4 September 2015
Good evening it is five o’clock and I’m David Lukan.
The Headlines:
· Vice president calls for massive awareness campaign about the peace agreement
· IGAD cancels workshop to prepare top military commanders on peace deal implementation
· Warrap caretaker governor puts security on top of his agenda
Vice President James Wani Igga, has spoken about the importance of awareness about the recently signed compromise peace agreement.
The call comes amid rising concerns that the peace agreement has not been well-acknowledged or recognized by the general public.
The vice president warned that failure to raise awareness will pave way for misinterpretation of this agreement.
Wani Igga: “It is our duty to disseminate the right information to the people so that history does not judge us harshly. If we are divided over this agreement because of the different interpretations or because of different personal interests, we are then finished. So please whatever your reservations let them be the reservations that we are all committed to for record purposes, but the overall result should be that we support the agreement. Our people have suffered more than necessary they need a breathing space it is time for our people, they need happiness, and they need development, they need services.”
Meanwhile, IGAD has cancelled a workshop scheduled for tomorrow in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to train military commanders from both the government and the opposition on the implementation of peace agreement.
IGAD cited the delay in collating participants list and logistical problems.
The government spokesperson also Information Minister, Michael Makuei, called on IGAD to fast track the workshop for proper implementation of the permanent cease fire arrangements.
Michael Makuei: “In this workshop they are supposed to declare the disposition of the forces down to the battalion level. After declaration then you establishdemilitarized areas. You separate the forcesthe forces that are in combat in the theatre of operation. You separate them and based on that you will be in position to establish what is known as demilitarized zone. Then you establish also the route of withdrawal and you also establish the containment and assembly areas. All this – if they are not done you can’t talk of effective permanent ceasefire.”
Meanwhile Makuei said the Compromise Peace Agreement is to be tabled before the parliament next week for ratification
Michael Makuei: “This agreement will be discussed today by the cabinet and thereafter it will be tabled before the Parliament because the agreement says this agreement should be tabled before the Parliament within seven days from the date of signature for adoption. We have not tabled it because a very strange thing happened when the president signed the agreement. All the signed copies were taken by IGAD and they went back to Addis with them it was the day before yesterday that they brought it to us.”
The UN Security Council meets this evening to discuss the recent ceasefire violations reported in Unity and Upper Nile states.
Radio Miraya learned that the 15-member council meets behind closed doors at the request of the United States government.
The US government has presented a draft UN resolution imposing an arms embargo and targeted sanctions on individuals who block provisions of the peace accord.
The Ministry of Labor and Public Service has launched the smart card work permit to fast track the employment permit scheme for foreign nationals in South Sudan.
Minister Ngor Kolong Ngor said the smart card work permit will stop forgeries by people seeking work in South Sudan.
Ngor Kolong Ngor: “The smart card will deter many problem like malpractice faking of the work permit and also to generate the personal income tax. South Sudan is the only country that does not tax aliens. We are going to make efficiency work for our people and all the aliens working in this country.”
The incoming Warrap state caretaker Governor, Akec Tong Aleu, announced security as his top agenda when he starts work.
Other priority items for the caretaker governor include peace and reconciliation plus unity between people and their leaders.
Governor Aleu, asked state politicians seeking ministerial positions to head down to their constituencies and deal with the insecurity there. He warned that a reshuffle of state officials could be announced soon.
Akec Tong Aleu: “To bring these people into this cabinet I want to see that the whole area is all safe – otherwise it is not a priority to me. If you see them now, there more people inside here from Juba from where they are. They are looking for a position and people are dying in the village so I should have to save the people first before all this. I want to assure the public that the cabinet will come certainly and people will surprised. I don’t have time for them to sit and listen to them at this time.”
In Lakes State, the Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement has said a measure to control armed civilians from moving with guns into towns, will be extended to all county headquarters.
Minister Samuel Wel Machiek told Radio Miraya that the authorities are now working to prevent armed individual carrying arms to enter towns to curb insecurity.
Samuel Wel Machiek: “The insecurity people are now talking about in Lakes Stat – we are trying to handle the insecurity at the state because we have started with the control of the arms movements in the towns as well in the county where we prohibited armed civilians not to move with the guns in the towns, to extend this arms control in the whole state. This is what we are doing now.”
You are listening to Radio Miraya News.
A $4.1million project funded by Japan’s government to construct a new river port in Mingkaman Lakes State has been welcomed by the people there.
Radio Miraya spoke to some residents of Mingkaman about the River port project.
Voxpops:
· “This is a big thing in Awerial county and God with you; you brought rain, something we were not expecting. So I am happy for this. I am a leader of Aliab community. I am happy for such thing to happen; it is of benefit for Aliab community, for Awerial County and for Lake State as a whole.”
· “We have a guest of honour here; our ambassador came from GOSS level. We are welcoming you and because of the welcoming of the ambassador, it is raining today. We are enjoying cool day because of that ambassador.”
Meanwhile, Japan’s Ambassador to South Sudan, Kiya Masahiko, ceremoniously broke ground Thursday in Mingkaman.
He said the construction of the river port and drainage system in Mingkaman is part of his country’s strategy, to support humanitarian work and development in South Sudan.
Kiya Masahiko: “We decided to support the river port here in Mingkaman and a drainage system. This is the project which combines the humanitarian support and development support so by opening up this river port I hope that humanitarian goods are coming in and sent out but it will be serving the people here for many years to come.”
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) has completed a targeted cholera vaccination campaign in Juba County, of Central Equatoria State.
MSF Communication Officer Jacob Kuehn says 160,000 people were vaccinated between July and August.
He says the targeted campaign against cholera is intended to control the spread if cholera in Juba county.
Jacob Kuehn: “In recent weeks, the number of new cases is declining which is encouraging but MSF is encouraging everybody to remain ..against cholera until the outbreak is over including by washing of their hands before eating and after using washroom, and after taking care of their children. Also to boil water and wash with clean water. According to the most recent report from the ministry of health and World Health Organization that I have, there is small number of new cholera case in the recent weeks.”
A cholera outbreak announced in June by the National Ministry of health left 45 people dead.
In sports, the South Sudan Football Association says all administrative and technical preparations for the African Nations qualifier match between Bright star and the Equatorial Guinea are complete.
The secretary general of South Sudan Football Association, William Okot, says South Sudanese players in Khartoum clubs have arrived in Juba to participate in what has been defined an important game.
William Okot: “All preparations for this match was completed in terms of playground and security, I do not think there are difficulties. The match will be held on time, the referees will arrive today and game observer has arrived since yesterday and all the players in the South Sudan team are here such as Ater Thomas and Jumma Gennaro the goal keeper. All Stars of Bright Star team have arrived and ready.”
Elsewhere, at least 19 people have been killed and 140 wounded in two bomb attacks in northern Cameroon.
The blasts happened in the Kerawa region, where Cameroon's army is fighting Nigeria's Boko Haram militants.
There has been a spate of recent attacks in northern Cameroon blamed on jihadists from Boko Haram.
The authorities in August said that the militants are believed to enter Cameroon disguised as refugees.
Boko Haram fighters were accused of a series of suicide bombings in the northern town of Maroua, that killed dozens of people in July.
To end the news, here are the headlines once again:
· Vice president calls for massive awareness campaign about the peace agreement
· IGAD cancels workshop to prepare top military commanders on peace deal implementation
· Warrap caretaker governor puts security on top of his agenda
Radio Miraya News.
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