Southern Sudan News Bulletin ______

An Overview of UN Activities in Southern Sudan Published by the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) ______Vol. 3 Issue No. 6 September 2008

Highlights:

 Regional Coordinator discusses Rumbek disarmament exercise with State Governor  SPLM County Secretary killed in road ambush  UNMIS Police in Malakal conduct Police Basic Training for local officers  Cattle raiding leaves several wounded, displaced, in Patiak

Sector I – Juba empowerment in Southern Sudan and is Workshop held on girls’ education and funded by UNCIEF. women’s empowerment On 2 September, UNMIS Human Rights Office Participants in the workshop raised concerns participated in a one-day Workshop on Girl’s about a number of challenges in the promotion Education and Women’s Empowerment of girl’s education and empowerment of organized by Concern Mothers and Children in women. As a way forward, recommendations Sudan (COMOCS). The workshop was attended were made to increase awareness for women by about 50 participants, including the and girls on the benefits of education, Government of Southern Sudan Minister of encourage enrolment of girls in schools, Agriculture as well as the chairpersons of the increase advocacy for girls’ education and Southern Sudan Human Rights Commission, women’s empowerment, and promulgation of a Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly law to regulate marriage age. Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly Peace Commission plans for conferences (SSLA) Committee on Education, and Southern on reconciliation Sudan HIV/AID Commission. UNMIS Civil Affairs was informed by the Director of the Southern Sudan Peace COMOCS is an indigenous organization that Commission, Louis Lobong Lojore, that the was established by the women of Southern Commission plans to organize peace Sudan in January 2006. It is led by the conferences entiltled “Healing Wounds” for Southern Sudan’s First Lady, Mary Ayen various stakeholders, focusing mainly on Myardit, who is also COMOCS' patron. COMOCS reconciliation, the forthcoming elections and focuses on social mobilization and advocacy referendum. activities for girls’ education and women’s The Director revealed that the first in the series would be a conference for traditional ______www.unmis.org -1-

Southern Sudan News bulletin September 2008 ______leaders from all over Southern Sudan. It would specific vulnerability of women in Southern be held soon in Juba, pending availability of Sudan. Southern Sudan Self-Help Foundation funds. He pointed out the critical need to and UNMIS Human Rights plan to have a joint prepare the population for the outcome of the meeting for organizing similar workshops in referendum, and most importantly for the two future. CPA partners to begin working out scenarios for possible economic cooperation, especially in Prison officers attend a sensitization the oil industry should the south opt for workshop on HIV/AIDS secession. This, he said, would guarantee The UNMIS Rule of Law and Corrections peace between the north and south. Advisory Unit in collaboration with Intra-Health International organized a one-day Commander The Director underlined the need for peace Sensitization Workshop on HIV/AIDS actors to organize a workshop with a view to Prevention, Care and Support for prison devising effective strategies for addressing officers in around Juba. conflict. The planned workshop is intended for members of the SSLA. UNMIS Civil Affairs and Some 23 officers participated in the workshop, Electoral Unit will take care of the facilitation which is part of a series of workshops for and presentations. Topics to be covered uniformed personnel. This workshop will be include electoral law, campaigns and elections, followed by a three-week training programme media and elections. for seven focal peer educators at the Yei Crop Training Centre in Yei. Timetable for child sensitization and disarmament released Abducted child found dead UNMIS Protection of Civilians Unit received UNMIS Child Protection Unit confirmed that a reports that the Southern Sudan Disarmament, 13-year-old boy had been abducted while Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) swimming in the Kit River. The boy was later Commission had released a timetable of found dead. He is suspected to have been activities for sensitization and subsequent Child killed by his abductors. DDR for all pending Children Associated with Armed Fighting Groups (CAAFG) caseloads in Joint Integrated Unit (JIU) soldiers are the 10 states of Southern Sudan. reportedly pursuing the abductors across the Kit River. A total of nine registered caseloads are being targeted. These will include three caseloads in UNMIS Civil Affairs finalizes profiles of Sector 1, located in Yambio (Western Southern Sudan States Equatoria), Terekeka () and UNMIS Civil Affairs finalized the first draft of in Owiny ki Bul (). state profiles for all 10 Southern Sudanese States. The profiles will be made available to UNMIS Human Rights holds workshop for all actors in Sudan requiring basic information civil society and Commission on Southern Sudanese states to aid their work. On 10 September, UNMIS Human Rights facilitated a workshop on human rights in The draft will be circulated to all field teams for coordination with the Southern Sudan Self- verification and final inputs of information for Help Foundation. The participants included finalization of the first edition, which will representatives from civil society and the hopefully be available in October this year. The Southern Sudan Human Rights Commission. information base of the state profiles will be updated and expanded with subsequent The workshop focused on basic and editions as and when situations change. fundamental rights of women and other vulnerable groups. It included an interesting Ministry holds meeting on elections discussion on contributing factors to the ______www.unmis.org - 2 - Southern Sudan News bulletin September 2008 ______

