(UNMISS) Media & Spokesperson Unit Communications & Public Information Office MEDIA MONITORING REPORT

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

MONDAY, 26 AUGUST 2013 SOUTH SUDAN • SA group to mark weapons in South Sudan (Business Day) • Juba residents protest over deteriorating security (Sudantribune.com) • South Sudan's Kiir threatens to sack non performing ministers (Gurtong.net) • New VP seeks executive cooperation (Gurtong.net) • Women accuse youth on escalation of insecurity in Jonglei (Gurtong.net) • Six Arrested for freeing a suspected killer: commissioner (Gurtong.net) SOUTH SUDAN, SUDAN • Kiir orders release of Abyei civil servants for Oct. referendum poll (Gurtong.net) • Sudan warns S. Sudan against holding Abyei’s unilateral referendum (Sudantribune.com) • NCP accuses Juba of "non-cooperation" with AU border committee (Sudantribune.com) • Security Council, in statement, urges implementation of agreements between Sudan, South Sudan, aided by new mechanisms, including technical border team (AllAfrica.com) OTHER HIGHLIGHTS • SAF says it says took control of rebel-held village in Blue Nile (Sudantribune.com) • Rebels claim ‘destruction of 22 troops and two Sudanese militia camps’ (Radio Dabanga) • Sudanese army restores area from rebels in Blue Nile state (Bernama.com.my) • Al Bashir to Meet Sadiq Al-Mahdi for Broad National Reconciliation (Sudan Vision) • US concerned about escalating DRC violence (Voice of America) OPINION/ EDITORIALS • MPs given generous choice: either Wani Igga as VP or roam the streets! (South Sudan News Agency) • South Sudanese vice presidential choice not surprising (Sudantribune.com) • Who is the right candidate to become the speaker of S. Sudan parliament? (Sudantribune.com) • The story of a bleeding City – Juba and not Mogadishu! (South Sudan News Agency) LINKS TO STORIES FROM THE MORNING MEDIA MONITOR • Kiir orders investigation into top army officers over Jonglei abuses (Sudantribune.com) • South Sudan parliament delays electing new Speaker (Sudantribune.com) • South Sudan’s Kiir appoints Speaker as deputy after cabinet overhaul (Reuters) • South Sudan president names James Wani Igga as deputy – state radio (Agence France-Presse) • Kiir threatens to dissolve parliament unless it supports Wani’s appointment (Sudantribune.com) • UN agency says $84 million needed to tackle food insecurity (Gurtong) • UN Security Council calls for humanitarian access in Jonglei (Sudantribune.com) • Juba County Commissioner calls for curfew in Juba (Radio Miraya newscast) • Jonglei: Angry soldiers block roads over delayed payments (Sudantribune.com) • UN urges Khartoum against oil shutdown (Agence France-Presse) • UN urges Sudan to suspend any actions to halt oil (Associated Press) • UN appeals to Sudan to continue transporting South’s oil (Reuters) • South Sudan reaps over $800mln from oil, as UNSC urges to not shut down pipeline (Sudantribune.com) • South Sudan pays $236 million in oil fees to Sudan (Middle East online) • Misseriya threaten to wage war against South Sudan (Sudantribune.com)

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

Highlights

SA group to mark weapons in South Sudan Business Day, 26/8/2013 – THE United Nations (UN) has enlisted the services of a South African partnership to establish a weapons marking and identification system in South Sudan. The marking and identification process is unique in Africa and was designed and developed in South Africa by a partnership of FACTT, a software development company, and Traceability Solutions, a hardware development and manufacturing organisation. "If ever there was a baptism by fire for our product, this is it," FACTT CEO Daan Davis said last week. "The South Sudan area is awash with weapons after the decades-long war with Sudan — nearly all of them AK47s and each considered illegal because none is licensed — because there is no way yet in the formative government of licensing them." Mr Davis, a former high-ranking officer with the South African Police Service, has no idea of the number of weapons to be counted and marked. "It’s probably in the thousands but that’s just a guess because no one kept records." Kyle Parker, whose Traceability Solutions company specializes in the hardware aspects of all manner of identification and codification, said: "The identification process we have been tasked with is a census, if you like. "The intention is not to take the weapons away from their owners. It is to indelibly mark them and record them on a database. We’re finding out for the UN Mission in South Sudan how many weapons are out there, where they are and who they belong to. "The exercise now is merely to mark, count and register the weapons and their owners. Their licensing will be a follow-up operation by the government when it is geared up to do so." Traceability has a process of marking weapons in such a way that the printing does not break the arms’ protective "blue" rust-resistant coating and yet is scored deeply into the metal. Andre Jordaan, a FACTT operations executive, said nearly everyone in South Sudan has a weapon of some kind. "At the height of the civil war between the north and the south of the country, rifles and handguns were handed out to virtually every able-bodied man or woman in the fight for independence. No attempt was made to register the weapons and owners or keep any information about their whereabouts." Although the civil war has ended, the region is still "a dangerous place with inter-factional conflict, livestock rustling and banditry. Personal weapons have taken on an intrinsic value as a means of defence and they will not be easily surrendered. And that is not the intention," said Mr Parker. "All the UN is after at this stage is a small arms and light weapons census." (Back to Top)

Juba residents protest over deteriorating security Sudantribune.com Juba, 25/8/2013 – Hundreds of residents in the South Sudan’s capital, Juba on Sunday took to the streets in protest against the rapidly deteriorating security situation. The demonstration followed the killing of two police officers by unknown assailants in Nyakuron West, a Juba suburb on Saturday. South Sudan police spokesperson, James Mande, confirmed the killing of the two officers, one of whom was attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). “Some criminals riding on a Boda-boda (motorcycle) stormed the residents of the two officers in Nyakuron West and open fire on them before fleeing,” Mande told Sudan Tribune by phone Monday. The protest, he said, was sparked off by angry relatives of the deceased, who were later joined by other Juba residents who all decried the rising insecurity levels in the country.

