflecting the humanitarian community’s collective commitment to reducing suffering, providing protection, and boosting the resilience of the most vulnerable people of South Sudan.

UN official warns over attacks on aid workers Sudantribune.com Juba, 2/3/2013 – The United Nations Humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan has called for protection of aid workers involved in provision of services to people affected by conflict in the country’s troubled Jonglei state. “I have been informed of attacks on humanitarian actors and the seizure of humanitarian assets and commodities. This must stop,” said Toby Lanzer, also deputy Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG). The top UN official, in a statement, said civilians in need of aid and protection from violence move freely, and that all armed actors respect the provision of “impartial, neutral and independent humanitarian action”. To date, the UN and its humanitarian partners in South Sudan have reportedly responded to the needs of over 23,000 people in Jonglei’s Akobo West County, where an 8 February attack Walgak village led to over 100 deaths and dozens injured. An integrated UN team, according to the statement, which includes human rights officers from the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) – is in Walgak to support local authorities in gathering information and interviewing survivors in a field hospital to ascertain exactly what happened. Humanitarian workers in Pibor County, Lanzer said, are aiding at least 19,000 civilian, in the aftermath of inter-communal violence and hostilities in the region.

He urged armed actors to differentiate between civilians and people directly involved in hostilities, regardless of their ethnicity or location, while calling upon South Sudan government to strengthen efforts towards law and order as well as hold accountable those responsible. Nearly two years since its independence, various parts of South Sudan experience inter-communal violence, with regions such as Jonglei, Lakes, Warrap and Unity witnessing increasing cases of cattle raids and tribal clashes.

Two MPs involved in accident, transferred to Juba for treatment Gurtogn.net Aweil, 4/3/2013 – Two Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Legislative Assembly Members were involved in car accident last week as they were travelling between Aweil and Wanyjok to attend the peace conference between the Misseriya and Dinka Malual. “The vehicle was government’s vehicle which was leaving from Aweil for Wanyjok on Thursday afternoon on official mission according to the official reports I got when conducting traffic investigations. There were five people on board; among them were two Members of the parliament in the state legislative assembly,” said a traffic police investigating the accident. The victims were; Abuk Jiel Dhieu, an MP representing women in Aweil town constituency and Garang Dau Atak an MP representing Abiem East constituency both on SPLM tickets. “This driver caused an accident because he was on high speed and was taking the bumpy roadside pedestrians’ path before rejoining the main road which was little higher and quite dusty which was difficult to know whether there were more bumps ahead. Due to this uncontrolled circumstance, the driver lost control of the vehicle and overturned four times before engine stops. All five people on board were slightly injured except two members of the state legislative assembly whose one MP was seriously injured in the back until they were rushed to hospital for X-ray and other further examinations,” the police identified as Michael said. According to the medical report released at Aweil Civil Hospital, both MPs were seriously injured of which they needed further treatment. Abuk Dhieu was said to have sustained serious injuries on the back. Both MPs were later on flown to Juba for further treatment and other necessary medical care. Accidents in South Sudan are mainly caused by reckless driving or poor condition of the roads. Most of the roads in South Sudan and particularly Northern Bahr el Ghazal are impassable during rainy season that hinder delivery of aid items or materials for given community when there is an emergency to be covered or after.

Governor urges NGOs to partner with line ministries to boost service delivery Gurtong.net Aweil, 3/3/2013 – The Northern Bahr el Ghazal state governor Paul Malong Awan has given executive directives to all International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) operating in the state to work in partnership with the state line ministries. During a four-hour meeting chaired by the governor, the agents and the representatives of various INGOs welcomed the proposal and pledged for the full implementation of the directives regardless of the restrictions some INGOs encounter from their donor in exposing a given project’s budget to a third party. The state government secretary general, Garang Kuot says the state has met with all humanitarian organizations operating in the state for the second time following the last year’s organizations conference. “The state partners forum meeting is conducted to discuss ways forward on how all INGOS operating in NBGS should come together with to strategize on collaborative partnership with line ministries,” he said.

He said the aim is to review the state government’s relations with partners as the coordination between two bodies is poor, hence the two bodies agreed to sit together, review the coordination system and make recommendations if necessary. “Among the things recommended was the incorporation of INGOs budget with partnering ministry in order to help monitor and evaluate the utilization of funds assigned for given project. The more we work together, the more we can easily address the challenges,” Kuot said. He said that the system used for coordination was different and lags on technical aspects needed for the progress of the service delivery. The governor instructed the implementing partners to utilize the funds correctly in the knowledge of partnering ministry working in line with any given humanitarian organization. “Most of the INGOs were found out that they are using the right fund for implementing wrong project, meaning, using one project’s fund to implement another without government’s awareness. This meeting recommended that all INGOs must work hand in hand with all line ministries in the state to avoid excuses. We came up with recommendations that such a fruitful meetings be conducted and chaired by the state governor after every three months annually, more efforts raised to strengthen coordination modalities,” he added. In order to successfully deliver services to the communities, the forum recommended that there shall be five charts of clusters namely; health cluster to look into health issues, food security to look into hunger issues, financial cluster to look into financial issues, Water and Sanitation cluster which promotes hygienic issues and finally humanitarian combined with infrastructure cluster that works closely with line ministries.

Road connectivity will help boost peace efforts in Jonglei State: official Gurtong.net Bor, 4/3/2013 – A member of peace desk commission, Samuel Ador Thon has expressed that state government needs to set up the justice sectors and road connectivity in all counties to help in fostering the peace the process in Jonglei state. Ador said the administration of justice is an issue affecting security and the poor road connectivity slows the improvement of justice sector. He said that chiefs do not share information about criminals in their communities due to fear that it would put them at risk in the hands of the criminals who are also the members of communities. Thon believes that most of the cattle raiders are the same members who took part in the disarmament exercise and they resumed cattle raiding after the process were suspended in Pibor County. He told Gurtong that priorities for development in the state should be directed to the areas where most sources of insecurity are common to eliminate insecurity by connecting Pibor with neighbouring counties by road. Thon said that David Yau Yau forces are destabilizing the communities in Pibor County and there is no possibility for the people of Pibor to be stable with presence of David Yau Yau in the state. In February the peace initiatives planned by Pibor County Members of Parliament from both the national government and the state level demanded the involvement of the United Nations in the mediation. Pibor County Commissioner Joshua Konyi has said that the peace process has been initiated by the local authorities in the area. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) is now moving towards Pibor County to hunt for the David Yau Yau before the rain season starts. State Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk said that Yau Yau has rejected the amnesty being granted by the president and the SPLA will get rid of him.

Manyang said that they need the strengthening of police forces in the areas where cattle raiders and abductors create insecurity. The Inspector General of Police General Pieng Deng Kuol said that they are taking on the community policing to help in boosting security in the volatile state.

