November 2, 2015 (SSNA) -- The Nuer Supreme Council (NSC) on Monday called for calm among the Greater Nuer Community, saying the killing of Nuer civilians in Juba by Salva Kiir’s government that was supposed to protect them is a pain that will never be forgotten and urge members for the community worldwide to be courageous so that the people of South Sudan can move forward. The community also urges the entire Naath community to embrace peace.

The call came days after the African Union Commission of Inquiry released its report on South Sudan’s atrocities.

The NSC, which is headquartered in Canada and has branches around the world, warns of “dire consequences,” after it finds what it described as “missed step and gross mischarge of justice,” in the report and calls on the African Union Commission of Enquiry on South Sudan Conflict to reconsider some of its findings.

The Nuer Supreme Council says it commends the African Union Commission of Enquiry on South Sudan Conflict for making the Human Rights violations and other crimes committed in South Sudan public, adding that it is disappointed over the Commission’s inability to find reasonable grounds for crimes of genocide despite the fact that there are strong evidence of genocide committed against Nuer in December of 2013.

The Council blasted the report. Saying it is a “missed step and gross mischarge of justice” in its pure form and may have dire consequences,, adding that it fully supports the ongoing peace process, asserting that it will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Greater Nuer Community to promote peace and justice for the victims of Kiir’s government, adding that it is also committed to end impunity and guarantees accountable for those who carries out crimes against Nuer civilians in Juba.

“The Nuer Supreme Council (NSC) takes this opportunity to calls on the Greater Nuer Community (aka Naath) around the global for calm and encourages them to embrace peace,” a statement obtained by the South Sudan news Agency (SSNA) reads in part.

The NSC, which also called Naath Supreme Council, states that the Greater Nuer Community should keep calm and embrace peace even after their anger was validated after the African Union report on South Sudan’s conflict.

“While the Council acknowledges the pains the Nuer Community is going through after the release of long waited AU Report on South Sudan conflict, where the Commission found that there was a State’s sanctioned summarily execution policy against Nuer innocent civilians, the Council feel it’s paramount to remain calm and strategizes for ways forward,” the document said.

Fighting broke out in December of 2013 between different units of presidential guards after months of political scuffle among senior leaders of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party.

Within a few days, thousands of civilians of Nuer ethnicity were rounded-up and killed in and around Juba, their bodies dumped in the Nile River and some were buried in mass graves hidden from public sites.

In weeks and months leading to fighting, South Sudanese president Salva kiir sacked his entire cabinet including his Former Deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny, Former SPLM Secretary General pagan Amum, among other.

Kiir accused his rival, Dr. Riek Machar, of planning a coup. Machar denies the allegation saying Salva Kiir planned the alleged coup in an attempt to try to get rid of his rivals.

The Nuer Supreme Council says it is shocked but not surprised after seeing the AU’s report on the atrocities.

“The evidence of crimes on the report committed against members of the Nuer ethnic groups are “horrific,” and they includes forced cannibalism, castration of boys and left for dead, gang rapes and chopping off of young girls and women breasts after rapes, forced jumping on fire and forced drinking of human blood after being killed by the perpetrators,” the statement added.

The NSC admits that the Nuer community worldwide is very angry and sad after its nearly two years old call for accountability was answered and validated by the AU’s report; adding that the AU’s report is a victory and urges all members of the Nuer Community to embrace peace.

“The validation of these horrific crimes by the African Union’s report on South Sudan is a victory, but has regenerated angers and unease feelings among the Greater Nuer Community. In an essence, these crimes are horrific, unbearable and the NSC understands that Nuer society has a right to be anger,” the text further stated.

In the document, the leadership of the NSC calls for its members to rethink for what it described as “better strategic moves and answers,” adding that the killing of Nuer in Juba was carried out by Kiir’s trained militias and organized forces.”

“However, as a community, we need to take back step. Rethink for better strategic moves and answers to the problem. We also need to be thankful to the AU Commission of Enquiry on South Sudan for overwhelmingly and at last validating our long claim crime of genocide committed against Nuer civilians.

This position has consistently been the Greater Nuer Community and the Nuer Supreme Council stance since the day conflict stated and massacre was carried out on the 15^th of  December 2013 by non-other than Salva Kiir Mayardit, trained militias and organized forces against Nuer,” the text added.

The NSC reveals that the Nuer Community fight against Kiir’s regime is for self-defence and that the civil war was created and invited by Salva kiir himself. The community echoes the AU’s report, saying the Nuer massacre was a “state sanctioned, organized military operation, and furtherance of a State policy.”

Late last month, the African Union’s report on South Sudan’s atrocities concluded that there were widespread systematic killings of Nuer and that the operation against Nuer in Juba was a state sponsored, well-planned and organized.

The AU report further states that fighting in Juba, specifically in Giada, a suburb of Juba  was intended by the government to provoke the real intended target, resulting in death of so many Nuer civilians, many of whom were women, children, elderly, and youth.

The AU Commission on South Sudan’s atrocities disclosed that South Sudan’s government deliberately divided the capital, Juba, in four zones, road blocks were established in and around Juba, and house-to-house searches were carried out by government agents and security forces. The Commission further found that searched resulted in men of Nuer ethnicity being identified and killed on spot on in a group. The Commission also declared the killings of civilians as a crime against humanity.

In the document, the NSC states that Salva Kiir's continuous war against rebels is an attempt to avoid justice and called it a “desperate scheme,” The Nuer Supreme Council also acknowledges and thanks “educated young Nuer men and women and other open-minded South Sudanese” for exposing government’s hideous actions.

NSC blasts leader of rebel splinter group

The Nuer Supreme Council also blasted Gabriel Changson Lew Chang and his group, who left South Sudanese rebels led by Dr. Riek Machar.

NSC warns against joining Gabriel Changson and described his as a “disgruntled politician” who cannot be trusted by any Nuer. The leadership of the NSC also says South Sudanese must distance themselves from Gabriel Changson and his renegaded Generals.

On October 21, the South Sudan News Agency reported that it has obtained a leaked audio recording of minutes of a meeting held on the 18^th of October 2015 between the leader of the splinter group Changson and his supporters most of whom live in the United States. In the report, the SSNA said Changson can be heard complaining that the armed opposition leader is a dictator and that Machar appoints people and interferes with their works. In the audio Changson urges his supporters to help establish military bases in any area in Upper Nile, Unity, and Jonglei States.

