The Balanda Community of Wau County in Western Bahr el Ghazal State on Tuesday presents their customary law to the State Ministry of Local Government and Law Enforcement.

Chairperson of Balanda Community Arkangelo Njovo Tartizio expresses their happiness for presenting the long awaiting customary law which started in 2010 to the Ministry of local Government and Law Enforcement.

He mentions that, the Customary Law will guide all the Balanda community in different aspects.

Paramount Chief of Wau County Emilio Ulaw Bagari acknowledges the commitment of Balanda community citing that their customary law is a great millstone in the story of Balanda people.

Commissioner of Wau County George Wijok Tunga points out that, the law will bring Balanda community together and will guide them in solving community issues.    

The State Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Robert Cornelio assures Balanda community to present their customary law to the council of ministers next week.

“After the law is passed by the council of ministers, it will be taken to Parliament for final deliberation,” the minister adds.    

The Customary Law of Balanda Community contains 8 Chapters and 43 Sections, which provide rules to guide on customary matters related to marriage, inheritance, endowment and compensation and amongst others. 

The speakers made these remark to Voice of Hope Radio on Tuesday at the State Ministry of Local Government and Law Enforcement in Wau.

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The tension between the Ugandans and South Sudanese residing along the border had led to conflicts. However, an ad-hoc committee formed by Governor Adil earlier last month to address the issue met with Ugandan authorities and handed over 13 Ugandans that were arrested in the dispute,Uganda, in turn, handed over the chief of Bori Boma of Kajo-Keji County who had been arrested.
According to the office of the Governor, the signed agreement aims to strengthen trade and peaceful coexistence between the two sisterly countries.

The two leaders agreed on several resolutions, including the swift resumption of fuel flow or passage by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) through Kaya-Oraba, discouragement of land sale along the border, and the need for the revival of communication between the South Sudan People’s Defence Force and the Uganda People’s Defence forces to instill trust and confidence as they discharge their constitutional mandates.

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The awarding was a recognition of Young Writers who specialize in literature that have inspired young people in South Sudan. 

The winner of the contest is James Makuei Makur who walks away with 300,000 South Sudanese Pounds, followed by Gaai Manoah as the runnerup getting 200,000 South Sudanese Pounds, and Rahama Melesin rounding up the list of the awardee getting 100,000 South Sudanese Pounds.

The Executive Director for EVE Organization, Rita Martin Lopidia, thanked the participants for their hard work in inspiring the people of South Sudan. 

She added that the achievement and successes of the young writers have made them to be recognized across the country.

The Executive Director also cited that they have about 40 excellent stories to be published, which will help many people across the country learn new things about South Sudanese cultures. 

“We have about 40 excellent stories to be published, which will help many people across the country learn new things about South Sudanese cultures,” Lopidia stated. 

Dr. Lawrence Korbandy, a professor in literature, said that their work with young people supports the future of the writers and those who struggle to put South Sudan on the world map as far as literature is concerned. 

He added that South Sudanese people have learned that Nigerian writers and Nigerian filmmakers are not from out of the blue.

Dr. Lawrence said, “It is a wonderful occasion because we are dealing with young writers, people who will put the name of South Sudan in the World.”

According to Korbandy,  it is through the struggle of young people who write documentaries and make their country relevant to the world.

Dominic Kango Amos, a judge of the competition who is also a lecturer at Juba University, reflected on the writing competition of 2023 and said that the independence young writers did their best, as it took him only one hour to read all the stories. 

He appreciated all the writers who stood for the Awards of 2023 and chose the first story titled “Heroes of the Village” as the winner, followed by the second story titled “Knowing the State of this Country.” 

EVE Organization for Women Development started the initiative of awarding South Sudan independence writers in 2019. 

The organization was founded with the aim of contributing towards social change through promoting gender equity and equality. 

Rita Lopidia, the Executive Director of the organization, was the 2020 recipient of the USIP Women Building Peace Award. 

This year’s Awards was organized under the theme, “Celebrating Nationhood and Diversity through Literature. 

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After a consultative workshop attended in Wau by Jur River County executive chiefs and paramount chiefs, they proposed to revise the current high dowry prices to at least the past agreed number.

According to the previous agreement, dowry price were only cows and goats and they intend to get rid of current bride price method where it involves large amount of money.

The Jur local leaders raise concerns urging the top leadership to come up with regulations and strategies regarding the Jur community customary marriage prices not the current commercialised one

Jacob Malim Uchu after his return from the workshop in Wau told Don Bosco radio that Jur community marrying prices nowadays has reached an intimidating level which needs to be rekindled because many youths are still singles and many of them have engaged into thefts activities or loiter d in towns due to prices of dowry 

“The issue of high dowry prices has caused a huge disorder in the community and that is why you see nowadays where a lot of youths seems to have given up in life where you see them just loitering in towns and cities because they look at themselves as not capable manage such  dowry prices of this days.

