United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Media & Spokesperson Unit

Communications & Public Information Office

MEDIA MONITORING REPORT

NOTE: Reproduction here does not mean that the UNMISS Communications & Public Information Office can

vouch for the accuracy or veracity of the contents, nor does this report reflect the views of the United Nations

Mission in South Sudan. Furthermore, international copyright exists on some materials and this summary should

not be disseminated beyond the intended list of recipients.

MONDAY, 15 JULY 2013

SOUTH SUDAN One hundred and sixty airlifted to Bor for treatment as UN gains access to Pibor clashes

(Sudantribune.com)

Two hundred wounded in South Sudan tribal clashes (Associated Press)

Aid agences enter Pibor (Eye Radio)

South Sudan could benefit from new food security policy – US (Eye Radio)

Unity State MPs back calls to resintate sacked governor (Sudantribune.com)

Youth friendly centre opened in Yambio (Gurtong)

Yei River County authorities impose town speed limit (Easter Radio)

Morobo community radio goes on air in October (Easter Radio)

Dollar shortage affects business community (Easter Radio)

SOUTH SUDAN, SUDAN Sudan wants tangible evidence on end of support to rebel groups (Sudantribune.com)

Sudan studying “foreign plot” aimed against the country (Sudantribune.com)

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS Sudan accuses SLA-Minnawi of attacking UNAMID peacekeepers (Sudantribune.com)

Sudan bans opposition parties from meeting rebels in Geneva (Sudantribune.com)

DRC forces repel latest M23 rebel attack (Voice of America News)

FEATURES/ OPINION South Sudan is not a failed state yet, but an emergning one: a rebuttal (by John Bith Aliap on

South Sudan News Agency)

SPLM crisis and the demise of tribal hegemony: for better or worse? (Editorial piece on

SouthSudanNation.com )

Cry the beloved South Sudan in its second Independence anniversary (by Tongun Lo Loyoung on

SouthSudanNation.com)

Tribalism is in trouble (by Zechariah Manyok Biaar on )

Oil may determine South Sudan’s future (Oilprice.com)

Mushrooms provide healthy living, food in South Sudan (feature article on VoA News)

LINKS TO STORIES FROM THE MORNING MEDIA MONITOR

Fighting in South Sudan forces thousands into bush (Reuters)

Over 200 wounded in South Sudan clashes – UN (Agence France-Presse)

South Sudan fighting could spark ‘ethnic conflict’ (Agence France-Presse)

President Kiir to open Speakers’ Forum (Bakhita Radio)

Cabinet meeting postponed over bad political mood in Juba (Sudantribune.com)

Senior SPLM official accuses Amum of self-failures (Sudantribune.com)

Newspaper editor says under threat for publishing critical views (Sudantribune.com)

Unity State suspends disarmament (Radio Miraya)

Warrap holds interstate peace conference (Radio Miraya)

Governor Lobong dissolves Kapoeta peace committee (Eye Radio)

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Highlights

160 airlifted to Bor for treatment as UN gains access to Pibor clashes Sudantribune.com Bor/ Juba, 14/07/13 - At least 160 wounded people were flown to Bor

civil hospital in Jonglei on Sunday from Manybol in Pibor county, after United Nations troops

accessed the Nanaam area for the first time since fighting between rival groups broke out last

week.

The Jonglei director of the South Sudan Red Cross, David Gai, said the "majority" of patients

were young men from the Lou Nuer tribe who launched an attack on the area on 7 July.

The fighting has been focused around Nanaam village in Pibor, but due to the remoteness of

the area, the government and UN have not been able to provide details about the clash.

South Sudan’s army says that the area has been occupied by rebels loyal to David Yauyau,

who has led on and off rebellion in Pibor since 2010.

Gai said the South Sudan Red Cross could not avail the total number of people injured in the

fighting, but said they had transported 160 wounded people to hospital for treatment.

Medicine Sans Frontiers (MSF), the UN’s World Health Organisation (WHO) and

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sent in a team of doctors to Bor hospital to

help treat the wounded.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) released a statement on Sunday

putting the total number of people injured at more than 200 after Indian peacekeeping troops

managed to enter Manybol.

UN and WHO sources, however, say they witnessed Lou Nuer youth guarding cattle around

Manybol, not far from the SPLA camp.

There are no clear details about how many people have died in the fighting, but one of the

injured Lou-Nuer victims Sudan Tribune interviewed at the hospital admitted they attacked

Murle areas of Pibor in response to the killing of children, women and elderly in cattle raids in

the Walgak area in February 2013.

Chuol Ruac further said his community was attacked again on 4 July by Murle cattle herders,

who allegedly stole some heads of cattle, killing some people in the process.

The attacks on Pibor over the last week were in retaliation to what happened, he stressed.

"This year, while we were taking our cattle, children, women and elderly to Ulang county to

access water there, in Upper Nile, on our way we meet them [Murle], they killed the children

and women and even the elderly ones. That was why we went this time", Ruac told reporters

at Bor hospital.

He said they killed many people in the places they passed, but declined to give figures. He

however admitted that 15 Luo Nuer men died in the fighting.

The leader of the group which attacked Pibor was, Bordua Leer, he said, adding that contrary

to previous reports from the Luo Nuer community in Bor, self-proclaimed prophet Dak Kueth

had not been involved in the attack.

In Tangnyang, where the Lou Nuer began their attack, Ruac said that they captured a large

number machine guns and other weapons after heavy fighting with forces loyal to rebel leader

David Yauyau.

South Sudan’s defence minister, John Kong Nyuon, assured the population that government

was exerting efforts to ensure the two sides are separated through cooperation and

involvement of key leaders from the Luo Nuer and Murle communities.

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Minister Nyuon was speaking at a meeting with Murle community leaders during which he

called on the communities to listen to the government and allow opportunities to identify and

settle their differences.

“We will do the needful as [a] government to protect civilians and their properties. We call on

them (civilian population) to move to the areas where SPLA will provide protection. We are

also talking to the leaders from the two sides to talk to their youth to stop taking unilateral

decision and listen to the government”, Nyuon said in a statement state-owned SSTV

Saturday.

His deputy, Majak D’ Agoot also said the government was talking to leaders and elders from

the two communities to reach out to their youth and separate them.

“There are no details of the clashes at the moment but a lot of efforts are being exerted to

contain the situation. We are talking to leaders and people who have a say in Jonglei affairs to

intervene immediately. We are looking at how we can come out of this security challenges in

Jonglei”, D’ Agoot said.

Murle community elder, Ismail Konyi, said the meeting with the minister of defence and his

team was to explore ways to control the current situation and chart a way forward in resolving

differences between the two sides.

Konyi was unable to give details of the clashes, but said the government needed to do more to

stop the violence.

“It is the high time all efforts and acts are put together to avert this situation from deteriorating

further. The government and the partners need to come together to chart way forward to

resolve this conflict,” he urged.

The UN mission said Sunday it had gained access to areas of Pibor county where civilians had

previously been unable to access humanitarian assistance.

“Today aid agencies reached for the first time this year areas of Pibor County, Jonglei, where

thousands of civilians have been hiding in the bush following clashes between state and non-

state actors," the UN statement reads in part.

Non-governmental organisations and UN agencies have met communities near Dorain, Fertait

& Labrab to assess their needs and mount a humanitarian response, including urgently needed

medical attention, in addition to ongoing programmes in other parts of the state, it adds.

Toby Lanzer, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, said an armed mobilisation

of youth has led to clashes elsewhere in Pibor County.

“Some 200 casualties have arrived in Manyabol and are being attended to by the United

Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The UN, including its Humanitarian Air Service

(UNHAS) and World Health Organization, is accessing Manyabol and evacuating the most

critically injured to Bor where medical personnel from non-governmental organisations are

ready to treat the wounded,” said Lanzer.