Addis Ababa, November 4, 2015 (SSNA) -- South Sudan’s armed opposition has accused government forces of launching fresh attacks on its positions, saying Juba has violates the recently signed “security arrangements” deal.

Rebel Spokesman James Gatdet Dak, who is the official Spokesperson for the rebel leadership said in a statement extended to the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) that Juba-backed troops have been shieling Canal and Khorfulus for two days in an attempt to capture them from the SPLA-IO.

“Our bases have been attacked by government forces for the last two days. This aggression by the regime in Juba is a violation of the peace agreement, particularly the ceasefire. They have been shelling Canal and Khorfulus. Their aim is to try to close both the Sobat River and White Nile in an attempt to capture our bases,” Gatdet said in a statement.

The armed opposition Spokesperson added that continued attacks against the SPLA-IO by Juba-backed soldiers must end and called on IGAD and the international community put pressure on Juba to stop its attacks against rebels and implements the power-sharing peace deal.

“The regime has continued with the offensive against our forces despite the signing of the security arrangements. IGAD and the wider international community should put pressure on the government to stop the fighting and implement the peace agreement,” he added.

The accusation came days after the IGAD-Plus announced a breakthrough in weeks-long security negotiation between the two warring factions in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

Nairobi, November 4, 2015 (SSNA) -- An Antonov plane destined for northern Upper Nile State crashed on Wednesday soon after it took off from the Juba international airport, killing at least 36 people.

South Sudan Red Cross (SSRC) says 36 bodies have been pulled out of the shattered plane, An-12B cargo.

SSRC added that two survivors including a small child were also pulled out of the plane’s wreckages.

It has also been reported that the crashed cargo keeps  operating after it has been grounded by its parent company, Ukrainian-based Antonov, for failing to "undergo timely technical servicing."

New York/Juba, November 7, 2015 (SSNA) -- The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has on Friday released a report, saying scores of children were massacred in the ‘northern battleground state of Unity’.

The report says the war resulted in “grave consequences for civilians” in Leer County of the oil-rich Unity State.

The report explicitly points out that Unity State, the home state of rebel leader Dr. Riek Machar, as the place where civilians suffer greatly and that 40,000 civilians are now starving to death due to the escalation of the war.

The report added that many cases of rape have been documented and that rape was used as weapon of war.

Last month, Protection Cluster, the umbrella agency for 60 South Sudanese and international aid organizations said it received of killings of at least 80 civilians in Unity State and that 57 of those killed were children; adding that 29 of the 57 children drowned after they tried to hide from attacks.

The humanitarian agencies added that the attacks which resulted in the death of civilians were carried out between the 4^th of October and October 22.

Addis Ababa/Pagak, November 7, 2015 (SSNA) -- The National Liberation Council (NLC) of the armed opposition led by Former South Sudanese Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny will send an advance team of 500 people to Juba to start the implementation of the IGAD-Plus’s compromise peace agreement, rebel leadership has announced.

“National Liberation Council (NLC) of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) has resolved to dispatch to Juba an advance team of 500 cadres to be led by senior officials. Our leadership is committed to the full implementation of the peace agreement,” a statement released by the rebel leadership Spokesperson James Gatdet Dak said.

The rebel leadership asserts that it expects its team, which will be led by senior leaders of the armed opposition to be find what it describes as “conducive environment” in Juba and in other States, adding that constitutional amendments must be made as required by the power-sharing deal.

“Our advance team should find conducive environment for the implementation of the peace agreement without obstacles. It is only through mechanisms provided for in the peace accord that amendments shall be made in the constitution,” the text further stated.

In the document, rebels reject government’s 28 states order, call on Kiir to revoke it, and added that the decree violates the peace agreement.

The leadership of the armed opposition also says its advance team will visit nine states as part of its commitment to spread the message of peace and its implementation and urges Juba to do the same. Rebels further revealed that a transitional government of national unity will be formed between mid-December 2015 and the 15^th of January 2016.

The peace pact calls on South Sudan’s rival factions to form a unity government within 90 days after the agreement was signed.

However, rebels warn that the formation of a transitional government of national unity depends on progress made on the “progress made in the initial phases of the implementation.” The armed opposition also says its leader Dr. Machar will only return to Juba to form a coalition government with Kiir when ‘other political, security and logistical challenges are resolved in accordance’ with the internationally-backed peace deal.

This week, media reports suggest that that rebel leader Machar will travel to Juba next week with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. Rebels dismissed the report as "mere fabrication."

The rebel leadership didn’t say exactly when it will send its advance team to Juba.

The SPLM/A-IO's leadership has this week convened a consultative conference in the rebel headquarters, Pagak. The meeting is designed to educate military Generals and civilians about the peace and its implementation.

Addis Ababa, November 11, 2015 (SSNA) -- The Editor-in-Chief of the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) said Tuesday that the IGAD-Plus’s compromise peace agreement which was signed by South Sudan’s warring factions in August is pregnant with what he branded as ‘noisy and thunderous’.

Duop Chak Wuol, the editor of the US-based SSNA, wrote a message on his Facebook wall, saying the recently signed peace pact is pregnant with a “noisy and thunderous baby.”

“The IGAD-Plus's compromise peace agreement is pregnant with a noisy, perhaps thunderous baby,” Duop wrote on his Facebook’s wall on Tuesday.

The Editor of the US-based news agency declined to elaborate further when contacted by the SSNA, stating he has nothing to explain beyond the message he posted because he does not know the name of a baby he was referring to.

“There is absolutely nothing about the message that needs to be clarified. Again, I don’t have another description of my one day old message if that is what you are looking for,” Duop told the South Sudan News Agency.

“What I do know is that the baby will be a very noisy and thunderous one. But I have no idea about the date it will be delivered and certainly have no clue of what its name will be,” he declared.

Duop’s statement resembles views of most South Sudanese who believe that the implementation of power-sharing deal will determine the future of the violence-ravaged young nation.

His comment comes as South Sudan’s armed opposition led by Former Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny prepares to send an advance team to Juba and nine other states to explain to the public the peace deal and its implementation.

However, the SSNA’s Editor asserts what appears to be recognition of how difficult it will be for the South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Dr. Riek Machar to work together for peace after nearly two years of armed conflict.

