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

FRIDAY, 08 NOVEMBER 2013

SOUTH SUDAN  Kiir to appoint ex-rebels into government positions (Sudantribune.com)  Media warned: register or face closure (Eye Radio)  Security in Pibor: armed men cause panic (Sudantribune.com)  South Sudan blames LRA for deadly attacks (VoA News)  LRA attacks kill two in Western Equatoria State (Radio Miraya)  One person killed as suspected LRA rebels attack Ezo County (Gurtong)  Unity State court plans to ban women, irls from chewing bubble gum (Eye Radio)  Haforere residents abandon homes over inter-clan conflict (Emmanuel Radio)  Journalists‟ body gets new executive members (Gurtong)  Catholic Radio Network reviews challenges (Catholic Radio Network)  Rise in commodity prices caused by poor road network (Gurtong)  South Africa to support South Sudan development (Sudantribune.com)  Power cuts to continue for another 10 years (Bakhita Radio)  Government needs electricity to address unemployment (Emmanuel Radio) OTHER HIGHLIGHTS  Sudanese rebels tell world to „wake up‟ to war (Reuters)

LINKS TO STORIES FROM THE MORNING MEDIA MONITOR  Akobo County Commissioner denies youth mobilizing for raid (Sudantribune.com)  Disarmament must be conducted in payams hiding weapons – official (Sudantribune.com)  Wau police arrest most wanted criminal (Voice of Hope)  Locals in Unity State blame oil companies for not doing enough to protect environment (Sudantribune.com)  Rumbek FM presenters under threat file police case (Catholic Radio Network)  Taha – Relations with South Sudasn progressing rapidly for the better (Sudan News Agency)

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

Kiir to appoint ex-rebels into government positions Sudantribune.com Juba, 07/11/13 - South Sudanese president Salva Kiir is expected to appoint to ministerial and advisory positions former rebels who heeded to amnesty calls to abandon rebellion against his government, a highly-placed government official told Sudan Tribune on Thursday. The deal, according to the government official, will see two politicians loyal to the former rebel groups appointed to ministerial positions while another two will be offered advisory roles in the central and the state governments. The politicians to be appointed to ministerial and advisory positions will be from Western and Northern Upper Nile states where the rebels were active. "They will have one advisor at the central government. This has already been agreed and details about who would be appointed at the state level is being worked out,‟‟ the government official said. The official said Gordon Buay, a spokesperson of the former rebel groups, will be appointed an advisor on youth in the central government. "So far, Gordon Buay has been nominated to fill the post of advisor on youth empowerment,” the source who is informed about the behind- the- scene ongoing negotiations, said. Additionally, the deal will also see the government integrating into the Sudan People‟s Liberation Army (SPLA) five Major Generals, six Brigadier Generals and 15 Colonels. Fighters previously belonging to the former rebel groups, according to the official, will be screened and those found to be physically fit will be integrated into the army while others will be sent to the national police, wildlife and the fire brigade. All this will reportedly be done before the end of this year. The official source did not specify which groups would be integrated, although some military sources said the process targets “all the armed groups” that responded to the presidential amnesty extended by Kiir. President Kiir gave an amnesty to all rebel groups fighting his administration. In April 2013, the president issued another general amnesty. Among those who responded to the amnesty were Bapiny Monytuil and Johnson Uliny of the South Sudan Democratic Movement (SSDM), an armed group which was launched by George Athor Deng in 2010 after the Sudan People‟s Liberation Movement (SPLM) declined to support his candidature in Jonglie State. Deng was one of the more than 300 senior officials the SPLM disowned before elections after failing to concede in favour of the official nominees. He was later killed in December 2011 under unclear circumstances at South Sudan border Town of Morobo County in central Equatoria. His fighters who were under the command of Peter Kuol Col were later integrated into the SPLA. Independent analysts say the deal between the government and the former rebels has left out some groups, which abandoned rebellion after the presidential amnesty. (Back to Top)

Media warned: register or face closure Eye Radio Juba, 08/11/13 - The Minister of Information and Broadcasting has warned that media houses which are not registered that they will be shut down.

