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South Sudan will not be a failed stateJUBA, 15 February 2011 – H.E. Pagan Amum, the minister for Peace and CPA Implementation, Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) today reiterated that the soon-to-be sovereign South Sudan will not be a failed state. He denounced the prophets of doom peddling this view and asserted that the country will be one of the most peaceful and prosperous societies in the region and beyond.
This article was updated on Feb 15, 2011 GOSS prioritizes healing and reconciliationJUBA, 15 February 2011 – The Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) is prioritizing the healing and reconciliation of the people of Southern Sudan who have been traumatized by several years of war, subjugation and discrimination, H.E. Pagan Amum, the GOSS minister for Peace and CPA Implementation has said.
This article was updated on Feb 15, 2011 WFP to continue supplying food to educational institutionsJUBA, 15 February 2011 – The World Food Programme (WFP) will continue to supply food items to the educational institutions. Particularly, it will deliver food to Lakes state and Malakal teachers’ training college which is currently facing food shortage.
This article was updated on Feb 15, 2011 North-South border demarcation begins on SundayJUBA, 15 February 2011 – The demarcation of the North-South border is set to begin this Sunday, the GOSS minister for Peace and CPA Implementation, H.E. Pagan Amum has said.
This article was updated on Feb 15, 2011 South Sudanese migrants hold independence party in TA Park, IsraelJERUSALEM, 15 February 2011 - Over a hundred south Sudanese migrants held a party in Tel Aviv’s Lewinsky Park on Monday to celebrate the coming independence of South Sudan, set to become Africa’s newest country on July 9.
The party took place in front of a stage set up in the middle of the park, near the local library and police station. The migrants waved Israeli and South Sudanese flags – the latter identical to the flag of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, which fought for decades against the north – and danced to a reggae band. A break-dancer spun in circles on the pavement following a blessing given by a South Sudanese priest reading from the New Testament.
One of the organizers of Monday’s rally, 29-year-old Sunday Chagkouts, told The Jerusalem Post that he and his soon-to-be countrymen were celebrating because “we have been fighting for this for more than 50 years. People are very happy and very confident of what the future will bring for us.”
Decked out in a brilliant, almost blinding white silk suit, Chagkouts, from the Upper Nile state of South Sudan, said he expected that he “and many other Sudanese in Israel and around the world will start going back to help build our country.” He added that there could be violence due to disputes over the demarcation of the border, but he was very optimistic about the country’s future.
Fighting between northern and southern Sudan has gone on for over half a century and turned it into one of the more battle-scarred countries in Africa. The first civil war, from 1955 to 1972, left an estimated half a million people dead, while the second, from 1983 to 2005, cost the lives of anywhere between 2 and 5 million who died from the fighting, disease and war-related famine.
William Akon, 25, from the city of Aweil in Southern Sudan, was beaming throughout the entire celebration Monday because, in his words, “I am very, very happy that this [independence] has happened after a very long time. It’s what we have been longing for and what so many of us have given our lives for.”
In Israel since 2007, Akon related the story of a harrowing journey from country to country since being kidnapped from his family home 17 years ago by a pro-government militia. He said he was able to flee three years later, moved to Khartoum, where he lived for six years, before arriving in Egypt, where he worked for seven years before making his way to Israel.
“I’ve been gone so long that my parents wouldn’t recognize me if they saw me,” he exclaimed. “I plan to go back though, at some point soon, and hopefully my parents will be able to come here as well.”
Akon added that he hoped to study for a degree in Israel, although he couldn’t afford the tuition. He said that he and many other Southern Sudanese hoped their new government would have friendly ties with Israel.
“The North sees Israel as an enemy, but we don’t,” he explained. “We hope that people from South Sudan will be able to come to Israel and have good relations with Israel and the Israeli people.”
This article was updated on Feb 15, 2011 Foreign diplomats commend the people of South Sudan for peaceful referendumNAIROBI, 12 February 2011 - The Government of South Sudan Liaison Office to Kenya organized a thanksgiving party for diplomats from Kenya and the region to celebrate the successful completion of last month’s referendum.
The event held at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi brought together diplomats from Sudan, Kenya and South Sudan. Among the dignitaries from the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) were H.E Amb. Michael Majok Ayom, Principal Liaison Officer to Kenya and H.E Telar Deng, Legal Advisor to the president of South Sudan.
Sudanese ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Amb. Bedheredin Abdallah, has congratulated the people of South Sudan for the peaceful and transparent process during the referendum and promised that the North will continue to cooperate with the new State to ensure a peaceful coexistence and build strong diplomatic relationship.
GoSS Principal Liaison Officer to Kenya, Amb. Majok Ayom, thanked the international community, in particular IGAD member states and the Kenya Government for their role in mediating and guaranteeing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. He in particular commended the government of Kenya for the roles played by former president, Daniel arap Moi, and the current one Mwai Kibaki.
