Africa

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

December 12, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – A diplomat from the opposition faction of the South Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) on Monday called on the regional bloc IGAD member states and the world not to turn a blind eye on the atrocities allegedly committed by President Salva Kiir led regime in Juba.

Miyong Kuon SPLM-IO representative to UN (Getty Image)

In an email exchange with Sudan Tribune, Miyong Kuon SPLM-IO representative to UN in New York alleged that government sponsored wide ranging atrocities are being carried out in Equatoria state and else where in the country.

However he said the international community has given little attention and urged to the international body to launch probe into it.

The two rival SPLM factions signed peace deal in 2015 however commitment to implement it has become a major challenge leading for continued fighting and suffering of the people.

“The ARCISS has been hijacked and abrogated by the regime,” Kuon said adding “We have nothing left there to implement unless an inclusive approach is taken and the 4,000 force allowed in Juba is deployed”.

The Opposition official further urged the international community to condemn the forceful removal of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) humanitarian chief out of the country.

The NRC he said had been instrumental in providing humanitarian aid and in saving the lives in South Sudan since 2004.

“Removing its chief out of the country is another tool used by the regime to increase the suffering of the people affected by war,” Kuon added.

Meanwhile the office of SPLM IO Deputy Representative to the United Republic of Tanzania commended Ethiopian Prime minister, Hailemarian Desalegn for calling on his counter-parts to have the IGAD head of states meeting to address issues of peace and stability in the region with South Sudan and Somalia on top of the Agenda.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune the Tanzania mission office welcomed the decision of the IGAD head of states to revive the August peace agreement.

“It is the only way to ending the suffering of our people and bring about peace, stability and prosperity to our country and people,” it said.

It said any peace implementation that excluded opposition leader, Riek Machar won't bring durable peace and stability in South Sudan.

SPLM/A IO Deputy Representative to the United Republic of Tanzania, Peter O. Kleto said there is a tendency by a small clique in Juba to remain in power at all cost at the expense of the suffering of masses.

The group further opposed a remark made by government official who said the transitional government is more harmonious after the Departure of Riek Machar from Juba.

“This statement is unfounded and false concocted to mislead South Sudanese and the world,” Kleto said.

Instead the opposition official added that the security and economic conditions has become worse after Machar was chase away from Juba.

He urged the leaders of IGAD, AU and the wider international community to put pressure on President Kiir to accept a “genuine peace”.

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December 12, 2016 (JUBA) – Head of South Sudan football association, Chubar Goc, reversed earlier announcement to quit over accusation of fraud, insisting he will not handover office on arrival to Juba on Monday.

South Sudan Football Association suspended Chubar over a week ago when an auditing company found transfer of $400,000 from SSFA's account to a private bank account in 2015. Chubar, according to the Kenyan auditing firm (KPMG) “borrowed” $12,000 from SSFA without the knowledge of the association's board members. The football body in Juba called for independent investigation after lifting his immunity.

In a post on social media site, Facebook, Chubar, said on December 2 that he will return to Juba and hand over office to his deputy and acting chairman of SSFA, Andrea Abdalla.

But speaking to reporters on arrival to Juba on Monday, Chubar refused to give handover the office.

“There is no any handover of anything. I'm till now the president of the [South Sudan Football] federation,” he said when asked by reporters in Juba.

Chubar declined to take more questions from reporters.

World football governing body, FIFA, reportedly suspended financial support to SSFA over financial mismanagement.

Football is popular in South Sudan and the national team made headline in 2015 for wining some games in the qualification for the African tournament 2017. The South Sudanese team, however, recorded more defeats and was knocked out of the qualifiers.

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People on social media are ridiculing the lowness of a bow by a minister who greeted Cameroon's president.

Riyad Mahrez is "very proud and very happy" to be named BBC African Footballer of the Year 2016.

Delphine Traore Maidou is the head of Allianz Global Corporate in Africa and she wants to see more people who "look like her" in the top jobs.

Ghana's President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo has said that he will set up a special team to investigate corruption but said it would be independent "to take the politics out of it".

December 11, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – A group of investors from Saudi Arabia on Sunday have complained of difficulties facing over 500 projects in Sudan.

On Sunday, the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Khartoum has opened a liaison office to follow the economic, investment and commercial cooperation between the two countries and ease difficulties facing Saudi investments in Sudan.

