In April 2024, armed criminals from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area carried out brutal attacks on villages in Kauto, Kapoeta East, killing 32 people, injuring 22 others, and abducting 35 children.

In the aftermath, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), State authorities and other partners immediately began intensive advocacy to secure the safe release and return of the children.

Today, those efforts proved to be successful as 11 of the children were handed over with the support of UNMISS and Eastern Equatorian State authorities and airlifted from Pibor town back home to Kapoeta.

“The handover of the children demonstrates a steadfast commitment to addressing the grave issue of child abduction while actively advancing reconciliation between communities in Eastern Equatoria and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area,” said the Governor of Eastern Equatoria, Louis Lobong Lojore, as he welcomed the children home.

The Chief Administrator of the GPAA, Gola Boyoi Gola, also confirmed efforts to rescue the remaining children are continuing.

“These successful operations are vital for promoting peace in the region,” he said.

Throughout the recovery process, UNICEF and other humanitarian partners in Pibor, including Caritas South Sudan and Grass Root Empowerment and Development Organization (GREDO), played a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of the abductees, providing protection, conducting family tracing, and facilitating potential reunifications.

“We understand that the government and peace partners are working to resolve this situation. We appreciate their efforts, but the parents are desperate to reunite with their young ones. We urge them to expedite whatever process they can to alleviate the trauma being suffered by these families,” said Jennifer Nabongorika, Minister of Gender and Social Welfare in Eastern Equatoria.

After the violent attack in Kauto, authorities from both administrations explored options to promote opportunities for dialogue and implement new policies to prevent similar atrocities.

This follows the collective endorsement of resolutions by various communities in Eastern Equatoria State and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area in 2022 to impose and enforce punitive measures against perpetrators of child abduction and cattle-related conflicts, underscoring their commitment to fostering peaceful coexistence.

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

As storm clouds gathered over the skies in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile state in South Sudan, last week, there was an unexpected silver lining.

A long-awaited trial was taking place through video conferencing, where the accused—who had been detained since December 2023 on a murder charge—was finally getting his day in court.

Technology enabled a live connection between the country’s judiciary in Juba and a conference room at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s (UNMISS) Malakal Field Office.

Supported by the UN Peacekeeping mission’s Rule of Law section, the innovative virtual court proceedings symbolize another step forward in ensuring access to justice for all citizens across this young nation.

In the absence of a high court judge and given the suspect’s prolonged detention, this approach, according to Milbert Shin, Director, UNMISS Rule of Law, was both creative and legally sound.

“Reducing delays in justice delivery is key for South Sudan to move forward in its journey towards sustained peace. Currently, the judicial system here faces serious challenges such as lack of infrastructure, personnel, and mobility,” he explains.

“As UNMISS, we, therefore, consistently engage with the judiciary to find ways to provide support to in overcome these issues and, in concert with partners, build consensus around approaches that bring justice to the people. Deploying mobile courts to far flung locations is one such interventions we support; these have had a positive impact in restoring community confidence and reducing delays in verdicts on serious offences. But in this instance, it was a single case of a serious crime which carries the possibility of a capital sentence. Therefore, we supported the judiciary to conduct a virtual trial,” he adds.

The virtual court proceedings took place in the presence of local justice actors in Malakal; witnesses; Community Watch Group members from the UN Protection of Civilians site; and UNMISS representatives. Andrew Joshua Lado, the Juba High Court Judge presided over the trial.

Presentations were made by the prosecution and the defense, witnesses provided testimony, and an investigator presented his findings.

Speedy but thorough deliberations based on the evidence presented were undertaken by Judge Lado; the suspect was found guilty of a reduced count of manslaughter and due sentencing took place. 

“This is a landmark judgement because it saved time, resources and is in line with the laws of the land. The accused will serve three years for his crime, instead of waiting indefinitely to have his case heard. Timely remedial measures not only benefit individual offenders by ultimately aiding their reintegration into society, but also citizens at large, by restoring faith that while justice may be delayed, it will not be denied,” avers Mr. Shin.

Additionally, local justice actors have expressed their strong belief that such virtual trials may prove to be a complementary practice facilitating expedited access to justice where mobile court deployments aren’t possible and should, thus, be incorporated in the judiciary’s practice directions for subsequent trials of a related nature.

UNMISS, through its Rule of Law Section, supports South Sudan to strengthen the protection of civilians through restoration and reform of the rule of law and justice sector; measures to combat impunity and promote accountability; security sector transformation; community violence reduction initiatives; and support for legal reform and oversight.

