Day: May 12, 2022

A high-level United Nations Integrated Transition Sudan Mission to Sudan (UNITAMS) delegation headed by the its Deputy Head of the mission, Khardiata Lo N’Diaye are in the North Darfur State capital, Al-Fasher to get acquainted with the overall situation on ground.

The visit comes after completion of tasks of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). A joint African Union and UN peacekeeping mission formally approved by Security Council Resolution 1769 on 31 July 2007, UNAMID was tasked to bring stability to Darfur while peace talks on final settlement continue.

The team, comprising of representatives from various UN agencies and international bodies, held a meeting with North Darfur State governor, Nimir Mohamed Abdul-Rahman and informed him about the aim of their visit.

“..alongside a delegation from UN Headquarters, met with Governor of North#Darfur, Mr. Nimir Abdulrahman in El-Fasher town and discussed humanitarian & security situation, aspects of development as well as the cooperation between the UN & the state authorities,” tweeted Khardiata.

Meanwhile Nimir briefed the high level UN delegation on the humanitarian and development situation in the state as well as the progress of the peace process after the signing of the Juba Agreement for Peace in Sudan.

He appealed to the UN agencies in the states to continue their work in implementing development projects and services in a way that coincide with providing humanitarian aid in order to remove the impacts of war.

The governor further called on the UN delegation not to link the provision of humanitarian aid and the implementation of service and development programs in Darfur with the political conditions that Sudan currently faces.

On 3 June 2020, the Security Council adopted resolution 2524 (2020), establishing (UNITAMS); a special political mission to provide support to Sudan for an initial 12-month period of its political transition to democratic rule.

Source: Sudan Tribune

South Sudan President Salva Kiir has formally acknowledged the Kenyan government’s apology over an incident in which an activist openly criticized the president during a television show.

While appearing on Kenya Television Network (KTN) last week, South Sudanese activist Peter Biar Ajak said Kiir failed to address mourners at the late Kenyan leader Mwai Kibaki’s funeral occasion due to “a hangover”.

Kiir was among the leaders invited for the funeral of Kenya’s third president.

The activist’s remarks against Kiir caused a diplomatic row between the two countries after South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation handed over a protest letter to the Kenyan envoy in Juba.

KTN, in a May 10 letter, apologized to President Kiir for what it described as “inaccurate and unfortunate remarks about him on the television”

However, the Kenyan government through its special envoy to South Sudan Kalonzo Musyoka, “expressed a dismay at the negative portrayal of the presence of president Salva Kiir at the state funeral service and expressed at least the media has issued an apology to his excellency president Salva Kiir Mayardit and the people of South Sudan for the unethical behaviour”.

Musyoka explained that President Salva Kiir is the leader of a sovereign nation and “does not represent himself, but the people of South Sudan”.

Meanwhile President Kiir lauded the steps and measures taken by the Kenyan government and assured that what was done by the Kenyan media would not affect the relations between the two countries.

Kiir and Musyoka also discussed the progress made in the implementation of the September 2018 peace accord and the political situation in Kenya.

South Sudan is a strategic partner of Kenya in many areas. Both countries have cultural similarities as South Sudanese lived in Kenya before independence.

Source: Sudan Tribune