South Sudan's Women: Building the World’s Newest Nation

Dec 15, 2011 7:27 AM EST

At a conference in D.C., women from South Sudan help develop solutions for problems with literacy, banking, agriculture, oil revenues, and other challenges facing their new nation.



In this image taken Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011,
 Alice, a southern Sudanese women, sits
 in her small room on a river barge docked
 at the port in Juba, southern Sudan,
Pete Muller / AP Photo caption



Seven women from seven states in South Sudan arrived in Washington, D.C., on Sunday night—just five months after their country had become the world’s newest nation. They came carrying much more than their luggage. They were carrying a vision.

South Sudan’s women played a vital role in the founding of their country. During the war, they fought in the bush. They reached out to the women on the other side. With no other place to meet, they gathered under trees beside the river and started the dialogue that would form the basis for the peace. Some of them negotiated the agreement that ended the war. And women cast the majority of votes in both the election (60 percent) and the referendum for a nonviolent split from Sudan (52 percent).

Monday and Tuesday, they rolled up their sleeves and got to work on their next challenge. The delegation of South Sudanese women began crafting their messages regarding national priorities, to be presented at the International Engagement Conference (IEC) on Wednesday and Thursday.

UN urges South Sudan to act now to avert large-scale violence in Jonglei

UNMISS peacekeepers deployed in Jonglei State

26 December 2011 –

The United Nations today urged South Sudan to take all necessary measures to protect civilians in Jonglei state after reports identified thousands of armed youth preparing to attack a rival community.
“I am deeply concerned to learn of reports of this imminent large-scale attack on civilians in Jonglei State,” said Special Representative for the Secretary-General to South Sudan, Hilde F. Johnson. “The Government must act now if we are to avert a major tragedy.”

http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr11472.htm

Press Release No. 11/472
December 16, 2011 Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement after a meeting with H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, in Washington today:


"It was a pleasure to meet President Kiir and his delegation at the IMF headquarters. South Sudan, as the world newest country, has great potential to realize the dreams and aspirations of its people. We are hopeful that this new beginning will bring peace and prosperity for the people of South Sudan.
"South Sudan faces formidable challenges, including ensuring economic stability, building institutions to support sustained growth and managing oil revenue wisely. In this context, we are encouraged by various institutional and legislative steps under way regarding the central bank, public financial management, and the oil sector amongst others.
"I have assured President Salva Kiir that the IMF will be at South Sudan’s side to assist the country meet the above challenges through frequent policy dialogue and technical assistance.
"In recent months, the IMF has been providing technical support and training on tax and customs administration, public financial management, oil revenue and foreign reserves management, central banking and financial supervision, as well as macroeconomic statistics. Together with the authorities and donors, we are working on a 3-year program of dedicated technical assistance.
"The process of membership of South Sudan at the IMF is at an advanced stage. South Sudan has applied for membership earlier this year (Press Release No. 11/145) and I look forward to South Sudan becoming the Fund’s 188<sup>th member in early 2012," Ms Lagarde said.

http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2011/pr11472.htm</sup>

International Prosecutor Seeks Sudanese Official’s Arrest in Darfur Violence

By MARLISE SIMONS
Published: December 2, 2011
　
PARIS — The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court put new pressure on the government of Sudan on Friday by seeking an arrest warrant for the country’s defense minister on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
　
The minister, Abdel Rahim Muhammad Hussein, is a close ally of Sudan’s president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who has already been indicted by the court for a variety of atrocities and genocide.  

Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters

If the judges issue a warrant for Mr. Hussein, he will be the country’s fourth senior politician to be called to account for the violent campaign against civilians in the Darfur region of western Sudan during the conflict there between the Arab-dominated government and non-Arab rebel groups.

Violence on new South Sudan-Sudan border catches U.N. in the middle

NAIROBI, Kenya — The new nation of South Sudan faced another armed challenge on Friday as a rebel group aligned with rival Sudan to the north threatened United Nations peacekeepers, accusing them of assisting the South Sudanese army in combat against them.
The U.N. mission denied that it had provided air and ground logistical support to soldiers in their fight against the rebels. It said it had only evacuated 60 civilians by helicopter who'd been wounded in clashes between the rebels and the South Sudanese army, known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army. The U.N. mission said its mandate to protect civilians required it to do so and that it would do so again in the future, if necessary.

