24 Feb 2015
Good afternoon. It is one o’clock and I’m Susan Dokolo.
The headlines:
· Three committees formed to discuss the sticky issues at the IGAD-mediated peace talks in Addis Ababa
· UN Security Council to discuss humanitarian crisis and protection of civilians in the country
· University of Juba to issue new academic certificates
Three committees have been established to tackle the sticky issues at the ongoing IGAD-mediated talks in Addis Ababa.
Hailemicheal Gebreselassie, IGAD Communications Officer, says the committees will deal with the sticking issues related to leadership and governance, transitional security sector reforms and economic, justice and humanitarian affairs.
Hailemicheal Gebreselassie: “Basically since this morning, these committees are now in a closed door meeting. They are discussing among themselves without any involvement from the IGAD party because it is their issue. As I told you yesterday; this process is owned by the South Sudanese themselves. IGAD is only facilitating them to come and sit and to see how best they can solve their problems.”
The committees will report back to the plenary on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Troika comprised of United States, United Kingdom and Norway said Monday that South Sudanese President Salva Kiir broke a promise when he failed to show up for the latest round of peace talks in Addis Ababa.
In a statement read out by British Special Envoy Matt Cannell, the Troika for South Sudan said that President Kiir and other South Sudanese leaders "agreed to return to Addis on February 20 to for a final round of negotiations”.
The troika however noted "with deep concern and regret that President Kiir has not honored that commitment".
The president’s spokesperson, Ateny Awek Ateny, confirmed that the president has delegated his Vice President Wani Igga to attend the talks.
He however said the absence of President Kiir in Addis Ababa will not affect the outcome of the talks.
Ateny Awek Ateny: “They shouldn’t be worried because the Vice President has constitutional powers and the President has a prerogative to assign the Vice President more powers to do anything on behalf of South Sudan. Those who are worried say they wanted President Kiir himself which is not the norms. When we were fighting Sudan for 21 years, the longest civil war in Africa then, it was ended through the signature of the then Vice President Ali Usman and Dr. Garang Mabior. It did not involve Omar Al-Bashir.
The two parties have been given a 5 March deadline to reach a final peace deal. And IGAD has given both sides until 9 July to form a transitional government.
The UN Security Council will today discuss the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and protection of civilians.
More in this report with Radio Miraya’s reporter Agole Alex.
Agole Alex: “The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) will report to the Security Council on its efforts to ensure the safety of civilians staying at their bases. More than 100,000 internally displaced persons are being hosted by the Mission around the country. According to the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, Bentiu in Unity State is the latest town to experience a new influx of people since January this year. UNOCHA says some 525 individuals are arriving every day at the UN protection of civilian site in the area. South Sudan has been faced by instability since last December following an internal power struggle that has escalated into a civil war. More than two million people remain displaced by the conflict in South Sudan, while more than 2.5 million people face crisis and emergency levels of food security.”
A 14-year- old boy has died after he shot himself using his fathers’ pistol.
The son of a policeman reportedly took his father’s pistol, pulled the trigger and accidentally shot himself dead.
Police Spokesperson Col. James Monday Enoka says the boy’s father has been arrested to help with the investigations.
James Monday Enoka: “An act which happens and leads to loss of life and property must be accounted for leaving a gun just recklessly in the room or wherever like that not in a safe place whereby any innocent person like that boy just picked it up and killed himself. It must be accounted for – the loss of the son is the loss of the whole nation and is not just the loss of his son. We needed this child – he is one of the leaders of tomorrow so he is no longer only anindividual child of that policeman. He is the son of all the South Sudanese so he must be accounted for.”
Meanwhile, police have recorded 14 criminal cases between January and mid-February.
Criminal cases registered In Juba alone, ranged from house break-in, to bank robberies.
Police Spokesperson Col. James Monday Enoka tells Radio Miraya that majority of the suspects are still at large. He explains what measures are being taken to avert crime.
James Monday Enoka: “Bank robbery foreigners have been identified to be very active in this area and also the one picking bags from the women when they are moving on the street using motorcycles. The second category are of course people in uniform especially those who come from different places on holidays or wherever it is and whenever they are bankrupted they resort to commit crimes of robbery. The locals are also involved in crimes. We have these categories. The Ministry of Interior plus the Ministry of Defence and National Security have set strategies of how to deal with this and they wantto enforce the joint operations forces to be strengthened. This must actually be reinforced as before.”
In another development, police plan to introduce speed gun monitors in the wake of the rising accidents along the Juba Nimule Highway.
The decision was announced after an accident in Nesitu area along Juba- Nimule road. The accident occurred after a bus owned by the Bakulu Company collided with a passenger taxi.
