Good evening. It’s 5 pm and I am Agole Alex with Radio Miraya news.
The Headlines:
· Government and opposition delegations resume peace talks.
· UN Secretary General condemns killing of aid workers in Maban
· US to inject more than 100 million US dollars for peacekeeping force in Africa
Peace talks between the government and the Opposition have resumed today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The President’s spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny says the negotiations are being attended by stakeholders.
Ateny explains that the talks have resumed behind closed doors.
Ateny Wek: “They have convened this morning. These are closed doors negotiating today and yet you know the other multi- stakeholders are actually attending that round of peace talks. The talks are continuing and we hope that something will come to South Sudan – peace for that matter. The president has instructed them that he wanted the team to come back with peace in their hands.”
Discussions resumed Monday but were adjourned on Tuesday after the opposition delegation did not show up.
The Norwegian People’s Aid humanitarian agency – NPA – has evacuated its staff from Maban County in Upper Nile State after one of its workers was killed.
Speaking from Norway in an exclusive interview, NPA International Programme Chief Catherine Raaein said the targeted killing of its staff on Tuesday, is making their humanitarian work in the area impossible.
Raaein is demanding for an investigation into the killing.
Catherine Raaein: “We have asked the authorities to form an investigation into what happened in Maban. This a clear demand that we have made to the authority that we expect investigations into what happened. That is only making a cycle of violence and that is only hacking the civilians because we cannot help the population now so there are effectively destroying the aid work to actually assist the refugees and people.”
A national staff member of NPA was shot dead on Tuesday by members of the Mabanese Defence Force, a community-based militia group – believed to be conducting targeted ethnic killings.
Five other humanitarian workers were also killed.
Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki moon has condemned in the “strongest” terms the recent killings of the humanitarian workers in Maban.
In a statement, Mr. Ban demands that the relevant authorities conduct a full investigation into the murders.
The UN chief also reiterated that a military option was no solution to the ongoing crisis in the country, calling upon the government and the opposition to immediately cease their military operations and demonstrate the political will to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
One person has been killed in a latest attack in Mundri West County of Western Equatoria State.
County Commissioner Lexon Maburuk says an elderly man was shot dead and his son is missing after an attack by suspected cattle keepers.
Maburuk says the same group then attacked Kozoro village where the man’s body had been taken for burial.
Lexon Maburuk: “An old man and his son were coming to Kozoro to collect food when the old man was caught and killed and the boy was taken away by the cattle owners. The old man was killed yesterday. When the body was taken to Kulundu for burial I understand last night the cattle owners came and attacked these people and people run in disarray. Up to now, there is no detailed information. I think I need a quick solution within 24 hours.”
It is estimated that up to 700 people have been displaced from their homes in Kozoro after cattle keepers raided the village on Tuesday.
Majority of the displaced women and children have taken refuge in the neighboring villages.
Efforts are being stepped up to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons in Juba to their homes.
Currently there are more than 30,000 IDPs settled at the UN camps in Tomping, UN House and the newly opened site in Jebel.
More in this report with Radio Miraya’s Reech Malual
Reech Malual: “In a meeting between the South Sudan National Police Service, donors and officials of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, areas of Mia wu Saba [107], Khor William and Hai Tarawa were identified as areas where most of the IDPs reside. Speaking at the meeting, Inspector General of Police Gen. Pieng Deng Kuol promised more security patrols and said Police personnel will be selected and trained by the UN police to prepare them for patrols. Gen. Pieng says other security forces will not be involved in patrols in these areas.”
Gen. Pieng Deng Kuol: “For this particular programme, it is only police and UN police. What we are going to have is the coordination if there is a national security and the army definitely we will coordinating with them”
Meanwhile, the Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary General Raisedon Zenenga says the UN Mission is ready to support the initiative.
Raisedon Zenenga: “In principle, we have been given a green light to support the initiative and in specifics we will like to get back to you and indicate the areas where we will be able to support.”
Reech Malual: “Pledges of support for the program have also come from the donor community. A similar meeting between the Police, donors and UNMISS will be held next Wednesday to clarify on how the initiative will be implemented. I am Reech Malual Reporting for Radio Miraya.”
A six-member delegation from the African Union’s Commission of Inquiry has arrived in Aweil to investigate the atrocities committed in the ongoing conflict.