Mande described the killing as “unusual”, but said police had stepped up efforts to contain relative peace and stability in the city. “We have boosted our patrols in areas within Juba and its surroundings. As I speak now, the situation is calm and back to life is back to normal”, he added. This latest incident comes less than a week after two brothers were murdered in Hai Tarawa, another Juba suburb, prompting another wave of protests from citizens. The police, however, said some suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing, while others remain at large. Demonstrators, irked by the rampant killings, carried bodies of the two slain brothers to the Central Equatoria state legislative assembly, calling on the state government to protect its people. It remains unknown who is behind the series of murders that have rocked the capital, in recent days. The police, on Friday, clashed with a group of criminals suspected to be foreign national, during night patrol. Three of them were arrested. Mande, however, stressed that the police remains in control of the situation and all efforts were underway to improve the situation.

South Sudan's Kiir threatens to sack non performing ministers Gurtong.net Juba, 26/8/2013 – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Sunday threatened to oust ministers who will not perform in the next three months. The president urged the ministers to have work plans, a move geared towards improving services in the fledgling nation. “I said the day you took oath as Ministers this means we have a contract. This is a contract that we have signed with you,” Kiir told the cabinet during a swearing of the South Sudan’s new Vice President Hon. James Wani Igga yesterday at the State House Juba. “After three months and you have no work plan you have nothing to deliver I will not give for another three months,” said the President. “But if you have shown that you can now be moving forward ok I will now allow you for next three months.” “Those who will complete one year must be very efficient and very lucky because we have been promising people the services that they need for a very long time and we have not delivered them,” added Kiir. South Sudan’s Kiir last month sacked his entire cabinet including Vice President in an effort explained meant to improve service delivery. The move that also reduced the cabinet however, was denied by the government has been compelled by internal wrangles in the ruling party SPLM in which Kiir is the Chairperson. The new cabinet reportedly criticized by some SPLM party cadres as did not receive wider consultations in the ruling party was sworn in a week ago. (Back to Top)

New VP seeks executive cooperation Gurtong.net Juba, 26/8/2013 – South Sudan’s newly sworn in Vice President Hon. James Wani Igga yesterday called for close cooperation in the executive for better service delivery. Igga who spoke during his swearing in as the newest Vice President at the State House Juba told his executive comrades that: “we must be selfless, patriotic and optimistic at all time while putting our dearest country and people first and before ourselves.” “The Council of Ministers must work in highly cooperative spirit, understanding and clear coordination that does not overlap one another,” Igga added. As action point, the Vice President said the task at hands for the cabinet to work out is the annual budget 2013-2014 withdrawn from the parliament last week and at the Ministry of Finance at the meantime for restructuring.

Appointed last Friday, Igga was sworn in yesterday as the new South Sudan’s Vice President in Juba replacing eight-year long serving ousted Vice President Dr. Riek Machar. Igga received a wider applause by citizens and unanimous approval by members of parliament in the August House. South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Sunday threatened to oust ministers who will not perform in the next three months. The president urged the ministers to have work plans, a move geared towards improving services in the fledgling nation. South Sudan’s Kiir last month sacked his entire cabinet including Vice President in an effort explained meant to improve service delivery. The move that also reduced the cabinet however, was denied by the government has been compelled by internal wrangles in the ruling party SPLM in which Kiir is the Chairperson. The new cabinet reportedly criticized by some SPLM party cadres as did not receive wider consultations in the ruling party was sworn in a week ago. (Back to Top)

Women accuse youth on escalation of insecurity in Jonglei Gurtong.net Bor, 25/8/2013 – Jonglei State elderly women have accused youth for contributing to disappearance of peace and escalation of insecurity among the ethnic communities which brought negative aspect toward development of Jonglei state. “There is no peace in Jonglei because youth are the one contributing to the rampant escalation of insecurity through cattle raid, child abduction and killing of innocent people of different communities in the state,” said the chairlady of Jonglei state women association, Elizabeth Nyayup. As mothers can ever tell realities to their children, Elizabeth said she always talks to youth to reconcile and restore peace such that there shall be proper education, development and improvement of health centres across the state. “My daughters and sons, you should embrace peace and leave the habit of killing and cattle raid such that your fathers and mothers are happy in Jonglei state,” said Nyayup. Chairlady Nyayup urges youth of the conflicting tribes in the state capital to disseminate peace message to their Counties, Bomas and Payams such that peace dwell among the communities engaging in inter-communal violence. She calls youth of Jonglei to seek for peace saying that development will be achieved through peaceful co-existence in the state. “No peace among you the youth and if you don’t give room for peace, development will never be experienced in Jonglei,” she said. She adds that, it is through peace where Jonglei state will regain strength and develop its physical infrastructures after a long inter-communal violence. The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has stepped up its military patrolling in Pibor County in recent days by intensifying its patrols in Pibor and Gumuruk towns, and by launching sustained patrols in areas outside both towns to help create a secure environment which allows civilians to safely return to these towns and access the ongoing food distribution. (Back to Top)

Six Arrested for freeing a suspected killer: commissioner Gurtong.net Torit, 26/8/2013 – Six people including a chief from Iloli Boma in Eastern Equatoria State have been arrested for freeing one of the three recently identified suspects involved in the killing of a foreign trader, an official has said. Torit County Commissioner German Charles Ojok disclosed that six persons have been accused to have deliberately freed the suspected killer Orikony Ongorihi, who on Thursday this week, was