2 Honorable Michael Makuei Lueth said that it is difficult to administer the more than ten printing presses in the country because they are not registered. Speaking to media in Juba yesterday, the Minister said that all the journalists who are operating in South Sudan will be required to resubmit all their credentials to the Ministry of Information. All the journalists must submit their credentials for review. There are some who are operating without. And anybody found to be operating without, and any media house found to be operating without, must get prepared.” Minister Makuei Lueth said that new journalists‟ identity cards will be issued and anyone found with an old identity card will not be allowed to work as a journalist. He said that the government will assess credentials to make decisions on who will be registered as a journalist. “It‟s not a question of me knowing how to read and write that I qualify to be a journalist,” he said. “It is high time for us after this to regulate everything.” As well as registering as a media house, printing presses must also be registered the Minister said. He also urged all those working in the media not to exploit what they may see as the vacuum created by the lack of a Media Authority. “In our field, it is our duty to ensure that whoever operates here in this field of information and media is registered,” he said. “We will continue to manage it up to the establishment of the Media Authority. When the media bills are out they will be – the Media Authority will be established, and it is the Media Authority that will manage all this. In the absence of the Media Authority, we will continue to manage this process until time comes when it is handed over to the Media Authority.” South Sudan is operating without a media Law that govern the work of media houses. Last week. President Salva Kiir returned the bills to the Assembly for amendment. (Back to Top)

Security in Pibor: armed men cause panic Eye Radio 08/11/13 - Twic East Commissioner Dau Akoi has told Eye Radio that there are reports of an increased security threats, following the movement of unknown gunmen in the area. Yesterday County authorities reported new clashes between a small force of the SPLA and a group of alleged rebel fighters in Pakeer Payam. “The rumors is still spreading we are told that these people are again are coming in big groups, “Commissioner Dau Akoi said “Sometimes they are seen by the people traveling or by UNMISS.” Commissioner Dau Akoi is urging the UNIMISS to provide detective security measure to protect the civilians “People in Bugo and Pibor and Likaungole – they confirm that these people have left again and they are heading towards Twic East, Duk, Uror and Akobo. That means all of us are left. That‟s why we are asking for UNIMISS to detect the movement of the militia, we are still requesting the protection of unimiss inTwic east.” (Back to Top)

South Sudan blames LRA for deadly attacks VoA News Juba, 07/11/13 - South Sudan has deployed hundreds of soldiers to Western Equatoria to root out Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) fighters suspected of carrying out deadly attacks in the state this week, army spokesman Philip Aguer said Thursday. "There is no other enemy that we are suspecting in the region. It is only the LRA," Aguer told VoA News. Some 500 South Sudanese soldiers have been deployed to the region to track down the LRA and protect locals, he said.