One person was killed and more than twenty injured in the traffic accident that occurred on Sunday.
The Director of the South Sudan Traffic Police, General James Biel says the speed gun technology will be implemented soon.
James Biel: “The reason is the missed use of engine; of course the bus has a big engine, so we can say these buses are old, if we did not stop Bakulu Company or do high tech general inspection the lives of our people will continue to die. We have taken a decision to carry out speed gun test, we have the technology and we will implement all these next Friday.”
You are listening to Radio Miraya news.
Authorities in Magwi County are assessing the damages resulting from a fierce fight between SPLA recruits and civilians in Owniny Ki Bul.
What started off as a quarrel between a soldier recruit and one civilian at a bar, went out of control drawing in more civilians fighting in defense of their communities.
Eyewitnesses in Owiny Ki Bul say several houses were torched and many people left homeless.
Magwi County Commissioner, Kingston Oduk, says a team has been sent to the area to assess the damage.
Kingston Oduk: “I sent in a contingent headed by the Inspector of Police to the county to go and establish the facts about the causalities, the loss of properties and so on. By now they have not yet come back, we shall get the facts when they get back.”
The University of Juba now has a new professional face, thanks to the introduction of high quality degree certificates.
Our reporter Reech Malual has more in his report.
Reech Malual: “Students attending the University of Juba had experienced difficulty having their degrees recognized due to the poor quality of certificates issued at the end of degree and post graduate courses. Those students can now let out a sigh of relief as Three thousand copies of the newly designed certificates were received by the university last week from the United Kingdom. Vice Chancellor John Akech urges all the graduates who have attained a poor quality certificate can now reapply for the original certificate.”
Vice Chancellor John Akech: “I think they will have the option to do that because for us we don’t mind you know but they will pay for it as long as they can pay for, you know some universities reject us so it is good for them to come and have them changed.”
Reech Malual: “And in the ongoing strike by four universities around the country, the Vice Chancellor John Akech says the strikers risk administrative action.”
Vice Chancellor John Akech: “I believe the university is open. Anybody who is not coming to teach, we will think that they are actually in breach of their contract. No, if you don’t teach what does it mean? The semester is ending. Will you be able to present examination? What will you say? This is where accountability comes in.”
Reech Malual: “Academic staff at the University of Juba along with three other public universities announced a month long strike last week in protest against the back payment of arears. I am Reech Malual reporting for Radio Miraya news in Juba.”
In regional news, Kenya's High Court has thrown out key aspects of a tough new anti-terrorism law after a legal challenge by the opposition.
Eight clauses were annulled, including those which curbed media freedom and capped the number of refugees and asylum-seekers to 150,000.
The government said the law was needed to counter the growing threat posed by militant Islamists. The opposition warned that it violated civil liberties.
The BBC's reporter in the capital, Nairobi, says that the opposition Coalition for Reform and Democracy (Cord) party applauded the ruling, saying it had saved Kenya from becoming a police state.
And in sports, Egypt's sports minister Khaled Abdel-Aziz has confirmed his country has abandoned its bid to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Abdel-Aziz did not expand on the reasons behind the decision but was talking after FIFA executive committee member Hany Abu Rida said it did not make sense for two Arab countries to compete against each other.
The move comes after the death of 22 fans on 8 February when police and supporters clashed before a game between Cairo clubs Zamalek and ENPPI.
Gabon and Ghana have also made bids.
The Confederation of African Football will announce the hosts on 8 April.
Samuel Pawon is here with an update on the local sports.
Samuel Pawon: “Catholic stars beat Rummathony FC two-one last evening at the ongoing division one football tournament played at Freedom Square in Bentiu, Unity State, while Pangook FC secured the match points after a six-one win over Wurem FC. In Kuajok, Warrap state, Santos FC beat Young City five-four on penalties after the official match time ended in a one-all draw, while Majong Amel FC defeated Junub United team three-one. Kuajok City beat Sifsenko five-four to qualify for the championship, while in Yambio, Rhino FC beat Freedom Boys four-nil. In today’s games,Macongo faces Green State FC in a qualifiers tournament in Yambio, while Mayomdid FC takes on Fox United in the division three competitions in Warrap and Black Stars will play against Rummiyar team in Bentiu.
To end the news, here are the headlines once again:
· Three committees formed to discuss the sticky issues at the IGAD-mediated peace talks in Addis Ababa
· UN Security Council to discuss humanitarian crisis and protection of civilians in the country
· University of Juba to issue new academic certificates
End of Radio Miraya news. I am Susan Dokolo.
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