4 cautiously captured with the help of locals in Loyoro of Ikwoto County by the now arrested Iloli sub-chief. He was arrested with three guns; his and two guns belong to two of his colleagues, being recovered. The Commissioner Ojok who expressed disappointment has nevertheless hopes the arrested suspects will now be investigated in consultations and collaborations with Iloli community members to determine fair justice so real circumstances be established accordingly. Earlier on Thursday morning, Iloli community members responded positively and managed to apprehend one of the three recently identified suspects involved in the killing of a foreign trader and also recovered three guns in the process. The County Government under the leadership of Ojok has commended Iloli community for a job well done in arresting one of the three suspect killers. The community equally managed to recover the three guns belonging to the three suspects involved in killing the innocent foreign trader. The suspect who was captured secretly by Iloli sub-Chief with the help of locals in Loyoro of Ikwoto County is identified as Orikony Ongorihi, commissioner Ojok told Gurtong this morning in Torit. The commissioner disclosed that Ongoto Kuye was chased but managed by his chance to creep away but fortunately dropped down his rifles which along with those of the two of his colleagues have now been surrendered to the Torit County authorities. Ojok told Gurtong that the community and intelligence have confirmed presence of Elia Odira, one of the three suspects, to have already entered Torit town and he is on the run currently. The County Commissioner Ojok disclosed to Gurtong in Torit that the three identified suspects that have been announced to the County government were as Elia Odira, Ongoto Kuye and Orikony Ongorihi. While the two are confirmed to have been hidden within the Iloli village, the community has already confirmed dispatching unspecified number of its intelligent youth to the area, Burung, in order to search and bring him to face the justice. In a related development, the commissioner Ojok has taken the matter seriously with great concern as he has communicated to and shared with his counterpart of Ikwoto County, Peter Lokeng Lotone. Ahead of these latest developments, residents of Iloli had publicly regretted the killing of the trader on Oguruny road near Iloli junction. In a meeting attended by the County Commissioner German Charles Ojok, the Community stood in unity condemning the act saying it only damages their image as the community and it will work hard to bring in the three killers who entered the community after killing the innocent foreigner. The trader was killed on Monday and dragged towards the nearby bush where the body was found by young boys who reported to the authorities. Prior to this, the Commissioner clarified that it is not going to be the whole community but those three individuals will be held responsible for their ill actions against the innocent. (Back to Top)

President Kiir orders release of Abyei civil servants for Oct. referendum poll Gurtong.net Juba, 26/8/2013 – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has directed the government Secretary General Abdon Agaw to release an order authorizing all government and private institutions to release all Abyei serving civil servants to go and participate in a referendum process slated for October. Citizens of Abyei Ngok Dinka tribe, according to the African Union backed Cooperation Agreement are set to participate in a referendum in which they will vote either to remain as part of South Sudan or Sudan. Agaw said the order applies to all the private sector too and urged respect on the directive.

“They will participate in the voting exercise and come back after the referendum to continue with their jobs,” Agaw said. Abyei, a disputed oil rich region since the end of the over two decades of civil war between Sudan and South Sudan has remained a breeding ground for conflict between the two long term foes; Sudan and South Sudan. In 2011 clashes between Sudan Armed Forces and South Sudan army provoked a worrying situation threatening peace and cooperation between the two countries. The region is currently under the full control of a United Nations Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA) who provides security and defense there. The referendum is the only way out to sort the Abyei issue as experts have devised. However, Khartoum for years now has shown signals refusing to allow the conducting of the process. In May this year, Abyei Ngok Dinka Paramount Chief Kuol Deng Kuol was allegedly assassinated by Messiriya nomads, tribe from Sudan backed as militia by Khartoum. South Sudan and Ngok Dinka tribe had then pointed hands to Khartoum for backing Messiriya for the killing of Kuol Deng Kuol in an effort to disrupt the referendum process. South Sudan has urged Khartoum to respect the provision of the Cooperation Agreement in an effort to give a fair environment for the conduct of the referendum process. (Back to Top)

Khartoum warns South Sudan against holding unilateral referendum in Abyei Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 25/8/2013 – The Sudanese government described threats by South Sudan to unilaterally hold a referendum in the contested Abyei area as "warbling away from the flock," and a breach of the cooperation agreements. Sudan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Abu Bakr al-Sideeg, said in press statements on Sunday that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) statement this week stated clearly that it does not accept unilateral solutions for Abyei. Al-Sideeg reiterated that such move would be contrary to the UNSC call for setting up civil institutions in Abyei prior to the referendum and implementing the interim security and administrative arrangements in accordance with the June 2011 agreement. The latter provides for swift establishment legislative and administrative institutions and a police force. On Friday the UNSC expressed its "grave concern about the highly volatile situation" in the disputed region and urged the two sides to form interim local institutions they agreed to in June 2011. "The Council recalls their decision in Resolution 2046 that the parties must resume immediately negotiations to reach agreement on Abyei final status under the auspices of the AUHIP" further said the UNSC presidential statement. The 15 member body urged to disarm local communities and to turn Abyei into a "weapons-free zone" as it was previously decided by the two parties at the level of Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC). In line with the 20 June agreement, a joint police force has to be formed along with a joint administration and a legislative council. But the two sides they failed to reach a deal on the composition of the local parliament. The Dinka Ngok population in Abyei fears that the formation of these institutions without an agreement over the referendum would lead to perpetuation of Khartoum’s control over the region. Last year, the African Union mediation team proposed that a referendum be held in Abyei this October, but that only those residing permanently in the area would be allowed to vote in the plebiscite, and decide whether they want to join Sudan or South Sudan.