“Forcing two opposing groups who have a history of deep rivalry to live close to each other is a very tall gamble; but it is not impossible. For peace to prevail in South Sudan, the IGAD-Plus, African Union, and the international community must be active members of the implementation process,” he added.

“Remember, Salva Kiir and his political allies who planned the fake coup are still not happy because their infamous coup scheme has produced a different result,” he noticed.

Duop’s remarks appear to be a direct reference to what could happen if the warring sides refuse to implement the peace accord or fail to respect the recently signed “security arrangements” deal.

There is a general feeling among South Sudanese communities that the implementation of the IGAD-Plus brokered peace agreement will not be an easy task and that the international community must be vigilant and engaged to make sure the South Sudan’s rival groups implement the much-needed deal.

The internationally-backed accord is aimed to end the nearly two year old civil war after initial peace talks mediated by the East African regional bloc, IGAD, collapsed in early March.

Fighting broke out in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, in mid-December of 2013 between different units of presidential guards after months of political fracas between senior leaders of the ruling Sudan people’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed, more than two million South Sudanese fled their homes, and hundreds of thousands fled to the neighboring countries most of whom live in Ethiopia.

Washington, DC, November 10, 2015 (SSNA) -- In a statement published today, the Enough Project presents analysis and key recommendations in response to the long-delayed African Union Commission of Inquiry (AU COI) report on the crisis in South Sudan. The “Final Report of the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan,” points to corruption and the unequal distribution of the proceeds of natural resources as major factors sparking and fueling atrocities and armed violence in South Sudan.

The 315-page AU COI report details events leading up to the massacre in Juba in December 2013, and deduces that the killing of Nuer people at that time were “crimes committed pursuant to or in furtherance of a State policy.” Likewise, the report’s documentation of targeted killings based on ethnicity perpetrated by rebel forces provide important information for understanding the culpability of both sides of the conflict. While calling for accountability, the Enough Project’s lauds the AU COI report’s emphasis on reconciliation, peace, justice, and institutional reforms.

In its statement today, the Enough Project puts forward recommendations, including:

• The looting of South Sudan’s natural resource wealth by high-level elites reflects the practices of a kleptocracy that must be dismantled.
• The international community should invest in global efforts to trace, seize, freeze, and return the proceeds of corruption back to the people of South Sudan.
• Those with the greatest responsibility for the atrocities at the highest level must be held accountable, and prosecution should be prioritized.
• The role of the proposed hybrid court spelled out in the August 2015 peace agreement should be supported, including the prosecution of economic crimes. Steps must be taken to ensure that the court has the necessary funding and the legal and technical resources to enable it to investigate and prosecute economic crimes, including pillage and grand corruption.
• Support for civil society referenced in the commission’s report should focus on strengthening South Sudanese-led efforts to press for the full implementation of South Sudan’s own beneficial ownership and public disclosure rules.

The AU COI report is based on testimonies from key government and rebel leaders, civil society, and ordinary South Sudanese. The report’s public release was delayed for many months, and its cover page is dated October 15, 2014.

Full statement by the Enough Project below:

African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan Report

By the Enough Team

November 10, 2015

The African Union’s long-awaited report on the crisis in South Sudan strongly makes the case that sustainable peace must not only address justice for victims of atrocities but also tackle the underlying economic sources of the conflict, which Enough argues include the pursuit by individuals of their own economic interests at the expense of the South Sudanese people.

The AU report’s substantive focus on human rights abuses committed by the government and rebels, including their affiliate militias, in various locations in the country, is commendable and important for both understanding the human toll of the conflict and also for devising strategies for healing. The report’s emphasis on reconciliation, peace, justice, and institutional reforms holds the potential for a new beginning for South Sudanese leaders.

The report sheds light on events leading up to the massacre in Juba in December 2013, and the AU Commission of Inquiry deduces that the killing of Nuer people at that time were “crimes committed pursuant to or in furtherance of a State policy.”

Likewise, the report’s documentation of targeted killings based on ethnicity perpetrated by the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) in towns such as Malakal, Bor, and Bentiu provide important information for understanding the culpability of the rebels.

The focus on recruitment of children into government and rebel armies and the extensive sexual and gender-based violence committed by both sides exposes the diversity of the atrocity crimes in the conflict. In concluding that “there are reasonable grounds to believe that these crimes were committed in a wide spread or systematic manner, and that evidence points to the existence of a state or organizational policy to launch attacks against civilians based on their ethnicity or political affiliation,” the report is a powerful reminder of the need to bring the perpetrators to account for their actions.

Of important note is the report’s identification of the underlying sources of conflict in South Sudan. The report identifies crippling capacity shortfalls in almost all of the country’s institutions and exposes how these issues helped fuel dissent, anger, resentment, and friction among communities in South Sudan. With regard to the genesis of the ongoing conflict, the report notes that significant weaknesses in the internal institutions of the ruling SPLM party were instrumental in triggering the country’s descent into civil war.

Most significantly, however, the report highlights how economic factors played a key role in contributing to the outbreak of war. Specifically, the report draws attention to pervasive weaknesses in the management, allocation, and distribution of the country’s natural resources. The report underscores that factors such as corruption and the unequal distribution of oil proceeds greatly compromised the government’s capacity to deliver services, thus fueling anger and resentment within the population.

The factors described above served as the key ingredients that fueled the war in South Sudan, and these findings shape the substance of key recommendations in the report.

In addition to calling for institutional reforms, the report’s recommendations on human rights hit the right notes and point toward ratification of all international pacts on human rights by the government, strengthening of national institutions for protection of human rights, and building a cogent disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) program to transform the security forces.

The report notes that there is support for holding the two principals in this conflict—President Salva Kiir and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar—accountable for the atrocities. The report’s heavier emphasis, however, on truth-telling, reconciliation, traditional justice, reparations, and institutional reforms risks overshadowing and underestimating the South Sudanese public’s appetite for the criminal prosecution of the perpetrators of violence according to international standards as part of a process for achieving holistic justice in South Sudan.

In light of the fact that international law was broken and the fact that the report identifies reasonable grounds to believe that the atrocities amount to crimes against humanity, recommending that “those with the greatest responsibility for the atrocities at the highest level” be held accountable, it is our contention that this is a crucial aspect for justice and that emphasis on prosecution should be prioritized.

