United Nations Mission in (UNMISS) Media & Spokesperson Unit Communications & Public Information Office MEDIA MONITORING REPORT

TUESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2013 SOUTH SUDAN  Police seize office of Warrap state finance minister (Eye Radio)  H.E Kiir urges parents to take care of their children (News Agency of South Sudan)  S. Sudan first lady to attend New York gathering (Sudantribune.com)  Arrests after Nimule chief slaying (Voice of America)  Two abducted children rescued in Juba‘s Liria (Radio Miraya)  Unity state women now brew alcohol for survival (Sudantribune.com)  E. Equatoria disappointed as Ugandan neighbours fail to show up to peace meeting (Sudantribune.com)  JICA trains Juba River Port Administration (Catholic Radio Network)  Civil servants decry lack of grade promotions (Gurtong.net)  NPA conducts youth‘s sports, cultural festival in Rumbek (Catholic Radio Network) SUDAN/SOUTH SUDAN  South Sudan Catholic Church sends help to Sudanese refugees (Gurtong.net)  Abyei demo calls for referendum in October (Radio Miraya)  Al Bashir says dialogue will continue with all political forces (Sudanvisiondaily.com)  Oil sheds $1/bbl. on higher supplies, Iran diplomacy (Reuters) OTHER HIGHLIGHTS  Cabinet endorses partial lift of fuel subsidy (Sudanvisiondaily.com)  Sudan almost doubles fuel, gas prices in economic crisis (Reuters)  Sudan police fired tear gas to end protest over fuel subsidies (Reuters)  Activists urge UN to waive Bashir‘s immunity as diplomats express doubts over his arrival (Sudantribune.com)  on high alert, border security tightened (The Newvision Newspaper)  Africa must not allow terrorists to exist – Museveni (The Newvision Newspaper)  Uganda leads region in press freedom (The Newvision) OPINION/ANALYSIS/EDITORIAL  South Sudanese girls a family asset (Part II) (Sudantribune.com)  Vice President Gen. James Wani Igga‘s folly (South Sudan News Agency) LINKS TO STORIES FROM THE MORNING MONITORING REPORT  Kiir threatens to expel SPLM members over bickering (Sudantribune.com)  Kiir admits 2015 South Sudan elections may be delayed (Sudantribune.com)  U.S. envoy urges South Sudan to prepare for 2015 elections (Sudantribune.com)  Women urge government to implement Resolution 1325 (Catholic Radio Network)  Warrap governor strips powers from finance minister (Sudantribune.com)  Foreign affairs ministry to lay off 200 employees, says an official (Eye Radio)  Machar decries terrorist attack in Kenya (Sudantribune.com)  Flood kills one girl in Tonj South (Don Bosco Radio)  Sudanese Interior Minister visits Juba to improve ties (Catholic Radio Network)

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

Police seize office of Warrap state finance minister Eye Radio, 23/9/2013 – The Warrap State minister of Finance has said his office has been seized by police. Achuil Akoc Mangardit said he did not receive any formal communication of an order to seize the office from either the state governor or the police commissioner. He said he returned yesterday from Juba after hearing allegations that he had stolen state money. Achuil Akoc said he did not even report to office this morning but was told the police had surrounded the building. ―I do not know what has happened because I was on treatment purpose, for 21 days, Mr. Akoc explained. ―I had gone to process my visa.‖ ―When I was in , I received an allegation that Achuil Akoc, the minister of finance ran away with money from Juba. ―Then I said I would go back to Warrap to find out the root causes of the allegation.‘‘ No one from the Warrap State Police was available for comment. (Back to Top)

H.E Kiir urges parents to take care of their children News Agency of South Sudan Aweil, 23/9/2013 – President Salva Kiir Mayardit has expressed dismay over the big number of street children roaming the streets of Awiel and others state capitals in the country. He challenged parents especially those who let their children take to take to the streets to be God fearing and take responsibility over their children. Mr. Kiir said it‘s wrong for parents to let their children to go to the streets when they are supposed to take care of them. H.E Kiir urged the state Government to work hand in hand with the parents in creating a conducive and child friendly home environment as well as availing schools for the street children. President Kiir who is on a tour of the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region made these remarks on Saturday in Aweil, the capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state after concluding a two-day visit to Western Bahr El-Ghazal and Warrap states. Upon arrival, he and the accompanying delegation were warmly received by the citizens and leaders of NBGS headed by the Governor of NBGS. Gen. Paul Malong Awan.President Kiir opened Presidential Guest House of Aweil Town and congratulated the state Government for tirelessly working to the developing the state. Kiir also addressed a huge public rally at Aweil Freedom Square where he extended his gratitude to the victims of the recent floods that took the country by storm. He said the national Government is aware of the suffering of all the families affected by the floods and the government is doing its best in collaboration with the affected states to help the floods victims. President Kiir announced to the public that the financial situations of the Country will soon be improved after his successful visit to Khartoum, and all the developmental projects of the Country will continue. Pointing out that the construction of the new Airport of Aweil and the roads within Aweil town will be supported by the National Government. H.E Kiir further affirmed that the Universities of Aweil, Yambio and other Universities facing Financial Challenges would soon be functional. H.E Kiir visited Aweil Hospital and inspected different administrative departments of the hospital, he also visited maternity wards and promised to renovate the Hospital and improve working conditions of the staff. (Back to Top)

S. Sudan first lady to attend New York gathering

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Sudantribune.com Juba, 23/9/2023 – The first lady of South Sudan, Mary Ayen Mayardit is currently in New York to take part in an initiative gathering, due on 26 September. Ayen will join several of her world counterparts invited to attend a meeting organized by the US- based Bush Institute‘s First Ladies Initiative. The initiative, started by former US first lady Laura Bush, engages and supports first ladies from around the world to create viable women networks dedicated to promoting education, good health and economic opportunities for women in society. Attendees of the meeting will reportedly undergo training sessions on effective governance, strategic planning and communication, among others. The South Sudanese first lady is also expected to participate in the Global First Ladies‘ Alliance discussion on 25 September and later meet her US counterpart, Michelle Obama at a luncheon in New York. (Back to Top)

Arrests after Nimule chief slaying, Voice of America, 23/9/2013 – Police in the South Sudanese border town of Nimule have arrested seven men suspected in the killing of traditional chief George Ajugo Levio, who was shot and killed while heading home one night two weeks ago. The suspects include Sudan‘s former ambassador to Zimbabwe, Angelo Vuga Morgan. The names of the other six suspects have not been released. All seven were still being questioned Monday by security officers, officials said. - Philip Thon Aleu (Back to Top)

Two abducted children rescued in Juba’s Liria Radio Miraya, 23/9/2013 – Two children who were kidnapped by suspected abductors in Liria Payam of Juba County, Central Equatoria State, have been rescued, an official has said. The two were among three children abducted by gunmen last week, said Christopher Sebit, senior Inspector of Local Government in Juba City Council. ―The Lokoya youth from Langabu Boma went after them. So in the process of pursuing the abductors, they managed to recover two of the abducted children,‖ Mr Sebit said. ―One of the demands we put forward is the deployment of the police and SPLA (army) forces in all our bomas so as to protect our people,‖ he said. Five people, including the children‘s parents were killed when community members clashed with the alleged child abductors in Liria Payam last Friday, authorities said. (Back to Top)

