South Sudan briefs|30. December 2013
Update on the Current Situation in the Republic of South Sudan
PRESS BRIEFING HELD ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN ON 6TH FEBRUARY 2014
H. E. Ambassador Sitona Abdalla Osman held a Press Briefing on 6th February 2014 at the premises of the Embassy on the current situation in South Sudan. The meeting was attended by all members of diplomatic staff, as well as a total of 40 persons comprising of journalists, Ambassadors as well as representatives from the German Government, German Federal Parliament and various organisations working in different humanitarian projects in South Sudan.
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Please contact tel no. 0160 90 63 46 96 at any time in case of an emergency or further information on the current situation in South Sudan.
The Ambassador explained the background of the conflict, and the role played by regional and international organisations such as IGAD, the AU, the UN, which resulted in the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and opposition forces in Addis Ababa on 23rd January 2014.
The Ambassador further talked about the current humanitarian situation in the country as a negative impact of the conflict. The Ambassador highlighted the areas that require urgent humanitarian assistance in the country and detailed the needs facing displaced persons in the country such as food, water, medicine, sanitation materials and shelter. The Ambassador made an appeal to all organisations and individuals who can aid the displaced persons in the country.
Ambassador Sitona Abdalla Osman especially thanked, on behalf of the Government and the People of the Republic of South Sudan, all national, international and regional actors currently supporting efforts towards achievement of lasting peace in different parts of the Republic of South Sudan, as well as acting towards providing urgently needed humanitarian aid. The Ambassador in particular thanked the German Government and People for their support.
Read the full text of the Appeal for Humanitarian Assistance here.
APPEAL FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR DISPLACED PERSONS
On behalf of the Government and the People of the Republic of South Sudan, H. E. Ambassador Sitona Abdalla Osman thanks all national, international and regional actors currently supporting efforts towards a cessation of hostilities, as well as acting towards providing urgently needed humanitarian aid to displaced persons due to the current crisis in the Republic of South Sudan. Current figures by the Humanitarian Affairs sub-committee of the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan indicate that a total of 538,347 persons have been displaced in the ten states since the violence began in December 2013. Surveys carried out indicate that the current needs on the ground are shelter, household utensils, medicines, water, food and sanitation materials.
The Chairperson of the IGAD Mediation Team to South Sudan Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin and IGAD Special Envoys Gen. Lazaro Sumbeiywo and Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Moustafa El Dabi alongside the IGAD Executive Secretary Ambassador (Eng) Mahboub Maalim met H. E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan during their fruitful mission to Juba between 7th and 8th January 2014.
Direct negotiation between the Parties is continuing in Addis Ababa in good spirit.
Please read the full IGAD Special Envoys Statement here.
In accordance with the position of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan as expressed in its Press Release dated 26th December 2013, H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit has issued Republican Decree No. 02/2014 for the Formation of the Negotiation Team with Dr. Riek Machar and his Group.
Read the full Republican Decree here.
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 411th meeting held at the level of Heads of State and Government, in Banjul, The Gambia, on 30th December 2013, adopted the following decision on the situation in South Sudan as set out in its Communiqué dated 30th December 2013.
Read the full AU Communiqué here.
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan, the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Berlin would hereby like to inform the public that the Government released a Press Statement on 26th December 2013 on the Dialogue to Resolve the Current Political Crisis in the Country.
A Delegation of IGAD Ministers of Foreign Affairs, including the Ministers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan Somalia and Djibouti as well as the UN Special Representative to IGAD, the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security and AU-HIP Representative travelled to Juba on Friday, 20th December to hear firsthand of the nature of the political development subsequently led to the aborted coup d'état.
Based on the report of the Foreign Ministers to the Chairman of IGAD Council of Ministers, a high level delegation came to Juba in response to the initiative of the President of the Republic of South Sudan to end the violence, killings and sufferings imposed on the people of the Republic of South Sudan through dialogue with the rebel group of Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
The Delegation was led by H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Chairman of IGAD, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya.
After separate meetings with the two leaders, an extended Council of Ministers was held chaired by H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit and attended by Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
After a period of deliberations and expressions of views by the members of the extended Council of Members H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit summarized the position of the government of the Republic of South Sudan in "principle" as follows:
Commitment to cessation of hostilities
Dialogue with Dr. Riek and his group without pre-conditions
Release of the detained suspects consistent with the constitution and laws of the Republic of South Sudan; and taking into account any conditionality that may be necessary.
Provision of unhindered access to delivery of Humanitarian Assistance to the needy throughout the Republic of South Sudan
On 27th December 2013 the 23rd Extra-Ordinary Session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government on the Situation in South Sudan- was held in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Session was attended by H.E. Ismail Omar Gueleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Bakri Hassan Saleh, First Vice President, Republic of Sudan and H.E. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Sudan. Ambassador (Eng) Mahboub Maalim, Executive Secretary of IGAD and Ambassador Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the Africa Union Commission also attended.
The Summit was briefed on the emergency 3-day visit to Juba on 19th December by the President of Uganda as well as by the current chair of IOGAD Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia H.E. Tedros Adhamon.