He also praised the astute leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Omar el Bashir for maintaining the peace accord and initiated peaceful coexistence among the people of Sudan. He reiterated the commitment by Southern leaders to expedite reconstruction and the provision of services to the people of South Sudan.
Former CPA mediator Amb. Daniel Mboya said the new dawn of independence, which provides Southerners the opportunity to determine their destiny and develop as one people.
On his part, Telar Deng, legal advisor to the President Kiir, called upon the people of South Sudan to be focus on development of New State. He said that for the South to have effective leadership, politicians should put the country’s interests above their pursuits for power. “Our people expect more from us, and we can only deliver on those expectations if we unite to address their foremost challenges,” he said.
By Mabior Mayom
This article was updated on Feb 14, 2011 Internal Affairs minister meets top security organs, reviews security situationJUBA, 14 February 2011 - In a bid to review the security situation in Southern Sudan, the Minister for Internal Affairs Lt. Gen. Gier Chuang Aluong has met with senior officers from the three security organs under his Ministry.
In his keynote address on Thursday, Lt. Gen. Gier called on security organs to immediately review their respective departments to conform to the security status of an independent state rather than an autonomous region within another state. “Southern Sudan is now an independent state as confirmed by results of the just concluded referendum exercise. With these changes, it’s important that the security organs reflect these changes in their activities and programs”, he said.
The Minister also called on security organs to do more to “protect citizens and their property” as a mandate of the security organs. Lt. Gen. Gier also decried “harassment” by security forces against citizens particularly in Juba and other areas across Southern Sudan. However, the Minister added “that some criminals disguised themselves as police officers in order to harass citizens”. He called on the police to bring these criminals to justice.
Lt. Gen. Gier Chuang further said that incidents of criminal activities committed in the name of the police and other security organs are tarnishing the image of security organs among international human rights organisations and the media. “Some of these negative reports really damage the image of security organs and eventually erode the confidence of Southern Sudanese in the police and other organised forces. We need to protect the image of security organs through our actions”, the Minister added.
He further called on the security organs to work together as a team in order to achieve the overall responsibilities of protecting citizens and their property.
The briefing was attended by the Inspector General of Police, Gen. Acuil Tito Madut, the Director General of Prisons Service, Gen. Abel Makoi Wol and Commissioner of Fire Brigade Service, Gen. Aru Maan Chot and other senior officers from the three departments. The Internal Affairs Minister will hold individual meetings with the respective units under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
By John Agou Wuoi
This article was updated on Feb 14, 2011 Elders laud peaceful referendumJUBA, 11 February 2011 - The Elders have commended Sudanese leaders for the smooth and orderly conduct of the South’s referendum on self-determination in January, the official results of which were announced this week. The Elders praised the authorities, in particular the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission, for overcoming significant logistical challenges to ensure a successful voting process.
This article was updated on Feb 14, 2011 Internal Affairs Minister orders immediate investigation into minister's deathJUBA, 9 February 2011 - The Minister of Internal Affairs Lt. Gen. Gier Chuang Aluong has said the sudden death of Minister of Cooperatives and Rural Development, Jimmy Lemmi Milla who was shot dead in a cold blood on Wednesday morning in his office “was not politically-motivated but an isolated criminal incident”. He added that the preliminary investigations indicate that the killing of the Minister may have been motivated by “disagreement over private family matter”.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Lt. Gen. Gier also ordered an immediate investigation in to the death of the late Jimmy Lemmi Milla who was shot dead by Emmanuel David Lagu, a former driver and brother-in-law to the late Minister. Both the late Minister and Emmanuel are members of Pajulu ethnic group.
The investigation will be headed by Director of Public Prosecution, Filberto Mayuot Mareng and assisted by Director of Criminal Investigation of Southern Sudan Police Service, Maj. Gen. Ajang Reech Gak and three others. The committee is expected to submit its report to the Minister with immediate effect.
The Internal Affairs Minister added that his ministry with other security organs will immediately beef up security measures to ensure safety of ministers and other VIPS.
Meanwhile, the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit has declared a “three-day mourning period during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings and locations starting Thursday 10th February 2011”. By John Agou Wuoi
This article was updated on Feb 14, 2011 “Minister’s killing not political”, asserts internal affairs ministerJUBA, 9 February 2011 – H.E. Gier Chuang Aluong, the minister for Internal Affairs in the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) has asserted that the killing of the Cooperatives and Rural Development minister was not a political assassination.
This article was updated on Feb 14, 2011 GOSS Cooperatives minister, H.E. Jimmy Lemi Milla is deadJUBA, 9 February 2011 – The Government of Southern Sudan regrets to announce the death of its minister for Cooperatives and Rural Development, H.E. Jimmy Lemi Milla.
This article was updated on Feb 14, 2011
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