The senior rule of law officer made this call during the closing day of the draft national land policy evaluation in Juba this week.

Samuel Wambugu, a senior officer at the rule of law section in UNMISS said land is a very important resource and it can also be a driver of conflict if it is not well handled.

“Land is a very important resource. First land can acutely be a driver of conflict if it’s not well handled, but it’s also a key driver of investments which depends on how you will handle it.”

Samuel commended the minister of land for being able to address the existing gaps in managing land in South Sudan.

“Honorable minister, we want to commend you and the government, for taking the issue of land so seriously to be able to address a lot of the existing gaps that we have in the link of the framework, in managing, lands,” he said.

He added that it is an opportunity for South Sudan to ensure issues of land are well addressed in the new constitutions.

“This draft land policy comes at a very timely moment because there are other reforms that are ongoing like the constitution of making process. And I think this is an opportunity for South Sudan to be able to take and to ensure issues land are properly anchored in the new constitution.”

Samuel asked the parliament not to delay with deliberation and passing of the new land policy into law.

The Chairperson of Land and physical Infrastructure and State Boundaries at the Council of States Doctor Aldo Ajou Deng said, as members of parliament, they will make sure that the policy is passed as soon as possible.

Aldo said they would reach out to the chief whip and the lawmakers and get their views on the new policy.

He appreciated the Ministry of Land for making the new policy document that will be presented to the parliament.    

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The Saudi-African leaders summit is called by King Salman bin Abdulaziz with the aims of  strengthening political, economic and social cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the African continent.

According to the Presidential Press Secretary Lily Adhieu, the one day summit aims to identify mechanism for bilateral cooperation, building a common vision through knowledge-sharing and experiences.

It also meant to bolster cross and sectorial cooperation, identify projects and frameworks for improving bilateral and multilateral ties between Saudi and African countries.

The organisers says discussion at the summit will revolve around supporting joint actions, enhancing political coordination, addressing regional security threats, and facilitating economic transformation through research and the local development of new energy solutions.

President Kiir is accompanied by a number of cabinet members and other relevant government officials.

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Hundreds of Christians attended a mass at St. Theresa Cathedral to welcome the new Cardinal His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Ameyu Martin.

Igga joined Catholic Faithful and other Christian denominations including the Muslims Community, in a thanksgiving Mass arranged for His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Ameyu Martin who was elevated by the Holy Father Pope Francis this year.

The Vice President described His Eminence Stephen as “dedicated and committed in his faith, that he deserved the elevation.

Meanwhile, His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Ameyu reiterated the call for peace and unity among the faithful and communities of South Sudan.

Ameyu has repeatedly urged the citizens to be proactive in seeking peace and not be deterred by obstacles in the way of peace.

“Let us work for peace, not the peace of the silence of guns but the peace of Chris that put each one of us together and able to say to my brother, you are my brother and to say to my sister that ‘you are my sister because we have one father that is God.”

Bishop of Kotido Diocese- Uganda, Dominic Eibu attended the Thanksgiving mass alongside Emeritus Archbishop of Khartoum, Gabriel Cardinal Zubier Wako.

Senior government officials from the National and State, members of the Diplomatic corps, and NGO representatives participated in the Mass.

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The delegation arrived on Sunday and conducted training on the peaceful transition process in South Sudan to promote Integral Human Development and advanced regional Targeted Advocacy.

Archbishop George Tambala, of Malawi, says, the Church continues to pray for long-lasting peace in South Sudan.

He added that their mission was also to evaluate the Church’s preparedness for the anticipated general election in 2024.

“We continue to pray for you, for long-lasting peace in this beautiful country, for the good of the enter people of God who continue to suffer in various situations, many of them who are women and children.”

Archbishop Tambala commended the Church in South Sudan for promoting peace through participation in the community dialogue and revitalized agreement parties signed in 2018.

This solidarity visit by the Bishops of AMECEA is to engage and encourage those involved in the peace agreement to fast-track implementation and be in solidarity with the people of South Sudan, The Archbishop stated.

Archbishop Tambala acknowledged the progress made in the peace implementation despite the slow process.

“While the implementation of the agreements remains relatively slow, we appreciate some progress has been made,” he said.

The Cardinal of South Sudan Stephen Ameyu Martin says the Church in South Sudan encourages such targeted advocacy for social and political stability in AMECEA Countries.