Missionaries spread services to the rural community in old Fangak Gurtong.net Malakal, 4/3/2013 – The Catholic cleric on a pastoral visit to Malakal said Comboni Missionaries have established a Church for the rural population in Fangak County. “We Comboni Missionaries are working for evangelization, with the poorest and the most abandoned societies. The people we work for now; are the people we feel, to be in real need of the Gospel. I am happy that I have been given this opportunity because it was my choice to come to South Sudan,” said Fr. Alfred Mawadri. Fr Alfred Mawadri is a Ugandan national who came to South Sudan last year as member of Comboni Missionary Family to preach the Gospel. Fr. Mawadri said he sees the small Old Fangak Parish growing very rapidly although there are difficulties that hinder easy movement because of what he assumed to be the inaccessibility of the area and lack of road connection. “Old Fangak Catholic Parish was started by the initiatives of some local catechists who came from Khartoum and Ethiopia, having encountered God, they came to their own land and began to gather people teaching them the Good News of our Lord,” he said. “Then it was Fr Anthony La Braca who went and attended the pastoral need of these people and that was how the Old Fangak Parish called now the Holy Trinity came about,” he added. He said the Catholic Church divided the parish into three regions which are made up of eleven pastoral centers and over fifty chapels. Fr Mawadri said there are only four missionary personnel working in this vast district; three priests and a Seminarian. “It is a very difficult mission. They are no road networks during rainy season we are really cut off, because every pastoral trip we do is on foot and it is very difficult,” he said. Fr Mawadri thanked the efforts and assistance done by the Christian leaders in the local area in supporting the church to grow. “During our movements, we sleep in homes of local Christians. They have good spirit in supporting the church. And for me this is a good example of a growing church,” he said. He asked the government to extend road link to Old Fangak so that the community be connected to other areas. Fr. Mawadri said the church is directly participating in educational department of the area. “Two of us from the mission teach in the primary school in the area. The local administration is trying to fix the school inside the church premises, and shall have no problem since it is for the service of the local community,” he explained. He said the community requires health services because there outbreaks of Kalazar in the area and an American volunteer Doctor has established a clinic in the area helping the local community. “The government needs to bring the road network. Because they are cut off. The only means they use is the river means by boats. There is a need of a connection to Ayod and Canal road system and the movement will be easy,” he concluded.

British embassy calls for vigilance against scams

Radio Bakhita Juba, 3/3/2013 – The British Embassy in Juba on Thursday called for vigilance in the fight against fraud after criminals posing as Embassy officials sought bids from NGOs for a large project grant. British Ambassador Alastair McPhail wrote an article last December warning people in South Sudan about the rising number of fraud cases reported to the British Embassy in Juba. The Embassy said in press release that it wanted once again to warn people about this criminal behaviour, where fraudsters have been posing as officials from the British Embassy. The scam asked for NGOs and civil society organisations to bid for funding from a one million USD grant being run by the Embassy of the United Kingdom. The bids should have been sent by 1 March 2013 to someone called Karant Christopher who claims to work at the UK Embassy in Juba. Emails from a Francis Lomadanga were also found related to the same scam.

Prospects for peace in Abyei remain "bleak", says group Sudantribune.com Juba, 3/3/2013 – Prospects for peaceful resolution of the dispute in Abyei remain “bleak” with international actors failing to bring the two conflicting parties to a political solution, a Geneva-based research group has said. Small Arms Survey, in its latest report on the crisis in the disputed oil-producing region, detail how Khartoum rejected an African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) proposal to resolve the stalemate in Abyei, which South Sudan willingly endorsed. Abyei was scheduled to have a referendum to determine whether it would rejoin South Sudan, or remain in Sudan, but that did not take place due to disagreements over who was eligible to vote. Sudan insisted the Messiriya seasonal migrants who graze their cattle in Abyei during the dry season must participate, but South Sudan says only the Ngok Dinka people are allowed. The AUHP, which is currently mediating in negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan, made a proposal on 21 September for Abyei’s referendum to finally be held in October 2013. The proposal excludes migrants from voting. “Negotiations since then have faltered, despite international pressure, with the most recent meetings in January between the two countries ending in a commitment to make future discussions of Abyei’s political future conditional on the creation of a local administration in Abyei and a police force,” partly says the March report. Administrative Woes The two countries, according to the report, have also failed to agree on the formation of a joint administration in the area, with both parties disagreeing on the composition of the structure to be established. At a recent meeting of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee, representatives from the two sides failed to reach a compromise, after Sudan demanded 50% of representation on the Abyei Area Council, 10% more than its previous share. This demand, the report noted, led to South Sudan suspending the nomination process for executive positions in the administration, while council membership is negotiated at upcoming meetings in Addis Ababa. Luka Biong Deng, South Sudan’s co-chair on AJOC, earlier told Sudan Tribune that the Sudanese government was not committed to the peaceful resolution of the status of the disputed region, despite South Sudan’s willingness. Since May 2011, Abyei has been devoid of a functional administration after Sudanese forces took control of the area, displacing nearly 105,000 people out of their homes. Some 4,000 Ethiopian-

12 backed United Nations peacekeeping, forces tasked with ensuring the security of Abyei, have now deployed in the area. In recent weeks, however, tension seems imminent in the region, with South Sudan accusing neighbouring Sudan of building up its troops along the borders regions, including in Abyei. Philip Aguer, the spokesperson of South Sudan army (SPLA), in a televised statement on state-owned South Sudan TV on Friday, said the neighbouring country has mobilized its forces and allied militias of Rezeigat and Mujahideen in a bid to reoccupy Abyei and invade South Sudan for the last one week. He further added that Khartoum has also mobilized elements of South Sudanese who are spearheading the reoccupation of Abyei and invasion of South Sudan under the command of Lt. Col. Thomas Bior Malual and Maj. William Deng Dau, respectively. The SPLA official accused Khartoum of reneging on the security arrangements for Abyei by reoccupying the area, as well as violating the September 27, 2012 agreement signed between the two Presidents, Salva Kiir and Omer el Bashir, in Addis Ababa, which provided for temporary security arrangements between the two countries. Also according to the temporary security arrangement per the agreement between the two presidents, each army was to redeploy by 10km and leave a buffer zone, which would be manned by a neutral force.

South Sudan says Sudan’s rhetoric fooling international community Sudantribune.com Juba, 3/3/2013 – South Sudan on Sunday said the government of neigbouring Sudan, with which it has been unable to resolve list of contentious post-secession issues, was fooling the international community by talking up its commitment to implementing an agreement signed in September. “This is not the time for statements. If they are sincere and committed to the terms of September agreement which the two presidents had signed, then let them come out and implement it,”, South Sudan information minister Barnaba Marial said on Sunday . Minister Marial said the “time for rhetoric and calls for endless negotiation has finished” and accused Sudan of amassing and scaling up deployment of troops along the border areas. He, however, expressed South Sudan’s commitment to implement the agreement without raising any preconditions but said that Juba did not see any point engaging in endless negotiations on issues which have already been discussed and remain only to be implemented. Sudan has insisted that security issues, specifically Juba’s alleged backing of their former comrades in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, be resolved before other aspects of the nine point deal. The consequence has been that South Sudan has not resumed oil production a move that is needed to aid the struggling economies of both countries. A dispute over an oil transit fees led South Sudan to halt production just over a year ago. In an interview with Sudan Tribune Marial said that South Sudan has "always been ready to fully implement the agreement. The visit of president of the republic of South Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit to oil fields after the signing of the agreement was to open oil production and flow indicate our commitment as government to implement the agreement but what did they do? They refused to resume production and started raising impossible demands. They raised things which were not part of the agreement. They want disarmament of their rebels”, Minister was reacting to a statement by the Sudanese ministry of foreign affairs stating commitment of the Sudanese government to the comprehensive and coordinated implementation the September agreements and the January 5 presidential meeting. The February 28 statement expressed Sudan’s full commitment to the implementation of the deal in order to promote peace and the realization of the two viable states living side by side in peace.