3 Officials said two people were killed in the raids in Ezzo and Tamburo counties, and an unknown number abducted. The attackers also looted property, officials and residents said. Anglican Bishop John Nzawo of Ezzo diocese said one of the attacks happened in "the small village of Naazinga, which is one-and-a-half miles from my diocesan premises." "One person was killed on the spot and properties have been destroyed and looted. One person was severely injured and he was taken to hospital," Nzawo said. The attacks, which Nzawo said sent terrified locals fleeing into the bush, came hard on the heels of raids in neighboring Central African Republic (CAR), which have also been blamed on the LRA. Western Equatoria's Minister of Information Charles Kisanga said South Sudan has been on "high alert" for an LRA attack. The notorious rebel group is reported to have taken advantage of instability in CAR after the violent coup in March that ousted president Francois Bozize, and regrouped. "There have been reports of LRA activities around the border areas due to the fact that the new government in Central Africa is not very cooperative in dealing with these matters, and they were left to start regrouping. So that is why people have been on high alert in South Sudan," he said. The LRA has led one of the most brutal and longest armed conflicts in Africa since it was formed in the late 1980s by Joseph Kony, a self-proclaimed prophet who still leads the group. The LRA's stated aim is to overthrow the government of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and replace it with a regime based on the Bible's Ten Commandments. Its brutal battle tactics, including mass murder, grisly mutilations, and its hallmark tactic of abducting children and forcing them to join the rebellion, either as soldiers or as sex slaves for LRA commanders, have caused it to lose support among local populations. A 2006 study funded by UNICEF estimated that at least 66,000 children and youth had been abducted by the LRA since it was set up in the 1980s. At its peak, the LRA was mainly active in northern Uganda and the border area of what was then the southern part of Sudan. According to the U.S. State Department, Kony ordered the LRA to withdraw from Uganda in 2005 and 2006 and move into the border region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic (CAR), and what is now South Sudan. Even though the LRA's core group of fighters is thought to have been reduced to around 200 today, the group "retains the capacity to cast a wide shadow across the region because of its brutality and the fear it arouses in local populations," the State Department says. A report released in December last year by the United Nations blames the LRA for 278 attacks in 2011 and estimates that more than 465,000 people in CAR, the DRC and South Sudan were displaced or "living as refugees during 2011 as a result of the LRA threat." (Back to Top)

LRA attacks kill two in Western Equatoria State Radio Miraya Juba, 07/11/13 - Suspected Lord‟s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have killed two people and wounded another in two separate attacks in Tambura and Ezo Counties, Western Equatoria State, officials have said. Ezo County Commissioner, Albert Moiidie, said two others were abducted in the attack on his county.

4 Gabriel Ayor, the Deputy Commander of the African Union Regional Task Force based in Yambio, confirmed the incidents and said the AU troops were in pursuit of the attackers. (Back to Top)

One person killed as suspected LRA rebels attack Ezo County, abduct three Gurtong Juba, 07/11/13 - Suspected Lord‟s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have attacked Ezo and Tombura counties in Western Equatoria State. The Bishop of Ezo Diocese Rt. Rev. John Zawo said the attack in Ezo County took place early morning during which at least one person was killed and three were abducted. “Three people were abducted, two were returned but one was killed in the forest. This incident by the LRA took place this morning,” said Zawo. “We are mourning one of them and one has been taken by the World Vision ambulance to Yambio hospital. People all over Ezo town are saddened to see the LRA activities are again coming closer after some of us suffered for years.” The State Minister of Information and Communication Charles Kisanga confirmed what he termed as “suspected” LRA attack. “We have the multinational forces, 500 SPLA soldiers and the arrow boys on high alert and ready to protect the people from the LRA rebels,” said Kisanga. Kisanga appealed to the public to cooperate with the state authorities and the security forces to fight the suspected rebels. “The arrows boys should be on the alert. If it is proven that it is LRA, we have to do what we have been doing before. Enough soldiers have been deployed to pursue these suspected LRA rebels in the suspected areas,” Kisanga added. The LRA rebels disturbed northern Ugandan for more than a decade but from 2004, they were pushed out and fled to South Sudan. Recently, a group of experts comprising of the Americans, Ugandan and South Sudanese soldiers known as the multinational forces was deployed to WES to hunt down the Joseph Kony led rebels. The LRA have since been pushed deep into CAR and DRC for the last two and half years. The whereabouts of Kony is however still unknown. However, Bishop Zawo says the multinational forces‟ presence in the state leaves a lot to be desired. “They need to work very hard and we need results. Konyi is not on the road. He is in the jungle. How did the LRA rebels come down to us here?” he asked. (Back to Top)

Unity State court plans to ban women, girls from chewing bubble gum Eye Radio 08/11/13 - Leer town court chairperson says he wants to ban young girls from chewing gum. Simon Gatjuat Jal says it‟s very common to see girls along the road chewing bubble gum. He says it is irresponsible and embarrassing, and the issue needs attention from parents. “People say women have the right; is that the right we talk about?” Mr. Jal told Eye Radio‟s partner community radio, Naath FM. “How can we give them the right if they are doing bad things and you are not seeing, for instant, if you see your newlywed wife chewing gum, it can even force you to divorce her. “And if it is your daughter, you can feel ashamed.” Gatjuat Jal says chewing of bubble gum by girls is part of a negative change in society.

