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Mr. Pagan holds talks with AU’s Peace and Security CommissionerJUBA, 13 June 2013 -South Sudan’s Chief Negotiator and Secretary-General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Cde. Pagan Amum yesterday in Addis Ababa held talks with the African Union Peace and Security Commissioner Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra.
The two sides reviewed the status of implementation of the agreements which were concluded in September 2012 between the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan, the African Union peace and Security website reported.
South Sudan Chief Negotiator Pagan and Lamamra, AUPS commissioner
They also exchanged views on the current challenges and prospects for an early resolution of the issues affecting continued and satisfactory progress in the process of the implementation of the Cooperation agreement.
Commissioner Lamamra expressed confidence that the two countries, South Sudan and Sudan will both support the proposals of the Chairperson of the AU High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and fully cooperate in their implementation.
Reported by Matata Safi China pledges support in resolving differences with SudanJUBA, 12 June 2013 (NASS) – The Government of the People’s Republic of China has pledged to support efforts towards finding solutions to the oil problems between Sudan and South Sudan.
The outgoing Chinese ambassador to South Sudan, Li Zhiguo made this pledge yesterday after a meeting with South Sudan’s minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin.
China's outgoing ambassador Zhiguo in a meeting with Dr. Benjamin.
Dr. Benjamin briefed the ambassador on South Sudan's position following the announcements made by the President Omar el Bashir of Sudan that he will stop the flow of South Sudan's oil through his territory on allegations that the Republic of South Sudan is supoorting rebels fighting in the two Sudanese states of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile.
The Chinese diplomat who underscored China’s good relations with the South Sudan said “Our friendly relation with South Sudan has been so long and will be cherished by two of us”.
Dr. Benjamin urged the Chinese government to talk to the government of Sudan over the latest developments between the two countries. He said shutting down of the country's oil flow or going to conflict doesn't solve anything but instead affects development and stability of the two countries. Dr. Benjamin reaffirmed South Sudan’s commitment to fully implement the cooperation agreement.
UK ambassador meeting Dr. Benjamin
In a related development, Dr. Benjamin in his office yesterday met with the British ambassador to South Sudan, Ian Hughes. The two discussed the current relations with Sudan. Ambassador Hughes said the United Kingdom and the Troika are working to see that the problem is resolved.
PANOS to develop RSS information systemsJUBA, 12 June 2013 (NASS) - The Ugandan based PANOS Eastern Africa organization has expressed great interest to participate in the building and development of information systems in South Sudan.
Dr. Melakou Tegegn, the organization’s executive director disclosed this yesterday after a courtesy call on South Sudan’s minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin.
Dr. Benjamin (second right) and his deputy Atem Yaak Atem (l) pose for a photo with Dr. Tegegn (r) and Mr Taban. [Photo: Ajang Monychol]
Dr. Benjamin, who welcomed the initiative, urged the organization to continue with the program which he said will help in the nation building process. Dr. Tegegn said their program would focus on how the media can be a tool towards attaining sustainable development.
Meanwhile Mr. Alfred Taban, a prominent South Sudanese journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of the Juba Monitor newspaper backed the initiative saying it will help the government to understand the feelings and demands of the citizens.
PANOS is a regional NGO working in the east and horn of Africa serving nine countries in the fields of media.
Reported by Martin Jada, News Agency of South Sudan (NASS) President Kiir challenges Sudan’s rebel-support claimsJUBA, 11 May 2013 – South Sudan’s President Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit has challenged Sudan to provide evidence of the continuous allegations that South Sudan is supporting rebels fighting to topple the government of Sudan.
President Kiir who was responding to statements made by the Sudan’s President Omar el Bashir last Saturday, said South Sudan has more serious demands to attend to other than to support rebels in a foreign country.
“If we have money, we have a lot of services that our people need. Our people need roads so that they can connect to each other. They need hospitals, schools and clean drinking water. We cannot leave these demands and buy guns to support their rebels”, President Kiir told the press at the State House in Juba yesterday.
[Photo: by Matata Safi]
President Omar el Bashir was reported to have ordered his oil minister to shut down the pipelines carrying South Sudan’s oil “if it [South Sudan] does not stop supporting the rebels of Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) fighting his government in the states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.