 And some of the youth end up stealing other people’s properties or even involved themselves into looting, this is because they are frustrated, and that is why we came up as chiefs suggesting to reduce these prices so that these youths who are scattered may try to come back home to get married and start a new chapter of life through cultivation and in that way all the criminals will resort to normal human living with dignity     

Malim Uchu called on Jur community to welcome the new proposal for the benefit of greater youth suffering from economic crises battling to marry but are obstructed by hardship

He added that compensation charges are also to be reactivated for Jur the community and people would activate the past cultural values if concrete law is officially passed by state magistrate soon.

We have also raised the issue of compensation for example somebody who has injured someone and also someone who has killed a person, all these misconducts have their own legal prices as compensation and appeasements processes.

Therefore, we want our community to view these critically and embrace them, let them not be driven by this modern situation where everything is looked at as money being income and forgetting our cultural rules that governed us in past

Chief Malim Uchu said that draft complete of the mandate on Jur prices renewal is planned to be passed to the community on 15th August 2023 when all the chiefs could return to Wau to amend the existence and new laws

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The appeal was made during the visit of Nicholas Heysom the special Representative of the secretary general with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan to Yei River County.

A programme manager for Centre of Democracy and Development, Dara Felix said the civic space in Yei is closed.

The activist said there are four human rights defenders who fled Yei River County for safety after threats. 

This happened after they organised people to express their feelings concerning the economic status of the country.

“There is already talks around elections but the Civic Space is closed. As we speak now, there are four Human Rights Defenders who fled Yei because they have been accused of organising the people to express their feelings concerning the economic status of the country,” the Activist narrated.

Dara decries lack of space for other political parties which has instilled fear in the minds and hearts of the citizens.

He added that, “Politically, SPLM is doing great but other political parties have no space. The Military intelligent and National Security have instilled fear in the minds and the hearts of the citizens.”

The activist regretted that citizens of the county are cut off from the political process in the capital Juba which makes people doubt if there would be general election

The official regretted that it is a risk of life to talk about political procedure which he believes is an unhealthy pathway to transition.

Felix appealed to the special Representative of the secretary general of the United Nation mission in South Sudan to put more emphasis on the political situation 

Bishop Alex Lodiong Sakor of the Catholic diocese of Yei said UNMISS mandate is protection of civilians and support the implementation of the peace agreement.

The religious leader blames UNMISS for lack of response to some of the delayed implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

In response to the appeal Nicholas Heysom, special representative of the secretary general of the United Nation mission in South Sudan said UNMISS will try its best to ensure that they monitor and respond to the cry of the citizens.

Nicholas said he has reported every time that the country is not ready to conduct elections if they don’t make progress in what is required in the peace agreement.

He commented that there is no civic and political space that is necessary and open political competition.

The 2018 revitalized peace agreement provides for elections after the end of the transitional period but many citizens are concerned about the civic and political space in the country.

It is also understood that some of the chapters in the agreement are not fully implemented, especially the drafting of the permanent constitution, deployment of the unified forces, census and many others.

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Addressing the media during the swearing-in ceremony in Wau, Governor Rial advised the people not to think of conflict all the time.

According to Sarah, war doesn’t bring peace nor development to the state and the country at large.

She added that destruction can happen in one day but it takes a long time to rebuild and develop the state to its previous stage.

Cleto Rial said that there is need for all to work together, people, government, for the sake of common interest of the people of Western Bahr El Ghazal.

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The report indicated that children, who make up 40 percent of the population, are at the risk of resorting to various negative coping mechanisms to meet their food needs.

The negative coping mechanisms include child marriage, hazardous child labour, family separation, and recruitment by armed forces and armed groups.

The First Secretary for Political Affairs at the German Embassy, Leon Kohl urges donours, the government, and humanitarian community to ensure that food security crisis does not threaten the lives of children

He said, “Food security is essential for children’s development. It makes the difference between helping them thrive in the future or pushing them towards harmful coping mechanisms to survive.”

The Deputy Representative of UNICEF South Sudan Child Protection officer, Obia Achieng said, “Children deserve to grow up in a healthy and safe environment where they can focus on their education as children instead of having to worry about what they will eat next.”

“It is imperative to highlight that the multiple crises in South Sudan are a child protection crisis, conflict, economic, climate-induced shocks and displacement and particularly food insecurity increase the risk and vulnerability for sexual and gender-based violence, child marriage, abductions, and mental health issues,” Achieng added.

