JUBA (Reuters) - South Sudan will soon acquire anti-aircraft missiles to defend its territory against air attacks it says are frequently carried out by warplanes from neighbouring Sudan, the South Sudanese military said on Wednesday.

Since South Sudan became the world's newest independent nation in July last year, its government has accused northern neighbour Sudan of continuing aerial bombing raids on South Sudanese territory, a charge routinely denied by Khartoum.

Foreign reporters in South Sudan have witnessed bombings by Sudanese warplanes of targets including a market, a refugee camp and oil infrastructure, and border skirmishes between the two countries' armies last month included a series of air raids by the northern nation.

The United Nations' top human rights official said on Friday she was outraged by Sudan's "indiscriminate" bombings of South Sudan that killed and injured civilians, after U.N. officials verified damage and casualties caused by recent raids.

South Sudanese army spokesman Philip Aguer told Reuters on Wednesday Juba's military intended to acquire anti-aircraft missiles as part of the new African nation's plans to modernise and re-equip its armed forces, which had previously fought for years as a rebel guerrilla army against Khartoum.

"It will enhance our defences. All strategic points need to be protected, including oil-producing areas and airports," Aguer said. He did not say where South Sudan would seek to purchase the anti-aircraft weapons, nor exactly what kind they would be.

"It depends on the market and the political will to sell to us," Aguer said.

He did not specify a time-frame for the South Sudanese army to acquire the anti-aircraft capability, but The Sudan Tribune newspaper quoted the head of South Sudan's army (SPLA) James Hoth Mai as saying his troops would be equipped with anti-aircraft missiles within a "few months."

Last month's fighting broke out amid disputes between the two former civil war foes over oil exports, border demarcation, citizenship rights and financial arrangements.

On May 2, the U.N. Security Council, endorsing an African Union peace plan, gave the two sides two weeks to resume talks on the outstanding disputes, but there was no indication that a firm date has been set for negotiations to restart.

The Security Council, including China and Russia, gave them three months to solve the issues or face sanctions.

CONSOLIDATING INDEPENDENCE

Aguer said acquiring air-defence capability would help South Sudan to consolidate its newly-won independence, unanimously endorsed by its population in a referendum following an initial 2005 peace agreement that ended more than two decades of civil war between the North and the South.

"Prior to independence, it was not easy to acquire these weapons but now I believe we will," Aguer said.

"This will promote the confidence of South Sudanese citizens that their airspace will not be violated again. That will have a psychological and physical impact," he added.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also called on Sudan to halt what she called "provocative" air bombardments.

Last week, a former U.S. special envoy to Sudan, Andrew Natsios, urged his country to send weapons to Juba.

"The only way to end the North's bullying and foster peace talks is to give the South the right tools: American anti-aircraft weapons," Natsios wrote in an article published in the Washington Post.

Experts said acquiring anti-aircraft weapons would certainly strengthen the South Sudanese army's arsenal against the generally better-armed northern forces, but would not necessarily end the bombings or the conflict.

Jonah Leff, project coordinator for the Small Arms Survey Sudan Project, said the South's army would have to be trained to use the surface-to-air missiles effectively.

"I wouldn't expect for Khartoum to back down, but anti-aircraft missiles would give the SPLA an advantage that they didn't previously have," he told Reuters by email.

"Even if Khartoum decides to cease its aerial operations, which I find doubtful, the two sides still seem to have an appetite for war, which could be fought on the battefield," Leff added.

The two Sudans sit on significant oil reserves, but the independence of the South gave it two-thirds of the oil output of the previously unified nation. A dispute over the level of fees independent South Sudan should pay to Sudan to export its crude through the north prompted Juba to shut off its oil production earlier this year, straining the two economies.

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said on Tuesday Khartoum would not allow South Sudan to export any oil through its territory unless the two states settle all arguments over border security.

(Editing by Pascal Fletcher and Janet Lawrence)

Jerry DeLuccio wants people to remember Awuol as more than a crime statistic.  "This was a young man that has made such a difference," he said.

Chol Awuol was born in southern Sudan.  Because of violence in his homeland, his father sent him to a refugee camp where he converted to Christianity and took the name Paul.  At 14 he came to Rochester as an unaccompanied minor.  It wasn't easy.  "Chol, like many of the unaccompanied minors, felt lost a little bit here in the United States," said DeLuccio.

In and out of foster homes, he struggled for years to find his way.  With help from the DeLuccio family, the young man they called Chol made a life-changing discovery.  "Chol found that he could love himself," said DeLuccio.

He began to take responsibility for his decisions at the Neilsen Halfway House and embraced God at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.  "Here was this delightful, I would call him charming, intelligent, sweet man, that's how we experienced him here at St. Paul's," said St. Paul's Episcopal Rector Reverend Fred Reynolds.

Awuol was in the process of becoming a certified nursing assistant, focused more and more on helping others.  That's what led him to Smith Street Tuesday, to watch a friend's child.  "He was holding my son in his hand when this man came and just shot him in the chest," said friend Jessica Lane through tears.

A small memorial has begun where the Sudanese refugee fell, the painful irony all too clear.  The man who came to America as a boy to escape violence was ultimately killed by a gunman.  "That's what hurts me so much, is that he was ready to explode, in terms of how he would help others and we're never going to have that chance," said DeLuccio.

Awuol was planning a trip back to Sudan this summer according to DeLuccio.  He was hoping to see his mother for the first time since he was eight years old.

DeLuccio hopes his friend's death will inspire others to find love and reject violence.

The South's lead negotiator, Pagun Amum, told AFP late Tuesday that his country is ready to resume the African Union-led talks.

Sudan withdrew from negotiations after South Sudanese troops occupied the north's main oil region of Heglig on April 10, in a conflict that led to widespread fears of all-out war.

Amum said Juba has sent a letter to the AU mediator, former South African president Thabo Mbeki, saying "we have been ready to resume talks and we are waiting."

Sudan has not reciprocated, Amum said.

"I believe it is because the government of Sudan hasn't been keen to return to talks, which is in violation of the UNSC resolution and the AU roadmap" underlying the UN resolution, he said.

The May 2 United Nations Security Council resolution gave Sudan and South Sudan two weeks -- until May 16 -- to unconditionally resume the talks.

The unanimous resolution sought to avert a "serious threat to international peace and security" caused by the situation along the disputed border between the two countries, after weeks of fighting.

South Sudan's 10-day occupation of Heglig coincided with Sudanese air raids on South Sudanese territory, actions which the UN condemned and called for a ceasefire.

Khartoum's foreign ministry did not respond to AFP's requests for comment about the talks, but it said late Tuesday that Mbeki would likely be in Khartoum this week.

"Mbeki himself is expected in Khartoum tomorrow (Wednesday) or the day after tomorrow to discuss the details of negotiations, like the dates and the agenda," foreign ministry spokesman Al-Obeid Meruh said.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, an accused war criminal, said last week that Sudan "will not negotiate about any issues" unless security matters are resolved first.

Khartoum accuses South Sudan of backing a major insurgency in South Kordofan state, as well as in Blue Nile, and also of working with Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels from Darfur.

The South says it does not back the rebels but suspected JEM fighters were seen alongside its troops during the Heglig occupation. JEM denied involvement.

South Sudan accuses the north of backing insurgents in the South as well.

The UN resolution calls on both sides to halt the practice.

Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide allegedly committed in Sudan's Darfur region several years ago. – AFP

Arutz Sheva visited the Agritech 2012 International Agricultural Exhibition and Conference, which is taking place in Tel Aviv this week.

During the conference, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon met with South Sudan’s Minister of Agriculture, Betty Ogwaro, and together they decided to promote the establishment of an agricultural village in South Sudan which will be constructed based on Israeli methods and technologies and will serve as a model for other villages in the future.

Soon after South Sudan became an independent nation, Israel and the new country decided to establish diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.

Arutz Sheva spoke with Ogwaro about the cooperation between Israel and South Sudan.

“Cooperation is very important between government and government, government and investors, and investors and investors,” said Ogwaro, adding, “What I see here is a lot of cooperation between investors and government.”

