RSS seeks Zimbabwe’s support in its search for peace with Sudan HARARE, 16 January 2013 (NASS) – The government of the Republic of Zimbabwe has received the letter sent by H.E. the President of the Republic Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit on the outcome of the recent presidential summit held in Addis Ababa. The letter was handed over yesterday to the Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, H.E. Joice Mujuru at Harare International Airport.
Shortly after handing over the letter, the special envoy of the President, Hon. Emmanuel LoWilla told the Vice President of Zimbabwe that the government of Sudan is not serious about implementing the cooperation agreement and dragging its feet on reaching a solution on the final status of Abyei Area as proposed by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel. Zimbabwe is one of the members of the African Union Peace and Security Council which will meet on the margins of the African Union Summit scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa on 24th – 29 January 2013. The Summit of the heads of state and governments is expected to discuss the outstanding issue between Sudan and South Sudan, especially the final status of Abyei Area, claimed and disputed border areas and the implementation of the cooperation agreement signed on 27 September 2012. Hon. LoWilla in discussion with Zimbabwean Vice President H.E. Joice Mujuru. [Photo: Ajang Monychol] Hon. LoWilla, who is also the minister in the Office of the President urged the government of the Republic of Zimbabwe to encourage President Bashir and the Sudanese government to implement the cooperation agreement immediately and without precondition. On her part, the Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe said that H.E. Thabo Mbeki being a former Head of State and as the chairman of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel is the right person for the job because he has experience over conflict resolutions and familiar with the African problems. The Vice President assured the delegation to communicate the feedback after handing the letter to H.E. Robert Mugabe, as soon as he is back to office from his annual leave and confident that reply on the support requested will be sooner before the AU Summit. Reported by Martin Jada Gabriel, News Agency of South Sudan (NASS) President Kiir visits Uganda JUBA, 15 January 2013 - The President of the Republic H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit arrived in Entebbe, Uganda on 13 January 2013 evening in the company of some national ministers among them Hon. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the minister for Information and Broadcasting; Hon. Oyay Deng Ajak, the minister for National Security; and Hon. Kosti Manibe, the minister for Finance and Economic Planning; among others. After his arrival H.E Kiir met his Ugandan counterpart H.E. Yoweri K. Museveni at State House in Entebbe and explored ways of strengthening the existing bilateral ties between Juba and Kampala. The two heads of state also exchanged views on some regional issues of mutual concern. President Kiir shakes hands with his host President Museveni. [Photo: Thomas Kenneth] According to South Sudan’s Ambassador to Uganda Amb. Samuel Luate, H.E Kiir also briefed President Museveni on the outcomes of the summit between him and President Al-Bashir which was held recently in Addis Ababa. Amb. Luate added that President Kiir also briefed President Museveni on the progress made so far on Abyei issues. H.E Kiir and the delegation were expected to visit Nairobi on 14 January 2013 to hold bilateral talks with President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya. Reported by Thomas Kenneth Lesotho supports Abyei referendum MASERU, Lesotho 14 January 2013 (NASS) – The Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho has agreed to back Mr Thabo Mbeki’s proposal that allows Abyei referendum to take place in October saying there is nothing wrong with it. The government made this reaction today after receiving a letter and a briefing on the status of Abyei from the special envoy of the President Hon. Emmanuel LoWilla. According to Hon. LoWilla, Mr. Mbeki’s proposal suggests that the people of Abyei (the Dinka Ngok and the other permanent residents of Sudan and South Sudan residing in Abyei) are to be given the right of a referendum to decide where they want to be. He as well mentioned that the proposal suggests that the nomads’ right for grazing is guaranteed but they are not to vote because they are not permanent residents of Abyei. Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Right Honorable Motsoahae Thomas Thabane said there is no reason why the people of Abyei were not allowed to vote for referendum after the agreement signed in 2005. Prime Minister Thabane pledged to support the cooperation agreement signed last September and encourage other African countries to look into this problem so that peace and stability prevails between Sudan and South Sudan. He as well noted that the Kingdom of Lesotho will always be committed to the resolution of conflicts peacefully in Africa. Reported by Martin Jada Gabriel, News Agency of South Sudan (NASS) President Kikwete pledges support for peace in South Sudan Dar es Salaam, 11 January 2013 (NASS) – The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete has assured the government of the Republic of South Sudan that Tanzania will do whatever necessary to ensure peace and stability in the country. President Kikwete said this today after receiving a letter from a special envoy of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, minister in the Office of the President, Hon. Emmanuel LoWilla, on the recent Addis Ababa summit between the two presidents of South Sudan and Sudan. He said as a member of the AU Peace and Security Council, it is in the interest of Tanzania and the entire African continent to see South Sudan and Sudan peaceful and viable states. He promised to help south Sudan in the upcoming African Union Peace and Security Council meeting. President Kikwete (right) receiving the letter from Hon LoWilla (left). On his part, Hon LoWilla said that the letter contained a briefing on the outcome of the presidential summit that was held in Addis Ababa on the 5th of January 2013, and a call for a decisive action on the outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan as agreed upon in the cooperation agreement. He also said the letter urged the AUPSC member states to support the AU roadmap of 24 April 2012, AUPSC Communiqué of 24 October and UNSC resolution 2046, which adopt the proposal of President Mbeki on a referendum for Abyei. The minister further said that it is very important for the AUPSC member states to understand the outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan since they are