Day: October 20, 2021

Authorities in Kajo-keji County of Central Equatoria State are calling on cattle keepers who are still within the county to leave as residents complain that the cattle are destroying their farmlands.

They say about two cattle camps are still in the county despite presidential and gubernatorial decrees demanding the evacuation of cattle from the Greater Equatoria region.

Kajo-keji County Commissioner Gale Erastos told Radio Tamazuj in an interview that the cattle pose a huge threat to cultivated farmlands in the region.

“The remaining cattle that are still around Ngeppo Payam are causing a threat. All the crops cultivated by the people there have been destroyed. These are the damages that the cattle have caused. Though they are out of the farmland until now, they are still a threat because nobody knows they may get to the farmlands any time,” he said.

Erastos said the people of Kajo-Keji lost a whole planting season as they persuaded the cattle keepers to leave the area.

“Until now we are suffering the effects of the damages caused by the cattle keepers simply because we lost the whole cultivation season. My people did not cultivate because of that, because our season always starts in April,” he added.

Central Equatoria State minister of local government and law enforcement Moro Isaac Genesio stressed that it is the responsibility of the state government to protect its unarmed citizens.

“These cattle keepers are armed, so the local communities feel threatened because they are not armed. If any small conflict starts between the cattle keepers and the local community, it means people will be brutalized. That is why the government is protecting the civilians to ensure their safety,” Genesio said.

Kajo-keji officials say most of the cattle herders in the county are from Bor and Terekeka counties.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

The United Nations Commission of Human Rights in South Sudan notes with alarm and dismay the ongoing threats, harassment, and intimidation of prominent human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society actors, many of whom have played a key role in the country’s peace and justice processes.

In a statement to the media Wednesday, the Commission on Human Rights said credible threats to the lives of activists by the National Security Services (NSS) have caused some to flee the country, while the NSS continues to harass their colleagues and families.

“Civic space in South Sudan is eroding at an accelerating pace, undermining efforts to achieve sustainable peace. The role played by overzealous security services in preventing dissent and criticism, causing key stakeholders involved in constitutional and transitional justice processes to flee the country, discourages the participation of others. It negates the government’s own efforts in these critical arenas,” stated Commission Chair Yasmin Sooka.

Jame David Kolok and Michael Wani are among those now sheltering outside the country in fear for their lives. Mr Kolok is a member of the Technical Committee to Conduct Consultative Process on Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing – a position reaffirmed in May by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. Mr Wani has acted as a youth representative on the National Constitution Amendment Committee. Their bank accounts, and those of the non-government organizations they lead, are among those recently blocked on government orders, with other civil society actors also affected.

“The State’s targeting of high-profile human rights defenders will have a chilling effect on civil society, and will discourage public participation and corrode confidence in the important processes of transitional justice, constitution-making and national elections, which are essential for the success of the transition envisaged by the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement,” said Commissioner Andrew Clapham.

The 2018 Agreement requires the drafting of a permanent Constitution and the establishment of a Commission on Truth, Reconciliation, and Healing. While implementation of these and other measures, including requirements for broad public consultations, has been slow, in recent months government leaders have renewed pledges and taken steps toward these.

“At the same time that government has been calling for public participation in transitional processes, the National Security Services has targeted some of South Sudan’s most prominent civil society leaders. The NSS threaten peace and must be reigned in,” he added.

These latest restrictions and acts of harassment follow the formation on 30 July of a new civil society coalition whose members planned a public assembly to take place on 30 August. That public assembly could not take place as the authorities took adverse measures, including detentions, raiding of premises, an apparent internet shutdown, and an enhanced presence of security forces on the streets of Juba.

“The State’s authorities must respect and protect the rights of human rights defenders; this is an obligation under international law. It would also demonstrate that South Sudan’s commitment to strengthening its systems for the consolidation of human rights is genuine,” explained Commissioner Barney Afako.

Numerous civil society leaders remain detained and there is a lack of clarity on their wellbeing and status. The Commission is concerned their detention is arbitrary.

“South Sudan’s transitional constitution guarantees the right to free assembly and association. Restrictions must be based in law and should be in line with international human rights standards. Any concerns authorities may have need be addressed within the rule of law, not through harassment and brutality, which only fuels further conflict and division,” he added.

The Commission will continue to report on the erosion of civic space in South Sudan and to engage the national authorities with a view to ensuring respect and protection for the rights of citizens, civic actors and human rights defenders, in line with international law and South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

Authorities in Lainya County of Sectral Equatoria State say plans are ongoing to establish a local airstrip that will make movements faster and easier.

At the moment, a road network is the only means of transport connecting Lainya with other counties in the state, but the insecurity along major roads in the state is making movements difficult.

Emmanuel Khamis the County Commissioner of Lainya says they have already identified the place for the airstrip.

“We have already seen the site and soon we will mobilize the local community and the local government to begin clearing the area of the airstrip so that we can officially inform the state government to coordinate with the national civil aviation authority to assess the suitability of the airstrip,” he said.

Commissioner Khamis said the state and local governments are involved in the plans and that the estimated amount of the project will be determined when the engineers visit the site.

“We are going to write to the state to designate engineers for the assessment of the area but as of now, we want to mobilize ourselves as the local community to clear the area and after that is when the technical report will come out on how much it will cost but not now,” Khamis said. “We are targeting an area of 300 by 200 meters and it is located two kilometers from the new county headquarters in Lainya town payam.”

Jande Robert, a resident in Lainya, said the airstrip will save pregnant women who require transferrals.

“We, as women in Lainya, are suffering when it comes to the time of labor. The good thing is that the establishment of the airstrip will help because sometimes it’s difficult to find a car to carry expectant mothers to Yei or Juba.”

“This project is important to us as people residing in Lainya because if there are government officials who want to visit Lainya it will be fast and sometimes if the roads are not safe for movement officials can travel by air to and from Lainya,” Samuel Modi also a resident of Lainya county said.

Source: Radio Tamazuj