With regard to the economic factors of the conflict, the report underscores that the “struggle for political power and control of natural resources revenue, corruption and nepotism” were key factors behind the outbreak of conflict. Consequently, the report notes that the mismanagement of oil revenues caused frustration among different groups in the country. The report adds that the resources of the country, including oil revenues, have largely come under the purview of “top politicians and their families” at the expense of the general populace.

To address this situation, the report recommends sound measures in resource governance: the strengthening of legal frameworks and equitable distribution of natural resource revenues.

It is important to observe, however, that the recommendations are notably silent on prosecuting economic crimes, despite the direct relevance of economic factors in contributing to war.

We contend that economic crimes constitute a major reason for the outbreak of conflict in South Sudan. In this respect, we support the role of the proposed hybrid court spelled out in the August 2015 peace agreement, which includes the prosecution of economic crimes. In this light, steps must be taken to ensure that the court has the necessary funding and the legal and technical resources to enable it to investigate and prosecute economic crimes, including pillage and grand corruption.

The signed peace agreement also gives the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) a significant role in resource and financial oversight. Nevertheless, given the commission’s vast mandate, it is important that JMEC identify and prioritize specific financial accountability and transparency interventions that have the greatest potential for stabilizing the economy and ending impunity for economic crimes, such as closing all non-official oil accounts.

In addition, support for civil society referenced in the commission’s report should focus on strengthening South Sudanese-led efforts to press for the full implementation of South Sudan’s own beneficial ownership and public disclosure rules.

The looting of South Sudan’s natural resource wealth by a clique of high-level elites reflects the practices of a kleptocracy that must be dismantled. In addition to strong support for JMEC and the hybrid court, the international community should also invest in global efforts to trace, seize, freeze, and return the proceeds of corruption back to the people of South Sudan. Finally, the U.S. and other partners should maintain the threat of targeted sanctions by continuing their efforts to identify the assets of politically exposed elites who threaten the implementation of the peace agreement and pursue interests for their own political or economic gain.

Link to statement by the Enough Project: http://eno.ug/1PA6uzN

About THE ENOUGH PROJECT

The Enough Project, an atrocity prevention policy group, seeks to build leverage for peace and justice in Africa by helping to create real consequences for the perpetrators and facilitators of genocide and other mass atrocities. Enough aims to counter rights-abusing armed groups and violent kleptocratic regimes that are fueled by grand corruption, transnational crime and terror, and the pillaging and trafficking of minerals, ivory, diamonds, and other natural resources. Enough conducts field research in conflict zones, develops and advocates for policy recommendations, supports social movements in affected countries, and mobilizes public campaigns. Learn more – and join us – at www.EnoughProject.org

Enough Project, 1333 H St., NW 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20005 United States

November 12, 2015 (SSNA) -- With deep sorrow the Thiang Nuer Community learns and would like to announce to all relatives, friends and colleagues the surprise and tragic death of Fangak County’s former Commissioner, H:E. John Matien Kuol Joc, which occurred on November 11th, 2015 in a Sudanese capital, Khartoum.  Hon. John Matien first felt sick in Fangak and then he was taken to Sudan, where he had been attending further medication all this time until his ultimate death yesterday, Wednesday 11^th 2015.

The last position he could hold was Fangak County’s Commissionership—from March 2013 through July 2015. He also diligently and physically participated in a fight alongside National Resistance Movement leads by Dr. Riek Machar Teny against Juba’s genocidal regime, a regime which has been mass murdering its own citizens since 2013 to date. Hon. John Matien, is a hero who fought both civil wars against domestic oppressive elites, so it is his physical body that will be missed but his contributions and legacy will remain alive forever. He married to four (4) wives, blessed with number of children, grandsons & daughters. Late Hon. John Matien’s elders Sons include:

All these and many others whose names undisclosed here are the gifts given to John Matien by God. John Matien schooled all his children up to University and Masters Degrees Levels. In fact, given the number of children, good quality of education the late John Matien had overseen, we can just say that late Hon. John Matien has really done his part and raised the nation.

In addition to this sad news, Thiang Nuer Community had also early this month lost a very young, talented man who was exactly at his late twenties. This is truly a very trying time for Thinag Nuer Community! A young and talented man, the Thiang Nuer Community lost was Mr. James Ruei Jal Riek, who suddenly passed away in Juba after a very quick and surprise sickness. That mean, two people passed away almost on the same day. Indeed, their sequence deaths will open a very huge gap within our weak Community because James Ruei was a young man who has not yet produced much and John Matien was one of Thiang Nuer Community’s prominent constitutional post holders.  Thus, their deaths are great lost not only to Thinag Community but also to Greater Fangak and Nuer Community in general. God! Can you comfort Thiang Nuer Community in this trying time?

Lastly, the Thiang Nuer Community cannot forget to give thanks to all relatives, friends and colleagues who in one way or another supported Thiang Community and above all our especial appreciations must go to South Sudan’s Armed Opposition, the SPLM/A-I-O’s leadership. The Armed Opposition’s under the current South Sudan’s First Vice President designate, Dr. Riek Machar Teny had been providing all logistical cost. For instance, the late John Matien was picked from Fangak to Sudan for further treatment with help from SPLM/A-I-O’s leadership as well as the other things used in the process covering the daily basic needs. Therefore, the Thinag Nuer Community knows that it won’t be able to refund back all aforementioned supported it’s received from SPLM/A-I-O but Almighty God shall reimburse to leadership through invisible forms.  Hon. John Matien shall be as a final point laid to rest at his home town on Friday13^th 2015.

Finally, to all Thinag Nuer Community’s members worldwide: Let’s just comfort ourselves as we put our faith in God; because it has now become real that we have entirely missed Mr. James Ruei Jal and Hon. John Matien  Kuol for good and forever.

Pagak, November 13, 2015 (SSNA) -- South Sudanese rebel military command of the SPLA-IO has denied reports that its armed forces have last month stolen fuel destined for United Nations Mission in South Sudan(UNMISS), saying UN peacekeepers were operating barges with government agents have actually engaged in “reckless activities.”

Media reports, which the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) cannot independently verify alleged that South Sudan’s Ceasefire monitors have accused rebel forces of stealing United Nations fuel from the barges that they seized last month along the White Nile.