going to be tabled in the upcoming AU Peace and Security Council meeting in Addis Ababa, particularly the issue of Abyei and Borders (disputed and claimed areas). Reported by Martin Jada Gabriel, News Agency of South Sudan (NASS) Distinction between NASS and South Sudan News Agency JUBA, 11 January 2013 – Please, click here to read a press release from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting clarifying that News Agency of South Sudan (NASS) is the official government news agency in the Republic of South Sudan. On the other hand, the ministry further clarifies that South Sudan News Agency is a private firm. Awulian community holds development conference JUBA, 9 January 2013 - The Awulian Community of Nyuak Payam in Twic East County of Jonglei state on 24-26 December 2012 held a development conference at Aluel Primary School under the theme “Taking towns to the people”. The theme is also the vision of the SPLM-led government of the Republic of South Sudan. During the development conference, the new chairman of Awulian Community Brig. Gen. Chol Biar Ngang assured the community that under his leadership the community will focus on how to fight socioeconomic challenges such as hunger so that each Awulian community member has “something in his granary”. He explained that this will be achieved through improved agriculture at the grassroots adding that the community is endowed with suitable natural resources such as fertile soil, livestock and adequate rainfall to make this happen. Brig. Gen. Chol also said that under his leadership, the community will improve schools by building modern classrooms and motivate teachers to give their best to the students. He explained that this will help maintain the people in the countryside while attracting home those still living outside the county. He also said that the community will also expand hospitals and other health facilities. Madam Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, who also attended the conference, promised to expand Dr. John Garang Memorial Hospital by adding more wards. The hospital was established in May 2012 to provide services to Awulian and the surrounding communities of the Twic East County. Madam Rebecca reported that the initial resources for the operation of the hospital is depleted and urged the community members and other people of goodwill to contribute more money in order to maintain the health service in the area. The interdenominational prayers at "Chuei door". [Photo: Joseph Garang Deng] The community chiefs also agreed to allocate land for agriculture and other investment activities in the area. To mark the conference celebration, Madam Ajoh Kuol Mading, Biar Chol Biar, Biar Ajang Biar, Atem Biar Atem and Ajang Biar Atem slaughtered bulls (riong). Pakor sub-section also slaughtered two more bulls for the celebration of their new chieftaincy under Garang Aguin Ajak. The conference was attended by Madam Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior, Uncle Elijah Malok, Hon. Deu Aguin Majok and Lt. Gen. Biar Atem, Maj. Gen. Biar Mading, Maj. Gen. Ajak Deng Biar, Commissioner of Twic East Mr. Dau Akoi Jurkuc, and the Head Chief Manyok Deng Biar, among other dignitaries and the community as a whole. Meanwhile all the church denominations gathered at “Chuei door” the peace tree on 27th December 2012 for a memorial prayer. The event was meant to pray for the souls of those who were lost during the 21 years of the struggle for the freedom of South Sudan and at the same time to commemorate the date when God made a miraculous signal to stop the internal fighting between Nuer and Dinka Bor at the same spot. Reported by Joseph Garang Deng Report of the outcomes of the South Sudan-Sudan summit JUBA, 8 January 2013 - Please click here to download the report of the outcomes of the summit between President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan and President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. H.E Kiir in Addis Ababa for a summit with H.E Bashir ADDIS ABABA, 4 January 2013 - The President of the Republic H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit arrived in Addis Ababa on 4th January 2013 to participate in a summit between him and President El-Bashir. This was announced by the South Sudan Chief Negotiator and SPLM Secretary General Mr. Pagan Amum Okec in a press conference today at Sheraton Hotel in Addis Ababa. H.E Kiir arrives in Addis Ababa. [Photo: Thomas Kenneth] Mr Amum briefed the press on the developments about the summit and thanked the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia H.E Hailemariam Desalegn for inviting the two heads of state for the summit. Mr. Amum said President Kiir came to the summit with open hands, heart and with the hope to resolve all the outstanding issues between the two neighboring states. Specifically, he said President Kiir is in Addis Ababa to discuss the final status of Abyei area as recommended by the African Union Peace and Security Council. Mr. Amum added that H.E Kiir is in Addis Ababa to engage President Bashir to accept the African Union proposal on Abyei and to discuss the process of a peaceful resolution of border disputes and all the disputed areas between the two sides as well as the way forward. H.E Kiir in a separate meeting with PM Desalegn and AUHIP Chair H.E Mbeki. [Photo: Thomas Kenneth] H.E Kiir position is that African Union panel of experts be given the mandate to present to the two countries a non-binning opinion on disputed and claimed areas as a basis to resolve the disputes on the border and claimed areas. If there is no agreement on the border based on the opinions presented by the panel of experts, then the two countries are to agree to take the disputes and claims to an international arbitration mechanism which H.E Kiir believes is the most peaceful and best practice to resolve disputes and claims. President Kiir will also encourage President El-Bashir to remove the new preconditions and obstacles that are hindering the full implementation of the cooperation agreements signed on 27th September 2012 because South Sudan is waiting for an immediate, concurrent and coordinated implementation of all the agreements signed between the two countries without any preconditions. H.E Kiir was received by PM Desalegn at the airport. [Photo: Thomas Kenneth] “May it be known to all that on the evening of 4th January2013, the Ethiopian PM H.E Desalegn together with AU/HIP Chairperson H.E Mbeki held separate meetings with President Kiir and President Bashir at the Ethiopian State House in Addis Ababa and after a working dinner on 4thJanuary 2013, the Summit will be in progress as from 5th January 2013”, Mr Amum said. Reported by Thomas Kenneth from Addis Ababa-Ethiopia -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. 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