This proposal would effectively make the majority of voters come from the Dinka Ngok tribe, aligned with South Sudan, thus putting the Arab Misseriya nomads, who spend several months in Abyei every year grazing, not part of the voting. However, Sudan swiftly rejected the plan, which received the blessing of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC). The head of the sub-parliamentary committee on legislation and justice, Al-Fadil Haj Suleiman, announced Sudan’s absolute rejection for holding Abyei referendum in October and warned of doing so without involving the Arab Misseriya tribesmen else it would be an invalid move. He threatened that Sudan would not recognize the results of the referendum had Juba insisted on holding it unilaterally and without involving the Misseriya. Al-Fadil went on to accuse Juba of intentionally creating further problems and pointed that the Misseriya have acquired the right to vote as citizens of Abyei, saying that their absence from the area in certain months during the year does not justify denying them this fundamental right which was guaranteed by international conventions. He demanded that Juba agrees with Khartoum on the appropriate time to hold it with the involvement of the Ngok Dinka and the Misseriya. Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) spokesman Yasser Youssef in separate statements pointed to the threats of the co-chair of Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) for the South Sudanese side to hold the referendum in October whether Khartoum agreed or not describing it as “political talk”. In a related issue, the union of the Misseriya tribes has reiterated its rejection for holding the referendum in October and stressed that any attempt by South Sudan to impose a “fait accompli” would be doomed to fail. The head of the Misseriya general union, Mohamed Khater Jumaa, said in a statement on Sunday that they reject the move of South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir of sending all Ngok Dinka tribesmen to Abyei, stressing that Misseriya will not accept a referendum in their homeland. He warned that Kiir’s call for making the necessary preparations for holding the referendum would only trigger conflict between Misseriya and Ngok Dinka, demanding that Khartoum take similar steps to defend Misseriya rights. On Saturday, Misseriya paramount chief Mukhtar Babu Nimir criticized the silence of the Sudanese government and cautioned that they are prepared for all eventualities including going to war. "Our government is silent while they know everything. We are yet waiting for their reaction and if it does not move we will not accept that South Sudan organizes unilaterally a referendum. We want the government to be clear with us", he said stressing "if it fails, we will play our part in the liberation of our land in war and peace." Khater added that priority should be given to setting up the legislative council and the civil institutions as well as resuming efforts for peaceful coexistence between Misseriya and Ngok Dinka. During the wartime, the Misseriya were organized in militias and fought alongside the Sudanese army against the former rebel Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) that now rules South Sudan. (Back to Top)

Sudan’s NCP accuses Juba of "non-cooperation" with AU border committee Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 25/8/2013 – Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) today accused the government of South Sudan of non-cooperation with the border committee set up by the African Union (AU) to determine the baseline for the demilitarized security zone (zero line). The NCP implored upon Juba to work towards the full implementation of cooperation agreements signed last year between the two countries.

Sudan and South Sudan signed a series of cooperation agreements, which covered oil, citizenship rights, security issues, banking, and border trade among others. In March of this year, the two countries signed a matrix containing implementation timelines for these accords. The NCP spokesperson, Yasser Youssef, said in press statements in response to the UN Security Council (UNSC) call this week on Juba and Khartoum to implement the cooperation agreements that they do not accept instructions or lectures on the issue, saying that the matter in its entirety is both a national duty and moral commitment. Youssef said that South Sudan government must adhere to what it signed, and the international community should provide assistance. He described the cooperation agreements as “historical” but noted that it was put on hold recently for reasons known to all parties. He said that implementing the pacts in letter and spirit will benefit the two peoples. Last June, the Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir ordered the closure of pipelines carrying oil from landlocked South Sudan, accusing the latter of continuing to back rebel groups fighting his government particularly in Border States of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. From the very beginning, Sudan has insisted that security arrangements should be concluded before implementing other aspects of the cooperation agreements are executed. The NCP spokesperson said that the Sudanese government is alarmed by the inability of the border committee to conduct its work, stressing that Juba should remove any obstacles created by local authorities thus hindering fulfilling the work of the committee. He pointed that Khartoum is mainly concerned about creation of the buffer zone and implementing the security arrangements. (Back to Top)

Security Council, in statement, urges implementation of agreements between Sudan, South Sudan, aided by new mechanisms, including technical border team AllAfrica.com, 26/8/2013 – Gravely concerned at the continued challenges to implementation of the 27 September 2012 Cooperation Agreements between Sudan and South Sudan, the Security Council today called for urgent steps by the parties, including that they make use of the joint mechanisms established to facilitate implementation and cooperate with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD). In a presidential statement read out by María Cristina Perceval of Argentina, whose delegation holds the Council's rotating presidency for August, the 15-member body welcomed the establishment of the Ad Hoc Investigation Mechanism to look into allegations of State support for rebel groups operating against the other State, as well as of the African Union Border Programme Technical Team to determine the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone's centreline. Welcoming both Governments' commitment to the mechanisms, the Council urged that they maintain dialogue to ensure continued transportation of oil from South Sudan. It urged the Government of Sudan to suspend any actions that would halt transportation of oil, so that the mechanisms could complete their work. The statement expressed support for the African Union Peace and Security Council for cooperation with the Abyei Area Joint Investigation and Inquiry Committee's investigation into the recent killing of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) peacekeeper and the Ngok Dinka paramount chief, and reiterated the Council's grave concern about the highly volatile situation in the Abyei area. In that regard, it stressed that the parties must immediately implement the Agreement on Temporary Security and Administrative Arrangements for the Abyei Area, resolve the dispute over the Abyei Area Council and immediately establish the Abyei Area Administration and Police Force. Negotiations on final status should resume immediately and swift action was needed to disarm communities in the region to turn Abyei into a weapons-free zone. Regarding the conflict in Southern Kordorfan and Blue Nile, the Council called for the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, known as SPLM-N, to cease 8 hostilities and engage in direct talks, while refraining from violence against civilians, expediting safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and fully respecting international human rights law and humanitarian law. Violators must be held accountable, the Council said.

