UN peacekeeper among 32 killed in attack in Abyei

From BBC News dated 04:37 20 Nov 2023
By Richard Hamilton
BBC World Service Newsroom - here is a copy in full:

UN peacekeeper among 32 killed in Sudan clashes

AFP Copyright: AFP Image caption: The UN has extended the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in Abyei

The Sudanese authorities in the disputed area of Abyei say at least 32 people have been killed after gunmen stormed local villages.

The Information Minister for Abyei, Bolis Kuoch, said more than 20 others were wounded when men opened fire on Sunday morning.

He said UN peacekeepers intervened to stop the violence but one of the peacekeepers was killed.

There have been ongoing hostilities between communities in Abyei over land and resources.

The region, rich in oil reserves, lies on the border between Sudan and South Sudan and is considered to be part of both countries, since a peace agreement was signed in 2005.

Last week the UN Security Council extended the mandate of its peacekeeping mission there for one more year.

Click here to view original. 

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POSTSCRIPT from Sudan Watch Editor

Note that any attack on peacekeepers constitutes a war crime. See UNISFA (United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei) Factsheet and map. Malakal in northern Upper Nile State, which has received huge numbers of South Sudanese refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan, is where South Sudan deployed its first unified forces last Wednesday, unarmed. Also, 100 returnees in Unity State have headed back to transit camps near South Sudan-Sudan border citing hunger. Many have gone back to Sudan through Renk County in Upper Nile State and the Unity Oilfield road of Unity State.

Map of Abyei Area located on the border of Sudan and South Sudan, and Malakal in northern Upper Nile State, South Sudan. 

(Map courtesy Wikipedia)

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UPDATE from Sudan Watch Editor Wed 22 Nov 2023 12:27 GMT: 

The following report is surprising, especially considering the above report is from the BBC by Richard Hamilton. I'm always cautious when chronicling news. If in doubt, I wait to verify or leave it. In 20+ years of following the BBC's reports on Sudan and South Sudan, its news is rarely wrong.

This report says UNISFA in a statement clarified that they did not lose any peacekeepers during the fighting. “Contrary to inaccurate information published in media and other reports, no UNISFA peacekeepers were killed or wounded during the incident”. UNISFA says the attacks by a group of armed youths resulted in an estimated 27 people killed and 14 injured.

Report at Radio Tamazuj 

Dated Tuesday, 21 November 2023 - here is a copy in full:

UNISFA condemns Abyei attacks, says no peacekeeper was killed

UNISFA’s Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr. (UN photo)

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) on Monday strongly condemned Sunday’s attacks by a group of armed youths on villages in the area around Angath, Wunpeth, and Korioch in the Abyei.

The attacks resulted in an estimated 27 people killed and 14 injured.

In a statement, UNISFA however clarified that they did not lose any peacekeepers during the fighting. 

On Sunday evening, Abyei Information Minister Bulis Koch told Radio Tamazuj that a Ghanaian peacekeeper with UNISFA was among those killed in the ensuing fighting.

“Contrary to inaccurate information published in media and other reports, no UNISFA peacekeepers were killed or wounded during the incident,” the UNISFA statement illuminated.

According to the UN Force, in responding to the attacks, their peacekeepers moved rapidly to enhance security in the affected area by intensifying patrols and closely monitoring the situation.

“UNISFA leadership is also engaging with the Abyei Area Administration and Ngok Dinka traditional leaderships as well as stakeholders in Juba to ensure peace and security is maintained in the Abyei area,” the statement read in part. “UNISFA’s 

Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr, reiterates the mission’s commitment to protecting civilians and calls on all communities to refrain from violence and commit to ensuring sustainable peace in Abyei.”

View original: https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/unisfa-condemns-abyei-attacks-says-no-peacekeeper-was-killed

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Related report

Sudan Watch - November 22, 2023

Correction: UNISFA says no peacekeeper killed

UNISFA condemns Abyei attacks, says no peacekeeper was killed

Full story: https://sudanwatch.blogspot.com/2023/11/correction-unisfa-says-no-peacekeeper.html

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Turkey's Erdogan, Sudan's Burhan discuss Gaza

Report from AA - Alperen Aktas
Dated Saturday, 18 November 2023 - here is a copy in full:

Turkish President Erdogan, Sudan's leader Burhan discuss Gaza

Erdogan says there should be unity on all issues concerning the Islamic world

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (L) hold a joint press conference at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on August 12, 2021. Photo : ( Emin Sansar - AA )

ISTANBUL

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday discussed with chairman of Sudan's Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan the situation in Gaza, where Israeli attacks since Oct. 7 have killed at least 12,000 Palestinians, Türkiye's Communications Directorate said in a statement.

During the phone call, the latest situation in the besieged enclave, and efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians were discussed.

President Erdogan said there should be unity on all issues concerning the Islamic world, and it is important to implement the decisions taken at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's recent summit in Riyadh.