 The Director General for Food Security at the South Sudan Ministry of Agriculture, Jacob Mogga encourages collaboration of stakeholders to continue supporting the communities.

Mogga stated that many of the projects were channelled directly to the relevant institutions as a result, there was no tangible outcome of the support.

According to him, 4% of the Arable land in South Sudan is being utilized for farming due to conflict that occurred in 2013 and 2016.

He said, if these issues are addressed well, South Sudanese will be able to feed themselves and also produce surplus.

The humanitarian community, donors, and government gathered in Juba this week to address the grave effects of South Sudan’s hunger crisis on children’s protection. 

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The Director of Good News Radio Majur Manyuat says the lightning strike burned the transmitter, mixers, and the communication system of the solar system, making it the second time that the radio station has been hit by lightning.

Manyuat explained the drizzling that happened on Friday last week in Rumbek caused lightning to hit the studios and left the listeners in darkness.

“It was on Friday morning at around 10:30 am when a rain accompanied by quick lightning hit our studios burning the transmitter, mixers, and the communication system of the solar system,” Manyuat narrated.

Majur said this is the second time the lightning is hitting the Radio are trying to design some concrete steps for reconstructing the studio, including buying a new transmitter and mixer and their possible installations. And rewiring the studios and possibly changing switches.

However, the process will take some time between periods of two to three months for the station to come back on the air.

According to Majur, the equipment for the Radio was imported from Europe and it is difficult to repair them once they get damaged.

The Acting Director also said the lightning arresters were now weak since they were installed 12 years ago during the inception of the Radio in 2010

The processes of designing a plan for reconstruction, which includes purchasing new equipment, rewiring the studios, and potentially upgrading switches are underway.

Radio Good News is part of Catholic Radio Network’s sisterly stations operating in Rumbek Catholic Diocese.

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Speaking at the Summit of Sudan, in Cairo on Thursday, Kiir outlined a set of recommendations crucial to finding a comprehensive peaceful and political settlement in Sudan while “prioritizing the interests of the Sudanese people.”

The summit which aims to set effective frameworks to peacefully settle the Sudanese crisis in coordination with other regional and international tracks ended successfully.

Kiir also called for cooperation, support, and diplomatic efforts to ensure the implementation of the recommendations are realized.

Addressing the media after their return from the Summit, the Minister in the Office of the President, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin who accompanied the President said the Summit was successful.

Marial reveals that during the Summit, President Kiir presented five-point recommendations, which are crucial in addressing the Sudanese conflict.

“The Summit was successful because it has agreed to work to resolve the crisis in Sudan,” the Minister stated.

According to the Minister of Presidential Affairs, both President El Sisi and Kiir have been in close contact exchanging views on the conduct of the Summit to address the conflict in Sudan.

Marial also added that the Foreign Ministers of the neighboring countries will meet in Chad in the coming days to discuss the way forward and follow up on the resolutions of the Cairo Summit.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit has called for a sustainable ceasefire as a crucial step towards bringing stability to Sudan.

The South Sudan President returned to Juba on Friday after attending the regional Summit in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

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NPC Executive Director, Ochaya James says the training to promote a conducive working environment for media based in South Sudan.

 He says the workshop will help media practitioners in different ways which include advocacy, information sharing, and training.

He adds that the main objective of this training is to see that we have achieved the objectives of SIMA which are to increase access to credible information by South Sudanese citizens.

Wau UJOSS President Budgorin Stephen says that as UJOSS office they are in collaboration with National Press Club to see that journalists are training in all aspects of journalism skills.

He urges journalists to use new knowledge and skills to perform their work ethnically 

Director General at the State Ministry of Information and Telecommunication David Jongo, acknowledge the National Press Club’s commitment for training journalists in Wau

He mentions that journalists have a big role to play as the election is ahead, urging them to be professionals in their work. 

The two days’ workshop brought together old and upcoming journalists, civil society, youth, women, and people with disability as anchors of freedom of expression. 

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The Apostolic Nuncio at Juba Vatican Embassy His Grace Ionut Paul, said Pope Francis has sent a gift of Cardinal to South Sudan during the Independence Day.

“As we were celebrating yesterday’s 12 years of Independence, Pope Francis gave us a gift, the Cardinal for South Sudan. Yesterday at Angelus prayer, he announces that on 30th September, he will hold the consistory for the appointment for the new Cardinals,” Ionut affirmed.

He said the 21 appointed Cardinals will gather in Rome ahead of the synod of Synodality which is set to take place in October 2023.

The apostolic Nuncio at Vatican Embassy congratulated the Archbishop of Juba, for the new appointment to the position of Cardinal.