This advocacy is very important to address the material deprivation and poverty that afflicts many people in the Region, Cardinal Ameyu states.”

He adds that the Church in South Sudan recognizes that civil progress and economic development are essential for peace and the construction of a new order.

“Our Church also encourages cooperation between Church and State on matters of a great social concern.”

The Cardinal of South Sudan calls on the AMECEA Region to continue advocating for the important solidarity and the implementation of peace.

“The success of your initiative, it’s important that for the first time, you organize this important solidarity visit to South Sudan. We would like you as our partners and our neighbors to help us especially to advocate for this important solidarity and also implementation of peace,”

The Catholic prelates were speaking during the opening of a three-day meeting at the Sudan and South Sudan Bishops’ Conference in Juba.

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Bishop Alex Lodiong Sakor asks the Congregation, emphasizes to the people of South Sudan the need to love one another unconditionally.

He calls for sacrificial life of love with both heart and soul and thoughts set on the person being loved and encourages existence of Christ love in the marital.

The prelate is optimistic that unconditional love has no room for oppression, killing, stealing, uncompassionate and spirits of forgiveness and urges the South Sudanese Citizens to Embrace.

The bishop asks the Congregation to pray for him for Shepherd love and renewal of hearts for all.

“You and me renew your faith in God; renew your faith in Chris. If you want to be a disciple of Chris, Love! Love sincerely and love unconditionally because once all the rest of the things we see in our society will disappear believe me or not, try it and you will see that this country will in peace.”

The Catholic prelate made the remarks on Sunday at Christ the king cathedral in Yei during first mass.

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The Permanent Representative to AU, IGAD and UNECA Ambassador Doctor James Pitia Morgan disclosed this while briefing President Kiir on the current regional matters on Thursday in Juba.

He said the African Union is ready and eager to see that South Sudan conducts its first elections after gaining independence in 2011, about 12 years ago.

“If the continental body gives a green light, then the country should be ready for the elections”. Doctor Morgan said.

The government said the African Union has given South Sudan a green light to go ahead with preparations for next year’s general elections.

In June this year, RJEMEC in their 9353rd meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York, RJMEC Interim Chairperson Ambassador Major General Charles Tai Gituai outlined key benchmarks that need to be attained for the conduct of free, fair, and credible.

The benchmarks, he outlined, are the completion of the unification and redeployment of forces, the reconstitution and operationalisation of the institutions tasked with the preparation and conduct of elections, and the making of a people-led and people-owned Permanent Constitution to guide the conduct of elections.

Other benchmarks are judicial reforms and improvement to the overall political and civic space in which multiparty elections are conducted.

South Sudan’s main armed opposition, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Doctor Riek Machar Teny has renewed threats that it will not participate in the would-be 2024 general elections unless the revitalized peace agreement is fully implemented

SPLM-IO Deputy chairman and first deputy head of the transitional national legislative assembly, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, said his group is not afraid of elections but wants the peace deal to be first implemented.

“We are not afraid of going for elections in this country. In fact, in 2013, we were calling for elections because the only election which was held in South Sudan was held when we were Southern Sudan in 2010,” Oyet said during his party’s membership registration launch.

South Sudan prepares for its election in 2024 since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.

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The humanitarian partners in South Sudan urgently require US$26.4 million to continue providing transportation support until the end of the year.

The Acting Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan, Peter Van der Auweraert, stated that Funds are, however, dwindling rapidly, and without new funding, humanitarian agencies will be forced to halt transportation assistance in two weeks’ time. 

“Many of those arriving in South Sudan are increasingly vulnerable with no financial resources to continue their journey inside the country,” said Peter Van der

 Until now, National and State-level Authorities together with the humanitarian community have been able to provide onward transportation assistance to those without means so that they can reach their final destinations by road, river, or air. 

He added that funding shortfalls have already forced the National Authorities to cease assistance.

“It is quite straightforward, everyday support for onward transportation is unavailable, hundreds more will become stranded in and around border towns like Renk, with already overstretched humanitarian services becoming overwhelmed within a matter of days, not weeks,” warned Peter Van der Auweraert.

 “Unless we find a way to continue supporting onward transportation, we will soon be in a situation whereby the living conditions for people arriving become ever more dire and 

 “South Sudan needs additional support from international donors, and the National Authorities restart their support for onward transportation. Only a joint effort will avoid the humanitarian catastrophe we are all afraid of,” highlighted the Acting Humanitarian Coordinator.