South Sudan and Sudan at loggerheads over oil talks

NAIROBI, Kenya — The South Sudanese government has seized what had been Sudan's share of the south's oil production and has decided to build a new pipeline that would not cross through Sudanese territory, the latest sign that the two former war foes are unlikely to resolve by negotiation the issues created when South Sudan became an independent country this summer.

Four months into nationhood, South Sudan struggles

NAIROBI, Kenya — A South Sudanese rebel leader with suspected ties to Sudan declared more people "must die" for the cause of peace and democracy in the world's youngest nation after talks here between him and the South Sudanese government broke down after less than a week of negotiations.
Even though it is barely four months old, South Sudan is already struggling to withstand the full burden of statehood, weighted down in no small part by the icy hostility it shares with the government in Sudan, its northern neighbor and historical enemy.

Rebel leader reportedly killed in South Sudan

Posted on Tuesday, 12.20.11
By ALAN BOSWELL
McClatchy Newspapers
NAIROBI, Kenya -- A major rebel leader was killed by South Sudan government forces, officials said Tuesday, providing a possible boost to the fledgling East African government and U.S. ally.
The aging rebel, George Athor, was intercepted by a military patrol near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo and killed, said South Sudan military spokesman Philip Aguer. Reports that Athor was killed in a firefight could not be confirmed.

Humanitarian needs must take priority in South Sudan, warn aid agencies

 

UN's warning of 'gathering storm of hunger' tempers focus on foreign investment agenda at two-day conference.

Speaking at the South Sudan international engagement conference, Hillary Clinton said the country was in need of 'intensive care'. Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty Images

 

 

Speaking at a two-day development and investment conference for South Sudan in Washington DC, Hillary Clinton said the newly-independent country had the potential to be "one of Africa's breadbaskets". Clinton, the US secretary of state, indicated that America would partner with the private sector to help supply advanced seeds and other technologies to boost farmers' yields in South Sudan, which she said was in need of "intensive care" from the international community.

Clinton's sentiments were backed by the US aid agency, USAid, which announced it will help guarantee up to $7m in bank loans – including support for smallholder farmers – to South Sudan's agriculture sector. The details are still being finalised.

Gen Athor is dead



JUBA, 20 December 2011 (NASS) – The leader of the most disturbing rebel group in South Sudan, Lieutenant General George Athor was killed around 1800 hours yesterday by the SPLA border patrol at Morobo County-Central Equatoria State when infiltrating South Sudan from Rwanda.

 

This was announced today by the Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan Hon Dr Riek Machar Teny in a press briefing in his office.

Policy statement and achievements of the Ministry of Interior passed by parliament

Reported by Matata Saf



presenting the policy statement and achievements of his ministry.



Acting Speaker Rt Hon Akot (centre) flanked by the Clerk (left) and Legal Affairs Advisor (right).
[Photo: Marchelo Leopoldo Oder]

JUBA, 21 December 2011 – The South Sudan National Legislative Assembly in its Sitting No. 41/2011 which was chaired by the acting speaker Right Hon. Gen Daniel Awet Akot received a presentation of the Policy Statement and Achievements of the Ministry of Interior by Hon. Gen. Alison Manani Magaya.

Fire guts Beijing Juba Hotel again

Billowing smoke at the scene of the fire.
[Photo: Matata Safi]

People try to rescue property.
[Photo: Matata Safi]

JUBA, 22 December 2011 – For the second time today at about 12noon fire gutted Beijing Juba Hotel destroying property worth millions of pounds. The block that survived last year’s fire is what has been reduced to ashes today. The block that is mostly built of prefabs accommodates many of the hotel’s clients who are both nationals and foreign clients.