Speaking at the third Saudi - Sudanese Joint Business Council on Sunday, the head of the Saudi Arabia investors group, Hussein Bahari, said that Saudi investors are facing difficulties to transfer their profit, getting hard currency and the various investment procedures.

Also, Bahari has complained of sudden decisions issued by Sudanese authorities such as increasing diesel price by 200 per cent, which highly affects investments in Sudan.

The new Saudi Ambassador to Sudan, Ali bin Hassan, pointed that Saudi investments in Sudan face some difficulties, stressing that the two parts are able to overcome it.

“Saudi Arabia encourages investments in agriculture and animal breeding in Sudan,” said bin Hassan, adding that that the two countries have the strong political well to enhance mutual cooperation.

Recently, Sudan has allocated 1 million feddan in Upper Atbara and Setait Project, which is expected to start production at the end of 2016, for Saudi Arabia government investment.

On his part, the Sudanese Businessmen Union chairman, Saoud al-Brair, pointed that Sudan is keen to solve all the problems facing Saudi investments in Sudan, pointing that the Labor Act might be amended.

Al-Brair said that the Saudi- Sudanese Businessmen Council is a good channel to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries, solve problems and ease Sudanese exports to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has the largest Arabic investments in Sudan that expected to reach $ 15 million by the end of 2016. Some 196 investors from Saudi Arabia are active in producing fodder, wheat and sorghum, which are exported to Saudi Arabia.

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December 11, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - The head of the African Union High level Implementation Panel Thabo Mbeki will meet Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir on 20 December, a presidential aide announced on Sunday.

Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir (L) speaks with AUHIP chairman Thabo Mbeki in his office in Khartoum on 5 September 2013 (SUNA)

Mbeki since last November had to meet al-Bashir over peace in Sudan as he was considering ways to reinvigorate the already-ailing process which had been suspended since last August.

Speaking to Ashrooq TV on Sunday, Presidential Assistant Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid disclosed that the chief mediator had to meet the Sudanese president since the 17th November but the meeting was delayed several times due to the presidential visits to Morocco, Guinea , and United Arab Emirates.

He further said the meeting will take place on 20 December, expressing hopes that political environment will be ripe to reach understandings paving the way for the signing of cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access deals between the government and the armed movements, "if the latter abandon their preconditions".

U.S. Special Envoy Donald Booth brokered recently informal consultations in Addis Ababa between the government and the two armed groups participating in Darfur Track to narrow the gaps between the parties.

However, the two sides still disagree on the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) as the armed groups want a new political process on Darfur but Khartoum persists that the 2011 document remains the only framework for peace in Darfur.

On the talks with the SPLM-N over the conflict in the Two Areas, the government refuses to allow direct access of 20% humanitarian aid to the rebel controlled areas from Ethiopia. However, the two sides finalized a draft agreement on the cessation of hostilities.

Ibrahim said the none of the parties to the conflict wants war, adding that "the region, the international community and even Sudanese are despaired of war".

(ST)

December 10, 2016 (JUBA) -The Initiative for Peace Communication Association (IPCA) organized a peace and human rights symposium, which brought together South Sudanese communities in the young nation on Sunday.

South Sudanese people take to the streets as part of a peace march organised by civil society groups in the capital, Juba, on 8 January 2014 (Photo AP/Ali Ngethi)

IPCA's executive director, Joseph Edward, said the event sought to create opportunity for South Sudanese by imploring cultural diversities and sport as a tool for healing and developing their ability to view each other as important and shun ethnic groups' ideologies.

The event, supported by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was part of a nationwide peace and reconciliation campaign among divided South Sudanese communities to engage them in dialogues, singing, cultural performances and sports.

“This festival seeks to bring healing and wholeness to communities suffering from ethnic conflict, hatred and appeals to many divided societies and amplify the need for peace by bringing together youth, women, men, girls and boys from around the nation to speak out for peace and share information about peace building, healing, reconciliation and reconstruction,” said Edward.

Founded in 2012, IPCA is a youth wing-led nonprofit, non-governmental entity fully registered under South Sudan Ministry of Justice and South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission.

The organisation seeks to foster interaction and collaboration among authorities, human rights activists and other sectors of the society on issues of peace, human rights, democracy, freedom of expression, rights to information and defend communicators against control that could undermine freedom of expression, among others.