Since the outbreak of hostilities in Sudan on 15 April, over 193,000 people have crossed into South Sudan.

In June 2023, the number of new arrivals surged significantly, with approximately 15,000 individuals arriving from Sudan every week Sudan through Renk’s Wunthow border entry point.

An estimated 9.4 million people, 76 percent of South Sudan’s population, are projected to need humanitarian and/or protection assistance in 2023. 

According to the UN reports, the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan requires US$1.7 billion to reach 6.8 million of the most vulnerable people with urgent vital support but only 39.4 percent of the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan is funded.

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The murdered Raymond Ayume aged 28 is a Boda-boda ridder who was taking the injured persons to a funeral place in Nyori village.

Speaking to Radio Easter in an interview, Emmanuel Duku Samuel head of the Boda-boda association confirmed the incident and expresses sadness upon hearing the killing of a boda-boda rider.

Duku reveals the attackers went with the motorcycle of the diseased and calls on the security personnel to track and investigate the criminals.

Meanwhile, civil-military relations officer for greater Yei Lt Canal Michael Machar confirmed the incident and condemns the attack on civilians along the road.

He says the motorist and the two passengers came under gunfire by unidentified killers.

Issues of armed attacks on civilians along highways linking Yei to other parts of the county and neighboring counties have been rampant since the onset of the conflict in the area.

The speakers made the statements to Radio Easter in an interview on Monday in Yei.

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Addressing the media in Juba over the weekend, the General Overseer of Bishop’s Office at the Christ Church Nakasongola, Reverend Michael Kenyi Lemi dismissed the allegations terming them as ‘fabricated falsehood’ by the Parliament.

The Cleric accused the Parliament of tarnishing the image of the church through false information.

Reverend Michael Kenyi trashed the statement by the Spokesperson of Parliament John Agany claiming that the Parliament had compensated the church before its demolition earlier this month.

“We seriously dispute the false claims by South Sudan Parliament Advocate Mr. Agany who lied to the public that the Case was heard in the East African Court of Justice and it was judged in favor of South Sudan Parliament,” Lemi objected.

The clerics asked the Parliament to publish the payment vouchers of the alleged transactions, the name of the bank, and how much was paid including the name of the signatories and the type of the currency paid as a prove.

Reverend Kenyi also petitions the South Sudan Parliament to provide details of the court ruling, dates of hearing, and attendees involved.

“We want to petition the South Sudan Parliament to provide details of the court ruling, dates of hearing, attendees, name of the presiding judge, and the lawyers involved for the two parties,” he stated.

The Churchman said that the South Sudan parliament was summoned to the East African Court to file a defense case against the church but they failed to comply.

According to David Jambo, the son of the founding Bishop of Nakasongola Church, the land was given to the church by Former Central Equatoria Governor Clement Wani Konga in writing did not clarify when the land was given.

Jambo accused Kumba to be behind the plan of grabbing four decades of church land ownership for business purposes.

He said it is not the first-time powerful people are attempting to grab the church’s land.

David reveals that some business people brought Chinese to construct a hotel on the land but the Chinese refused and said the place is church.

Jambo believes the parliament cannot produce any document for the land if asked to do so.

Early this month, the chairperson of the specialized committee of information in the national parliament John Agany claimed Parliament had won the case in a competent Court against the Church over the contested piece of land.

He was quoted saying, “The legislative institution had won a case on the claim to the land in a case against the Christ Nakasongola church.”

According to Agany, it was proved that the land belongs to the assembly, adding that the church members had refused to evacuate after the court ruling.

Christ Church Nakasongola and the Parliament have been entangled in a dispute over land ownership for several years, with each side taking a deep-seated stand.

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Unknown men broke into the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference offices last night and walked away with computers, money and other essential equipments containing important documents,

Fr. Peter Suleiman Bolls, the secretary general of Sudan and South Sudan bishop conference says that, the unknown thieves stormed the doors of the finance office, Caritas executive Director’s office, health office and several offices within the same block and walked away with 3,372 US Dollars, 565 thousand, 3 hundred and 55 South Sudanese pounds plus unspecified number of laptops

According to him, the thieves poisoned the watch man with a toxic substance, and left him lying on the ground unconsciously until 6:30 AM and later he was rushed to Promise Hospital for medications.