“American business community to invest in RSS”, US ambassador

			Ms Page stresses a point. [Photo: Matata Safi] JUBA, 22 December 2011 – The American Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan Susan Page has assured of the readiness of the American business community to invest in the Republic of South Sudan. Speaking to the press in Juba yesterday the US Ambassador said the December 14th to 15th Iternational Engagement Conference that was sponsored by the government of the United States of America, UK, Norway, UN, African Union, World Bank IFC and NGOs had scored two important successes that will see many investors coming to invest in the world’s newest nation. Ambassador Page outlined the waving off of sanctions on the oil sector with South Sudan and the commitment of the government of the Republic of South Sudan to join the International Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a body that looks at transparency over payments which oil, gas and mining which are aimed at improving the service delivery to all citizen of a member country as being landmark achievements. She explained that the removal of the sanctions on the oil sector in South Sudan will allow easy importation of equipments and other items for the development of the oil sector. “These two aspects are tremendous achievements for South Sudan for it will become easy doing business here in South Sudan for investors”, she said.

IRI Releases Survey of South Sudan Public Opinion

Wednesday, 21 December 2011

Juba, South Sudan – IRI released the results of the first-ever public opinion poll from the newly independent Republic of South Sudan (PDF), which separated from Sudan on July 9, 2011.  This unique poll, fielded September 6-27, 2011, assesses a range of issues related to democracy and governance, including: the general environment and government priorities; voting behaviors and attitudes toward democracy; attitudes toward women and general demographics of the people of South Sudan. The majority of South Sudanese feel that the country is headed in the right direction, and citizens overwhelmingly approve of their national government officials.  A notable 82 percent of respondents reported having either a very favorable or favorable impression of the president of South Sudan, as did 71 percent regarding the parliament.  Similarly, sixty-seven percent of respondents reported being very satisfied or satisfied with the performance of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, the country’s ruling party. The poll also revealed that a majority (59 percent) of South Sudanese feel that their overall security situation has improved within the last year.  Crime and security – along with health – were listed as the most important issues facing the country; therefore, the general optimism regarding security is encouraging.  When asked about specific security concerns in their daily lives, however, respondents expressed that cattle raiding and local crime, 25 percent and 23 percent, respectively, were of the highest concern.  Although poll responses suggest that South Sudanese women currently do not have societal equality, a majority of citizens appear to be willing to alter the status quo.  Seventy-nine percent of respondents indicated that women would make good legislators, and half of those surveyed believe that women should make up at least 25 percent of the government at all levels.  Most encouraging, 86 percent of respondents reported that it is likely or very likely they would vote for a woman in an election. The nationwide survey sampled 2,225 adults aged 18 and older from all 10 South Sudanese states. The study was organized and analyzed by Pechter Polls, while the survey research was fielded with the assistance of Samahi LTD, a local South Sudanese survey/research firm.  The survey was administered through face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice: Dinka, Nuer, Juba Arabic, Classical Arabic or English.  Margin of error did not exceed plus or minus 2.1 percent. http://www.gossmission.org/goss/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1277&Itemid=1

We Must Take Great Care of Our Children During the Xmas Festivities

In Christmas celebration the children of Juba like children in other parts of the Christian world were the happiest. They like their fellow kids in other ten states of Republic of South Sudan should extra happy to celebrate this Christmas in a free nation of their own. Mostly dressed in very clean clothes mostly new clothes and shoes bought by their parents for the occasion which they considered the most important day for them in the year, the children have taken over the streets of the city and the internal roads which run in-between plots of the residential quarters and moved in tens.

Sudanese parliament says South Sudan "biggest security threat"

---

December 26, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese parliament has branded the newly independent state of South Sudan as the main security threat to Khartoum, citing Juba’s alleged support to rebels seeking to topple the government.