Ogwaro said that she “would like Israel to translate its skills in small-scale agriculture to [South] Sudan, because we are still small-scale. I see [Israelis] improving agriculture through irrigation. This is very important because irrigation is more efficient than rainfed agriculture.”

She addressed the phenomenon of the illegal infiltrators from Africa who enter Israel through the non-hermetically sealed border with Egypt. The infiltrators have become an issue of controversy in Israel, with several MKs calling to deport all the infiltrators who, in some cases, have been involved in crime and other violent activities.

“What I would like to tell the public is that there’s a difference between Sudan and South Sudan,” said Ogwaro. “In the past we were one country but now we are South Sudan. When the Israeli people talk about the Sudan, they’re talking about the total Sudan. There are not many South Sudanese in Israel.”

Ogwaro added that she believes that “for humanitarian purposes, I feel the Israeli government should support all the Sudanese who are here, whether from the north or from the south, because they came here for a purpose. They came here because they’re afraid for their lives and they came here to seek better opportunities.”

She noted that “in South Sudan the situation is getting better, but there is still a reason for us to ask the Israeli government to support them staying here. At the moment, South Sudan is only nine months old, so there are so many things that need to be put in place.”

© Arutz Sheva, All Rights Reserved

dhunt@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH -- A former Lost Boy of Sudan who has a history of mental illness was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison in the stabbing of a UPS driver on her delivery route.
James Panchol, 35, of Fort Worth had pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and opted to let a Tarrant County jury decide his punishment. The jury of seven men and five women deliberated about an hour before deciding on the maximum punishment.
Panchol was shot four times by a police office after attacking the UPS driver in the parking lot of a west Fort Worth apartment complex on July 27, 2009.
He stabbed the woman, unprovoked, in the upper back with a large kitchen knife and then twice more in the lower back and upper arm as he chased her around the parking lot, according to prosecutors Lloyd Whelchel and Jennifer Jackson.
A bystander helped the woman hide, but Panchol was still in the parking lot when police arrived. He refused to drop the knife and was hit with a Taser. He pulled out the probes and charged officers before being shot.
He had a history of mental illness and had reportedly been "hearing voices" a few weeks before the stabbing, according to evidence presented by the defense. However, he refused treatment.
A cousin testified for the defense about their lives as they left Sudan, living in Ethiopia and Kenya before moving to the United States.
Defense attorney David Jones said they were "taught to kill people so they could defend their homeland." He urged jurors to consider probation.
"Life has already punished this man," he said. "Do you need to punish him more? It's like we saved him to lock him up. I suggest that isn't the solution to what we have here. We might as well have left him to be eaten by the crocodiles."
Whelchel, however, told jurors during closing arguments that prison may be the only way to guarantee that Panchol takes his medication.
"It took four bullets to stop him in this case," Whelchel said. "He's violent, he's dangerous, he's unpredictable, and he's out of control. If he's left to his own devices, he's going to seriously injure -- or kill -- someone again."
He urged the jury to assess the maximum punishment.
"You think about how long you want to keep him away from us," he said.
Panchol was one of about 40 Sudanese refugees known as Lost Boys who came to Tarrant County in 2001 to escape years of civil war and famine. More than 4 million refugees came to the U.S. from Sudan.
Panchol had been prescribed medication but was not taking it when he stabbed the UPS driver.
Dianna Hunt, 817-390-7084

Twitter: @DiannaHunt

The Yankyoreh

Father Won Seon-o comes from set of popular film to see students

84-year-old veteran teacher Father Won Seon-o (Vincenzo Donati), has come to Korea to visit his students. The priest has been working to provide relief and education to young people in a refugee camp in South Sudan. Father Won’s camp is also the setting of the film “Don’t Cry for Me Sudan”, a hugely successful film about Father John Lee Tae-seok, a South Korean missionary.

The documentary featuring Father Lee has been viewed by millions in South Korea. Father Lee fell ill with colon cancer while in South Sudan. He passed away in January 2010 at age 48.

Father Won is Italian and belongs to the same Salesian Brotherhood as Father Lee. Like most foreign priests in Korea, Father Won adopted a Korean name during his mission here. In July 2011, he sent a letter to his followers telling of his dream to embrace poor youths in South Sudan.

“Korea was poor in the past but has become a rich country. Now I have to help poor countries like Sudan. I don‘t have much time left. Please hold out your hands to help me,” said Father Won.

Won is conducting a campaign to build 100 small schools in places such as Juba, Wau and Rumbek in South Sudan, which separated from Sudan and gained independence also in July 2011. The letter Father Won sent to his followers was the first he had sent in 30 years. He was moved to action by the suffering he saw among poor young people in South Sudan.

Won finally boarded a plane bound for Korea on May 7. He had for a long time turned down the offer of a place ticket purchased by his supporters on the grounds that it was too expensive. Arriving in his only jacket, he brought all his remaining possessions in his bag: prayer books, two pairs of underwear and two pairs of socks.

Spending a week at the Salesian community in Seoul’s Singil district, he has met sponsors from Seoul and Changwon and now plans to visit Gwangju and Daejeon to collect donations for the schools.

As it welcomes its former teacher, the Salesian general alumni association is conducting a fundraising campaign to achieve the goals of fathers Won Seon-o and Lee Tae-seok. When he visits Gwangju on May 19, it will hand him 50 million won (about US$43,200), enough to build one school with four classrooms. It plans to send all funds raised in the future to South Sudan.

After being dispatched to Japan in 1950, Won came to Korea in 1962 and worked at Gwangju Salesian High School for 19 years. Every day he would call his students and give them a big warm hug. He was also an outstanding accordion player. He was loved unreservedly by his teenage friends. After earning respect for his benevolent character and austere, honest attitude, he suddenly flew to Africa in 1982, at the age of 54, to live among poor children in Kenya and Sudan.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

They are among hundreds of thousands of Southerners living in Sudan who lost jobs and were left without official residency papers after South Sudan broke away last July to become the world's newest independent state.

The Southerners' plight in the North has become more acute as simmering disputes between Khartoum and Juba over oil exports, border demarcation and reciprocal citizenship rights erupted into fighting along the frontier last month.

Threat

Plans for deals to grant reciprocal residency and freedom of movement stalled because of the outbreak of fighting, which has since ended. The United Nations Security Council demanded both sides settle their disputes peacefully or face sanctions.

A charter plane flew 164 people from Khartoum to Juba on Monday, the start of an airlift organised by the http://www.iom.int/jahia/jsp/index.jsp " target="_blank">International Organization for Migration (IOM) of thousands of Southerners who had been stranded at the Sudanese port of Kosti on the Nile. Last month, Sudanese authorities in Kosti accused some 12,000 South Sudanese gathered in the area of posing a security and environmental threat and ordered them to leave.

Apprehensive

The first evacuees, consisting mostly of women in brightly coloured shawls accompanied by young children and some men, were met by IOM and South Sudanese officials and taken by bus to a dusty reception camp on the outskirts of Juba operated by the UN refugee agency UNHCR.

"I'm very happy to be here," said Helen Mussa, smiling but weary and clearly a little apprehensive as she sat with others on benches under a tin roof in oppressive heat at the temporary camp. As the convoy of buses carried the newly arrived Southerners from the airport, some Juba residents waved and smiled and at one point a group of women ululated in joyful greeting. "This is yours, this is where you belong. Welcome home," the acting governor of Central Equatoria State where Juba is located, Manasse Lomore, told the group.

Big chance

Terencio Lako Mario, 47, a laboratory technician who said he had lived in the North in Sudan for the last 28 years, said he was glad to be back in his now independent home country. "We faced a lot of difficulties in the North. We were not getting health attention, we had problems with education for our children and housing and we were forced to live outside Khartoum," he told reporters. "It's a big change. When you start a new life, there will always be challenges but I am prepared to face them.”

IOM officials said most of the first group flown in had relatives in Central Equatoria State and so would be able to reintegrate back into the community. IOM's Chief of Mission in Khartoum, Jill Helke, said several thousand Southerners had been registered for the flights so far, but it was unclear how many would finally take the option.