But minister Marial said the statement holds nothing more than political rhetoric by the Sudanese government to fool the international community. "We will see. The government of Sudan does not do what it says. It is the government fraught with contradictions. They say one thing and do another. They are just fooling the international community. If they are serious why are not implementing it."

Sudan gov’t affirms its keenness to continue negotiations, and urges S. Sudan government to abide by its commitments Sudanese Media Center Khartoum, 3/3/2013 – The government has affirmed its readiness and determination to continue negotiations with South Sudan positively and implementing the agreements reached between the two countries. In a statement it issued Thursday, the Foreign Ministry urged South Sudan government to live up to its commitments and avoid any retreat from its obligations toward guaranteeing peaceful implementation of the agreements. The statement reiterated Sudan government commitment to the comprehensive and coordinated implementation of the agreements, in accordance with the Cooperation Agreement signed in September 2012 and the report on outcome of the summit held by the Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan on January 5, 2013 in Addis Ababa. The statement stressed that the government will press ahead with its full commitment to the establishment of two states living peacefully and side by side, citing as evidence for this commitment Sudan keenness to hold the referendum and its commitment to the right of self-determination for South Sudan as well as the early recognition of the newly-born state. Hereunder, Sudan News Agency publishes the text of the press statement issued by the Foreign Ministry:-. 1- The Government of the Sudan has been following up reports in the Media of late concerning the status of negotiations between the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan on the implementation of agreements concluded by the two states. 2- The Government of the Sudan would like to reiterate its commitment to the comprehensive and coordinated implementation as provided for in the Cooperation Agreements of 27 September 2012 and the outcomes of the Heads of State summit report of 5th January 2013. 3- The Government of the Sudan continues to believe and it is fully committed to the realization of two viable states living side by side in peace. Testimony to this commitment is the positive and vital role played by the Sudan in the conduct of the Referendum and its commitment to self-determination for South Sudan and the early recognition of the new born state. The Government of the Sudan continued to engage sincerely in the post-secession negotiations facilitated by the AUHIP, with the support of the AU. 4- The Government of the Sudan would like to re-iterate that the implementation of the agreements is to be comprehensive, in a coordinated manner and without selectivity or conditionality. 5- The Government of the Sudan is willing and resolved to continue positively the negotiations on implementation of all agreements reached by the two sides and urges the other side to honor its obligations and avoid backtracking in order to ensure smooth and unhindered implementation of the agreements

South Sudan Accuses Sudan's Army of New Incursions AllAfrica.com Khartoum, 3/2/2013 – Khartoum has unleashed its forces in a new attempt to reoccupy Abyei and parts of South Sudan, the spokesperson of the South Sudan army has announced. Sudanese soldiers stand to attention during President Omar al-Bashir's visit to the Popular Defence Forces in Khartoum on March 3, 2012 (EBRAHIM HAMID/AFP/Getty Images) 14

Col. Philip Aguer in a televised statement on the state-owned South Sudan TV on Friday said the neighboring country has mobilized its forces and allied militias of Rezeigat and Mujahideen in a bid to reoccupy Abyei and invade South Sudan for the last one week. He further added that Khartoum has also mobilized elements of South Sudanese who are spearheading the reoccupation of Abyei and invasion of South Sudan under the command of Lt. Col. Thomas Bior Malual and Maj. William Deng Dau, respectively. The two officers, he said, have been serving in the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) even before the country split into two in July 2011, adding that by commanding the joint Rezeigat, Mujahideen and South Sudanese militia forces it proves that SAF is pushing for the reoccupation and the invasion of South Sudan. Aguer accused Khartoum of reneging on the security arrangements for Abyei by reoccupying the area, as well as violating the September 27, 2012 agreement signed between the two Presidents, Salva Kiir and Omer el Bashir, in Addis Ababa, which provided for temporary security arrangements between the two countries. The army spokesperson said SAF and its allied militias have been harassing the Ngok Dinka populations in Abyei and looting their property following the reoccupation of the area. The security of the Abyei area, he said, was supposed to be under the United Nations peace forces of the Ethiopian contingent. Also according to the temporary security arrangement per the agreement between the two presidents, each army was to redeploy by 10km and leave a buffer zone which would be manned by a neutral force. 'ARM SOUTH SUDAN' In a related issue the former United States special envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios reiterated his calls on Washington to counter the Sudanese army and pressure Khartoum to stick to negotiations. "The U.S. position has been to act as a neutral mediator, which worked well when Bashir was running the country to get him to compromise, but now that the generals are calling the shots acting as a mediator has only empowered Bashir's generals to demand more Southern concessions" Natsios wrote in an Op-Ed this week. "It is time for the United States to make clear to Khartoum that should they persist in their stonewalling tactics, the U.S. government will increase military assistance to the Sudan People's Liberation Army, including providing them with advanced weapons which would change the balance of military power between Sudan and South Sudan. At critical times in the past Omar al-Bashir has silenced the hardliners and sided with more moderate voices in Khartoum and negotiated with opposition groups in the north and the South rather than trying to bomb them into submission. Now is such a time" he said. Washington has so far been reluctant to provide arms to Juba. Among the reasons cited were possible misuse of it and South Sudan's ability to secure any advanced weaponry.

Abyei leaders call for review of UN peacekeepers’ mandate Sudantribune.com Juba, 2/3/2013 – Community leaders from the oil-producing region of Abyei have asked South Sudan government to review of the current mandate of the United Nations Interim Security forces for Abyei (UNISFA). In a letter issued ahead of next week’s South Sudan ruling party (SPLA) political bureau meeting, members of the Abyei community expressed deep concerns over the manner in which UNISFA was handling security in the disputed region. “We call on the leadership of SPLM and the government of the republic of South Sudan, especially President Salva Kiir Mayardit to review the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Abyei. This is very important because we believe it is time the government of South Sudan takes

