Update from Dane Smith
Mayhem Continues in South Sudan
On June 3, the Archbishop of Central Equatoria, Paul Benjamin Yugusuk, issued a statement denouncing the killing of the Rev. Cosmas Kwaje, Parish Priest of Gumbiri Parish, Diocese of Lainya, and three other church members, by South Sudan People’s Defense Forces after their arrest. He called on SSPDF Chief of Staff, Gen. Santino Deng Wol, to investigate and bring to justice the soldiers responsible. The SSPDF denied the killings.
The International Crisis Group reported at the end of May the death of more than 150 in South Sudan from inter-communal violence. Actual numbers may have exceeded 200. The mayhem has continued in June with 13 killed near Rumbek in Lakes State in fighting between the Gony and the Theywieth (or Thuyci), ethnic groups not previously cited in the recounting of violence. The attacks on humanitarian workers have also continued; two more were killed after delivering food near Rumbek June 8.
(Photo by Nichola Mandil)
The new civilian head of UNMISS, Nicholas Haysom, has announced a different approach by the peacekeepers to the protection of civilians: deploying troops to hotspots, setting up temporary bases, and intensifying patrols. Haysom reported to Voice of America this week, however, that the GOSS has blocked UNMISS from patrolling in Western Equatoria and Western Bahr al-Ghazal states. Lakes State and Central Equatoria remain particularly dangerous areas.
Continued US Policy Review for South Sudan. The Biden Administration continues a strategic review of policy for South Sudan in the recognition that existing policy has not worked very well to deal with dysfunctional government and continued violence. This week the Administration has begun announcing ambassadorial nominations. Hopefully, nominations of ambassadors for both Juba and Khartoum will materialize shortly. One problem for US policy makers is the current paralysis of IGAD, the regional body for the Horn of Africa, now formally headed by Sudanese transitional Prime Minister Hamdok. Ethiopia’s Abiy is preoccupied with his internal problems and the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and Uganda’s Museveni is currently inactive.
Fruits of the Juba Agreement. Dr. Jibril Ibrahim, the Darfuri former JEM rebel leader, became Sudanese Minister of Finance in early 2021 as a result of the Juba Agreement, which brought several rebel groups into the Government. Ibrahim has been receiving positive attention from the media, particularly recent features in Bloomberg, for his success in obtaining assurances of debt cancellation, securing new loans from France, Germany, and Norway, and ending the longtime subsidy for gasoline and diesel prices. One of the remaining non-signatories of the Juba document, Gen. Abdelaziz Al-Hilu, who controls the Nuba Mountains, just completed a week of talks with Khartoum to work out the details of the earlier declaration issued with the government on freedom of religion and a secular state. Both sides report that more than three-quarters of the issues have been resolved, with further talks expected soon.
Political Violence in Sudan Largely Limited to Darfur. In May, a protest to commemorate the 2019 demonstrations leading to the political transition in Sudan triggered the killing of two protesters by security forces. To his credit, Prime Minister Hamdok condemned the killings, and seven perpetrators have been handed over to the Public Prosecutor for action. However, little progress has been made in reducing violence in Darfur, particularly between the Masalit and Rizeigat Arabs, fearful of losing land which they seized during violence 15 years earlier. The Government has spoken of deployment of a mixed force to include both Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (largely Darfuri Arabs) to calm the situation, but that has not yet occurred. The idea of such a mixed force generates much suspicion among non-Arab Darfuris.
Executive Director
Focus Area: South Sudan: Educating War Orphans
Construction of New Classrooms: News from Bishop Gatteck with Pictures
We are grateful that St Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis has chosen to grant $12,500 to AFRECS to help expand the POC3 school for orphans and Unaccompanied Minors to 500 boys and girls. The school started with just 50 students less than five years ago.
Construction has started on the 8 new classrooms, store room and kitchen (for feeding the children their meal a day), and Bishop Gatteck and AFRECS are hopeful that much of the construction can be complete before the summer rainy season begins in earnest.
New teachers for the additional classes will be interviewed next week.
AFRECS continues as the primary financial sponsor of the school.
Bishop John asks for everyone’s prayers for the successful expansion of the school and that the school children may grow, learn and be fed in a safe, caring and educational environment, and that Bishop John’s own eyesight (he has lost much vision in his right eye) be restored in full so he can continue do God’s work with the children and others in the refugee camp.
 Completed Classroom |
|
 Digging postholes |
 Setting support poles |
 Completing the support structure. |
 Bamboo walls and tin roof completed. |
News and Notes
Trauma Healing News from Rev. Stephen M. Mou
(Photo by the Winnipeg Free Press)
Deadly local conflicts erupting over a territory as large as the entire southeastern United States cannot be addressed while sitting in an office in Juba. In May and June, accordingly, the Episcopal Church of South Sudan’s coordinator for Justice, Peace, and Reconciliation has been on the move. The Reverend Stephen M. Mou is based in Juba, but his mandate is to facilitate trauma healing and conduct workshops on managing and resolving conflict – efforts all aiming towards reconciliation.