There would be another flight on Monday and the number of daily flights in the airlift would increase. "We should have been able to start yesterday, we were not in the end allowed to fly for security reasons. But we're starting today and hope things will go smoothly from now on," Helke said.

Voluntarily

Earlier at Khartoum airport, as the flight prepared to leave, South Sudan's Ambassador to Sudan, Kau Nak Maper, told reporters that the flights would continue until the last Southerner who wished to return came back safely. "Every Southerner that wants to return voluntarily to South Sudan, will get a chance to travel," he said.

Most of the passengers carried only hand luggage, some only canvas sacks. A truck loaded up hundreds more bags outside Khartoum airport, preparing to take them to the South by road. A barge carrying some 1,700 Southerners down the Nile from Kosti was due to arrive in Juba later this week. 

Foreigners

The IOM and other humanitarian agencies are working with South Sudan's authorities to prepare better facilities to be able to receive the flow of Southerners expected from the North. Although most of the Southerners on the first flight appeared pleased to be in South Sudan, for those who were born in the North or who had spent most of their lives there, it was clear that the adjustment could be a big strain.

"We've been in the North for a long time. We were born here, grew up here, and studied here. Now we're going back to our country, and it's hard for us," said Julia Richard, 23, as she prepared to board the flight with her four children. More than half a million more South Sudanese remain in the North, most without residency papers and treated as foreigners.

In Juba, the capital of South Sudan, thousands of Sudanese citizens also face a new government that has declared them expatriates. But it has not yet imposed any new rules for residency papers and appears willing to let them stay.

source: Reuters

Firstly, you seriously need to remember that the Government of South Sudan was granted self-autonomy in January 9, 2005 not July 9, 2011. This means it has been exercising sovereignty just like any other African government, but with exception of few restrictions such as buying of arms and ammunitions and involvement in some international treaties.

CORRUPTION: Corruption is one of the things most talked about in African governments but South Sudan’s is the worst. A Kenyan writer, Peter Wanyonyi in his article titled South Sudan Adopted Kenya’s Worst Habit published on The Standard website on March 18, 2012 writes: "Corruption is stifling the new State, too — the South Sudanese appear to have heartily taken to heart the Kenyan tradition of kitu kidogo. Corruption is so bad that the cost of doing business in the new country is among the highest in the world. Everyone is on the take and ministers are said to ask openly for bribes to approve deals."

It’s at its climax. Everyone talks about it but no one does anything about it because, I think, nobody wants to die right now. And with the "electrical fault" burning down offices along with important documents, attempts to bring to book those involved in grand corruption will always bear no fruits.

In the beginning, out of love or sympathy or whatever it is, the international community and individual friendly countries pumped billions of dollars into the region for development but little did they know that it was going to be individuated and used to develop few specific stomachs. Nobody dared make necessary noise about the stolen billions of dollars until Arthur Akuein, the former Finance minister showed up the other day and tried to shame some names. How did the case go? We all believe that billions got stolen but the concerned institutions like anti-corruption commission just doesn’t have the capacity to find out who the thieves are, how much they have stolen and when.

The recent court case of Pagan Amum generates more questions than answers. The weirdest thing about it was the speed with which the court ran with it - neck breaking speed, I guess. Where on this God’s good earth, especially during these modern times, would a high-profiled corruption case take less than a second to file a lawsuit, try the accused, and announce the verdict?! Jesus Christ! It says a lot about our judicial system.

Well, he did not "eat" the cash. Where did it go then? Who ate it? If Akueindit had wired it into the account of SPLM, why does it seem hard to arrive at the truth? SPLM is a well-structured government institution administered by prominent officials. Why couldn’t the team investigating the scandal, if any, interrogate those that were "close" to the huge amount; the likes of the manager, finance officials and administrator? Come on, guys. Don’t tell me the dollars flew away because I know very well that they do not have wings. Neither do they develop wings; Not American dollars! Someone somewhere celebrates seven days a week for owning that money. If the police, court and anti-corruption commission can’t fix this simple puzzle, what exactly are they? By-standers or spectators, I believe.

I perceive the return of Akuein as a gift from God, a "John Black" those who really care about the image of South Sudan could use to whip the asses of whoever greedily swallowed the billions. Unfortunately, no one wants to own up Akueindit. I believe he knows the thieves and the amount each stole but he just cannot do anything now. He is so powerless. He has no one to run to for help. In my mind, the whole saga is a chess game. The black queen is in a position to attack and capture a white rook but it just can’t do it because the rook is lying within the L-shape of a white knight which happens to be covering its comrade. If, by whatever reason, the black queen decides to capture the rook, the knight would react by attacking and capturing the queen. It’s a deadlock. I can’t say who the chess pieces symbolize. It is up to you to put it together.

In international law, one must have tangible evidence to accuse a corrupt individual government official. Failure to do that may cost you a jail term. This makes it impossible to fight corruption all over the world, particularly in South Sudan. But in real sense, corruption is seen through many things in so many ways. Check this out: A senior polygamous government employee X got appointed in 2005. He has so many kids such that he never remembers their names each time he visits them: "Hey you. Come here my daughter. Remind me of your name. Who is your mother? I promised I will never forget your name again." he once fumbled. He gets Y salary per month. He owns houses in Nairobi and Kampala. He also possesses a fleet of posh rides; even his house attendants commonly called "aunties" ride his old V-8s. He is handling school fees for both his Arsenal of children and a Man U of nieces and nephews and in-laws. High-class living is what they have indulged in. Children do eat out. Pizza inn is their dining table. He has bought a number of plots in Juba. Now do the Maths. An X salary times seventy-seven months is equal to……? Now, add up his overall spending and subtract it from the 77-month salary. I bet you would arrive at negative something if you’re a good mathematician.

ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION: Since its inception in 2006, the commission has never prosecuted any single official for involvement in corrupt deals. In fact, it has never publicly named one even though it was investigating about sixty cases of corruption. The commission, normally animalized as a dog, does not bark; leave alone the fact that it is toothless. Why is it that weak and useless? Someone would say it is simply because one cannot investigate a fellow thief. It is like, after carrying out a bank robbery with your pal, you knock at his door the following day and question why he robbed the bank. It’s just weird and silly. It never happens! As you read this sentence, South Sudan Law Society is staying in the ass of one of the anti-corruption senior officials for embezzling millions. How do you expect such a person to face another embezzler?

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY: Shortly before or after declaration of independence, some great news echoed that Obama administration handed to Kiir, a list containing names of 13 top government officials believed to be behind the reason why South Sudan refused to develop since they stole and stashed billion dollars in foreign banks. Rumors said Obama wanted the 13 out of the first country’s cabinet.

The MPs, our MPs first boldly, rationally and constitutionally demanded that Kiir reveal the 13 economic vampires before they approve the cabinet. But surprisingly, the boldness, rationale and constitutional obligations melted away, giving the cabinet a green light. Reports say the SPLM members; the huge majority in the parliament neutralized the efforts to have Kiir publicize the names. For Christ’s sake, why did they throw in the towel yet it was and still is a national grave matter? Every citizen wanted to know who the 13 are. This leaves a simple normal-minded citizen like me to contemplate, freestyle in thinking. Here I go: Note the word "top" that appears a number of times in the following sentences. The government is led by top SPLM members. Majority of top ministers in the government are SPLM members and the top party in the parliament is SPLM that raise top votes. More importantly, amongst the Obama list are top government officials. I think an element of "top" influenced the move by the parliament to not bug Kiir with the Obama list. I love my MP!

Lastly, a common man may not know the ugly games the government plays, the personalized decisions it makes, but he is always at the receiving end. In so many ways, he pays for all the wrongdoings the government commits; selfishness, political unproductiveness.