FILE - The Sudanese parliament

In a closed door on Monday between the Sudanese parliament’s security and defense committee and the upper echelon of security apparatus, including intelligence chief Mohamed Atta, defense minister Abdul Rahim Hussien and interior minister Ibrahim Mhamud, South Sudan was described as the main security threat to Sudan.
The three hour meeting, which was devoted to discussing the security situation in the country, said that the designation was warranted by Juba’s support of the Sudanese Revolutionary Forces (SRF), an alliance of Sudanese armed groups seeking to topple the government.
South Sudan seceded from Sudan in July this year under a 2005 peace deal that ended nearly half a century of intermittent civil wars between the two sides.
The recently separated countries often exchange accusations of supporting rebels on each others’ territories, with Khartoum saying Juba is backing the rebellion of its erstwhile allies in Sudan’s border regions of South Kordofan and Blue Nile while Juba accuses Khartoum of supporting southern rebel groups.
Following the meeting, the parliament’s speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir told reporters that a report produced by an emergency parliamentary committee tasked with assessing the security situation in the country had concluded that “the biggest security threats are represented in the South Sudanese state, Kauda alliance [an alias of the RSF] and some rebel groups in Darfur.”
Sources told Sudan Tribune that the parliament’s security and defense committee was intending to question the two ministers and the intelligence chief about the deteriorating security situation in north Darfur and north Kordofan state following the attacks launched this week by the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in those areas but the killing of JEM’s leader Khalil Ibrahim forced the committee to revise its agendas.
The meeting also hailed the killing of Ibrahim as a "great victory" and congratulated the security apparatus’s efforts which salvaged the situation in hotspots.
In a related context, the parliament’s speaker revealed that the legislative body in corroboration with the federal Ministry of Justice is intending to draft an anti-espionage law.
Al-Tahir further said that the proposed law was demanded by security authorities in the country, adding that the parliament’s session in the upcoming period would be dedicated to deliberations on the bill in order to pass it

Dec. 27 (Bloomberg) -- The United Nations urged South Sudan to protect civilians after its air patrols detected thousands of members of the Lou Nuer ethnic group preparing to attack on Murle communities in the eastern Jonglei state.

“I am deeply concerned to learn of reports of this imminent large-scale attack on civilians in Jonglei state,” Hilde F. Johnson, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s special representative, said in an e-mailed statement yesterday. “The government must act now if we are to avert a major tragedy.”

Yearender: Sudan, South Sudan separation fails to bring in peace, stability

South Sudan is not supporting any armed rebellion against Khartoum

JUBA, 10 November 2011 – The President of the Republic of South Sudan H.E Saliva Kiir Mayardit has asserted that the Republic of the South Sudan is not and will not support any armed opposition groups fighting against the government of the Republic of the Sudan in an attempt to undermine or destabilize the National Congress Party led government.

The Khartoum government has been fighting with rebels opposed to it in the three areas of Darfur, South Kordufan and Southern Blue Nile with Khartoum accusing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) of supporting the armed groups in these areas.

Speaking to the media in his office in Juba today, President Kiir said the recent accusations by Khartoum in the media as well as its complaint to the UN Security Council against the Republic of South Sudan of supporting rebels and harboring rebels opposed to it are baseless, malicious and unfounded. President Kiir said South Sudan is not fighting the Khartoum government either directly or by proxy.

President Kiir meets UN peacekeeping undersecretary

GOGRIAL, 4 November 2011 – The President of the Republic H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit today Friday November 4th, 2011 in his residence at his home village called Akon in Gogrial West County met the Undersecretary General of the United Nations peacekeeping force Mr. Herve Ladsous who was accompanied by the deputy representative of the UN/SG in South Sudan Ms. Lise Grande and other UN officials.
The meeting exchanged views on the general political and security situation in the new state of South Sudan. Shortly after the meeting the Mr. Ladsous told the press that he came to South Sudan to confirm that the United Natiosn is always ready to help the new state in developing its human rights situation and to help the young state establish a good relationship with the Republic of Sudan.
Mr. Lasous said the new state is now building itself rapidly and that the UN will provide assistance for these efforts in good faith. He also announced that the UN forces in Abyei area are working. He also reported that as a consequence of the presence of the UN peacekeepers, the displaced citizens of Abyei are now migrating back to their homes. He also pledged that the UN will continue asking the SAF to withdraw from Abyei.
Meanwhile, the governor of Warrap state Hon. Nyandeng Malek has refuted rumours which are circulating and alleging that she has problems with the citizens in the state. She said that some few discontented MPs in Warrap state who lobbied for ministerial posts but failed are the ones trying to cause political chaos in the state.
Hon. Malek said this in an interview with the SSTV and Radio from Akon. She urged the MPs and executive institutions in Warrap state to concentrate on carrying out their duties of delivering basic services to the people of the state instead of confusing the political situation of the state.
The governor affirmed that security situation in Warrap state is relatively calm but acknowledged that some militias at the border with Unity state especially at Tonj East and Tonj North sometimes attack the civilians. She reported that the State authorities are now doubling their efforts in providing more police in those hotspots to protect the civilians.