Unity state women now brew alcohol for survival Sudantribune.com Kampala, 23/9/2013 – Women in South Sudan‘s Unity state now sell locally- brewed alcohol to meet the high living costs and school fees demands for their children. Various women, in a series of interviews with Sudan Tribune in Rubkona and Bentiu towns, said they have benefited in several ways from the alcohol business. Nyager Gatkuoth, a resident of Chilaak village in Rubkona, said she has spent 14 years in alcohol trade and three of her children attend school. "The reason why I make alcohol is because my children suffer a lot as there is no job opportunity. Making this alcohol has enable me send them to schools and make money to buy them food‖, she said. Averagely, Gatkuoth says she can make up to 70 South Sudanese Pound ($18) a day. But Tapitha Nyataba Mayang says most women took to brewing alcohol in order to create their own jobs. "Most of these women in this area use to make alcohol because of [the] difficulty facing them as majority [of them] lack jobs‖, said the 35-year old hailing from Bentiu.

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Poor service delivery was also another problem that forced women to brew alcohol in order to take their children to hospital when they fall sick, added Mayang. Nyakume Chuol, who spent 12 years in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum told Sudan Tribune she began making alcohol to make ends meet after the 1996 death of her husband. ―I make this alcohol because these children have no father. The alcohol is my second husband after he died in the decade [long] war. I cook it to get some cash to feed them [children] and it has taken me long time since I was in Khartoum‖, said Chuol. Meanwhile, residents say they prefer the locally brewed alcohol, which is cheaper when compared to beers. While a 500ml beer bottle costs as much as SSP10 [about $2.5], one only need SSP2 [less than a dollar] to buy a 200ml of the local brew. Several women, however, complained of too much competition in the business that has since attracted many people. (Back to Top)

E. Equatoria disappointed as Ugandan neighbours fail to show up to peace meeting Sudantribune.com Torit, 23/9/2013 – Leaders from South Sudan‘s Eastern Equatoria state were left disappointed on Monday when their counterparts from Ngomoromo lamwoo District in Northern Uganda failed to show up for a border cooperation meeting on Sunday. Eastern Equatoria state‘s minister of local government, law enforcement and wildlife conservation, Charles Lokonoi Ambrose, was one of the South Sudanese officials who travelled to Ngomoromo lamwoo for the cancelled meeting. The resident district commissioner of Ngomoromo lamwoo, Molly Achan, failed to turn up, minister Lokonoi said. The purpose of the meeting was intended to create peace and cooperation among the peoples of Pogee boma [sub-district] in Pajok payam [district] of Magwi County and the people of Ngomoromo Lamwoo district in Northern Uganda. The South Sudanese delegation said they arrived at the scheduled venue at the agreed time only to find no sign of the Ngomoromo lamwoo district representatives. Minister Lokonoi said that is hard to resolve the "growing tension building among the two communities bordering each other" if such meetings do not take place. He added that his government will try to rearrange the meeting for later this week. Magwi county commissioner, Francis Okech Oteka, said that his previous meetings with his Ngomoromo lamwoo counterpart had covered misunderstandings over land cultivation and cattle grazing along the border. The commissioner said that the officials they were due to meet turned off their mobile phones when they tried to contact them on Sunday morning. (Back to Top)

JICA trains Juba River Port Administration Catholic Radio Network, 24/9/2013 – Japan International Cooperation Agency or JICA in collaboration with the Juba River Port Administration is today conducting a training seminar on river port services. The seminar aimed at enhancing operation and management capacity of inland waterways in South Sudan. The training will provide information on port services at the Juba River Port and the White Nile River transport services for port customers. The seminar will focus on the development and capacity improvement of the Juba Port Administration, effective cargo handling at the port, shipping services and fees, port services, and port regulations. The seminar will also cover the river port bill, current and future road connectivity to South Sudan ports. 4

The seminar is expected to bring together officials from national Ministry of Transport, Roads and Bridges, Central Equatoria State Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, donors and other stakeholders. Cargo consigners, shipping companies, motorboat owners, trucking companies, and cargo loaders are also expected to participate in the seminar. (Back to Top)

Civil servants decry lack of grade promotions Gurtong.net Torit, 23/9/2013 – The Eastern Equatoria State civil servants have raised great concern over delay in upgrading their grades and improving on their pay. Raising the concern as she grabbed an opportunity at a gathering at Hotel Torit as Madam Awut Deng Acuil invited them to listen and contribute on issue affecting kids in the Country, the Eastern Equatoria State Women Association Deputy Chairperson, Madam Davidika Ikai strongly came out on behalf of state government Civil servants, protesting that most of them have evidently been prolonged in similar grades since their appointments since 70s and 80s until today saying those civil servants have failed to meet demands and necessities of their families. ―This discourages and equally frustrates them in the process of prolonging them in same grades since their appointments in between 70s and 80s until today. They have failed to meet demands and necessities of their families,‖ she said. She cites India where classes are distinguishingly exist as there are upper and lower classes which have proven contributing factors to social and economic disparities among the people as the practice signify different statuses or ranks in the community as they create wider vacuum between the poor and the rich. Madam Ikai appeals to government to reconsider looking into the matter by taking appropriate action in promoting the long serving civil servants who have been negligently left not promoted. She notes that most men and women in the civil service have long ago started frustrating simply because of the fact that they have become unable to cater for or be able to meet basic needs of their respective families including children‘s school fees which have continued to remain as unsettled outstanding balances in respective learning institutions. ―Already, as I talk now, out there, couples of men and women in the government civil service, have lost senses and resorted to consuming deadly alcoholic beverages. We need our government consider resolving the rising suffering. I know, it now could be excuse of the Country‘s Austerity Measures that has clearly affected the economy of the new nation; South Sudan. But I prefer addressing first such issues of great concerns by upgrading rankings which is usually come in terms of grades from 17-11 (unclassified staff) and from 14-1 (classified staff),‖ she said. The higher the employee goes the more he or she advance in better pay which when it happens, it equally boosts economic situation of the employee in the civil service; from worsening to better one. ―We have lost many because of this. They usually resort to consumption of bad liquor that damages internal organs of beings. They victims usually believe or think alcohol consumption resolve problems by making one to forget not knowing problems keep recycling and the responsibilities keep multiplying or adding,‖ she said. (Back to Top)

NPA conducts youth’s sports, cultural festival in Rumbek Catholic Radio Network, 24/9/2013 – Norwegian People‘s Aid or NPA and Rumbek Youth and Sports Association or RYSA will conduct a youth and cultural festival in Rumbek, Lakes state between September 27 and 29. NPA Programme Coordinator who is the festival spokesperson James Boboya Edmond said the exercise aimed at reducing tension and build mutual understanding, community harmony and cooperation among youths‘ groups. He added that the festival also aimed to further the development of the already existing cooperation between NPA and RYSA by exhibiting RYSA and the Greater 5