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December 11, 2016 (YAMBIO) – The Christians of Evangelical Lutheran Church, at an extra-ordinary convention held in Yambio, voted out the former Bishop and elected a new one to be in charge of South Sudan and Sudan Lutheran Church affairs.

A group of Bishops in Juba (ST/file)

James El-taib, the legal advisor of Church, said the removal of the former Bishop Wilson Noah was done in accordance to the law.

The convention, he added, also had right to elect a Bishop to work as per the will of the Christians and constitution of the church.

Early this year, the board of the church accused the former Bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church of not doing enough to develop the church, and later suspending and dismissing pastors for no reasons.

Other allegations were labeled against the former Bishop to defend himself, but the religious leader failed to do what the church expected.

El-taib said the convention, which drew participants from across the two Sudans, unanimously elected Pastor Peter Anibati to be the Bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church and will be ordained in three months to assume office, according to the church constitution.

The convention also elected the Assistant Bishop Rev. Simon Gatluak who will be in upper Nile to run the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Meanwhile, the former bishop, who hails from Juba, appealed the convention's election outcome, describing it as being “illegal”.

He said he still remains the Bishop of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan and South Sudan.

“A committee is expected to go and meet the former Bishop in Juba where he is expected to hand over all the assets he was using when he was a bishop,” El-taib stated.

Speaking to leaders of church after the convention, Simon Masini, a church member accused the former bishop of poor administration.

“Christians have been waiting for the convention to take place so they can elect somebody who will take ahead the church ahead,” he said.

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December 11, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has appointed Renish Omullo, a Kenyan national, as the young nation's special envoy to Germany.

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir (AFP)

The appointment, Kenya's the Star newspaper reported, is detailed in 8 December letter, which was signed by the South Sudan leader.

“This Decree shall be cited as “The Republic Decree No.324/2016 for the Appointment of the Republic of South Sudan Special Envoy to the Federal Republic of Germany 2106 A.D.” shall come into force on the date of its signature of the President of Republic,” it noted.

Omullo, in a separate letter, will reportedly take charge of South Sudan's international and regional affairs on the same capacity.

The special envoy reportedly brings lots of experience in international trade and diplomacy affairs, having worked as the Business Development manager for Africa for Celle Brunnenbau, GmBH.

Over the years, however, the Kenyan national has been engaged with issues of South Sudan in trade and diplomacy for a long time.

Omullo welcomed her appointment by President Kiir and pledged to serve diligently to the benefit of the citizens of South Sudan.

“I am fully focused to do my best to serve well. I take the opportunity to thank President Kiir for the confidence and trust he has bestowed on me,” she told the Kenyan daily.

(ST)

December 11, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's Foreign Ministry on Sunday has said the government would resort to other options to achieve peace in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile if the armed groups refused to engage in negotiations to end the war.

Sudan's state minister for foreign affairs Kamal-al-Din Ismail - (AFP-File Photo)

The Sudanese army has been fighting SPLM-N rebels in Blue Nile and South Kordofan, also known as the “Two Areas” since 2011 and a group of armed movements in Darfur since 2003.

Sudan's State Foreign Minister Kamal Ismail told the pro-government Sudan Media Center (SMC) that “there are only a few days left before the end of the ultimatum set by President Omer al-Bashir to armed movements in Darfur and the Two Areas to come to the negotiating table”.

Last November, al-Bashir said that no talks would take place inside Sudan or abroad following the end of the national dialogue, pointing that armed and political holdout opposition have no option but to sign the national document approved by the dialogue conference on October 10th.

He stressed that “peace doors would remain open” whenever the armed opposition decides to engage in talks to achieve peace, renewing his government's pledge to implement all its commitments.

Ismail further expressed government readiness to engage in talks to achieve security and stability once the rebel groups abandon their intransigent positions before the end of the year.

The Sudanese government and armed groups in Darfur - Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Movement - Minni Minnawi are expected to resume informal discussions with the government in Addis Ababa next week in a bid to reach a compromise over a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian access in Darfur region.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement North, on the other, announced the suspension of political engagement with the government since last October. This week it also declined an invitation by Carter Center to participate in a workshop on peace in Sudan.

Following six days of talks in Addis Ababa last August, the armed movements and the government failed to conclude a deal on the security arrangements and humanitarian access in Darfur and the Two Areas prompting the African Union mediation to suspend the talks indefinitely.