Reported by Thomas Kenneth from Akon, Gogrial West

http://www.goss.org/

USAID Provides Equipment to South Sudan for Conflict Prevention



USAID delivered these speedboats this week
to the government of South Sudan’s Jonglei state,
where hundreds of people have been killed in
intercommunal violence this year. The boats will enhance
the government's ability to reach isolated counties and
deter threats to community security.



USAID this week handed over five speedboats to South Sudan’s Jonglei State government, to help state authorities deter threats to community security in a part of South Sudan that has experienced significant intercommunal violence this year, and where roads are extremely limited. During August alone, at least 600 people were killed in fighting between the Murle and the Lou Nuer communities in Jonglei State, according to the United Nations.

SSNLA continues deliberation of SPLM-DC activities in Upper Nile State

JUBA, 4 October 2011 – In its Sitting No. 17/2011 today, the South Sudan National Legislative Assembly (SSNLA continued to discuss the urgent motion on the formation of a committee to study the SPLM-DC activities in Upper Nile State which was raised by Hon. Agnes Nyok Peter and seconded by 45 honorable members.

The motion is requesting the August House to approve the formation of a select committee to scrutinize and investigate the violence activities of the SPLM-DC party in the Republic of South Sudan since its inception.

President Kiir meets Hon. Speaker Igga

JUBA, 4 October 2011 - The President of the Republic H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit today in his office met the Speaker of National Legislative Assembly Rt. Hon James Wani Igga and his deputy Hon. Daniel Awet Akot.

The Hon Speaker told the press after the meeting that the Assembly has passed the speech delivered by the President during the inauguration of the National Legislative Assembly at Nyakuron Cultural Center. He said that the speech is now being compiled to be presented to the President in the presence of the Speaker of Council of the States.

Rt. Hon Igga added that their meeting with President Kiir discussed some administrative issues in the Assembly besides political affairs within and outside the country.

http://www.goss-online.org/magnoliaPublic/en/news.html#President Kiir meets Hon. Speaker Igga

President Kiir meets Rumbek East Commissioner

JUBA, 3 October 2011 - The President of the Republic H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit today in his office met the Commissioner of Rumbek East County Mr. David Marial Gumke. During the meeting Commissioner Gumke briefed H.E Kiir on the general situation in his county.

The Commissioner told the press after the meeting that the security situation in the county has become normal after all the youth from the different counties of Lakes State have been disarmed according to the directives given by the Governor of Lakes State Eng. Chol Tong.

President Kiir directs the Ministry of General Education to investigate student crisis in Rumbek

JUBA, 3 October 2011 - The President of the Republic H.E Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit has directed the minister for General Education and Instruction Hon. Joseph Ukel to immediately send an investigation committee to Rumbek, the capital of Lakes State, and investigate reasons which led the Secondary School students to stage demonstrations and find solutions for the crisis.



Efforts to stop child labour in South Sudan in top gear

JUBA, 29 September 2011 (NASS) – The Government of the Republic of South Sudan through the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare in partnership with the International Labour Organization, International Programme on Elimination of Child Labour, and Tackling Child Labour Through Education are working on strategies to monitor and eliminate child labour in South Sudan by fully applying the Child Act, 2008.

