S. Sudan: Holdout rebels meet to unify against govt

Article from and by Radio Tamazuj.org

Dated Sunday 29 August 2019

Meeting of South Sudan rebel groups begins in The Hague

File photo: Emmanuel Ajawin (L) and NAS leader Thomas Cirillo (R)

Disaffected South Sudanese rebel figures who are not part of the September 2018 peace deal have started a two-day meeting in the Netherlands, an opposition official announced.

Emmanuel Ajawin, secretary general of the opposition coalition South Sudan National Democratic Alliance (SSNDA), told Radio Tamazuj this afternoon that the holdout opposition groups kicked off a meeting aimed at hammering out a united front against the Kiir administration.

The opposition South Sudan National Democratic Alliance (SSNDA), a coalition of non-signatory groups, is led by NAS leader General Thomas Cirillo.

Ajawin, who was part of today’s meeting, noted that the gathering in The Hague this morning seeks to define a common stance among the holdout opposition groups for a genuine peace in South Sudan.

He revealed that the meeting was attended by General Thomas Cirillo, Pagan Amum, General Oyai Deng Ajak, Cirino Hiteng, Sunday de John, Thomas Tut and other opposition officials.

“General Paul Malong spoke by telephone when the meeting started officially. General Malong talked and presented the position of his movement,” he said.

“The opposition groups agreed that the unity of the holdout opposition groups is very important because the government of Salva Kiir is destroying the country,” he added.

Ajawin, who also leads a faction of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), pointed out that the talks are expected to reach satisfactory understandings that will lead to the Declaration of Principles and shared plans.

Several rebel factions, including those led by former army chief Paul Malong and General Thomas Cirillo are not part of the revitalized peace deal signed in September 2018.

Under the peace deal, prominent opposition leader Riek Machar, along with four others will serve as President Kiir's deputies in a transitional government.

But the peace deal is already behind schedule and there are growing concerns that the parties to the peace accord may not meet a November 12 deadline to form a new government.

SOURCE:  https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/meeting-of-south-sudan-rebel-groups-begins-in-the-hague

South Sudan army, NAS rebels clash near Juba

THE National Salvation Front (NAS), formed by ex-general Thomas Cirillo Swaka in 2017 who called for the toppling of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir’s government, said it had come under attack last Tuesday. 

NAS refused to sign a peace deal signed in September last year. While peace has largely held across the country, fighting has continued between government troops and the NAS in the Central Equatoria region, particularly around the city of Yei. 

A UNMISS report identified government forces, fighters allied to Riek Machar, Mr Kiir's former deputy who was sacked by Mr Kiir in 2013 [https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2013/07/] and rebel groups who did not sign the peace agreement, as responsible for atrocities in their quest to take territory in Central Equatoria. Full story below.

Article by AFP

Date: 24 July 2019

South Sudan army, rebels clash near Juba

Efforts to achieve lasting peace in South Sudan were dealt a blow on Tuesday when fighting broke out between government forces and militants near the country’s capital, Juba.

Security was stepped up in Juba, according to an AFP correspondent, as the clashes broke out 50 miles (100 kilometres) away in Lobonok, the first such fighting since the signing of the peace deal in September.

The National Salvation Front (NAS), formed by ex-general Thomas Cirillo Swaka in 2017 who called for the toppling of President Salva Kiir’s government, said it had come under attack on Tuesday morning.

NAS refused to sign a peace deal signed in September last year.

In a statement the NAS said it had killed eight “enemy soldiers”, which could not be independently confirmed.

“NAS command at Lobonok is expecting more attacks,” said the statement.

Lobonok is near Cirillo’s home town and has long been a stronghold for the rebel group.

The last fighting in the area took place in June 2018.

“Since morning we didn’t access our commanders on ground [in Lobonok] and we have no latest information there,” Lul Ruai Koang, South Sudan’s military spokesman told AFP.

However soldiers were deployed in Juba, carrying out more security checks than usual, said AFP’s correspondent.

Pursuit of peace

South Sudan’s government in September reached a peace deal with the main opposition unit of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement but the NAS rejected the deal.

While peace has largely held across the country, fighting has continued between government troops and the NAS in the Central Equatoria region, particularly around the city of Yei.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said earlier this month that civilians had been “deliberately and brutally targeted” in Central Equatoria since the agreement was inked in September.

At least 104 people had been killed in attacks on villages in the southern region, it said.

A roughly similar number of women and girls were raped or suffered other sexual violence between September and April, UNMISS said in its latest human rights report.

South Sudan descended into war in 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy and fellow former rebel leader Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

The conflict has been marked by ethnic violence and brutal atrocities, and left about 380,000 dead while some four million have fled their homes.

The report identified government forces, fighters allied to Machar and rebel groups who did not sign the peace agreement, as responsible for atrocities in their quest to take territory in Central Equatoria.

Under the peace deal, Kiir agreed to set up a unity government with Machar, who is to return from exile.

But this new government, initially scheduled to take office on May 12, was postponed for six months.

SOURCE: https://www.africanews.com/2019/07/24/south-sudan-army-rebels-clash-near-juba/