Author: Web Desk

South Sudan said Thursday it has drawn up a strategic plan with neighbouring Sudan to facilitate border crossings as the two countries continue to dialogue over how to end disputes over claimed and contested border areas.

Senior presidential aide Tut Gatluak Manime told the Sudan Tribune on Thursday that “good progress” was being made between the two neighbours, pointing to the presence in Juba of a technical high-level Sudanese delegation led by the Defence Minister, Yassin Ibrahim Yassin.

“There is good progress in the security arrangement meetings. We have drawn up a strategic plan to facilitate border crossings between the two countries so that the movement of people and goods continue to benefit the two sides,” said Manime.

Last month, a two-day visit by the Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok resulted in a series of agreements between the leadership of the two countries. Border crossings, river transportation, and railway were agreed upon by the parties to enhance the 2012 cooperation agreement.

Sudanese defence told reporters on Wednesday that he was in Juba to deliver a letter from the head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council General Abdel Fatah al-Burhan to the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.

The letter conveys the commitment of the government of Sudan to continue supporting the implementation process of the revitalized peace agreement. Al-Burhan also commended President Kiir’s continued support for the ongoing efforts to bring peace in Sudan, saying stability of Sudan and South Sudan is interlinked.

All the security-related matters, according to the presidential adviser on security affairs, will be discussed.

“No issue will be left untouched. His excellency the President of the Republic has directed and instructed to discuss all files relating to security matters between the two countries. This is a clear indication that his excellency is committed to ensuring the issues of the border are resolved amicably,” he said.

He added that the presence of the Sudanese defence minister should be perceived as an indication of the Sudanese commitment and seriousness to settle all the post-independence pending issues between the two countries.

“He has come with all those who are involved in the security matters in Sudan. The directors of security agencies, the police, the military intelligence, customs, and all the officials with links to the security and border issues in Sudan have come. They are here. We are holding discussions with them,” he further stressed.

After brokering the Juba Peace Agreement involving armed groups the Blue Nile State and Darfur, Juba is now exerting efforts to bring the SPLM-N of Abdel Aziz al-Hilu to sign a peace agreement ending the armed conflict in the Nuba Mountains area, which is located near the South Sudanese border.

Also, Kiir seeks to convince a Darfur holdout rebel leader Abdel Wahid al-Nur who is residing in Juba to engage in negotiations with the transitional authorities in Sudan.

Source: Sudan Tribune

South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit wants to declare a state emergency in the country’s restive state of Western Equatoria to quell tribal clashes but the peace partners reject the idea.

President Salva Kiir speaks at the army’s command council in Juba on October 31, 2019 (PPU photo)The dispute which initially broke out between the Zande and Balanda in Tambura County turned into a large scale conflict that resulted in the loss of lives and properties and triggered displacements of local residents.

Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said Thursday Kiir wanted to declare the state of emergency in the area to curb the raging violence and manage the situation.

“President Salva Kiir is serious with the situation in Western Equatoria. His seriousness is demonstrated by his desire to declare the state of emergency but the (signatory) opposition (groups) opposed the proposal,” he said during an interview with the UN Radio Miraya on Thursday.

“One hand cannot clap,” Ateny stressed.

Religious and traditional leadership in the area have called for intervention by the national authorities. But former opposition groups have rejected the state of emergency saying other laws can be used to maintain law and order.

They have argued that tough emergency powers can be misused to stifle critics since emergency law enables authorities to detain people without warrants, seize property, enter, and search any premises, suspend laws, and issue orders that cannot be questioned in court. Officials who issue such orders are also immune from lawsuits.

Government officials have argued the emergency is needed to be declared because other options are not working. Further, they say have no intention to use emergency measures against political leaders.

The tribal violence in the region affected the security situation along the Juba Nimule road disturbed the import of goods from Uganda.

Source: Sudan Tribune

The new acting secretary-general of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement led by President Salva Kiir has taken the oath of office, on Wednesday after his appointment was made in late August.

The swearing-in ceremony of Peter Lam Both was attended by President Kiir, Vice-President James Wani Igga, who is also the SPLM- Kiir deputy chairman. Also attended Vice-President Taban Deng Gai, Kuol Manyang Juuk, a leading figure of the SPLM’s political bureau and a senior presidential adviser and several others.

In his speech, President Kiir directed the new SPLM Secretary-General to embark on the reorganization of the party, pointing out the need to instil discipline, loyalty, and commitment to observe the rules and regulations of the movement.

He further assured his support to the secretariat.

Vice-President James Wani Igga pledged his support to the secretariat and emphasized unity, tolerance, love, respect, and commitment to upholding values for which the movement was founded in 1983.

For his part, Both thanked Kiir for the trust he bestowed upon him and pledged to work hard and together with all the heads of the SPLM secretariat to deliver the aspirations of the leadership and values and principles of the movement.

The first challenge facing the new SPLM secretary-general is to demonstrate his capacity to reorganise the national and regional structures before setting up a political programme to win the general elections at the end of the transition.

Source: Sudan Tribune

South Sudan has resumed cross border trade with neighbouring Uganda, ending weeks of the strike by truck drivers.

A line of trucks carrying varieties of commodities entered Juba on Tuesday later afternoon, causing a sigh after days of a surge in basic commodity prices.

Deputy foreign minister Deng Dau Malek told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday the drivers have resumed movement after receiving assurance of safety following the deployment of forces to patrol the road.

“There is a new development today. The trucks which were on the Ugandan side of the border have crossed today and some of them have already entered Juba town. I am told they reached this afternoon,” said Malek.

He pointed that prices of commodities will return to normal after the arrival of trucks loaded with different types of basic commodities.

Traders stopped circulating between South Sudan and Uganda to protest the insecurity caused by looting and bloody attacks along the Juba-Nimule Road.

They also cited extortion by armed forces and multiple illegal taxations.

The resumption followed talks and meetings involving South Sudan, Uganda, and Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia whose nationals are involved in the movement on the Juba-Nimule Road.

Malek said security forces have increased their deployment along the road to prevent the attacks.

Source: Sudan Tribune