View original: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/turkish-president-erdogan-sudans-leader-burhan-discuss-gaza/3057949

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Today's International Men’s Day theme is male suicide

AS SUICIDE has been found to be the biggest killer of men under the age of 45, International Men's Day aims to create a space for men to talk about mental health. International Men's Day tries to encourage men globally to be more embracing and open about mental health issues. At times, it can be obvious when someone is struggling to cope, but sometimes the signs are harder to spot. Check in on those around you. Please watch this video.

Today is International Men’s Day. The theme this year is zero male suicide. Please spend a couple of minutes watching this videopic.twitter.com/a39NTuSxSS

— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) November 19, 2023

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South Sudan called on UN Security Council to lift arms embargo, after it deployed soldiers without firearms

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: I watched on TV South Sudan’s President Kiir giving a speech in English at the UN General Assembly 2023. He shuffled to the podium without lifting his feet and spoke each word slowly while not appearing to convey comprehension. He seemed to be tired and in poor health and may not be fit enough for an election in December 2024. 

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Report by Xinhua 

Reprinted by The Independent 

Dated Saturday, 18 November 2023 - here is a copy in full:

South Sudan calls for lifting arms embargo after deploys forces without firearms

Silva Kiir, South Sudan president

Juba, South Sudan | Xinhua | South Sudan on Friday called on the United Nations Security Council to lift the existing arms embargo, after it deployed the first battalion of 750 soldiers to Malakal town of Upper Nile state without firearms.

Michael Makuei Lueth, minister of Information and Communication, Technology and Postal Services, said that the first phase of the unified forces on Wednesday was deployed without forearms to Upper Nile state located north of Juba, the capital of South Sudan, due to the existing arms embargo which has made it difficult for them to procure arms.

“We are deploying them without arms because we have no arms, the UN Security Council decided to pass a resolution on the arms embargo on South Sudan, so we are unable to acquire arms for our forces,” Makuei told journalists after the weekly cabinet meeting. “It is the international community that insisted and said that you must deploy these forces; we have been saying we cannot deploy them without arms.”

Makuei said that the forces that were trained in the Upper Nile would be brought to Juba for integration with other forces from Bahr el-Ghazal. He called on the international community and the UN Security Council to lift the arms embargo to enable them to arm the unified forces.

South Sudan’s transitional unity government graduated the first batch of 53,000 unified forces in August last year. In total 83,000 unified forces are supposed to be graduated and deployed under the 2018 revitalized peace agreement signed to end years of conflict since the outbreak in December 2013.

On May 30, 2023, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to renew for a year arms embargo measures against South Sudan as well as targeted sanctions of travel ban and asset freeze against individuals and entities. The arms embargo and sanctions were imposed in 2018 following the outbreak of conflict in December 2013. 

View original: https://www.independent.co.ug/south-sudan-calls-for-lifting-arms-embargo-as-it-deploys-forces-without-firearms/

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South Sudan sends 150 teachers to China for training

Report from Xinhua
By Editor: huaxia
Dated Thursday, 16 November 2023 - here is a copy in full:

South Sudan to send 150 teachers to China for training program

JUBA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Officials of South Sudan have announced that it would send 150 teachers and school managers to China for training this week under the second phase of the China-Aided Technical Cooperation Project in Education.

Deputy Minister of General Education and Instruction Martin Tako Moyi said Wednesday that the first batch of 65 teachers and school managers would depart for China Friday to undergo a month-long training.

The remaining 85 teachers and school managers would travel to China in two phases, Moyi said, disclosing that the government had appealed to several countries to train South Sudanese teachers, but only China responded positively.

"We have appealed to so many countries to train our teachers in their countries, but nobody has responded, except the people and the government of China," Moyi said during the opening ceremony for the training program in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

He said that the Chinese government had shown commitment to building the capacity of teachers and school managers, which in turn would improve the quality of learning in the world's youngest nation.

The training will be conducted in both Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and Shanghai by Chinese educational experts from the Shanghai Educational Publishing House. A team of six Chinese educational experts is already in Juba to train some of the teachers at the Rombur National Teacher Training Institute.

Undersecretary for the Ministry of General Education and Instruction Kuyok Abol Kuyok said that under the project, they have managed to review and print textbooks in core subjects like English language, science and mathematics, which have already been distributed to schools across the country.

"Through the project, we have also trained many students and learners in the Chinese language at Juba Day Secondary School. The ministry has received requests from many schools for Chinese language classes. This is a demonstration of the success of this cultural aspect of the project," Kuyok said.

Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Ma Qiang highlighted the historical experiences and common aspirations for development shared between South Sudan and China. He noted that in the 12 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the education sector has always been a prioritized area for exchanges and cooperation.

He said that China has supported the construction of several primary and secondary schools, trained over 5,000 professionals in various sectors, and provided hundreds of scholarships for studying in China.

