Some parents working with the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) will remember how they had to tell their families that their salaries have not been remitted to the banks; and that the banks will not be opened until after the 28th.

Others will recall having to cancel trips to spend x-mas outside the country because there were no US dollars to be found anywhere in town even in the blackest of markets.

Young men, and especially young girls will recall the experience quiet differently…

Some weeks back, over five thousand police officers where graduated from a training facility some kilometers from Juba. In what looked like a continuation of their training, most of them were deployed in roads, markets and other public places in town.

Just before x-mas, I thought those deployed to ‘regulate’ traffic were the worst of there kind (I get back to that later…)

From x-mas eve up til yesterday, these bunch of new recruits started enforcing some ‘law and order’ that got everyone asking where they got them orders from.

Young girls dressed in pants have been caned and others threatened with unheard of sentences. On the 27th some girls were still locked up for indecent dressing….

Some rastafari friends of my have told of arrests and intimidation to have their years of hard-grown dreads cut off in public….

One wonders what is really happening! GOSS officials have of course denied that this had anything to do with their policies.

merry x-mas y’all… I am just waiting for the 9th to celebrate…

The simple truth is I ran out of steam!

The returnee in me settled and adapted, and then began to see nothing strange or interesting about the life in Juba, Southern Sudan.

But of late, while browsing the web visiting some of my favorite blogs and reading comments posted on my blog years ago, I felt a need to continue.

“We stand tall because we rise every time we fall!”

There is a lot to blog about! People will love to read about the referendum, an (upcoming) independent South Sudan State, Post Referendum issues and so on, right?

I must confess though that during my many months of hibernation, I missed the lovely sense-of-belonging that could only be felt in the company of (Sudanese/African) bloggers. I particularly miss my dear friends Kizzie, Ms Dalu (where are they?) plus the other blog comrades.

Unlike the Sudanese Thinker who had to reboot, I am just fine with a refresh or F5.

Girls from Juba Day Sec. School...

Students leading a demonstration

]]> http://sudanreturnee.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/some-pics-from-juba/feed/ 4 sudanreturnee Students leading a demonstration http://sudanreturnee.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/a-report-on-juba-city/ http://sudanreturnee.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/a-report-on-juba-city/#comments Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:38:17 +0000 sudanreturnee http://sudanreturnee.wordpress.com/?p=51 ]]> Some time back in May/June, I got this report below on one of the forums. I thought it was interesting with a little bit of salt added to it. I doubt the accuracy of this report, but it is not too far off the target. Believe you me, this is roughly what happens in Juba.

Enjoy and please comment..

NB: I just noticed the report left out some things. I’ll try to post something on them, in the meantime, please fell free to ask me whatever you want to know about life and living in this great and historic town/city of Juba. Kizzie and Dalu, you are invited for a weekend Juba style. Sudanese Thinker, stop philosophizing and lets celebrate theCPA. Dr Konyo, someone is asking for socks. As for me, I’ll be the sober driver/ tour guide.

Brief background of Southern Sudan and Juba

Juba is a city that is fastly and rapidly growing in the international scene with dilapidated infrastructures that was the remnants of the two decades civil war that has taken back one of Africa wealthiest countries

The region got into peace atmosphere three years ago after the signing of the comprehensive peace Agreement known as CPA between the two foes of NCP a northern political party that took over government in a coup in 1989 lead by president Omer Hassan al Bashir and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLA/M) the former Liberation Movement led by the late Col. Dr, John Garang De Mabior

SPLM is a member of the coalition government of Sudan and the governing party in Southern Sudan with,
Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit is the Vice President of the Republic and the President of the government of Southern Sudan who is the chairman of SPLM

Juba opened up to the world as a result of the CPA, a huge presence of the International organizations as well as the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).

Juba has become a cosmopolitan city with a secular law unlike in the northern part of the Country which is governed under the Islamic Sheria Law

There also big presence of the nationals from the neighboring countries like Uganda, Kenya, DRC as well as from Ethiopia and Eritrea either working for Companies, Organisation, Small scale Business, Government offices or other evening businesses

Juba is wearing a new face today compare to three years ago, with all of infrastructure coming up from all angles, roads are being tarmac, and the only hospital renovated and individual lives under development visibly

However, the moral life of Juba is changing every day from the Juba we know in early 80’s to worse; let us talk about weekends in Juba

A studies we conducted this months shows as follows

(a) every weekend, about 100,000 bottles of beers are consumed between Friday and Sunday
(b) 2 ton of assorted condoms are used
(c) 20 people out of the population who went out in these days contract HIV/AIDS
(d) 35 girls who go out on these days gets pregnant
(e) 1250 cars are parked outside the Bars a cross Juba
(f) 10 cars gets involved in accident after drinking mostly with registration GOSS
(g) 2000 Senkes (cheap motorbike from Congo) were out
(h) 100 Senkes gets involve in accident mainly young boys between the age of 12-15 with their girlfriends on board
(i) At least 10 funerals on Mondays associated to the weekend
(j) 3750 people engage in physical fighting across Juba mainly because of ladies
(k) Over 800,000 people of Juba sleep late at 5 am over the weekend
(l) At least 800,000 people wake up with hangovers
(m) At least 280 goats are slaughtered over the weekend
(n) 10 drums of soup are consumed for the treatment of Hangovers
(o) 50 husbands are caught by their wives while attending to girlfriends
(p) At least 200 people come to Juba from Khartoum for weekends, mainly northerners
(q) At least all Ugandans and Kenyans at the age of 15-40 were out in various clubs

We hope that you enjoy reading this report and we will continue updating all of you as details come in

The Institute for Strategic Social Studies
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. 

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

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…
 

Complaining about the heat in Juba these last few days, I was told there are t-shirts in the market with the text ”Juba sukon, lakin top!” (Juba is hot, but it’s nice).