In October, the armed opposition seized barges which they said were transporting government’s weapons and ammunition along the White Nile.

Rebels later detained at least 16 UN’s peacekeepers, three officers of South Sudanese security agents, two SPLA’s soldiers, and six barge technicians aboard after they seized the barges.

Johnson Wal Hoth, a high ranking official with the rebel military command in rebel headquarters, Pagak, denied the alleged accusation and told the SSNA that media reports that the SPLA-IO took UN’s fuel is baseless, adding “all properties of the UN were not taken by anyone.”

“Anyone who thinks we took UNMISS fuel is lying,” declared the furious SPLA-IO’s Officer.

“All properties of the UN were not taken, they were returned to UNMISS. We also released peacekeepers including government agents,” Johnson said.

The armed opposition seized the barges last month at Kaka located on a rebel-held territory, saying the barges were carrying government weapons and ammunition.

The UN later said the barges were being operated by its peacekeeping personnel and that fuel for its mission activities was on the boats at the time of the seizure.

However, the rebel military command also said UN peacekeepers were acting out of normal rules after they found South Sudanese government personnel aboard the barges.

Attempts to try to get IGAD’s reaction about the allegation went unanswered.

Press release

Addis Ababa, November 16, 2015 (SSNA) -- The office of South Sudan Artists’ Association in Ethiopia (SSAAE) is commending south Sudan’s warring parties on showing willingness and commitment to implement the newly signed “security arrangements” and the peace accord reached on the 17^th and 26^th of August 2015 to end the 20 months old conflict.

Khor Deng Jang (AKA-Khor Dj), the chairman of the association, congratulates the two warring parties on showing signs of commitment toward the full implementation of the peace deal.

“On behalf of SSAAE and on my own behalf, I would like to congratulate the two warring parties on reaching out a deal that aim to end the senseless war we had experienced for the past 22 months. I wish them all the best in the full implementation of the deal as stipulated in the compromised peace agreement and the security arrangement that was signed by the warring parties”.

Lul Tuach Dojiok (AkA-LTD), the deputy chairman of the association, urges south Sudan government to warmly receive SPLA-IO advance team in Juba and co-operate with them while implementing the peace deal’s provisions.

“I appeal to SPLA-government to warmly receive their fellow comrades (SPLA-IO advance team) in Juba and to co-operate with them in their quest for peace and harmony in the young nation. I urge them to materialize the provisions of the agreement in good faith and in the spirit of brotherhood to restore peace into our beloved nation once again.”

Gatwech Hoth, member of SSAAE and the team leader of the organizing committee revealed that SSAAE will hold peace’s concert on 20^th November 2015. He also stressed that the peace’s concert will take place in Gerji Hall on Friday at 1:00 PM.

“South Sudan Artists Association in Ethiopia (SSAAE) will be holding a peace’s concert in Gerji at 1:00 PM. All peace loving south Sudanese and media houses are invited to attend and cover the show.”

South Sudanese artists in Ethiopia will entertain south Sudanese people in the Ethiopia capital Addis Ababa and will deliver messages of peace on Friday show. Miss it not!!!

For more information, contact paulruotbayoch@gmail.com.

Pagak, November 18, 2015 (SSNA) -- South Sudan’s government forces on Tuesday attacked rebel outposts in strategic Nhialdiu town and Buaw Payam of the oil-rich Unity State, rebel military command has said.

Rebels said they have made a ‘tactical withdrawal” from Nhialdiu after repetitive attacks from the government forces.

The military assaults came barely a day after the armed opposition said its troops were attacked on Monday by government soldiers in Nhialdiu with both sides trading accusations of ceasefire violations, despite the IGAD-Plus’s compromise peace agreement and the recently signed “security arrangements” deal.

The SPLA-IO stated that it decided to withdraw from its locations after Juba sent reinforcements from government-controlled areas, adding that Juba extended its operation to the rebel-held Buaw Payam of Koch County on Tuesday afternoon.

“…the SPLA/Juba faction extended its offensive on SPLA/IO forces in Buaw Payam in Koch County this afternoon [Tuesday]. The government got reinforcement from Panakuach, Bentui, Wangkei and attacked our position[s] in Tuochluak and Buaw this evening. Therefore, our forces made [a] tactical withdrawal [from] the above mentioned areas,” a statement from rebel military command reads in part.

Rebels also accuse South Sudanese government troops of starting the attack, saying Juba is the one that began its aggression against the SPLA-IO and that the first attack by government soldiers against rebel forces was launched last Sunday in Gaatdoor located in southern tip of Leer County and then followed by other attacks on rebel positions in Nhialdiu, Tuocluak, and thuokyierlok.

The armed opposition calls on the IGAD-Plus and the international community to put maximum pressure on Juba to stop what it described as "kiir's attempt to destroy peace."

Fierce fighting between South Sudan’s rival forces in and around Nhialdiu has intensified and continuing, the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) has learned.

Kampala, November 19, 2015 (SSNA) – A Former Ugandan national security agent in the government of Uganda has revealed to the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) that Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) has not left the young nation, saying Juba and Kampala have sealed a secret military pact and that the covert agreement was finalized on the 9^th of October and signed on the 10^th of October of 2015 in Ugandan capital, Kampala.

James Moises, a former operative in Ugandan security and intelligence spheres said the East African bloc, IGAD, IGAD-Plus, African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN) have no idea about what Kampala and Juba have been planning for more than eight months, warning “it will be the biggest mistake of the 21^st century.” He disclosed that Kiir and Museveni started planning soon after IGAD-mediated peace talks collapsed in March.

James said the recent deal between the two men allows the presence of at least two Ugandan specialized battalions of the UPDF to remain in hidden sites in the violence-wracked country. He added that Presidents Kiir and Museveni were furious a day after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) told Museveni that he must leave the young republic alone, or the community of nations will take action against Uganda.

“UPDF left South Sudan from public eyes but not in reality. The truth is that more than 1400 troops from a Ugandan Special military division are still deep inside South Sudan. Museveni is not happy because he believes he failed to carry out what he is very good at,” James told the South Sudan News Agency from a secret location in Uganda.

“UPDF scattered its soldiers in an attempt to hide them from South Sudanese and confuse people. Some live in Juba pretending to be Ugandan civilians or business people and other units are with SPLA’s special divisions in the bushes,” he added.