I know South Sudan has changed a lot compared to the state it was in 2005 but what, in developmental terms, can the government brag about? After seven years, roads, modern roads, are still struggling to "get out" of Juba. Clean drinking water is a problem. Only few selected homes in the city get running water. The whole city depends on Ethiopians for their tank water. It’s comical. The USAID-sponsored water project at Hamza Inn was meant for the citizens. Reversedly, foreigners run it. They sell water to its owners. Hospitals and clinics are useless. Nurses are ever grumbling over arrears. Recently, two children died at Juba’s Sabah hospital simply because no doctor attended to them. Besides, importers bring in drugs that expired ten years ago. The same with many other trade items; how do they get in? Someone told me that a customs officer, to check out goods quality, say milk, removes a packet and drinks it up. If nothing happens to him in ten minutes, he nods his head in acceptance, allowing the importer to enter with the goods. God help us! Don’t you think it’s the reason why a medic at Juba hospital complained the other day? This dude said the number of corpses overwhelms the mortuary. The numbers increase day by day. There are no enough rooms to store them before they are taken for burial. Why are South Sudanese dying like flies? What is killing them? Expired items, I believe.

Good citizens are getting wasted at petrol stations. They painfully spend hours on long queues as they hustle to buy fuel at Somali-owned gas stations. Foreigners have monopolized fuel business. They hoard it and sell it at any time they want, and at any price. If we cannot control what is rightfully ours, aren’t we losers?

Life is pathetic. Pound is depreciating hour after hour. $100 is now equivalent to 500 SP. What the heck? The rate is being controlled by cattle keepers. Isn’t it funny? What’s the central bank doing? Nothing! Living cost is so high. People are suffering. Food prices have tripled within few months of independence. There is no food. The little has been bought up by the haves. People are hungry.

A state does not have to be forty years old in order to be considered a failed state and vice versa; it depends on every step the government makes and its impact on the lives of citizens. Believe it or not, the world knows that South Sudan is a failed state but it just can’t let it out because it would paint a bad image on splitting of countries. It would discourage the international community from supporting a marginalized people who would want to be a separate nation. The foreign institutions can fool people but not everyone. They are business entities, remember. You can’t expect them to admit their failures, publicly. Think! I strongly believe that the percentage of those living below poverty line will shoot up soon. No, it has already shot up.

On Thursday Afternoon the Confused Eagle was honored to be part of a meeting at the Institute for Religion and Democracy here in Washington. Later that Afternoon the CE also took part of a meeting of the Security Working Group for the Advocacy Network for Africa. The Current Situation regarding South Sudan played a prominent role in both meetings.

The first meeting was actually a briefing involving South Sudanese Government Ministers and the New Charge D'Affaires here in the United States. The briefing started out by stating that recent fighting has displaced 60% of the Population in Abeyi. The Information then steadily grew worse.

The problems with an Independent State were then revealed. Issues such as lack of access to clean potable water, no paved roads, 70% of Children of Primary School age (Elementary here in the US) do not have access to Education and an overall lack of access to Medical Care were discussed. 

After that the topic of conversation switched to one of the main sources of tensions between Khartoum and Juba. That is one of the Mother's Milk of the Western Industrialized Society. This being Oil. As the reader probably is aware of the Sudan/South Sudan Border is one of the new emerging African Oil Fields. Negotiations after the Independence Referendum placed some of the Oil Fields in South Sudan while giving Khartoum control of the Pipelines.

One of the sources of tensions just happens to be the Helig Oil Fields. The ownership of this key Oil Field has yet to be proper defined. Last Month South Sudan seized these Oil Fields after bitter fighting which has led to stern action being taken by the UN Security Council.  At the ADNA meeting it was raised that this action may have cost South Sudan the Moral High Ground and forced the International Community to deal with Khartoum equally.

Another issue that was raised is Transit Fees. This is the cost per gallon of Oil that moves through a pipeline. Generally the cost is between 16 and 50 cents. The GOSS offered to pay 67 cents per gallon. To help offset the costs of potential lost Oil Revenue GOSS offered to pay over $2 Billion to Khartoum to help with lost Revenue. The IMF estimates that the proper cost is just under $8 Billion right now. Khartoum then demanded $10 Billion. The International Community offered to assist paying this but Khartoum has refused and started seizing the oil being shipped North.

These acts forced GOSS to shut down Oil Production from December 2011 to Feb of this year. It has actually returned Money to Oil Companies due to lack of production. GOSS feels that as long as Khartoum Bombs and attacks them no one will notice.

I asked the Minister about the reports that both Uganda and even Kenya are preparing steps to assist them. The Minister then smiled and discussed the ways that Uganda was trying to help them. He seemed surprised that Kenya was taking similar steps or the concern of that Government due to tensions.

One final note. It was raised during the ADNA Meeting about how the Clooney Sentinel Project is getting their imagery for their project. Another concern was how to maintain the flow of Humanitarian Aid into South Sudan if/when the UN Security Council imposes Sanctions. 

It was also revealed that Kony is along the Chad-Darfur Border during these meetings as well.

There is concern among the "right"-leaning Religious Community that the White House will sell the South Sudanese Down the river.....

This isnt the last we will hear of South Sudan.

Khartoum – The battle of Heglig incapacitated the South Sudan’s army known as (SPLA) and sent a strong message to traitors, outlaws and western countries that the people of Sudan would never compromise their land, Presidential Assistant, Nafie Ali Nafie, has said.

Addressing a mobilization of the Battaheen tribe members who came to Khartoum aboard a long convoy of vehicles to express their backing to the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) to repulse aggression against the country, Nafie said the Battaheen tribe gathering is a message to those who underestimate the might of the Sudanese people.

“There will be no room between us for traitors and agents. Those who do not support SAF are not part of us” Nafie told the tribe members yesterday who gathered in front of the Defence Ministry premises at the Army HQs.

He praised the support of the tribe to the army, saying it is the same stance with all the Sudanese people.

Chief of the Battaheen tribe, Khalid Mohamed Siddiq, said the tribe would continue to support the army, saying large number of tribe youths would be recruited in SAF. “We will urge our youths to get recruited in the army in defence of the motherland. We have come to express our support to SAF, other organized forces, Mujahideen and the Popular Defence Forces (PDF)” he said.

The Presidential Assistant received a pledge from tribe members that they would continue supporting the army.

"Let those to whom the heavens grants such opportunities reflect that two courses are open to them: Either so to be behave that in life they rest secure and in death become renowned, or so to behave that in life they are in continual straits, and in death leave behind an imperishable record of their infamy" Nicco Machiavelli.

May 11, 2011 (Borglobe) - First of all, I want to express my deepest joy since the return of most rebel leaders with their forces during the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), and also after the independence of South Sudan on July 9, 2011. However, this recent defection by Maj. Gen. James Duit Yiech, General John Dueth Yieth, and James Duoth Lam has obliterated some uncertainties caused by the SPLA withdrawal from Panthou (Heglig). There is no doubt that the GoSS was bullied by the UN, African Union (AU), and Obama’s demand for the Sudanese People Liberation Army (SPLA) to withdraw without any conditions given to the Khartoum’s government. The GoSS calls the SPLA withdrawal a ‘diplomatic win’, but the international community whom the Republic of South Sudan (RSS) responded to didn’t stop aerial bombardment after their pullout. What a disgrace!

The decision made by these leaders is something for South Sudanese to scrutinize because their defection send a strong message to Omar Bashir (war criminal) that South Sudanese are tied of his brutal regime. We hope those who are left behind would join their countrymen to stop Bashir from massacring innocent civilians in both countries. Is it patriotic to help someone who called black Africans "insects"? This insult doesn’t apply to Kiir’s administration, but to the entire black race. African "leaders" shouldn’t take Omar Bashir’s discourse lightly especially when he labeled black people as "slaves or "insects". Failure to response to his insults reinforces Bashir’s imbecile rhetoric. How absurd can this be when "black Muslims" are quick to denounce those who question the book of Quran? Seriously, why is it so simple for black Muslims to equate their identity to Islam? It’s ironic that ‘some’ black Muslims automatically think they are "Arabs" once they denounce their African heritage over a Western religion.