15 complete responsibility of the security of our people”, the letter, jointly authored by traditional leaders and youth group from the area reads in part. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in November last year renewed the mandate of its peacekeeping force in Abyei for additional six months, until May 2013. Composed mainly of Ethiopian troops, the 4000 soldiers stronghold forces was established following the seizure of Abyei by the Sudanese army in May 2011 after clashes with the southern army (SPLA) in the area. Its main mandate is to ensure the redeployment of troops out of the contested area and to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians. The document, obtained by Sudan Tribune, also cited a recent event in which authorities claimed deployment of Sudan armed forces in the area and the raid of over 400 heads of cows by armed groups allegedly supported by the Sudanese government. “The current security situation requires immediate intervention of the government of South Sudan. We are very concerned of the current security situation of our people. The government of Sudan has not only embarked on comprehensive and massive settlement of Misseriya in Abyei area, but also deployment of Sudan armed forces," the group noted in the letter. They have currently moved their forces to Todach and have asked UNISFA forces not to move out of their camps. This means that they do not want their activities to be monitored and be reported, it added. Phillip Aguer, the SPLA spokesperson confirmed receiving reports about the deployment of Sudan armed forces in the area and urged the UN peacekeeping forces to observe the mandate which forms the basis of their deployment there. “The government of Sudan is using militia under Colonel Thomas Theil and Major William Deng who are officers in the Sudanese army. They are destabilizing the area. The Sudan armed forces have also deployed forces in three places. They have now moved their forces to Lenger, Kej and Todac”, said Aguer, in a statement read on the state-owned SSTV. He stressed UNISFA has the full responsibility to provide security and protect lives and properties belonging to citizens. Aguer further said the army remains committed to its constitutional mandate to protect South Sudan’s territory, but did not disclose whether the SPLA would intervene to provide security to people of Abyei, if provokes militarily. Meanwhile, at least 35,000 people, out of about 105,000 displaced by the 11 May 2011 conflict in the oil-producing region have returned to their areas of origin within weeks of hostilities, humanitarian agencies said. An additional 14,000 people, the United Nations said in its weekly issued bulletin, have returned to their villages or areas of origin in the Abyei area, with about 56,000 reportedly remaining in South Sudan and areas south of River Kiir. The status of Abyei, a disputed region, remains one of the main outstanding issues that Sudan and South Sudan have not resolved since the latter seceded from the former in July 2011. To resolve the issue, however, the African Union has proposed that the referendum to decide the fate of Abyei be held in October this year. The plebiscite, initially scheduled for January 2011 did not take place after Khartoum insisted that the nomadic Misseriya tribe, who are not inhabitants of the area, be allowed to vote. In recent weeks, tensions between the Misseriya and the Dinka Ngok over grazing and water have reportedly increased as the two groups come in greater contact. To diffuse tensions, however, UNISFA peacekeepers are maintaining a buffer zone separating the migration corridors from Abyei town.

Sudan, South Sudan to resume talks in Addis Ababa Sudanese Media Center Khartoum, 3/3/2013 – Reliable sources say that Sudan and southern Sudan joint military and security mechanism has agreed to hold talks on 7th of March, 2013 in response to invitation extended to the two parties by AU mediation, reported local media on Sunday. Sources add that the two parties in Khartoum and Juba informed AUHIP that they have agreed to attend talks on the mentioned schedule. Meanwhile sources have not ruled out that the two presidents of Sudan and southern Sudan Omar AL Bahir and Sliva Kiir respectively would attend AUPSC summit meeting scheduled in Addis Ababa during this March to discuss the remaining disputed issues between the two countries.

Controversial S. Kordofan governor may lead negotiations with SPLM-N: reports Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 2/3/2013 – The governor of South Kordofan Ahmed Haroun may head Sudan’s delegation to the upcoming negotiations with rebels from Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N), according to local media. The African Union (AU) mediation team led by former South African president Thabo Mbeki invited Khartoum and SPLM-N to sit down in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa for talks in mid-March. The Sudanese government has been strongly resistant to any negotiations with SPLM-N for fear of reinventing a deal similar to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which incorporated a power and wealth-sharing protocol. But the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution issued in May 2012 ordered Sudan and the SPLM-N to cooperate in order to end the conflict in the two regions. Under the resolution, the two parties are supposed to negotiate on the basis of the 28 June 2011 agreement they signed in Addis Ababa before it was scrapped by Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir. SPLM-N is battling the Sudanese government since 2011 in the Border States of South Kordofan and Blue Nile which led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians. The United Nations in 2011 said that war crimes may have been committed in South Kordofan following the outbreak of the conflict with SPLM-N. In 2007, Haroun became the first Sudanese official to be charged by International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with war crimes allegedly committed in Sudan’s western region of Darfur. At the time he held the position of state minister for humanitarian affairs though the crimes he was indicted on were committed while he was the state minister for interior. The charges against him include 51 counts of murder, mass rape and torture. Sudan has refused to hand him or any other citizen to the Hague-based court. Last year Haroun was caught in tape that was aired by Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV showing him instructing troops in South Kordofan not take any prisoners in the course of their fighting with rebels. His remarks drew criticism by the UN and the European Union.

Fighting between rebels and army erupts in central Sudan Reuters Khartoum/Juba, 3/3/2013 – Fighting has broken out between government forces and rebels in central Sudan, both sides said on Sunday, in a possible escalation of violence that has hitherto been concentrated closer to the African country's borders. Rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) from the western region of Darfur said they had launched an attack on the army in North Kordofan state. JEM and two other Darfur rebel groups formed an alliance with a rebel group from southern Sudan, the SPLM-North, in 2011 to try to topple veteran President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

Fighting with the army has been so far mainly limited to Darfur as well as South Kordofan and Blue Nile states bordering South Sudan, which seceded from Sudan in 2011. The state of North Kordofan is closer to the Sudanese capital Khartoum and a large producer of gum Arabic, a substance extracted from acacia trees used by the food and drinks industry and an important sources earnings for cash-strapped Sudan. JEM said it had seized the area of Wad Bahr in North Kordofan from government forces on Saturday. "We beat the army and seized many weapons," JEM spokesman Gibril Adam said. Sudan's army spokesman could not be immediately reached, but officials confirmed the rebel attack to local media. "The fighting continued from one o'clock until four and sporadically until the evening," the area's local commissioner told the independent al-Sahafa newspaper. "Both sides suffered losses," he said, adding that the rebels had attacked with 40 vehicles and the army had destroyed seven. Sudan accuses South Sudan of supporting the rebel alliance, a claim denied by Juba. Both countries are locked in a long list of conflicts over border territory and oil rights that almost led to war between the neighbours last year. South Sudan's army accused Sudan of having sent militias into the disputed region of Abyei, where peacekeepers monitor a ceasefire after fighting broke out in 2011. "Villagers continued to be harassed and attacked by the pro-Khartoum government ... militia," South Sudan army spokesman Philip Aguer said late on Saturday. "More than 200 cattle and more than that number of goats have been looted by the same militia," he said. There was no immediate comment from Sudan. In September, the African neighbours agreed to end hostilities and restart cross-border oil flows, the lifeline for both of their battered economies. But neither side has withdrawn their armies from the border as agreed, a legacy of decades of civil war which ended with a peace deal in 2005 and paved the way for southern secession. Fighters of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-North) used to side with the south during the civil war and now complain, like the Darfur rebels, of marginalization in Sudan.

