Uganda, South Sudan signs peace deal on boarder dispute

A south sudanese woman of the Kuku tribe takes cover 

as her house was set ablaze by angry Citizens of moyo

By Mogga Emmanuel Benaih
After lives lost, properties destroyed, houses burnt people tortured, items looted activities disrupted and above all people displaced and expelled from moyo district of Northern Uganda
A peace deal have finally been reached by the negotiating parties of both sides, the deal signed in Uganda's moyo district where the crisis started was signed Saturday 20/09/2014

The main resolution was that all stakeholders should call on the fighting communities to stop fighting each other with immediate effect. Secondly, the two governments agreed to deploy joint security forces to patrol the Uganda - South Sudan border so as to prevent further fighting. The other important resolution was that the national governments of both countries should expedite the work on the border verification and demarcation process.
 The Ugandan delegation was led by General Moses Ali, the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister, while the South Sudan side was led by Honorable Sube Samuel Manase, the Central Equatoria Minister of Info
rmation. I was asked to join the team from South Sudan side to represent the churches from Kajo-Keji.


However the question remains whether the common population will be able to adopt to the peace deal given the level of destruction and loses entered into
One elder after having heard the news of a peace deal welcomed the news but said he doubts its taking effect soon.

The bishop of Kajo keji county who was part of the delegation asked people to continue to pray that both sides will accept to cease hostilities.
The boarder issue between this two areas is not new, it dates way back and in several occasions discussions have been on going with several committees formed since 2009 but it has become a recurring issue this time taking a deadly trend that result to killing of many including destruction and burning of houses.
it is said that the president of South Sudan shall be meeting with the Ugandan president earlier next month to discuss and resolve the boarder dispute that has persisted for long within this two sisterly/brotherly areas.

Additional reporting adopted from Paranet lo Kajo Keji 

Equatorian soldiers ‘disarmed’, troops sent to Terekeka,Konga reaafirms stand on Federalism

Central Equatoria Governor Clement Wani Knga

Central Equatoria Governor Clement Wani Konga appeared publically yesterday for the first time after reports of tensions between him and the president. He denied mobilizing his own militia while also questioning ongoing disarmament of Equatorians in the armed forces, which he claimed was ongoing.
The defiant governor stated, “Nobody can sit on my head. Nobody can sit on the head of Equatorians.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of SPLA troops arrived from the capital Juba to Konga’s hometown of Terekeka on Wednesday night, a local source there told Radio Tamazuj.
“Me I am not afraid. Nobody can sit on my head. Nobody can sit on the head of Equatorians. We are all equal. What good will you get by killing your brothers in cold blood?”
“And all these activities have indicated, have shown themselves, there is disarmament going on now against the Equatorians, those who are in the police, those who are in the army. Can one tribe or two tries make a nation? No. South Sudan is for us all,” said Konga.
This comes after rumors that a large body of forces recruited from Konga’s Mundari tribe are planning to attack Juba, a claim denied by Konga.
“The first allegation that brought tension to Juba was concerning the Mundari people, that the Mundari people mobilized themselves and they are coming to attack Juba. As a result, our brothers [i.e., the Dinka] started arming themselves inside Juba city – but this rumor was created so as to cause disunity among the people of South Sudan,” said the governor.
The governor confirmed, however, that some Equatorians troops had left the organized forces but denied responsibility for this, saying the army had neglected them.
He referred to a brigade of 6,000 troops that he said he had helped to mobilize.  He said, “Unfortunately they are not treated well, they are left as Equatoirans. Six have died of hunger. They have only the AK-47.”
“It is the duty of the army to maintain them,” he said, insisting he could not control them himself. “The defections taking place, is it caused by me? No.”
Konga also stated that some Equatorians within the Tiger Battalion – President Kiir’s personal guard – have been recently disarmed.
“I don’t have forces in the Presidential Guards. The forces who are in the presidential Guards, these were a balance of the old forces, both SPLA and the former Sudanese army…  What I discussed with the commander was why at this time you are removing – asking the Equatorians to hand over some of the equipment you have. And I told him that after my coming we shall sit and discuss with him.”
'I will not accept federalism that is brought through blood'
The governor denied wanting to oppose President Kiir by force. “Such kind of wild rumors should be brought to an end. As for us Equatorians, we have kept President Salva. It is us who protect him.”
“Since my return from Germany in 2012. It is not a Dinka who is keeping Salva in power. It is us the Equatorians. And we have been disliked because of our frankness, then there is something wrong.”
The Central Equatoria governor also refused to back down on  his demand for federalism, which some of Kiir’s SPLM faction have cirtiied, saying it is not the right time to discuss it. But he said, “I will not accept federalism that is brought through blood.”
Troops dispatched to Terekeka
In Terekeka County, north of Juba, the head chief Alfons Modi Lado said, “The situation is calm and there is no problem. There are no militia that gathered,” he said, while confirming that government troops arrived from the capital and stationed themselves in the county.
“Just a little while ago some government troops arrived just outside Terekeka town and took positions. But they are just stationary and normal, there is no problem between the Mundari tribe and the government.”
He put the number of troops at 300 or more, explaining that they came by the main road from Juba in about ten vehicles. They are about 12 kilometres from the county seat.
“That is the government army, and we have no problem with the government,” he said, speaking for the people and traditional leaders of the area. “Those are our people. We don’t have any problem with it.”Radiotamazuj

