The Catholic Archdiocese of Juba has ordained two deacons into priesthoods at St. Theresa Cathedral in Juba over the weekend.  Priests include, James Kose Wani and Samuel Jada Juma are both ordained as Diocesan priests.

His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Ameyu Mulla, who consecrated the two priests underscored the challenges accompanying their new vocation.

Cardinal Ameyu calls on the newly ordained priests to be pastors of the souls and that they should feed the faithful with ‘spiritual food’

Cardinal Ameyu encourages Priests James and Samuel to fully assume the role of cultivating transformation in the communities and parishes where they will be placed.

The Head of the Catholic Church in South Sudan urged the two priests to understand priesthood vocation which implores pastors to be servants of the people.

The prelate beseeched Christians to support the newly ordained priest to allow them to continue with evangelization.

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The Chairperson of the Society, Mr. Odong Anthony Okenyi said they established the cooperative group after they returned home from the refugee camp in the year 2022.

Anthony explained that the Cooperative Society will arrange loans and provide funds to the members at reasonable interest and sell their offerings at reasonable prices, thereby avoiding exploitation by middlemen.

He reveals that they formed a cooperative society with some thirty people who were later trained by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

“I was a refugee in the camp, I stayed for a long camp in Uganda, so after we came back, we started to form a group, the group was called CAN CAYO MULTIPURPOSE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY.”

“We start with a small group, we start with the number of thirty members, so from there we got training in farming as a business the training was conducted by GIZ, so after that again UNHCR came and did training to some members,” he said.

Odong stated that he went to the refugee camp twice back then in the 1983 SPLM/SPLA and the recent 2016 conflict

He mentioned that living in the camp was terrible as most of the people could not support themselves and their families forcing him to return home voluntarily.

“I went to the camp because of the war, two times the war of the SPLM/A movement in 1993 we went to Uganda, we stayed in the Acholpi refugee camp from there when there was a peace agreement we came back we formed a group.”

The Head of Can Cayo Multipurpose Cooperative Society further mentioned that the cooperative helps the entire community during the current inflation rate as the prices of the goods are cheap compared to the market prices.

He narrates that the cooperative is benefiting its members in terms of availing tuition fees for their children as most of them came from the camp.

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President Ramaphosa met with different leaders from political parties on the implementation of the R-ARCSS, inked on September 12, 2018.

The South Sudan Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. James Pitia Morgan expressed President Kiir’s deep appreciation to South Africa for its steadfast backing.

South Africa’s Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor reiterated the unwavering commitment of all parties to the peace pact, emphasizing the importance of remaining dedicated to the peace process.

Hon. Pandor said her country will closely monitor the lasting stability in South Sudan for the successful organization of transparent and credible elections scheduled for December 2024.

The election is in line with the roadmap of the extended transitional period established in August 2022.

South Africa’s President met with First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and all other stakeholders, on the status of the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement.

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The national Minister of Investment in South Sudan Dr. Dhieu Mathok has warned foreign companies to respect the Labor Act 2017 with the provision that provides 80% of jobs to South Sudanese and such acts shouldn’t be compromised.

This came during the one-day Symposium on Jobs Creation and Trade Development in South Sudan being organized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC)

Dr. Mathok accused some unnamed companies of bringing workers from outside the country and keeping their operational accounts in the neighboring countries which contributed to the downfall of South Sudan’s economy.

“We’ve realized that the huge companies operating in South Sudan including the oil sector, are not keeping their money in our country.  You can get companies with 300-400 employees and once you analyze the bank statement you see only three thousand (3,000 USD) that for all year.

“Those companies are opening operational accounts in the neighboring countries, and they are getting money from South Sudan. We are going to stop these. It’s either you come fully to operate in South Sudan, or you leave. We analyze this and it’s shocking, this is also the reason the US dollar is rising,” he said.

Minister confessed that insecurity is affecting job creation in the states and local towns in the country.

He says this blocked the chances of young people accessing opportunities needed because several companies fear investing in a place that doesn’t guarantee the safety of their money.

Dr. Dhieu says the Unity government is working hard to ensure that the security threats affected by the job market will be handled.

“Juba is not South Sudan, if we talk of creating jobs let’s underline that South Sudan is not Juba. We need to take the job to young people who are in Eastern Equatoria, we need to take them to Jonglei.

“We need those companies to operate in such areas so that the employment opportunities are not risky only in Juba. The government of national Unity is working on this to stabilize the country.”

The Minister further expressed deep concern over the lack of access to finances among the local companies.

“There are issues with access to finance and this is one of the major issues. Many businesses are not getting money such that they can invest and create jobs for young people.”

