H.E Kiir meets China's Presidential Envoy JUBA, 14 May 2012 - The President of the Republic H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit on Monday 14th, April, 2012 at the State House met the Chinese Presidential Envoy – Special Representative of the China’s Government on Africa Affairs Amb. Zhong Jianhua. The meeting discussed current development on border conflict between Juba and Khartoum. The meeting took place in presence of SPLM Lead team – Hon. Deng Alor, Hon, Nhial Deng Nhial, Hon. John Luk and Hon. Michael Mahuei.
Shortly after the meeting, the minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial told the press that the Chinese Presidential Envoy Amb. Jianhua came to Juba after visiting AU Commissioner Mr. Jean Ping in Addis Ababa, EU leadership and Sudan. Hon Nhial said President of the Republic H.E Kiir told the Chinese Presidential Envoy that South Sudan is fully committed to a peaceful dialogue as a means of resolving all the outstanding issues, and the Republic of South Sudan lauds AU Peace and Security Council and UN Security Council resolutions to cease hostilities between Juba and Khartoum. H.E Kiir meets with China Special Envoy Amb. Jianhua. [Photo: Thomas Kenneth] H.E Kiir briefed Amb. Jianhua that South Sudan has already complied with the resolutions of AU and UN and has pulled out its forces from Heglig and Abyei, adding that the negotiating team of South Sudan is now ready in Addis Ababa to start the negotiations with Khartoum Government, saying that any failure to implement the UN Security council resolution is not going to be the fault of RSS. On his part the Chinese Presidential Envoy said China is fully supporting South Sudan commitment for a peaceful dialogue and China is also supporting the AU initiative to bring about peace in South Sudan and Sudan but, he added AU/HIP needs more efforts. He called on both sides to stop bleeding and come back to a peaceful negotiation table. Reported by Thomas Kenneth Joy and hope as 146 refugees arrive in Juba JUBA, 15 May 2012 - The minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Hon. Joseph Lual Acuil has reiterated government commitment to bring home all the South Sudanese refugees still living in the Republic of Sudan. Hon. Lual made this statement yesterday in Juba while receiving the first batch of one hundred and forty six (146) South Sudanese refugees from the northern town of Kosti who touched down at Juba International Airport at about 11:15 South Sudan local time. “Rest assured that we will bring all our people home” said Hon Acuil. He continued “What we need to do is to receive them, settle and make them fell at home”. Kosti the capital of White has been estimated to be temporary home for over 12,000 South Sudanese refugees. Their transport by barge down the Nile has been frustrated by the decision of Khartoum to halt the barges sail to South Sudan. Hon Acuil speaking to the press. [Photo: Matata Safi] Upon arrival at Juba, the refugees have been allocated three transit centres where they will be accommodated after which they are expected to join their relatives in the respective states. The returnees, who only had their personal belongings, could not hold back their joy. It was written all over their faces. Hon. Acuil said their luggage is being taken care of. He explained that trucks carrying the luggage were expected to leave Kosti by yesterday (Monday) by mid day for Malakal. He further said negotiations are going on with Ministry of Social Welfare in Khartoum to bring some of the luggage by barge to Malakal or Renk. “During the next two weeks International Organization for Migration is expected to transport the entire group (refugees) in Kosti to South Sudan. Other UN Agencies will be organising for assistance to receive them”, said Mireille Girard, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UHHCR) Representative in South Sudan. An excited old woman celebrates her arrival at the Juba Airport. [Photo: Matata Safi] “We are happy to see that primarily they refugees are coming home. We will do every possible to reintegrate them into their communities”, she added. The UNCHR representative further explained that the humanitarian organizations like UNHCR, IOM and other UN Agencies will be joining efforts to bring on board other refugees living in other parts of Sudan. She said many are vulnerable and will need help to get over to South Sudan. She estimated that the repatriation of all the refugees in Sudan may go up to July. Meanwhile the deputy governor Manasseh Lomole of Central Equatoria called on commissioners of all the ten states to provide plots to the returnees so as to settle on. He also called support them returnees as the reintegrate into the communities. “Some of the people before forced to exile had their own plots here. They should be assisted to re-own their plots”, he said. Reported by Matata Safi South Sudanese women petitions UN over Sudan JUBA, 15 May 2012 - A group of women representing women of South Sudan presented a two-page petition to the UN Secretary General through the office of the UN representative in Juba for what they called “persistent violence on women and children in the Republic of South Sudan” allegedly committed by the government of the Republic of Sudan. The women among other things highlighted the continuous aerial bombings by the Sudan Armed Forces inside South Sudan’s territory where they