South Sudanese artist to give hope to refugees in northern Uganda.

Hard Life avenues Stars Mantani and Nicky Prince(R One of south Sudan's leading music group.

)

 By Mogga Emmanuel Benaih.

Juba-As the peace talks in Adissababa seem stalled and abandoned with no possibilities of yielding hope to the ordinary citizens who have been directly affected by the ongoing crisis  a renowned South Sudanese music group the Hard life avenue have taken it upon themselves to ensure their fellow south Sudanese in Uganda have peace of mind and hope in their future.

To bring a peace of mind to the south Sudanese refugees in Uganda Hard Life Avenue a musical crew in south Sudan is warming up to perform and entertain the refugees in the upcoming refugees’ day.

Mogga Emmanuel the manager of the Hard Life Avenue said the concert is aimed at giving courage to the refugees, entertain them and provide relief from psychological stress adding that the aim is to ensure that the South Sudanese who are in Uganda due to the current crisis feel at home and make them feel at home.

Going and having a concert will give relief to them and make them proud of their origin despite the difficulties. He stressed, saying artist have a great role of preaching peace and hope

We are responding to our responsibility as music group to contribute towards peace and restoration of hope to those who hope looks far.

According to Nicky Prince the crew’s president people like the refugees are stressed and always miss something especially home they need something to relax their mind and the best thing is Music, many of those who fled the country are just traumatized in the camps in the neighboring countries

Some of them have lost hope and are psychologically sick hence need at least entertainment this is all the deal about this show he said.

Organized alongside Skyline international promotions the Crew plans to have two concerts on 20^th and 21^st of this month June at the main town of Adjumani District and the other at Pakele County an areas where a good number of south Sudanese refugees are settled

After having sung the all stars peace song alongside Silver X the Hard life Avenue trip to the refugee camps in northern Uganda is seen as great event to give hope as they join the refugees in celebrating the international day for refugees

With both their entertaining and educative songs in both English, Arabic and some local south Sudanese dialects the crew hopes to impact positively to a great population of their fellow citizens now camped up in Uganda.

According to Hard Life Avenue Crew they plan to organize concerts in all the neighboring countries hosting South Sudanese refugees but they wanted to use this trip as a stepping stone.

The Burden and regrets of being a south Sudanese

:

By Mogga Emmanuel Benaih.