Sudan army says it says took control of rebel-held village in Blue Nile Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 25/8/2013 – The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Sunday announced that it has recaptured the village of Ashimbu in Gessan area near the Ethiopian borders. SAF spokesman Colonel al-Sawarmi Khaled Saad was quoted by Sudan official news agency (SUNA) as saying that rebel Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) entered the village, burned the market and looted the citizens’ properties. Saad said that SAF attacked SPLM-N rebels today, killing an unspecified number of them while chasing others. SPLM-N rebels on the other hand claimed that they killed 22 SAF soldiers and destroyed two battalions on Tuesday at Dokan and Alshumbu areas in Geissan. They also said that they ambushed SAF between Khor alBody Creek and Bashir Nouko in the same day. The rebel group said that 4 of its fighters were killed and 4 others wounded. SPLM-N is part of the rebel coalition known as the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) which includes Darfur armed groups. Khartoum accuses Juba of backing the SRF which has launched several attacks recently mainly in South Kordofan and even in North Kordofan which is not considered a conflict zone. Juba denies the charges and in turns accuses Khartoum of supporting rebels in Jonglei state. An African Union commission has been formed to verify rebel support claims by each side. (Back to Top)

Rebels claim ‘destruction of 22 troops and two Sudanese militia camps’ Radio Dabanga, 25/8/2013 – The Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) claim to have killed 22 pro- government militiamen, injured others, and destroyed their camps in the Dukan and Al Humbo areas of Geissan locality in Sudan’s Blue Nile state on Sunday. Speaking to Radio Dabanga from the field on behalf of the SRF, the official spokesman for the SPLA-N, Arnu Ngutulu Lodi, has said that the rebels initially ambushed the government militias between Khor El Boudi, Nukulu, and Bashir. During the ambush and subsequent destruction of two camps, Lodi claims the militia forces “suffered heavy casualties before being dispersed”, while the rebel forces were able to capture “large quantities” of weapons, ammunition and medical supplies." (Back to Top)

Sudanese army restores area from rebels in Blue Nile state Bernama.com.my, 25/8/2013 – The Sudanese Army on Sunday restored control of Ashambo area in Sudan's Blue Nile State, Xinhua news agency reported. "The armed forces have managed to liberate Ashambo village in Gaisan area in Blue Nile State near the Sudanese-Ethiopian border," Al-Sawarmy Khalid Saad told reporters. Days ago, a rebel group belonging to the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector entered the village, burned the market and looted citizens' properties. The armed forces on Sunday attacked those rebel militants and liberated the area. The armed forces are still pursuing the rebels, who have fled with many of their members dead. (Back to Top)

Al Bashir to Meet Sadiq Al-Mahdi for Broad National Reconciliation Sudan Vision Khartoum, 25/6/2013 – President Omer Hassan Al Bashir and the National Umma Party leader Al-Imam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi will meet on Tuesday at the latter's residence in Omdurman, Revealed Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, National Congress Party leading figure and rapporteur of the Dialogue Committee with Umma Party.

The meeting will focus on national, regional and international issues that influence events in the Sudan, Mustafa said. The President was supposed to meet Imam Al-Mahdi last week but the meeting was postponed because the President traveled to Ethiopia, he added. The meetings of the President with the leaders of the political parties and forces come within the context of his keenness to ensure the participation of these leaders in the national affair by joining the government or the opposition, he said. (Back to Top)

US concerned about escalating DRC violence Voice of America, 26/8/2013 – Renewed fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo between government soldiers and M23 rebels have brought expression of concern from the United States. The two sides suffered heavy casualties in clashes Sunday north of the city of Goma. The fighting that began last week marks the first major hostilities since the army bombed M23 headquarters in July and drove the rebels several kilometers from Goma. The U.S. State Department said in a statement Sunday the United States is "alarmed" by the violence. It condemns the actions of the M23 rebels, calling on them to end hostilities and disband. The U.S. is also urging the governments in the DRC and neighboring Rwanda to use restraint to prevent further military escalation and actions that could endanger civilians. United Nations experts have accused Rwanda of supporting M23 - an allegation Rwanda denies. The M23 briefly took control of Goma last year and still controls parts of North Kivu province. The group has been fighting for political power and control of the region's rich mines. The M23 is made up of former rebels who were integrated into the Congolese army in a 2009 peace agreement. The rebels later deserted the army, complaining of discrimination and poor treatment. (Back to Top)

MPs given generous choice: either Wani Igga as vice president or roam the streets! South Sudan News Agency, 25/8/2013 – Was the South Sudan parliament taken by any surprise when the president walked in and threatened to dissolve it and dismiss the MPs if they failed to endorse Hon. Wani Igga for the Vice Presidency? If it was, then the MPs must be living on another planet, and not in Juba the seat of Kiir’s government. Whichever way it ended, there are bitter lessons for those who thought that the president had any real respect for the MPs or the Parliament itself as an institution. “I have always maintained that, I shoot the sheriff, but don’t shoot no any deputy”! I have nothing at this juncture against Chief Wani Igga. He has been president Kiir’s staunch supporter and I see no reason why he shouldn’t be his deputy. As for qualifications, he too is a learned person, a Lt General (I only knew yesterday that these guys have not retired) and a Catholic for that matter. It is in fact what I read in the media about how Mr. President used an improper language to address the country’s lawmakers and they all went dump that upset me. This takes us back a few days when the same parliament flexed its muscles against the ex-presidential advisor who was about to become both a Minister of Justice and a Presidential Advisor at the same time. While Telar Riing Deng( his name), was an easy prey to deal with as he not only made himself a public enemy number one through his past unhealthy records and obviously a very horrible ‘Bush Dossier’, but he is even lucky to have not ended behind the bars if he truly possessed undated university credentials. Fake degrees and fake certificates are by law, punishable crimes even in Yarol, believe me! President Kiir’s Saturday morning meeting was primarily with the ruling SPLM party’s parliamentary caucus where he introduced his nominated new Vice President, James Wani Igga and sought their approval.

