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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For almost a decade, ethnically divided residents in the greater Kapoeta region have been engaged in intermittent cattle raiding, child abductions, and revenge killings, thus creating unrest and insecurity for themselves.

According to UNIMISS reports, at numerous peace dialogues, community representatives have agreed on how to resolve their issues, but actions need to be taken urgently.

The government of Eastern Equatoria State, supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), recently organized a high-level conference that brought together national politicians, the commissioners of the four counties where violence takes place, civil society representatives, women’s leaders, and youth activists.

Among the action points generated at the conference are, confiscating illegal firearms, stopping hate speech, holding perpetrators of crimes accountable, and sending additional security forces to particularly insecure areas to assist the recently deployed Necessary Unified Forces present in the state.

The official present both delivered and signed a new peace accord.

The Governor of Eastern Equatoria State Louis Lobong Lojore says that having more uniformed personnel on the ground will help to reduce cases of road ambushes and cattle raids.

“Having more uniformed personnel on the ground will result in fewer reports about ambushes or stolen cattle. It will give us trust that eventually we can put an end to such violence,” predicted Louis Lobong Lojore.

Head of the peacekeeping mission’s Field Office in Torit Guy Griffin said, the success of the treaty signed depends on the collective will of the people of the four counties to make what they have agreed a reality.

“Peace is a process and today’s activity is a good starting point to achieve it,” Guy Griffin said.

Mary Natabu, representing both women and youth in Kapoeta says, she is determined to do her part and urge her peers to follow suit.

“As young people, we have roles to play in stopping the bloodshed and ending the suffering so that we’ll be able to cherish durable peace,” she said.

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This year’s World Radio Day in South Sudan is celebrated under the Theme “Setting Agenda, Shaping Public Opinion and Inspiring Voters in South Sudan.

The world Radio Theme is; “Radio: A Century, Informing, Entertaining and Educating”

The principal of the Media Development Institute (MDI) Mrs. Ayaa Irene urged media practitioners to get accredited by the government as a prerequisite to cover the upcoming elections. 

Ms. Ayaa calls on young people aspiring to join the media industry to first acquire basic media training before they apply for accreditations

The MDI principle further encouraged media practitioners, to advance their networking by engaging in events such as the world radio day

Meanwhile, the representative of the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) Ms. Joyce Maker, urged partners to support media houses to reach more areas and listeners.

Maker attributed low coverage by radio stations to the low-quality transmitters often used by media houses.

Students of Media Development Institute (MDI) an affiliate of AMDISS, and University of Juba journalism students grace and animated the event with a round table panel discussion. 

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According to the press statement, a series of armed attacks took place on 27 January 2024 in the Abyei area, which resulted in civilian casualties as well as the death of a United Nations peacekeeper, Ghanian national.

The mission confirmed that the inter-communal clashes took place in the Nyinkuac, Majbong, and Khadian areas.

The UNISFA report said efforts are underway to verify the number of those killed, injured, and displaced in the violence.

In addition, the UNISFA base in Agok came under attack by an armed group and the mission repelled the attack, but tragically a Ghanaian peacekeeper was killed.

The mission strongly condemns the violence and extends its profound condolences to the families of the civilians who lost their lives.

The UNISFA reaffirms its commitment to carrying out its mandate to provide proactive and robust protection of civilians as well as support to all efforts to maintain peace and security in the areas.

The mission urges a swift and thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to those attacks and to ensure that all perpetrators are held accountable.

In September 2023, attacks flared up in the border area between Twic Dinka and Ngok Dinka youth, with several deaths recorded on both sides. The government initiated peace but could not technically end the land dispute between the two communities.

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Josephine Kiden Simon Kiden thanked the president of South Sudan for signing the UN convention which gives her confidence in advocating for people with disabilities.

As they have ratified the UN convention, there is a need to advocate for the rights of people living with disabilities “Miss Deaf states.”

“I was happy because the President of South Sudan signed the UN Convention on 24^th February this year, which has given me much confidence in advocating for people with disabilities.