Fr. Peter Suleiman urges the Government and the security organ to be vigilant to secure organizations who tirelessly writes developmental projects and humanitarian aids for the country.

“This kind of criminal acts is not good; people will feel unsecured and will be hesitant to write projects to be implemented for the development of the country.” He added.

Fr. Peter Suleiman cautioned the youth to refrain from criminal acts and challenged them to look for developmental projects.

He attributed the theft incidents to poverty, lack of jobs and increasing number of street kids in the country.

The catholic Bishop Secretariat compound underwent several cases of burglary some years back before this latest break-in over the night of 24, May 2022.

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Fuel scarcity becomes the main challenge affecting the activity of the businessmen in Torit of Eastern Equatoria State.

Some of the motorists commonly known as Boda Boda riders admit they are almost quitting the businesses if fuel scarcity continues.

Joseph Taudesio is a Boda Boda rider in Torit town, says he comes as early as 3am but he found a long queue waiting for fuel.

“the issue of fuel here in Torit is too much because I came this morning as early as 3AM. I already got people lining up for fuel and I cannot access it. They say the fuel is there but the problem is the machine which pumps the fuel which says it has some problem it can only pump to a few individuals then it hangs up. We have only one functional fuel station here in Torit the one next to prison warden.”

Taudesio says that he cannot bring food on the table since he earns his living from the money he gets after carrying travellers.

Clip 2 Fuel Crisis

“challenges of fuel scarcity is affecting me a lot, at home you cannot able to feed the children and you will find a litre of fuel in black market is about 2500ssp or 3000 ssp, even to get this three thousand in a day is a problem, if you want carry a customer with five hundred they will not accept and these are the main challenges we have. According to me since is having a large hand let them think another way on how they can bring fuel so that to help people.”

Another rider, Lino Kamilo Thomas told Radio Emmanuel that previously they bought one litre of fuel at 600 South Sudanese but now it has increased to 850 South Sudanese Pounds.

Kamilo says they are also opting to charge their customers depending on the distance they will cover.

Clip 3 Fuel Crisis

“they increased with 850ssp and previously it was six hundred, I don’t know why they are increasing, maybe because the fuel is scarce. We are also going to increase our price because fuel is not there. Challenge is just the issue of fuel. If it is there we can also reduce but if it is not there then we can increase. Customers are now fearing when you are telling them that charges is 500ssp they will not accept.”

Currently there is only one fuel station that supplies the whole of Torit town.

The speakers made the remarks to Radio Emmanuel in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

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The Police Inspector of Nimule town council in Magwi county of Eastern Equatoria State, Major David Kasimiro, says calmness returned to Nimule town and people started returning to their homes.

Speaking to Radio Emmanuel on Monday morning, Kasimiro says there is no serious assault being reported currently with exception of the medical doctor who was killed last week by unknown gangs.

The police inspector states that the security body is set to find out the actors behind the killing of medical doctor in Mugali.

He says the security situation is normal even if some people are still scared for rumours the get or receive unverified sources.

He adds that they received reports from the forces protecting the civilian population from Mugali indicating that about member of different households returned to their homes and are carrying on with their routine duty.

“There is no incident that happened but concerning the killing of that doctor, now the security and other organized security forces are still searching for the perpetrators who did that but up to now they have not arrested anyone but they are  searching for them. The security situation is normal, there is nothing bad but there are some rumours, but are just rumours  and therefore those who ran away we talked to them, for them  to come back.  And now these days the people are coming back, even in Mugali, a place where they are, forces protecting people, they called us that some members of households came back, and they have started cultivating”.

The police was speaking to Radio Emmanuel on Monday.

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Students at Torit Health Science Institute in Torit of Eastern Equatoria State have on Monday staged a peaceful demonstration over an increase of tuition fee by administration of the institute.

Radio Emmanuel 89 FM learnt that the newly released fee structure now requires government sponsored students to pay 30,000 South Sudanese pounds while private students 50,000 South Sudanese pounds exclusive of other school requirements charges per semester.

During the demonstration, students displayed posters with writings demanding for the relieve of the principal of the institute Mr. Nimeri Isaac as they allege the new fee structure has been effected without prior consultation with students and parents.

While the Student Guild President Ojok Tony Best states to the officials at ministry of health that the student did not destroy anything or threaten anybody but they left the school peacefully demanding for their rights.