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December 11, 2016 (JUBA)- The intergovernmental authority on development Authority (IGAD) has expressed disappointment at the targeted killings in South Sudan, forcing its member states to condemn in the strongest terms.

An extraordinary session of the IGAD heads of states meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on 10 June 2014 (IGAD photo)

IGAD heads of states and governments held a two day meeting in Addis Ababa on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 where they discussed the implementation of the South Sudanese peace agreement, and the delay of presidential election in Somalia.

The summit, according to the communique, was chaired by Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn and attended by the heads of state of Sudan, Djibouti, South Sudan and Somalia. Kenya and Uganda were represented by Foreign ministers. The regional leaders, according to the communique, expressed disappointed and “condemned sexual violence on women and girls and expresses deep concern with the rising ethnic rhetoric, hate speech and ethnically-fuelled violence,".

They called upon the political leadership in South Sudan to immediately condemn and take steps to prevent any act of discrimination, hostility, and hatred that could constitute incitement to violence.

It called on all parties to immediately "cease all hostilities, while condemning declaration of armed uprisings in South Sudan" and called upon the SPLM-IO faction to "renounce violence as means of solving the problems of South Sudan".

The IGAD leaders expressed their serious concern and dismay that the implementation of the peace agreement has faced a serious setback since July clashes in Juba and underlined their firm conviction that the peace accord is the only viable way towards achievement of peace and stability in South Sudan.

They however commended the JMEC Chairperson and members of the Commission for the hard work they are performing under extremely difficult circumstances in monitoring the implementation of the peace agreement.

The summit welcomed the consent given by the unity government for the immediate deployment of the Regional Protection Force (RPF), including equipment and weapons required by the Force. It commended the troop contributing countries for the Force for accepting the responsibility of deploying their troops under the RPF in the spirit of regional solidarity.

It reiterated the continued and collective commitment of the region in the search of lasting peace, security and stabilization in South Sudan, including through the early deployment and full operationalization of the RPF.

Ethiopian Prime Minister and IGAD Chairperson Hailemariam Desalegn on Friday called on Kenya to "reconsider its decision to withdraw its forces from South Sudan and to consider its participation".

He further said that Kenya is n anchor for peace and security and its participation in peacekeeping is vital.

Addis Ababa December 9, 2016 The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has called on Kenya to reconsider its decision to withdraw forces from South Sudan.

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December 11, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Chairman of the rebel umbrella Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) Sunday Malik Agar has urged the Sudanese to participate effectively in the civil disobedience action on 19 December.

The government decision to lift fuel, electricity and drug subsidy stirred up large protests across the Sudan last month. Following a three-day protest against the decision between 27 to 29November, activists called on the Sudanese people to engage in a civil disobedience on December 19 th.

Several opposition forces and armed groups expressed support for the upcoming event and called upon their affiliates to play an active role in the strike.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Sunday, Agar described the civil disobedience as “important move to overthrow the regime”, calling on the marginalized people to lead the strike.

“The suffering of the [people] in the peripheries and the cities wouldn't end unless the regime is toppled,” he said.

Agar, who is also the chairman of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), further called on the opposition Sudan Call forces to work jointly to ensure the success of the December 19th event, describing the strike as “new move on the path to change”.

For its part, the Unified Unionist Party (UUP) has called on its members to support the civil disobedience action, describing it as “historical duty” to fight against dictatorship and totalitarianism.

(ST)