Rumbek area as a center for sporting activities to promote peace. The spokesperson said participants include wrestlers from Terekeka and Yirol and cultural groups from Mvolo. Mr Edmond said NPA and RYSA believe the festival will bring youths together, in friendly sporting activities, local cultures, dances, songs and dramas. He said the cultural and sports festival in Rumbek is expected to draw ten thousand participants from Terekeka in Central Equatoria State, Mvolo Western Equatoria State and Lakes State. (Back to Top)

South Sudan Catholic Church sends help to Sudanese refugees Gurtong.net Lalo, 24/9/2013 – The Catholic Diocese of Malakal has forwarded some assistance to the Sudanese Refugees from Nuba Mountains who have recently resettled in Lelo Payam of Makal County. Tereza Akic Awan is the Chairperson of the Office of the Poor in the Catholic Church Diocese of Malakal said she was disturbed after listening to local radio programs with Sudanese Refugees screaming for the poor situation they have fallen in. ―I never slept for a whole night when I heard voices of Sudanese refugees over the radio stranded at Lelo looking for services that they could not obtain,‖ she lamented. Mama Tereza said she felt weak and concerned and thought that she needed to do something to help the affected. Tereza who has walked from house to house in search of clothes and soaps to be donated to the refugees has parceled together a number of clothes she said were a help collected from every person found and willing to give. ―I brought this assistance from people who were willing to give and some assistance from the church. They are not enough but they will for sure help those that are in dire need of clothes and soaps,‖ Tereza said. Mama Tereza said, ―This help has been done abruptly by me. It was to come and visit you. Now I will go and inform youth office, the women office and others. They will make their contribution to cloth you because I can see that you have lost your clothes.‖ Over 1,000 Sudanese refugees from Nuba Mountains in Upper Nile state called for humanitarian organizations to assist their deteriorating situation. Suleiman Balula Juma is the chief of the 1,655 families who have recently trekked a long distance from Warnie Locality in Nuba Mountains to start their new life in South Sudan‘s Upper Nile state. He said that their life situation is not encouraging urging for people of good will and organization to support Nuba people who have run away from death of war but in new horrible conditions. Lelo Camp in Makal County seems not to have been registered to receive the possible services rendered by humanitarian organization. (Back to Top)

Abyei demo calls for referendum in October Radio Miraya, 23/8/2013 – The Dinka Ngok people in the Abyei area held a peaceful demonstration on Monday, calling for the referendum proposed for October to be conducted in time to determine the status of the region. Both Sudan and South Sudan claim ownership of the region, which was administratively transferred from southern Sudan to Kordofan in northern Sudan in 1905. A vote to determine the status of the region was derailed in January 2011 over lack of agreement on who was eligible to vote. Sudan rejected a proposal from the African Union to hold the vote in October.

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Hundreds of protestors marched in Abyei town, calling on the international community to exert pressure on Sudan to accept the African Union proposal. ―We urge the African Union to speed up the Abyei Referendum. People of Abyei are losing patience and they don‘t have any hope unless the United Nations determines a date to hold the area referendum,‖ said Abyei civil society activist Bol Dhieu. (Back to Top)

Al Bashir says dialogue will continue with all political forces Sudanvisiondaily.com Khartoum, 23/9/2013 – President Omer Al Bashir affirmed that the government will continue dialogue with all Sudanese political forces, the ones participating in the government and those in opposition. He stated that all Sudanese issues were up for discussion, except for Abyei. Meeting with women leaders on Monday, the president said the economic measures declared by the government aim to redistribute subsidies resulting in a more direct support of the poor and less support to the rich. A number of methods have been undertaken by government institutions in order to have the citizens affected by these measures accounted for and entered under the umbrella of support, he added. These measures, the president went on, are part of a comprehensive program aiming to restore stability to the Sudanese economy and alleviate the pressure off of the poor. The president referred to the economy when the Salvation government came to power, describing it as a scarce economy. The current situation, he added is similar to what many countries are facing now. Following the secession of South Sudan, a number of scenarios took place and had a negative impact on the economy, said the president. He attributed these scenarios to western and Zionist agendas which aim to benefit from the economic situation, regarding overthrowing the government. He said the studies to achieve that purpose carried out by elements in those circles are proof. These plots have had an effect on Sudanese and South Sudanese relations, but the relations are now seeing enormous progress, especially following the signing of the cooperation agreement and the visit of the South Sudanese President to Sudan, the president explained. He went on to say that the Sudanese government's stance is permanent on this issue, which is to maintain a strategic neighborhood relationship with South Sudan. The meeting with the women's sector, the president said is part of a series of meetings with all the sectors of the Sudanese people and in line with the efforts to communicate with all the bases. He affirmed that Sudanese women have an important and effective role to play in all political and social fields. (Back to Top)

Oil sheds $1/bbl. on higher supplies, Iran diplomacy Reuters New York, 23/9/2013 – Oil prices on both sides of the Atlantic shed more than $1 per barrel on Monday despite upbeat economic data from China and Europe, as higher crude output from Iraq and a possible thaw in U.S.-Iran relations boosted the supply outlook. Oil prices plummeted last week as Libya's production recovered to nearly 40 percent of pre-war capacity after protesters agreed to reopen major western fields, and as fears of U.S.-led military action against Syria faded. Brent crude oil has shed around $8 from its September high above $116 at the beginning of the month. Libya's eastern Hariga port could reopen this week but negotiations were continuing in hopes of ending a dispute that has shut larger eastern terminals for weeks, the head of the energy committee in parliament said. "There's been a lot of progress in Libya and that's outweighing some of the positive data from China and Europe," said Joseph Basilico, senior vice president of energy derivatives at Jefferies Bache in New York. 7

Brent crude for November delivery fell $1.06 to settle at $108.16 per barrel, after reaching a session low of $107.76. U.S. crude for November fell $1.16 to $103.59 a barrel. Brent's premium over U.S. crude stood at $4.57, little changed from Friday's close of $4.55. U.S. RBOB gasoline futures led the complex lower, shedding 2 percent of its contract value. The contract fell by 6 cents to close at $2.62 per gallon. "Summer driving season has come to a close and U.S. gasoline production is at historically high levels for this time of year," said Phil Flynn, an analyst with the Price Futures Group in Chicago, Illinois. Iraq, a key OPEC producer, said it boosted output from its southern oilfields after repairing a leaking pipeline. More oil is also coming from South Sudan as it raised output to the highest level since it resumed exports through Sudan. "The return to the market of Libyan and South Sudanese supply is weighing on prices. South Sudan is currently producing 240,000 barrels of crude oil per day, the highest volume since oil production was shut down in January 2012," Commerzbank senior oil analyst Carsten Fritsch said. The bearish mood for oil also drew support from the possibility of a groundbreaking meeting between leaders of the United States and Iran on the sidelines of the United Nations gathering this week. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is aiming to set the tone for further nuclear talks with world powers which he hopes will bring relief from sanctions, according to diplomats and analysts. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif agreed to new talks on its nuclear program with six world powers including the United States during this week's gathering of world leaders in New York. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed the development. Exports from Iran, one of the largest crude producers, have more than halved in recent years to around 1 million barrels per day in 2012 due to tightening sanctions. China's flash HSBC Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) hit a six-month high, putting to rest investors' worries of a sharp slowdown in the world's second largest economy. In the euro zone, China's largest business partner, the Markit Flash Composite PMI showed business activity has grown faster than expected this month as new orders flood in at their fastest pace in over two years. U.S. manufacturing activity growth slowed in September as demand for products declined and firms took on fewer workers, an industry report showed, said financial data firm Markit. (Back to Top)