5 “I will confirm from the commissioner if it is good for young women whose bride price has been paid and girls to chew in the market.” (Back to Top)

Haforere residents abandon homes over inter-clan conflict Emmanuel Radio , 08/11/13 - Residents of Haforere village, , abandoned their homes after three people were killed in a conflict at Tirangore Boma, Hiyala Payam of Torit County. Haforere Primary School Headmaster Medmok Allam, his son and another person were killed on Tuesday, Emmanuel Radio reported. A team led by Torit County Commissioner German Charles Ojok on Wednesday went to the area and found only an elderly woman and the dead bodies in Haworu and Fuara comps. The visiting team did not find any livestock in the vicinity. Haforere village head chief Albino Orim said the two camps lived in peace and harmony before Wednesday‟s conflict. He added that the current clash to started last year when youths from the two camps started stealing goats from each side. The head chief noted that fights among the camps used to be limited to sticks without fire arms. (Back to Top)

UJOSS gets new executive members Gurtong Juba, 08/11/13 - A new executive body for the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) has been elected after a three-day deliberations and review of the permanent constitution of the union. The new executive made up of 13 members is charged with the responsibility of governing the affairs of Union in the country. During the elections in Juba, the former UJOSS Chairperson, Oliver Modi retained the chair, beating his former General Secretary Michael Koma with 33 votes out of 41 votes cast while Cecilia Joseph, the former deputy chairperson beat her opponent Daniel Deng 22 to 19 votes to retain her seat.. Edward Ladu, the then UJOSS advisor beat former deputy General Secretary, Richard Ruati for the post of Secretary General with 29 votes to 12 as Lilly Nelson retains her Treasurer position. She is deputized by Acinkoch Deng who is also a new face. Ohisa Paul becomes the new deputy General Secretary as Alor Kuol, Albagher Ali Mukhtar, Flora Angelo, Johnson Amum Alan and John Lemy were elected as executive members of the Union. While addressing the newly elected executive at White Nile Lodge on Thursday, the observatory committee that acted as the Electoral Commission appreciated the members for the transparent, free and fair elections. “We are pleased with every journalist and UJOSS members who participated in this democratic elections to form your new elected executive body to help run affairs of your office on your behalf,” Stephen Ouma, a representative of the Uganda Journalists Union told participants. “We pledge to working hand in hand with elected executive members in collaboration with our Union and our counterpart Kenya‟s Union to inspire you with technical skills needed for the promotion of your Union.” The Norwegian People‟s Aid (NPA) Media Programme Coordinator, James Boboya was impressed by the conduct of the elections for news officer bearers in UJOSS. “This is a good move especially for the new elected members,” he said.

6 “We have witnessed the democracy and transparency in all elections and this is what we wanted as NPA so that we can continue supporting your activities of free and responsible journalism in South Sudan, NPA is committed to partner with you if you continue with this spirit.” Modi will serve a-three year tenure as the chairman of the Union. He appreciated the trust members have shown in him and pledged to continue doing his best for the stability and development of media in the South Sudan, citing capacity building of journalists as key. (Back to Top)