James is blunt in his revelation. He proclaims that a plan to execute the elimination plan has already been finalized, warning the “world must not be fooled by a Ugandan bloody dictator."

“IGAD-Plus, African Union, and the United Nations must not fool themselves believing that everything is going to be Okay if rebels and government formed a unity government. It will be one of the biggest blunders of the 21^st century,” he observed.

“My President Museveni and Kiir are very happy about the IGAD-Plus peace agreement because they believe they have an opportunity to execute what they failed to do for the last two years,” James asserted.

The disclosure came more than a month after Ugandan military announced last month that it will start withdrawing its troops from South Sudan starting October 12.

During the interview, James unveiled what could be a carefully planned scheme to lure in rebels and then start a war in Juba using a confusing trick. The Former Ugandan security agent also said the military pact between the two countries guarantees at least 1400 Ugandan soldiers to be housed in and around Juba.

James also states that Yoweri Museveni, who has been a staunch defender of Kiir has on the 8^th of October asked Kiir to first agrees to shield locations of two UPDF’s battalions from the public because he is afraid of the international community, should the plan be discovered. Kiir quickly accepted Museveni’s demand.

More than eighteen (18) weeks before civil war broke out in Juba, James wrote an article which caused panic in East Africa and around the world. In his piece, which was published by the SSNA on July 27, 2013, he exposed Museveni and Kiir plan on how to get rid of Kiir’s political opponents in what appeared to be a well orchestrated scheme. James also admitted that he was sorry for whatever he had done against what he described as his South Sudanese brothers and sisters.

Fake business licenses issued to Uganda soldiers

According to James, Ugandan soldiers are given bogus business licenses by South Sudan’s government and instructed to dress in civilian clothes all the times and pretend like ordinary Ugandan business people to avoid public attention. The Former Ugandan intelligent officer said the deal further authorizes South Sudanese security and intelligence sectors to regularly monitor where Ugandan troops are assembled to minimize any risk that could arise.

Last month, Ugandan Chief of Defense Forces General Katumba Wamala announced that UPDF will withdraw from South Sudan starting October 12 and that all Ugandan soldiers will be out of the violence-ravaged nation by the first week of this month.

In the news conference, Gen. Katumba said Uganda believes South Sudanese national army (SPLA) is ready and can deal with any issue and that things will hold in South Sudan. Ugandan government added it helped stop what is described as a ‘would be worse genocide” in the young nation.

Bentiu, November 18, 2015 (SSNA) -- We the internally displaced persons living under sub-human conditions in Unity State's main United Nations Manned Protection of Civilians site (PoCs) reject and condemn the unilateral, unconstitutional, dictatorial and un-called-for presidential degree which is refered to by president Salva Kiir and his cohorts in Juba as "Establishment Order No. 36/2015.

We have learned that Salva Kiir's tribal "Establisment Order" which creates ethnic enclaves for each tribe, particularly the Nuer, thereby separating and Isolating them from the rest of South Sudanese ethnic groups do not only jeopardize the recently signed peace deal with the armed Sudan people's Liberation Movement (The SPLM/A-IO), but an act of further polarization of the society into x and y. In addition, the "Establishment Order" plans the seeds of ethnic hatred not only Between the Nuer and the Dinka because certain lands of different tribes are due to be given and taken away by force of Salva Kiir's arms. For example, there is no historical recognized border among the two counties of what President Salva Kiir called Ruweng State. Parieng county lies hundreds of miles North-East of Rubkona. Likewise, Abiemnom lies hundreds of miles not only from Rubkona, but from Mayom.  Rubkona and Mayom counties lie between Panrieng and Abiemnom counties, with the two latest counties with no common or internal borders between themselves. This is not an act of responding to demand of the people at all, but a discourse of snatching away lands that do not belong to certain communities thereby creating anti-ethnic sentiments between the South Sudanese people. This is not the time of creating more states; this is time of constructing confidence, enhancing the social fabric of our polarized society.

Political hypocrisy, if not anything else, compelled Mr. Kiir to rush to the creation of the recently announced 28 states. If President Salva Kiir was sympathizing Federalism, as a popular demand of the people of South Sudan, he would have done this in early Janauary last year when the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement tabled it in the negotiation table instead of doing it at this time where a peace deal with his rivals as just been finalized based on the current constitutional ten states.

The two warrying parties, notably the SPLM/A-IO and SPLM-juba, accepted and signed the IGAD-Plus Compromise Pecae Agreement. However, despites assurance from the government in Juba, Salva Kiir put in place reservations among which is the ratio of power sharing in the three Upper Nile States of Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile.

Paul Malong Awan, Kiir's army Chief said, "You should know that those who are in Al-Qaeda, Taliban, ISIL, Boko Haram, al-Shabab are human being like us, therefore we should follow their foot-steps than signing that fake peace” which means the destabilization of the country.

President Kiir said, ‘’ If this peace imposes on me, there will be more bloodshed in all South Sudan’’.

Salva Mathok, a die-heart member of the Jieng Council of Elders, urged all Dinka Youths to open recruitment centers and joint the army for more fighting.

As a result of all these, before he left for Addis Ababa in mid-August this year, president kiir dismissed the governor of Upper Nile State and appointed a Dinka ally to create confusion between the ordinary citizens of South Sudan.

As a surprise to the world, President Salva Kiir, while at the venue of the peacetalks in Addis Ababa, refused to sign the peace deal signed by his counterparts in the IO and FDs just to sign it in Juba on 26 August with unnamed reservations.

The IGAD-Plus, due to their sympathy towards the suffering of the South Sudanese people, were forced to follow President Salva Kiir in Juba and signs the Compromise peace deal with reservations nine (9) days later or 26 August 2015 after it was signed by Dr Riek Machar.

Finally, as a discourse of conspiracy to jeopardize the peace deal, President Kiir took unwise decision by creating 18 more States at the wrong time in the wrong place.

We do not know what happened to him whether someone is acting on behalf of him or what the problem is.

