Day: December 31, 2021

KHARTOUM— Mass protests started in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and other cities on Thursday to demand civilian rule.

According to eyewitnesses, various protests headed to assemble at Sharwani bus station, to march to the Republican Palace.

Hundreds of army soldiers have been deployed at the entrances to the bridges linking the three major cities of Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri, most parts of which were closed by the authorities before the start of the demonstrations, said eyewitnesses.

Earlier on Thursday, the internet service on mobile phones was interrupted.

The Sudanese Professionals Association, the body leading the protests, issued a statement on Wednesday urging the citizens to take part in protests set for Thursday.

Sudan has been suffering a political crisis after General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct 25 and dissolved the Sovereign Council and government.

On Nov 21, Al-Burhan and the then removed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok signed a political declaration, which included reinstating Hamdok as prime minister, but the deal has so far failed to calm the street.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

KHARTOUM— At least three people were killed in demonstrations in Sudan’s Omdurman city on Thursday, said the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD), a non-governmental organization.

“Three people died in the processions in Omdurman by the bullets from the coup forces and their (allied) militias,” the CCSD said on its Facebook account.

“The authority is practising the most heinous violations against our people, and the chases continue in the neighborhoods with live bullets being fired,” it added.

Omdurman is the most populated city in Sudan, lying on the western bank of the Nile river, opposite the capital Khartoum.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

A young man was killed and another one is missing after they were ambushed by armed men in Uror County of Jonglei state on Wednesday, local officials said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Tang Chatim, the Uror County commissioner said the young men were moving from Pathai to Pulchuol Payam when they were attacked in the Del area on Wednesday.

“One of those men was killed on the spot and the other one is still missing up to now. The youth sent to the incident scene only found his shoes,” Commissioner Tang said.

He added, “Separately, on December 28, some criminals tied an old man to a tree and killed him and made off with his 50 cows in the Duol area of Pulchuol Payam.”

The county commissioner said they suspect that the attackers came from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).

Gatbel Machar, the county police inspector, said no one was arrested in connection with the attacks which he blamed on suspected cattle raiders.

For his part, Nyany Korok, the deputy head of the GPAA human rights commission, said: “We have been officially informed about the incident. As a government, we have embarked on peace campaigns and we are engaging our Jonglei State counterparts to control the recurring insecurity in our region.”

Source: Radio Tamazuj

At least 16 youth who were arrested last week for rejecting the results of a youth election organized by the government were on Tuesday released from detention in Kapoeta, Eastern Equatoria State.

Local authorities claim there were 18 youths detained while the community insists that there were 19, including a local female journalist who covered the arrival of the legitimate youth chairperson at Kapoeta airstrip.

The local government claims the two who still remain in detention are police officers which according to the law are not supposed to engage in rioting.

The chairperson of the Toposa Community Association (TCA) had earlier demanded the unconditional release of the 19 youth who were arrested by a combined force of the National Security Service (NSS) and police last Wednesday and Thursday in Kapoeta town, Eastern Equatoria State.

TCA Chairperson Paul Napwon Yonai wrote to Governor Louis Lobong on 24 December urging him to halt the ongoing arrests and demanding the immediate release of the youth in detention.

The crackdown on and arrest of the youth followed controversial elections held on 21 December to choose the chairperson of the Toposa Youth Association (TOYA) which was blessed by Governor Lobong in Kapoeta. The youth protested and blamed the governor for trying to impose his preferred candidate as chairperson after he had just been impeached by the Toposa community’s executive body.

Among the youth arrested include the elected acting chairperson, Ngoya Yaba, and female journalist Roslyn Nakopir who was arrested for covering the arrival of the former at Kapoeta airstrip last Wednesday

Aliandro Lotok, the press secretary in the office of Eastern Equatoria State governor, said the youths were released after they apologized to the government. He said they were charged with causing insecurity in Kapoeta town and violating the Covid-19 prevention measures.

“16 out of the 18 Toposa youth who were arrested last week have been released after they apologized for their wrongdoings,” Lotok said. “Two members of the youth are found to be police officers and they have been handed to their units for disciplinary measures. According to the military law, no soldier is allowed to engage in politics when still in active service.”

He added: “The arrested youth were charged with causing insecurity in Kapoeta town, violating Covid-19 protocols, engaging in an illegal gathering, two of them are officers of the police now engaged in politics contravening the law and they will be dealt with according to the military law.”

He said some of the youth who were arrested are NGO workers who are now engaged in political activities in the state yet humanitarians are by law not allowed to engage in politics.

Lotok said that the state government wants to build a harmonious state without insecurity and that anyone destabilizing the security of the state will be dealt with by law.

“The release of the youth is really a wake-up call to young people not to engage in subversive activities that undermine the wellbeing of the state,” Lotok said. “We want to build a peaceful Eastern Equatoria free from political incitement and misunderstandings.”

Toposa community chairperson Paul Napwon Yonai appreciated Governor Lobong for accepting his plea to release the youth.

“Arrest does not mean they have to face charges or be killed, no. It means the process of discipline and gives an opportunity for people to see whether they were taking a right direction or wrong direction,” Napwon said. “At the end of the day, when people sit and resolve issues, then it brings peace. Thanks to God I communicated with the security people they accepted my plea.”

Source: Radio Tamazuj

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has commended Aweil communities for their roles in maintaining peace and stability with neighboring communities from Western Bahr el Ghazal and the Warrap States.

UNMISS’ head of field office in Aweil, Ataklti Hailu, made the statement during a cross-border peace conference held in Aweil South County last week. He confirmed the UN mission’s solidarity in collaborating with the local communities to create a more conducive environment for peace and development.

“UNMISS recognizes that the communities know the issues affecting them and they also know the solutions and that is a very important consideration. So there is a lot of wisdom, a lot of knowledge and understanding among the communities on how to resolve any crises that happen,” says Hailu.

Dut Majak, the paramount chief of the Dinka Malual in Aweil West County, thanked UNMISS for fostering peace and development.

“The UNMISS is working with us in all sectors and we are happy about that. I urge the mission to do more in the coming New Year 2022,” Chief Majak said.

Abaker Talatin Dichak, the paramount chief of Apada Sub-Payam in Aweil Center County, requested the UN mission institute some quick impact projects so that more water stations and health facilities are built in New Year.

“Our request is for UNMISS to approve some quick impact projects to install more water points and health facilities,” Chief Talatin said.

Source: Radio Tamazuj

Local authorities in Rubkona County of Unity State confirmed that 2 people, a Sudanese nomad, and Nuer, were killed in revenge attacks last week in Panakuac Payam on the border with Sudan.

The commissioner of Rubkona County, Gatluak Whicar, told Radio Tamazuj there were 2 incidents of murder last week but that the situation was now normal.

“A gunman from the Arab nomads killed somebody who was looking after his cow and they took his rifle and ran away but when the relatives of the victims came they found the dead body in the forest and this is where they went and killed a person from the Sudanese Arab nomadic tribe in revenge,” Commissioner Whicar said.

He said after the killing, the local authorities and their Sudanese counterparts intervened to resolve the situation but that there are still issues of cattle theft.

“The situation in Rubkona County is normal,” Commissioner Whicar said. “There is no fighting in Panakuac but there was a killing which happened last week where I sent my deputy and he came back with the report that he has settled down the situation (sic).”

He added: “There are still allegations of cows being taken by the Arab nomads. About 60 cows have been taken. Only 2 people have died on both sides; one from the Sudanese Arab nomads and one from Nuer, South Sudan.”

Source: Radio Tamazuj