Sudanese opposition seek to prevent its divisions going public Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 2/3/2013 – The spokesman of the National Conesus Forces (NCF) Kamal Omer disclosed that member opposition parties have agreed to strengthen unity among its ranks under the common goal of toppling the regime. In press statements, Omer disclosed that the Popular Congress Party (PCP) suggested a code of honor to be signed by the opposition parties to preserve the coalition and prevent the members from criticizing each other over the media. The NCF spokesperson said that members of the opposition alliance should discuss any objectionable issues they have within the domain of the coalition. The National Umma Party (NUP) led by Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi has in recent months stepped up his public bashing of the NCF and his insistence that the latter is restructured. His statements angered other opposition parties who accuse him of being obscure about his position regarding the government dominated by the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). Al-Mahdi has said that he does not want to bring down the regime but rather reform it putting him at odds with other opposition groups.

The NCF has called on the NUP chief to make a written apology for his past criticism of the alliance. In a related issue, Omer said that the NCF will review the "New Dawn" charter signed last January between rebels and opposition groups to see what changes can be made and attach the proposed interim constitution. Some of the charter’s signatories including the NUP, PCP and the Sudanese Communist Party (SCP) later distanced themselves from the deal saying they were rushed into it and expressed reservations on some of its clauses relating to role of religion and reforming the state’s institutions. From the start the charter’s stated goal of removing the regime hit a roadblock over how to do it with rebels saying that force should be one of the means to achieve it and opposition groups saying they prefer to stick to peaceful ways. "We are with the regime change, but through democratic and peaceful means through the street or a popular revolution" the NCF spokesman said. He denied Khartoum’s accusations that they are plotting to bring the regime down in alliance with rebels and external players.

Sudan ambassador criticizes Egypt firmly over sheltering Darfur rebels Sudanese Media Center Khartoum, 3/3/2013 – Sudan ambassador to Egypt Kamal Hasan Ali criticizes Cairo firmly for sheltering Darfur rebels, reported local media Sunday quoting Cairo based AL Shiroop newspaper. “We feel worry for the presence of armed movements in Cairo and offering them safety harboring,” the ambassador said. Although we know Cairo is no longer offering them military support their presence means availing them a political cover, reported to AL Shirooq newspaper on Saturday quoting the ambassador. What makes much more anxiety is that the armed movements launch symposiums talking about Kampala document stipulates for toppling the government.

Sudan determined to cooperate with all UN field missions, Dosa Sudanese Media Center Khartoum, 3/3/2013 – While addressing the 22nd round of Human Rights Council, Minister of Justice of Sudan Mohammed Bushara Dosa, said that all the Member States had been working to keep the Council strong and these efforts had been directed toward introducing detente to areas which had experienced tension and war. Sudan was convinced that peace, democracy and human rights were the foundation of stability and in 2005 it signed the Global Peace Accord which had put an end to violence and had called for a referendum that had concluded on 9 January 2011. They had kept their promise and a referendum had been organized which represented a turning point in Sudan's history. The result was that a majority of those in the south had voted for independence. Despite the bitterness that had resulted from the secession, the Government of Sudan had accepted it as the will of the people and that these were aspirations which had been expressed in a climate of peace, openness and tolerance. Sudan had worked tirelessly through joint technical and political committees to react to questions such as the demarcation of the borders, citizenship, water and oil resources, currency and other issues and Sudan had endeavoured to find solutions before this new state of South Sudan was born. South Sudan would be a new neighbour and the president of Sudan had made a commitment to aid them. There had been a popular consultation between the two governments to ensure there would not be a return to violence. Sudan invited the international community to support these efforts and asked donors and financial institutions to implement projects in the north and south. Regarding Darfur, Sudan was committed to resolving the conflict peacefully through discussions in Doha and it would do its best to facilitate the return of those who had been displaced.

Sudan had committed $ 2 million to development projects in education, water and infrastructure. However there were factions who refused to enter into negotiations. Sudan had been able to reconcile tribes by means of a number of initiatives expressing peaceful coexistence which had had a positive effect on peace in the region and the Ministry of Justice had been in the process of converting these initiatives into law. Regarding the east of the country, there had been progress evidenced by a donor conference that was held in Kuwait, where $ 3.5 billion were raised to fund projects; Sudan would like to thank all those who contributed. On legal reform, Sudan had organized broad consultations to establish a new permanent constitution to replace the former provisional one. Sudan had submitted its first report in the Universal Periodic Review which would be considered next May and it hoped to engage in constructive dialogue and it was committed to making this mechanism a success. Sudan was determined to cooperate with all UN field missions to promote peace and stability and the protection of human rights.

Independence won but freedom yet to come for South Sudan Arab news/AFP, 4/3/2013 – It was the pouring rain on his parched lips that woke South Sudanese lawyer Ring Bulabek, left for dead in a cemetery after three days of bloody beatings by attackers who wanted him to drop a legal case. “Maybe they thought I was dead, and so they threw me there,” said the 23-year-old, who was grabbed by attackers off the streets of the capital, Juba, late last year, driven to an abandoned house and beaten. In the world’s newest country — which won independence only in 2011 after decades of guerilla war — Bulabek says the gun is still mightier than the law. For the fledgling nation, unlearning the harsh lessons taught by long years of Sudan government’s rule in Khartoum is a tough task. After being ravaged by war, South Sudan is struggling to stem rising insecurity and transform a rag-tag ex-rebel army into an effective army and police force. “The military ignore the rule of law but maybe — step by step and after many years — the rule of law will take over,” Bulabek said, who left his job after the attack. His kidnappers had ordered him to end his legal work supporting a widow whose house had been seized by a general, and threatened to kill him if he did not cooperate. “I’m not going back to my job as I’m not secure... those that did this to me are still free,” he said. Bulabek’s beating is not an isolated case. “Some of the people... are repeating the earlier mistakes,” said Deng Athuai, chairman of South Sudan’s Civil Rights Alliance, who was also kidnapped and beaten for days by men who asked who was paying him to “cause trouble.” Prior to the attack, Athuai had publically called for the naming of 75 government officials accused by President Salva Kiir of gross corruption and stealing $ 4 billion from the oil-rich but impoverished nation. After days of beating, he was released — hooded and gagged — only after the kidnappers fled as they drove him out into the remote bush and came across an army patrol. But the threats against the alliance continued. News editors were summoned to the feared national security headquarters and ordered not to mention the stolen $ 4 billion. “We knew the consequences of non-compliance,” said one editor, adding that journalists were terrified after security forces began to make home visits. “They come at night, pick you up and you can be beaten or perhaps end up dead,” the editor said. “The army can be used by anyone who has money.”