Quoting a famous Arabic proverb, President Kiir said Bashir is behaving like someone who slaps you; he goes crying and later accuses you of having fought him. Sudan, he said is supporting rebels of Yau Yau and many others that have already taken up government amnesty. The President explained that weapons that were brought in by the militia leader General Jonathan Olony who heeded to his amnesty, among others, testify to Khartoum’s support to rebels to destabilize South Sudan. He wondered how Khartoum can be accusing South’s of supporting its rebels.
President Kiir said Sudan’s accusation of the South’s support to rebels fighting in the Sudanese territory is a mere attempt to derail the implementation of the September Cooperation Agreements. He urged his northern counterpart to use the already established mechanisms within the Cooperation Agreement to channel any complaint “if at all he has credible complaint against the government of the Republic of South Sudan”.
Furthermore, he said the decision to prevent South Sudan’s oil from transiting through Sudan to the international markets seriously undermines the September peace pact and the implementation matrix.
Since no official notification has been addressed to the government of South Sudan, President Kiir said his government will remain committed to the unconditional implementation of the Cooperation Agreement.
President Bashir’s utterances, President Kiir said are a test to the African Union High Implementation Panel, which is the main broker of the September Agreement as well as the United Nation Security Council.
Click here to read the President's statement.
Reported by Matata Safi President Kiir urges Abyei citizens to return homeJUBA, 11 May 2013 - President Salva Kiir Mayardit has called on leaders of Abyei in Juba and elsewhere to head to the oil rich region to spearhead the return of the people of Abyei ahead of the much expected October referendum. He said it is important for all the people of Abyei to return to the area and get registered to vote in the referendum.
“I told my brother Deng Alor [the minister of Cabinet Affair] that they [Abyei leaders working in South Sudan] should go to Abyei and mobilize the people register for the referendum,” President Kiir said. He said nobody will be allowed to vote in Juba or elsewhere in South Sudan for the Abyei referendum.
President Kiir [Photo by Matata Safi]
Khartoum’s push for the nomadic Arab pastoralists to take part in the Abyei referendum denied the people of Abyei their right to determine where they would want to belong as per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
A new date (October this year) has been fixed by the African Union for the Abyei referendum. Nonetheless, the Abyei Administration, Abyei referendum Commission as well as the Abyei police are yet to be formed.
A return arrives in Abyei town [Photo: by Matata Safi]
President Kiir expressed dissatisfaction with the African Union and the UN Security Council on their stance on Bashir. The African Union is not doing much to tell Bashir to move out of Abyei Area.
Reported by Matata Safi
Campaign against Child Marriage launchedJUBA, 11 June 2013 NASS –South Sudan’s ministry of Gender Child and Social welfare in collaboration with United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) yesterday launched the Campaign against child marriage as the country prepares to join the rest of the continent in commemorating the International Day of the African Child.
Celebrated every June 16, The Africa Child Day, has been established by the Organization of the African Unity (now the African Union) in 1991 in honor of the children killed in the 1976 uprisings in Soweto. A protest by school children in South Africa against apartheid resulted in the public killing of the unarmed young protesters by police officials.
“It’s important to note that in South Sudan there are a number of harmful social and cultural practices that are been practiced. These include but are not limited to the; Child Marriage, forced Marriage economic Value attached to girl Child (the use of dowry price) tattooing and piercing of children, milk teeth extraction and breaking of the teeth, preference attached to child’s gender (son preference as regards education) female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and scarification” said Dr. Priscilla Joseph Kuch the ministry’s Deputy Minister
Deputy minister Dr. Kuch at the launch [Photo: by Simon Matiop Akol]
Dr. Kuch said child marriage is a very critical issue in the Country and she said it is being practiced in all the States of South Sudan. “The rate at which young girls a being married off has become very alarming and this limits their development prospects and participation in education and other developmental activities” She said. she called on all stalkholders join efforts to fight harmful practices against children in South Sudan.
The 2010 South Sudan Household Survey (SHHS) indicates that about 40 percent of the girls are married when they are still below 15 years; child marriage is also stated as one of the main reasons why there are very few girls who complete basic primary school.
Members of UNICEF and Gender staff at the launch [Photo by Simon Matiop Akol]
The theme of this year’s celebration has been ‘”Elimination of the Child Marriage in South Sudan “Our main focus is on creating awareness about the various harmful practices and how they affected our children and also look at what the way forwards as regards eliminating these practices” the Deputy Gender Minister said.
The national celebrations will be held’s at Nyankuron Cultural Centre this Fridaywith the rest of the states convening at their respective state capitals to mark the day.
