Africa

July 14, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese security forces are deliberately blocking people from leaving the country in violation of their right to freedom of movement, Amnesty International has revealed.

Aid workers from different Non-Governmental Organizations in South Sudan arrive at Wilson airport in Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, July 13, 2016 from Juba. (AP Photo)

The organization said it has received reports from two charter companies that National Security Service officers have ordered them not to carry South Sudanese nationals, particularly men.

A non-governmental organization has also reported that their South Sudanese staff was prevented from boarding a flight to Entebbe, Uganda.

“This arbitrary conduct by the South Sudanese security forces is totally unacceptable. South Sudan must respect people's right to freedom of movement, including the right to leave their own country,” said Elizabeth Deng, Amnesty International's South Sudan Researcher.

“It is absolutely critical that both parties to the conflict do not obstruct safe passage of civilians fleeing to places of refuge both inside and outside of the country,” she said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

Juba international airport is packed with security personnel who block men from taking flights to other countries, resulting to detention of many of the passengers who were seen thrown into security vehicles and driven back into town.

Sources said security personnel are only allowing their relatives or friends to board planes.

Thousands of South Sudanese people have reportedly also gathered at the country's southern border of Nimule, seeking to enter into Uganda, but they are also being prevented from crossing over.

Juba airport was reopened on Tuesday after a ceasefire was announced to end days of fighting between rival armed forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President, Riek Machar, which left hundreds of people dead and thousands displaced.

Charter and evacuation flights have been leaving since the airport reopened, but commercial flights have only resumed on Thursday, but freedom of movement to other countries has not yet been eased.

IGAD, the East African regional bloc, had earlier called on the South Sudanese government to reopen the airport to reactivate resumption of flights.

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July 14, 2016 (JUBA) - The Nuer community in Uganda have condemned renewed fighting in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, between two rival forces from Friday and Monday, describing it as violation of the August 2015 peace agreement.

The community members said the recent violence in the country is likely to increase more suffering for local citizens and places the country to uncertain future or “great danger.”

They also blamed the international community in general and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in particular, that mediated the peace process, for not monitoring its implementation and putting pressure on violators.

Stephen Bar, chairman for the Nuer community in Kiryandongo resettlement camp in Uganda, told Sudan Tribune that what had happened in South Sudan this week was threatening the peace agreement.

"This indicator shows the collapse of long lasting peace agreement that was almost to be implemented, we put all [the] blame on…UNSC, IGAD, AU, TROIKA and JMEC," he said.

He criticized the chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) for not playing an effective role in safeguarding the peace deal.

The failure to demilitarize Juba city before arrival of first vice president, Riek Machar, and the delay in establishing contentment areas of the opposition's SPLA-IO forces in greater Bahr El Gahzal and Equatoria regions is a setback to peace.

They also accused the SPLA forces allied to president Salva Kiir of allegedly starting the war in Juba and of targeting civilian sites who took refuge in UN camps.

"We blamed the government of president Salva Kiir's forces, for using heavy artilleries shelling and helicopters attacks, which has resulted into the death of 8 civilians and wounded 65 others," Bar said.

Koang Gatwech, a senior adviser for Nuer community in Uganda, has also blamed the international community for allegedly watching the crimes being committed by government and failed to act immediately.

"The targeting of two SPLM/SPLA-IO officers by military intelligence and national security by the government of president Salva Kiir on 2th-5th July 2016 at the hand of JMEC, with in the same month on 7th two arrival forces clashed at Gudelle Checkpoint the area of Lou clinic and resulted into death of five Soldiers from government side, JMEC and others partners without quick intervention," he said.

He said the fights between president Salva Kiir bodyguards and first vice president unit forces during a meeting conducted on Friday, 8 July, in presidential palace of J1 was a total failure of leadership in the country.

"The losses of life on our dear sons from both sides, as well as fighting continued up to checkpoint Jebel Kujur which is a cantonment site of SPLM/SPLA-IO is a clear violation of peace," he added.

The group also added that the failure to commemorate the fifth anniversary of independence of the country was regrettable to the South Sudanese people.

"Instead to celebrate the joyful day we were trapped into conflict, this has made us all unhappy with current situation which includes ethnicity [based] targeting," he said.

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July 14, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, has dismissed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation after the minister attended regional body meeting that resolved to send extra troops to South Sudan in aftermath of renewed conflict last week.

irino Hiteng (ST Photo)

Cirino Hiteng was fired in a presidential decree read on state-owned TV, the South Sudan Broadcasting Cooperation ((SSBC), on Tuesday.

The presidential order did not give any reason for relieving Hiteng who rejoined cabinet in April in the transitional government of national unity in accordance with the peace agreement that ended 21 months of conflict.

The relieved minister was appointed on Former Detainees (FDs) ticket as part of three men ministers for their party. The other position held by FDs is Hiteng's boss, Foreign Affiars Minister, Deng Alor Kuol and Transport Minister, John Luk Jok.

The decision to dismiss Hiteng by President Kiir has not been publicly condemned by FDs leadership but their supporters have criticized the move as violation of the peace agreement. President Kiir has no power to dismiss a minister who does not belong to his party unless recommended to him by the leadership of that particular party.

Hiteng represented South Sudan in Nairobi on Monday during an extraordinary meeting of the ministers of IGAD countries. The gathering discussed the latest eruption of conflict in South Sudan.

The regional body, which brokered the peace agreement between the government of President Kiir and First Vice President, Riek Machar, issued a communique that threatened military intervention in the new nation.

President Kiir has reacted against the proposal, saying he did not want to see in his country's soil even a “single” foreign soldier besides the current United Nations peace keepers.

However, thousands of Ugandan foreign troops were seen on Thursday crossing into South Sudan and matching towards its capital, Juba.

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