In December, journalist and political commentator Isaiah Abraham was dragged from his house at night and shot in the face after receiving threats from a caller who “didn’t like his articles,” said his brother William. Another activist, John Penn de Ngong, found a bundle of bones with a bullet inside on his bed as a grim warning. While officials brush off attacks as “rogue forces,” academic and undersecretary of culture Jok Madut Jok warns that the security forces are “the source of insecurity across the nation.” “Uniformed men ... have done more violence against civilians in the post-war era than any other sector of the population,” Jok wrote in a January report. Security forces who beat up Jok last year as they waited for President Kiir at an upcountry airport were not punished, while ministers say that even the children of the highest levels of government have been beaten and tortured. “If the government that I work in is not able to apprehend my colleagues who work in the same government who injured me, when do we expect it to change?” asked Jok. Security forces also killed at least 11 unarmed protesters and injured 60 more in the western town of Wau in December, where video footage showed the demonstrators waving only small branches known as “peace sticks” as the troops opened fire. Five journalists in Wau were arrested after the release of the video, officially because they failed to cover the presidential Christmas speech. Since then the authorities have arrested “scores of people deemed to be opposed to the policies of the state government,” Amnesty International has warned. Officials say that South Sudan is still struggling with the fallout from long years of civil war. “It’s not in our nature to be intolerant, it’s a legacy of the war,” said deputy information minister Atem Yaak Atem, who ran the rebels’ bush radio station during the war. “Expressing freedom the way it is done in the West is not easy,” and it will take time for the rebel movement-turned-government to accept criticism, Atem added. But others are more critical, including Mabior de Garang, the son of South Sudan’s first president and former rebel commander John Garang, who died in 2005. “These are people who equate dissent with treason... instead of using criticism to reform; they take it as lack of patriotism,” said Mabior de Garang, who said he has received several beatings for “social activism.” After years of bloody civil war, it is perhaps not surprising that the reality of independence might fall short of expectations. But despite the harsh shock that activists have faced, their dream of a better future remains alight. “This is our country,” said Bulabek. “If there is something that’s not going well, we should try our best.”

South Sudan’s vote on Palestine UN Status: How Amb. Nazario is victimized Sudantriune.com, 3/3/2013 – Last year on 29, November, 2012, the United Nations General Assembly in its sitting No: sixty-seventh General Assembly Plenary 44th & 45th meetings overwhelmingly voted and accorded Palestine as a Non-Member Observer State in the United Nations family for the first time since establishment of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People in 1975 by Resolution No: 3376. In practice, this decision is in line with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution No: 2949 adopted on 30 November 1970 which established a universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination and of the speedy granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights. According to the committee report with reference No: A/67/35 states ‘that the reporting period, 7 October 2011 to 6 October 2012, was characterized by the deadlocked political process and the

21 deteriorating socio-economic situation in the occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem’. With this appalling situation of fellow human beings and without prejudice to the agreed inalienable rights of the Palestinian people; the UN General Assembly explores all avenues for amicable solution including recognition of self-determination for the Palestinian people. This will help closely monitor the state of Palestine in the interest of peace and security. According to the report, attempts have been made but there has never been any sign of peaceful progress and indeed towards resuming direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The Jewish state of Israel continues with its settlement activity and adheres to the long-standing terms of reference of the peace process.’ With this critical observation, the General Assembly in 2012 thought wise to introduce this contestable agenda before the Council for voting with the objective to ‘breathe new life’ into peace process, as said by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The voting exercise took place smoothly and the UN General Assembly indeed issued a birth certificate of the reality of the State of Palestine. The state of Palestine by large margin got majority votes of 138 member states in favor of Resolution No: A/68/L.54 on the right of self-determination of the people of Palestine and Resolution No: A/67/L.28 on the status of Palestine in the United Nations respectively. Conditionally, the two Resolutions were merged together and if you vote for the first, then you have automatically endorses the second and vice versa. There were only 9 countries against the Resolutions and they are Canada, Czech Republic, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Panama, Palau, United States), with 41 abstentions. With job well done, South Sudan is amongst countries that voted to grant the right of self-determination and observer status of Palestine in the United Nations. Congratulations for the job well done and it is a sovereign decision. South Sudan must stand by its sovereign decisions Shortly after announcement of results; the speculations of unhappiness about South Sudan vote in favor of Palestine state erupt up on hearsay evidence in South Sudan and in the US. The first complaint came from one Republican congressman, identified as fellow Jews describing our decision to be bad instead we should support his fellow Jews in Israel. The second speculation developed from within our country and government for those who does not know US foreign policy strategy toward South Sudan that we are mistaken to vote for Palestine. However, some policy makers thought if U.S.A opposed the vote; South Sudan should have followed the suit. It is very unfortunate expectation and I am afraid if we have a nation like this that we can continue shivering after US and other powerful nations without our sovereign decisions regardless of our infant economic position and other state apparatus. Remember we are no longer under foreign occupation and US has never been our colonizer though. The US support for peaceful settlement of our political crisis in the then Republic of Sudan which led to the independence of South Sudan on 9, July 2011 is much recognized. The government and people of United State have special due respect in our hearts and minds together with other countries that stood with South Sudan in its just cause for political settlement, but it is not a credit the American government can directly interfere in our foreign policy strategy towards other nations. South Sudan is an Independent Republic with it functioning machinery of government and guided by its own principles including foreign policy framework enshrined under the Transitional Constitution and the law. South Sudan is not under foreign domination or protectorate unless otherwise altered without public knowledge. Article 43 (a) and (e) of the Transitional Constitution states that ‘foreign policy of the Republic of South Sudan shall serve the national interest and shall be conducted independently and transparently with the view to achieving the following: (a) promotion of international cooperation, specially within the United Nations family, African Union and other international and regional organizations, for the purposes of consolidating universal peace and security, respect for international law, treaty obligations and fostering a just world economic order and (e) respect for international law and treaty obligations, as well as the seeking of the peaceful settlement of international disputes by negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and adjudication’. With this constitutional provisions, the question

