This Week in South Sudan – Week 48 & 49

Tuesday 29 November

• President Salva Kiir said numerous assurances of support and cooperation from the UN and regional leaders encouraged his acceptance of the Regional Protection Force (RPF).
• The Government of South Sudan (GOSS) presents strategic measures to improve non-oil revenues.
• Salva Kiir visited South Africa for bilateral talks with President Jacob Zuma.
• Al Jazeera: “Save South Sudan from destroying itself”

Wednesday 30 November

• Representatives of the US and UN warned of possibilities of tension escalating in South Sudan, stating GOSS is “preparing for large-scale attacks in the coming days or weeks”.
• Foreign Policy: “U.S. Push to Halt Genocide in South Sudan Unravels at United Nations”

Thursday 1 December

• A UN commission on human rights in South Sudan has said a process of ethnic cleansing is underway in the country, involving massacres, starvation, gang rape and the destruction of villages. International media reports:
  • Reuters: “South Sudanese flee as country edges closer to ‘genocide’”
  • Al Jazeera: “South Sudan denies UN allegations of ‘ethnic cleansing’
  • Voice of America: “UN: Ethnic Cleansing Under Way in South Sudan”
  • BBC: “South Sudan conflict: UN warns of ‘ethnic cleansing’”
• 30 teachers were arrested after they protested over delayed wages in Jonglei state.

Friday 2 December

• Riek Machar has appointed Henry Odwar as deputy chairperson of SPLM (IO).

Saturday 3 December

• The Ethiopian government accepted a request by GOSS to shut down all offices belonging to SPLM (IO). Sudan will reportedly reject GOSS’ request to close all SPLM (IO) offices in Sudan.

Sunday 4 December

• Salva Kiir and Riek Machar declined a proposal by South Africa President Jacob Zuma to meet each other in an attempt to build confidence, trust and dispel personal dislike.

Monday 5 December

• Women rights activists have launched a 16-days campaign to end sexual violence against South Sudanese women.

Wednesday 7 December

• UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon plans to name New Zealand lawmaker David Shearer as the new head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.
• China has sent an additional 120 peacekeepers to South Sudan.
• GOSS ordered immediate deportation of Justin Lynch, an American journalist working for the Associated Press. The Committee to Protect Journalist immediately condemned the expulsion.
• Several days of tension and clashes around Yei town, Central Equatoria. SPLA (IO) claimed they captured Lasu and Lonbongo villages as well as Ombachi, while SPLA claim they repulsed a SPLA (IO) attack on Yei town.
• The Guardian: “Aid in South Sudan: We’re mopping up while the tap is still running”

Thursday 8 December

• President Salva Kiir has ordered the deployment of additional troops to the oil-producing region, saying it will ensure the oil workers’ security and operations. 

Friday 9 December

• The Government of South Sudan has expelled the country director, Victor Moses, of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) after security agents held him for over 24 hours without charge.
• The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold a special session on 14 December on the situation in South Sudan.

Saturday 10 December

• IGAD urged the Kenyan Government to reverse its decision to withdraw its troops from South Sudan.
• SPLA chief of staff, Gen. Paul Malong Awan warned diplomats in South Sudan to avoid making unverified statements in relation to military offensives against SPLA (IO) in the Equatoria region. He also warned SPLA troops against aggression towards foreign UNMISS/RPF troops.
  

Sunday 11 December

• The IGAD summit condemned in the strongest terms the reported systematic targeting, killings and forced displacement of civilians and destruction of property by armed men in South Sudan.