Pope Francis appointed the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Juba, His Grace Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla alongside 20 others on Sunday.

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The beneficiaries are conflict affected people whose homes were burned and farms destroyed by cattle herders.

The distributed food items include; maize, beans, salt and oil. 

Radio Emmanuel visited the Lowoi community and talked to some beneficiaries who received the food.

 Torit County director for Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, Victor Lira Robert said, the distribution is an intervention of cattle destruction that left a section of the population in Lowoi vulnerable. 

“This distribution is to the conflict victims, there were cattle owners who came here and hijack these people and burn the villages until they ran away, they stay in the bush for the number of days, others stayed in cave for long so when we come as the team members for assessment, we realised that the village is burn and the people are affected we the wrote the report to NGOs,” the County Director stated.

Report from Fondation Caritas Luxembourg indicated that one thousand community members benefited from the food distribution with another five hundred members benefiting from the seed distribution in Lowoi. 

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Emmanuel Khemis issued a local order, No.001/2023, which tasks the Entertainment Authority with regulating entertainment and recreational centers such as bars, clubs, and cinemas.

The Mayor tasked the Entertainment Authority to censor music Audio and videos that carry hate speech messages from being played on Radio stations and Televisions.

The order also prohibits underage teenagers and peers from accessing disco clubs, Hotel venues, and nightclub bars

Entertainment Authority has been authorized to regulate beauty pageants, comedy, drama theatres, shows, and films, and ensure that 98% of South Sudanese music is played to promote local content.

The order aims to ensure that these centers operate in compliance with the law and maintain high standards of safety and hygiene.

The Entertainment Authority will also be responsible for issuing licenses and permits to these centers.

This move is expected to have a positive impact on the entertainment industry in Juba, as it will help to create a more organized and regulated environment for businesses to operate in.

It will also help to ensure that customers have access to safe and high-quality entertainment options.

According to the Acting Mayor, any violation of this order will result in punitive measures as shall be determined by the Juba City Council by-law Penal code.

All Juba City Quarter Council Authorities are tasked to implement the order in collaboration with the state and national agencies and security organs.

The Juba City Council has been active in implementing other local orders to improve the city’s infrastructure and services.

In June, the council formed a task force to oversee the implementation of an order capping the prices of water charged by sellers in the city.

The council has also dissolved the 57 quarter councils within its jurisdiction and commissioned the work of a Juba City Council Steering Committee for the Boda-Boda Association.

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Governor Adil joined the acting Mayor, Emmanuel Khemis Richard, and other State officials in collaboration with the Eritrean community as they cleaned the custom market a day before the commemoration of South Sudan’s anticipated 12th Anniversary.

Addressing the media, Governor Adil said the cleaning campaign is a way to combat littering the environment and managing waste and garbage in the capital city. 

The Governor highlighted that the campaign should mean everyone’s responsibility to manage waste and garbage.

“This is going to mark a serious campaign that the government is putting in place to fight the phenomenon affecting our lives, and that is littering the environment,” the Governor pointed out.

Governor  Adil stated that it is absurd to see the capital city of South Sudan littered with waste without a proper management system. 

South Sudanese citizens have been criticizing the government for not being able to organize the independence celebrations for the last few years.

Despite the mass cleaning campaign that governor Adil partake, there is no independence celebration in Juba.

However, the Governor is expected to travel to Kajo-Keji county where he be commemorating the 12th Anniversary celebration

For his part, the Acting mayor says it is their policy as a state to make sure Juba city is clean and green.

Khemis appreciated the Eritrean community for joining hands in the cleaning campaign. 

Last month, the former BOSS of Juba City Council Michael Allah-jabu terminated the contract with Go-green East Africa, a waste management company after the company was dragged to court by Simon Trading company limited over unpaid arrears.

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Stephen Duku Kenyi says schools and teachers are close to meeting the expectation of the citizens.

The teacher expresses his view came ahead of South Sudan’s 12th anniversary to be commemorated on Sunday 

Duku says there are very significant changes achieved in South Sudan after independence particularly the learners are joining schools in huge numbers.

The teacher further added that students these days think of advancing with their education aiming to become future leaders not like in the past years when children prioritize joining the army.

The teacher urged the government to keep on nurturing the education system for the betterment of the future of South Sudan to ensure honest and loyal citizens emerged.

Duku also advised the learners to celebrate the independent commemoration day joyfully and responsibly to evade jeopardies that may occur as a result of recklessness.

He says a careless celebration is very risky to human life.

Stephen also advised the parents to take good care of them during a holiday to ensure they come back to school safely and fully refreshed.

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