Obviously, their return to the SPLA will definitely boost up the SPLA’s position to protect the (RSS) should they choose to be good citizens. The question is should the SPLA be vigilant about the political atmosphere in Juba or in the frontline? Currently, many South Sudanese are left wondering why they defected in the first place or why they waited this long to join the SPLA. Well, the obvious answer is that many people are not happy with Kiir’’s government for different reasons. Beside corruption which the president can’t tackle individually, old grudges between faction leaders are visible everywhere in the government and in the local level. Perhaps we all should forgive ourselves if we want to defeat Khartoum’s aggression. Conspiring with the Khartoum’s leadership to topple a "corrupt" government in Juba gives him the credibility to call black race "slaves" or "insects". What a leader! We shouldn’t let Bashir question our pride by joining him while he’s killing our kin in Darfur, Kordofan, and in the Nuba mountains. The question is why are black Muslims in these regions oblivious about this situation? Could Bashir be the next Prophet? Apparently, he has million disciples in the NCP and in the SAF.

Whether "corruption" or "domination" of the GoSS by the SPLA veterans is the reason for rebellion, I would argue there are peaceful avenues to rid of them if that’s the goal. Let’s not forget that Bashir came to power by coup, and he’s not a role model for anyone to imitate. The only thing different is that they have better roads, health care, Agricultural production, and functional schools. Secondly, they don’t have foreigners doing their secretarial jobs, which they can employ their youths from local institutions. What is job creation if these jobs are given foreigners? Perhaps the issue is not foreigners taking jobs, but we South Sudanese don’t want to work under someone. In capitalism, working for someone doesn’t mean one is a "maid" as long one is being paid fairly. In this case, bringing change in South Sudan will not happen through violence, but through community empowerment. This means we need to teach our citizens their rights so they can hold their constituents accountable.

If I can be a "devil advocate" for a movement, these recent defections poises one question. First, did these generals defect to the SPLA to defend South Sudan from Bashir’s government, or do they have an agenda to liberate "South Sudanese" from the SPLM leadership? Defecting from the SPLA to the Khartoum’s government isn’t a new phenomenon in the history of South Sudan. Some individuals have fully settled their political grudges with their fellow comrades, and are now working day and night trying to help vulnerable people of South Sudan. However, the GoSS needs to be carefully for those who defect and return under the so-called "amnesty". Perhaps Mr. Kiir should set a dateline to deter further defection. I wonder if the members of the parliament are part of the decision making.

Obviously, there are no immediate answers to these questions, but we can only hope that everyone who is frustrated with Kiir’s government will support him at this critical time. During the "Cold War" between the West and the Communist countries, American allies abandoned their hatred among themselves in order to defeat their common enemy. I would think those rebels in the bush will do the same. However, my fear is that the GoSS will lose sight of these individuals who "fly in and fly out regularly" because they "defected" to the SPLA. The question is do they pose any security threat in the leadership of the GoSS and the SPLA? What about those who defected to the SPLA with high ranking positions earned in the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), are they going keep their ranks (Maj. General)? Failure for the GoSS to follow the system will give those individuals with lower ranks in the SPLA an idea to defect with hopes of becoming a "Maj. General". For God sake, why reward these traitors? David Yau Yau who recently defected to the SAF as a Maj General was begging for rations in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya years ago. What did he do exactly to earn his rank? Let’s stop nepotism! Currently, we have veterans who are founding members of the SPLM/A since 1983 who haven’t been promoted to that rank yet. What’s wrong with this SPLA? Perhaps I shouldn’t mention retirees, and their inconsistent salaries. God have mercy on our veterans, widows, and orphans. Maybe their children are those street kids in Juba who beg just to get by. We urge David Yau Yau to return the SPLM despite his betrayal. I suggest everyone to use this opportunity before the ‘dateline’. Is there such thing?

Overall, I urge the GoSS and the SPLA to be more vigilant everywhere in South Sudan because there are too many opportunists who will resort for short term solutions in order to get in power. I personally congratulate our Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar for going on South Sudan TV (SSTV) to dismiss recent fabrications about a potential "coup" while the President was on a diplomatic travel to China. David de Chand, why betray us? To those brothers who want to get in power by creating havoc in the South, please join the SPLA and change the SPLM from within. Also, I urge the SPLM to allow multiparty system so we can coexist. Voting and holding your representatives accountable is the only option if we envision South Sudan a place for our grandchildren. President Kiir and the Vice President Riek Machar don’t pledge legion to their tribes, but they pledge that to the people of South Sudan. We may have different views about who "dominates" the government, but if we all get involved instead of making South Sudan a volatile country, we can change whatever we think is happening in Juba.

What change can one bring if we displaced civilians who contribute to South Sudan’s economy? What change can one bring if we point fingers that the Dinka tribe failed the country? We all have a role to play, and if one failed to excise his/her rights to hold her governor or commissioner accountable, then "we" the people failed the country, not the Dinka tribe. Perhaps we should think about ‘tribal constitution’ to avoid this mentality. How many more years can we call on the UN to rescue us from starvation? How long can we continue to ask the international to send in troops to rescue innocent civilians from Bashir’s brutal regime? How many more years can foreigners run our country? How many more years are we going to transport food from neighboring countries? Aren’t we capable to farm or are we just lazy? How long can we depend on oil’s money? How long can we complain about corruption instead of getting involved? How many more pounds can we allow our representatives to stash in foreign accounts? Why are we investing our hard earn money in neighboring countries? How do South Sudanese define development? In my opinion, South Sudan is going to be a "failed state" if we don’t join the GoSS and hold them accountable. Think about these questions when you point fingers, and at the same time conspiring with the enemy.

Nevertheless, if Dr. Garang de Mabior and Dr. Riek Machar with their comrades reconcile to bring about the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, I don’t see any reason why everyone can’t join the SPLM or the SPM-DC. Lastly, I urge all members of SSDF, SSLA, and NDF to join us and form their parties so our uncles and grandparents in Juba can retire. They deserve a vacation because they been in a frontline for decades. To the SPLM, "corruption" and "nepotism" will never stop if we don’t have a multiparty system to compete against. Let’s compromise and debate these pressing issues in South Sudan TV (SSTV) so we the civil society can judge who can better lead the country. Think about your children’s future because your baggage is going to ruin their future in a modern South Sudan. God bless our mothers who are tired of giving birth to child soldiers. To our men and women in the frontline, please sing those revolutionary songs in the 80s and the victory is certain in Abyei and in Panthou. South Sudan oyeee!!

Agereb Leek Chol is a concerned citizen who lives in Worcester, MA, USA. He can be reach at

madingbor1983@gmail.com

South Sudan Peace Building International Foundation (SSPBIF)
is inviting South Sudanese living in Alberta for a fundraising party in support of peace building initiatives among South Sudanese in Canada and South Sudan. 

When:  Saturday, May 19, 2012
Where: Holy Trinity Church Family Centre
1514 44 street SE, Calgary

Time: 12.00 pm – 5.00 pm 

The party will follow later at night from 8.00 pm – 2.00 am.

SSPBIF was formed by a group of South Sudanese living in Canada in 2011 to help foster peace and inclusive living among different tribal groups in South Sudan. With the challenges facing South Sudan now in terms of insecurity, it is imperative that South Sudanese enter into collective endeavor to make sure peace prevails.

Development is only possible in South Sudan if meaningful peace is achieved. SSPBIF also believes that provision of services for South Sudanese people is integral to any realization of peace in South Sudan.

There will be speeches from South Sudanese community leaders, city of Calgary officials and youth groups. 

Everyone is welcome for this good cause!!!

For more information contact

Rev. Peter Bul Chol, President and Founder

South Sudan Peace Building International Foundation (SSPBIF) 403-363-3092

The National

JUBA // The dispute began innocently with a football landing outside the pitch at Juba University. 

But when a passing student kicked it into the distance and the players rushed to beat him, a full-blown tribal conflict erupted on the campus. A hundred students squared off the next morning, threatening each other with sticks and stones.

Several were injured, including one whose leg was broken. Administrators closed the university. It has not been reopened since the March 27 clash.

The confrontation highlights simmering tribal tensions in South Sudan, the world's newest country.