Cabinet endorses partial lift of fuel subsidy Sudanvisiondaily.com Khartoum, 23/9/2013 – Council of Ministers yesterday endorsed the decision to partially lift subsidies on fuel. On the Basis of this decision, the benzene gallon would sell at SDG 22.5, gasoline for SDG 14 per gallon, and gas-cooker cylinder at SDG 25. Following the session, the Minister of Finance told journalists that the council discussed the financial performance report during the first half of the fiscal year 2013, which he said was promising, showing that the ministry met all its necessary obligations. ―The council of ministers endorsement of the economic reform package is meant for reduction of deficit and the cut down of government expenditure by SDG 600 million, during the remaining period of current year,‖ he affirmed, adding that revenues will increase by SDG 3 billion during the same period, and loans from the Central Bank of Sudan will also be decreased. The Minister further disclosed that the customs exchange rate of the Dollar has been fixed at SDG 5.70, a rate that would not affect the prices of wheat, sugar and production inputs. Referring to counteracting the impact of the economic reforms on low-income earners, the Minister reaffirmed 8 that the salaries of government workers would be increased as of coming October, disclosing that the President has directed the payment of half of the adjusted October salaries to meet Eid Al- Adha needs. For his part, Presidential Assistant, Abdul Rahman Al-Mahdi said, and an all –inclusive economic forum would be held in October to crystallize visions for a promising Sudanese economic future. Meanwhile, Minister of Information said that the endorsed lift of subsidies was partial, adding that the reform program would be concomitant with remedial measures to counteract the effects of reforms on vulnerable sectors. ―Despite the biting effects of the reform package, it was imperative for the upsurge of the national economy,‖ he stated. The application of the new prices, before their endorsement by the council of the ministers, as justified by the minister was a precautionary step to prevent greedy dealers from storing fuel to cause scarcity at fuel stations. (Back to Top)

Sudan almost doubles fuel, gas prices in economic crisis Reuters Khartoum, 23/9/2013 – Sudan almost doubled prices for fuel and cooking gas on Monday, struggling to bring its budget under control in an economic crisis that is stirring widespread discontent. President Omar Hassan al-Bashir went on television for two hours to announce the plan. He has avoided an "Arab spring" uprising of the sort that has unseated other rulers in the region but many in Sudan complain about soaring food prices, corruption, violent conflicts and high unemployment. "We've been just notified of the prices increases," said a petrol station worker, asking not to be named "its huge leap and we worry that people will be angry." Petrol stations in the capital Khartoum raised the price of a gallon (3.8 liters) of petrol on Monday to 21 pounds (almost $3 based on black market prices), from 12 pounds. "The government ... has no idea of what people are going through. I am ready to join any protest against the lifting," said 41-year old Ahmed Iassan, an unemployed worker. The government started reducing some fuel subsidies in July 2012. Several weeks of small protests ended with a security crackdown. It had hoped to sustain the remaining support by boosting gold exports to replace oil revenues, but was thwarted by the recent fall in global gold prices. A gallon of gasoline now costs 14 pounds, up from 8.5 pounds, petrol station staff said. The prices for a cylinder of cooking gas rose to 25 pounds from 15 pounds. In a televised news conference, Bashir said late on Sunday Sudan was no longer able to afford the subsidies which he said cost the treasury $15.5 billion every year based on the official exchange rate. Sudan produces too little to feed its 32 million people. Even basic food imports arrive by ship in Port Sudan, before they get trucked for days across the vast country, spurring food price inflation. The Sudanese pound is worth barely a third of its value against the dollar on the black market at the time of the South‘s succession. Opposition activists have criticized the move to cut fuel subsidies but the weak opposition has yet to stir mass protest. (Back to Top)

Sudan police fired tear gas to end protest over fuel subsidies Reuters Khartoum, 23/9/2013 – Sudanese police fired tear gas on Monday to disperse hundreds of people protesting in a state capital south of Khartoum against the lifting of petrol subsidies by veteran President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

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Bashir, in power since 1989, has avoided an "Arab spring" uprising of the sort that has unseated other rulers in the region but many in Sudan complain about soaring food prices, corruption, violent conflicts and high unemployment. The government almost doubled prices for fuel and cooking gas on Monday to bring its budget under control. The Arab African country lost three-quarters of its oil reserves - its main source of revenues and of dollars for food imports - when South Sudan became independent in 2011. Within hours of petrol stations adjusting their price displays, some 800 protesters gathered in the centre of Wad Madani, capital of Gezira state south of Khartoum, shouting "No, No to price hikes". Others called on Bashir to resign, yelling "go, go". Police arrived, firing tear gas to disperse the crowd. Late on Sunday, Bashir held a televised news conference lasting two hours to defend his abolition of fuel subsidies. He promised to use much of the money saved to help the poor and increase salaries for civil servants. But many Sudanese have grown impatient with years of what they see as economic crises caused by mismanagement and U.S. trade sanctions. "The government ... has no idea of what people are going through. I am ready to join any protest against the lifting," said 41-year old Ahmed Iassan, an unemployed worker. A 45-year university professor said he would struggle to make ends meet with the fuel price hikes. 'I really want to leave Sudan," he said, asking not to be named. CRISIS The government started reducing some fuel subsidies in July 2012. Several weeks of small protests ended with a security crackdown. It had hoped to sustain the remaining support by boosting gold exports to replace oil revenues, but was thwarted by the recent fall in global gold prices. Petrol stations in the capital Khartoum raised the price of a gallon (3.8 liters) of petrol on Monday to 21 pounds (almost $3 based on black market prices), from 12 pounds. A gallon of gasoline now costs 14 pounds, up from 8.5 pounds, petrol station staff said. The prices for a cylinder of cooking gas rose to 25 pounds from 15 pounds. Sudan produces too little to feed its 32 million people. Even basic food imports such as wheat arrive by ship in Port Sudan, before they get trucked for days across the vast country, spurring food price inflation. The government claims annual inflation has fallen to 23.8 percent in July from 37.1 percent in May but independent analysts dismiss the figures and put the rate at 50 percent or even higher. The Sudanese pound is worth barely a third of its value against the dollar on the black market at the time of the South‘s succession. (Back to Top)

Activists urge UN to waive Bashir’s immunity as diplomats express doubts over his arrival Sudantribune.com Washington, 24/9/2013 – An American advocacy group has urged the UN chief not to insist on Washington‘s obligation to grant a visa to the Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir as international diplomats expressed doubts on his arrival to New York. "We urge you to waive President Bashir‘s privileges and immunities under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations (―Convention on Immunities‖) and to waive the U.S. Government‘s visa obligations under the Agreement Between the United Nations and the United States Regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, said the International Justice Project (IJP) in a letter addressed to UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.