He however urged government, national, local and traditional leaders of all communities in

Jonglei urgently to halt the cycle of violence that is leading to senseless loss of life and

suffering amongst civilians.

"At the same time, all parties partaking in violence must ensure that aid organizations

continue to have impartial, unconditional and unhindered access to civilians in need

throughout the state," said the UN humanitarian chief. (Back to Top)

Aid agencies enter Pibor Eye Radio Juba, 14/07/13 - The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says

aid agencies have been granted access to the volatile areas of Jonglei where thousands of

civilians fled into the bush following clashes between the SPLA and forces loyal to David

Yau Yau.

4

The move came days after a human rights watchdog pressured the Obama Administration to

urge South Sudan government to give humanitarian actors “unimpeded access to Jonglei

State.”

Most of the humanitarian assistance had been cut off by the violence in the state, particularly

in Pibor, since January when the violence intensified.

In an interview with Eye Radio, the Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, Toby Lanzer

said some of the aid agencies reached parts of Pibor County:

“Non-governmental organizations and UN agencies have met communities near Dorain,

Fertait & Labrab to assess their needs and mount a humanitarian response, including urgently

needed medical attention, in addition to ongoing programs in other parts of the state.”

Mr. Lanzer said an armed mobilization of youth has led to clashes elsewhere in the county.

“Some 200 casualties have arrived in Manyabol and are being attended to by the United

Nations Mission in South Sudan,” he said.

“The UN, including its Humanitarian Air Service and World Health Organization, is

accessing Manyabol and evacuating the most critically injured to Bor where medical

personnel from non-governmental organizations are ready to treat the wounded.”

Mr. Lanzer called upon the government, national, local and traditional leaders of all

communities in Jonglei to urgently stop the cycle of violence which he says is leading to

senseless loss of life and suffering amongst civilians. (Back to Top)

Two hundred wounded in South Sudan tribal clashes Associated Press Kampala, 15/07/13 - A United Nations official in South Sudan says 200

people have been wounded in ongoing clashes between rival tribes in the country's largest

state.

Toby Lanzer, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan, issued a statement late

Sunday that the most critically wounded were now being treated in the capital of Jonglei state,

where there is a rebel insurgency against the central government.

South Sudan's army spokesman, Col. Philip Aguer, said the Murle and Lou Nuer tribes

constantly clash over cattle thefts, conflicts that date back to the colonial era.

Lanzer's statement said violence in Pibor County in Jonglei caused thousands to flee into the

bush. (Back to Top)

South Sudan could benefit from new food security policy – US Eye Radio juba, 14/07/13 - The US Government says South Sudan can benefit from the new

alliance for food security and nutrition if it makes a clear policy-reform in the agricultural

sector.

The New Alliance Initiative for Food Security was launched by President Barack Obama at

the Camp David G-8 last year.

The Washington-based Administrator of the United States Agency for International

Development, USAID, Doctor Rajiv Shah, made the remarks while responding to questions

from journalists during a Webcast.

He was addressing journalists from South Sudan, South Africa, Rwanda, Madagascar and

Zimbabwe on the outcome of President Obama’s recent trip to Africa.

“The plan at the time was to identify countries that were willing to make really tough and

clear policy reform in an agricultural sector, to create the space for private investment to

tackle hunger by improving and modernizing agricultural systems in what is still largely

growing economies like South Sudan.

“What countries have to do to join the program is commit to specific reforms.

5

“So, the core requirement here is for countries to make commitments and then execute those

commitments to reform their agricultural sectors including reforming access to land so that

women can get proper access to land ownership and titles, can secure loans, and can invest in

their own future.

“We are more than willing to work with countries that are willing to do that”

Administrator Shah said the alliance works through a partnership called “Grow Africa”

President Obama’s recent trip to Africa also focused on USAID’s work and several key

initiatives including: a young African leader’s initiative, and creating food security. (Back to

Top)

Unity state MPs back calls to reinstate sacked governor Sudantribune.com Bentiu/ Juba, 13/07/13 - Lawmakers from South Sudan Unity state

assembly have asked President Salva Kiir to reconsider his decision of removing the duly

elected governor, Taban Deng Gai.

Unity state lawmakers, in their position paper seen by Sudan Tribune, duly acknowledge the

president’s decision, while welcoming the new governor, but insist the removal of Gai was

uncalled for.

“But your Excellency, Unity State had never experienced any political instability and

insecurity, which might have led to the removal of the governor elect. For we are here to

oversee the state general performance, and save national interest that may threaten the state

and national security”, partly reads the MPs’ letter, also copied to the vice-president and

ruling party (SPLM) Secretary General.

The lawmakers’ position, comes less than a week after the country’s vice-president, Riek

Machar wrote a similar letter asking Kiir to reverse his decision to sack the Unity state

governor, suggesting it was done in violation of the country’s constitution.

Machar disclosed that he was not consulted, but heard it on television and challenged his

boss’s assessment of the current security situation in the Unity state.

“I was in Unity state on June 29th, 2013, there is no insecurity that threatens national security

and territorial integrity in Unity state, instead Governor Taban Deng Gai and his government

was very instrumental in bringing about peace and stability to the state," Machar said in the 7

July letter, also seen by Sudan Tribune.

"He [Deng] was solely responsible for the coming and acceptance of your timely pardon by

the armed group of General Bapiny Monytuel Wicjang who abandoned opposition against the

government of the Republic of South Sudan last May”, the letter reads in part.

The vice-president, in his letter, also reminded the president that Gai had won the 2010

general elections and thus had the same legitimacy as Kiir before the constitution and his

people of Unity state.

Ironically, during the April 2010 elections Machar’s wife, Angelina Teny ran against Deng

who was also the incumbent governor, but the latter ended up winning by a small margin.

The now appointed caretaker was in Teny’s camp during these elections.

Machar also expressed “deep” concern that dismissal of the elected governor “might heighten

tension and aggravate prevailing state of insecurity in the country that may lead to political

instability”.

The country vice-president implored upon Kiir to reverse his decision warning that absent of

any objective reasons will be seen as politically motivated.

It is, however, unlikely that president Kiir will heed to the advice carried in the letter from his

deputy as he has already proceeded with the swearing in of the new governor.

Machar’s letter is the latest sign of growing rift between Kiir and senior officials in his

government and ruling Sudan People Liberation Movement.

6

The VP has stepped up his criticism of president Kiir accusing him of incompetence and

failure to lead the state which became independent, exactly two years ago.

Meanwhile, Unity state’s ex-governor insisted that his removal by the president was

“unconstitutional”.

"Recently when I went to America, the President was suspicious that I had meetings with

American government that I’m pushing for Riek Machar election”, Gai told a congregation in

Unity state last week.

He however said Machar is free to contest for the leadership of South Sudan, if he wanted to.

(Back to Top)

Youth friendly centre opened in Yambio Gurtong Yambio, 14/07/13 - The Western Equatoria State Governor, Bangasi Jospeh

Bakosoro, has officially inaugurated a youth friendly centre in Yambio.

The youth friendly centre was was renovated through the help of the International HIV/AIDS

Alliance in conjunction with the state Ministry of Youth and Sports.

The Director of Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) Mr. Justin Omer Kirima stressed

that YMCA picked interest in educating the youth citing the fact that the youth are the future

leaders of the nation.

Justin said that he is much grateful for the cooperation that they have with the government and

urged for such cooperation to continue.

The centre offers services including internet, HIV/AIDS counselling and testing and cinema to

the youth.

The director urged the youth to use the facility in a good and friendly manner.

The Commissioner of Yambio County Kuzee John Elia also stressed that it is his pleasure that

YMCA has come out with such a beautiful initiative to help the youth and urged the youth to

be united and take such opportunities and make good use of all the services that are available

at the centre.