“We have very poor financial institutions that we need to Develop such that our people with small business could access finances.”

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The Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), an advocacy body, is urging the government to ensure freedom of speech as the country prepares for polls in December 2024.

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This follows the recent reduction of the exchange rate of the United States dollar against South Sudanese Pound.

Several traders have been accused of not decreasing the prices including fuel stations in the country after SSP gained strength against the dollar last week.

Minister Awow Daniel Chuang toured the market with the Bank Governor of South Sudan, the national minister of trade and industry, and Central Equatoria State Deputy Governor Sarah Nene Redento.

Hon. Daniel Chuang said, they visited the market and urged the traders to reduce commodity prices.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. William Anyuon Kuol echoed the same statement calling on the traders to have uniform prices of food items, and directing business owners to sell goods in South Sudanese Pounds, not in hard currency (USD).

The Governor of the Bank of South Sudan Hon. Dr. James Alic Garang, encouraged traders to open bank accounts from various commercial banks operating in the country to save their money instead of keeping it at home.

“We need to embrace and support an advanced electronic payment system”, Alic stressed.

The Deputy Governor of Central Equatoria State Hon. Sarah Nene Rendento, also advised the business community in the country to use the E-tax government system for banking and transfer of cash.

The current exchange rate keeps fluctuating as 100 USD is sold at 180, a thousand Pounds in the black market while it costs 153,000 if bought at the bank rate.

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He says the people of Eastern Bahr Ghazel have received the returnees with open
hearts despite the current economic crisis.

He calls on the returnees not to completely depend on those who are hosting them but
they should be humble and go for cultivation so that they can be able to provide food for
themselves.

Fr. Mourino encourages the citizens to cultivate local products and should not depend
on the hard currency but ought to overcome hunger through their resources

He describes laziness to be one of the greatest sins and therefore urges Christians to
avoid the spirit of laziness.

The Church leader also calls on the government to provide opportunities for unemployed individuals who use their time in activities that are not helpful.

The Catholic priest in his conclusion emphasizes that the only groups that require
the assistance is the elderly people, the disabled, and the sick ones otherwise every
Individuals should work hard to develop the country.

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This follows a two-day Annual General Meeting that brought together members of AMDISS who are station managers, and editors-in-chief of independent media houses.

The members comprised those in the national capital Juba and states to discuss issues relating to policies, media development, and designing advocacy strategies that suit the current changing general environment even as the media space keeps shrinking.

In a free, fair, and credible election, Josephine Achiro Fartelo was elected chairperson, Chris Marol Maker as deputy chairperson, Chuol Jany Bol as secretary, deputized by Jima Francis Wani Abrama, Lily Nelson as treasurer, deputized by Charles Rehan Surur, and Denis Morris as a member of the executive board.

Addressing the AGM shortly after the elections, Koang Pal Chang—the outgoing chairperson, congratulated Josephine Achiro on her election as chairperson, urging her to exert more energy to attain the vision and mission of AMDISS.

On her part, Josephine Achiro, the new chairperson—elect, affirmed her keenness to collaborate with all members and non-members of AMDISS for the advancement of independent media in South Sudan.

She urged the media houses to focus more efforts on educating and amplifying the voices of the people whose voices could not be heard.

“Work for the public interest. Amplify their voices so that the people sitting in the realms of decision-making hear the plight of their people and act promptly to ensure service reaches where it is needed.

The media should focus on strengthening accountability, and democracy, to ensure that the concerned authorities adhere to principles of human rights, and transparency and hold the authorities to account through keeping checks and balances.

“We aspire to have a media that stands firm to the principles of objectivity, independence, and neutrality, and works towards creating awareness on GBV issues and setting a platform for the people at the grassroots to have a say and participate in decision-making at this critical time.”

“The media should look beyond entertainment and playing music when the plight of ordinary people is increasingly unattended to,” she advised.

She thanked the partners for maintaining long-standing support for independent media in South Sudan.

AMDISS has consistently maintained adherence to its constitution by conducting the Annual General Meeting accordingly to evaluate the work plan and strategic plan of action, looking at the successes, and challenges.

It also explored the opportunities that could be executed to advance the quest for vibrant, independent, and sustainable media in the country.

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The Church leader said returnees who came from Sudan are facing challenges of humanitarian support and economic hardship in the State.

‘‘I wish to express my solidarity with the people living in conflict situations, of victims of humanitarian and environmental tragedies’’ the Bishop added.

Remijio Adam mentions that the resurrection of Jesus is the Victory of the salvific plan of God, who sent his son into the world to save people from the slavery of sins from death and from all the forces that still destroy life.

The war in Sudan has affected several families who returned to South Sudan and could not afford to provide food for themselves.

