JUBA, 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.

H.E. Amum cited the prompt conduct of the peaceful referendum as a critical pointer to the fact that South Sudanese and their government mean business. “We are united and confident about what we want and how to get it”, he emphasized. He also appealed to the international community and any other doubtful segments of society not to underrate the resolve of the people of South Sudan for peace.

H.E. Amum and General Lagu at the forum.

He emphasized, however, that the country need not go on holiday after the successful referendum. He explained that like a student, passing one stage implies that the country has now moved up to a higher class and is facing new challenges which it must address.

H.E. Amum also said that the people of South Sudan will defeat the mischievous acts of their enemies. He said some of these acts include support for militia groups which are wrecking havoc in some parts of the country. He reported that GOSS has a clear strategy of dealing with this menace. He said that one of the strategies is healing, inclusion and reconciliation. He explained that those who respond favourably to this olive-branch will be embraced warmly. But he also warned those who are hell-bent to cause chaos in the new country that South Sudan has the means to defend itself and will defeat its enemies.

The Undersecretary and other senior Ministry of Information officers at the forum.

The minister also said that the government is determined to deal with the LRA menace in parts of Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal states. He said that this “pain” cannot be tolerated any longer and reported that the government will deal with the matter conclusively.

H.E. Amum also reiterated that the government is keen to enforce the rule of law in the country as a means of facilitating peace and prosperity in its territory. The minister made these remarks when he addressed local and international journalists during the weekly media forum organized by the GOSS ministry of Information. The forum was also attended by the veteran freedom fighter, General (Retired) Joseph Lagu. It was chaired by the Advisor to the Minister of Information, Mr. David Nok Marial. Senior ministry officials led by the Undersecretary Mr. George Garang and Director General for Information, Mr. Mustafa Biong Majak were also in attendance.

JUBA, 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.

Addressing journalists during the weekly media forum hosted by the Ministry of Information, the minister explained that Southern Sudan is emerging “broken” from these many years of turmoil and needs healing to root out the dominant culture of violence.

“We are in a transition moving from the past stage to become free and building a peaceful and prosperous society”, he said. He recounted the history of the liberation struggle and emphasized that the cost of freedom has been very high. “People killed and enslaved throughout the years of resistance are more than ten million”, said he.

H.E. Amum addressing the forum accompanied by the Advisor to the Minister of Information.

He said that the government is working to build peace and heal the society as well as remove the culture of violence. “We need to follow the process of holistic healing”, he said adding that the focus should not just be on the physical infrastructure but more on the human resource.

“For us to be here today in this state is a miracle; we were nearly destroyed”, he said. He appealed to all the people to contribute to this process. He also appealed to the media to use their influence to build peace in the country.

The minister explained that many lives have been lost as a consequence of this trauma even after the peaceful referendum. He cited the murder of the GOSS minister for Cooperatives and Rural Development last week as well as the killing of twenty-two people in Malakal and 197 people in Fangak as some of the incidents triggered by this psychological trauma. He said that the government is doing its best to ensure that such incidents do not occur again. He called on all the people to support this initiative.

JUBA, 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 was announced by the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. George Justin Achor after a meeting with the head of the WFP and state officials today at the ministry headquarters in Juba.

Mr. Achor said that the meeting also discussed the extension of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ministry and the WFP which expired on 31 December 2010. He said that the MOU is now ready and will be signed tomorrow.

The Undersecretary assured all the people concerned that food shortage in the educational institutions will now be a matter of the past. He thanked the WFP for its support and cooperation in ensuring that there is adequate food for the students.

In another event yesterday, the ministry received a delegation from UNESCO with which it discussed pertinent issues relating to education in an independent South Sudan. During the meeting, the ministry emphasized that it is committed to providing education opportunity for every child in South Sudan. To achieve this, it will need to construct more classrooms and schools; recruit and train more teachers; harmonize curricula; print adequate learning materials including textbooks; promote alternative education for the people who missed the opportunity earlier in life; and build the capacity of the managers of education systems in the country. UNESCO promised to support select training programmes through short courses and other capacity building processes. A follow-up meeting on this will be held next week.

Reported by Gisma Shaban Suleiman
 

JUBA, 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.

H.E. Amum said that the technical committee undertaking this process will table its action plan tomorrow. He also said that only twenty percent of the border is contested. He clarified, however, that all the borders will be mapped out including the contested areas which he said are all in South Sudan.

The minister also announced that a joint team of the SPLM and NCP will meet in Abyei on Friday and report back to the Presidency on a suitable action on the future of the area. He clarified, however, that the position of the SPLM is that the people of Abyei be given an opportunity to decide whether to return to the South or remain part of the North. H.E. Amum also said that the SPLM will continue to engage the NCP to resolve the other pending issues of the CPA.