December 10, 2016,   H.E. Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta,  President,  Republic of Kenya,  The State House,  P.O. Box 40530 – 00100,  Nairobi, Kenya.   Re: Call for a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations committed during security operations    Your Excellency,   We, the undersigned Kenyan and international human rights organizations urge you to promptly establish an independent judicial commission of inquiry to conduct a thorough, impartial and effective investigation into allegations of enforced disappearances, extra-judicial executions, torture and other ill-treatment of detainees by the Kenya Police Service, Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), Kenya Wildlife Service, (KWS) intelligence and law enforcement agencies mentioned in human rights and media reports. Since 2011. Some of the media reports include, Al Jazeera Investigates- “Inside Kenya's Death Squads”, Al Jazeera 2014, “Killing Kenya: People & Power”, Al Jazeera 2015.    Our request to you is made based on the Kenya Commissions of Inquiry Act of 1962, where the president has power to appoint a special commission to “inquire into the conduct of any public officer or the conduct or management of any public body, or into any matter into which an inquiry would, in the opinion of the President, be in the public interest.”   Since Kenya intervened in Somalia in 2011, several Kenyan and international organizations and media, have found that various security forces have allegedly perpetrated numerous human rights violations during counter-terrorism operations, some of which may amount to crimes under international law, in response to Al-Shabab attacks in Nairobi, in the northeast and at the coast. Allegedly, security agencies have also been implicated in extrajudicial executions of young people in rural areas and informal settlements in urban centers during routine policing.    To cite a few examples:   In July 2016, Human Rights Watch documented at least 34 people taken into custody by security forces during counterterrorism operations in northeastern Kenya between 2013 and 2015. We understand two of these people have now been located in state custody, with one now facing terrorism related charges. In addition, bodies of at least 11 people previously arrested by state agents have been found in the last two years, in some instances far from the location of their arrest. The whereabouts of the rest of those taken into custody between 2013 and 2015 remain unknown.   As far as Human Rights Watch is aware, police have not investigated these unexplained deaths or made any arrests of those allegedly responsible.    In 2013, Open Society Justice Initiative jointly with Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) produced a report, “We’re Tired of Taking You to the Court”, that implicated the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions of those linked to Al-Shabab.    In 2015, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) released a report, “The Error of Fighting Terror with Terror”, which found that multiple security units were involved in extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances of those suspected of links to Al-Shabab. In 2014, an Al Jazeera documentary, Inside Kenya's Death Squads, detailed the existence of security units that extra judicially execute alleged to have links with Al-Shabaab.   These reports and media documentaries show that Kenyan security forces, especially specialized units and other security agencies, operate with impunity and with little regard for the rule of law and human rights. Kenya government officials and the police have responded by dismissing or denying the allegations.   We acknowledge that Kenya is implementing provisions of the 2010 Constitution that establishes accountability institutions such as the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), a statutory body mandated to investigate allegations of human rights violations by the police. But the scope and nature of abuses in Nairobi, northeast and at the coast are such that the existing accountability institutions and framework cannot adequately respond.    For example, the wildlife police and units of the Kenyan military, which are not subject to adequate and effective oversight, are reportedly involved in committing human rights violations.    Those seeking information from KDF regarding the whereabouts of detainees believed to be held in military barracks, for instance, have no clear avenues for asking even basic questions compared to the police where there is a civilian oversight mechanism.    We believe that it is critical to establish a new mechanism, a commission of inquiry, specifically to investigate human rights violations allegedly committed during counterterrorism operations and other security operations and to ensure, that if sufficient admissible evidence exists, those responsible are held to account. The commission of inquiry should be comprised of individuals with proven expertise, knowledge and experience in the promotion and protection of human rights, including expertise in Kenyan and international human rights law. The commission should be granted unhindered access to relevant locations, including all places of detention, such as police stations, military barracks and other suspected un-official sites.    The commission should be mandated to summon commanders and officers from any agencies, including the police, military and the KWS and any government officers believed to have information relevant to ensuring accountability for the abuses. The mandate of the commission should make it clear that no one should be able to claim immunity, or for whatever other reason refuse to appear before the commission, if summoned.    Further, unless the interest of justice dictates otherwise and only to the extent it is necessary for the purpose of criminal prosecution, the Commission’s findings should be made public. Otherwise they should be handed over to a judicial authority to pursue possible prosecutions.   We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this and other pressing human rights concerns in Kenya.    We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this and other pressing human rights concerns in Kenya. Alternatively, your staff could contact Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch, Otsieno Namwaya, at mattheo@hrw.org; Eastern Africa researcher at Amnesty International, Abdullahi Halakhe Boru at Abdullahi.Halakhe@amnesty.org or Executive Director at Kenya Human Rights Commission, George Kegoro, at GKegoro@khrc.or.ke.    Signed,   Kenya Human Rights Commission Haki Africa Muslims for Human Rights Wajir Paralegals Network Amnesty International Human Rights Watch Independent Medico – Legal Unit International Justice Mission

In an effort to stem violence in the coming weeks, 72 Congolese and 15 international human rights organizations issued a statement on Friday calling on the United States and the European Union to expand targeted sanctions against senior Democratic Republic of Congo officials implicated in serious rights abuses. The EU’s Foreign Affairs Council is due to discuss Congo on Monday.