Justice Sophia Akuffo, President of the African Union court said the team is in the state to talk to the IDPs who have fled the conflict.
Sophia Akuffo: “We have come to Northern Bahr el Ghazal because the Commission had decided that apart from three states, where there has been a lot fighting and killings, there are also other states which constitute the Republic of South Sudan. So we needed to also go there. A lot of these states also have received a number of IDPs. So where they have received the IDPs we would also interact with the IDPs in the States. Where they have run away, they are not there for us to talk to. My message is that, I think we are all for peace. And we have, for people of South Sudan, to find the way and commit them to a lasting peace. Ours is to investigate what happened.”
In another development, a committee has been set up in Upper Nile state to assess the impact of the ongoing conflict on the state.
Upper Nile State deputy governor, Aweer Dau Agang, says the committee has been tasked to assess the impact of the conflict mainly on Malakal.
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The community of Kegulu village in Yei River County, Central Equatoria State will soon have a new primary school.
The ground breaking ceremony for the 8-classroom block has been done and construction is expected to take up to six months.
The community of Kegulu village has been demanding for schools, water and health facilities from companies involved in the timber business in the area.
Yei River County Commissioner, Juma David Augustine says the project is being funded by the National government.
Juma David Augustine: “This construction is being funded by the National Ministry of Agriculture in the Government of South Sudan. This is after our fierce struggle and close follow up of the demand of our community. I have been to Juba several times and finally the Ministry approved this community demand. So what I did was to move the company that is undertaking construction to sign the contract in front of the community and the community bears a strong witness. This school has a history. The foundation stone was laid by then His Excellency Abel Alier in 1980. You can imagine 34 years down the road this school has not been constructed.”
Kegulu village is located about 10 kilometers from Yei town.
Prices of commodities have shot up in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
Wau town mayor, Arkangelo Anyar, says the price hikes are as a result of scarcity of goods in the market.
Anyar says the heavy rain has made the Wau-Tombura, Wau-Tonj and Wau –Awiel roads impassable, making it difficult for traders to bring in commodities.
Arkangelo Anyar: “Especially on the road connecting Western Bahr El-Ghazal and Western Equatoria in the area of Nagero, there is road block due to heavy rains. Also on the road connecting Juba-Rumbek- Tonj-Wau, is blocked and there is shortage in the trucks coming through. There is also an increase in prices and shortage in the numbers of trucks coming from Sudan through Northern Bahr El-Ghazal, but the Municipality sees that these reasons are not enough for increase in the prices.”
The Mayor says the State Chamber of Commerce will look into the issue and is warning traders against increasing prices illegally
In regional news, soldiers in Liberia have set up a blockade to stop people from western regions affected by the Ebola outbreak from entering the capital, Monrovia.
This comes after President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf declared a state of emergency in Liberia to tackle the outbreak that has killed more than 930 people in West Africa.
In Sierra Leone, security forces have now imposed a complete blockade of eastern areas hit by Ebola.
Health experts in Switzerland are discussing a response to the outbreak.
It is the world's deadliest outbreak and the two-day World Health Organization meeting will decide whether to declare a global health emergency.
And in sports, here is Samuel Pawon with a roundup of results from Wednesday’s division one football games played across the country.
Samuel Pawon: “In Juba, Malekia FC defeated Rainbow 2-nil at Juba football stadium. The win strengthens Malekia’s lead at the top of the table with 20 points, while Rainbow remains in fourth position with 15 points. In Torit, Eastern Equatoria State Young Generation beat Ahly FC 2-1 in a match played at freedom square, while in Kuajok-Warrap State, Kuajok city FC secured second position with four points after beating Hilal team 4-1. In Northern Bahr el Ghazal, the match between Akweam and Afada FC was postponed because of rain, while in Rumbek, Lakes state, matches were also postponed – after the killing of a paramount chief. Games will resume on Saturday, according to the local football association. In today’s matches, Munuki FC is taking on Kator team at juba football stadium, while New nation is hosting Muhandisin FC in Kuajock and in Torit, Volcano FC take on Rabita at the freedom square.”
To end the news, the main stories once again.
· Government and opposition delegations resume peace talks.
· UN Secretary General condemns killing of aid workers in Maban
· US to inject more than 100 million US dollars for peacekeeping force in Africa
You have been listening to Radio Miraya news. To let us know about the latest news where you live, contact us at; . I am Agole thanks for listening.
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