Whether the nation can calm those rivalries will affect whether South Sudan will survive as a democracy or collapse into a stillborn state. With fighting raging along the border with the Republic of Sudan and the country's economy in sharp decline, some observers fear South Sudan's government is in danger of fracturing.

South Sudan has more than 60 tribes, with the Dinka as the single largest group, spread out among 10 states on more than 620,000 square kilometres of land. The most violent tribal clashes have taken place in rural communities over territory and cattle. But the trouble at Juba University shows that these disputes have come to the capital, where many say the Dinka use their strength to give jobs and positions of power to fellow tribesmen.

"People still think about their tribes first, their nation second," said Ajang Ajang, 29, president of the Juba University student union, who tried to mediate between the two groups before fighting broke out. 

The battle, he said, was a direct consequence of his decision to ban tribal associations on campus in February. Association members unsuccessfully tried to force him from his position, leaving a tense atmosphere at Juba University before the football fight.

He said he banned tribal associations because "we are all South Sudanese. We respect tribal culture, but we need to follow national laws and be unified."

During the secession from Sudan last year, South Sudan appeared to be entering a new era in a land that had seen ethnic conflict for decades. Two million people died during the civil war between the north and south and another four million were driven from their homes. The 21-year war ended in 2005 with the signing of a peace agreement by the Sudanese Peoples' Liberation Army in the south and the Sudan Armed Forces in the north.

South Sudan approved secession in January 2011, with 98 per cent choosing independence from the Arab- and Muslim-dominated north. South Sudanese are predominantly Christian or follow indigenous religions.

But efforts to disarm militias that were once part of the independence movement and reconcile feuding tribes have failed. Earlier this year, 125,000 people were displaced in the state of Jonglei, located to the north-east of the capital of Juba, after a new round of attacks by members of the Lou Nuer tribe on residents of Pibor county, home to the Murle tribe, according to the United Nations.

An estimated 1,000 tribesmen were killed, women and children abducted and cattle stolen. Some survivors bear the scars from machete wounds. The two tribes have presence throughout East Africa; the members in South Sudan live mostly in Jonglei.

The government disarmament mission has seen violence, too. Khawam Bol Dut, 26, a soldier, was brought to Juba Military Hospital from Jonglei with wounds indicating he had been tortured, according to the admitting doctor. His arms were so swollen from being strung up to a tree that his right arm had to be amputated below the elbow. Lying underneath a mosquito net with a seeping chest wound and a bandaged stump where his arm used to be, he could not coherently recount what had happened to him.

Tribal conflicts are having repercussions throughout South Sudan. The border war with the north is complicated by attacks by militias that both sides supposedly are supporting. But this is a simplistic assumption: the largely tribal-based militias have their own agendas, even if they receive some kind of support from governments. Once they receive weapons, it will prove difficult to get them back.

Many Juba University students had been unable to finish their studies while the university was closed throughout the civil war. Some were able to relocate to campuses in Khartoum. Now, with classes cancelled for more than a month, seniors expecting to graduate may have to wait another year. That, in turn, affects job prospects and family livelihoods.

Even if they had graduated, their job prospects would heavily depend on their tribal affiliations, said Salah Khalil, an analyst from Cairo's Al Ahram Centre for Strategic and Political Studies.

"The tribes, especially the Dinka, are very strong inside the government," Mr Khalil said. "The law of the country is still the law of the tribes. If your ethnic group falls out of power, you lose everything."

Members of the Dinka hold the main positions in the government, he said.

That was part of the problem at Juba University, said Mr Ajang, who is a member of the Dinka.

"Even when I tried to get rid of the tribal associations, they thought I was trying to make the Dinka stronger," he said. "The leaders of the associations feared they would be left out."

bhope@thenational.ae

Washington, April 23, 2012 - On Wednesday, in the historic Treaty Room of the U.S. State Department, Washington DC, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Hon. Kosti Manibe Ngai, signed the IMF and World Bank Articles of Agreement which enabled the Republic of South Sudan to become the 188^{th member of these institutions.}

"It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce that the Republic of South Sudan has become a member of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund" said Hon. Kosti Manibe Ngai. "These are two organizations whose mandate, values and vision so closely match the developmental ambitions of our people and the aspirations of our newly formed Government" he added.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde welcomed the Republic of South Sudan into the institutions, noting "South Sudan faces enormous challenges, and the IMF will do its best to assist the country in setting up the foundations for economic stability and growth in the period ahead."

Upon signing the Articles of Agreement and Conventions, South Sudan also became a member of other organizations in the World Bank Group, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Development Association (IDA), the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

"I am very pleased to welcome South Sudan, the world’s newest country as our newest member of the World Bank Group, to help it manage and resolve its many formidable development challenges while it also builds a broad national coalition to secure lasting peace and prosperity, " said Obiageli Ezekwesili, the World Bank’s Vice President for Africa.

Hon. Kosti Manibe thanked both Ms. Lagarde and Ms. Ezekwesili and stressed that "South Sudan has come a long way in a short period of time, but we will continue to work hard with our partners in the international community to ensure a prosperous future for all of the people of South Sudan."

CONTACT:

Abraham Diing Akoi

Economic Policy Management and Media Relations

Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning

Republic of South Sudan

E-mail:

^{aakoi3@gmail.com} 

^{Mobile. +211 955 933 648}

.

Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, present and future leaders of our new country, let us work together to build the strong nation. It does not matter whether you like the present leader or not, still togetherness is the strongest and solid tool we all need to have even if you are looking for superior change. However, we could not be satisfied most of the time because of scarcity - things we have in deficiency, but always one should take a look of what is in the hand and if that’s all you have got, then be contented with it.

Well, the history is that, I was really disillusioned with one of our brothers in face book about his re-marks on our South Sudanese ladies who were sending a message to Bashir that they were not insects and also that it was not probable for him to capture South Sudan to the last city in the southern part because we could defense our land.  Also, our brother by the name Gatluke Reat went on saying that south Sudanese have little mind that the ladies words were embarrassing the South Sudanese in general and added that we should blame our stupid Bosses in Juba.

Anyway, to me there was nothing humiliating about their words for there were pointing out to Bashir that south Sudanese are people just like him and he should have not insulted the South Sudanese that way. Additionally, she said; South Sudanese would be ready to defense their country regardless of gender. So, I have appreciated that one of the ladies who stood up for the name of southern Sudanese and we should do the same as well. By the way, here is my exceptional message to brothers or sisters who are always indifference with us, when it comes to matters between South Sudan and Sudan we have all choices of being South Sudanese or Sudanese instead of lying to oneself and all of us depend on ourselves.

Furthermore, remember this, it doesn’t matter whether you were born in Ethiopia or elsewhere, we are not Southerners by birth-places, but our cultures and dialects make us Southern Sudanese. So bear that in mind brothers or sisters! Bashir is not running South Sudan  anymore and it will not happen again! I don’t see a better thing in which Bashir of the Northern Sudan outweighs Kiir of our South Sudan. Today, Bashir claims to be powerful man, when we are actually having a country comparing it to the last time he was fighting Dr. John Garang, while rebel man distinctive hero Garang persevered.  So, please, don’t sustain anyone who calls you a slave in your land! Bashir is an Arab Sudanese and not a native.

Allow me to write in response to the on-going political as well as military surge between the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan. Much has been written and said about this which is why I shall not assume the possibility of drawing your attention in respect to what I am about to say in my writing. As a citizen of this nation, my responsibility under the constitution is simply to express an opinion which per se may not influence your Excellency to duly rely on especially when it comes to taking tough military decisions. But it is my justified view that our nation needs collective responsibility in safeguarding and protecting its sovereignty by all means including and not limited to advising your Excellency as a citizen filled with sense of patriotism!

