February 10 - 16, 2014
Contents
Compiled by Lauren Osselton, MIGS Media Monitor for South Sudan
SOUTH SUDANESE DEFENSE MINISTER ADMITS THAT SOUTH SUDAN IS PAYING FOR UGANDA’S INVOLVEMENT
Independent International/Regional Media
Sudan Tribune, Sudan/South Sudan online news website (based in Paris, for the diaspora), February 14th 2014
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49963
- The South Sudanese defense minister admitted that the government is paying Uganda for its military operations against the rebels.
- The report includes a PDF of the status of forces agreement between Uganda and South Sudan:
http://www.sudantribune.com/IMG/pdf/status_of_forces_agreement-3.pdf
Daily Monitor, Uganda, independent daily newspaper, February 17th
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/We-are-paying-UPDF-operations--says-South-Sudan-minister/-/688334/2209098/-/152vffnz/-/index.html
- A senior South Sudanese government official confirmed that Juba is paying for the Uganda’s offensives against the rebels, which contradicts accounts from Kampala that the Ugandan government is the one bearing the costs. This comes at a sensitive time for Uganda and the government declined to comment.
PEACE TALKS DELAYED
Independent Domestic Media
Eye Radio, independent broadcast provider, February 13th 2014
http://eyeradio.org/7-arrive-addis-ababa-talks/
- The 7 political detainees were released and will be allowed to participate in peace talks and dialog as a third-party group.
Eye Radio, independent broadcast provider, February 15th 2014
http://eyeradio.org/president-acknowledges-detainees-involvement-addis-talks/
- President Kiir respects the decision taken by the mediation team to include 7 individuals released from prison in the peace talks.
Radio Miraya, independent public service media, Online Article, February 10th 2014
http://www.radiomiraya.org/news-202/south-sudan/12950-government-delegation-inaddis-ababa-as-talks-resume-today.html#gsc.tab=0
- The next round of peace negotiations was presumed to begin on February 10th in Addis Ababa. The Ethiopian Foreign Affairs spokesperson announced that both sides were widely consulted and appear ready for the talks to resume.
Radio Miraya, independent public service media, Online Article, February 12th 2014
http://www.radiomiraya.org/news-202/south-sudan/12961-government-oppositionspeak-out-on-postponement-of-addis-ababa-talks.html#gsc.tab=0
- Kiir’s press secretary reported that the political detainees have not been released by the Kenyan government as a result of a violation of the bail agreement.
International/regional media
Sudan Tribune, Sudan/South Sudan online news website (based in Paris), February 10th 2014
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49905
- The SPLM/A has announced that it is boycotting the peace talks scheduled for February 10th. The group accused President Kiir of violating the cessation of hostilities agreement.
- The SPLM/A said that it won’t participate in peace talks until its demands have been met, including the release of several political detainees.
Business Day Live, South Africa, February 10th 2014
http://www.bdlive.co.za/africa/africannews/2014/02/10/no-agenda-for-south-sudan-talks-in-ethiopia
- Negotiations between the two sides were set to resume February 10th, but there is still no clear agenda. It is uncertain if the rebels will engage in the talks since their request for the 11 political detainees to be released has not been met. It is uncertain whom these political detainees will align with or if they will form their own coalition.
- Civil society organizations are disappointed to not be included in the talks.
Sudan Tribune, Sudan Tribune, Sudan/South Sudan online news website (based in Paris), February 14th 2014 http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49959
- The rebels announced that they are committed to the peace process, but if the Addis Ababa talks fail they will continue their armed struggle.
- The success of the peace talks depends on the release of 4 prisoner whom the government will not release until the proper trials have occurred. Although the talks were set to resume on Monday, they are delayed until the 7 political prisoners attend.
UNNews, United Nations, February 10th 2014
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47113&Cr=south+sudan&Cr1=#.UwTa XUJdUZd
- The UN reiterated that the released political detainees from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) should be included in the national political dialog.
SOUTH SUDANESE WOMEN IN THE DIASPORA CALL FOR PEACE
International/regional Media
Sudan Tribune, Sudan/South Sudan online news website (based in Paris, for the diaspora), February 11th 2014
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49923
- Eastern Equatoria state minister of development, Paska Hifita urged local women to engage in peacebuilding. She stated that women are figures of peace around the world and have an important role to play.
Sudan Tribune, Sudan/South Sudan online news website (based in Paris, for the diaspora), February 14th 2014
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49962
- The South Sudan Women United (SSWU), A US-based South Sudanese women organization, released a video urging leaders to embrace peace and reject violence. This is the first of a series of videos calling on leaders to make peace.
CONTINUED TROUBLE IN ABYEI REGION
Independent Domestic Media
Sudan Tribune, Sudan/South Sudan online news website (based in Paris, for the diaspora), February 15th 2014
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49976
- The UNSC condemned an attack allegedly carried out by SPLA in Abyei on February 3rd. The UNSC said it undermines the 2011 peace agreement on security in the area.
Sudan Tribune, Sudan/South Sudan online news website (based in Paris, for the diaspora), February 10th 2014
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49914
- An African Union delegation is in Khartoum to discuss South Sudan-Sudan border disputes (5 areas).
OTHER ISSUES
Independent Domestic Media
Radio Miraya, Online Article, February 14th 2014
http://www.radiomiraya.org/news-202/south-sudan/12979-un-raises-humanitarian-emergency-response-in-south-to-level-3.html#gsc.tab=0
- The UN has raised the humanitarian emergency response level to level 3, the highest emergency level. It allows for more intervention by international humanitarian organizations.
- The UN estimates 3.7 million South Sudanese are living in acute or emergency levels of food insecurity
Regional Media
Sudan Tribune, Sudan/South Sudan online news website (based in Paris, for the diaspora), February 10th 2014
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49906
- The Foreign Minister for South Sudan, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, claimed that there was never any government-ordered violence against civilians in the 7-week conflict. He denies allegations of genocide, “Yes it [violence based on ethnicity] has happened but not like in Rwanda”
Sudan Tribune, Sudan/South Sudan online news website (based in Paris, for the diaspora), February 15th 2014
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49975
- At a SPLM youth rally, Kiir called for peace and warned citizens against getting involved in revenge killings. “This country needs peace. This country needs development. The country needs widows and orphans to recover from war trauma attitude. This country needs education.”
- “There will be reconciliation and forgiveness, the forgiveness will not be today, but it must happen for the sake of having a peaceful country, not warlord country,”
- Kiir described Machar as an “enemy of peace and progress in South Sudan” who has hurt the people of the country.
- Kiir also argued that the violence had no ethnic dimension, as it was initially portrayed. The Nuer were not targeted, he claimed.
Sudan Tribune, Sudan/South Sudan online news website (based in Paris, for the diaspora), February 10th 2014
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49919
- The Ethiopian government has given a strong warning for Ugandan troops to withdraw in order to prevent a regional conflict.
Sudan Tribune, Sudan/South Sudan online news website (based in Paris, for the diaspora), February 11th 2014
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article49924
- The UNOCHA (United Nations Office for Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs) is ready to deliver humanitarian assistance to IDPs hiding in Jonglei State, along Nile River areas.
- As of February 10th, 129,600 people are displaced within Jonglei, according to an UNOCHA report.
The OCHA’s report of the South Sudan Crisis, as of February 10th 2014
http://www.sudantribune.com/IMG/pdf/south_sudan_crisis_situation_report_18_as_of_10_february.pdf