He also disclosed that the party will split into two with an independent entity for each state. He said that the interim chairman of the party in the North is Malik Agar while Yassir Arman will serve as the secretary general until the party elects a new office. He also said that the party will be registered afresh in the South according to the constitution of the new country. He said the possibility of a change of name of the entity in the south has not been discussed but emphasized that the party will deal with the matter if and when it arises.

JERUSALEM, 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.”

By Ben Hartman 

NAIROBI, 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.

H.E. Telar Deng addresses the event as Amb. Mayom looks on.

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
 

JUBA, 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

JUBA, 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.

Chair of the Elders, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said:
“This referendum was a remarkable expression of hope by the people. I was very moved by their determination to vote; some walked for days to do so.” He added: “Everyone who took part should be praised for ensuring that voters were able to exercise their rights freely. I applaud the people for their peaceful participation and their remarkably high turnout to vote.”

Women's and children's rights activist, Graça Machel, said:
“The people of Southern Sudan voted for secession because they believed that it will lead to a better, more secure future. It is now up to the leaders in the South to manage the immense expectations of the people for better schools, healthcare and infrastructure and greater economic opportunities, especially for women and youth.”

Former US President Jimmy Carter who, along with fellow Elder and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, led The Carter Center's observation mission for the referendum, said:
“While the world will join the people of Southern Sudan in celebrating the birth of Africa’s newest country, we should not turn away from the North where challenges of poverty, conflict and human rights abuses remain of great concern.

“The Elders also want to draw attention to the need to resolve the status of the Abyei area and the popular consultation processes in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.”

Former Algerian foreign minister Lakhdar Brahimi said:
“Sudanese leaders from the North and South have the responsibility to ensure that there is an orderly transition in the coming months. The immediate priority is to resolve post-referendum issues such as on citizenship, security, oil, currency, debts and liabilities.

“The common interest of both North and South is to establish and develop strong, fraternal cooperation at all levels. The rest of the world should help them effectively to achieve that objective.”

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said:
“While they will now go separate ways, North and South Sudan will remain mutually dependent on each other for their prosperity, stability and development.

“Without peace in the North, the South will not be able to address many of its development challenges. At the same time, development in the South is a prerequisite for economic and political stability in the North.

“We thus call on the international community, and particularly the neighbouring countries, to support the efforts of both sides to work together for the benefits of their citizens and the region at large.”
 

JUBA, 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

JUBA, 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.

Addressing the press this afternoon in the company of his Information counterpart, H.E Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the minister explained that this was a criminal act whose motivation is not yet established given that the assassin was a former driver of the minister and a relative.

H.E. Gier (right) addresses the media accompanied by H.E. Dr. Marial (left).
[Photo: Matata Safi]

H.E. Gier explained that the assassin broke into the minister’s car in the parking lot, took a gun, went upstairs to the minister’s office and killed his bodyguard before shooting the minister thrice killing him instantly. He explained that the killer had not been suspected because he used to work there and was considered a member of the ministry.

The minister also clarified that the assassin was arrested as he fled and refuted reports that he shot himself. He is now under lawful custody while investigation into the motive of the killing is ongoing. He also explained that the killer attended national services in 1986, way before the CPA.

He called on the people to remain calm as the security agents delve deeper into the matter. He also assured the people that security in the country is under control and that there should not be any cause for alarm.

Madam Awut reading the condolence message from the GOSS President.
[Photo: Matata Safi]

H.E. Dr. Marial reinforced his colleague’s statement and explained that this is an isolated incident which should not be used as a basis of generalization. He explained that security matters are delicate and complex and that even the most protected personalities, including the pope, have been accosted in spite of their elaborate security detail.

Meanwhile, the GOSS President, H.E. General Salva Kiir Mayardit has sent a message of condolence to the bereaved family and the entire country. The President has also declared a three-day mourning period during which the national flag will be flown at half mast on all buildings and locations starting tomorrow, Thursday 10 February 2011. The condolence message was read to the media by H.E. Awut Deng Acuil, the GOSS minister for Labour and Public Service.

Reported by Clement Aturjong Kuot

JUBA, 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.

 
The late H.E. Jimmy Lemi

The late minister was shot dead this morning in his office by a certain Emmanuel David Luga, a member of the Pajulu ethnic group. The killer is a former driver and brother-in-law of the late minister.

The President of the Government of Southern Sudan, H.E. General Salva Kiir Mayardit and the entire GOSS leadership expresses deep sorrow over the assassination. Click here to read the condolence message from President Kiir.