NEWSLINE

Nzara County School in Dire Need of Classrooms Pupils at Nabagou Primary and Nursery School in Nzara County are studying under a tree. Pupils at Nabagou Primary school where a tree serves as a classroom. [Gurtong] YAMBIO, August 2012 – The school in Western Equatoria State lacks crucial facilities to enable smooth learning. The headmaster Gelisama Andrew Mbikonigbia said the school faces a number of challenges, including lack of classrooms, since it was opened in 1996. Despite the poor teaching and studying environment, the school’s performance has been improving slightly over the years. Most pupils have been forced to drop out of the school due to lack of support from parents, most of whom who are poor and unable to educate their children. According to the headmaster, early pregnancies have also led to the dropping out of girls. “The unfortunate bit is that they don’t return to school after delivery”, said Mbikonigbia. The headmast

The Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) spokesman Philip Aguer Payang has denied reports that its top officials have been arrested. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). [Gurtong/File]  WAU,  August 2012 [Gurtong] – There has been information circulating that the Deputy Director of Military Intelligence Major General Mac Paul and a SPLA Senior Marial Nuor have been arrested after an attempted coup against the South Sudan government. “It is not true that some of our SPLA high rank officers were attempting to overthrow the South Sudan government”, Aguer said. Aguer has also denied rumours that Colonel Garang Deng and Colonel Alfred Sebit are under detention.  The SPLA spokesman said the rumours have been created by the Khartoum government as part of diverting the attention of the people of South Sudan. Aguer said that the SPLA forces are mandated to defend the South Sudan territory and are not part of any political allegiance. He warned Khart

Sudan and South Sudan have struck a deal on an oil payments dispute that brought the two countries to the brink of war earlier this year. 04 August 2012 President Omar al-Bashir (R) walks out with Thabo Mbeki (left) and President Salva Kiir Mayardit after a meeting in 2011 [©Reuters] ADDIS ABABA, 04 August 2012 [BBC] - They will also discuss a timetable for resuming oil exports through the north, said mediator Thabo Mbeki. Landlocked South Sudan shut down oil production in January after failing to agree a deal on oil transit fees with its northern neighbour. The dispute has severely impacted the economies of both countries. A United Nations deadline for the neighbouring countries to resolve their differences - including the oil payments dispute and disagreements over borders - expired on Thursday. Economic woes Former South African president and African Union mediator Thabo Mbeki said all outstanding issues had been resolved, but gave no furth

President Kiir Warns Against Tribalism South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has advised against tribalism in the country. 02 August 2012 L-R: The SPLA Chief of Staff James Hoth Mai, South Sudan Vice President Dr Riek Machar, President Salva Kiir and Representative of SPLM Secretary General Antipas Nyok during the Martyrs’ Day celebration . [Gurtong} | By Waakhe Simon Wudu JUBA, 02August 2012 - Speaking during the national celebrations to mark the Martyrs’ Day at Dr John Garang Mausoleum in Juba, the President warned that tribalism will divide the new nation. “We in South Sudan should move out of the ideology of tribalism and divide and rule policy”, he said. The President strongly cautioned against tribalism, saying the activities of the country’s main opposition political party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change promote tribalism. Kiir assured widows and widowers of the martyrs of continuous support and urged

The Ministry of Health Republic of South Sudan in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned the general public to be vigilant following reports of an Ebola outbreak in Uganda. 01 August 2012 Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) staff attend to an Ebola patient inside an isolation ward in Bundibugyo December 12, 2007 in this picture released by MSF on December 20, 2007. (Reuters/Claude Mahoudeau/MSF/Handout) Ebola Alert Issued In  South Sudan YEI, 01 August 2012 [Gurtong] – The Ministry’s statements states that the outbreak reports follow confirmation by laboratory investigations done at the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe confirming that the “Strange Disease” that was reported in the country since 6 July was Ebola hemorrhagic fever.   “Although the mid western district is closer to the Democratic Republic of Congo than it is with South Sudan, all precautionary measure

Three policemen guarding a prison in Imehejek Lopa and Lafon County have been arrested over corruption. 01 August 2012 Cornered: Policemen who were arrested by SPLA soldiers over suspicion of bribe taking in Imehejek. [Gurtong] TORIT, 01 August 2012 [Gurtong] – The three were accused of taking a bribe and releasing two prisoners believed to have killed one person from Loming village. The dead person was reported missing between Loming and Lolongo villages and his clothes were found near the road. According to a policeman at the station, Grato Obura, the three private officers were only identified as Sammy, Simon and Lopai. It is alleged that the three were offered 250 South Sudanese Pounds to release the suspect. Police officers at the station say that there have been cases of criminals being released from detention after paying a bribe and called on the deployment of a new police force to help in investigations. The county lacks a proper crimin

Heavy rains and flooding have disrupted transport in Central Equatoria State. Vehicles stuck in water along the Kajo- Keji road following heavy rains in the area. [Gurtong] JUBA, July 2012  – As a result, most roads have deteriorated with many becoming impassable. Flooding on river Kor Jamus and Lamu has washed away culverts along the Kajo-Keji-Juba road making the road impassable to most vehicles, save for a few four wheel drives. Several commuters plying the route for business are stuck as a result of the flooding. This has led to an increase in prices of goods and services as traders attribute the hike in prices to hiring of expensive vehicles to transport goods from Juba as result of the poor road network. “Vehicle owners are now charging high prices for hire. Others even refuse to carry heavy goods due to the road”, John Boni, one of the traders in Kajo-Keji town of Wuddu told Gurtong. Two vehicles, a lorry and a pick-up overturned while attempting

The President of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit is expected to appear at the South Sudan-Sudan talks today in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. 31 July 2012 The President of the Government of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit. [© Gurtong]  – Kiir is expected to present his country’s final offer to Sudan, mainly on oil deal and key outstanding post-independence issues. The Catholic Radio Network has reported quoting a reliable SPLM official who preferred to be unnamed. Officials have said that the Juba leadership has offered to increase transit and refinery fees to ensure the two nations canagree on a friendly way to resume oil production. The latest move by the president follows a recent offer by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to the Republic of the Government of Sudan. Offering an incredibly generous assistance package of about 8 billion US Dollars to the Khartoum Government in re

Jonglei State team El-Nijum suffered a humbled defeat at the hands of Eastern Equatoria’s Volcano in a football match played at Bor Stadium last Saturday. 31 July 2012 El-Nijum players (in black shorts) wait for the ball to land together with the Volcano team opponents at the Bor Stadium. [Gurtong] – Volcano who thrashed El-Nijum 3-0 was the first to score in the first half through John Peter Alberto. They added the second goal before the end of the half and a third goal in the beginning of the second half. The national team head coach Zoran Djordjervic said the football match it was good for each player to demonstrate his quality and talents. “This is really a chance for every player to show his talent and motivation to play for our national teams someday,” said Djordjervic. Djordjervic added that they are using the tournaments to scout for the under 21 and under 19 football players. Volcano team leader Abramem Inima said the mission of the t