For decades, communities in Torit, Budi, and Ikotos counties of South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state have been caught in a persistent cycle of intercommunal violence.

These entrenched divides are driven by cattle raids, revenge killings as well as seasonal cattle migration which brings with it competition over grazing areas and water resources.

Recently, the youth from the Kraal community have taken measures to end longstanding cattle-related conflicts with pastoral communities in the Kidepo Valley area, including the Didinga, Lotuko, and Logiragreeing.

This agreement was reached after a peace dialogue facilitated by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s (UNMISS) Civil Affairs Division in Chahari, Ikotos.

“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to peace with our neighbours. We make this vow to the youth in our communities and will take all steps to ensure that it remains unbroken,” said Sebit Kizito, a Kraal community leader from Lobira village in Ikotos.

During the dialogue, Kraal leaders agreed to disarm perpetrators, arrest suspects, and introduce animal permits for movements, a few key measures designed to help prevent violence during farming season.

“Violence always spikes during cultivation season, and it has taken a heavy toll on settled communities,” revealed Dominic Lopeyok from Budi county.

The already unstable situation in the Kidepo Valley region had worsened in recent months with frequent road ambushes.

However, Joseph Obore, a peace dialogue participant from Torit says he believes the outcomes of the forum are positive.

“The agreed-upon outcomes will help prevent raids, allowing for peaceful coexistence and the preservation of our livelihoods,” he stated.

For her part, Alexandra Tomczak, a Civil Affairs Officer from the UN Peacekeeping mission’s Field Office in Torit, was heartened by the spirit of amity demonstrated by participants.

“As South Sudan approaches its first national elections in December this year, it is wonderful to see formerly feuding communities realize the importance of social cohesion in ushering in a more peaceful, prosperous future for all. I urge all community members to coordinate with authorities to address any disputes according to the law of the land and not take matters into their own hands,” she affirmed.

Speaking at the event, Peter Lokeng Lotone, state Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement Agencies, assured participants of the government’s commitment to disarming civilian populations in remote areas.

“The only way to secure a safe environment is through disarmament because guns in the hands of people cause continued criminality,” he asserted.

“This is vital for all of South Sudan to move forward, develop and prosper.”

The Kidepo Valley region is a vast area inhabited by feuding pastoral communities. Over the years, deep-seated hostilities had transformed conflict dynamics from cattle raids to deliberate attacks on villages and vulnerable groups, including women and children.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

According to the minister, the measures being adopted in this respect are in line with regional policy, bearing in mind that capital outflows abroad must be justified, and when they are transferred for the purpose of importing products, their entry must be justified, which has not been the case for these companies. However, when it is established that the transfers made are indeed for the purchase of products, a possible scenario of capital outflow is ruled out, leading to the conclusion that it is tax fraud, and for the minister, this practice harms not only the country’s foreign reserves, but also the rest of the States in the sub-region.

During their interventions, chiefs from Guinaco, Dominique, Pegasos, Joseph Amahad and Kaba Market, Victor King shared the concern that there would be high inflation for products if it was decided that they had to pay for everything they had not declared. They also presented to the minister the situation regarding high product costs from their suppliers’ warehouses.

For all these reasons, the minister first informed them that the BEAC would proceed with the application of the new mechanism, i.e. the companies would be able to make their transfers, but from now on they would have to declare the real value of the transfers, while it was also made clear to them that any compensation paid to the State could not have an impact on future prices, because it was the result of fraudulent actions carried out by these companies in the past. 

At the end of the meeting, the minister stressed that, at the Government level, there was commitment to support companies, given that they help to provide solutions to certain needs within the population, but that this did not mean that they should act outside the law.

In that regard, Ofa Mbo Nchama commented that the Government was working to gather all the information on the transfers and declarations made by each company during 2021, 2022 and 2023, in order to then decide on the payment methods and deadlines regarding their debts to the Public Treasury. The member of the Government stated that the operation would be executed in a way that did not place an unbearable strain on businesses.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equatorial Guinea: Official Web Page of the Government.

The United States, through USAID and the Department of State, is providing more than $25 million in additional humanitarian funding to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Program (WFP) to assist refugees in Uganda facing ongoing food insecurity and the compounding impacts of conflict in the region. USAID is providing $11 million to WFP, while the Department of State is contributing more than $14 million to UNHCR. 

These additional contributions to WFP and UNHCR will support the provision of life-saving monthly food assistance, health care, education, and other emergency relief to the more than 1.6 million refugees that Uganda hosts. Uganda hosts the highest number of refugees of any African country and received more than 130,000 new refugees last year alone, primarily fleeing conflicts in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Sudan. This additional funding will be vital to meeting urgent needs in the country. We urge other donors to join us in stepping up to support WFP and UNHCR to assist the most vulnerable people affected by conflict and other crises throughout the region. 

The United States is committed to ensuring our assistance is provided without discrimination, including in Uganda, where we have significant concerns about the impact of the Uganda Constitutional Court’s recent decision to uphold most aspects of the Anti-Homosexuality Act. This ruling is dangerous and fails to protect LGBTQI+ people and allies. Uganda’s government must protect the dignity of all people in the country. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

sharing documentation with all members of the commission in order to avoid making uninformed decisions, and insisted that for the next meeting the members of the committee, particularly GEProyectos and Public Works, provide clear documentation on the status of each project.

The minister then recommended that all projects awarded to the 85 listed companies be integrated within the Ministry for Planning’s database. To that end, the President of GEProyectos undertook to provide all information concerning the Planning department, in order to consolidate its database.

During the meeting, the status of various projects was presented by the president of GEProyectos, including the total sums, certification, paid and remaining balances and retentions, where some of these projects, such as the construction of the National University Campus in Basupu, received the validation of the commission, while others, such as the construction of 32 bridges in the District of Micomeseng, will be reviewed and presented at the next meeting.

The meeting was also attended by the Minister for Planning, Gabriel Mbega Obiang Lima; the Deputy Minister for the Treasury, Milagrosa Obono Angüe; the Vice-Minister for Public Works, Pascual Ondo; the President and Vice-President of GEProyectos, Alejandro Micha Nsue and Bonifacio Esono, and Secretaries of State and some Director Generals from these ministerial departments.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equatorial Guinea: Official Web Page of the Government.