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The group went further to say that releasing the U.S. administration from these requirements will enable Washington to enforce the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Bashir over Darfur war crimes and genocide since 2009. According to Foreign Policy magazine, UN and international diplomats appeared skeptical of Bashir‘s trip. "That‘s my assumption [that he‘s not coming], but we‘re planning on anything," a senior U.N. official told Foreign Policy. "Would he want to see the [General Assembly] hall clear out?" Another diplomat said the American officials are seeking to convince Bashir that his journey to New York is unworthy and it would be difficult for them to predict what May happen. "They‘re trying to explain to [Sudanese officials] how difficult this could be for [Bashir] and that it could create a situation that is not entirely in [American] control," said the official who was speaking to Foreign Policy under the cover of anonymity. In New York, the UNSG spokesman refused to say whether Ban would meet with Bashir in line with UN policy of limiting contact with ICC-indicted individuals. (Back to Top)

Uganda on high alert, border security tightened The New vision Newspaper Kampala, 23/9/2013 – Following a deadly terrorist attack in Kenya, the Uganda Police have taken over security at key public places, especially shopping malls in Kampala. Security has also been beefed up in Malaba and Busia border areas. The Inspector General of Police, Gen. , who was over the weekend reportedly following the developments of the terrorist attack on ‘s Westgate Shopping mall, said it was important to tighten security at public places to avert a similar attack. ―What has happened in Kenya is very unfortunate and can happen anywhere. As such, we are now going to take over the security of many of these places,‖ Kayihura said, adding that he had already communicated with his Kenyan counterpart David Mwole Kimaiyo to express his solidarity with them. By Sunday, the Police and other security agencies had beefed up security with more deployment of uniform and plain cloths security operatives in many public places, including supermarkets and shopping malls. ―When we issue alerts, members of public should not take them for granted. The threats are still real,‖ he said, noting with dismay the lax security at many public places, especially big supermarkets. ―It is not because of the Kenyan incident that we are moving, but these plans have been underway,‖ Kayihura said and called for increased vigilance from the public. ―Our real strength to deter such incidents and defeat these criminals lies in active community policing,‖ he said. ―Our personnel shall not be caught flat-footed. We have been prepared for some time and we thank the public for the continued vigilance,‖ Kampala Metropolitan Police commander, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, said Sunday. ―The Police shall not only deploy at shopping malls,‖ Kaweesi said, adding: ―At the time Westgate Mall was attacked, another market in Mogadishu was reportedly attacked. These are coordinated. So the Police and their sister security agencies will be on the lookout everywhere.‖ ―Always be suspicious of strange people and objects, armed or unarmed. It is because of this that Uganda has continued to survive,‖ he said adding that all malls need to have outlets where hostages in such situations can be guided through. (Back to Top)

Africa must not allow terrorists to exist – Museveni The New vision Newspaper Kampala, 23/9/2013 – The President cited Somalia and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where armed groups have caused mayhem leading to loss of lives and thousands of displaced communities.

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―African countries have become part of the terrorism concept and this must stop. The continent must not allow terrorists to exist,‖ he said. The President was on Monday evening addressing the summit of the African Union Peace and Security Council convened by President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d‘Ivoire to discuss the partnership between the AU and the UN on African peace and security issues at the AU mission in New York. Commentibg on Sudan and South Sudan relations, President Museveni welcomed the meeting between President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir of the Republic of Sudan and President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan to resolve outstanding issues, including the conflicts in Darfur and Kordofan adding that there is nothing wrong with talking. He said the two countries should learn a lesson from history where African countries took the colonial borders as they were or advised them to get surveyors to establish the disputed boundaries. Museveni cautioned that tinkering with the boundaries as they were known then can cause problems. The border conflict between the states of Sudan and South Sudan over oil-rich regions is claimed by both sides as part of their sovereign territory. Museveni also called upon the African Union to maintain the principle on unconstitutional changes of government in dealing with the situation in The meeting was aimed at reviewing the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of peace and security especially in Somalia, DRC and Mali and issues to do with the unconstitutional changes of government in Egypt. (Back to Top)

Uganda leads region in press freedom The New vision Newspaper Kampala, 23/9/2013 – Uganda enjoys a far greater degree of press freedom compared to other countries in the Eastern Africa region, according to a top official of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). ―I like the media in Uganda because it is vibrant although there is a bit of censorship,‖ said Netsannet Asfaw IGAD Director for Peace and Security division and also a former state minister for Information in Ethiopia. IGAD is a regional body made up of seven member states that include Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan. It aims at peace building initiatives mainly in a context of post conflict situation. She made the remarks while chairing a three-day consultative meeting on Media for Peace Initiative, held in Ethiopia last week. Most countries, she noted do not understand the ethics of journalism. ―Most journalists are teaching the public to read what they want which is causing violence in our different communities. People need training both in public and private institutions,‖ she added. She said journalists should exercise a degree of self-censorship on certain issues as causing violence is not an option for them. Several journalists from the IGAD region converged in Addis Ababa to discuss the state of media in their countries. Uganda has a vibrant media industry with over 244 radio stations, over 15 operating Television (TV) stations and more than twenty newspapers and a host of magazines and on line publications. Unlike in the past, and a few isolated incidents, there is wide latitude of freedom with people using the media as a platform to criticize government. One of the participants, Mohammed, a journalist from Somalia and working in Mogadishu gave a moving account of being a journalist in Somalia, equating it to prison life.

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―Several journalists are killed and slaughtered in their homes and work stations. Others have survived explosions in Mogadishu and many of us have been threatened on phone,‖ Mohammed said. Culturally, he said, girls are not allowed in gainful employment which explains why very few women practice journalism. It emerged at the workshop that Djibouti with a population of about one million people has six government owned media houses, which include one Television and radio station; three newspapers and one web based news agency. ―Despite the fact that the constitution allows us to open media houses, they are not on ground. Private media houses surface during elections and when they are over, they die out,‖ said Ali Barkhat an editor from Djibouti. The state of media in Sudan according to Lobaba Hassan, a media consultant is mainly private owned. ―There are over 30 media houses in Sudan although a majority of these are into getting their information on Facebook.‖ Hassan said. Ethiopia according to Asfaw, used to have over 190 media houses ten years ago, however, most of them have fizzled out because of a declining reading culture. She however, noted that it is not all gloom as the media in Ethiopia is picking up. South Sudan‘s Salome Kiden Kelle, a broadcaster said the biggest challenge facing media in her country include insufficient electric power supply, resulting in shorter hours of broadcasting as media are forced to use generators, pushing up costs. Newspapers, she said, face limited circulation owing to diverse ethnicity and inability of the local masses to read. Kenya‘s David Ohito, a managing editor in a private media house said the media landscape just like Uganda is fully liberalized and vibrant. ―The level of media freedom is admirable and not comparable to many countries. We have no reporters arrested nor in prison over political and investigative stories,‖ he said. (Back to Top)