Juba is filled with contradictions… you can love it in the morning and by the evening, you’d hate it so much you’d promise to go the airport in the morning and just fly out of this place… when you wake up the next day, the circle would start all over again!

 

 pics: driving to Juba and the presidents popular reception in Juba

Driving or being driven in Juba…
 If a car has seat belts, I make sure I put mine on whenever I am seated in a car. In Juba, driving or being driven can be scarely to say the least. If you are driving, you have to navigate the potholes, dodge the kids on motorbikes, give priority to the dogs and goats criss-crossing the road, mind the semi-blind and deaf pedallers, beware of SPLA trucks and stay on your side of the road…. When everyone does that simultanously, you can imagine how the traffic would flow!

Almost everyone I know who has had a car in the last 6 months or so has either hit something or was hit. In most cases, after an accident the drivers will get out and pick up a physical fight….

If you think this is nothing, try been riden on a ‘senke’ (motorbike).

Domestic Violence…
Very first week in Juba and our neighbour to the left has already been beaten 4 times. The first day I felt bad because I thought there was something I could do like call the police or something, but I did not want to look stupid again for suggesting or stating what I pressume is the ordinary or the obvious.

By the second day, I kinda came to the conclusion the woman wanted a good whopping. I swear to Jah she asked for it as she went on for hours pushing this poor guy’s buttons. She was loud and every neighbour could hear her go on and on insulting her husband in ways that could only hurt best if said in Arabi-Juba and Bari language. The man was silent for the most of it, probably foaming with anger…. when he exploded, I don’t know what happened but she was screaming and I don’t know what…

The next day, I saw a women whose left side of the face was kinda thicker than the other and I guess it was her… I don’t see her these days.. I believe the husband did not kill her, but I guess she has been sent back to her mums to get some manners and learn how to still have a big month and not get beaten because of it!

(by the way, I am opposed to violence against women)

Juba is expensive…
There is a place, a business center to be precies called Home and Away. It’s so expensive! A glass of wine cost 20 SDPounds (10USD). A pakket of Benson (cigarettes) costs double the normal rate ie 10SDPounds. It’s situation close to where most ministers and the big guys stay… an area in Juba called Hai Amarat. This place has been closed down because the ministers complain they can’t sleep in the weekends when the disco happens…

Da Vinci (hotel, bar and resturant) and goats on my friends car

There are other places like Da Vinci, a very beautiful place close to the River Nile. A plate of Spagetti would cost you 54 SDPounds (that’s 27 USD). Next time I’ll scan the receipts and the excharge rate that day for you to believe…

The meeting, as is now customary in Southern Sudan, started with prayers. Our family head is a ‘born again’ Christian and he tries to convert the whole family whenever he gets the chance. Of course he opened the meeting asking someone ”who has been touched by the Holy Spirit” to pray open the meeting with prayers. You should know that these Christians who call themselves ‘born again’ don’t consider the other Christians, Catholics and Prostestians, as full Christians. I know I have been touched, but I’m not too sure if that was the Holy Spirit, so I did not volunteer to pray for the group.

Anyways, the meeting started 3 hours later than the agreed time, but it went well. When it was over, a brother of mine who I saw there for the first time in around 20 years requested to say something to the family members.

He did not stand up or anything, the group was not the big. Some years ago during the war, he fled Sudan through Darfur and ended up in some West African country where he spent 4 long and miserable years. Somehow, he relocated and went to Egypt where again he spent some 6 even longer years. He is now back home trying to pick up from where he can… and I have great admiration for him.

Okay, the post is about killing positive ideas…

This guy, of course still a new returnee, is full of positive ideas to help his country, his people, his family and his self. He told the gathered about a situation that he believes the family can help. One of our family sisters stays close to where he puts up and he is not at all pleased with the way our sister lives. She has two kids, a second wife to some jerk who beats her for a hobby. She does not live with the husband anymore but they are not really separated. The husband does not support her and she has to brew alcohol, which does not always get its market, to make ends meet. Sometimes she works at a local school where she cooks for the kids and gets 30 Sudanese Pounds per month (15 USD). She can not apply for other jobs with the government because she does not have the money to process her nationality card and birth certificate(!). Life, if you can call it that, is really hard for her. Yes, she is illiterate.

So, this new returnee asks the family members to help this sister to atleast get her papers and/or help her get a better paying job. Logical, right!

Before the guy could even end his appeal, some family members started asking very negative questions. The lady is already in deep shit, but they cared less… Some asked:
- why didn’t she stay in the village with the husband? (dah.. the 3rd wife and husband beat her up everytime)
- what type of work can she even do?
- she does listen, we told her to leave that husband after the first kid. Now she has 3 and wants help?
- aahh.. there is nothing we can do to her, she better just go back to the village…

And so on! I was dumbfounded to listen all that negativity! Maybe the new returnee was even more shocked than I was. He did not say much after that. The rest just went on with listing all classic excuses of the impossible, killing this new returnee’s positive ideas in the process.

When I sat in a bar some hours later downing some cold Henieken, I discussed with another older returnee and I came to believe that I was like that new returnee not too long ago. In Juba, or Sudan in general, you see things that you know can be improved. Most of the time you know how to improve the situation because you have seen it somewhere else. You’d want to help every begger in the street, ask every kid in the street why they are not going to school, give a lift to every sick person dragging themselve to the hospital, buy medicine for that mother who can not avoid and so on. Life can be very complicated!

In Juba, some people would think you are mad if you keep sharing positive ideas.

I still have to meet and talk to the new returnee and share notes. I will do want I can to help this sister, but I have also come to learn that there are those who want to be helped, and others who have given up. I’ll keep you posted…