On 23 September, the Government of Local participants urged political parties to Southern Sudan Ministry of Parliamentary reach out to the people and help raise public Affairs organized a one-day consultative awareness and knowledge on elections and meeting at the SSLA on voter education and other processes of the CPA. presented a ministry briefing on preparations for elections next year. SPLA martyrs being registered UNMIS Civil Affairs (CA) visited Mapel, Western The meeting was attended by various Bahr el Ghazal State, where they learned of stakeholders in the electoral process, including ongoing registration of Sudan People’s UNMIS, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society Liberation Army (SPLA) martyrs who had lost organizations. The Minister emphasized that all their lives during the war. activities in the election process shall be driven by government policy and urged all The initiative is led by the Military Department stakeholders to accredit their programmes with in Juba and is meant to compensate families his ministry. and relatives of the martyrs. The Civil Affairs planned meeting with community elders in the UN Police denied access to detainees list area was postponed due to the ongoing On 23 September, UN Police officers, assigned registration activity. to the Southern Sudan Police Service (SSPS) County Headquarters in Yambio, were advised SPLA-CJMC organizes security workshop by the State Police Commissioner of the SSPS On 8 September, a four-day workshop, entitled that they were not to have access to the ‘Towards Effective Implementation of Security detention list or any ongoing cases with the Arrangement Protocol’, was opened in Wau, SSPS. State. The SPLA-CJMC- organized workshop aimed at raising The Commissioner said the High Court Judge awareness on effective implementation of the had stipulated that UNPOL officers were not to security arrangement protocols under the CPA. view the case list, detention form, or participate in any way with ongoing The workshop was attended by 48 senior SPLA investigations. He further stated that UNPOL officers, CJMC members, UNMIS military and officers would only be allowed to conduct the Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal State. training at co-location sites. Yambio Team Site UNMIS Civil Affairs gave a presentation on the Leader is attempting to arrange a meeting with Machakos Protocol, the Wealth Sharing and the Minister of the Interior regarding current Power Sharing Protocols, to discover that some constraints being placed on UNPOL by the senior officers were still unaware of many of SSPS State Commissioner. the CPA provisions and protocols.

Sector II UNMIS holds child protection training for JIU Civil Affairs holds civic education As a follow up to previously conducted workshop trainings for JIUs in Sector I and III, UNMIS On 5 and 6 September UNMIS Civil Affairs Child Protection Unit in Wau organized a facilitated and participated in a two-day civic similar “Child Protection Training” for the JIU education workshop in Wau on political and from 9 to 11 September. voting rights of women. It was organized by Southern Women Solidarity for Peace and The main objective of the training was to Development. The workshop was attended by sensitize officers of different ranks within the some 65 participants, including judges, JIU on the importance of protecting the most university professors, UNMIS units, UN vulnerable members of the society, agencies and local women. especially women and children, in their ______www.unmis.org - 3 - Southern Sudan News bulletin September 2008 ______operations and at the same time integrate County in state. The mission aimed to child protection in their daily operations. assess the present condition of stranded returnees in Turalei as well as to determine the The training, which targeted 30 JIU officers impact of floods on returnees and the host from Wau, was meant to support and community. The RRR team met with the Twic develop their capacity building and promote County Commissioner, the county Southern child protection mainstreaming in all their Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission initiatives. The first of its kind in the state, (SSRRC) Secretary and Executive Chiefs, who the training afforded the JIU to develop a expressed concern at the estimated 7,246 individuals who had been displaced due to the child protection work plan and also select recent floods in Turalei Payam. Child Protection Focal Persons within the