South Sudanese girls a family asset (Part II) Sudantribune.com, 24/9/2013 – The scale of early marriages in South Sudan is being underestimated by outsiders but when girls are deceived to marry and get education after that, this is where it ends. She has to wait while bearing children. This is the second part of an article that was first published in 19 August 2013: South Sudanese girls are a family asset (Part I) Messengers were sent to inform Hon. Thon-Bai about the girl‘s acceptance of the marriage. In the past, only one person, locally known as ‗Dutuc‘, was sent but today there have to be two or more. Three men – in age bracket of 40—50 years) were sent as ‗Dutuuc‘. The messengers arrived home on foot in the evening and the following morning, as is the norm, village elders and chiefs converged and the information was relayed. ―‘Looth aa-mer (the nickname of Amer‘s father) is asking for the date when the young men will come to see your wealth,‖ one messenger concluded. The word ―wealth‖ was used instead of just saying cows. In the past only cows were given as dowries but now you have to give thousands of South Sudanese pounds as well. It was a brief meeting. The messengers retired to the guest house and soft drinks and beer flow in. At the end of hospitable stay in Hon. Thon-Bai‘s village, the massagers were given 1,000, 700 and 500 South Sudanese pound respectively as appreciation for delivering the great news. ―We are one people and we ought to develop the relationship further by marrying from each other,‖ said John Dhuoi, an elder from Hon. Thon-Bai‘s village. When they returned to Agoon village three days later, a date was known when the young men will come to see the ―wealth.‖ 13

On arrival to the Hon. Thon-Bai‘s village, the young men from Agoon were received and accommodated well. The following morning Hon. Thon-Bai and his group of elders, young men and women met and agreed to declare 200,000 SSP and 150 cows as the marriage dowry. ―There is no smart cow among your herd that will be good for the father of the daughter,‖ said the leader of young men that came to check the size of the ―wealth‖ that will be used for dowry. ―Wun de nya‖ – for that is Dinka word for a daughter‘s father, have to be certified first before any dowry discussion progresses. ―We understand,‖ a youth from the opposite bench replied and his group shift to another shade provided by a tree for a meeting that was joined by Hon. Thon-Bai. As a bridegroom, he has to be available and responsive to any call. ―50,000 South Sudanese Pound (SSP) (about $16,666 United States Dollars at a rate of $1=3 SSP). After a long discussion, the visiting youth agreed for 60,000 to the father, 50,000 to the mother of the daughter, maternal uncle took 30,000 and grandfathers and grandmother on both sides of the daughter were entitled to share the reminder as 15,000 and 10,000 SSP respectively. Before midday, the discussion was closed and the visiting youth were given respectively people to take care of their dowry demand. Each one walked away with at least a goat or its equivalent. Leading youths were given 500 SSP each. ―I think we spent close 10,000 SSP when you include all the other expenses,‖ said Chol, who led the group to Hon. Thon-Bai‘s village. ―He fetched money like water,‖ he added. When Marial, the bride‘s father, was told net marrying dowry, his heart was beating very fast and inside his gut, he was burning with anxiety. But he could not tell from his face that he was happy. ―When are we going for the finally discussion of the dowry,‖ Marial asked. ―The guests will sent a massager,‖ said the youth leader. A week later, a massager arrived and informed the Agoon village that they are being called by Hon. Thon-Bai to come in seven days. Usually when a young man, his father has to send a massager but since Hon. Thon-Bai is marrying his fourth wife and he is a prominent figure, every massage is carried in his name. ―He went to Juba to make final preparations and these seven days will enable you to ready by then. He will send cars to transport you,‖ the massager said. Under a shade provided by a big tree sat two groups sitting facing each as if they were negotiation a cease fire. Unlike political meetings, this one is unique. In front of each group sat a man who recapitulates whatever is said from his side. When a cow is mentioned a dowry share for ―wun de nya‖ or any other relative, two logs are knocked against each from the marrying side to indicate that the cow is given wholeheartedly and the other have to restrain it now. In the middle of the front row is where the daughter‘s father sits and his brothers take their respective position depending on their seniority. Women sit on a mat in behind men on both sides and they don‘t take during the discussion. The mother‘s group chats with her bridegroom‘s team differently later. Each time there is a disagreement on the amount given to a relative Hon. Thon-Bai would intervene and rule there and then. He is a man who doesn‘t want his in-law to be ignorant about his riches. In the past, each side would retreat for a meeting and come back with a compromising position characterized by funs and jokes to soften the discussion. When the man is rich, it is easy to negotiate the dowry. Before midday, the cow – locally known as ―biol‖, slaughtered to bless the dowry discussion was slaughter.

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When the group dispersed, there was high spirit and great praises but little curses from young men who travelled from towns to witness the dowry discussion for their Member of Parliament. ―It is good to marry from close people if you have something to give,‖ said one youth, enthused that the dowry given was huge and indeed to neighboring village. ―That girl was clever but with this marriage dowry paid, I don‘t think she will have to waste her time in school,‖ another man commented. ―The man could not even glimmer with fear of giving this big wealth, he is rich,‖ said a surprised villager. The following evening, the girl was brought and handed over to the family of Hon. Thon-Bai amidst dances and yelling of excitement from women. ―This is your family and I pray that God gives you children. We‘ve eaten enough and we are happy. Your husband has given us what we called for,‖ Marial, the bride‘s father, said during the handover ceremony. The young girl dropping tears – nobody knows if they were for joy (for her new life) or sadness of losing her education. Two years later, Amer gave birth to a baby girl in her new home rented in East Africa. She is waiting to ask to go to school. When attempted to inquire from her husband few days after the marriage ceremony, she was told to wait. After four months, she was pregnant and has to wait. She is still waiting. ―I will tell you when time is ripened,‖ said Hon. Thon-Bai. (Back to Top)

Vice President Gen. James Wani Igga’s folly South Sudan News Agency, 23/9/2013 – Gen James Wani Igga does not disappoint. He lives up to his reputation of being a clown and a joker of the powers that be. On 4th September 2013 Sudan Tribune reported that Igga had identified a strategy to promote unity in diversity as well as enhance peaceful co-existence and consolidate efforts to build the new nation ravaged by decades of conflict. Sounds great. Everybody in South Sudan is longing for peaceful co-existence and if Igga at last has truly found a solution, then this should be taken as a stride in the right direction. Reading the report further I found myself scratching my head. I could not believe what I was taking in. Basically, Igga‘s strategy is premised on respect of the law and intermarriage. He argues, ―For us to unite South Sudanese, we must respect the rule of law. Nobody should be jailed and released because he is above the law. We must appear as equal citizens before the law.‖ ―Nobody should be released for killing somebody because he is above the law. This is wrong.‖ What Igga is saying here is something that each and every South Sudanese knows is wrong and this is why people seriously criticise the SPLM government. Igga‘s words are weasel words. He and his colleagues are responsible for the breakdown of law and order in South Sudan. How comes he is now talking of law when his party knowingly failed to provide security to people in the country? The previous minister of Interior Alison Magaya confessed publicly that the organised forces were/are responsible for the rampant killings in the country. The current minister of Interior last month reiterated what Magaya said firmly confirming that members of the organised forces are responsible for insecurity in the country. Again, how can Igga talk about respect for law when they in the leadership of the SPLM Oyee fleeced the coffers of the state without any accountability leaving the masses to suffer? Igga and the entire SPLM leadership have no moral standing in the country to lecture the South Sudanese people about respect of the law. For three decades they have been practising and committing crimes against the people of South Sudan to the extent that even children in the country know about it. Their greatest achievement to date has been in destruction of social norms and legal structures. Tainted with corruption and crimes against humanity, Igga should be the last person to talk about the virtues of good governance. If Igga valued freedom, why did he detain late colonel Martin Kejivura for years ending with his demise for no reason at all? So far he has not apologised to the family, can he explain this contradiction? 15