A burden that comes with being a South Sudanese, listening to gunshots, bombings seeing your fellow citizens starving suffering and above all dying. Witnessing piles of death bodies and vultures in the skies feeding on our fellow brothers and sisters 

As if all the above is not enough the living are made to stay in fear and live in crowded IDP camps or go as refugees to neighboring countries………it is worth regretting to have voted for secession

At first I was a Sudanese born in exile grew up as a refugee until the CPA was signed in 2005

After the comprehensive Peace Agreement I became a citizen of the so called new Sudan, and also southern Sudan

But right after the referendum that resulted to the separation of the then Southern Sudan from its northern oppressor I became a proud citizen of South Sudan wuuu!! What a long walk to freedom

Proud as I was I joined the rest in the celebration but as time goes it is surely worth mentioning that those who voted for the separation of south Sudan are truly feeling the burden caused to them by their vote.

Right from the 1^st day of independence to date am death sure most of the citizens who stood in the sun for hours to vote for separation have never met any positive difference caused by the separation and independence they voted for.

The lack of improvement in all sectors causes recourse to the former Sudan when it was yet united it worth regretting to have voted for separation

With all the expectations laid forward to the south Sudanese people, the prospects put on the face of the situation at that time it has turned out as a source of frustration

No basic services, such as schools medical facilities, roads, etc  yet the government officials are been seen spending federal reserve’s luxuriously for their utmost personal benefits setting un fruitful trips abroad is the habit of all government officials in the pretext of acquainting themselves with what is happening in develop world

What have they brought back after their trips, nothing other than their bellies stocked with piles of what they accumulated abroad or patting with their fat allowances?

The cry of the citizens for basic services has always fallen on deaf ears promises are kept high but nothing is being done to fulfill such promises, in several incidences the government reiterated its commitment on development but not much of such have been achieved yet several billions have been spent in the name of development.

Donors money have gone into individual pockets several projects initiated are either incomplete or sub standard in nature.

Worst of all is the frequent deaths resulting from armed robbery, cattle raid, inter-communal fights, and rebellions ranging from the late Renegade  George Athor, Oliny Tanginyany, Yau yau,

We who voted for separation have to admit that we are part of the current massacring of our fellow brothers and sisters because we brought out through our votes a country to make people fight in and scramble for power aaah I wish I knew I would have not done so only to caused the killing of my fellow countrymen. What a disappointment to us the young generation who thought by voting for separation the start of peace liberty and equality was inevitable?

I deeply regret my vote and apologize to the whole world that witness this merciless killing of civilians by this long time war mongers

Had we to remain in the previous so call Sudan nothing g of this nature would have taken place because the idea would have not been there or it would have taken another angle.

Now this thousands dying in the hands of this two SPLM sides what will be the end result.

The world and rights bodies including the government are calling for accountability will accountability bring back those who have for no reason been killed?

Will it bring them back to life, to me the best is to stop the war immediately and dwell on positive developments

Self accusations will only breed more conflict, negotiations done and agreed on table with no stoppage of military offensive is just a waste of time and resource hence resulting to more disasters

All the government resources have been diverted to fighting mobilization or preaching to the whole world that what is happening is as a result of a failed coup attempt by former Vice president and his allies

The biggest question is how long are the negotiations in Adis going to take place, what will be its results and how will it benefit the innocent civilians who are either congesting in UN camps, seeking refuge in neighboring countries, or stranded in the bush?

The negotiations are taking long with not even a peanut agreement being positively implemented yet the innocent civilians of this country continue to die, suffer, being displaced and go without basic services

Most of the government activities have all come on hold most attention is focused on the war, no basic services, in the most affected areas some of which can’t be accessed by humanitarian agencies it is not a good experience there for the innocent civilians who are made to suffer for something with no cause , oh God look at this enemies of peace who can’t pity the fact that south Sudanese have not enjoyed peace since 1955.

The author is a south Sudanese journalist and an activist he can be reached through mogga4news@gmail.com

Pagan Amum pleads not guilty

 By Mogga Emmanuel Benaih.

