Day: February 2, 2022

South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) has donated an assortment of digital equipment aimed at boosting the work of its members across the East African nation.

The donated items included state-of-the-art laptops and mobile phones.

James Bidal, the head of SSHRDN secretariat, said the digital equipment support program would enable human rights defenders across the country exchange emails, share files and hold virtual meetings with each other.

“The support will involve mentoring the beneficiaries on robust software and technical concepts on information and communication safety, data protection techniques used by rights defenders,” he explained.

According to Bidal, human rights defenders play a central role in monitoring human rights situations and also defend victims of human rights violations.

“The digital support equipment will make it easier to share ideas collaborate. Human rights defenders will be connected through networks that span the country, allowing them to share information, easy scheduling of meetings, sharing files and improving their digital safety,” he stressed.

The head of the SSHRDN secretariat cited violations of human rights, torture, beatings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, absence of human rights defenders’ protection act and lack of funds as bottlenecks to their work.

Sworo Nelson Loboka, a human rights defender, said the digital equipment will fasten his work and enhance sharing of information with his colleagues.

“Over the last two to three years, my work has been difficult due to lack of such equipment. With this laptop, my work will now be easier,” he said.

Sworo lauded SSHRDN and its partners for supporting human rights defenders in the country.

A coalition of civil society organizations and individuals working to protect promotion of human rights in South Sudan, SSHRDN was established as an independent entity partnering with both the international and regional human rights power houses, including the Ugandan-based Pan African Human Rights Defenders Network (PAHRDN) and DefendDefenders.

Source: Sudan Tribune

UN Secretary-General appointed a Nigerian general to lead the United Nations Interim Force for Abyei (UNISFA), for the first time since its establishment in 2011.

The international mission was established on June 27, 2011, in response to the urgent situation in the disputed border area less than two weeks ahead of the independence of South Sudan after the eruption of violence between the two sides.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres (Tuesday) announced the appointment of Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr of Nigeria as Force Commander for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA),” reads a statement by the UN spokesperson.

Sawyerr succeeds Maj Gen Kefyalew Amde Tessema of Ethiopia.

The mission until now is formed only headed and composed Ethiopian military forces as it was requested by the Sudanese government and in recognition of the role played by the late Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

However, following the deterioration of bilateral relations between Khartoum and Addis Ababa Khartoum requested the withdrawal of the Ethiopian force from Abyei that remains under Sudan’s sovereignty.

On January 19, 2022, the head of the Un peacekeeping department Jean Pierre Lacroix spoke with the Chairman of the Sovereign Council to inform him of the troops’ replacement process will start in February and will continue until next March.

Previously, Sawyerr served as Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armour School in Bauchi State in North-East Nigeria (2020-2021).

He held the position of Brigade Commander twice in North-East Nigeria and was Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Battalion with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (2009-2010).

He also served as the Director of Plans at the Nigerian Army Headquarters (2019-2020) and Deputy Director of Doctrine and Combat Development (2017-2018).

Source: Sudan Tribune