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

In an awkward, live conversation with Manchester United legend, Eric Cantona – in his debut appearance on Matchday Live – host Julia Stuart and Owen Hargreaves attempted to placate the notorious Red Devils’ captain. Their efforts were in vain, as the Frenchman eventually tired of the conversation and stormed off the set. He offered a rambling monologue about revolution as his parting shot.

https://apo-opa.co/4fK4XrR  

Stuart says, “What can you and the millions of Manchester United fans around the world expect; what will be unfolding as the season progresses on their television sets?”

Cantona sarcastically chuckles and says, “television” a few times before standing and removing his microphone, jacket and tie, and proceeding to deliver a concluding monologue to camera.

He says, “How many people in this world don’t even own a television? What of [sic] them? To be truly beautiful, the game should be everywhere. It cannot be stuck on the wall – or just in the bar – no, it must fly. Then my friends, no one, no one should believe the Premier League is out of their league. It must be for everyone.”

He concludes, “And this marks the beginning; the revolution has begun.”

As he walks off-camera, we hear Julia Stuart asking Owen Hargreaves, “what must I do?”, before the broadcast cuts to a test pattern.

https://apo-opa.co/4fK5aeD

The show returns after the ad break with what appears to be a Cantona-led pirate broadcast.

Cantona defiantly declares, “The revolution will not be televised; the revolution will be live.”

In what is possibly the greatest live TV stunt ever staged, Showmax.com revealed to all 44 of its African markets – simultaneously, via linear TV, its streaming platform and YouTube Live – that football will never be the same again. Quite literally, because it has the most compelling Premier League offering in the world.

GSMA Intelligence data (https://apo-opa.co/3M8cl2B) suggests there are more than half a billion unique mobile subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa, alone. This is seven times greater than the predicted number of television sets in the same region (74.76m according to Statista.com).

Hundreds of millions of people will finally be able to consume the greatest football league on the planet, for a fraction of what it costs to attend a live match in England, while cheering on hundreds of African players, in real time.

It’s the Premier League in your pocket. Welcome to the revolution!

Pricing structure:

Country

Showmax Entertainment

Showmax Entertainment Mobile

Showmax Premier League

Showmax Entertainment + Premier League

Showmax Entertainment Mobile + Premier League

South Africa

ZAR 99

ZAR 45

ZAR 69

ZAR 140

ZAR 99

Nigeria

NGN 3500

NGN 1600

NGN 3200

NGN 5400

NGN 4000

Kenya

KES 650

KES 300

KES 500

KES 1000

KES 700

Namibia

N$ 99

N$ 45

N$ 69

N$ 140

N$ 99

Botswana

BWP 70

BWP 36

BWP 55

BWP 110

BWP 80

Ghana

GSH 59

GSH 27

GSH 55

GSH 105

GSH 75

Tanzania

TSH 12000

TSH 7300

TSH 9800

TSH 19800

TSH 15000

Uganda

UGX 19000

UGX 11400

UGX 15200

UGX 31200

UGX 24000

Zambia

ZMW 110

ZMW 90

ZMW 70

ZMW 175

ZMW 135

Rest of Africa

USD 5

USD 3

USD 4

USD 8

USD 6

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Showmax.

About Showmax.com:
Showmax, launched in 2015 and available in more than 40 markets across the continent, is a leading African streaming service. It offers a unique combination of original African content, first and exclusive international series, popular movies, premium documentaries, and the best kids’ shows, as well as a world-first Premier League live-streaming mobile plan. 

SA ONLY: 
Get your Showmax Premier League mobile subscription for just R69 at https://apo-opa.co/4fQryD2. Capitec customers can subscribe to Showmax Premier League via their Capitec app for just R34 per month.

“The delegations in Geneva welcome the decision by the SAF to open the Adre border crossing – a critical step for saving lives and preventing the spread of famine and we look forward to seeing the first convoys cross in the coming days. We call on the RSF to take immediate steps to ensure that the aid groups entering through the Adre border are provided safety, unfettered humanitarian access, and operational independence from armed and political actors. 

We all must take immediate steps to move humanitarian assistance into Darfur and across Sudan with safe and unhindered passage to the people in need, regardless of which party controls territory. The expansion of humanitarian assistance is a top priority for the members of the international community gathered in Switzerland. The facilitation of humanitarian access and civilian protection is consistent with the parties’ commitments under the Jeddah declarations and obligations under international humanitarian law.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs&International Cooperation.