say the victims are always women, children and the elderly. The group also demanded for immediate demarcation of the borders between Sudan and South Sudan to reduce the suffering of women and children and civilians of South Sudan, resumption of talks to resolve all the outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan. Women gather outside UN gate in Gebele to hand over their petition. [Photo: Matata Safi] They further called on the African Union and United Nations Security Council to apply others articles of the resolution against any violator of the resolution No. 2046 and other agreements they freely entered into to deter further breach of agreements. “We are not for war. We are for peace”, they shouted. The women in a peaceful procession marched to the UN headquarter in Gebele where they presented their petition which was received by Paul Gunsola, a UN representative on behalf of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General in the Republic of South Sudan Hilde F Johnson. Col. Philip Aguer, the South Sudan Army spokesman reportedly accused Sudan Armed Forces of breaking a UN Security Council deadline for cessation of hostilities by carrying aerial bombardments in Unity and Western Bahr el Ghazal states of South Sudan. Reported by Akol Martin (NASS) and Matata Safi One-stop shop investment centre opens in Juba JUBA, 15 May 2012 - The International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Executive Vice President and CEO Mr. Lars H. Thunell last Friday witnessed the opening of a one-stop shop investment centre in Juba. The One-Stop Shop Investment Centre (OSSIC) among other things will facilitate quick and efficient processing of all paperwork that investors need to start business in the country, serve as customer care centre where investors can seek assistance, bring regulatory agencies together in a user friendly and efficient process for the issuance of investment certificates, licences and permits. Mr. Thunell speaking at the occasion reiterated IFC’s commitment in the development of the private sector in the newly independent Republic of South Sudan. He said developing the private sector is one way of bettering the lives of the people of South Sudan through job creation. He added that IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, understands the difficulties the government is facing in the reconstruction process of the country and said IFC will be part and parcel of the reconstruction of South Sudan. He also participated in the launch of nineteen (19) commercial laws recently by the Legislative Assembly. He applauded the government for putting in place the foundations for private sector development. “It is every encouraging seeing you put in place the foundations for private sector development. The laws are vital for the investor to know what the rules of the game are”, he said. Mr Thunnel cutting the ribbon of the OSSIC. [Photo: Matata Safi] Meanwhile the minister for Justice, Hon. John Luk Jok said the government appreciates the role of the IFC in supporting the private sector development saying IFC has been supportive organization particularly in the creation of a conducive business environment in South Sudan. “The role of the private sector is pivotal in the reconstruction of this country devastated by the many years of war. That is strongly stipulated in our constitution and the development plan”, said Hon Jok. South Sudan has been on an investment drive to woo investors as the country has vast and untapped investment opportunities. The OSSIC is expected to easen the process of establishing business in the country under one roof. Available information from the business registry desk of the Ministry of Justice indicates that fifteen thousand (15,000) businesses have been registered in the country since 2005. Reported by Matata Safi Cattle looted following South Sudan Police Service withdrawal from Abyei JUBA, 15 May 2012 (NASS) – The co-chairperson of the Abyei joint oversight committee, Dr Luka Biong Deng said at least 600 heads of cattle were looted by Misseriya following the withdrawal of South Sudan Police Service from Abyei. He said some of the cattle were returned by United Nations Interim Security Forces for Abyei though many still remain missing. According to Dr Biong, these Misseriya are being used by Khartoum government to focus on withdrawal of police forces so that South Sudan is projected as not complying with UN and AU resolution. Dr Biong made these remarks today while briefing the press on the situation the people of Abyei are currently facing. Dr Biong (right) addressing the media. [Photo: Ajang Monychol] During the briefing the co-chairperson called on South Sudan to redeploy police forces to Abyei claiming that the situation is worsening. He as well urged the UN Security Council and the African Union to pressurize Sudan in order to withdraw its force from Abyei. Meanwhile Edward Lino Abyei, who is a member of Abyei joint oversight committee challenged the Arab League for supporting Khartoum position without understanding the root cause of the problem between North and South Sudan. “I understand Khartoum is under Arab regime but should not be supported sentimentally because it is an Arab state but history of the problem should be understood,” he said. Reported by Martin Jada Gabriel, News Agency of South Sudan (NASS) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