Reported by Simon Matiop Akol (NASS) RSS to sign core UN human rights conventionsJUBA, 11 June 2013 - Justice Minister Hon John Luk Jok yesterday appeared before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva and officially acknowledged South Sudan’s decision to sign several core human rights conventions. The minister’s visit marks the first time that the Republic of South Sudan has appeared before the Human Rights Council in order to update the Council on the human rights situation in the country.
Hon Jok added, “We will relentlessly work towards the implementation of these instruments through our domestic institutions and laws.” After The President signs the instruments of accession, the instruments will be deposited with the United Nations Secretary General for official adoption. RSS has no official notice of oil shutdownJUBA, 9 June 2013 –The government of the Republic of South Sudan has said that it has not received any official communication from the government of Sudan regarding the alleged intention to shut down South Sudan’s oil from being exported through Sudan.
Pagan briefs President Kiir ahead of African Union team of experts meetingJUBA, June 8, 2013 -South Sudan’s negotiating team has announced it will be heading to Addis Ababa, the Capital of Ethiopia to submit the country’s position to the African Union team of experts on borders as well as to discuss teams of reference for the resolution of the disputed and claimed areas.
This was disclosed yesterday by country’s Chief Negotiator Cde. Pagan Amum Okec after a meeting with the president of the Republic H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit
The team, Mr. Pagan said will hold talks on implementation of the oil agreement as well as the formation of the oversight committee to monitor the flow of the country’s oil through Sudan based on “ very clear terms” among other issues.
Though he did not specify when the team will be leaving, Mr. Pagan said his team will also engage Sudan on its continued “false” allegations against the Republic of South that its supporting rebels opposed to the Khartoum government
“The civil war inside Sudan is a Sudanese war with two Sudanese parties to the conflict”. Pagan said.
[File photo: by Matata Safi]
Furthermore, he called on the government of Sudan to remain committed to fully implement the cooperation agreement. South Sudan’s position, he said is to develop relations with Sudan, relations of cooperation in all the fields in pursue of the mutual interests of the people of the two countries
On the final status of Abyei, Mr. Pagan urged the government of Sudan to accept the AU/HIP proposal as the basses for final resolution of the problem of the Abyei area.
“It’s unfortunate that the government of Sudan has been rejecting that proposal and has been allowing the aggravation of the situation including attempts of forceful displacement and settlement of non Ngonk Dinka residence in area” he said.
Reported by Matata Safi Juba to hold the 21st Nile Council of Ministers meeting.JUBA, May 6 2013 - Ministers in charge of Water Affairs in the Nile Basin countries will on June 20, convene in Juba, the capital of the Republic of South Sudan for the 21st annual Nile Council of Ministers (NILE-COM) meeting.
The annual regular meeting of the Nile Basin Intiative (NBI) governing body will deliberate on how to move the Nile cooperation forward and discuss administrative issues such as assessing the performance of the NBI work plan for the previous year fiscal year, review and approval of the work plan and budget for fiscal year 2013/2014. The meeting will also review and endorse a number of strategy and policy documents. The official Nile Basin Website stated.
The Nile- COM meeting will also witness handover of the leadership of the Nile Council of Ministers from Rwanda to South Sudan.
South Sudan joined the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) on July 5 last year taking number seven on the alphabetical listing order of the member states thereby assuming the one year leadership of the body after Rwanda. The other members include Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
“South Sudan has stake on the Nile Basin waters, its usage, management and development”. Said Alier Bullen Ngong, the Director General of Water Resources and Management in South Sudan’s Water Resources and Irrigation ministry.
[photo: by Matata Safi]
Ngong said South Sudan stands to benefit from the common basket funds that are within the regional block. He said South Sudan laying between downstream and upstream of the Nile , upon assuming chair of the regional block will use its position to coordinate with various position within the NBI to spearhead the existing cooperation.
Ngong made these remarks yesterday in Juba while chairing a meeting of the organizing committee at Water and Irrigation Board room.
Reported by Matata Safi. President Kiir meets Ban Ki MoonYOKOHAMA, 3 June 2013 - President Salva Kiir Mayardit in the margins of the TICAD conference yesterday on 2nd June, 2013, met with the United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon. The meeting mainly centered on the relations between Juba and Khartoum, the situations in Jonglei state and issues of the SPLM North and Abyei area.