However we must see it in the context of the fact that the SPLM MPs make well over 95% of the total parliamentarians. In other words he (President) had already met with the number he needed to endorse his Vice President. And again, even though I find it an inappropriate behavior by a head of a state, I think the MPs got what they deserved when the president behaved rudely towards them. It all boils down to the SSTC2011 – (John Luke’s constitution) which this very house passed two years ago. Whatever excuses the MPs will give us from today on wards, will never make up for the damage the president have already done to the image of that parliament! And when it was reported that he (Mr. President) told the parliamentarians that even if the 2015 elections were still far, he would "dissolve the parliament and make them (lawmakers roam in the streets)". That was it! And it was a humiliation of the first degree. What followed the above drama was yet another drama of an exponential nature. Conscious of the fact that the president meant business and unless he gets what he wants from the MPs or else he would dissolve the parliament and send everybody to roam the streets, they unanimously complied. The NLA Resolution No: 55/2013 dated 24th August 2013 came out very fast and clearly a work done to avert ending up as ‘street roamers’ or some kind of vagabonds. Partly it read: “After a limited debate the august House unanimously resolved thus: That the debate be closed That the appointment of Lt. Gen James Wani Igga as the Vice President of South Sudan is hereby passed. It was then quickly signed by the Hon. Daniel Awet Akot, Deputy Speaker of National Legislative Assembly of RSS – Juba, and the mass lay off was thus averted! The wakeup call for the self-assuring MPs is that although we would like to believe them in their premature celebration of their new slogan of “South Sudan National Legislative Assembly won’t be the same again”, I want to tell them that they will have to wait for another Telar Riing before they recover from this weekend’s humiliation. Now we can see, when it comes to the Politics of the Belly, South Sudanese politicians are utterly rendered without any principles. See what a generous choice he gave them, either Lt-Gen Wani Igga for Vice President or lawmakers end up roaming in the streets – jobless and aimless! President Kiir knew he could always do this when he wants his job done the way he wants it. And that threat of dissolving the parliament any time and sending MPs roaming the streets will remain a hanging axe on the parliament for a long time to come. (Back to Top) Dr. Justin Ambago Ramba can be reached at: [email protected]

South Sudanese vice presidential choice not surprising Sudantribune.com, 25/8/2013 – The vacancy of vice presidential post for over a month has driven South Sudanese with a lot of speculations as to who will fill the slot. Several names were thrown into a mix as runner ups throughout public discussions. Despite behind the scene maneuvers and campaigns for the position, the appointment of Speaker of the House, Lt. Gen. James Wani Igga never came as a surprise. James Wani Igga is the exact opposite of his predecessor, Dr. Riek Machar. Riek Machar is carrying a baggage of treachery behind him. In the words of SPLM/A founder, Dr. John Garang, Riek Machar will be remembered in the history of South Sudan as a person who "stabbed the South Sudanese people at a back," at the point when South Sudanese movement was at a verge of victory. For the last eight years, Riek Machar served as a controversial and overly ambitious vice president who was always in a loggerhead with the president. At one point, the president decried publicly the insubordination role of his long time vice president and accused him of ’running a parallel government.’ About a month ago, the president ran out of

11 patience, when Riek Machar publicly announced he wanted the post of his boss and that he would do whatever he could in his power to wrestle away the post of the presidency. In other words, Riek Machar wanted to ensure a failure of the government and portrayed himself better than the president, forgetting that he was part and partial of the very government he was sabotaging. As expected, the president eventually fired him. In the case of James Wani Igga, the president expected to enjoy a different relationship of a team work and collective responsibility. Such is ingrained in Igga’s proven history of dedicated loyalty, lack of ambition, and a zeal for service. Since joining the liberation movement, Igga endured and persevered along with his comrades, not wavering at any point, even when the going was tough. The loyalty eventually paid off. To his critic, Igga’s loyalty is viewed as his weakness. However, most of his critics are simply anti SPLM/A, who are in essence despise his services in the movement. Igga’s appointment as the vice president actually restored the SPLM/A hierarchy, discipline and morale. Therefore, this is a step forward for the party and a country at large. Now, with the restructuring process of the SPLM party under way, much of course is expected, including improvement in the government to deliver services to the people. (Back to Top) Steve Paterno is the author of The Rev. Fr. Saturnino Lohure, A Romain Catholic Priest Turned Rebel. He can be reached at [email protected]

Who is the right candidate to become the speaker of South Sudan parliament? Sudantribune.com, 25/8/2013 – Now that the Vice-president has been appointed without any protest from the SPLM Caucus in the National Legislative Assembly—unlike the cabinet reshuffle where there were criticisms labeled against Telar Ring Deng—one can say that President Kiir has taken over the reign of power and he is now in control of the SPLM Party. The next task is to select the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly after former Speaker became the new Vice-president. Appointing a new Speaker must fulfill two conditions such as regional inclusivity and strong personality, who could control the August House given the attempts of the SPLM rebels (the supporters of former Vice-president) to destabilize the Assembly to fail President Kiir. Being conscious of the fact that the President is from Greater Bhar-el-Ghazal and Wani Igga is from Greater Equatoria, the choice for the next Speaker is left to MPs of the Greater Upper Nile of the SPLM Caucus. The SPLM Caucus of Greater Upper Nile met on August, 24, to nominate a candidate that would be taken to the August House for confirmation as the Speaker. However, they failed to agree on one candidate and the list of five characters was summited to the Chairman of the SPLM to choose from. When the Chairman of the SPLM chooses one, the name of that person would be taken to the Assembly for approval. To have a personality that would always bring pressure to bear on the SPLM rebels to adhere to the rules and disciplines of the party, one may argue that the President will have to take many factors into consideration in order to select the right candidate out of five. The President has to find a strong personality among the five candidates of the Greater Upper Nile region who could manage the House infested by the SPLM rebels who are more rebellious that the Republican Tea Party in the United States. Perhaps the President should try to have an audience with the five candidates of the Greater Upper Nile region by inviting them individually to give him more insight into how any of them who would be chosen will control the Assembly given the current turbulent situation created by the SPLM rebels who were reshuffled out from the government and they hold grudges against the President. Selecting a strong personality who would be able to control the party’s rebels is significant for President Kiir to ensure the smooth functioning of the August House. Among the five candidates of the Greater Upper Nile region, there are strong personalities with talent and experience who are competent enough to control the Assembly. Having been MPs, some of whom chaired committees, majority of them have shown the intellectual capacity to control the Assembly and ensure that the SPLM rebels in the House don’t paralyze the legislative organ. 12