It is open secret in Juba that Igga has acquired over 28 plots of land in Juba where he has built massive mansions costing millions of dollars. How did he get his riches? Did Igga respect banking laws when he and other Oyeeites siphoned the capital of the Nile Commercial Bank leading to its collapse? Has Igga accounted to the people? Igga had all the time in the world to put his strategy of unity in diversity and peaceful co- existence to action when he was the speaker of the parliament, a position more powerful than the ceremonial post of the vice president. As you all know he invested his time with the assistance of John Luke in enacting a tyrannical Interim Constitution; sabotaging the enactment of necessary legislation such as the media bill and the anti-corruption bills which crippled the able and capable Dr Pauline Riek from doing her work. So if he could not help then why should he be taken seriously now? Do you see the politicking here? Igga needs to stop playing with emotions of the masses on such a very painful subject of law and order that neither his government nor himself are committed to deliver on. This is a foregone conclusion. SPLM has failed the people of South Sudan in all areas of governance. The vice chairman of the ruling party Dr Riek Machar himself has come to that conclusion when he told the politburo on 5th March 2013 that his beloved party and by implication the government is dripping with ―rampant corruption, tribalism, economic problems, insecurity, poor international relations and the party‘s loss of vision and direction.‖ Although Igga is just playing politics with this issue, he is right to identify it as an important area to be addressed. But addressing law and order is not simple and straight forward. We need first to rebuild our broken society by changing the system in Juba. Once we have done that and we have a new responsible government then we can put in place mechanisms necessary for realisation of a society at ease with itself. Now let us turn to Igga‘s second element in his strategy to promote unity in diversity and enhance peaceful co-existence. Igga argues that ―we must revise the system of marriage. Makaraka should marry from the Latuko, Latuko should marry from (the) Kakwa and the Kakwa should marry from (the) Shilluk. Why not? This will unite us honestly. If we don‘t appreciate this, we will fall and end up seeing ourselves as tribes, instead of taking our national identity.‖ To any reasonable person, this is just folly. What national identity is the vice president talking about when South Sudan is not a nation? Inter-marriage has been happening in South Sudan since time immemorial. All the tribes Igga mentioned have been inter-marrying freely in South Sudan. For example, a royalty from the Chollo kingdom is married to a Kakwa man in Yei district and there are many Chollo people married to Bari speaking people. Marriage based on genuine love is welcome. People should be unconstrained in pursuing their happiness with whoever they choose to spend the rest of their lives with. However, I am deeply concerned with Igga‘s proposition. What does he mean by ―we must revise the system of marriage‖? It sounds as if he and the SPLM Oyee machine intend to force people to inter-marry to produce a new breed of South Sudanese to foster unity and peaceful co-existence. How is this going to be promoted? It is crucial to note that there are 63 tribes in the country and the customs of marriage may vary from one tribe to another. Are Igga and the SPLM Oyee going to standardise the customs of marriage? Or, will it be by rape as the SPLM/A has been doing for the last three decades. If so, what would be new? I guess the only thing Igga wants to do now is to legalise their criminal behaviour. But I think what is missing in this proposition are the questions: why is there no unity and harmony among South Sudanese people? What are the factors causing this disunity? These hard questions need to be asked for the right solutions to be identified. It is not just a matter of recommending intermarriage as a solution without studying and understanding the causes. Social engineering will not provide solutions to disunity. Even in families people differ and can become bitter enemies to the extent of killing each other. Our problem lies in deeply rooted negative behaviour in no more than three tribes out of the 63. So what is needed is the development of positive cultures and behaviours with respect that fosters unity and co-existence. The responsible thing for Igga to do is to confront the one or whatever tribes destabilising the 16 country by being honest and telling them that they must change for their own good and the common good of South Sudan. From 1956 Khartoum worked hard to change the identity of South Sudanese from African to Arab through intermarriage. The Ingaz government of president Bashir from 1989 took this policy to another level. They promoted social engineering with massive incentives. Khartoum openly preached to people in the north that if they joined Jihad in South Sudan and helped in Arabising the country through marrying South Sudanese women they would be rewarded with war booty including allocation of large pieces of land in south Sudan. This policy saw the members of the Sudanese armed forces and the NCP militia flock to South Sudan in their thousands to fight. Each Jihadist or soldier was allowed to marry four South Sudanese women with or without consent. In addition they were allocated the Promised Land to procreate. Did this policy succeed in bringing unity and peaceful co-existence with the Arabs? No, in fact the children of the Arabs by the South Sudanese women became the avid haters of the Arabs than the indigenous South Sudanese children. Why was this? Because, women are the transmitters of culture. Although their children are fathered by the Arabs, their South Sudanese mothers transmitted South Sudanese cultures into the off-spring. The same situation can happen with Igga‘s proposal. Why has Igga failed to reflect on this? Unity in South Sudan cannot be socially engineered. It has to develop organically and nurtured culturally. On the other hand the disunity in South Sudan is essentially a result of poor interaction from people with predatory behaviours. So any responsible leader in the country needs to acknowledge and understand this fact in order to address it. Unity has to be allowed to emerge from a free people‘s interaction and conversation in the social and political space. Central to such development is the acceptance of values such as respect, honesty, empathy etc. which form the essence of a true democracy. Jan-Werner Muller, professor of politics at Princeton University in United States inspired by the work of the German philosopher Jürgen Habermas on ‗constitutional patriotism‘ in my opinion provides better solutions to issues of unity in diverse societies like South Sudan. In his book ‗Constitutional Patriotism‘, Muller argues that in our ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse communities political belonging needs to be centred on universal norms enshrined in a constitution as opposed to 20th century ideas of nationalism which Igga wants to impose in RSS. Espousing the theory of ‗constitutional patriotism‘ enables South Sudan to embrace its diversity without having to think of it as a bad thing. We should be proud of our tribes and our diverse society. That is what makes our country unique, beautiful and potentially strong. Our unity must not be achieved at the destruction of our tribes, but rather it should be premised on protection of every South Sudanese by a democratic constitution in which we all place our trust. In Africa, Julius Nyerere promoted unity and patriotism in Tanzania along the lines of ‗constitutional patriotism‘. Also the post-apartheid South African constitution arguably was hammered out based on the same theory and it is helping that country to overcome similar problems of disunity. United States of America, Canada, Switzerland, Australia etc., all highly diverse countries with linguistic and racial differences are now trying to use the theory of constitutional patriotism to unite their highly diverse societies. Patriotism, love for one‘s country becomes the element for bringing citizens together or to put it in plain terms it is the idea that everybody has a vested interest in the effective functioning of the state. This then fosters a conducive environment for the citizens to develop an attachment and allegiance to the state through the constitution. These countries do not need ‗national identity‘ because they are not nations by the nature of their diversity. Just like South Sudan which is not a nation but a series of nations. This is evidence by the fact that we have 63 tribes many of which can be grouped into nations. Therefore, we too do not need Igga‘s call for national identity and social engineering. Operationalizing ‗constitutional patriotism‘ is not a big problem if the will exist to promote a peaceful co-existence. All the countries I have mentioned developed federal systems embedded in their constitutions to address the issue of diversity. South Sudan could do the same but the SPLM