Meanwhile, an opening ceremony was held on Thursday to mark the start of Catholic Church mediated talks between opposition political groups and members of the ruling coalition, providing a glimmer of hope that a negotiated solution could be found before the December 19 deadline, when President Joseph Kabila’s constitutionally mandated two-term limit ends. The talks were suspended until Tuesday, as discussions on participant lists continued today.

A key part of any agreement should include concrete steps to end the government-orchestrated crackdown on free expression and peaceful assembly. Government repression continued this week, as police in the eastern city of Bunia prevented a dozen members of the youth movement Filimbi from staging a sit-in on Wednesday morning. The activists wanted to deliver a letter calling on provincial deputies and other administrators to step down December 19.

Bunia’s mayor said he had prohibited the demonstration to comply with instructions given in a November 3 letter to all governors from Interior Minister Evariste Boshab, saying that Filimbi and the youth movement LUCHA are not legally registered groups so aren’t authorized to hold any activity. That runs counter to Congolese law, which does not require citizens to register their organization to hold a peaceful assembly.

Radio and television journalist Adel Uvon was released on Monday after she had been arrested with five LUCHA activists last week in Bunia. She was not charged. The LUCHA activists – Franck Bahati, Deogratias Kiza, Lombo Bahati, Celestin Tambwe, and Luc Malembe – were transferred to the central prison in Bunia on Wednesday after being charged with “incitement to disobedience,” a charge that appears politically motivated.

In Goma, military intelligence agents arrested LUCHA activist Justin Mutabesha on Thursday, soon after immigration officials confiscated a box of LUCHA T-shirts and detained the young man who had gone to Uganda to print and deliver them. According to the LUCHA activists, the T-shirts said “LUCHA – Lutte pour le Changement” (“Struggle for Change”) on the front and “#FreeLUCHA” on the back. Mutabesha remains in detention at the T2 military intelligence prison, without access to his lawyer, while the whereabouts of the young man who delivered the T-shirts are unknown.

Three other LUCHA activists arrested in Goma on October 24, after denouncing the “national dialogue” agreement remain in detention at the central prison: Jacques Muhindo, Fiston Dunia, and Glody Ntambwe.

In Bukavu, the crackdown on free assembly and the authorities’ apparent unease about all youth mobilization spread to student protests that began last Friday against a 25 percent hike in annual tuition fees at the Higher Pedagogical Institute that began last Friday. Security forces on Wednesday fired teargas to disperse scores of protesters, injuring at least two students and possibly others.

South Africa's scrubland plant "fynbos" has helped nursery owner Jacky Goliath develop her business.

By John A. Akec*

I recently asked a young relative what small business he would start if I were to give him some money. His answer came quickly, with no hesitation whatsoever: he would be buying and selling fuel (diesel and petrol) and charcoal. In that order. I was somewhat amazed to know that charcoal business was that lucrative to be on the same league as fuel, but was not shocked to hear that diesel and petrol would sell like hot cake at a premium. And for the last few weeks, it has become apparent to this writer that many of our citizens living around our capital city have discovered yet another money-making machine through buying highly subsidised fuel and selling it on the streets at five times its original price to make a fortune. And here is how.

Nile Petroleum Corporation, the South Sudan's national oil operator, spends about one dollar (or between USD 0.98 to USD 1.05) to purchase a liter of diesel or petrol and then sells it at a retail price of 21 SSP (20 cent or USD 0.2). Retailers (Nile Petroleum Corporation included) then sell it to consumers at 22 SSP or so per liter, as from January 2016. At the beginning of 2016, South Sudan pound exchange rate against dollar in the parallel market was round 25 SSP to a dollar. That amounted to subsidies of SSP 23 million a month to supply the market with 2 million liters in January 2016 alone. As demand picked up and South Sudan pound exchange value against dollar continued to deteriorate, the value of subsidies began to increase exponentially to peak at SSP 500 million for the month September 2016 alone.