Meanwhile the State Minister of Youth and Sports, Gibson Bullen Wande, said that YMCA

and the state ministry have been working in collaboration for a long time and that such

collaboration should remain as part of the people of Western Equatoria for faster

development.

Wande further said that he is grateful that the Alliance come to support the youth and he urged

the youth to be concerned with developmental human activities rather than being idle all the

time.

Governor Bakosoro urged YMCA and Alliance International to open such kind of youth

friendly centres in all the other nine counties of the state if possible so that services are

equally distributed to the youth in the state.

Bakosoro advised the youth to be united in whatever they are doing and by doing that they can

build a strong and a peaceful state and South Sudan in general.

Bakosoro finally called upon the youth to use the facility well rather than wasting a lot of

times gossiping at the streets carrying wrong information which cannot even help them

prosper. (Back to Top)

Yei River County authorities impose town speed limit Easter Radio Yei, 13/07/13 - Authorities of Yei River County in Central Equatoria State have

issued a local order limiting to 30 kilometres per hour the speed limit for vehicles in town.

The order came following daily road accidents and loss of innocent lives due to reckless

riding and driving in the county, Easter Radio reported.

7

Yei River County Commissioner Juma David Augustine said the order was issued to reduce

the rampant road accidents occurring in the streets within towns and outskirt roads.

He directed law enforcement agents to arrest all drivers caught breaking the speed limit within

the towns of Yei River County.

Anyone found guilty will be charged a fine of no less than 1,000 South Sudanese Pounds.

If the driver fails to pay the fine, the vehicle will be auctioned. (Back to Top)

Morobo community radio goes on air in October Easter Radio Yei, 13/07/13 - Morobo County community radio is expected to go on air early

October.

County Commissioner Moses Simon Soro said the FM radio aimed to boost information

dissemination from the local Government to the rural communities in the county, Easter

Radio reported.

He said the radio project will enable heads of departments and stakeholders to account to the

local population and promote democracy.

German Government is the major funder of the Morobo community radio project. (Back to

Top)

Dollar shortage affects business community badly Easter Radio Yei, 13/07/13 - The business community in Yei River County is badly affected

by the shortage of hard currency and access to loans.

Commissioner Juma David pleaded with the Government to give local traders the possibility

to compete with their counterparts by granting access to much needed hard currency and

loans.

Mr Juma reiterated that he would work with different communities and development partners

to bring about a peaceful coexistence.

Yei River County Commissioner called on the citizens to work with the government through

cooperation to render better services to all. (Back to Top)

Sudan wants tangible evidence on the end of support to rebel groups Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 14/07/13 - The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) said they

are still waiting for evidence proving that Juba has stopped its support to the rebel groups and

ended its relation with the SPLM-N.

These statements were released on Sunday evening following the weekly meeting of the NCP

political sector. Some hours before, the security services emailed to the news rooms of the

local newspapers a report alleging that SPLM-N deputy leader Abdel Aziz El-Hilu and Gibril

Ibrahim of JEM have arrived on Saturday to Juba heading to Kampala where the rebels

schedule to hold a leadership meeting.

"We are still waiting for tangible evidence proving the end of relations with the so-called

SPLM-North and Revolutionary Front, and the stoppage of support which, in our view, is still

continuing in a way or another", said media secretary Yasir Youssef on Sunday.

He further called on Juba to accept the recent initiative of Thabo Mbeki, chairman of the

African Union mediation between the two countries over the centreline on the border between

the two countries.

"We call on the South Sudanese government to accept it and to implement it on the ground

and to show more seriousness on the stoppage of support (to the rebel groups) and to end its

relations with the (SPLM-N)", he further said. (Back to Top)

8

Sudan studying "foreign plot" aimed against the country Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 13/07/13 - Several agencies within the Sudanese government

have embarked on discussing a scheme which they claim enjoys support from western

countries and aims at annexing South Kordofan state to South Sudan as well as retaining

Darfur, Blue Nile, and Abyei as flashpoints.

The independent Al-Khartoum daily reported that senior government officials have convened

meetings at the Center for Future Studies (SFS) and the presidential palace last week to

discuss ways and plans for containing and thwarting the plot.

Well placed sources told the newspaper that participants in the meetings made several

recommendations including reaching an immediate agreement with South Sudan as well as

negotiating with the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) rebel coalition and the Sudanese

People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N).

They also stressed the need for making serious efforts to contain tribal conflicts in Darfur,

particularly as credible reports have indicated that at least 1,000 people from a Darfuri tribe

which is engaged in internal tribal conflict have fled to the Central African Republic.

Khartoum is fighting rebels on several fronts including Blue Nile, South Kordofan and Darfur

but recent months have witnessed escalating violence between the two sides.

But the Sudanese government blames that on support provided by Juba to these rebel groups.

The meetings have also discussed recent developments in Egypt following the ousting of

President Mohamed Morsi and its impact on Sudan. (Back to Top)

Sudan accusses SLA-Minnawi of attacking UNAMID peacekeepers

Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 14/07/13 - The Sudanese government has accused the rebel

Sudan Liberation Army-Minni Minawi (SLA-MM) of attacking the United Nations African

Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) troops yesterday and held it responsible for the assault

which it described as “brutal”.

On Saturday, unidentified gunmen attacked a UNAMID patrol in South Darfur state 25

kilometers west of the UNAMID base in Khor Abeche, killing seven Tanzanian soldiers.

Seventeen peacekeepers were also wounded including two female police officers.

In a statement issued by Sudan’s foreign ministry, the government underscored its

commitment to conduct an urgent investigation into the incident and bring perpetrators to

justice.

The government stressed that SLA-MM and its Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) allies pose

the biggest threat to peace in the region.

The statement called upon the international community to take serious steps to end the attacks

of rebel groups which it described as “criminal” and to hold the perpetrators accountable for

these crimes against humanity as well as stop all forms of cooperation and support rendered to

them.

The foreign ministry further noted that the attack represents a desperate attempt to abort the

noble task undertaken by the UNAMID and to undermine the peace process in Darfur

particularly as the region is witnessing a remarkable improvement in the security situation.

The foreign ministry stressed that the “cowardly” attack will not discourage the government

from continuing its efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace in Darfur and provide all kinds

of support and cooperation for the UNAMID.

Yesterday SLA-MM issued a statement condemning the deadly attack on UNAMID forces

and blamed on government militias.

The rebel group expressed regret that UNAMID is unable to protect itself even though it is

tasked with protecting civilians. (Back to Top)

9

Sudan bans opposition parties from meeting rebels in Geneva

Sudantribune.com Khartoum, 14/07/13 - Sudanese authorities have prevented representatives

of opposition parties from travelling to Geneva on Sunday where is organized a meeting

gathering them with the rebel groups to discuss peaceful solutions for the conflicts in the

country.

The Geneva based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD Centre) which seeks to forester

political dialogue among the Sudanese political forces organized last March a meeting

between the ruling National Congress Party and the opposition National Consensus Forces

(NCF).

A second meeting is scheduled in Geneva on Monday 15 July gathering the opposition parties

and the rebel groups members of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (RSF). The Sudanese

government and the NCP gave the green light for this meeting because it encourages political

and peaceful solutions.

An official of the HD Centre recently told Sudan Tribune that their demarche aims to

promote negotiated settlement of the ongoing conflicts in Sudan, adding they are not

concerned by calls made here or there to topple the regime of president Omer Al-Bashir.

However the security services at the Khartoum Airport arrested on Sunday a number of

opposition members and prevented them from departing to Geneva.

Among the arrested is NCF spokesperson Kamal Omer who is also a leading member of the

Popular Congress Party (PCP), Abdel-Jalil Basha of Umma National Party, Ibrahim Al-

Sheikh leader of the Sudanese Congress Party and Sidiq Youssef of the Sudanese Communist

Party.

