Day: November 1, 2021

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Graduation of unified forces to be delayed yet again

The graduation of unified forces might be delayed again from its initial schedule as a body tasked with screening of forces at the training sites face logistical challenges.

“The screening committee is ready to begin its work, but it is still waiting for money from the National Transitional Committee (NTC). So, there might be a slight delay in the graduation of the forces because screening has to happen first,” Major General Lul Ruai Koang, a spokesman for the military, told Radio Tamazuj on Friday.

President Salva Kiir in July promised the graduation of the first batch of 53,000 unified forces, but this has not materialized due to lack of consensus on the unified military command structure among the parties in the unity government.

In mid-October, the Joint Defense Board, the body charged with overseeing the training and graduation of the necessary unified forces, said the graduation of the necessary unified forces will take place in the first week of November.

The body said it had resolved to start the screening of forces at the various training camps in Equatoria, Bahr el Ghazal, and Upper Nile regions before the graduation of forces.

However, Lul said the National Transitional Committee (NTC) led by President Salva Kiir’s security advisor Tut Gatluak has not yet prepositioned the necessary logistics required to facilitate the screening process.

“The committee tasked with screening of the forces is ready. So, once we receive the money, the committee will travel to the three regions to start its work. There are 18 training camps across the country, and three screening teams have already been set up,” said Lul.

According to the military spokesman, soldiers who deserted training sites over the past months have been asked to report back for screening to pave the way for the graduation of the first batch of the unified forces.

“I would like to inform the public that the delay in the graduation of the unified forces will not be too much, it will just be a slight delay. The graduation might take place within November,” said Lul.

Peace monitors have in the past expressed concern over dire conditions in training sites that have forced a sizable number of soldiers to desert due to lack of food, medicines and shelters.

Under the 2018 peace deal, South Sudan is supposed to graduate 83,000 unified forces drawn from the various parties to take charge of security during the ongoing transitional period.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

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2 killed in separate attacks in Kapoeta North, Budi Counties

At least two people have been killed in two separate attacks on Thursday and Friday in Kapoeta North and Budi Counties of South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State.

“One of the Buya ladies was killed at Napak and also the Buya had come to this side, and one of them was also shot dead. Both victims are from Buya. The Buya came here to raiding and one of them got killed and the Toposa also from this county went to the Buya to pay back the woman who was killed, so it was a revenge killing,” Kapoeta North County Commissioner Emmanuel Epone Lolimo told Radio Tamazuj.

He accused the youth from Budi County of the raids saying they have disregarded a recent peace agreement calling for peaceful coexistence.

“First the whole of last week, the Buya have been coming here, they took our four goats and went with them. Also last week, they stole two herds of cattle from kraals and went with them,” he added.

Epone said although they are closely working with his Budi counterpart, the proliferation of arms in the hands of the youth is beyond their control.

“We are in touch with the Commissioner of Budi but what can we do as county commissioners when the people are not even listening to us? You know this proliferation of small arms has made all our youth violent, they are aggressive, they feel they are more strong,” Epone lamented.

The commissioner says he will convene a meeting with all the political leaders of both Kapoeta North and Budi counties to explore means of promoting peace in the area.

Meanwhile, Budi County Executive Director Alfred Odong says he is not aware of the incidents due to the poor road and communication networks.

However, he called upon the communities to live in peace and embrace each other.

Juma Tikol, a civil society activist in Kapoeta, says the government has the upper hand in resolving the conflict by ensuring that the resolutions of the Kali peace dialogue are implemented.

“There is this dialogue that was held there are some resolutions were arrived at. But the problem is that the resolutions are not followed and the very people that should ensure these resolutions are followed is the government,” Tikol added.

The two communities of Buya of Budi County and Toposa of Kapoeta North Counties have been fighting each other for a long time now.

On August 9th, 2021 Nyakiriket Consortium, a local organization supported the initiative of the peace dialogue between the communities of Toposa and Buya in Kali, Kimotong Payam of Budi County.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

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South Sudan, Sudan set to resume oil export

South Sudan’s Information Minister says oil export through the port of Sudan is set to resume after a week of suspension following political upheaval in Sudan.

The government announced last week that oil exports had been suspended but oil production in the country would continue.

On Monday 25th October 2021, the Sudanese military sovereign council leaders staged a coup, ousted the civilian leader Prime Minister Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, and dissolved the transitional government. The move has led to protests and widespread condemnation.

Micheal Makuei Lueth speaking after the Council of Ministers meeting in Juba last Friday said the government was negotiating with Sudan to resume the exportation of oil.

“The oil export is not suspended, it is one of the exceptions. The people of Eastern Sudan have been saying they are making exceptions and out of these exceptions is that oil will be exported and they will allow some trucks to carry food and trucks to Khartoum. This is what they said and they have already started negotiation with the government,” Makuei said.

Makuei, also the government mouthpiece, said there is a lack of clarity in the unfolding political crisis in Sudan, and South Sudan is cautious to intervene.

“The fact that Sudan at present is in its crisis does not give us the right to intervene in the crisis in Sudan. There are two camps now in Khartoum, there is a camp that is supporting Al Burhan and there is a camp that is demanding that the civilian government must rule Sudan,” he said. “For us (the government of South Sudan) things are not yet clear and so we can not just intervene. We are still observing to see what is happening in Sudan and we only wish the people of Sudan to resolve their problem.”

After the coup, the Beja tribe in Eastern Sudan interrupted oil export through Port Sudan, stopping the exportation of both Sudan and South Sudan’s oil to the international market.

South Sudan, mostly oil-dependent with over 95% of its revenue coming from oil exports, exports crude oil through Sudan to the international market.

Source: Radio Tamazuj