Now that majority of the candidates are from Nuer tribe, it would be desirable for the President to critically examine their credentials, integrity, loyalty, trustworthiness and dedication to the SPLM’s goals and objectives. With this in mind, it would not bring the President a lot of trouble to find out who the suitable candidate is after examining the political backgrounds of the five candidates since 1983. There is no doubt that the President shall pick a candidate who is both a strong personality and his loyalist who has never taken a cup of tea together with SPLM rebels. Given the fact that the political agenda of the SPLM rebels is to destabilize the Assembly, the President needs a strong Speaker who shall deal with the party’s rebels in the Assembly in order to safeguard the smooth functioning of the August House. The country is now faced with serious developmental challenges and therefore would need a very dedicated and strong personality that works as a team with the President and the Vice-president so that they can concentrate on tackling formidable problems facing the people of South Sudan. The solidarity of the trio is the only salvation for the country to move forward and ward off all unnecessary criticism and rebellious attitudes of the SPLM tribalists. Since 2005, President Kiir has never had a loyal and wise Vice-president who could assist him in resolving the developmental challenges facing the country. With the appointment of Rt. Hon. Wani Igga as the Vice-president, the people of South Sudan would soon realize the cooperation between the President and the new Vice-president. No executive branch could function properly and carry out its duties if the President and his Vice are always at loggerheads on policy direction. It should be made abundantly clear that President Kiir is competently managing the transition from former Vice-president to the new one very well. Those who erroneously thought before that South Sudan would collapse because the former Vice-president was removed are now feeling ashamed because all the negative stereotypes about the people of South Sudan are proven wrong. No single Nuer protested because Riek Machar was removed. Instead the Nuer celebrated his firing because it is an opportunity for the Nuer elites to develop young politicians as future leaders of South Sudan. The Nuer older politicians who have skeletons in their closets have been obstacles to build young nationalist Nuer leaders. Being conscious of the evil intentions of the SPLM rebels, it is important that the Vice-president Wani Igga and the Speaker who shall be selected should be fully conversing with principles of crisis management, i.e., playing an instrumental role alongside the President to immediately resolve and arrest problems that may interfere with the developmental goals and try to avoid any external influences that may frustrate the efforts of the President, particularly in bringing about nation- building and acceleration of developmental programs. Coming back to the main issue of this article, which is about the right candidate that could control the Assembly, I would appeal to the President to consult with the Vice-president and some leading statesmen and retired politicians to advise him on the right candidate who may become the Speaker. By so doing, he will have gathered an overview about who should be the right candidate to become the Speaker. It should be noted that the National Assembly is for all South Sudanese and it represents the aspirations and expectations of the people of this country. Our people need a Speaker who reflects their wisdom and aspirations but also loyal to the President to ensure cooperation between the executive and legislative branches of government. Given the divisions created by the former Vice-president, the people of South Sudan want a Speaker who will not encourage controversies, but who should only promote constructive criticism that ensure the democratic values and principles of the SPLM. The people of South Sudan applaud the firmness of the President in forming a lean government after the reshuffling. There is no doubt that whoever he chooses will be unanimously endorsed by the August House as it was done to Vice- president Wani Igga. We hope that the embarrassing situation which was caused by the SPLM rebels who subjected Telar Ring Deng to unnecessary vetting process will not arise. However, even if the SPLM rebels attempt to obstruct the confirmation of the new Speaker, it is now numerically clear that the SPLM rebels are the minority in the Assembly because the jobbists and the Lakes State’s politicians of fortune abandoned their alliance with the SPLM rebels after realizing that the people of South Sudan are behind President Kiir. 13

In conclusion, the President should choose a right candidate from the list of five summited to him by the SPLM Caucus of the Greater Upper Nile region. Despite the impeccable credentials of the five candidates, there are individuals who may not be accepted by the MPs from Greater Equatoria and Greater Bhar-el-Ghazal. Therefore, the President must choose a candidate that he knows will be appealing to all members of the SPLM in three regions—a candidate who is also a strong personality to manage SPLM rebels in the Assembly. (Back to Top) The author is the spokesperson of the former rebel South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA)

The story of a bleeding City – Juba and not Mogadishu! South Sudan News Agency, 25/8/2013 – While South Sudan is generally referred to as a post conflict country, maybe it’s time this description be taken with a pinch of salt, as killings of innocent lives remain rampant all across the country. We are for all sincerity purposes, a ‘truly conflict ridden’ country, and not a post conflict as others want us to believe! It would reflect better if we openly accept that our country is in fact stuck in an insolvable lawlessness, instead of this euphemism of post conflict. Innocent citizens continue to be subjects of daily tragic and heinous killings by bandits of government security and law enforcement agents turn thugs. This is not only in the ungovernable Jonglei State – which the US administration and the UN officials have singled out, but it is even rife in Juba, the capital and the seat of government! On Monday August 19, 2013, Juba City woke up to the tragic murder of two people in a neighborhood right in the centre of the city. The deceased were killed within the compound of their house by unknown gunmen at around midnight East African time. One feels sad when our people have to die this way, but what breaks my heart the most is the submissiveness with which all these tragedies are being received by those in the receiving end. Even the frugal information that has reached us here in the Diaspora through the social media, community forum and the other media outlets, all suffer self-censorships. People have been taken over by fear as the country descends deep into a police state. One source probably a relative of the deceased brothers wrote on Monday morning and I quote: “Unknown gunmen killed two people in the Darassalam (literally meaning home of peace) residential area around 12:00AM midnight. An eyewitness said that unidentified men came in police uniforms and entered the fence while everybody was inside the house. They knocked at the door but nobody responded to them. Then they started shooting the door till they broke it and entered the house and took the two brothers out and shot them to death. The two dead bodies have been carried to the South Sudan National Assembly and are lying at the gate of assembly right now”. He said. Another witness statement said and I quote: “……….on hearing the gun shot, I immediately called the police patrol number for Munuki Zone (3) which is 0954000300, but what they told me is that they don't have a vehicle”. He said. “I was shocked to hear that. But I insisted to them to trace any other patrol that can rescue the situation. Then after 1-2 hours, I heard a vehicle moving towards the incident's side, but I was not happy because it was too late and none of them were found. Let's continue to pray for God's deliverance and protection in Jesus name AMEN”. He concluded. These two witness statements have undoubtedly convey to all of us how dreadful the incident was. It clearly reflects furthermore how the security and security services have degenerated to the most rudimentary levels. Human life has become a valueless commodity in this part of the world - making nonsense of the acclaimed sovereignty. It had been all over the media that the new Vice President, who on the day of the unfortunate incident was still the Speaker of the National Parliament, did summon the some ministers to appear before the Assembly as reported on Sudan Tribune August 20, 2013-Juba: 14

