LRA delay peace signing

The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), uganda rebels, have again delayed the signing of peace deal with the government of Uganda scheduled to take place Thursday 10th April here in Juba, Southern Sudan.

Journalists, diplomatic corps and some NGO officials have been flown in to report and witness the event.

Joseph Kony, the rebel leader, wants some elaborations on some issues before putting his signature on that document. At least this is the official reason given for the delay.

Unofficially, it has been reported that Kony is redeploying his troops to Central Africa Republic from the thick forests of Congo (DRC). ‘Analists’ believe that this move would make it easier for Khartoum to resupply their old friend, the LRA, with arms and what-have-you to destabalize the southern Sudan and Northern Uganda.

In the main time, parts of southern Sudan and northern Uganda still live in constant fear of these child-abducting rebels! In southern Sudan, they are called ‘Tong Tong‘ meaning those who chop off people’s arms. The Tong Tong have left a trail of chaos, disaster and tragedy.

We all hope Kony sings this deal and peace comes to Uganda and Sudan. 

Women Oyee!!

Despite a recent report by the UN alledging worldwide biasness towards women, women in Southern Sudan seem to be doing a bit better than their sisters in other countries, thanks to the policies of the SPLM.

For the first time in the political history of ‘Islamic’ Sudan, SPLM is set to nominate 5 women as ambassadors to head diplomatic missions abroad. Please note these ambassadors will be representing SUDAN and  the Government of National Unity (GONU), but not SPLM and the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS). 

In the New Sudan (geographical Southern Sudan, Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan), it is mandatory that 25% at all levels of government and the party have to or MUST be reserved and filled by women! This is of course what stands on paper; in the ground sometimes there are not enough qualified women or the bosses simply ignore the policy.

In Juba, you can actually see the policy bear fruits. In every ministry you enter, you are bound to see a young female executive (or executive female) smartly dressed in a suit and a short shirt. They rediate power and when they talk, a simple sentence almost always comes out like a command from a army general… you know women in powerful positions! But I’m loving it, especially when the ‘orders’ are not barked at me…. This is one of the dividends of the CPA…

Here is a list of some women in power in southern Sudan/SPLM. This is just a short list…

	Dr. Anne Itto, SPLM Deputy Secretary  General Southern Sector. Formerly MP in the parliament in Khartoum. She was a member of the SPLM’s delegation to the Naivasha talks and advisor to the President of southern Sudan.
	Mrs. Jemma Nunu, newly appointed Governor of Western Equatoria State, Member of the SPLM Interim National Council
	Dr. Tabitha Boutros, GONU Minister of Health and Chairperson of the National AIDS Council. She’s from the Nuba Mountains

 

Abyei and the possibility of war…

Abyei, that oil rich region in the North-South border, is arguably one of the most sticky issues that threathens the CPA and could possibly draw the country back to the cycles of war!

Today, Northern troops entered Abyei after the NCP expressed their objection to the appointment of an SPLM Administrator for Abyei.

According to the Protocol on the Resolution of the Abyei Conflict, Abyei, the district or territory,  is defined as “the area of the nine Ngok Dinka chiefdoms transferred to Kordofan in 1905“. The document further notes that “the Misseriya and other nomadic peoples retain their traditional rights to graze cattle and move across the territory of Abyei.” Come referendum in 2011, the citizens of Abyei will have a seperate ballot to determine whether Abyei becomes part of the North (Kordofan State) or the South (Bahr El Ghazal).

The Abyei Boundaries Commission (ABC) established by the Presidency to establish and demarcate the boundaries of that oil rich area transferred to Kordofan in 1905, released a report popularly known as the ABC report. Although all/both partners had agreed that the findings of the commission will be considered binding, the NCP and President Bashir have totally rejected the findings of the ABC… In a public rally in front of thousand of his ‘holy warriors’ El Bashir said the south should soak the ABC report in water and drink it!

The SPLM seems to be keeping their cool, but pressure is mounting on the SPLM as the NCP continues to ‘misbehave’ and drag their feet in issues previously agreed upon. Recently, SPLA soldiers were reportedly attacked by heavily armed Misseriya gunmen and fingers are being pointed at the NCP in Khartoum for arming them. Now the northern army is building up in Abyei and who knows what will happen tomorrow!

Hmmm…