She emphasized that there are many challenges that people living with disabilities are going through, including a lack of interpreters on national broadcasting television.

“As you know in South Sudan, we have no sign language interpreters but the policies have been ratified, so they need help and advocate for our rights as people with hearing impairment, “says Kiden.”

Miss Deaf Africa appealed to the government of South Sudan to advocate and empower the deaf community or people living with a disability.

Josephine Kiden regretted that the deaf community is not given the priority to access education which makes life difficult for them.

“We are not given that priority for us to be in school as people with disability more especially the hearing impairment, we have left behind and we are still behind.”

She added that there is less support for the people living with disabilities in South Sudan.

She regretted how they struggled to help their colleagues whom they traveled with to Dar-Salam Tanzania during the occasion of Miss Deaf International.

Kiden thanked Crown the Women’s charity organization for the support they gave her during the Miss Deaf International Dar-Salam and other well-wishers for standing with her.

She asked the people of South Sudan to support the deaf community because they are working for the benefit of the country.

On 24 February 2023, South Sudan took a historic step by signing a disability inclusion treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

This means that the government will have a legal duty to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of people with disabilities in South Sudan.

The purpose of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

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These calls came at the time South Sudan was fighting the illiteracy rate among the people.

Bishop Emmanuel Bernardino said that any community or society that does not takes their children to school to get educated is a potential threat to the future of the country.

He cites that Education is a strong weapon that can change the behaviors and the attitudes of the people.

“Any society that exists without education is a threat to the future because the current conflict of guns will finish but the bigger conflict is going to be illiteracy because if you are not educated you will not change the situation of your people, education changes the behaviors and attitudes of the society members” Bishop Narrates.

His Lordship Emmanuel points out that as Christians our education should impact positively on our lives.

He is stressed about the behavior and attitudes of some intellectuals in the society that are doing things that are astray despite their education.

The Catholic Prelate was speaking to Voice of Hope Radio, one of the Catholic Radio Network station in Wau.

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Miteng encourage the government to utilize the agriculture sector to earn revenue in the country.

He added that strengthen crops will boost economy through production of local seeds in large quantity and market through the agro-dealers network

“We need to encourage market economy in South Sudan, and therefore in agriculture sector which is a booming sector right now, we need to ensure that is a revenue earner and we start with marketing of seeds.  Therefore farmers, produce seeds for companies, and seed companies’ process these seeds and market through agro-dealer networks that are created within the village networks.

Mr. Justine discourages free distribution of seeds to help local seeds producers earn income to improve standard of their living and create employment to the local population

“We try as much as possible to discourage the free distribution of seeds and input services because we feel that distracted market and therefore it robes the village farmer from getting employment.”

The official called on the stakeholders to join hands in order to expand seeds production across the nation to fight food insecurity

“We want to call everyone on board, the stakeholders that are responsible for food security in this country, so that this innovative approach in seeds sector development that lead in to production and productivity is expanded.”

“We want to make sure it goes to other states, we want even extend our outreach in areas where we have not reached. Even within this state where we are operating right now, there only few companies that have been supported and there are many more that need to be supported.”

IFDC is currently running A3SEEDS project supporting 10 seed companies across five locations of Juba, Torit, Bor, Rumbek and Yambio respectively.

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The late Bishop Paride Taban who founded the Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron in South Sudan in 2005, was announced winner of this prestigious award by The Opus Prize Foundation and Villanova University in a ceremony on Thursday afternoon November 9, 2023.

According to The Opus Prize Foundation a private and independent nonprofit foundation that was established in 1994, eleven distinguished leaders from the Greater Philadelphia area representing arts, business, non-profit, faith, and civic communities, were named to the Opus Prize jury in which three finalists were selected based on the foundation’s values and principles and late Taban Paride emerged  the winner

The annual faith-based humanitarian award is worth a one-million-dollar cash prize.

According to the report, Bishop Taban’s Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron will receive the one-million-dollar prize that recognises social entrepreneurship championing faith-filled change.

