The rights group, Amnesty International, has urged the government to charge journalist Joseph Afandy and take him to court or release him immediately. Continue reading “Amnesty International asks gov’t to charge or release Afandy”

The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission says both the government and the SPLM in Opposition violated the peace agreement five times in November and December. Continue reading “JMEC says civilians ‘suffocated in container’ in Unity”

The government and the SPLM in Opposition have disagreed on the formation of a transitional government, as the deadline set by JMEC ends today.

The main issues include the creation of more states and the making of the constitution.

Members of the team who had gone for consultation with Dr Riek Machar on the issues arrived in Juba this evening.

The SPLM in Opposition insists on 10 states and says JMEC should decide on the dispute over the creation of more states if they fail to agree with the government.

The leader of the advance team, Taban Deng Gai, also say they still believe that the transitional government should be formed when the constitution is in place.

Mr Taban spoke on arrival from Pagak at Juba airport this evening.

“We deliberated in Pagak for two days. The leadership of the IO recommended and decided that we should insist and stick to the implementation of the agreement in spirit and letter, which means ten states is what the agreement was signed on the basis. In case of disagreement between us and the government, we shall ask JMEC to decide or report to report to the AU and the Security Council,” Taban said.

“This is important because we don’t want to disagree later on, because the agreement was signed on the basis of the ten state,” he said.

“As to the formation of TGoNU, it is important also we form the TGoNU on the basis of a constitution. It is when we have full incorporation of the agreement into the constitution, and then we shall have a TGoNU.”

Earlier, the Minister of Information, Michael Makuei says there are other issues that are yet to be discussed, such as security.

“The SPLM IO has not yet sent in their forces, which are supposed to be here in Juba, they have not sent the presidential guards of 350, so that they are trained to protect the first vice president, they have not sent in the 1,500, who should have been brought by now,” Michael Makuei said.

“They have even not selected the 1,410 soldiers who are supposed to be part of the Juba protection force. They have not selected the 1,200 police who are supposed to be in Bor, Malakal and Bentiu. At the rate of 400 per each of the three capitals, all these have not been done.”

However, Mr Taban says other issues of dispute include by elections and whether to have presidential advisors.

The government says it will cater for the accommodation despite its financial challenges. Continue reading “Gov’t offers to foot SPLM-IO advance team’s hotel bills”

A member of the former political detainees, Chol Tong Mayai, has rejoined the ruling SPLM. Continue reading “Chol Tong Mayai abandons FDs”

South Sudan is getting ‘nothing’ from the oil proceeds, an economist has said. Continue reading “Crude oil price drops, South Sudan gets ‘nothing’”

The Communications Authority has invited foreign experts to study the new call rates set by telecom companies. Continue reading “Experts to study new call rates”

President Salva Kiir has apologized to the South Sudanese people for what he calls ‘unnecessary and unbearable suffering’ caused by the conflict over the past two years. Continue reading “Kiir expresses remorse over ‘unnecessary and unbearable suffering’”

Telecommunication companies have disagreed with the government over the new call rates after the devaluation of the pound. Continue reading “Gov’t, phone companies disagree over new call rates”