JIUs, which will help prevent child sexual The displaced were said to be heading to Gok exploitation and abuse by directly dealing boma , about 20 kilometres north east of with some of the complicated issues Turalei, which was not affected by the flooding. regarding children during military operations. The RRR team noted with concern the devastation wrought on crops, animals and Regional Coordinator discusses Rumbek dwellings. Two weeks ago approximately disarmament exercise with Lakes State 13,000 people were displaced by similar Governor flooding in Wunrok payam and humanitarian On 10 September, the Regional Coordinator efforts have been advanced to the area. and the Acting Civil Affairs Director visited Rumbek and informed the Lakes State UNMIS RRR completed the state mapping of Governor that the Special Representative of Abyei IDPs in Warrap state. The combined the Secretary-General had asked him to gather number of IDPs spread across various locations information about the recent behaviour of the in Warrap state is 19,314 individuals, as SPLA, whereby both civilians and UN national reported by the chiefs of host communities. staff were subject to intimidation, robbery and general malice during a disarmament exercise. Lakes State continues conflict resolution efforts The Governor acknowledged that elements of In response to continuing ethnic clashes, cattle the SPLA troops had conducted themselves in raiding and conflict over grazing pastures an unprofessional manner. The use of SPLA between the border areas of southern Warrap troops in the civilian disarmament exercise had State and northern Lakes State, the Governors been suspended. He assured the Coordinator of the two states met to discuss ways and that investigations would be conducted to that means to address conflict and set an agenda effect and compensation would be paid to for further action. those whose properties were looted. Lakes State Governor Lt. General Daniel Awet In another development, on 12 September, the Akot informed UNMIS Civil Affairs in Rumbek Secretary-General’s Special Representative to that a signed commitment to peace was Sudan Asraf Qazi met with the Governor of obtained by the chiefs in the areas of concern. Lakes State to discuss UN assistance in He added that a further session is to be held in coordinating effective civilian disarmament, Rumbek North in coming weeks and that the drawing experience from other missions, three state governors would again participate. especially in light of SPLA behaviour during the most recent disarmament exercise. Gangsters arrested in Wau The UNMIS Protection of Civilians Section Floods displace thousands in Warrap State obtained information from Wau County On 9 and 10 September, UNMIS RRR section Commissioner that on 18 September seven conducted an assessment mission to Twic suspects, including two women, believed to ______www.unmis.org - 4 - Southern Sudan News bulletin September 2008 ______have been behind the recent spate of robberies The team is led by SSDDRC’s Director General and other criminal incidents in Wau were for Programmes, Emmanuel Zino Riko. Sector arrested during a combined Southern Sudan II UN DDR team is providing technical and Police Service (SSPS) and National Security transport support for the exercise. Mobile Patrol Unit operation. Senior Management Workshop held in The gangsters built a house in the bush which Wau they used as a store for stolen property. On 23 September, the Head of Office for According to Wau County Commissioner, the Sector II, Fred Babi, formally opened a two- two women suspects were later released after day senior management workshop for SSPS interrogation. officers. The Head of Office encouraged and applauded UN Police in their continued effort to SPLM County Secretary killed in road train, restructure and build the capacity of the ambush SSPS. The UN Department of Security and Safety (UNDSS) received reports that a convoy of two He assured the 10 SSPS senior officers who vehicles with six people, including the attended the workshop of UNMIS’ support for Commissioner of East Yirol County and the any activity in line with its mandate. The UN SPLM County Secretary, was ambushed by Police Deputy Sector Commander and the unidentified gunmen on 24 September. The Sector Training Coordinators facilitated the incident occurred between Karair and workshop. Basic training, state training policy, Manhiany on Yirol road about 140 kilometres co-location activities and issues of continuous southeast of Rumbek. The SPLM Secretary for mutual cooperation were discussed. east Yirol County was shot and killed, while the Commissioner and two others were injured. Sector III

The wounded were taken to Yirol hospital for International Day of Peace celebrated in treatment. It was reported that during an Malakal exchange of fire, the Commissioner’s International Day of Peace was celebrated in bodyguards killed one of the gang members. the River Hall of Malakal, State on UNMIS Protection of Civilians followed up with 21 September. The event, organized by UNMIS contacts in Rumbek, who confirmed that the Public Information Office in conjunction with Yirol County Commissioner had died from his UN agencies, the state government and SSPS, injuries. brought together UNMIS civilian and military, UN agencies and representatives from the Child demobilization in Wunyiik barracks Upper Nile State Government and State begins Legislative Assembly. On 22 September, a joint Child DDR team, including representatives of UN DDR, Southern Following the procession from the Upper Nile Sudan DDR Commission, UNICEF and NGOs State Governor's office to the venue of from Juba and Sector II commenced a week of celebration, UNMIS Acting Head of Office, Rose sensitization and demobilization activities in Sakala, delivered the speech of the UN State. At the reporting Secretary-General. time, the team had conducted two major Child DDR awareness sessions with senior and junior The Governor of Upper Nile State, Gatluak commanders of the SPLA in Wunyiik barracks. Deng Garang, officially closed the occasion by Subsequently, the team documented and emphasizing the importance of peace and began verification of 26 CAAFGs, who are security to successfully achieve the goals of currently in the same barracks awaiting family socio-economic development, education, and reunion and reintegration efforts. rule of law in Southern Sudan. In light of the above, UNMIS was strongly encouraged to ______www.unmis.org - 5 - Southern Sudan News bulletin September 2008 ______enhance its efforts in supporting the state The Team Site Officers delivered lectures to government, especially in relation to peace the participants on various topics related to building, reconciliation and the rule of law. criminal investigation.