The partners held a workshop in Juba this week whose objective was to develop a framework to tackle child labour in South Sudan by building protective environment for the children; advocacy by the civil society on the participation of the children; creation of appropriate attitudes, customs and practices coupled with the relevant reintegration programmes safeguarding the interests of children; asserting that all children have rights regardless of their gender, race, religion; and bringing to an end the employment of children in bars, lodges and other entertainment premises.

USAID pledges support to teacher training institutes in South Sudan

JUBA, 29 September 2011 - Maridi, Malakal and Mbili Girls’ teacher training institutes will soon experience a facelift in an attempt to provide better learning environment and a modern training institute for teachers in South Sudan.

This was revealed yesterday by Mr Kelvin J. Mullally the Mission Director of USAID in South Sudan after his meeting with the minister for General Education and Instruction Hon Joseph Ukel. The two discussed the urgent need to renovate or even reconstruct the three teacher training institutes that were been devastated by the war.

Sudan bars SPLM-North and other 'southern parties'

Sudan has ordered 17 political parties to stop their activities, saying most of their leaders and members come from newly independent South Sudan and so are now foreigners.




Those targeted includes the SPLM-North, which was outlawed last week.

The party has strong ties to former SPLM rebels - now the ruling party in the south which seceded in July.





SPLM-North says its offices have been shut
and supporters arrested since the trouble in Blue Nile



This crackdown follows fighting in some border states between soldiers loyal to SPLM-North and government troops.

South Sudan voted to split from Sudan in a referendum last January, following the 2005 peace deal ending decades of north-south civil war in which an estimated 1.5 million died.

South Sudan border wars

by Steve Paterno
September 18, 2011 — The newly established republic of South Sudan happens to border six countries, Sudan in the North, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Central African Republic. Among the challenges the new country is facing is an attempt to properly demarcate its international territorial boundaries. This task is not going to be an easy feat for the new nation, which has to virtually build itself from the ashes of wars and conflicts.
The North-South Sudanese border with Khartoum has already been the point of contentions. In accordance with Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the border supposed to be demarcated during the interim period. However, with the regime in Khartoum dragging its feet, the border is never demarcated. Instead, Khartoum began to wage border wars, starting in Abyei, a vocal point that is in the South, but yet claimed by Khartoum. For the regime in Khartoum, what are at stake in these borders are gateway into natural resources and appetite for hegemony as well as nostalgic dictum that it can never let go in its imaginations. Thus far, the North-South borders remain ever volatile, with potential for explosions.
It is worthy to be noted that with the exception of Ethiopia, South Sudan is the first to have its international boundaries drawn, much earlier than all of the neighboring countries, in 1956; whereas, Democratic Republic of Congo 1960, Chad 1960, Uganda 1962, and Kenya 1964, respectively.

South Sudan: WES’s Mvolo and Lake’s state Yirol West reconciliation

September 19, 2011 (JUBA) - The communities of Yirol West county, Lakes state and Mvolo county, Western Equatoria state signed a memorandum of understanding in Mopourdit payam [district] on the 17 September 2011 after a two-day reconciliation conference facilitated by the Mundri Relief Development Association (MRDA).
Over 400 participants from both states converged in Mapourdit, Yirol West to resolve the conflict between the two communities which has been escalating over the past five years, leading to a significant loss of life and thousands of displaced people.
The two communities agreed that there shall be “free movement of people between the two states and the tribal conflict be stopped with effect from 17 September 2011”.


Who are the "13 most corrupt" South Sudanese officials?

By Justin Ambago Ramba
September 18, 2011 — It is no secret that one of the outstanding political changes in Africa which more than not is attributable to the post 9/11 US foreign policy shift is the coming of South Sudan into the central stage of the world politics. Nobody knew that the fate of this people who led one of Africa’s longest liberation struggles in the modern history would change so dramatically as it did soon as the US changed its’ polices and alliances in the Arab and Islamic region.