22 of Palestine falls within our jurisdiction and in compliance with the supreme law of the land cited above, it is imperative to vote in favor of Palestine and we should not be threaten by any state or any public body. In our informal discussion in Juba and elsewhere in South Sudan about the affirmation for the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people, some of us advise that let us not panic about the letter written by one Republic Congressman. The good thing about American politics and governance is that there are developed tasks as a covenant between people and the political leadership. The Obama- led administration is Democrat and US foreign policy toward South Sudan cannot be change by a single congressman even from the opposition side. Back to South Sudan with respect to Palestinians situation, the political leadership in Juba has never changed their mind about affirmation for the right of self-determination. This is confirmed in a statement made by current Cabinet Affairs Minister Hon. Deng Alor, in Cairo, Egypt on date 6, August 2011 that “his country will recognize an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders at the United Nations General Assembly when it comes up for a vote in September” according to a report published by Palestinian News and Info Agency WAFA online news service. Secondly and on top of South Sudan leadership, President Gen. Salva Kiir in his maiden speech on the occasion of proclamation of independence of South Sudan on 9 July 2011 said “as we look forward to becoming Africa’s 54th State and 193 3rd nation of the United nations, South Sudan pledges to abide by international covenants and conventions to which we shall seek to accede as soon as possible. We will be a responsible member of the international community, playing our role as defined by international law and as dictated by our own vales and ethics”. In an explanatory note in support of the bid, South Sudan Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Dr. Francis Nazario in compliance with these international legal instruments recognized by South Sudan, he courageously told the council, that his delegation had supported the right of self-determination for the people of Palestine. That principle accounted for the existence of many countries, he said was “always contentious”. Dr. Francis further said South Sudan had achieved its independence from Sudan after a struggle that had lasted half a century. It believed that, in the context of a conflict between two identity groups, the most practical and viable outcome was a negotiated solution. While South Sudan had voted in favor of the resolution, it still encouraged the parties to pursue a negotiated settlement”. Two weeks later after circulation of the said dilemma surrounding South Sudan vote in favor of Palestine, both Permanent Representatives to UN Amb. Dr. Francis Mading Deng and his Deputy Dr. Francis Nazario were summoned to Juba for questioning by the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and they also met the President for clarification on their voting. The inquiry went through and the top diplomats were told to go back to their normal duties in New York. In fact, South Sudan vote was casted by Dr. Francis Nazario on delegation from his Boss Dr. Francis Mading, when he was busy that day for a working lunch with UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon according him. The question is left to the right thinking members of the society to ascertain whether the dodging to vote by Dr. Francis Mading on the voting day and throw the ball to his Deputy was intentional and calculated to cause what has happened now to his deputy? And whether his working lunch with UN Secretary General is more important than his country and the assignment vested upon him by Constitution and the law? The shift or transfer of powers from Dr. Francis Mading to his Deputy Dr. Francis Nazario was at last hours even the explanatory note in support of the vote was single handily drafted by Dr. Francis Mading. Therefore, Amb. Nazario only implement what has been agreed between them in line with directive from the government in Juba. When I had the honor to speak to him and asked about his response when he learned of a new topic introduced in the UN Council of merging the two resolutions together, Dr. Francis Nazario said he contacted the Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial, 48 hours prior to voting by email and also text him on mobile phone as were his normal channel of communication but there was no reply. He said he has also contacted Dr. Francis Mading on phone but could not reach him for a comment. So regardless of the new topic introduced and our policy leadership in Juba had already

23 supported the rights of Palestinian people as explained herein, Amb. Nazario voted in favor of Palestine. The good decision by South Sudan to vote in favor of Palestine is also applauded within the region and the diaspora. A clear example is Ethiopian official of the Permanent Mission to the United Nations when he was talking to Andrew Luis, from Independent Diplomat on 16, January 2013. The official said “that Ethiopia had carefully analyzed South Sudan’s voting record at the UN General Assembly over the September to December period – as it did the voting record of all of its neighbors and partners – and had found it to be “very good.” He added that it was important for South Sudan to take into consideration the opinions of its regional partners and to act consistently with its region, as it had evidently done during this past session. In this regard, the official said that the RSS’s vote in favor of Palestine’s bid for upgraded status at the UN General Assembly was absolutely the right move. Despite normality of the situations after the controversial votes, yet Amb. Dr. Francis Nazario was served with termination of assignment as Deputy Permanent Representative to UN on 31st December 2012 and asked to report himself to Juba not later than 15 February 2013, and which he did. Now comes the questions what is the mistake done by this person considering the whole background to the problem discuss above? If Dr. Francis Nazario is wrong to vote for Palestine, why not relieving all of them since the principal Head of Mission was the one who prepared everything including explanatory note? What is contrary to the foreign policy of South Sudan toward Palestine again if the President and his Ministers endorses the right of self-determination for others in policy statements? Is Dr. Francis Nazario aligned to ethnic identity or what? Why victimizing him for no reasons? Is Dr. Francis Mading Deng, too big to be held responsible for his mistake (s) if he has done something wrong to victimize his deputy for what both of them have equal share? Anyway, I pray the political leadership to find correct answers to these questions. In conclusion, I would like to register that the reasons why I took up this issue are as follows: First, South Sudan got independence through right of self-determination which has been recognized by international community including Palestine. Therefore, South Sudan must be the champion of self- determination and has every right to support Palestine in their similar cause and nothing wrong has been committed by Dr. Francis Nazario to warrant his termination of assignment at the United Nations. Second, I am writing to correct the misrepresentation across South Sudan and beyond that Dr. Francis Nazario has betrayed South Sudan. It is not true and you can now read the background history including Salva-administration to vote in favor of Palestine. However, if such a situation is left unchallenged, it will set very bad precedent in history of foreign policy that a high profile diplomat like this gentleman is recalled from such important assignment and dammed in Juba, where he will not contribute anything of immediate positive impact, when our country is in need of his caliber to speak out on behalf of South Sudan. With utmost good faith, I do not know Dr. Francis Nazario by character association but I know him beyond doubt through performances when he was Director General of Bilateral Relation in the then Ministry of Regional Cooperation from 2005 to 2007 and as Ambassador to European Union EU in Brussels, Belgium from 2007 to 2011 as well as Deputy Head of Mission to United Nations. I have no personal relationship with him neither and it is not a point to rise here, but to caution you because we have reached to unexpected level of misunderstanding that everything is associated with ethnic identity. Finally, I am of the opinion as citizen and appeal to our government to return Dr. Francis Nazario back to his place in New York so that the said misrepresentation is cleared. There is no reason to sacrifice him for no justification when in fact this gentleman had good tracking records when he was here in the ministry of Regional cooperation, the European Union and when he was in the United Nations. Beny Gideon Mabor lives in South Sudan and can be reached at [email protected]