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Oyee which promotes the interest of the ‗born to rule‘, would not like federalism because it is not in their interest. Many South Sudanese have written extensively about the benefits of a federal system to South Sudan but all this fell on deaf ears. It would be helpful if Igga could take their advice in order to re-build a real unity in South Sudan rather than latching on to hopeless, outdated and inhumane theories. The down side of Igga‘s obnoxious proposition is that he tries to use women as machines to engineer unity in South Sudan. Sounds like the European racists with their eugenics in 20 century. Seriously, Igga‘s proposition is a refined form of eugenics and that is what makes it awful and unacceptable at any cost. Such chauvinistic and misogynistic attitude which considers women as vessels without feelings is unacceptable in this day and age. South Sudanese women should speak out against this reduction of their feelings and bodies to machines of social engineering to suit some patriarchal ideology of the SPLM Oyee. We all have got daughters and sisters and they should be who they are, comfortable in their skin and making their own choices based on their feelings and likings without any constraint created by state sanctioned policies to suit short sighted personal interest of attempting to unite South Sudanese on proven failed patriarchal ideology. So women should live as they want. If they want to marry, they should be able to marry the persons of their choice without anybody or policy putting obstacles on their personal decisions. Presently, it is absurd that a whole vice president is engaged in thinking that women are ―things‖ or ―tools‖ for promotion of outdated ideas hatched by naive men without their input. Women bodies are precious to them as men‘s bodies are to them. Women as the prime transmitters and protectors of culture by virtue of their position in society should be appreciated as our equals and not be thought of and treated as machines for re- making society. Has Igga asked South Sudanese women whether they want to be Guinea Pigs for realisation of his would be engineered unity in the country? Why should this unity be engineered in the first place? Are there no other ways of forging unity in South Sudan than using women? Has he tried to explore what other countries have done to solve problems of divisions in their societies? Is Igga afraid of pointing out the truth about why unity has been unachievable? Social life is not simple. You cannot tinker with society and think the outcome will miraculously be as expected. There are issues of environment, social relationship, child rearing and cultures which all impact upon the outcome on individuals in society in different ways. It is just sheer idiocy to recommend something without any evidence from either credible studies or experience and then talk about it as if it was a fact with certainty that it will produce unity. What evidence does the vice president base his recommendation on? Apart from the theory of ‗constitutional patriotism‘, what about the application of cultural and behavioural approaches as tools to solve the issues of disunity and identity of the country? Why did Igga not recommend this? The answer is simple. Igga is following the instructions of his masters without even thinking/studying the issue carefully. It is unfortunate that he has now exposed his ignorance not only to South Sudanese but to the world. The real problem with Igga and the SPLM Oyee is that they do not have skills in managing diversity. They have no clue of what to do since SPLM Oyee itself is constructed on a foundation of tribal interest against the general common interest of South Sudan as a country. Although the tribal beneficiaries will go bonkers on reading this truth and will attempt to complain about this piece, the evidence is overwhelmingly in the open and it is indisputable. They delusionally think the rest of the people in South Sudan are blind. Ironically they look to Khartoum‘s racists policies for help, and hope that by re-introducing them in the country they will be seen addressing serious issues. What a pity? Addressing the plight for unity and other problems in our country needs an enabling atmosphere. An environment free of fear where freedom of expression and freedom of speech allow vibrancy in growth of beneficial ideas for dealing with these issues. In other words the people of South Sudan in their diversity need to freely interact discursively and socially among themselves to find that equilibrium of unity and co-existence.

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However, with president Kiir and Igga‘s reign which curtails freedom in all its forms, it is impossible for genuine unity to organically develop among the people of South Sudan. It is important for SPLM Oyee to know that development is not only about social engineering and the construction of beautiful mansions and buildings at the expense of others. It is about ―valorization of the people‘s potential‖ that actualises the peoples‘ ability to appreciate the importance of humanity above all as opposed to the fallacy of tribalism. Because Gen. James Wani Igga is the Vice President, the Sudan Tribune report appears to promote his idea by writing ―the proposal has received overwhelming support from the general public, as well as within academic circles, with some calling for the immediate implementation of the plan.‖ The whole of this sentence has huge implications in promoting something that borders on eugenics in South Sudan. This sentence is only based on the support of one Abraham Deng Kuir ―who holds master‘s degree in strategic studies, majoring in peace and conflict resolution from the UK‘s prestigious Oxford University.‖ Well the truth is that this topic has not been debated in the country and I do not know where Sudan Tribune got their evidence from. Abraham‘s fanatic support does not equate to ―overwhelming support from the general public.‖ Igga has come up with this worn out idea to please his masters. He knows that social engineering has always been the most coveted idea by the ruling ethnic groups and so if he sings it loud it will cement his position as the Vice President for a long time to come. The challenge that the Vice President should actually invest his energy on is to take on the individuals or tribes which are the generators of disunity in the country because of the alien mentality that they hold and their wish to impose themselves offensively on the majority. This is the real problem. The new ―cattle camp‖ imperialism. If Igga is afraid of naming it to save his bread, we have now helped him to have a name for it. If he is to be taken seriously, he should pick himself up and begin to address the real issue as his agenda in his new office. Rather than placing the burden on the innocent oppressed majority, he needs to talk to his masters to: first accept a true democratic constitution; and secondly change their predatory ways for the sake of unity and peaceful co-existence. Else he should just shut up and let the people struggle until these issues are solved by whatever means available. To sum up, the solution to South Sudan‘s problem of disunity must lie in crafting a truly democratic federal constitution that takes the concerns of every indigenous South Sudanese on board. In this, Justice Peter Sule and honourable Dr Richard Mulla can be viewed as foresighted thinkers with the country at heart when they passionately argued against the current interim constitution before its enactment into law prior to the day of independence. Justice Sule led five parties which did not sign allegiance to SPLM Oyee at the time advocating for amendments of the proposed interim constitution to avoid all the current ills we are now seeing. While honourable Mulla raised the issue at the first Equatoria conference in April 2011 highlighting the dangers only to be opposed by Mr Lawrence Korbandy. Sule and Mulla so to speak are the people who wanted South Sudan to be in peace with itself. This unfortunately was opposed by none other than Igga, John Luke, Lawrence Korbandy and the majority of the rubber stamp parliament. They preferred to have an absolute monarchy with King Kiir in place than a fully-fledged democracy. They are now reaping the fruits of their making and so Igga should stop thinking that he can use our daughters, sisters, aunts and nieces as tools or Guinea Pigs for a farcical unity to secure his position as vice president. (Back to Top) [Truth hurts but it is also liberating] The Author lives in the Republic of South Sudan. He can be reached at [email protected]

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