As a fact of history, the way to South Sudan’s independence wasn’t any easy. To put it mildly, it was in defiance of many old regional political traditions and negatively held views about secessionism in the African continent that the new Republic of South Sudan (RSS) deservedly made it to become the world’s newest state. But as we follow some of the stories as they unfold, one is left with the impression that there is more to this new nation’s politics than that meets the eye.

Wikileaks: Sudan seeks U.S. help to normalize ties with Israel

September 6, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – The Sudanese government conveyed to the United States in 2008 its desire to normalize ties with Israel, according to one of the diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks website.

 The breathtaking revelation by the anti-secrecy website will likely cause a huge embarrassment to the Islamic government in Khartoum which prides itself as being a staunch supporter of the Palestinian people.

Top Sudanese officials including president Omer Hassan al-Bashir meet publicly with leaders of Islamic militant group Hamas who visit Khartoum.

South Sudan new capital Ramciel doesn’t need a claimer

By Isaiah Abraham
September 14, 2011 — The Republic of South Sudan leadership (represented partly by the Executive) has chosen a piece of land in Lakes State as the national seat for the government of the people of South Sudan. The decision was taken by the Council of Ministers couple of days ago, subject to Parliament endorsement. The President has formed a Task Force or Committee to look into the geographical area of the new land, and to map out strategies for possible planning leading to relocation. This is a second team (Task Force) within six month. Everyone knows every detail therein, yeah?
But the urgency of the matter at hand especially this year was felt by everyone, as the current city Juba isn’t anymore suitable to host the national capital due largely to land problem but also politics. The dice therefore has gone in Ramciel favor in the aforesaid state, and the issues at hand are: will the Task Force completes the mission more successfully on time, or will it end inconclusively like others before it? How about resources? I know some people have started to worry about financial support for that great idea, but the government is the government, we can start small, and if we want to leap, the government can borrow, why not! We have enough resources to clear our debts within no time when we settle.

Kiir has just formed the best cabinet ever formed in South Sudan!

By: Deng Riek Khoryoam, South Sudan


President Salva Kiir. Photo: AFP



August 27, 2011 (SSNA) -- The first president of the republic of South Sudan, H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit has set a right precedent for the newly born nation, the republic of South Sudan. It has been almost two months of intense lobbying for our politicians seeking ministerial portfolios in the new cabinet but that is over now, with the announcement of the new cabinet. Some of the jobs seekers spent sleepless nights between their houses and those of their colleagues and the appointing authority; it was also reported by the media that it reached a point where others had resorted to visiting witchcrafts to get fortunes. The announcement on Friday 26th August came as relieve for the politicians as well as for the citizens, who were equally eager to know who would make it back to the cabinet and under which ministry/role. Many would say it was long overdue as it was long expected to be announced by H.E. the president!

South Sudan attacks 'leave 600 dead'

At least 600 people have been killed in ethnic clashes in South Sudan's eastern state of Jonglei, the UN says.






Some officials say the violence began over cattle raids



Up to 985 people have been wounded in the unrest, the UN estimates. "This cycle of violence must stop," said UN special representative Hilde Johnson.



The clashes took place on Thursday when members of the Murle group are said to have attacked the majority Lou Nuer, stealing nearly 40,000 cattle.

Jonglei is one of the newly-independent country's least safe areas.

The fighting took place, according to several sources including the state governor, when young Murle men attacked several locations inhabited by the Lou Nuer in and around the town of Pieri. Much of the town has apparently been burnt down.



The Murle were apparently seeking revenge for a recent attack by the Lou Nuer.

Security challenges



South Sudan pound to be launched



John Garang was for years the charismatic
leader of the southern rebels



South Sudan, the world's newest country, will launch its currency next week, officials say.

The South Sudan pound will feature the image of the late John Garang, the south's most revered leader, the AP news agency reports.

A 2005 peace deal that Mr Garang signed with Khartoum paved the way for the south's independence on 9 July.



Analysts say the launch of a currency is one of many challenges facing the new East African state.

Finance Minister David Deng Athorbei said plane-loads of the South Sudan pound would arrive in the capital, Juba, on Wednesday and it would be in circulation by Monday, the AFP news agency reports.