Overall, fuel subsidies, according to reliable sources, for 12 months from January to December 2016 amount to around SSP 3 billion to supply the market with 112 million liters of fuel. As things stand, and at current exchange rate, one would estimate that fuel subsidies will cost the nation some SSP 6 billion next year from January 2017 to December 2017, assuming exchange rate stays the same, which is doubtful. If not, it could cost even more to maintain the subsidies in 2017. The minimum projected fuel subsidies for year 2017 is equivalent to 20 percent of approved budget of the SSP 30 billion for fiscal year 2016/2017. It is the money our government will spend on the premise that it is helping keep low the prices of transportation services and other fuel-price sensitive goods.

Looking more critically at current fuel subsidies though, the next question is who is really benefiting and how the government has been able to afford such a huge undertaking? The beneficiaries are young men, women, and children selling fuel on roads' side, and their distributors who are pocketing subsidies at most. It explains why fuel queues are so long at our fuel distribution stations and depots. Many motorists fill their tanks with diesel or petrol at 22 SSP and sell it to young street retailers who in turn sell it at more than 100 SSP a liter, and share the differences as profits. Others would fill containers and sell the fuel themselves at higher prices. The next day, many of them are back on the queue to buy more to sell. But at whose expense? Calls to float the prices of fuel and remove subsidies as well as opening the market up to private sector providers, it seems, have fallen on deaf ears.

It is a similar story to how the system of fixed exchange rate was exploited for a decade before it was finally and partially abolished in December 2015. Those well connected were able to buy dollars at low fixed exchange rate from the central bank and made twice or three or five times the value on the black market rate. It was for that very reason that many economic activists supported the floating of the exchange rate so that government can get value for money from its oil revenues.

By the time the Ministry of Finance finally gave a go ahead to the central bank to float the exchange rate, monthly income from oil revenues had already dwindled due to fall of prices of crude oil on the world markets. An important window of opportunity had been missed, and a deep economic hole had been dug.

What's more, the system of auction of dollar at the central bank in which all the bidders – from the highest, to middle, to the lowest, won, is seen by this writer and other economists spoken to as not the best because it is open to price-fixing and, and vulnerable to internal dealings.

It is small wonder that things had not improved even after switching to floating exchange rate policy. From this author's viewpoint, the policy of floating exchange rate was a sound one. However, the implementation of the policy, as well as delayed adoption, have left much to be desired. Besides, rushing to increase salaries of the members of armed forces by 300 percent without proper cost benefit analysis has wiped out any gains that could have accrued to the nation coffers.

The other part of the question that has not been addressed adequately in this article is how does the government afford to pay for these huge subsidies? Reliable sources have informed the author that a share of South Sudan's crude oil is handed over to a foreign company that gives South Sudan a certain quantity of refined fuel every month at an agreed price. Hence, though it appears at the surface that Nile Petroleum has unlimited ability to sustain the losses month after month, ad infinitum, it is coming at the expense of reduced oil revenues to the government of South Sudan. What goes around must come around, the saying goes.

Finally, the question I need to pose is whether or not these subsides are worth it? And I fear, they are not. For once, the subsidies are not reflected on rate of transports either on fairs of matatos (mini-buses) and boda-bodas (motor cycles). This is because the owners of mini-buses and boda-bodas still pitch their fairs to reflect the inflation, even if fuel prices remain fixed officially. It therefore begs the question whether it is worth it to put our scarce resource to alleviate the economic burden on our citizens where it makes no real impact.

In conclusion, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in our Republic, in its effort to cut expenditure, should consider removing fuel subsidies completely (the sooner the better), and allow private companies to supply and sell the fuel to those who need it at competitive prices which are determined by "market's invisible hand."

Redirecting resources away from fuel subsidies could help reduce the deficit in the current budget from 40 percent to about 20 percent. It will not solve all our economic owes, but will partially assist towards closing the large gap in our public finances. It will also help stabilize the exchange rate of South Sudan pound against dollar as it will increase the oil revenue coming in.

Cynics will describe such a proposal as a politically risky undertaking to pursue. However, not taking bold measures, such as this one, to put our public finances in order is simply to delay the inevitable. For sooner, or later, not doing the right thing, at the right time, will catch up with our struggling economy. To the disadvantage of us all.

*The writer is the vice chancellor of University of Juba, South Sudan. He publishes personal blog at:http://johnakecsouthsudan.blogspot.com/

Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh says he will launch a legal challenge after his election defeat.

Sofiane Boufal scores his first Premier League goal as his spectacular strike from 25 yards gives Southampton a win over Middlesbrough.