Therefore we, For the sack of our love for the peaceful co-existence of the people of South Sudan,will not be part of disintegrating South Sudan into pieces and totally reject the creation of more states at this critical time which will be a recipe for future violence. That decision must not be implemented at all cost even if President claims to be acting on behalf of the whole South Sudan. We calls upon the African Union, the IGAD, the Troika and the international community to hold respondsible the perpetrators of Juba massacre as identified in the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan as soon as possible so that the smooth implementation of the deal is guaranteed, and too to pressure those who are fearing losing their ministerial positions at the expend of the people of South Sudan.

We call upon president Salva Kiir to realizes the danger of the "Establisment order" and abolish it immediately and leave it for the people of South Sudan to decides the status of their country in a popular referendum vote.

Signed by the IDPs VOICE UNITY STATE-BENTIU, comprising of:

• Advisory Council
• Community High Committee
• Women Group
• Youth Association

Cc:

Pagak/Addis Ababa, November 23, 2015 (SSNA) -- The military command of armed opposition led by Former South Sudanese Vice president Dr. Riek Machar said government soldiers have attacked its positions in Eastern Equatoria State, saying Juba has on many occasions violated the power-sharing deal signed in August by the rival factions.

Rebels said Kiir must abide by the recently signed compromise peace agreement or they will respond decisively, warning that they are ‘running out of patience’.

In a statement released on Monday by rebel military command through the office of the SPLA-IO Spokesperson Col. William Gatjiath Deng, the SPLA-IO said Salva kiir’s has violated the peace agreement by continuously attacking its forces in Eastern Equatoria and other parts of the country and that government troops loot civilian properties and burned down houses.

“Yesterday [Sunday], government forces attacked our position around Pageri at a place called Opari area in Eastern Eguatoria. The SPLA/Juba faction is also planning to attack our forces in Northern Upper Nile,” the SPLA-IO military command says in the statement.

“Government forces are fond of looting civilian properties in the area, attacking them, and burning down their houses. These brutal acts from the government need to be stopped. This demonstrates that the government has declared full scale of war against SPLA/IO to violate the recent peace accord,” the statement added.

Johnson Wal Hoth, a provocative high ranking officer with the SPLA-IO demands that the international acts against what he called “puppet of Kampala,” adding dealing with Salva kiir is like dealing with a Mafia boss who runs a “Mafia business.”

“The SPLA-IO doesn’t understand why IGAD-Plus, African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) still believe in somebody who is being managed in Kampala. The world should know that dealing with puppet of Kampala who runs the country like a Mafia business is not an easy job,” Johnson told the SSNA in rebel headquarters, Pagak.

“South Sudan is not a state of Uganda and it will never become one. We will respond decisively,” he asserted.

It is not the first time Johnson labelled Kiir as puppet of Kampala.

In May 2015, the controversial officer made a similar comment after Juba-backed forces attacked the SPLA-IO’s forces in Unity, Jonglei, and Upper Nile States.

In the document, the SPLA-IO stated that recent attack in Eastern Equatoria forced civilians to run into the bush to take cover for fear lives.

The armed opposition also calls on the international community to take immediate action against Juba to stop government aggressions, warning that rebel high military command is currently discussing government repeated attacks against the SPLA-IO.

South Sudan’s warring factions have been trading accusations of ceasefire violations, despite the IGAD-Plus brokered peace pact.

Juba, November 24, 2015 (SSNA) -- Former Western Equatoria State’s information minister, Charles Barnaba Kisanga, on Tuesday announced his armed rebellion against South Sudan’s government. Kisanga said that Salva kiir’s government has been systematically killings innocent people in an attempt to build a “tribal kingdom.”

The Former Minister who is well respected in his home state disclosed that the ‘Arrow Boys,” a well-known group of armed young boys mainly from Western Equatoria led by Major General Alfred Futiyo Karaba and that they have asked him to lead their new rebel movement, the South Sudan People’s Patriotic Front (SSPPF). Arrow Boys say they have been fighting against Kiir’s oppressive government. Kisanga also says South Sudanese government has killed too many citizens of Western Equatoria State and accuses Kiir of pursuing a “tribal agenda.”

“The Arrow Boys who have been fighting and resisting tyranny and oppression in Western Equatoria (under the command of Major General Alfred Futiyo Karaba) would like to declare solemnly this day that they have selected Eng. Charles Barnaba Kisanga, as chairman, to lead them to victory in their struggle against the oppressive tribal regime in Juba,” the statement reads in part.

“The armed struggle and leadership of the Arrow Boys had existed for a long time even before December 2013, but due to the arbitrarily killings by the tribal regime which is trying to destroy leadership from all other tribes in order to build a tribal kingdom minus other tribes, we had to be extra cautious to protect our leaders and build the movement silently until it was a power to reckon with like now,” the document further asserted.

A few hours after Kisanga posted his rebellion on his Facebook’s wall on Tuesday, the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) sent him a message, requesting for an interview. The former WES information minister simply responded by saying “Am working on getting one soon.”

In the document, the Western Equatoria State-based rebel group proclaims that it has forged an alliance with South Sudanese rebels under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar and that they will work to depose Kiir’s regime.

The newly elected SSPPF Chairman further warned that “cost of long term dictatorship and tribal regime will be much higher than the cost of freeing the people of south Sudan from tribal dictatorship once for all.”

The SSPPF (Arrow Boys) added it is going to join its forces with the armed forces of the SPLM/A-IO to remove ‘clique regime of Salva Kiir’ and bring real freedom and democracy to violence-ravaged young nation.

The new armed faction also stated that it is concerned about the way the IGAD-Plus and other international players have been handling the peace process. The SSPPF accuses the international community of trying to keep a “dictator” in power.

In May, Kisanga warned of an uprising against the government if Kiir’s government failed to stop bad elements of the SPLA’s soldiers who keep harassing, torturing, detaining, and killing innocent civilians in the Greater Equatoria region.

Kisanga, who is also an Engineer by profession and former Secretary General of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-Democratic Change (SPLM-DC), says he is committed to find a peaceful and lasting solution to the raging civil war and declared Kiir as a tyrant who must be oust militarily.

Washington, DC, November 25, 2015 (SSNA) -- The Troika countries namely, the United States, Norway, and the United Kingdom have issued a joint statement expressing concern and dissatisfaction over the failure by South Sudan’s warring factions to form a transitional government within the agreed timeframe.

The three nation bloc released the statement on Friday urging South Sudanese rival leaders and former political detainees to form a transitional government.