"The second phase of the project, since its official launch two years ago, has delivered more than a million volumes of textbooks in the subjects of English, mathematics and science," Ma said.

He also mentioned that more than 600 teachers and school managers will undergo training programs under the second phase of the project in both Juba and Shanghai.

The second phase of the China-Aided Technical Cooperation Project in Education involves drafting, printing and provision of textbooks for some primary and secondary schools in South Sudan, organizing capacity-building programs for the teachers and the educational administrators, developing and providing an evaluation system for the usage of the textbooks, and dispatching Chinese teaching personnel to Juba to teach the Chinese language. 

View original: http://www.chinaview.cn/20231116/01baf632831b41178807e6303678a4b6/c.html

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100 returnees in Unity State head back to transit camps near South Sudan-Sudan border citing hunger

Report from Radio Tamazuj
By Radio Tamazuj
Dated Thursday, 16 November 2023 - here is a copy in full:

100 returnees in Unity State flee back to Sudan citing hunger

Returnees set up makeshift shelters in Renk after fleeing war in Sudan. (Reuters photo)

A hundred South Sudanese who recently returned from Sudan to escape violence are now returning to Sudan due to a worsening humanitarian crisis and hunger in Unity State.

Residents in Unity State reported to Radio Tamazuj that the returnees are heading back to Renk and Thuongor transit camps near the South Sudan-Sudan border and the road leading to the Unity oilfield.

The camp chairman at the UN-run Protection of Civilians site in Bentiu, John Tot Riak, confirmed that some of the returnees had left for Sudan due to the harsh conditions in the camp and state.

“I am aware of the returnees who came to us. When they got us here suffering, they said they could not add to the suffering,” he said. “Some of them have gone back and some are planning to follow those who left.”

The returnees who fled the conflict in Sudan have endured over six months without food aid in Unity State, prompting their decision to leave the Bentiu IDP camp for a country at war.

Nyakume Stephen, a resident of the Bentiu IDP camp, said that the returnees explained that death is the same everywhere.

“They (returnees) said death cannot be divided into two which is why they go back. And we know that death cannot be divided into two,” he stated. “I accommodated sixty returnees. I gave them two rooms which I built because they had no relatives in the block. They left in October. The situation forced them.”

Compounding the problem, Bentiu IDP residents have faced a food aid suspension since July by the World Food Programme (WFP) due to a lack of funding from donors.

According to Tom Ruai, many returnees have gone back to Sudan through Renk County in Upper Nile State and the Unity Oilfield road of Unity State.

“When fighting happened in Khartoum, many people returned home. Now they are being forced by hunger to all go back,” he recounted. “Some of them are dying along the way while footing. Some are using Manga to go back to Renk and Thuongor. Some have gone back to Khartoum. What is facing them is hunger.”

Most returnees in Unity State have voiced concerns about a lack of food, health facilities, clean drinking water, access to education, and a measles outbreak since arriving in the area.

View original: https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/100-returnees-in-unity-state-flee-back-to-sudan-citing-hunger

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S. Sudan deploys first unified forces after peace deal

Report from Asharq Al Awsat
Dated Thursday, 16 November 2023 - here is a copy in full:

S.Sudan Deploys First Unified Forces After Peace Deal

President Salva Kiir of South Sudan. (Reuters)

Hundreds of former rebels and government troops in South Sudan's unified forces were deployed at a long-overdue ceremony on Wednesday, marking progress for the country's lumbering peace process.

The world's newest nation has struggled to find its footing since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, battling violence, endemic poverty and natural disasters.

The unification of forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice President Riek Machar, was a key condition of the 2018 peace deal that ended a five-year conflict in which nearly 400,000 people died, according to AFP.

Tens of thousands of former fighters were integrated into the country's army in August last year but none have been deployed until now, with the delays fuelling frustration in the international community.

The first battalion comprising nearly 1,000 soldiers will be deployed to Malakal in northern Upper Nile State, which has received huge numbers of South Sudanese refugees fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Sudan.

At the ceremony on the outskirts of the capital Juba, Santino Wol, the country's chief of defence forces, urged the battalion to remain united, saying: "Be a soldier and don't get involved in politics."

The unity government led by Kiir and Machar has largely failed to meet key provisions of the peace agreement, including drafting a constitution and electoral legislation ahead of polls now set for next year.

Kiir has vowed to hold the country's first ever presidential ballot by December 2024, but UN envoy Nicholas Haysom warned in August that the authorities needed to create a conducive environment to ensure "peaceful, inclusive and credible elections".

"We are going for elections and you are to make sure that peace prevails so that elections can proceed peacefully," Information Minister Michael Makuei told the soldiers on Wednesday.

One of the poorest countries on the planet despite large oil reserves, South Sudan has spent almost half of its life as a nation at war and continues to be roiled by outbreaks of politically motivated ethnic violence.

View original:  https://english.aawsat.com/world/4671621-ssudan-deploys-first-unified-forces-after-peace-deal

 

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