July 13, 2021 (JUBA) - The leadership of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) has assigned Col., Lam Paul Gabriel, as the official spokesperson of the armed opposition movement while Brig. General William Gatjiath Deng has been re-assigned to SPLM/SPLA (IO) headquarters.
“In reference to the mentioned subject, the SPLM/SPLA (IO) would like to inform its members and the public that Brig. General William Gatjiath Deng has been reassigned to the SPLM/SPLA (IO) headquarters with effect from 9th July 2021,” Puok Both Buluang, the acting press secretary in the office of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) chairman said in a July 13 release.
It added, “H.E Dr Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) has assigned Col., Lam Paul Gabriel, as SPLM/SPLA (IO) official spokesperson with effect from 9th July 2021".
No reasons were, however, given for the new changes within the SPLM/SPLA (IO).
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July 13, 2021 (WASHINGTON) – A new report has pinned the South Sudanese government of committing “extrajudicial killings, including ethnic-based killings of civilians, widespread sexual violence, and use of food as a weapon of war."
The 2021 Report to Congress Pursuant to Section 5 of the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018 was released on Monday.
“In South Sudan, the State (Department) coordinated financial and political support to establish an African Union hybrid court to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity," the report read in part.
“The government has perpetrated extrajudicial killings including ethnic-based killings of civilians, widespread sexual violence, and use of food as a weapon of war. Non-government armed groups also perpetrated unlawful killings, rape, sexual slavery, and forced recruitment of children,” it added.
According to the report, the African Union and the United Nations have separately documented atrocities in the East African nation.
“In February 2021, Secretary Blinken stated those responsible for human rights violations in South Sudan must be held to account. The AU Commission of Inquiry and the UN Commission on Human Rights for South Sudan have documented atrocities,” the report read.
“State (Department) continues to support civil society documentation to further truth, justice, and accountability and advocate for a robust mandate for the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan to collect and preserve evidence. USAID supports civil society and independent media to promote political stability, peacebuilding, and citizen's participation in, and oversight of, peace agreement implementation,” it noted.
According to the report, the Joe Biden Administration is committed to promoting democratic values that underpin a stable international system critical to freedom, prosperity, and peace.
In May, the Security Council renewed the arms embargo, travel ban and assets freeze imposed on South Sudan for another year and extended for 13 months the mandate of the panel of experts tasked with helping to oversee those measures.
South Sudan, however, said the sanctions impede the implementation of its peace agreement.
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July 13, 2021 (JUBA) - South Sudan president Salva Kiir has assured citizens of his government commitment to extend mobile telecommunication services to the remote areas of the country.
He was speaking at the launch of Digitel, a South Sudan-owned mobile operator in Juba on Monday.
“The installation of mobile service infrastructure is an ongoing process. Recently, people in Maper, Rumbek North County, and Pochalla in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area have connected to mobile network,” Kiir explained.
“I have been informed that in three weeks' time, Boma in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area and Kuron Peace village in Kapoeta county will also be connected to the mobile network”, he added.
The South Sudanese leader also lauded the private sector for supporting his government's efforts in directly intervening into the telecommunications sector.
“To demonstrate this seriousness in the desire to connect rural communities to mobile network, the government will explore option, including tax exemptions that will benefit importation of network equipment and other telecommunications tool,” he said.
According to the president, the equipment would help increase digital literacy programs to the next generation for an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) driven economy.
“The tax exemptions I am proposing will be done in collaboration with national revenue authority to ensure modalities for tax exemption are consistent with its mandate,” he stressed.
The president directed the Roads and Bridges ministry to coordinate with the National Communications Authority (NCA) to include provisions for telecommunications infrastructure in all road designs and construction to support the goal of extending digital services all over the country.
Digitel Network now becomes the third mobile operator in South Sudan alongside the South African-owned MTN and Kuwait-based mobile operator, Zain.
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