“The speaker of the South Sudan’s national parliament, James Wani Igga, has lashed out to the security ministers, demanding that they appear before the national legislative assembly over the renewed night robberies and murders in the capital in the last few days”. It reads. On top of that an eyewitness had also confirmed to the Sudan Tribune that the two men were shot dead when about nine armed men in police uniform stormed their house on Sunday night, demanding money from them. As all these stories unfold, one begins to wonder for how long will this ‘typical’ scenario keep repeating itself before the authorities finally take it upon themselves to confront it head long?. At this juncture, the protestors did well to shout insults at the police and call them all kinds of names, for there is every reason for that. Is it indeed not terribly shameful to learn that of all people it is the police who are now the culprits? Again there is no way that they (police) can distance themselves from any of these heinous crimes. Why on earth should a country’s criminals always be in police uniforms? Somebody in Juba has to answer that! Of course the former Speaker Hon. James Wani Igga was forced by necessity to address the protesters at the parliament gate-door on that sad Monday. His expressed sorrow over the incident and the consolation statement that one of the suspects was already arrested and is under investigation as the rest are being looked for, is typical of Hon. Wani Igga and his twin brother Hon. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin. “One of the suspects was arrested. He is in police custody and the rest will be brought to justice whether they are from the army, police, National Security or elsewhere,” Igga said. The problem with Hon. Wani Igga’s message of empathy to the deceased’s family, relatives, friends, colleagues and those who turned up in the demonstration squarely lies in the fact that several similar incidents had happened before. And as in a déjà vu, people in authority had come out and told the public the same story of ……..‘Some suspects been arrested’ bla bla bla, and in the end everything else just died out and that was the end of the story. Is it not the same statement made following late Isaiah Abraham’s brutal assassination in December 2012? Is Hon. Wani Igga not repeating what you said, Hon. Dr. Barnaba? Talking about undisciplined members of the army, police and national security being key players in crimes in this nascent country is something internationally renowned. In a recent interview with Hon. Kuol Manyang Juuk, the new Minister of Defence talked about arresting some senior SPLA wrong doers. What this tells you is that the wrong guys are there – and almost everywhere. What is lacking is the political will to take actions against them. The truth is, government agents in form of ‘Khaki boys’ and some plain dress ‘Gustavo’ had since been suspected of either doing it themselves or conniving with criminals or lending them their guns and ammunitions for such criminal operations in return for shares in looted money, cattle, abducted women and children, valuables………name it. This too was voiced also in Sudan Tribune, but of course it is an open secret not only in Juba, but all across the country that what is often being referred to as a few rotten elements in the security and law enforcement elements are in fact not few. There’s a mafia empire somewhere, we just don’t know yet. Furthermore the timing of this brutal incident remains puzzling. Whether the police thugs were out to show their newly appointed Minister of Interior that his big talks won’t really scare them, we don’t know. Nonetheless those who recently watched the new Minister of Interior Aleu Ayieny Aleu all dressed up in red and bragging over the SSTV about how he intends to reduce gun crimes in the city will

15 find it extremely unbelievable that the barbaric killings of our two brothers came just a couple of days following the minister’s political bravado. For the record below is what Hon. Aleu Ayieny Aleu said: “From now onward, guns and all other types of weapons owned by police personnel and other organized forces will have to be kept in stores. All the police personnel on duty will no longer be able to carry their personal weapons in the public”, Aleu Ayieny Aleu, the new interior minister said in a statement broadcasted on state-owned South Sudan Television (SSTV) on Saturday. [Sudan Tribune August 17, 2013]. I feel obliged to include here a statement from a strong hearted relative of the deceased compatriots. I hold him at a high esteem for holding his composure while he communicated tirelessly with friends relatives on the social media: “Brothers and sisters, I kindly I accepted your condolences and I will deliver them to the family of the deceased. Their tragic death is indeed a great loss to us as Community of Greater Mundri in particular and South Sudan at large. I would like to ask your prayer for the family and the whole arrangement on the way for the burial of our beloved brothers”. He reached out. As I find myself overwhelmed by grief while navigating my way through this extremely sad and a sickening incidence, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, and may Almighty God rest their souls in Eternal Peace. Amen. I also call upon all the citizens in the suburbs of Juba to become more vigilant to defend their lives, properties and loved ones. After all it is the same story of men in police uniforms breaking into people’s houses at night, maim them and take away their valuables. It is no secret that the culture of impunity pervades all levels of society in South Sudan which only increases human rights abuses because perpetrators do not fear being prosecuted. Yesterday it was someone you don’t know – a total stranger and you did nothing about it. Today it is a colleague, a neighbor, or a relative and if you also do nothing about it, then tomorrow it will be you and nobody will do anything about it. Establishing groups like Neighborhood Watch Schemes endorsed by the local authority to keep a watchful eye on the neighborhoods is strongly recommend my people. But of course it needs people with guts, and real guts to say enough is enough! (Back to Top) Dr. Justin Ambago Ramba can be reached at: [email protected]

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