After consideration of the reports and deliberations, the summit made the following deliberations
I. Stakeholders in the Republic of South Sudan
Welcomed the commitment by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan on immediately beginning unconditional dialogue with all stakeholders;
Welcomed the commitment by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to an immediate cessation of hostilities and called upon Dr. Riek Machar and other parties to make similar commitments;
Determined that if hostilities do not cease within 4 days of this communiqué, the Summit will consider taking further measures;
Requested all parties to accept a monitoring, verification and stabilization mechanism;
Undertake urgent measures in pursuit of an all-inclusive dialogue including reviewing the status of the detainees in recognition of their role in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Sudan, and in creating a conducive environment for all stakeholders to participate and determines that face-to-face talks by all stakeholders in the conflict should occur by the 31st of December 2013;
Ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers including those from neighbouring countries;
Strongly Condemns criminal acts of murder, sexual violence, looting and other criminal acts against civilians and unarmed combatants by any actor and demand that all involved by be held responsible by their de-facto and or de jure leaders;
Liaise with IGAD envoys and the Council of Ministers to support the process of dialogue and related political and technical reforms;
II. The United Nations, the African Union and the International Community to
Support the IGAD process;
Ensure that humanitarian assistance is immediately delivered to all affected;
Support constitutional and other political reforms in South Sudan;
III. IGAD Member States:
Direct the Council of Ministers to continue working with the Government of South Sudan and make contact with Dr. Riek Machar and other leaders critical to bringing about peace; and keep the Summit appraised;
Commit to monitor the safety of IGAD Member State citizens and coordinate their evacuation as necessary;
Appoints General Lazaro Sumbeiywo of Kenya and Amb. Seyoum Mesfin of Ethiopia and a representative from the Republic of the Sudan as our Special Envoys for South Sudan;
Appoints Ambassador Mohamed Affey as IGAD Special Envoy to Somalia and Ambassador Tewolde Gebremeskal as Director of Peace and Security at the IGAD Secretariat;
Directs the IGAD Secretariat to avail its good offices in support of the above process;
Directs the IGAD Secretariat to transmit these decisions to the African Union Commission and the United Nations Security Council;
Decides to remain seized of these matters.
Read the full Communique here
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan, the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Berlin would hereby like to inform the public that President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a Statement to the National Legislative Assembly in Juba on 23rd December 2013, regarding the crisis that began on 15th December 2013. The main facts are summarized below (the full statement can be read here)
"The activities and intentions of the group led by Dr. Riek Machar who attempted the military overthrow of the government started earlier this month". The group convened at the SPLM House in Juba on 06/12/2013 and during a Press Conference that they held they attacked and challenged the Executive Powers of President Salva Kiir Mayardit. Most of the members of this group are former ministers and governors. Nonetheless the group proposed a political rallye at Nyokuron Cultural Centre on 14/12/2013 at the same date time and at the same venue of the National Liberation Council.
Only a few hours before their Political Rallye, the group cancelled it during a Press Release and instead joined the NLC Meeting.
The NLC Meeting convened until evening of the 14/12/2013 and was to start at 3:00pm the following day, 15/12/2013; Dr. Riek and his group did not show up. The NLC passed and adopted the SPLM basic documents: the Manifesto and the Party Amended Constitution. While the Meeting was still in progress an unidentified person drove near to Nyokuron Cultural Centre and shot gunshots into the air and then drove away at high speed. This was later followed by a serious attack on the Presidential Guards Headquarters, 300 meters away from Nyokuron Cultural Centre. The attacks were extended to the SPLA Defense Headquarters in Bilpam. Our SPLA forces succeeded in repulsing them.
On 16th December 2013, "Dr. Riek released a statement that Juba would be captured by midday". President Salva Kiir Mayardit immediately instructed the location and arrest of Dr. Riek and his group. "Dr. Riek himself declared that there was a coup attempt, which he later denied and claimed that instead it was a misunderstanding between the Presidential Guards at the SPLA Headquarters. Dr. Riek and Comrade Taban Deng Gai are in Bor with the Breakway forces killing innocent citizens, foreigners and UN Peace Keepers and not only in Bor but in Bentiu, Akobo and many other areas.in the Great Upper Nile".
"They recently shot at US Air Force Planes in Bor and injured 4 US citizens. They attacked the UN Compound in Akobo killing 2 Indian Peace Keepers and some of the people who had taken refuge there".
In spite of all these atrocities President Salva Kiir Mayardit still expresses readiness for unconditional negotiations with Dr. Riek in order to bring the violence to a speedy end.
Some steps taken
A curfew has been ordered in Juba from 6:00pm to 6:0am until conditions return to normal and shall be lifted as soon as confidence and trust among South Sudanese has been regained
The arrest of the Coup leaders and anyone found in violation of the laws of this South Sudan has been ordered and most of the participants have been captured and arrested. They are all safe and will go under investigation and trial in the court of law as soon as possible.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit pledged his readiness for a dialogue with Dr. Riek Machar and others who took up arms against the State for a peaceful settlement of differences.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has accepted the request of the IGAD Countries for mediation provided that Dr. Riek comes to the table without any precondition.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a Presidential Order for the formation of a Crisis Management Committee headed by Vice-President Jamess Wani Igga.
We are all aware of the long walk and heavy price we paid together to achieve our independence. It is our collective responsibility to protect and defend our beloved nation from any external and internal threats. Citizens are asked to remain calm and to avoid hostilities among themselves. Those killing innocent civilians on the pretext of supporting the Government must stop because they are doing great harm to the image of our nation as well as to President Salva Kiir Mayardit as Leader of the Nation. Those killing innocent civilians and foreigners on the grounds that they are supporting Dr. Riek must also stop.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has assured that South Sudan will not be taken back to war and continues to embrace the rich diversities of South Sudanese as a source of pride and strength, promoting unity and peace among South Sudanese. And ill continue to respect and observe the principles and values of the participatory democracy and policies of inclusiveness for the building of the Republic of South Sudan.
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan, the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Berlin would hereby like to inform the public that the situation is largely back to normal in Juba. All Government Ministries at the Federal and State levels are fully operating, and Juba International Airport re-opened on 18th December 2013.
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