TICAD 5 ends with Yokohama DeclarationYOKOHAMA, 3 June 2013 - African and Japanese leaders have wrapped up their 3-day meeting in Yokohama City, south of Tokyo, by adopting a declaration to promote foreign investment in Africa.
The 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 5), ended on Monday morning. Japan co-hosted the conference, attended by the leaders from about 50 African nations. Delegates discussed trade, investment and security, among other issues.
The Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the talks had given rise to a determination among participating nations to move forward hand in hand. He said there was renewed hope for growth in Africa.
The Yokohama Declaration calls for cooperation to achieve accelerated growth, sustainable development and a reduction of poverty in Africa. It pledges to improve legal systems and infrastructure to encourage private foreign investment. The declaration also calls for an increase in vocational training to provide the skills needed for jobs. It ensures a commitment to advanced agricultural technologies to boost food production.
The leaders adopted an action plan to meet the declaration's goals. The plan sets a target of 6-percent growth for Africa's agricultural sector and a doubling of its rice production by 2018. The declaration appreciates the Government of Japan for the contribution of $550 USD million in support of humanitarian assistance in Africa.
President Kiir addresses TICAD 5YOKOHAMA, 2 June 2013 - President Salva Kiir Mayardit addressed the second session of the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development today, as the conference continues its session in the second day on peace and stability.
Belgian investors urged to build road to DRCJUBA, 2 June 2013 (NASS) - The minister of Information and Broadcasting who is also the official government spokesperson, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, last week urged a Belgian investment mission to consider investing in the construction of a road to Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He described the construction of the road as a priority and of strategic importance to South Sudan.
South Sudanese officers graduate from Kenya’s National Defense CollegeNAIROBI, 2 June 2013 - Two South Sudanese officers Brig. Gen. Chol Biar Ngang and Brig. Gen. Gatwech Yiech Ruom were among the 41 high ranking military officers drawn from different African countries who graduated from the National Defense College (NDC) in Kenya. This was the 15th batch of graduands since the inception of the NDC.
Reported by Joseph Garang Deng from Nairobi, Kenya Minister criticizes Human Rights Watch’s report on WBG skirmishesJUBA, 2 June 2013 (NASS) - The minister of Information and Broadcasting, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin has denounced as unfair a report by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International on the violence in western Bahr el Ghazal State last December.
Press release from the NSS on CTV's false allegationJUBA, 1 June 2013 - Please click the hyperlinks below to read a press release from the Director General of the National Security Service (NSS) denouncing the false accusation by the Editor-in-Chief of Citizen Newspaper and CTV that a security officer threatened CTV at gunpoint. African development conference kicks off in JapanYOKOHAMA, 1 June 2013 - The three-day day fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 5) kicked off today on June 1st, 2013 in Yokohama City of Japan under the theme: “Hand in Hand with a more dynamic Africa”.
H.E Kiir meets Japanese PMYOKOHAMA, 31 May 2013 - President Kiir and his delegation today at Intercontinental Conference Hall in Yokohama City met the Prime Minister of Japan H.E Shinzu Abe.
President Kiir in JapanYKOHAMA, 31 May 2013 - The President of the Republic H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit arrived in Yokohama Japan on Thursday, leading a high-level delegation from the Republic of South Sudan to participate in the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-V).
In the margins of the TICAD-V in Yokohama City, President Kiir and the delegation met on 31 May 2013 met the Chairman of Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Mr. Junzo Shimizu and his deputy Mr. Yasuhiko Yokoi and General Manager for Energy Infrastructure Project Department 1, Mr. Hideyuki Oiwa. The meeting focused on the building of the pipeline from South Sudan to the Lamu Port in Kenya. Toyota Japan has expressed the interest to build the proposed pipeline and has carried out the feasibility studies and is ready to begin its construction.
Reported by Thomas Kenneth in Yokohama - Japan “Sudan is committed to implementing the Cooperation Agreement” AmbassadorJUBA, 31 May 2013 (NASS) -The Sudanese Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan Dr. Mutrif Sadiq has reiterated his country’s commitment to fully implement the September Cooperation Agreements it has signed with the government of the Republic of South Sudan including the agreement on Oil.
Dr, Sadiq made the remarks on May 30, in Juba the Capital of South Sudan after a meeting with South Sudan’s Petroleum and Mining minister Hon. Stephen Dhieu Dau.