Tony advises student representatives who are colleagues to speak out about what has happened and avoid adding unnecessary extra words.

Clip 2 Demonstration.

“We left the school in peace and we came here as the student leaders, I was in the office holding some meeting together with the Academic Registrar and the Acting principal that’s when the students call me out and said we are going to match to the Ministry as the leaders, I must be part of them, so that is why we are here and now as student we are going to present reasons as to why we came here and I want the students to present this and not saying something which has not happen or other things that are not relevant. Let us present our challenges and grievances accordingly and I want us also to understand that we are going to addressed the minster, we are not going to talk to any other persons or our tutor, let me say even our student leaders, we are going to addressed the minister and therefore we should know how and who we are talking to.”

Meanwhile Lodae Pasquale, State minister of health in Eastern Equatoria acknowledges the student for their petition as through their leaders and inform of posters and banners.

Lodae appeals to the student to use the right channel of communications through their leaders and representatives, and promises to delay the new fee structure until 2023 then the parent will receive the new circular to avoid confusion.

“Today you have presented your petition as students and that petition is genuinely pronouns by your team leader and the student representative and all of you have spoken in various ways including the banners and the posters you have We do not disagree with your moved the only thing we felt  like you should have done was to send that one representative would have been done in one moment but because you came we will do and we will tell you one issue to be done the fees structure that was raise was the communication which should have gone to your parent not to the student and we apologies at the level of the ministry Your parent should have received the information in the beginning of the year, we are going to delay it until 2023.”

The speakers made these remarks during the student peaceful demonstration on Monday in Torit, Eastern Equatoria State.

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Regular callers of Radio Emmanuel in Torit of Eastern Equatoria State are asking the entire community to refrain from cattle raids and to engage more in education and activities that will in turn benefit the State and the country at large.

A caller known as Anti-Corruption from Chukudum of Eastern Equatoria says the community should participate in developmental activities rather than cattle raids that weaken the development of South Sudan.   

//People still following issues of cattle raiding, this things are not good they are taking us backward so tell Eastern  Equatoria we should go with education and agriculture and our land is for agriculture not for playing  so we have to do same thing good that we have to benefit our state payams and our counties issue of cattle raiding should be left behind let our children go to school our children go for farming as our woman do other things woman should not fight men and men don’t fight woman lets people fight with grass in the farms people should  cultivate sorghum in the gardens such that tomorrow we shall benefit in Eastern Equatoria//

Meanwhile Mama Lucy Iliha Quinto from Juba comments that cattle raids were not a common issue in the past. She strongly condemns the act urging that this year should be a year of peace and unity.

Mama Lucy adds that the most contributing factor to cattle raids in some communities is due to high bride prices.

//Cattle raiding, this things are not good but long-time they were not there, why this time if we want to learn this things it’s not good even if you want to marry with a woman this woman you are marrying with same cattle from raiding that means she may not live a very good life, her life will be tight with such deeds because it is some ones’ sweat and that person got it in his own ways you raid and you’re going to use it for marriage let’s leave this issue of cattle raiding and very expensive marriage as we were marriage with sixty pounds by then was twelve pounds so it is good number of cows down but this ones that married with ninety or one thousand cows so if he cannot can’t get and he may forced to go and raid//

On Thursday, the exchange of gunshots between cattle raiders and soldiers in an attempt to recover the animals raised fear as citizens ran for protection and businesses closed down in Torit town.

Radio Emmanuel callers made their remarks during “Our Community Our Responsibility,’’ Program on Friday.

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Catholic bishop of Yei diocese Alex Lodiong Sakor during his consecration as the second bishop of the diocese appealed for conducive security situation to be granted to religious leaders to visit people in the rural areas.

He pledges to visit the people who are unable to receive all sacraments of baptism and confirmation because of the crisis.

Bishop Alex believes that there are many people in the villages who are taught catechism but are not baptized and confirmed.

The catholic prelate says the Christians in the rural areas are eagerly waiting for baptism and confirmation The Bishop appeals for effort on security to enable safe travel.to all those areas and everywhere in the country

The religious leader reveals that after his pastoral visits to the faithful outside the towns, he will together with people of the diocese sit to plan for the running of the church.

He calls for simplicity and humility in doing services in order for the church to grow.

He spoke after his consecration and installation as the second bishop of Yei catholic diocese replacing emeritus bishop Erkolano Lodu Tombe.

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