The suspended SPLM Secretary-General and former chief negotiator of south Sudan on talks with Khartoum , Pagan Amum, who is  currently facing treason charges –labeled against him alongside four other top former government by the government told the special court he was not guilty of any of the charges being levied on him.
Pagan Amum who testified in court today denied taking part in any plot to overthrow the government.
“I have no any connection with that group; if they’re those who wanted to stage a coup and overthrow the government, I am not part of them neither in the past, at the present nor will I have any connection with them in the future,” he said.

Pagan Amum

Mr. Amum, who is the second defendant of the four people accused by the government of attempted coup in December last year, was the second person to testify before the high court in Juba today.
Meanwhile, the lead defense lawyer, Kur Lual Kur, told Eye Radio after Pagan Amum’s testimony that he is confident they will win the case because the charges brought by the prosecutor against his clients are “weak”.
The Prosecutor General James Mayen was not available in the court today for comments.
This was the court hearing number 13.
The trial of the accused started on the 11th of March, and so far nine witnesses out of eleven have testified before the court.
The four defendants are the former Minister of National Security, Oyai Deng Ajak, the suspended Secretary-General of the SPLM, Pagan Amum, the former deputy Minister of Defense, Dr. Majak De Agoot, and the former head of Mission of the Government of South Sudan to the US, Ambassador Ezekiel Lol Gatkoth.
seven of the detainees arrested together with Pagan in connection to the coup plot have been released and are currently under the custody of the Kenyan government.
(additional information from Eye Radio)
 

South Sudan: A Civil War by Any Other Name

Source: International Crisis Group

Refocusing international engagement as well as the peace negotiations is essential to stop South Sudan’s raging civil war from claiming ever more lives. 

South Sudan’s four-month civil war has displaced more than a million and killed over 10,000; an escalating humanitarian crisis threatens many more. In its latest report, South Sudan: A Civil War by Any Other Name, the International Crisis Group looks at the longstanding political and military grievances behind spiralling violence and examines the steps necessary for peace and reconciliation. Communal conflicts cannot be separated from political disputes, and resolving both requires sustained commitment from South Sudanese and international actors.

The report’s major findings and recommendations are:

• The dispute within the governing Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) that led to the conflict was primarily political, but ethnic targeting and communal mobilisation quickly led to appalling levels of brutality against civilians. As peace talks between the government and the SPLM/A in Opposition stalled, both sides sought gains on the battlefield to strengthen their position in negotiations.
• Peace talks and reconciliation efforts must expand considerably beyond deals between political elites to include other militarised actors as well as community-based organisations, religious groups, women’s associations and others.
• To address the rapidly growing humanitarian crisis, armed actors must permit unconditional humanitarian access to civilians in areas they control. Aid providers must prepare to scale up humanitarian service delivery to prevent an avoidable famine.
• Plans by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to deploy a Protection and Deterrent Force raise the prospect of even greater regional involvement. IGAD should only do so with a clear mandate that supports a political resolution of the conflict. 
• The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) is called upon to be an impartial actor in conflict-affected areas and to carry out state-support tasks in others. This dual mandate creates confusion and should urgently be amended to focus on the protection of civilians, human-rights reporting, support for IGAD’s mediation and logistical help to the African Union Commission of Inquiry.

“Many communities are aligning themselves with military factions, giving the conflict a dangerous ethno-military nature”, says Casie Copeland, Consulting South Sudan Analyst. “To prevent further catastrophe, South Sudan’s leaders and its international partners need to consider a radical restructuring of the state. New constituencies have to be admitted to a national dialogue, including armed groups previously not included, civil society actors and disaffected communities”.


“The conflict that broke out on 15 December 2013 was decades in the making. Resolving it requires not a quick fix but sustained domestic and international commitment”, says Comfort Ero, Africa Program Director. “The democratic space that was closed after independence in July 2011 must be reopened to enable peace and reconciliation processes to take hold”.

The SPLM dying historically and taking lives of innocent civilians

Displaced south Sudanese sit in the scorching sun as a result of the SPLM geared conflict that broke last December.

