---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: "John Ashworth" <[email protected]> Date: 30 Apr 2017 08:35 Subject: [sudans-john-ashworth] JMEC warns SPLA to ‘stop violence’ To: "Group" <[email protected]> Cc:
1. Press release: JMEC warns SPLA to ‘stop violence’ April 28, 2017 | 5:22 pm The chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation has issued a warning for the SPLA to “stop all ongoing violence in the country immediately.Below is a statement released by the body this afternoon, in which it issued the warning. JMEC Chairman, H.E. Festus Mogae has issued a warning to the SPLA command to stop all on-going violence in the country immediately.CTSAMM are currently receiving reports regarding the alleged movement of SPLA toward areas housing displaced civilian populations in Upper Nile, specifically Kodok and Aburoc. CTSAMM are monitoring the situation closely and we expect all combatants to cease hostilities immediately. CTSAMM have requested immediate permission to visit Kodok in Upper Nile State where the UNMISS reports that offensive operations have intensified recently and up to 25,000 people have been displaced from their homes on the West Bank of the Nile in the past week. JMEC Chairman, H.E. Festus Mogae said, “In my Plenary speech two days ago I stated that we believe central command and control of armed forces and armed groups around the country may have broken down. I am very pleased to hear that, according to a statement issued yesterday by the SPLA Spokesman, the SPLA believes it still has complete control of its forces.“If that control is in place, then once again we call upon the SPLA specifically, and all armed forces and groups, to stop all offensive operations immediately, bring all violence and displacement of civilians to an end and implement the ceasefire as set out in the 2015 Agreement. I thank the SPLA Command for its immediate cooperation.“If command and control is still in place and hostilities do not end then we will know who is responsible for ignoring our demands for a cessation of violence, perpetuating violence and conflict, the displacement of civilians, and the human rights violations taking place around the country under their watch.” Richard Bailey <[email protected]> END1 2. PRESS RELEASE SPLA CONFIRMS CONTROL AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTIONS OF THEIR FORCES (For Immediate Publication) 28 April 2017, Juba, South Sudan JMEC Chairman, H.E. Festus Mogae has issued a warning to the SPLA command to stop all on-going violence in the country immediately. CTSAMM are currently receiving reports regarding the alleged movement of SPLA toward areas housing displaced civilian populations in Upper Nile, specifically Kodok and Aburoc. CTSAMM are monitoring the situation closely and we expect all combatants to cease hostilities immediately. CTSAMM have requested immediate permission to visit Kodok in Upper Nile State where the UNMISS reports that offensive operations have intensified recently and up to 25,000 people have been displaced from their homes on the West Bank of the Nile in the past week. JMEC Chairman, H.E. Festus Mogae said, “In my Plenary speech two days ago I stated that we believe central command and control of armed forces and armed groups around the country may have broken down. I am very pleased to hear that, according to a statement issued yesterday by the SPLA Spokesman, the SPLA believes it still has complete control of its forces. “If that control is in place, then once again we call upon the SPLA specifically, and all armed forces and groups, to stop all offensive operations immediately, bring all violence and displacement of civilians to an end and implement the ceasefire as set out in the 2015 Agreement. I thank the SPLA Command for its immediate cooperation. “If command and control is still in place and hostilities do not end then we will know who is responsible for ignoring our demands for a cessation of violence, perpetuating violence and conflict, the displacement of civilians, and the human rights violations taking place around the country under their watch.” Richard Bailey <[email protected]> END2 3. South Sudan army gains control of rebel headquarters in Upper Nile April 28, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudanese government army (SPLA) Friday has gained control of the headquarters of armed opposition forces, displacing over 25,000 civilians without humanitarian assistance. The SPLA spokesperson, Colonel Santo Domic said government forces took Kodok town on Wednesday after three days of fighting with armed opposition fighters under the overall command of Johnson Olony, who allied himself to the SPLM-IO led by the exiled former First Vice President, Riek Machar. The military spokesperson said they were forced to take the town because they have reports that civilians trapped in the rebel-held areas were starving and the government was being blamed for denying humanitarian access to the place. Ten days ago a group of 10 Shilluk tribal leaders in the Upper Nile accused Olony of killing officers from the Agwelek section of the Shilluk tribe in Panyikang County. The rebel general also belongs to the same tribal section. Gen. Johnson Colony and his troops joined the SPLA in 2013 when he returned from Sudan after accepting a presidential amnesty. However he joined the SPLM-IO in July 2015. In April 2015, Johnson Colony defected and captured the capital of the oil-rich Upper Nile state, Malakal, and Melut, headquarters of Melut county which is adjacent to the main oilfields of Paloch, in joint operations with SPLA-IO rebels before the towns were retaken by the government. The international medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors without Borders on Wednesday announced that nearly 25,000 people have been displaced by intense fighting between in Kodok between the government forces and the rebel fighters. "The humanitarian organisations that have, up until now, been providing essential medical services, water, food, non-food items, and shelter have had to temporarily suspend activities on the west bank of the Nile because of the increasing insecurity," further said Marcus Bachmann head of MSF mission in South Sudan The statement expressed deep concern for those who would be forced to trek across the border to Sudan in search of safety in refugee camps if they do not get protection. (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article62313 END3 ______________________ John Ashworth [email protected] +254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile) +211 919 695 362 (South Sudan mobile) +44 787 976 8030 (UK mobile) +88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone) Skype: jashworth1 PO Box 52002 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation -- -- The content of this message does not necessarily reflect John Ashworth's views. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, John Ashworth is not the author of the content and the source is always cited. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sudan-john-ashworth" group. 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