Speaking to the press following their release on Sunday, Basha stated that they were banned

from travelling to Geneva to take part in a dialogue organized by the HD Centre. He further

stressed that this meeting comes in the framework of peaceful transition towards a democratic

regime in Sudan.

He further pointed out that this ban is directed against peaceful efforts to end the different

conflicts, adding that the ruling NCP participated in this dialogue in a meeting organized in

Khartoum last March.

The Sudanese government called on the opposition parties to participate in consultations

aiming to prepare a new constitution after the secession of South Sudan but refuses their call

for a interim government tasked to hold a national conference and to prepare for new

elections.

While the rebel groups agreed on the secular character of the new constitution, the opposition

parties diverge over this point as the PCP of Hassan Al-Turabi believes that the next

constitution should be Islamic.

The ban may compromise the meeting and push the organizers to postpone it despite the

arrival of delegates of rebel groups to Geneva.

But NCF spokesperson, Kamal Omer said they are considering to mandate NCF chairman

Faroq Abu Eissa and the leader of the Islamic Wasat Party Yousif Al-Koda to represent them

in the three day dialogue meeting with the rebels.

Abu Eissa and Al-Koda who are in Cairo since would fly Monday to Geneva, Sudan Tribune

has learnt.

Observers in Khartoum said that the ban may aim to prevent any parallel discussions between

the rebels and the opposition parties on the sidelines of the meeting.

The NCF leader Abu Eissa announced last June a 100-day plan to bring down the regime

peacefully. He also described the SRF rebels as strategic ally, but stressed on the non-violent

character of their move.

10

The SPLM-N secretary general Yasir Arman recently called on the opposition forces to

bypass opposition parties that are hesitant over the overthrowal of the regime.

Arman was alluding to the Umma party of Sadiq Al-Mahdi who is hostile to the rebels’

strategy aiming to overthrow the regime by arms, and calls for peaceful democratic transition

in the country. (Back to Top)

DRC forces repel laters M23 rebel attack

Voice of America News 15/07/13 - The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government said its

forces beat back a fierce attack Sunday by M23 rebels near the towns of Mutaho and Rusayo

in the east of the country.

Information Minister Lambert Mende said the rebels suffered heavy losses with more than

100 killed and 12 captured.

He says about six or seven government troops were killed.

“At 1:00 PM, our forces in Mutaho and another place called Rusayo were attacked by M23

with heavy guns. They (government troops) had to respond to this aggression because they

lost some soldiers,” he said.

Mende says the rebels suffered heavy losses with more than 100 killed and 12 captured. He

says about six or seven government troops were killed.

He said the government will hold a news conference Monday in Goma to present the captured

rebels to members of the media.

The M23 said government troops first attacked their positions and that they were only

responding to the provocation.

This new wave of fighting comes as a deployment of a new 3,000 U.N. Intervention Brigade

with a much stronger mandate is underway.

Mende said the M23 and what he called its sponsors might have carried out the attack to

sabotage the coming deployment of the Intervention Brigade - the first-ever United Nations

offensive combat force.

“We supposed that M23 and its sponsors are not happy with the deployment of the

international brigade, and as far as the brigade is finalizing its deployment, we think that this

is the way sabotage the exercise,” Mende said.

In a press release Sunday, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the DRC known as

MONUSCO expressed “deep concern over the M23 attack.

The mission said it has put its forces on “high alert and stand ready to take any necessary

measures, including the use of lethal force in order to protect civilians”.

Mende accused neighboring Rwanda of trying to undermine the Addis Ababa Agreement.

“It seems that some people are not willing for the peace process to succeed, and they are

trying to stop it because every country in the region have signed the Addis Ababa Agreement.

And now there is one of them who is using its power to destroy the process,” Mende said.

(Back to Top)

OPINION - S. Sudan is not a failed state yet, but an emerging one: rebuttal to a report

By: John Bith Aliap, South Australia, on South Sudan News Agency, 13/07/13 - In recent

days, a brief reflection of the major themes dominating our local headlines in the streets of

Juba and other major cities in South Sudan – that South Sudan has joined the list of African’s

failed states could lead us to throw our tongues on high gear. Talks of South Sudan being a

failed have long existed in different domains. Khartoum for instance, has been a champion of

such faulty claims that South Sudan is not yet ready to stand on its own feet; and if allowed to

become an independent nation, it could easily crumble.

11

Historically, way back before the independence, the international community, regional blocs

and other concerned citizens in South Sudan have long anticipated that South Sudan would

soon likely join the list of failed states if things remain unchanged, but the SPLM-led

government has always been swift to dismiss these speculations - assuring these folks that

South Sudan won’t acquire a failed state’s rank. But recent bombshell report by Fund for

Peace and Foreign Policy (Sudantribune 26th June 2013) reminds us to critically look into

what’s happening in our country. Marial Benjamin, the Mouth-piece of South Sudan’s

government reacted angrily to this report – dubbing it as a ‘random and meaningless’. Not

only him, Mark Nyipouch- a former Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal state joined the

podium - saying ‘the SPLM ruling party worked very hard since 2005 to achieve its promises

of peace, stability and prosperity; and that South Sudan still lacks behind because all resources

were controlled by Khartoum that Could not provide a chance to South Sudan to have enough

services to its people’.

In fact, the anger could boil high in South Sudan - labelling a newly founded country as a

failed state is unfair and it could highly attract a closer scrutiny. However, for those who are

quiet familiar with South Sudan’s system, these people might be easily misled to believe that

South Sudan would likely rank fourth on the list of African failed states, but such thinking

could be seen as barbaric, unwanted and unpatriotic.

According to Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy’s definition of a failed state, a failed state is a

state which has a weak central government, non-provision of public services, wide spread

corruption and criminality, refugees and involuntary movement of populations, sharp

economic decline. While we can partially admit that South Sudan is facing multiple issues in

different fronts, the assertion that it’s a failed state is highly premature and inconclusive in

nature. However, before we can confirm Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy’s report on South

Sudan as a failed state, this article aims to walk you beyond Fund for Peace and Foreign

Policy’s scope of understanding of what would be regarded as a ‘failed state’. Based on Fund

for Peace and Foreign Policy’s report, I will only highlight some issues which i think if not

addressed – will lead South Sudan to acquire a rank of a failed state sooner rather than later.

To waste no time, there is no need here to rehash the narratives which describe a stuttering

economy, levels of crime and unemployment, infant education system, public and private

sector corruption - notably within the government backyard. The fact alone that the levels of

corruption, human rights abuse, inequality, and the list goes so long, shouldn’t be enough to

lend South Sudan a failed state status since it’s in the transitional phase in which issues

mentioned in Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy’s report are regarded as normal experiences

of an emerging country.

Fund for Peace and Foreign Policy’s report should have only confirmed that South Sudan is

showing worrying symptoms of illness, but on the highway to becoming a failed state if the

government in Juba does not take bold steps. I would argue here that the signs of State’s

failure are there in South Sudan, but understanding them requires a nuanced approach. To

understand how far along the road of failure South Sudan is, I would holds that a holistic,

three-pronged analysis is required. The three spheres that I am inviting you to share with me

in this article so that we’re able to clearly understand and determine if South Sudan has failed

are societal, international and political.

Not only in South Sudan, but every state is continuously in a dynamic position of interaction

with domestic, regional and international spheres, as well as with itself as a set of political

institutions. In this way, the societal sphere is concerned with the state’s ability to secure a

centralised form of power. State’s failure in this context as in the case of South Sudan, would

occur with the emergence of notable armed or subversive strong men or warlords which pose

a threat to state stability as they seek to secure some form of territorial independence. Yau

Yau is our latest example, but his rebellion in my opinion is not a nationwide issue. It’s being

contained and it doesn’t qualify South Sudan to be labelled as a failed state.