Bishop Remijio was speaking to Voice of Hope Radio while delivering his Easter Message Thursday in Wau.

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Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Prof Dr. Kuel Maluil Jok reveals more colleges will be launched to uplift the standard of the University.

Dr. Kuel Maluil Jok urges the students to cooperate with the new administration to ease the university’s development.

He warned that the administration will be discouraged when there is a non-academic conspiracy that will weaken their strength.

Kuel Maluil Jok mentions that their main aim is to make Bahr el Ghazal University look like other institutions in Africa for better learning.

The former deputy Vice Chancellor is concerned about Western campus Maluil Jok saying nobody can pretend to become superior to take it from the University administration.

The new Vice Chancellor of UBG Prof Dr. Arneo Barnardo Ochi has welcomed his appointment and points out that their administration will focus on quality Education.

He promised to equip the academic staff through capacity building and training to ensure they do their work effectively.

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The project was implemented by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in partnership with the Women Advancement Organization and the government of South Sudan.

Executive Director for Women Advancement Organization, Suzan Pasquale, said that the ceremony marks the 15th graduation in South Sudan and the 8th in Western Bahr el Ghazal.

He believes that such technical skills will promote changes and development in the country

Graduates representative, Daniel Bol Goc, acknowledges and appreciates the organizations and the state government for the great achievements they bestowed upon them.

“The training offered us a wider opportunity and had made us be job creators rather than job seekers,” he narrated.

Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, Mohammed Ali Goni, encourages the people to be independent of themselves and use such skills to boost their livelihood.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and the governor representative, Rodulf Andrea Ujika, recognizes the necessity of having such skills as a youth, citing that technical knowledge is one of the things that helps the government in achieving its mandates.

“Therefore, the youth needs to apply to the Ministry of Public Service to be employed and work for the government,” he reveals.

The graduation which took place on Thursday at Wau Youth Center combines 400 graduates among them 165 students are from agribusiness, and 34 students from catering and hospitality.

Eighty-one students from auto-mechanic, 19 students from masonry and building, 101 students from the computer, and out of the 400 graduates 42 percent were female students.

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The national Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Awow Daniel Chuong has promised to pay the government employees who undergo months without salaries.

In a press briefing earlier today [Thursday] the Minister vowed to pay a one-month salary arrears to the civil servants across the country who had not been paid for six months.

The move came following the country’s economic hardship due to the high inflation rate of United States Dollars against South Sudanese Pound.

Currently, $100 is changed at a rate of 230 thousand Pounds in the black market which makes commodities prices skyrocketing in the markets.

Hon. Daniel said despite the economic difficulties in the country, the government could pay October salary foremost to the organized forces and another civil servant in the coming weeks.

Minister highlighted that his government has been seeking funds from international monetary bodies that enabled them to secure cash to clear the public servants

He appealed to the South Sudanese to embark on agriculture production for a long-term solution that will make the country exit from the ongoing economic crisis.

Hon. Daniel discouraged the citizens from depending on oil production which has not been helping the country’s economy.

Minister Awow was appointed to replace Dr. Bak Bernaba who served for nearly nine months.

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The National Ministry of General Education and Instruction has announced the re-opening of schools after a temporary closure of one week to observe the heat wave across the country.

According to the press statement seen by Catholic Radio Network, all the schools will reopen on 2^nd April 2024, with some measures put in place during class sessions.

The government has warned schools to minimize allowing students to do sports activities unless early in the morning.

It suggests indoors, ventilating classrooms, providing water for learners during school time, monitoring children especially the young ones for signs of heat exhaustion, and heatstroke, and alert medics in case of such cases.

“We are delighted to inform the public that the government has decided to re-open schools from Tuesday 2 April 2024, however, because of the unpredictability in the climate, we caution teachers in schools to adhere to the following measures which the ministry has put in place.”

The National Minister of General Education and Instruction Awut Deng Acuil directed the state authorities to implement the actions outlined in the statement.

Hon. Awut warned any school that contravenes those measures will be de-registered.

“We at this moment direct state authorities to implement the actions outlined in the press statement. A school that will contravene these measures will be de-registered.”

She states that her ministry in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Environment and Forestry will continue to observe the weather situation and advise accordingly.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry monitors daily temperature across South Sudan and now has revealed a steady dropping in the heatwaves.

The forecast suggests a lessening of heat waves and the start of the rainy season expected in the subsequent weeks.

Last week Friday 15th March 2024, the Ministry of General Education ordered the closure of all schools in South Sudan, as it prepares for a heatwave in which temperatures could reach an exceptional 45C (113F).

Authorities said by then children should stay indoors and that the extreme weather could last at least two weeks.

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