Rise in commodity prices caused by poor road network Gurtong Bor, 05/11/13 - Jonglei State residents have raised concerns regarding the increase in prices mainly caused by poor road connection with Juba with scarcity being reported for some goods. The transportation of goods seemed as difficult starting from Uganda to South Sudan border because of recent flooding which cut off the road connecting Atiak district of Uganda with Nimule, a town at the South Sudan border. Speaking to one of the businessmen yesterday in Bor, the Juba – Bor road caused them to pay a lot of money for hiring trucks for transportation of goods from Uganda via Juba to Bor. The roads have forced us them to increase the prices to cover up the losses incurred on the way. “We hired the trucks at higher prices and you see the seller always looks for profit and not to get losses,” Modi Philip told Gurtong. Ali Mohamed a Somali businessman and one of the shop owners selling a variety of food items in Bor told Gurtong that the bad roads blocked many trucks that were helping them in transportation of goods. Ali has said that they have spent about one month of their way from Juba to Bor due to the bad road. “My track had a lot of problems on the way at Mangala and Gemeza, some goods were spoilt in the process of off loading the track when stacked, and uploading them again after removing it,” he explained at Bor Pakuau checkpoint. The commercial vehicles moving passengers from Bor to Juba have also increased their fares from 100 to 250 SSP. Malith Lual, a driver said that they spend about two to three days before reaching Juba and if the Juba-Bor road is good, the passengers travelling to Juba only spent four hours. Hiring a track of 40 tons to carry goods to Jonglei caused close to 10,000 pounds according to Abdalla Yusuf, a Somali who running a wholesale in Bor. At Marol market in Bor on Tuesday, Beer, Sugar and Beans were among the goods that were on scarcity. Shopkeepers dealing in these lines of businesses were not sure when they would receive them from Juba. Geu Ajak, one of wholesale owners in Bor specialised in Beer selling had closed his shop due to lack of Beer. Traders said he had left a month ago for Uganda to buy from the beer factory in Kampala. In Bor a bottle of Beer is sold cost between 8 to 12 pounds in few places where it is accessible and the price per bottle had increased from 6 pounds to 10 pounds.

7 A 25 Kilogram of sugar is now 160 Souyth Sudanese pounds up from just 110 with the taxation officers at the Pakuau checkpoint saying they had received less revenue since August. “In September, we spent three weeks without receiving any truck coming from Juba. That was the time rains were raining almost every day. They started to come at the end of September and now they will increase because dry season is almost approaching”, explained John Angau in Bor. (Back to Top)

CRN reviews achievements, challenges Catholic Radio Network Juba, 07/11/13 - Catholic Radio Network or CRN is holding a four-day coordination meeting to review achievements and challenges and prepare plans for the coming months. CRN Director Enrica Valentini described the meeting as a moment of sharing experiences among the nine stations of the network. She said the meeting in Juba brought together directors and representatives from seven radio stations. The other two failed to attend due to transport problems. Ms Valentini said the meeting was important to keep relations and strengthen regular communications. The CRN coordination meeting that started on Tuesday will end on Friday. (Back to Top)

South Africa to support South Sudan development Catholic Radio Network Juba, 07/11/13 - South African President told South Sudan‟s Vice President that his country would support development of the new country. James Wani Igga returned on Thursday to Juba after a week long visit to South Africa. Executive Director at the office of the Vice President Thomas Ködini told the press at Juba International Airport that President Jacob Zuma pledged to better relations between SPLM and ANC, offer scholarships to South Sudan and continue with business investments in the country. He added that the two leaders also discussed South Sudan-Sudan relations, border issues and the final status of Abyei after in a controversial unilateral referendum the Ngok Dinka voted to join South Sudan. Mr Ködini said the joint Southern Africa Development Community and International Conference on Great Lakes Region summit in Pretoria, South Africa agreed to promote regional peace, security and cooperation through amnesty. He added that the summit agreed to demobilize and re-integrate M23 rebels of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Vice President Igga represented South Sudan at the summit. He held sideline meetings with some African leaders including Zimbabwe‟s Robert Mugabe and Malawi‟s Joyce Banda. (Back to Top)

Power cuts to continue for another 10 years Bakhita Radio Juba, 07/11/13 - Juba‟s power cuts will continue for another decade until the fuel problem in the country is addressed. Electricity and Dams Minister Jemma Nunu Kumba told the press in Juba that power cuts will continue until the country is self sufficient in fuel , Bakhita Radio reported. She explained that the power generation was off from January until August.