State’s failure and [South Sudan is not an exception here in this case] in the international

sphere, relates to a state’s paradoxical dependence on international aid and a simultaneous

12

need to remove itself from international involvement. In the most extreme situation, a state’s

inability to ensure the security of its borders from foreign interference or in the face of war

could lead to an acute breakdown of functionality. With respect to the international and

societal sphere’s South Sudan has in fact shown relative instability since its independence. It

has not been able to secure a centralised power framework, and it has been at war with a quiet

number of rebel groups; and this has not allowed it to relatively integrate well with the

international community. While worrying signs have already started to show in South Sudan,

pointing toward some deterioration in South Sudan’s functionality in the societal and

international spheres, it is in the political sphere where we face the greatest threat of state’s

failure. For example, Riek Machar quest of leadership overnight could potentially undermine

South Sudan’s stability; and risks throwing the country into anarchy.

In addition, a pronounced risk of state state’s failure in South Sudan is also manifested in the

arena of political institutions and the apparatus of the state itself, where patrimonial rule

appears to be the order of the day. Patrimonial rule here in this situation implies that a ruling

party for example [SPLM] governs a country as paterfamilias’ property. Power is entirely

personalised through complex and disperse networks of favour and patronage and authority no

longer emanates from political institutions, but from politicians themselves, as the party

chairman becomes more powerful than anybody else in the country. This dynamic may

harbour fatal consequences for the functionality of South Sudan as a country. The practice of

cadre employment has decimated expertise and capability in state institutions, from

municipalities to para-statal enterprises.

In recent years, virtually overnight, accumulated knowledge was replaced with political

ideology under the banner of struggle for freedom, justice and equality, Dr. John Garang’s

famous ideology which attracted a good number of people in all corners of Sudan, but now the

independence has been achieved, the resultant decay is staggering, as evidenced by last

month’s corruption scandal that recounts the scandalous mismanagement of public funds in

the government. In contrary, the mismanagement of public funds by government officials in

South Sudan is at least coming to an end.

On the 28th of June 2013, president Kiir relieved finance Minister Kosti Manibe and his

cabinet affairs counterpart, Deng Alor, lifting their immunities so they can be investigated

over the request and transfer of $7 million to a private company without knowledge or

authorisation of the president or cabinet (Sudantribune 28th of June 2013). However, the

suspension of these heavy-weights, die-hard SPLM members on allegations of corruption

confirmed that zero tolerance policy – ‘Kiir’s John Kudusey song’ – is in motion. But do not

give up yet. The deterioration of physical infrastructure - electricity, roads, sanitation- in both

rural and urban areas could also contribute to South Sudan being ranked as a failed state in the

future if Juba’s government does not show seriousness to provide these lifeline public

services.

The sustained nature of this squandering of state resources, coupled with the lack of political

will to act decisively in remedying corruption will likely prompt a public backlash in the form

of violence, most likely centring on the issue of service delivery - a major prospective fault

line of South Sudan being labelled by foreign predators as a failed state. Another major

concern in South Sudan is the systemic manner in which the common good, ‘public interest’

has been subverted for private interest.

For example, the current factionalism within the SPLM party (Riek Machar, Pagan Amum

and Wani Igga versus Kiir) could potentially cause violent, as political assassinations will

become more regular-hence leading the state to fail. As such, the true test for the integrity of

South Sudan state will be when simmering party-political and public discontent boils to the

surface and exacerbates the fault lines of failures that currently lay dormant. However, if such

a disruptive dynamic emerges, South Sudan’s already-troubled domestic, regional and

international spheres may themselves turn into arenas of conflict more violently than what we

are currently witnessing.

13

In conclusion, South Sudan is not a failed state yet as labelled by Fund for Peace and Foreign

Policy Magazine, but it’s still in the transitional period where, weak central government, lack

of public services, corruption, refugees movement, economic decline and crimes are regarded

as normal experiences of an emerging nation, but the flipside of the same coin is that the

disquieting manner in which the SPLM and the state have become one, the latter seen as the

personal domain of the former. This development allows us to ask this important question:

will the SPLM-led government rescue the country from being labelled in the future as a failed

state? John Bith Aliap is an Adelaide-based political commentator and can be reached at

Johnaliap2011@hotmail.com (Back to Top)

EDITORIAL - SPLM Crisis & demise of tribal hegemony: For better or worse? SouthSudanNation 12/07/13 - With great incredulity and trepidation, South Sudanese are

anxiously witnessing the inevitable transmogrification of the once formidable SPLM/A

edifice and the probable demise of the once-feared and deeply loathed tribal hegemony that

has persistently characterized all aspects of power in the nation since the end of the liberation

struggle.

Finally, for the majority of the much-depraved South Sudanese, who’ve become genuinely

disgruntled with the Kiir leadership, it’s time now to see the SPLM/SPLA Empire, like the

Roman empires of antiquities, and their cut throat emperors, simply disintegrate and disappear

so that a better, prosperous and equitable future is built on its ashes.

After two tough years of so-called ‘independence,’ and given the fact that we are the only

country in Africa to ever embark on nationhood from day one with BILLIONS OF REAL

AMERICAN DOLLARS at hand, deplorably it has become painfully clear that the

SPLM/SPLA junta has failed the South Sudan Nation whilst president Kiir has evolved with

greater alacrity than Museveni into a totalitarian dictator ruling only by decrees and

completely rubbishing all constitutional norms.

In a nation where the president is generally seen as a pathological liar who has no moral

compunction to shamelessly regurgitate his characteristic verbosity about fighting corruption

and insecurity, or developing the nation, South Sudanese have real cause to worry about a

such leadership.

In a nation where every SPLM/A government official from the president down to his

ministers, all under-secretaries, all chairs of the useless commissions, all ambassadors, all

generals in police, army and prisons, are rightly perceived by the suffering public as thieves

living on state-sanctioned corruption, there is utter hopelessness in the future among the

oppressed citizens of the nation.

One can’t imagine that today in Juba the few thieves are immorally owning and driving, not

one each but several ‘Hummer’ SUV’s while their own mothers, sisters, aunts and uncles are

still eating wild vegetables or carcases of cows and sleeping in leaking straw-thatched mud

houses in Kongor or Kuajok.

In a nation where the parliament is but a parody of clowns who’re solely legislating for or

rather legitimizing for the good of the SPLM/A corruption empire, and selfishly according

themselves exorbitant allowances and privileges for their idleness, enrichment and greed, the

depraved people of South Sudan are right to distrust this edifice of mockery.

In a nation where the economy is deeply founded on extraction and exploitation, it’s only the

Ugandans, Somalis, Ethiopians, Kenyans, Rwandans, Nigerians and Sudanese, who’re all the

principle beneficiaries of this extractive and exclusive economy, and they’re openly or

insidiously abetted in the extraction of our resources by the SPLM/A looters, the future of the

nation is definitely in jeopardy.

These are indeed bad times for the nation. Admittedly, with the exception of Kiir’s tribal

hegemonists and his tribally reinforced SPLA army, many people including foreigners, are

deeply pessimistic as well as apprehensive about the evolving ‘SPLM Kiirisis’ that is gripping

the attention of the citizens.

14

First, Dr. Riek Machar now has figuratively fired the first bullets, once again this time round,

against the Kiir’s hegemonic government and publicly demanded that his SPLM party boss,

Kiir, should cede power to him because, as Machar explicitly explained, Kiir is an absolute

‘failure as leader of the nation.’

Secondly, Machar has openly challenged and opposed Kiir’s recent dismissal of Unity State

Governor Taban Gai, which was done without consultation of the vice president himself since

such an important decision like this normally requires ‘consultative’ procedural steps with the

deputy or cabinet.

Understandably, in bitterness, Machar has many axes to grind against president Kiir, among

these were Kiir’s abrupt decision to first take over the so-called ‘national reconciliation’

process and appointing a fellow Dinka to head the committee; and then Kiir’s surprising

decision abrogating and limiting Machar executive powers.

And, finally, in another quick salvo of more political gunfire, the SPLM party Secretary

General, Mr. Pagan Amum, who is third in protocol and succession of the now visibly

disintegrating party, came out with unexpected bravado, to deprecatingly castigate president

Kiir for his poor leadership.

Pagan, himself once allegedly accused for gross corruption, has now openly come out against

Kiir, accusing the president of politically motivated dismissals of two SPLM ministers for

alleged corruption, and critically remarking that the president should actually have dismissed

his own “Dinka official,” the deputy minister, who’s alleged to be the real culprit, not the two

ministers.

Clearly, these top SPLM leaders tacitly came to a long-delayed concurrence with the raging

anger and expectations of the broad sections of the people of South Sudan and even foreign

so-called “Friends of the SPLM” and the UN Mission and others, that the Kiir tribal regime is

a disaster.

But the greatest concern to the ordinary citizens in South Sudan and even to foreign

supporters of the nation, is the likelihood that the perceived and impending contest between

Kiir and gang versus Machar and gang degenerating into another 1991 civil strife.

Poignantly, as implied by Citizen editor and critic, Nhial Bol, this ominous probability of

intra-SPLM/A killings occurring is high because, as Nhial Bol strongly believes, “the top

SPLM members are planning to use the (stolen) oil money to buy weapons so that they can

kill themselves during the 2015 elections.”

Who really cares if these SPLM/A kleptocrats would only ‘kill’ themselves? However,

unfortunately the reality is that they, the SPLM/A top members are going to use their common

supporters to do the killing while they will be in some safer foreign hideaways.

Machar, the potential president-to-be, in his latest hottest ever letter to president Kiir, has

strongly raised two important issues. The first problem raised is that Kiir’s latest blunders

“might heighten tension and aggravate the prevailing state of insecurity in the country and that

may lead to political instability in the country.”

Obviously, it’s very apparent that the contest between the two won’t be a peaceful transition,

and the nation is hereby forewarned of the grievously mortal predicament that might lead to a

probable ‘civil’ or better call it ‘tribal’ internecine fighting with serious consequences to our

country.

In addition, Machar again in the same letter inferred to the ‘consolidation of the democratic

decentralized system of government’ in the country to preserve the integrity and dignity of the

people of South Sudan.

Here, we are once again confronted by Dr. Machar’s duplicitousness on the issue of what’s

the best modality of governance in the country that can really and permanently bring integrity

and dignity to our people.

15

Inarguably, the current system that the tribal hegemonists have dictatorially imposed on the

country is utterly fallacious (after all, there wasn’t any plebiscite, for example, conducted by

the SPLM/A regime with the people of South Sudan concerning as to what modality of

governance they wanted).

‘KOKORA,’ call it ‘decentralization,’ ‘devolution,’ ‘federalism,’ or any political name

appropiate, was the system prevalent in South Sudan from 1983 up to 2005 when peace was

achieved and the Kiir-Machar junta arrived in Juba.

Contrary to the blind and bitter opponents of ‘KOKORA’ who took to the bushes in 1983 in

an attempt to militarily revoke its imposition after all political attempts had failed, this

political system based on devolution helped greatly to mitigate tribal tensions and fighting

then in South Sudan.

Now, given the current political tide since the Kiir-Machar regime took power in Juba and the

subsequent rise of disenchantment with the hotly perceived ‘tribal-domination’ of the current

governance in Juba, perhaps a new rethinking on what’s the appropriate and acceptable

modality of good governance needed.

Rightly or wrongly, it can be strongly argued that our political evolution into a one-nation is

still rudimentary, we, more or less, see ourselves and the deeds by others from the tribal

lenses, as this is evident today in Juba, and whether you accept or deny, the Kiir government

is perceived as a Dinka dominated government.

Again, like it or not, it’s always the fact that in most situations, it’s highly probable for the

Dinka army, security or police officers and men who’re most likely than not, to show uncouth

and violent behaviours and aggression against other fellow citizens.

Speculatively, as it’s again the same community that has majority domination in all

government services, including the economic sector by the same domination of their tribal

‘nouveau riches.’

Now that we have unfortunately and unwittingly come around to a situation very much akin to

the pre-KOKORA era, where one tribe has unfairly presumed the illegitimacy of domination

of all facets of governance, and the perpetuation of state terror contrary to the laws prevailing

in the books, drastic change of minds and hearts is needed if we are to survive in peace as a

nation.

Yes, we’re southerners or now better known as South Sudanese, but are we really a nation?

The answer could possibly and finally be found in the redivision of South Sudan into

particular federal units that felt they could separately live in peace among themselves due to

some particular commonalities found among them.

Regrettably, Kiir and others still morbidly suffer from short or total loss of memory. Last time

in 1991, when the same Machar and cohorts seriously warned Garang and the same Kiir and

others of the simmering dissatisfaction within the same SPLM/SPLA, they inevitably and

painfully paid a big price for ignoring the advice.

As a ‘failed’ leader, president Kiir must voluntarily abdicate now and let the nation transition

peacefully, and hopefully the future might and would surely be better for the nation.

Should that happen, however, a would-be president Machar himself is no better or much

different leader than Kiir, for the nation since he has been very dubious and dodgy about the

prevalent corruption, insecurity, or why the constitutional review process has taken so long to

be finalized and passed, among many other shortcomings of his.

Furthermore, if he, Machar, had the moral imperative, he would have been the first to openly

declare his and the family assets or stop his habitually greedy and big appetite for land

grabbing, as evidenced by his gluttonous and questionable acquisitions of Bari and Mundari

land.

16

His utter and apparent lack of moral compunction or lack of sense of shame doesn’t strictly

bode well for someone literally crying to become president of the nation at any cost. This is

sinful and dirty in the eyes of many and smacks of gross lack of moral turpitude.

Since crawling back to the SPLM/A over the skeletons and souls of hundreds of thousands of

those he had intentionally and unapologetically misled to their deaths, and then rising upwards

opportunistically to his current position in this corrupted tribalized monopoly called the

SPLM/A, Machar owes a lot to the people of South Sudan.

If Machar’s ambition to ‘succeed’ Kiir accidentally leads to and speedily catalyses the break

up of the SPLM/A corrupt empire, then that’s even more propitious for the nation. From its

ashes, hopefully, the marginalized people across the nation would see a better future for South

Sudan. (Back to Top)

Cry the Beloved South Sudan in its Second Independence Anniversary By Tongun Lo Loyoung on SouthSudanNation.com 14/07/13 - This time last year I refused to

celebrate the first independence anniversary of South Sudan and I remain adamant not to

celebrate the second anniversary either. You see, when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement

(CPA) was signed between the selected dyadic parties to the conflict, the ruling Sudan

National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) in

January 2005, there was profound disappointment among those who were excluded from the

round table, including our brothers in Darfur and other key stakeholders in both the North and

the South. But there was also joyful ululation and elation amongst most South Sudanese both

at home and away.

Many South Sudanese commons, including myself came to be optimistic that the much sought

after peace in a country that for decades has been riddled by devastating protracted civil wars

in its South and elsewhere, is finally here.

The political, economic, and geographic power-sharing protocol of the CPA raised people’s

expectations about the beginning of a new era, where at long last a genuine political

representation in the country’s governance and political decision-making, has dawned.

There was soaring optimism in finally enjoying the fruits of peace through the recognition and

appreciation of Sudanese multi-ethnicity and cultural diversity, provision of equitable access

to social and economic services, and protection of freedom of movement, including safe

passage to cattle grazing areas and water points across different regional boundaries within the

country.

It was thought that our chronic subjugation, domination and marginalization by the Jallaba

northerners was finally over, and Sudan will no longer be the same. In universal terms, many

believed security was here, and basic civil and political rights, and social and economic rights,

are sure to be guaranteed in this new era of peace.

After all the essence of all the liberation struggles in the Sudan throughout its history, has

always been for the political establishment at the center to meet the legitimate aspirations and

protect the universal rights of its people on the peripheries. And with the signing of the CPA

the moment seemed ripe for these grievances to finally be addressed.

The central provision on Southern self-determination plebiscite exercise, including the Abyei

protocol was the cherry on the cake of the CPA. Self-determination in the South was

welcomed with a sigh of relief as “our Kairos moment,” as the Church declared. It was an

opportune moment because should Khartoum fail to make unity attractive by meeting the

popular demands of South Sudanese, South Sudan was on course to secession.

For most South Sudanese, however, and particularly the youth, life with Khartoum was not

feasible, regardless of whether unity was to be made attractive or not. “We, the southern

Sudanese have already decided to vote for an independent Southern Sudan where we will live

as first class citizens,” stated the Southern Sudanese Youth Forum in the build-up to the

referendum exercise, and so it proved to be the case with the resulting landslide vote for South

Sudan’s secession in the referendum.

17

However, little did we know there were hidden agendas of restituting in Juba the very unjust

power structures that we sought to overcome in Khartoum. How could we have known that

there will be another northern South Sudanese subjugation, domination, and marginalization

deep inside Juba when we are a sovereign and independent country?

Common sense had its say, but what is common sense in the face of greed and power hunger?

Reason has been defied, and the big question is: how did this happen?

As we all know too well, the precarious nature of the negative peace that prevailed after the

signing of the CPA in 2005 left many Sudanese stakeholders unprepared for peace, and the

ruling clique in Juba put this to “good” effect.

It was thought given Khartoum’s abysmal track record of dishonouring agreements that the

peace will not last the whole six interim period years leading to the Southern self-

determination referenda.

This being the case, most of the actors involved in Sudanese conflict resolution, management

and mitigation, but not necessarily conflict prevention and transformation were preoccupied

with precisely that, namely channelling their efforts to keep the peace.

Thus the rudimentary local civil society actors spearheaded by the church in partnership with

people of good will across the world embark on robust policy advocacy with powerful world

leaders to ensure all the provisions of the CPA, and particularly the key provisions of the self-

determination referenda in the South, were implemented by Khartoum in a timely, transparent,

and credible manner.

However, while all focus and international pressure was on Khartoum to implement the

agreement, Juba was busy consolidating power across ethnic lines under the guise of

maintaining the command structure of the rebel movement in readiness for any unexpected

relapse to war.

Our international interlocutors were misled to believe that this was just a mandatory

precautionary measure, considering the history of bad faith within the rebel movement, and so

tribal domination of the government by one or two tribes came to pass.

Locally, South Sudanese who questioned the logic behind such excesses of concentration of

power in the hands of individuals and domination of the political space in the country by few

ethnic groups were dismissed as cowards and traitors, and some are even still unjustly

languishing in arbitrary detention without due process.

It was during this period that rampant looting spree of the public purse was ushered in as

billions of dollars began to magically disappear into private bank accounts, and endemic

corruption and systemic nepotism began to dominate the country to the detriment of social

and economic service provision.

Then came the formation of what from the outside seemed like a representative government in

the South after the independence. But in effect it was a government of renowned scavengers

and political opportunists from Khartoum days, mostly elections drop-outs and rejects in their

own bases.

Again, when questions were asked about the logic, the answer quickly came that the

government was formed in a “spirit of reconciliation” with our brothers who were serving

Khartoum during the war years. In simple terms, we were all taken for a ride.

But while “you can fool some people sometime, you can’t fool all the people all the time.”

Thus what has increasingly become evident in South Sudan since the signing of the CPA is

that South Sudanese have been betrayed and exploited by our “liberators.” Numerous studies

support this view.

The former world banker and the renowned Africa economist, Paul Collier, for example has

compellingly argued in his writings that although they may present popular grievance as the

underlying cause for picking up arms, it is greed rather than grievance that drives rebel groups

in the African continent.

18

In his “Doing Well Out of War: An Economic Perspective,” Collier writes: “Economic

agendas appear to be central to understanding why civil war starts. Conflicts are far more

likely to be caused by economic opportunities than by grievance.”

But organized and successful rebel groups like the SPLA tend to be clever at concealing the

greed factor, and instead ride on the back of popular grievance to generate sympathy and

establish good external relations with the international community, which the SPLM

satisfactorily did.

As Collier rightly observed, “even where the rationale at the top of the organization is

essentially greed, the actual discourse may be entirely dominated by grievance.”

Our ruling SPLM brothers seem to have perfected this trade. If this is the case then those of us

who choose to cry the beloved South Sudan in its second independence anniversary, must be

excused.

Only when this country is liberated from the “liberators” will we celebrate our true

independence. The writer can be reached on: tloloyuong@gmail.com (Back to Top)

OPINION - Tribalism is in trouble By Zechariah Manyok Biar on Sudantribune.com, 12/07/13 - When South Sudanese single

out something and fight against it, they do it with absolute commitment. The fight against the

unity of Sudan in 2011 is one of these examples. South Sudanese singled out the word “unity”

in 2011 and demonized it until everybody inside the country would feel ashamed to mention

the word in public. Politicians became careful on how they would choose their terms when

talking about Referendum.

Now Referendum is over and South Sudan is two years old as an independent state. South

Sudanese have decided to glorify the word “unity” again. They know that their hard earned

separation could collapse if the word unity which was thrown away in 2011 does not join it. It

is because of this desire for rebaptism of unity as important that tribalism is now in trouble.

Towards the celebration of the second anniversary for the independence of South Sudan, for

example, I had been hearing the listeners calling in to Radio Miraya in the morning and

demonized tribalism the way they did to unity before the Referendum in 2011.

People from other countries are also joining South Sudanese in the fight against tribalism.

President Museveni of Uganda, for example, warned against tribalism when he gave a speech

as the Chief Guest in Juba during the celebration of the second anniversary of South Sudan’s

independence on July 9, 2013.

I would not agree with President Museveni, however, if his warning implied that the current

struggle within the SPLM party is tribalism. I would only agree with him if he meant that

politics should not be tribalized. Most of us would agree that tribalized politics must be

condemned in any true democracy. But normal democratic contests should not be seen as a

sign of weakness. Weakness in democracy is the opposite of what is going on within the

SPLM party now.

Having said the above, I would clarify that tribalism which South Sudanese are now against is

not individual tribal membership. We know that tribal membership is not a bad thing. It is part

of our individual identity. The tribalism that South Sudanese are against is the distorted tribal

identity. In other word, they are against the use of tribal identity for selfish reasons.

Many a time, both politicians and ordinary citizens take their tribal identity as a means for

achieving their selfish agenda. This was why you saw people who rebelled after the 2010

elections like David Yau Yau and the Late George Athor turning to their tribes for support.

They gave all reasons they could to show their people that they lost elections because they

belonged to that particular tribe, a connection that does not make sense. Citizens also take

tribal affiliation as a matter of pride and security. That is why they are easily misled.

19

We can agree that tribal identity is a matter of pride to anybody, but it does not guarantee

one’s security. People who hate other tribe members would feel insecure every time they find

themselves in other tribes. Their wrong beliefs would make them think that members from

other tribes hate people from tribes not their own.

Feeling of real security and happiness are realized when one regards him/herself as a true

friend to people from other tribes. It is this feeling that makes people love their workplaces

were workers are from different communities. Any member of the Red Army who was in

Panyido in the 1980s would understand what I am talking about here.

When we went to Panyido in 1987, we first lived in what was referred to as Alamaat

(chiefdoms). We regarded such affiliation as the only way to be happy and secure. But the

opposite was true. Many children died because life in Alamaat was miserable.

Life got better in Panyido when the current Inspector General of Police General Pieng Deng,

who was Captain at the time, was assigned to Panyido as the Camp Manager. The then

Captain Pieng decided that mixing us up would solve problems we were in. We did not think

mixing us up was a good idea. We had already formulated our perceptions of other

communities. Children from Bor, on the one hand, believed that children from part of Bahr el

Ghazal were bad people because they “ate” pythons. Children from part of Bahr el Ghazal, on

the other hand, believed that children from Agaar and Bor were “dirty” people because they

were not circumcised. We wrote bad songs against one another on these perceptions. Tensions

were often high among these communities.

Ironically, happiness was not realized within each community. There were tensions between

clans. Big boys within one clan would also mistreat small boys, making them think about their

parents they left back at home as only sources of happiness and security. They became terribly

homesick because they could not feel cared for. That was the reason for high rate of death.

Yet, our wrong perceptions of other tribes made us still believe that the situation we were in

could be worst if we were mixed up. Unlike us, Captain Pieng knew our situation would be

better in mixed-up groups. That was why he pressed on with his plan even though we booed

and deserted him twice in general parade after he mentioned his plan to mix us up.

The mixing-up plan was implemented in stages. Group one to four were selected from

different communities and mixed up. Those who were first selected by the big boys who were

leaders in Alamaat were the children they regarded as troublemakers. When those supposed

troublemakers went to their mixed-up groups, their living conditions changed immediately for

the best. They became better than those of us who were still staying in Alamaat. We then

craved for mixing up.

Within some months, general mixing up was done. We immediately found that children from

other communities were good people. Happiness increased and death reduced. We realized

that caring for one another in mixed members of different tribes was better than what we had

experienced in Alamaat. We found out that friends from other tribes were often willing to give

up their own lives to care for you when you were sick. They could fear that you would pass

your own sickness to them. They would care for you like or even better than your own

brother.

It is the above reality that South Sudanese are now beginning to realize. They want a country

where one would care for a member of a different tribe as a brother or a sister. They want a

country where support of a political contestant will be based on what he or she can do for the

whole nation, not one tribe. South Sudanese have now understood that a member of one’s

tribe who is in top leadership position will not make the condition of your tribe any better than

that of those who do not have any member in higher positions. They have realized that those

who use tribal identity in politics use it for selfish reason. That is why tribalism is now in

trouble.

Because of this change in focus, I believe the misuse of tribal identity will soon die and unity

that was thrown away during the Referendum will be welcomed back home like the Prodigal

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Son. Politicians who use tribal identity for selfish reasons will soon start to be ashamed to use

it in the same way they were ashamed to mention the word unity during the Referendum.

Zechariah Manyok Biar can be reached at manyok34@gmail.com (Back to Top)

FEATURE - Oil may determine South Sudan's future Oilprice.com 14/07/13 - Oil exports from South Sudan are expected to gain steam in the

coming months. The country last week celebrated its second anniversary as an independent

country and only recently resumed crude oil exports. A former international banking chief

said the international community's newest nation could emerge as a regional economic

success story with the right policies in place. For now, however, advocacy groups are warning

the South Sudanese administration that it needs to get its house in order or risk complete

failure.

South Sudan marked its second Independence Day last week. A peace deal that ended 20

years of civil war helped pave the way to a separation from the government in Khartoum.

Independence was backed enthusiastically, though a series of border skirmishes, ethnic

fighting and spats over oil revenue with the Sudanese government have threatened the fragile

peace deal. Last year, both sides nearly went to war over the disputed Heglig oil field, which

straddles the border separating the two Sudans.

South Sudan resumed oil exports in June, roughly 18 months after disputes over pipeline fees

began with the Sudanese government. South Sudan gained control over most of the oil

reserves with independence, though Sudan maintained authority over export infrastructure.

South Sudan has pursued various pipeline proposals through neighboring countries and just

recently called on the United States to start examining the oil potential there.

The South Sudanese oil sector is dominated by Asian companies. Chinese traders may help

push exports up to 7 million barrels for August. Last month, the presidents of Uganda, Kenya

and Rwanda said they'd help with the construction of new oil pipelines across East Africa. If

those plans come to fruition, South Sudan could become one of the bright spots in a region

plagued by its bloody past. Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominque Straus Kahn

said there was "a lot" of potential in South Sudan if it's able to brand itself correctly.

The IMF said South Sudan will be able to settle its $2 billion tab with the Sudanese

government by next year. The debt was incurred during the 18-month spat over pipeline fees

that ended in June. By 2017, South Sudan hopes to have an export pipeline of its own,

increasing its prospects in the coming years.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in an Independence Day message that support for

independence doesn't translate automatically to good governance. A sustained level of

commitment is needed from the international community to help South Sudan build its

government, resolve outstanding conflicts and promote economic growth. An advocacy group

was less polite, however, in a letter to South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.

"From our various vantages, we have all come to conclude that without significant changes

and reform, your country may slide toward instability, conflict and a protracted governance

crisis," the letter said.

South Sudan built a very shaky ground beneath its feet since independence. Oil, one way or

the other, will determine its fate in the future. (Back to Top)

FEATURE - Mushrooms provide healthy living, food in South Sudan VoA News 12/07/13 - Jobs in South Sudan are hardly springing up like mushrooms, especially

during times of austerity, but South Sudanese are resourceful and have taken to creating work

for themselves -- including one Juba resident who grows mushrooms for a living.

His name is Edward Kasran, and after looking for work in the education field for almost a

year, he finally shifted his focus to another way to make money: mushroom growing.

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Kasran grows the fungi in his garden, which is not only filled with mushrooms but also wild

and domesticated birds, which swoop and glide overhead as Kasran guides visitors through

his plots of mushrooms and into the dark, damp mushroom hall, where clusters of edible fungi

poke out of plastic bags containing fertilizer that, apparently, helps mushrooms to grow.

Kasran took a training course in Kampala and then launched his business with $1,000 and a

healthy dose of optimism, in spite of the scepticism he encountered.

"When I told the specialists in Kampala that I am going to do mushrooms in Juba, they told

me it's a waste of time, that South Sudan is so hot and mushrooms cannot grow," Kasran said.

"I told them no; I must go and try and I must produce mushrooms in Juba. My first priority is

to enjoy being a pioneer of producing mushrooms in Juba and also to give a surprise to people

in Juba that they are able to find fresh mushrooms."

When the weather is hot in Juba, Kasran sprays his mushrooms with water to help them keep

cool.

When there is no rain in Juba, he takes water from a 12-meter-deep well on his compound --

for the mushrooms.

When he started his business, he thought he would be able to help feed his family and sell

some mushrooms on the side.

But now, he harvests two kilograms (4.4 pounds) of mushrooms every three days, and

supplies fresh mushrooms to VAMP, one of the biggest food stores in Juba.

Two kilos of mushrooms brings in 50 South Sudanese Pounds. Selling that amount twice a

week would mean Kasran is looking at earnings around five times greater than the average

gross national income in South Sudan, which, according to the latest available figures, was

around $20 a week. (Back to Top)

For further information or media enquiries please contact: UNMISS Spokesperson

Tel.: +211 (0) 912 06 7149 or Mobile: +211 (0) 912 396 539

United Nations Mission in South Sudan - Public Information Office

www.unmiss.unmissions.org UN House Juba 03, P.O. Box 29, Juba, South Sudan