“The United States joins our Troika partners, the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Norway, in expressing deep concern that South Sudan's leaders have not formed a new transitional government within the agreed 90-day timeline of the August peace agreement,” Troika said.

Troika also stated its concern over the continuous fighting, abuses and humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

“Each day, the fighting and abuses continue, and an already grave humanitarian situation grows worse. We urge South Sudan’s leaders to establish the transitional government now and recommit to the timeline of the agreement, or the peace process will unravel,” the statement added.

Troika praises the Chairman of Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) Festus Mogae for announcing a meeting designed to lay groundwork for the implementation for the fragile peace deal. Troika also calls all parties to the conflict to attend the conference which is slated to take kick off in Juba on the 27^th of November 2015, adding that those who decide not to participate in the meeting will be delaying the peace implementation and prolong the suffering of the people of South Sudan.

Troika countries are part of the IGAD-Plus formed after IGAD-mediated peace talks collapsed in March.

The IGAD-Plus's compromise peace agreement which was signed by South Sudanese rival factions in August calls for the formation of a transitional government within 90 days.

Juba, November 25, 2015 (SSNA) -- South Sudanese government has launched an aerial campaign on rebel positions in Mundri County of Western Equatoria State, a Spokesperson for the armed opposition has said.

James Gatdet Dak, the Spokesman for the leadership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) has released a statement saying Juba has on Tuesday carried out aerial attack on a SPLA-IO's designated area in Mundri.

“The regime in Juba on Tuesday unleashed helicopter gunships and attacked our designated cantonment area in Mundri County, Western Equatoria State,” Gatdet said.

The rebel Spokesman says the attack violates the IGAD-Plus brokered peace agreement and that Salva kiir is not serious about the peace deal.

“The action is a violation of the ceasefire deal and the security arrangements signed by the two parties (GRSS and SPLA-IO). The attack on the cantonment area is an indication that president Kiir’s government is not committed to the implementation of the peace agreement,” he asserted.

There have been many violence encounters between government forces and citizens of the Western Equatoria State over the past few years.

Charles Barnaba Kisanga, who declared his rebellion against the government on Tuesday, hails from Western Equatoria State. Kisanga also accused Kiir’s government of systematic killings of citizens of his home state.

Since last week, a wild rumor that the entire Equatoria region will soon turn against Kiir’s government has been the main talk in Juba. The speculation prompts the government to deploy troops in and around Equatoria region.

Juba, November 26, 2015 (SSNA) -- Former Botswana’s President, Festus Mogae, who was chosen in October by the IGAD to head the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) – a body tasked to oversea the implementation of the IGAD-Plus’s compromise agreement, warned that the pact faces imminent collapse if action is not taken.

The JMEC head added that he is concerned about the intensification of fighting in the oil-rich Unity state.

The warning comes as world leaders raise concerns over the failure by South Sudan’s leaders to form a unity government as required by the peace agreement.

Mogae said he is also worries about repeated fighting between South Sudan’s warring factions, adding that the implementation of the power-sharing deal is being threatened by the continuous armed clashes.

“The agreement offers the way forward for a peaceful South Sudan, I urge the parties to accelerate the implementation process,” Mogae told reporters in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.

Mogae is in Juba to chair a meeting tomorrow. The conference is designed to start the implementation of the pact.

A deal to stop the nearly two-year old civil war was brokered by the IGAD-Plus in August, raising hope for peace to return to South Sudan.

The pact also calls for the establishment of a transitional government within 90 days.

However, the two rival groups didn't meet the dateline, casting doubts whether or not the agreement will stick.

The United Nations (UN) said “grave violations” have been committed by the rival forces and urges both sides to show leadership.

On Wednesday, Troika countries (Norway, UK, and US) raised concerns over lack of peace implementation and warned of serious humanitarian crisis if South Sudanese leaders failed to implement the deal.

More than 2.3 million South Sudanese fled their homes, hundreds of thousands fled to the neighboring countries, and tens of thousands have been killed.

Addis Ababa, November 27, 2015 (SSNA) -- The National Liberation Council (NLC) of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) has elected its first Secretary General since the ruling SPLM party divided itself into groups after fighting broke out in Juba in mid-December of 2013.

The SPLM-IO is the political wing of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO).

The highly contested election was conducted in the rebel headquarters, Pagak. Dr. Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol, who served as the Chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the SPLM-IO, was overwhelmingly elected as the new Secretary General of the SPLM-IO.

“SPLM/SPLA (IO) leadership wants to announce to its members, supporters and sympathizers worldwide that the National Liberation Council (NLC) of the Movement has elected its Secretary General. Comrade Dr. Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol is now the newly elected Secretary General of the Movement,” James Gatdet Dak announced in a statement extended to the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA).

Gatdet praises the election process and said the election was done in a democratic manner, adding that new members were also elected to the SPLM’s Political Bureau and National Liberation Council.

“The election was conducted in a democratic atmosphere during which other officials of the NLC competed in the exercise. Earlier, members to the NLC and Political Bureau (PB) were selected,” he disclosed.

The rebel leadership reaffirms its commitment to peace and welcomes the launch of work of Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) led by Former Botswana’s President, Festus Mogae.

Gatdet further revealed a team of 500 cadres of the SPLM/A-IO was ready to travel to Juba and other nine states of the violence-ravaged nation, warning that the travel of advance team to Juba “will depend on resolution of political violations to the Peace Agreement by President Salva Kiir’s government.”

The rebel Spokesperson proclaims that the armed opposition didn’t attend Friday JMEC’s conference because the “venue and timing were not agreed by the parties.”

Early this week, the Troika urged all parties to the conflict to participate in the meeting.

Juba, November 29, 2015 (SSNA) -- The government of the United Kingdom has declared the Republic of South Sudan “dangerous” and “unsafe” place to travel, warning all its citizens to take the advice seriously, according to a statement published on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.

The UK admits that it has no control over the deterioration of the security in the volatile young nation and asks its citizens to remain alert and monitor local security and the media.

The warning comes as the implementation of the IGAD-Plus compromise peace agreement becomes uncertain. The UK government also cites terrorism as an issue for its decision.

UK, a member of three nations’ bloc, Troika, has been supportive of the ongoing South Sudan’s peace talks.

However, the document appears to be an updated version of UK’s regular worldwide travel warnings, according to the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) investigations.