The deputy chair of the Board for Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron and State Minister of Health in Eastern Equatoria State, Doctor Margaret Itto received the award on behalf of the late bishop Paride Taban who died last week 1^st November 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya after long illness.

While receiving the prestigious award, Doctor Magret reflected back to Bishop Paride Taban’s devoted services that he offered to Kuron Peace Village saying “his impact will be felt forever.”

“Although it saddens me deeply that Bishop Taban is not here with us, I am truly honored to accept this award on his behalf and help recognise the passion and devotion he gave to Holy Trinity Peace Village,” Doctor Itto said.

“He has impacted so many lives in Sudan through not only the founding of The Village but the continued love he provided to its community for almost 20 years. His impact will be felt there forever.”

The Villanova University President, Reverend Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD,

acknowledged Bishop Taban’s dedication to promoting peace and compassion for those in need, regardless of faith or background.

“Bishop Taban dedicated his life to promoting peace and compassion for those in need, regardless of faith or background,” said the Reverend Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, of Villanova University

“As an institution grounded in the values of Saint Augustine, who preached about the power of communities dedicated to love, Villanova University is immensely honored to celebrate the life and work of Bishop Taban, and to have the 2023 Opus Prize as part of his legacy.” Reverend Peter M. Donohue added.

Bishop Taban founded Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron in 2005 as a place for community of people from diverse backgrounds who have experienced conflict.

With a focus on conflict resolution and peace building, as well as agricultural training, education, health services, and food security, the Peace Village has allowed thousands of Sudanese affected by years of armed conflict and struggle in the North to flourish there in peace.

In the nearly two decades since the founding of The Village which has now become globally recognised for its peace building efforts in the region, Bishop Taban has received several prestigious humanitarian awards.

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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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Peter Mangang discloses that the gang’s group members were arrested in separate incidents and among those arrested some are girls. 

“These are members of about 30 gang groups and they have not been giving people rest because of their troubles,” Mangang clarifies.

Mangang urges the government and those concerned to give 112 full responsibility and authority in order for them to address the occurrence actions of gang groups.

Mayor of Wau Municipality Council Paulino Said Uku says that those who are arrested should be taken to court or possibly jail for three months.

He said, “I would like to call on the Police not to compromise those arrested, they should be taken to prison to serve their punishment in order to reform them.”

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The International Deaf week started on the 18th of September that was Monday and will run until Saturday 23rd this week, this year’s theme is “Access to Communication and Building Inclusive Deaf Community for all.”

The Central Equatoria Minister of Gender and Social Welfare, Huda Mika Lila encouraged deaf and the visually impaired persons to have hope in their lives and continue striving for their opportunities.

The Minister said she is hopeful that next year’s national budget will allocate some money to support the establishment of their Center in Central Equatoria State.

She emphasised the use of sign language in every public gathering such as workshops, government functions, and national TV to help deaf persons understand what is being communicated which will make them also feel inclusive in society.

Minister Huda Mika suggested that sign language should be in several schools to help train many translators in sign language to improve communication among the deaf and other people.

Partners like, Light Christian Blind Mission (cbm) who have been supportive of the South Sudan National Association of the Deaf including the Central Equatoria Government graced the colourful event.

Light for the World Advocacy officer, Nema Juma reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting people with special needs by providing sign language learning books.

Early this week, the chairperson of the Association of the Deaf Peter Kachinga urged government and non-governmental organisations in South Sudan to support them in educating more people with sign language to ease communication for the deaf.

While starting International Deaf Awareness Week, the chairperson declared the week only for collecting garbages around Juba to impress citizens that the deaf can also do great work like any other citizen of the country.

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The chairperson of the Eucharistic Congress Bishop Stephen Nyodho said the bishops agreed to hold the celebration of the Eucharistic Congress, co-jointly with the 50 years anniversary Golden Jubilee

“We the bishops agreed to hold the celebration of the Eucharistic Congress co-jointly with the 50 years anniversary of the establishment of the local Church in Sudan and South Sudan Hierarchy.