8 Ms Nunu clarified that the ministry analyzed the electric supply situation to tackle the challenges in two phases. She said out of eight generators at Juba‟s power house only two are functional. Minister Nunu last month submitted a memo and a proposal of strategy to the council of ministers. She said in the proposal she requested for continuous supply of fuel and the repair of generators. The minister added that after fixing the machines they would have to use heavy oil instead of diesel which costs over one million Pounds to run three generators. Ms Nunu said the government was planning to develop Fulla Rapids dam next year as a lasting solution. She added that the work will roughly take two to three years. Ms Nunu added that the government was also planning to import electricity from Ethiopia. (Back to Top)

Government needs electricity to address unemployment Easter Radio Torit, 07/11/13 - The national government needs sufficient electricity supply to address unemployment challenges affecting South Sudan. This was the view Yei River County Establishment Officer Justin Duku Monowa shared with Easter Radio on Thursday. He said electricity will attract “real investors” to establish factories and avail more jobs opportunities. Mr Duku said some investors want to invest in the country only when there was enough electricity to run their plants. the Officer said if one factory employed one thousand people that would help address employment. He cautioned that without addressing the electricity problem, unemployment will remain a major challenge in the country. Mr Duku said he believed sufficient electricity supply would avail jobs to thousands of people in the country. (Back to Top)

Sudanese rebels tell world to 'wake up' to war Reuters Paris, 07/11/13 - The main rebel alliance fighting Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir called on the world on Thursday to "wake up" to the war, saying atrocities in Sudan were as bad as those in Syria. Sudan has suffered decades of conflict. Fighting has intensified in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan states since South Sudan won independence in 2011, while international efforts have failed to bring peace to the westerly region of Darfur. Speaking in Paris on a rare lobbying visit to Europe, the president of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) accused Bashir of exploiting the world's preoccupation with wars such as those in Syria and Mali to try to crush the rebels and kill civilians through indiscriminate bombing and starvation. "We are here to present our case. It is a cry to the international community to wake up and help end this war," said Malik Agar, who was sacked by Khartoum as governor of Blue Nile and subsequently joined the SRF in 2011. "The situation is getting worse because the government is not giving access to the region, the lack of food is being used as a weapon and the war is ongoing. We are fighting, but we are ready to stop if there is a lasting peace."

9 Khartoum has always denied targeting civilians, saying it only bombs areas controlled by rebels. The government made no immediate response to the latest accusations. Agar is in Paris at the start of a trip that will also include stops in Brussels, Norway and Germany. After splits and discord among the rebels, the SRF is trying to show unity and tap into general discontent with the government after street unrest following hikes in fuel prices. The rebel group did not specify what international help it wanted in its fight to overthrow Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Darfur. The SRF's delegation included leaders of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), who operate in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, and a major rebel group in Darfur, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). All the rebels say they are fighting to end the dominance by wealthy Arab Khartoum elites of Sudan's rural areas. "The crimes in Sudan are like Syria, but worse," said Abdul Wahid Mohamed al Nur, one of the presidents of the Sudan Liberation Movement. "Genocide is in Darfur, but elsewhere violence has increased as has the media blackout. It's no longer just Darfur but central Sudan and Blue Nile." Fighting grew in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states after adjacent South Sudan won independence in 2011 under a peace deal. In Darfur, mainly African tribes took up arms in 2003, accusing the Arab-led government of discrimination. A French diplomatic source said the SRF delegation would be received at the foreign ministry, adding that listening to the rebels' views mattered all the more given the worsening situation in neighbouring Central African Republic, where Paris has troops and is pushing for a U.N. peacekeeping force. (Back to Top)

For further information or media enquiries please contact: UNMISS Spokesperson Tel.: +211 (0) 912 06 7149 or Mobile: +211 (0) 912 396 539

United Nations Mission in South Sudan - Public Information Office www.unmiss.unmissions.org UN House Juba 03, P.O. Box 29, Juba, South Sudan 10