Ambassador Sadiq and Petroleum minister Dheiu [photo: by Yang Bang Deng]
Responding to questions by the press, Dr. Sadiq refuted media reports that his country had tried to hamper flow of South Sudan’s oil from Unity State’s oil fields through Helgig pipeline about two weeks ago. He said "there was only a technical problem" with the pipeline which he said the pipleline engineers were able to rectify later.
Hon. Dhieu who commented the efforts of the Sudanese diplomat reaffirmed South Sudan’s commitment to closely work with the government of Sudan to ensure the full implementation of the agreements it has signed with the later. The meeting, he said discussed issues of bilateral relations and cooperation.
Reported by Yang Bang Deng( NASS) SSBF announces new board membersJUBA, May 29 2013 -The South Sudan Business Forum (SSBF) yesterday welcomed the appointment of its inaugural Board members at an event held at the Home and Away Business Center in Juba
SSBF is South Sudan’s main Public-Private dialogue mechanism that brings together key economic stakeholders to promote a conducive business and investment climate for private sector development.
It is the custodian of a transparent and inclusive public and private dialogue mechanism constituted to ensure effective representation of a broad spectrum of private sector interests, including SMEs, in fashioning and pursuing the Forum’s agenda on the economy.
Hon. Garang Diing Akuang, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment in a press leased issued by SSBF, emphasized the importance of the partnership between the Government and Private sector in “Promoting Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) on policies that affect the private sector and the business community.
International Financial Cooperation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group is supporting SSBF in promoting public private sector development in South Sudan. The new board members represent both the public and the private sector.
Click here to read the press release
Reported by Matata Safi South Sudan Football Federation approves plan for women footballJUBA, 29 May 2013 (NASS) - The board of directors’ South Sudan Football Federation has approved 2013 budget of about 8 million SSP for the development of women football in South Sudan. This budget will also support the training and capacity development of South Sudanese referees and the coaches.
Reported by Makeir Wen Buk / Translated by Martin Jada Gabriel “South Sudan oil flow benefits both Sudans”, RSSJUBA, May 28, 2013 –The flow of South Sudan oil is for the economic benefit of the people of the Republic of Sudan, South Sudan and the region, South Sudan government spokesman Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin has said.
“Strengthen UNISFA”, Kiir urges AU/PSCADDIS ABABA, May 27 2013 – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has called on the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU/PSC) to strengthen the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) following the killing of the Paramount Chief Deng Koul Deng of Abyei.
The late paramount chief was killed on 4 May 2013 when a convoy he was travelling in came under attack believed to have been carried out by some elements from the Messeriya Arab nomads group. One UN solider was also killed.
H.E President Salva Kiir meeting the AUPSC In a meeting with the AU/SPC yesterday in Addis Ababa on the margins of the African Union Jubilee celebrations, President Kiir said the situation in the area would get worse if the UN security force is not strengthened to face the current security challenges.
The AU has called for an immediate investigation in the murder of the chief with both Presidents Kiir and Omar El-Bashir pledging their support for the investigations. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia H.E Haile Mariam Desalegn.
Reported by Thomas Kenneth H.E Kiir and El-Bashir agree to establish 8 border crossing pointsADDIS ABABA, 25 May 2013 – Presidents Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan and Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan have agreed to immediately establish eight border crossing points for easy movement of people and flow of goods to facilitate trade. This followed a meeting between the two leaders in the margins of the African Union summit yesterday evening at the Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa. This was announced by the minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial.
Earlier, President Kiir met the Prime Minister of Ethiopia H.E Haile Mariam Desalegn and discussed with him the current situation in the relations between Sudan and South Sudan in terms of the issue of the murder of late Paramount Chief of Abyei Kuol Deng Kuol.
H.E Kiir attends 50th anniversary of the OAU/AUADDIS ABABA, 25 May 2013 - The capital city of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa has witnessed on 25th May, 2013 celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Organization of the African unity (OAU)/ African Union (AU), under the theme: “Pan- Africanism and the African Renaissance”.
The participants included African Heads of State and Government, UN Secretary Gen. Mr. Pan Ki Moon, US Secretary of State Mr. John Kerry, European, Asian and Arab world Representatives. The celebration started at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa with the African union 21st ordinary session of the assembly of heads of state and government, opened by its Chairman H.E Haile Mariam Desalegn who is also the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
Kenya to jointly undertake three major projects with South SudanJUBA, May 24, 2013 – The President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta has said his government will jointly with South Sudan undertake three major projects of Lamu oil pipeline, construction of road linking the two countries as well as construction of a railway line to improve trade between the two countries.
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