A lot has happened since the capture of Panthou and I shall not dwell much on what we have handled with sensibility. Let me applaud your wise leadership for setting standards which the regimes in Khartoum have, over the decades, failed to set. Respecting international norms and customs with respect to humanitarian law is such a good thing that we shall always be proud of and manifests itself in the way we have so far handled the boiling military build-up of the ruling authoritarian regime in Khartoum. As I shall precisely point out, the world has moved away from the era of war which Sudan, and especially the National Congress Party (NCP), is so much interested in. During moments such as this, we cannot ignore the benefits of differing views on the way forward, and I believe your Excellency must have been confronted with much more than I should say; yet there is always an end to difficulty.

It is true that many citizens are unhappy with your decision of withdrawing SPLA troops from Panthou. This must have been a painful decision to take but I am not unaware of the motivating circumstances leading to the taking of the said decision. On one hand, we have an obligation to ensure the maintenance of international peace and security under Chapter VII of the UN Charter; and on the other hand we have a responsibility to protect or defend not only the citizens but also the sovereignty of our state in accordance with the provision of Article 2 read together with article 53 clauses 1 and 2 of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011. Choosing between these two important alternatives must have been too painful but your Excellency acted in a truly justiciable manner. As a matter of sincerity, I was taken aback and disappointed with your Excellency’s position when I first heard and read the council of Ministers’ resolution ordering the withdrawal of our troops from Panthou. However, my disappointment dissipated with reading and understanding our obligation under international law plus the manner in which we took Panthou from the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). Although I was not supportive of your Excellency’s position along with the Council of Ministers’, I regretted my thoughts and so I understood your Excellency acted in a reasonable manner considering our pledge to respect and abide by human rights principles and the principles of international law as contained in the UN covenants. My regret is not in vain because it has been said, which I believe is true, that our gallant SPLA forces took Panthou as a result of recurrent attacks from SAF. Our taking it from them was not bad though, but taking it on the basis that it is part of South Sudan would:

Call into question our pledge to respect international norms and customs which bind nations together.

Have been a dangerous decision in terms of Khartoum reacting with swift force of a full scale war which, I think, we were not fully prepared to contain as a nation.
Make us loose our friends and, in my opinion, there would be possibility of sanctions being imposed on our state which, I think, we cannot withstand given our shaky economy because of oil shutdown!

As it is commonly known that Panthou is ours by history, there is no fear it will never be should we claim it before international tribunals such as the International Court of Arbitration at The Hague. I must say Moburuk Wa Moburukat Mr. President for the wise decision so taken!
Whereas it is my desire not to pin your Excellency down reading this lengthy letter, it is also crucial to understand the position of a concerned patriot who has sacrificed his valuable time writing to seek understanding from your Excellency. Mr. President, I shall implore you to take me as a patriot desiring to put an end to the war-mongering propaganda of Sudan and although my writing is not a binding thesis, since our learned patriots, having the foresight into world politics, have the constitutional mandate to advise your Excellency, I will add a non-binding piece of my mind.

In any given circumstances, the political idiocy of Khartoum cannot per se be taken for granted. Already Khartoum has declared war on our nation and to act in ignorance will be too dangerous especially to the legitimacy of your wise leadership. In moments like this all we need are allies having the goodwill and political interest in our affairs. I am not saying this as an answer to Khartoum military tone but I am saying it on the basis of defense with restrain should SAF step into our territory.  Before I sat down to write this letter, I had discussed a brief question with my learned colleague students who have the goodwill for this nation, and so I may be writing reflecting their shared views. The question I had asked them is: “which nation is most likely willing to help us with military aid during moments such as this?” Although there were no conclusive answers for this question, I gained courage and motivation to write this letter which I believe your Excellency will find relevant to read since it is from an ordinary citizen seeking the common good of our state.

Up to this moment of my letter Mr. President, I implore your patience to stay with me even though I seem not to point out what my letter intends to address. The point is we have a number of friendly states to look up to in terms of soliciting military aid especially when it comes to defense of our sovereignty from Khartoum’s aggression. I am obliged to think that your Excellency knows that most superpowers won’t be of help at this crucial moment when we need their help in terms of military aids as well as finances. This is based on political justifications which this letter cannot dwell on.

As far as the current political situation is concerned, Mr. President, I do not wish to puzzle your good office with, perhaps, insufficient political thoughts since I am not a politician. I have an idea which came out of a brainstorming discussion I had with my learned colleague students. My observation is based on the need to seek MILITARY AID FROM ISRAEL which I believe will be far more ready to LISTEN AND HELP US. The meeting point between our State [South Sudan] and Israel is: Israel is an enemy state number two (2) of the Republic of Sudan. Your Excellency knows that we are enemy state number (1) of the said Republic as passed by their national legislature following our occupation of Panthou.

Mr. President, we all need to recollect our memories regarding our friends that have been with us since the bush era and going through the list, I find it necessary-in my opinion, that we cannot afford to ignore mentioning the support Israel extended to us. All we need is to appreciate their support and ask for more especially in moments such as this.  As a general rule, we turn to our friends in moments of need and of excess just like a Christian does to God. This is no time to panic but it is time to think of what is best for this nation. I am undoubtful that our efforts will be in vain should we seek military aid from ISRAEL. ISRAEL has been our great friend and will continue to be! So why not exploit this opportunity while they may be willing to help us? Yes, WE can Mr. President because this is a better thing to do as we await the outcome and implementation of UN Security Council (UNSC) deliberation on adopting the African Union (AU) roadmap adopted [this week] by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) aimed at resolving disputes between our Republic [South Sudan] and the Republic of Sudan.

May I remind your Excellency that, in a closed door meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, we need to apologise in respect to the statement your Excellency made during UN General Assembly meeting commending the giving of Palestinians their statehood. Mr. President, we all know that Israel does not and will never acknowledge or approve the statehood of Palestine because of their political as well as religious differences for decades. Approving that it is necessary to give Palestinians their state must have been a great disappointment to Israel and US alike. In this sense, our Apology will be a good move to further cement our relations and intended to solicit military aid in good faith.

Mr. President, I wish not to remind you that the superpowers are hiding their faces and expect us to seek military aid from a nation having goodwill and interest in our state of affairs. On the contrary, I have observed beyond doubt that there is something lacking within our armed forces which we cannot ask from anywhere but from ourselves. In my opinion, it is the moral our gallant armed forces had during the liberation struggle. The question is where is that moral with which, say two hundred (200), SPLA soldiers could defeat Sudan Armed forces (SAF) numbering, perhaps, a thousand (1000)?

Mr. President, this is an open question which I do not intend you to answer because the answer does not lie with you but with the army generals! The point is, during times such as this, we need to give our army at the battle-field some reasonable bonuses which, I believe, will arouse some lost moral. An increased salary during times of war, I think, is a good motivation for a soldier at the battle-field. Our army need this simple thing, Mr. President. We as a nation need to hold together facing challenges from authoritarian government of the Sudan. We can defeat them especially if we accept our weaknesses and improve on them alongside building on areas of our competences! We need to be supportive at all times: in moments of success and of defeat. And believing that ISRAEL shall give us military aid, may I ask your Excellency to direct the Chief of General Staff to ensure that Generals commanding war troops be together with them at the battle-field just as we commonly know it is an incentive for winning against an enemy and creates an element of moral necessary to cause success!

May it impress your Excellency what I shall say in curing the political disease in Khartoum. For sure, we are at times of political stress and so the mind thinks that way. I hold the view that if we need a comprehensive cure for that disease, then we must think of a regime change in Khartoum which I think we can manage given our ties with the SPLM-N and to solicit support form opposition parties may not be too difficult. Mr. President, May I remind you that the NCP is a cause of our souring relations with the Sudan. Yes I must say it is because the President of the Republic of Sudan, the Governor of Southern Kordofan and the Minister of Defense are all ICC indictees for crimes committed in relation to Darfur rebellion! Do we expect any good from this leadership having on it individuals who have records of criminal responsibility and who call us “mercenaries and Insects”? Of course not, Mr. President but I recommend your Excellency takes this as a long term comprehensive political solution. It is long term in the sense that we need to barter this idea with individual members of SPLM-N as well as unmentioned allies in the Republic of Sudan and get them on our side. We can better manage it with support from our allies but this is no time to think that way because there is a declared war on our state. So your Excellency may invest in this idea as a longer answer to the recurring political nuisance of the authoritarian regime in Khartoum!