UN Police conducts training on human UNMIS liaises with NGOs on food security rights, gender, child protection On 22 September, a Joint Monitoring Team From 20 to 23 September, Nassir UN Police (JMT) from NASSER Team Site liaised with Training Team conducted a training on “Human NGOs on development, food security and IDPs. Rights, Gender and Child Protection” for 20 Southern Sudan Police Service officers. The JMT met the Program Manager of the Another course from 24 to 26 September on Upper Nile Kalaazar Eradication Association “Community Policing” was attended by 20 (UNKEA), who informed the JMT that the SSPS officers. digging of drains in Nasser town, initiated by UNKEA and the Government as a Food-for- The course was officially closed by the SSPS Work Programme, had been stopped due to Police Commissioner who thanked the UN lack of expertise in the planning of the drains. Police officers for their continuous efforts to improve the work of local police. Later the JMT met the Secretary of the SSRRC, who informed the JMT that about 2,720 IDPs in UNMIS Police train over 400 local police in Nassir had come from various areas and were Bor in need of food. The Manager of ADRA- From 20 to 26 September, UN Police at Bor Adventist Development and Relief Agency Team Site conducted Basic Police Training for informed the JMT that returnees were not 438 SSPS officers at Maluala Chat training involved in the Food-for-Work Programme. He center. The training team made presentations said there were two groups of returnees – a on note taking, beats, patrol and beat group that returned in 2007 and one that incidents, records filing, station’s registers, returned this year. Food and non-food items information collection, interrogation had been provided to both groups, but due to techniques, maintenance of station diaries, recent floods in the area they had lost almost traffic management, diversions and traffic all their crops and were in need of a re-supply. accident scenes. UNMIS HRO Attends International training UN Police begin Basic Police Course in Workshop on Human Rights in Ghana Malakal A national UNMIS Human Rights Officer from On 22 September, Malakal UN Police Sector Sector III was among several participants who Headquarters’ Training Coordinator and the took part in the Introductory Training Course Team Site Training Officer training officer for Human Rights organized by the began 84 days of a Basic Police Course for 80 International Programme for Peace Building SSPS officers. and Good Governance (ITPPGG).

The officers attending the training will be given The workshop was conducted from 8 to 19 lectures and presentations on various topics September at the Legion University campus in related to their job. Ghana . The ITPPGG training programme is a joint initiative of the Legion Centre for From 22 to 26 September, Melut UN Police International Affairs of the University of Ghana Training Team conducted a five-day Criminal and the International Training Programme for Investigation Course for 15 SSPS officers at Conflict Management of the Scuola Superiore Paloich Police Station. Sant'Anna of Pisa, Italy, in partnership with the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs. The programme is aimed at providing

______www.unmis.org - 6 - Southern Sudan News bulletin September 2008 ______training for individuals already working or In an interview conducted with one of the wishing to work in the human rights sphere. wounded women, it was revealed that several women and children had been displaced in The workshop participant s were drawn from nearby villages for their safety due to the various African countries, including Sudan, violent cattle raids. Protection of Civilians will Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia, follow up the issue with the state authority and Benin, Burundi, Kenya, DRC, Chad, Burkina UN Security with their state counterparts. Faso, Cameron, Ethiopia, Namibia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Liberia and Ghana. UN agencies conduct an inter-agency verification mission to Fangak County Cattle raiding leaves several wounded, A team with representatives of the UN High displaced in Patiak Commissioner for Refugees, UNMIS RRR and UNMIS Protection of Civilians section received the World Food Programme went on an reports that cattle raiders, allegedly from the inter-agency mission to Fangak County on Lou Nuer tribe, reportedly raided Patiak village, 19 September to verify a report of about Wangley payam, on 17 2,800 spontaneous returnees. September. The raiders looted 15 heads of cattle and wounded several women as well as The team met the Executive Director and two boys, aged 10 and 6. SSRRC officials before physically assessing

the returnees. The officials said there were On the same day, two attacks were reportedly carried out in Adhiok and Kongor villages in indeed spontaneous returnees in Fangak Jonglei State by raiders believed to be from the County, who had scattered all over the same Lou Nuer tribal group. The report said county. However, they added that the actual that the attackers were armed with AK47 rifles number could not be verified as the and spears. Several civilians were allegedly returnees had immediately integrated into wounded, while an unspecified number of the local community without reporting to the cattle were also looted from the two villages. officials in Fangak County Headquarters.

For further information contact: Antonette Miday at [email protected] , +256477123138

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