Are Ngok Dinkas of Abyei South Sudanese? 24

Sudantriune.com, 2/3/2013 – The question of whether the Ngok Dinka of Abyei are citizens of South Sudan may seem strange to most people, who would answer it in the affirmative. But it seems a difficult question to a few, particularly among the elite. This ambiguity has reached the government level. Recently, a senior official compared the people of Abyei to those of Kashmir and described them as not citizens of South Sudan in a meeting of one of the highest decision-making institutions. “The people of Abyei are like people of Kashmir. Kashmir people do not occupy key positions in India and Pakistan. So Abyei people are not South Sudanese and should not occupy key positions in South Sudan,” he said. This statement was made immediately after the appointment of Gen. Pieng Deng Kuol as the Inspector General of Police, who hails from Abyei. It seems we have a challenge to educate ourselves, not only about the history of our struggle but also about our Constitution as the supreme law of our country. Abyei has been increasingly referred to as Kashmir or even a disputed area. This reference is either meant to show the difficulty in finding a solution to the Abyei issue or it is based on an utter ignorance. Besides the considerable contribution made by the Ngok Dinka of Abyei in the liberation struggle, the people of Abyei area are culturally part and parcel of the South. Veterans of Bahr el Ghazal Anya Nya Movement, such as Albino Akol, Andrew Makur, John Ukec, Stephen Madut Baak, Kawac Makuei, Salva Kiir and Salva Mathok, would remember the heroic role played by the Ngok Dinka. Akonon Mathiang, in particular, played a remarkable role. He became a member of the military command of the Anya Nya movement in Bahr el Ghazal, a commander of Gogrial and Tonj and later of Northern Aweil. Akonon was killed in June 1968. He was remembered by his comrades who named one of the wildlife boats after him during the regional government that was formed after the conclusion of Addis Ababa Agreement in 1972. The people of Abyei also played a crucial role in the formation of Anya Nya II in Bahr el Ghazal, which became a nucleus for the SPLM. Their bravery was recognized by Commander Kerubino Bol, who referred to any brave SPLA soldier as ‘Ma Ngok’. It became a new military vocabulary in the SPLA for defining bravery. One would even say that Abyei area is one of the areas in the South that has the highest number of martyrs in relation to its total population during the second civil war. When Abyei was invaded by Bashir in May 2011, the people of the South in all the ten states showed their solidarity with the people of Abyei by demonstrating against the invasion and mobilizing resources for the displaced. This was a clear sign that the people of South Sudan see the Ngok Dinka of Abyei as their kith and kin. I took upon myself to visit and to thank the churches and commissioners of Kajo Keji, Lanja and Yei counties and Governor of Central Equatoria State for mobilizing contributions from their citizens to support the displaced people of Abyei. This view about the people in Abyei is well reflected in the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011. Specifically, Article 97 of the Constitution states that: “The members of the nine Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms of Abyei Area shall have an inalienable right to enjoy South Sudanese citizenship and nationality and all rights and freedoms guaranteed by this Constitution”. It is wrong to compare Abyei to Kashmir or to call it a disputed area. The Abyei area is not a disputed area. It was transferred from South Sudan to Sudan in 1905. It was defined as the area of the Ngok Dinka in the Abyei Protocol and delimited (defined on the map) in July 2005 by the Abyei Boundary Commission and four years later by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. It was administratively transferred by the colonial administration from Bahr el Gahzal province to Kordofan province in 1905 to protect the Ngok Dinka from slave raids by Arab nomads. Abyei was and is a territory of South Sudan. For any South Sudanese to describe the Abyei area as a disputed area or Kashmir would be like surrendering part of the territory of the South to Sudan. South Sudan should claim the territory of Abyei regardless of the choice of the people of the area. For example the area of Kafia Kanje and Hofrat el Nahas, where non-South Sudanese are now being settled, is a disputed area but it is clearly part of the territory of the South and it cannot be abandoned. If Southerners are ready to fight for their

25 disputed and claimed areas, what about the Abyei area whose indigenous population are Dinka and who participated greatly in the struggle of the people of South Sudan? The Abyei issue cannot be compared with the Kashmir conflict. The conflict in Kashmir erupted in 1947 when British rule in India ended with the creation of two nations: India and Pakistan. British control over the 562 Indian states, including Kashmir, ended with each state free to choose whether to join Pakistan or India or to remain independent. Currently, India controls about 43 percent of Kashmir, Pakistan controls about 37 percent and China controls the rest. While the majority of the people of Kashmir are Muslims, the region was ruled by Hindus. In fact, Kashmiri hold senior positions in the national governments of both India and Pakistan as they are considered citizens in the two countries. India considers the decision of the rulers of Kashmir to join India on October 25, 1947, which was approved by the constituent assembly of Kashmir, was not only a legal act but it was also irrevocable. A UN Security Council resolution, passed in April 1948, called for a cease-fire and the conduct of a plebiscite (referendum) for the people of Kashmir. This resolution was rejected by India. It argued that the demographics of the region had been permanently altered by Pakistan which settled militant Muslims from western Kashmir and Pakistani tribesmen in the area. Pakistan, on the other hand, rejected the decision of the Hindu rulers to join India, saying they did not represent the majority Muslim population of Kashmir. Pakistan argues that on the basis of the two- nation theory, Kashmir should have been part of Pakistan because it has a Muslim majority. Pakistan supports either a plebiscite for the people of Kashmir or the partitioning of Kashmir. In fact certain groups believe that Kashmir should be independent of both India and Pakistan. It is clear from this account that the Abyei issue is not similar to the Kashmir conflict. It is undisputable that Abyei is a territory of South Sudan and its people are part of the cultural entity of South Sudan. They are also full citizens of South Sudan according to the Constitution. You may have differences with some individuals from Abyei but it should not amount to abandoning your territory. Abyei does not belong to Deng Alor, Edward Lino, Pieng Deng or myself but it belongs to the South. It is a paradox that while Khartoum is wrongly claiming Abyei to be within its territory and grants a disgraced citizenship to the Ngok Dinka, some self-interested few individuals in the South shamefully see the people of Abyei as not citizens of South Sudan. Our President and Parliament should more vigorously vet individuals who hold constitutional posts to ensure that they know the basics about our Constitution and the history of our great nation. Luka Biong Deng is the Co-Chair of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee and is senior member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). He is currently a Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. He can be contacted at [email protected]. This article is riginally published by new nation newspaper

The Conclave and the two Sudans Sudantriune.com, 3/3/2013 – As the republics of South Sudan and that of Sudan are going through a turbulence path, the world’s attention is drawn away on the conclave, the process of electing a Catholic Pope. Christianity or rather Catholicism is deep rooted in Sudan, dating back to the time of antiquity. However, in a modern history, the first batch of Catholic missionaries to have arrived in the country was in mid-1800. Those missionaries had to maneuver through a treacherous ground and landscape. First, they have to encounter Islamism, a formable and powerful religion, which emerged in 7th century. By that time, Islamism already dominated the northern part of the country and wiped out any semblance of Christianity that used to reign supreme. Then, those missionaries also had to advance southward of the country to proselyte the pagans, yet again, facing adversities and uncertainties of their missions. Among those missionaries who had earlier on arrived the country was a young Italian priest by the name Daniel Comboni. In their expedition deep south of the country, the tropical climate never played favor to them. Malaria and other diseases almost decimated the entire team. All but Daniel

Comboni survived the expedition to continue with the legacy of the missionaries. In his last gasping breath, the superior of those missionaries whispered to the team, “If it should happen that only one of you be left, let him not give up or lose confidence…Swear to me that you will not turn back.” In a firm and resolute response, Comboni assured his superior, “Africa or death!” Inspired by Holy Spirit, Comboni quickly realized the arduous task ahead of him. He then designed a grand plan under the motto of saving “Africa through Africa.” Today, Sudan boast two saints, Daniel Comboni and Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese native who escaped the cruel hand of slavery and went on to becoming a nun. Even though Sudan now is separated into two countries, the Catholic Church stands the test of its universality—remaining the only fabric that unites the two countries, despite all the hostilities due to the contrast between the southern Christians and the Islamic north. Such symbolism of unity today is exemplified by the fact that the two Sudans are represented by Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako in the ongoing conclave. Like Jesus Christ proclaimed, “upon this rock I will build my church,” which will survive the test of time and all the adversities. Therefore, the Church will continue to remain the vehicle for unity in the two Sudans. Hopefully, with the conclusion of the conclave, the world will refocus its attention in the two Sudans. The post referendum agreements between the two countries are yet to be resolved, or otherwise the prospect for yet another bloody war is looming on the horizon. It will require the resolve of the international community to settle the disputes between these two countries, once and for all. Steve Paterno is the author of The Rev. Fr. Saturnino Lohure, A Romain Catholic Priest Turned Rebel. He can be reached at [email protected]

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