I must apologise to your good office, Mr. President, in case I have erred in writing this letter but I am acting in my capacity as a patriotic citizen having the goodwill for our nation. May this letter give your Excellency the courage to face the current political surge with determination, confidence and motivation to invest in the democracy of our nation and to know that there are patriots who always think of this nation day and night.

Mr. President, allow me to say a big thank you for having read my letter as I have confidence in your administration as President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces.
 May God enrich your leadership with ideas necessary for the growth and flourishing of democracy and rule of law in our nation!
 God Bless South Sudan!
Kindly yours in patriotism,

 Magok Alier Akuot
The writer is a student of Law at Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology, Jonglei State-Bor
He can be reached at Email: unclelouish@gmail.com

Those few insignificant differences were exploited and carefully carved out from their small role and brought up to become the contemporary voracious machine that is continuing to break apart the wholeness of both communities. How come that our ancestors didn't fight over the name of Bor? Well, there was something called turuk or economic empowerment that many people aspired to achieve. Now, many people in both communities are highly educated and while some hold PhDs and Master's degrees from Ivy League universities, they are still lacking the wisdom that is highly craved by the conflicted communities. It is true that education can volley someone to new unprecedented heights of prestige in the societal standing, but that is about it.

Using books only without proper societal conditioning can lead you nowhere and that is because there are some educational theories and acquired knowledge that can become obsolete or are non-practical in our materialistic world. As knowledge become easily accessible to mass of people around the world, it has become apparent to some degree that something that is considered unique as the name of Bor can be used as for a profit organization by the people such as Gok and Athoc who consider themselves as the flag bearers of Bor.

When NGOs, IMF, WTO, and many other well-recognized bodies of international organizations come to Jonglei state and ask to invest in the Agricultural markets, provide humanitarian assistance or educational assistance, the name Bor can easily pop up and from there, resources can start pouring to the Gok and Athoc sections of Bor from all the corners of the world. And so, that is why, the name Bor has become like a mad bull that is stirring up problems wherever it turns its horns to. Members of both communities seemed to have shared a great history of economic development equally until recently when the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) allocated 12 national ambassadorial positions to be divided among the three counties of Bor South, Twic East and Duk. Instead of giving equal share of positions to their respective counties, members of Bor South in Bortown took the lion's share of positions by giving themselves eight positions, leaving 4 positions to be shared between the Twic East and Duk counties.

Both Twic East and Dukens should have been given 6 ambassadorial positions to begin with, if we are  to be honest with each other on business terms. Since the Twic East and Dukens positions went into the gluttonous stomaches of our cousins in Bortown, we will just leave it as that and  try to see how we can approach this terrible treatment we have just experienced in our beloved communities. The discourse that is visible between the Twic East and Bor South is recognizable even here in the U.S. and across the seas in Australia. Whenever members of both communities attend fundraising events, community gatherings or Sunday worships, some of us secretly refuse to acknowledge to be included under the unison umbrella of Bor. Yes, some members from Twic East refuse to be called Bor and some members from many Bor South refuse to acknowledge their brethren from Twic East as members of Bor. So, the name of Bor continues to baffle us in that, it can easily be manipulated and used as an organizational weapon by those who claim as the real owners of the name.

The name Twic East didn't just sprung up from nowhere, it was always there, it was just that some individuals failed to see it. Not too long ago, if someone from Bor South wanted visit his or her relative in Twic East, he or she would say, " I am going to visit my relative in Tuic." See? Ta-da! It is not a recent phenomena that was created out of thin air. If Twic East and the two Duks communities continue to refuse the name of Bor and Bor South members continue to be exclusive, why are we then wasting our precious times beating around the bush and not create two different communities with two different names?

By PaanLuel Wël, Washington DC, USA, Planet Earth

The indispensability of quality education to the socioeconomic and political development of the war-ravaged Republic of South Sudan can’t be accentuated enough. However, the contemporary pathetic state of educational systems in South Sudan is not one that is conducive enough for the propagation of knowledge to school future leaders and to foster skilled workforce for the propulsion of the South Sudan’s economic prosperity.

It is not just quality of education in South Sudan that is so wanting; there are insufficient numbers of graduates from all levels of educational systems. And worse still, there are fewer than the required numbers of students in either primary or secondary schools and even in higher learning centers of education.

Cognizance of this educational quandary, President Kiir, on his inaugural address to the South Sudan Legislative Assembly (SSLA) at Nyakuron Cultural Centre in Juba, August 8, 2011, conceded, and then promised, that "education remains a major challenge as only a minority of our children has access to education. There is a need to scale up education enrolment quickly all over the country. To demonstrate our seriousness, within the first 100 days of the new government, 30 new primary schools and four new secondary schools will be constructed."

Well, the time to witness the fruition of "our seriousness within the first 100 days of the new government" is here. On April 20, 2012, the Minister for General Education and Instruction, Ustaz Joseph Ukel, officially released the results of the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) Examination, 2011.

The ministry of General Education and Instruction reported that there was "general improvement in the performance with 67% scoring at least a C- compared to 2010 when only 34% attained a similar score. Geography is the best-performed subject with 71.3% attaining C-. The worst performed subject is Maths in which only 9.25% obtained C-. The most improved subject is English in which 60.5% of the candidates scored C- compared to 36.9% in 2010. The results of two schools were withheld pending investigations into alleged examination malpractices."

While 968 candidates registered for the 2011 South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) Examinations, only 880 sat the examinations because 88 of the registered candidates didn’t show up for the exams. Of the 880 who sat for the 2011 SSCSE, only 588 of them managed to score a mean grade of C- and above.

Gender-wise, of the 968 candidates registered for the 2011 (SSCSE) Examinations, 742 were boys while 226 were girls. The examination was taken at 27 different secondary schools within 11 counties and across 5 states (namely E.E.S, W.E.S, C.E.S, Lakes, and Jonglei) with E.E.S leading with 14 secondary schools. Unsurprisingly, E.E.S has the lion share of the candidates who sat the 2011 SSCSE exams.

The best overall candidate for the 2011 South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) Examinations was Lotara Charles Nyanzi from Magwi Secondary School, Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State, with a mean score of 11.17 (A-). He was followed by Kon Emmanuel Chol with a mean score of 11.00 (A-) from St. Bakhita Secondary School in Kapoeta East County, Eastern Equatoria State, and Victoria Aledi Akec, third position, with a mean score of 10.83 (A-) from Loreto Girls Secondary School in Rumbek Central County, Lakes State.

The leading secondary school nationwide is Fulla Secondary School from Magwi County, E.E.S, with a mean grade of 7.6633 (B) followed by Kajo-keji Secondary School from Kajo-keji County, C.E.S, with mean grade of 7.0561 (C+). Of the top ten best-performing schools nationwide, 6 are from Eastern Equatoria State.

The best performing boy is Lotara Charles Nyanzi from Magwi Secondary School followed by Kon Emmanuel Chol from St. Bakhita Secondary School. The best overall girl nationwide is Victoria Aledi Akec from Loreto Girls Secondary School followed by Martha Akuch Majier from Dr. John Garang Memorial Secondary School, Juba County.

For the sake of policy makers and educational analyst in/on South Sudan, here are some prepared data on the 2011 SSCSE examination results:

Top 10 Best Candidates for the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) Examinations, 2011

Top 10 Best Boys for the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) Examinations, 2011

Top 10 Best Girls for the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) Examinations, 2011

National Ranking of Secondary Schools in South Sudan for the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) Examinations, 2011

Top 100 Best Candidates for the South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) Examinations, 2011

It is my sincere hope that this small effort of mine would help South Sudanese and others make sense of the 2011 South Sudan Certificate of Secondary Education (SSCSE) examination results released by the Ministry of Education from Juba on April 20, 2012.

PaanLuel Wël (paanluel2011@gmail.com) is the Managing Editor of PaanLuel Wël: South Sudanese Bloggers. He can be reached through his Facebook page, Twitter account or on the blog: