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8-14 April 2016

Media Monitoring Report for South Sudan
Posted on April 22, 2016

Contents

Compiled by Vincent Marquis

  1. Alleged ceasefire violations by warring factions
  2. SPLM-IO soldiers arrive in Juba, Machar expected soon
  3. State of emergency in Eastern Lakes State
  4. Renewed sanctions against peace obstructors
1. Alleged ceasefire violations by warring factions

(Sudan Tribune, independent/privately-owned online media platform, article dated April 10, 2016, in English) SPLA launches military operations against SPLA-IO forces in Bahr-el-Ghazal region

  • The command of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), has launched a large-scale military operation against fighters of the country’s armed opposition forces in the regions of Bahr el Ghazal and Equatoria.
  • “The only space for the SPLM-IO forces is the sky. Everything is closed for them…The general command has issued outstanding orders to clear these criminals within one month”, a senior military officer at the army’s 5th division headquarters in Wau said.
  • Analysts fear that lack of commitment to implement the deal by elements from the rival parties may ruin the peace process, coupled with continued violation of the ceasefire.
2. SPLM-IO soldiers arrive in Juba, Machar expected soon

(Eye Radio, independent/privately-owned online media platform, article dated April 11, 2016, in English) Transport of 1,370 SPLM-IO soldiers complete

  • All the troops required for the return of First Vice President designate Dr Riek Machar are in Juba, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission has said.  As part of the transitional security arrangements under the peace agreement, 1,370 troops are required in the capital.
  • The process for flying the troops to Juba started two weeks ago with facilitation from JMEC, UN, the TROIKA, Ethiopia and China. The last batch was supposed to arrive yesterday with the Deputy Chairperson of the SPLM-In Opposition, Alfred Ladu Gore. However, his arrival was postponed indefinitely.
  • The Deputy Chairperson of JMEC, François Fall, says the last troops and police of the SPLM-IO were transported yesterday from Malakal to Juba, on a combination of United Nations and chartered aircrafts.

(Eye Radio, independent/privately-owned online media platform, article dated April 13, 2016, in English) Government rejects request to receive Machar publicly

  • The government has rejected a request by the SPLM in Opposition for a public reception of Dr Riek Machar in Juba, saying the reception will be an official event of the government.
  • “The reception of Dr Riek Machar will be an official event of the Government of South Sudan. There will be no public reception or SPLM/A-IO organized event or reception,” said the government in a statement issued by the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Michael Makuei Lueth.
  • Lueth also specified in the statement that Dr Riek may request for an audience with the president but any further engagement between the two leaders “shall be in accordance with normal government business.”

(Eye Radio, independent/privately-owned online media platform, article dated April 14, 2016, in English) SPLM-IO sets new conditions for Machar’s return

  • The SPLM in Opposition has laid new conditions to be fulfilled before Dr Riek Machar returns to Juba to take up his position as the First Vice President.
  • Dr Machar is expected in Juba next Monday. However, his spokesman says Machar will not come to Juba as scheduled unless the JMEC confirms that Juba is demilitarized. James Gatdet says the government should also agree to let Dr Machar take his oath of office on the same day of his arrival.
  • The Minister of Information, Michael Makuei Lueth, says government troops have already been deployed 25 Kilometers outside Juba. He added that the opposition has no mandate to set any schedule for government programs.
  • Dr Machar is required in Juba to work with President Salva Kiir to set up a transitional government of national unity.

 

3. State of emergency in Eastern Lakes State

(Sudan Tribune, independent/privately-owned online media platform, article dated April 11, 2016, in English) Governor declares state of emergency in Eastern Lakes State

  • The Authorities in South Sudan’s Eastern Lakes state have declared a state of emergency due to worsening starvation levels and urged aid agencies to assist. The governor, Rin Tueng Mabor, made the declaration after touring parts of Awerial county, currently hosting thousands of internally displaced persons.
  • “I appeal to all humanitarian organisations to intervene on the humanitarian situation to deliver emergency food so that people can get food and cultivate,” he said. The state information minister said government decries the level of starvation in the area, but has urged citizens to cultivate farms since the region has become peaceful.
  • The crisis in South Sudan is marked by alarming levels of hunger. Some 5.8 million people, or nearly half of the country’s population, are unsure where their next meal will come from, while the rate of severe food insecurity has now reached 12 percent, double the rate of one year ago.
  • Last week, an assessment by two United Nations agencies revealed that civil strife and unfavourable rains have further reduced crop production in South Sudan, contributing to a cereal deficit of 381,000 metric tons – 53 percent greater than in 2015 – and aggravating the already severe food shortages.

 

4. Renewed sanctions against peace obstructors

(Sudan Tribune, independent/privately-owned online media platform, article dated April 8, 2016, in English) UNSC renews sanctions against peace obstructors

  • The UN Security Council has renewed sanctions on those it says are blocking peace in South Sudan. The travel bans and asset freezes were first imposed on officials on both sides of the conflict last year, after repeated ceasefire violations.
  • On the government’s side were General Marial Chaunuong, Gen Jok Riak, and Gen Santino Deng Wol. On the opposition’s side, the sanctions were imposed on General Peter Gatdet, General James Koang Chuol and General Gatwech Dual.
  • On Thursday, the council members extended the sanctions regime until the 1st of June, saying the situation in South Sudan poses a continuing threat to regional peace and security.
  • The UNSC also unanimously adopted a new resolution to extend to the 1st of July the mandate of the Panel of Experts overseeing the sanctions, with the intention of reviewing it.
  • The Council also expressed regrets that some recommendations it made have not been fully implemented. It strongly urged all parties to complete them and to implement fully the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.
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