NEWSLINE

NEWSLINEKENYA: Sudanese Refugees Displaced to South Sudan : About 160,000 Sudanese refugees have so far been displaced from Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan States to South Sudan following the...

NEWSLINEKENYA: Sudanese Refugees Displaced to South Sudan : About 160,000 Sudanese refugees have so far been displaced from Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan States to South Sudan following the...

About 160,000 Sudanese refugees have so far been displaced from Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan States to South Sudan following the Khartoum government’s war with rebel groups, the United Nations has said. 08 June 2012 UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in South Sudan Lise Grande. [Gurtong/ ] JUBA, 08 June 2012 [Gurtong] – In a statement, the UN said humanitarian agencies in the country are now focused on responding to the increasing influx of the Sudanese refugees into South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, bordering Blue Nile and Unity State that borders Southern Kordofan. “The total number of Sudanese refugees in Unity and Upper Nile states now stands at close to 160,000 people, with people reportedly arriving in extremely poor physical condition”, read the statement. Fighting between the Sudanese government and the former opposition political party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM/N), now considered rebel group by the Kh

South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit. [File | Gurtong] TORIT, 08June 2012 [Gurtong] – President Salva Kiir Mayardit has issued a notice asking the officials who have deposited stolen moneys in secret bank accounts neighbouring Kenya. In the notice dated 1 July 2012, the President said the amnesty will substitute impending prosecution. “Those who will return the stolen money will not be embarrassed because they will remain anonymous. If funds are returned the government of the Republic of South Sudan will grant amnesty and will keep your name confidential. I and only one other official will have access to this information”, President Kiir assured. According to the President’s letter, over US $4 billion remained unaccounted for between the years 2005 and 2006. A statement released by the Office of the President states that a letter was sent out last week to over 75 former and current senior officials in an effort to recover stolen funds. Most of the stolen

Celebrations to mark the harvesting season in Ongurunyi Boma. [Gurtong/ ]  [Gurtong] – However, the Maya Kingdom in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State is still alive to their cultural practices. Early this year, it crowned its new traditional leader, King David Oyalala Valentino at a colourful ceremony in Hiyala Payam. King Oyalala is tasked with ensuring that all the cultural beliefs and norms of the Kingdom are upheld. For Maya Kingdom to hold onto their cultural values and passing them over to the next generation is worth celebrating in a contemporary world where most cultural values have taken a back seat. South Sudan has some of the richest cultural practices but which are under threat in the modern world. In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in December 2002, the UN General Assembly, in its resolution 57/249, declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The day provides

Police are investigating circumstances under which the Eastern Equatoria State Police Commissioner Major General Malok Ring Kiir was killed on Saturday, 2 June 2012. 05 June 2012 Eastern Equatoria State Police Commissioner Major General Malok Ring Kiir who was killed on Saturday by unknown gunmen along the Juba-Torit road. [Gurtong/] TORIT, 05 June 2012 [Gurtong] – Major General Kiir who was in the company of his bodyguard was killed by unknown gunmen along the Juba-Torit road as he travelled from an official function in Juba. The late Kiir’s driver and a bodyguard who was found with his gun have been arrested and are being interrogated over the murder. It is reported that gunmen ordered the late Major General Kiir out of his car before spraying him with bullets. The Eastern Equatoria State Governor Brigadier General Louis Lobong Lojore has conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the late police boss’ family, South Sudan police service and state re

Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Hilder Johnson speaks to the press at the Governor’s offices in Bor. [Gurtong/] BOR, 04 June 2012 [Gurtong] – The Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Hilder Johnson, said UNMISS is committed to the peace process in the state. Speaking at the end of her tour of the state, Johnson said the ongoing disarmament was a great step towards peace. “We are glad that disarmament has been undertaken in an orderly manner. We are also optimistic that perpetrators of violence will be brought to book”, she said. Johnson added that UNMISS is supporting chiefs in spreading peace messages across the state. She however, expressed concern with the possession of arms by some youth, saying that was a major threat to the anticipated peace. Jonglei State Governor Kuol Manyang commended UNMISS for its role in bringing peace to the state. He expressed satisfaction with the ongoing disarmament, saying it ha