By Mogga Emmanuel Benaih.

The ranks and files of the Sudan’s people Liberation movement/ purely referred to as SPLM that engineered the South Sudan’s independence will never be the same.

History will never be on SPLM’s side again, they have rubbed off their historical facts that they use to praise themselves of

Gone are the days when it seemed mandatory or part of the law to pay allegiance to the party

Just like in my village and many other places across south Sudan or Sudan as a whole by then any disrespect towards SPLM such as supporting any other political party other than the SPLM was looked at as treason or a crime punishable.

Now all accomplishments have remained history, since the inception of the SPLM just like any other institution the party has been having weakness ranging from power struggle among others

But due to the presence of its tough leadership under the late hero Dr John Garang some of the weaknesses were handled before it caused any escalation that affects it.

It must be admitted that the contribution of SPLM towards the formation of this new country in the world was the instrumental factor in the entire struggle for independence

But now the actions of the SPLM that transpired right from the CPA to the independence and from the independence to date does not in any way reflect its vision and mission which they always preach in several occasions

The SPLM has since then lost its vision and is been driven like a voyage without compass direction nothing ever positive have been seen through the SPLM apart from power struggle corruption, self praise and so on.

It is worth mentioning that the war heroes put their interest on enriching and appeasing themselves at the expense of nation building

The slogans of we fought for this independence still run in their mind even when planning federal reserves

Nothing much is worth mentioning that has benefited the civil population in south Sudan brought by the SPLM other than the independence which the citizens overwhelmingly voted for

Although to date in the look of things many of those who voted for separation seem to be regretting their choice as they witness things going astray more worst than it used to be even under the rule of the enemy.

The SPLM is just a death or a dying party trying its luck also to die with a good number of south Sudanese citizens that is why its glutton leaders are commanding hard their fighters to counter and kill

It is us the civil population especially the poor suffering all the effects of these barbaric actions of this dying SPLM spectrum the SPLM. We as the tax payers and the people in whose names donations have been made to the country have enriched these blood tasty party leaders who are full of bragger of having brought liberation to south Sudan.

I am posed to wonder what the SPLM think about people dying without cause, yet they praise themselves for having fought for the people. The question is, Did you just fight to liberate us and kill us at the end? 

All the SPLM gurus especially those messing up this country they both have their families and their close relatives abroad being funded by the tax payers’ money in the national budget or through corruption and embezzlement.

Whether the SPLM like or not history will never be on its side again especially when they started their barbaric actions which started by their deep rooted divisions and groupings

What is going on in south Sudan now is all caused by the SPLM party be It a coup or not there is no other cause apart from the SPLM party

The two different counter press conferences held in December 2013 in Juba by the two factions of the SPLM one led by the former vice president Dr. Riek Machar and the current Vice president James Wani Iga with each group followed by some others who also called senior members of the party.

It is worth appreciating to mention the enormous contribution of the SPLM towards the liberation of the new nation but with all the destructions they caused, the death toll the displacement and the suffering brought to the whole nation the SPLM will never gain back its historical legacy

It is worth regretting to say the least that the SPLM gurus have right from time immemorial been confusing south Sudanese and only concentrating on benefiting their own interest

History will never favor SPLM in whatever way it is already cursed till its dying end with all the blood poured to safe the country from nothing but only feeding the vultures.

Even in the second coming of Jesus it is clear from this point that the soul (s) of SPLM will never resurrect because the souls that perished in their hands shall need to be revived

Am 100% sure that God and his only begotten son are not mad to revived the body of a  killer, looter and destroyer to the human race

God himself is right now watching and listening to the cries of his suffering and dying people of South Sudan. Now do you think God is crazy to still favor this blood thirsty crooks

Gone is the time of the SPLM being sung like a song..it is dying and will die with all its legacy but it wants to die with the whole of south Sudan

we the citizens need to open our eyes and watch carefully this gun-ball the SPLM crooks are playing