Bishop Stephen stated that the two celebrations will take place in a period of one year under the theme, “One body, and one spirit in Christ.”

The launching of the Eucharistic Congress and the Golden Jubilee Hierarchy will take place in the Catholic Diocese of Wau on 26 November 2023 and the closing of the Eucharistic Congress will be celebrated at the Archdiocese of Juba on the 24 of November 2024 “Said the Chairperson Bishop Stephen.”

Bishop Nyodho called on the Catholic priests, nuns, religious men and women, government, and the entire Christian communities to consecrate for the two Countries to Christ.

“One my on behave and on the behave of the Catholic bishops in Sudan and South Sudan I would to call on all our priests, religious men and women, our youth, the entire Christian communities, our brothers and sister in government, and the non-governmental to join us on this historic event, we want to consecrate ourselves and our country South Sudan to Christ the King.”

He adds that it is a moment and an opportunity for the Church and the people of Sudan and South Sudan to come together as one family to pray for their problems and the country.

The Bishop appealed to all Catholics, sisterly Churches and the people of goodwill to support the celebration in mobilizing resources.

The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba Santo Laku Pio calls on each and every one to embrace the important call by the bishops of Sudan and South Sudan as one body, one spirit in Christ.

He added that the local bishops will direct their immediate collaborators in their Dioceses to organize particular celebrations within the year to prepare the faithful for the final closing of the Eucharistic Congress celebration.

The Church will continue to pray for all those who have let us and who were part of this celebration, establishment of the Hierarchy of the Church, as well as the celebration of the Eucharistic Congress. “The Auxiliary bishop stated.”

During the launching of the Eucharistic Congress logo at bishops’ secretariat in Juba, Father John Loboka Morris, the secretary General of the celebration explains about the Eucharistic meaning of the Logo.

Father John Loboka explains the top of the logo that symbolized Sudan and South Sudan that represents the conference of Sudan and South Sudan remains as one conference.

At the center of the logo symbolized the bread and cup which is the body of Christ that takes effects at the prayer of consecration by the invocation of the Holy Spirit.

There is also the symbol of the family that gives important to the family and remains the believers of the last Eucharistic Congress that took place 39 years ago.

“In the logo there is also a symbol of the family. Couples, Children, extra giving important to the family and remaining us of the last Eucharistic Congress that to place 39 years ago.”

Father Loboka stated that the bishops’ in their meetings decided that the Eucharistic Congress will be celebrated in view of the anniversary of the Eucharistic Congress that took place in 1984.

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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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Media authority said it acknowledged the concerted and consistent efforts taken by the Minister of ICT and Postal Services and that of the mister of cabinet affairs to reach a political and diplomatic solution on the issue of Radio Miraya 101.0 FM under chapter IV, section 11 of the Status Forces Agreement. (SOFA).

Speaking during a press conference, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Deng Dau Deng said, the government wants to use Radio Miraya as a tool for promoting peace and stability in South Sudan 

“We really want to use Radio Miraya as a tool for promoting stability and peace in our country” “Dau Deng said.

Meanwhile, the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS) welcomes this significant breakthrough, which holds great importance for the upcoming 2024 elections

AMDISS applauds the government, and UNMISS for reaching a consensus on the status of Radio Media after five years of deadlock with Media Authority, where the media house remained without being regulated by the Media Authority.

“The lifting of the ban on Radio Miraya is a crucial move in advancing a fair and open electoral process in South Sudan.” AMDISS wrote in its press release.

The government’s decision to make this move shows its dedication to transparency, accountability, and public engagement for the 2024 elections.

It added that the decisive solution to the matter means, the radio station and its journalists will have the opportunity to report on important public events related to the elections, providing crucial information to the public.

Radio Miraya was suspended by the Media regulatory body in March 2018 for what they called “persistent noncompliance and refusal to be regulated under the Media laws in South Sudan as stipulated in section 6 (13) (k) read together with section 34 of the media Authority Act.2013.”

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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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