Invited by Joseph Garang Atem, Archbishop of Upper Nike Internal Province, Mou facilitated a workshop in Renk on May 8th, attended by members of the churches at various levels. He noted the support for this work being given to the Diocese of Renk by the international charity Five Talents.
On May 25th to 27 he facilitated the same workshop in Bentiu, Upper Nile,
attended by 24 participants and funded by the office of the Primate of the Episcopal
Church of South Sudan. Between June 1st and 3rd, he conducted the same workshop with women from Greater Equatoria, Greater Bahr El Ghazal and Greater Upper Nile, this activity being funded by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Anglican Communion Fund.
Trauma Healing group meeting in South Sudan.
Before the end of June, Mou was scheduled to travel with the retired bishop of Torit and former Provincial Secretary, Enock Tombe, to Rumbek in Lakes State, to facilitate the same workshop with youth, women, priests, and traditional authorities. This activity is funded by the Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan’s Primate office.
Mou’s motto is, “Go with the people. Live with them. Learn from them. Love
them. Start with what they have. Build on what they know. But with the best leaders,
when the work is done, the task accomplished, the people will say, ‘We have
done this ourselves’.” (Lao-Tze)
Other News from Various Sources
COVID-19 News
From BBC News – 06142021
South Sudan vaccinates 16,000 against coronavirus
By Nichola Mandil
The health authorities in South Sudan have said that they have so far vaccinated more than 16,000 people against Covid-19. South Sudan has a population of 13 million. South Sudan has so far recorded 115 deaths from coronavirus.
https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c302m85q54lt/south-sudan
From the Associated Press – 06092021
‘This is Insane’: Africa desperately short of COVID vaccine
By Gerald Imray
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — In the global race to vaccinate people against COVID-19, Africa is tragically at the back of the pack. In fact, it has barely gotten out of the starting blocks.
The World Health Organization says the continent of 1.3 billion people is facing a severe shortage of vaccine at the same time a new wave of infections is rising across Africa. The shortfall is estimated at 700 million doses. And vaccine shipments to the continent have ground to a “near halt,” WHO said last week.
in an interview, Nkengasong called on the leaders of wealthy nations meeting this week at the Group of Seven summit to share spare vaccines — something the United States has already agreed to do — and avert a “moral catastrophe.”
“People are dying. Time is against us. This IS INSANE,” South African human rights lawyer Fatima Hasan, an activist for equal access to health care, wrote in a series of text messages.
From BBC News – 06082021
South Sudan government threatens to close schools
By Nichola Mandil
South Sudan’s Education Minister Awut Deng Acuil has threatened to close schools that violate the Covid-19 public health protocols. The warning comes after some schools were inspected and found not to have hand washing facilities and learners were not wearing masks.
Ms. Acuil cited the rising coronavirus cases in neighboring countries as the reason why school administrators need to enforce all regulations. Ms. Acuil also appealed to parents to ensure the guidelines are being followed in schools.
https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c302m85q54lt/south-sudan
From Nyamilepedia – 06132021
Humanitarian partners seek $1.2 billion for South Sudanese refugees in regional countries
At least 93 humanitarian partners are seeking to raise $1.2 billion to improve the living conditions of over 2 million South Sudanese who have sought refuge and asylum in neighboring and regional countries.
According to the South Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP), a report compiled by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spanning from January 2020 to December 2021, at least 66,000 of the 2.2 million refugees in regional and neighboring countries are children registered unaccompanied or separated from their parents and caregivers. In the document obtained by Nyamilepedia, Ms. Clementine Nkweta Salami, UNHCR Regional Director, Regional Bureau for East and Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes, says part of the much-needed funds would be channeled in rebuilding the livelihood of these children.
From Eye Radio – 06182021
World Bank allocates $116 million for poverty-reduction projects in South Sudan
By Jale Richard
The World Bank has allocated $116 million to address acute food insecurity and desert locust crisis in South Sudan. This is through two new projects that aim to strengthen the capacity of farmers, improve agricultural production, and restore livelihoods and food security.
South Sudan is facing increasing levels of food insecurity despite increased production, with exceptionally high food prices constraining access to food for large segments of population and desert locusts devouring crops. The UN and government projects that 7.2 million people will face acute food insecurity in the coming months, which is the highest number since independence.
In a press release yesterday, the World Bank says South Sudan Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods Project will provide a grant of $62.5 million that will support investments in training for farmers to help them efficiently manage their organizations, adopt new technology, and use climate-smart agriculture practices to boost their yields. It will also invest in tools, machinery, and seeds required to improve productivity.
While the Emergency Locust Response Project which consists of a grant for $53.7 million, will boost South Sudan’s response to desert locusts by restoring livelihoods for the poorest and strengthening the country’s preparedness systems.
https://eyeradio.org/world-bank-allocates-116-million-for-poverty-reduction-projects-in-s-sudan/
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!
We continue to be grateful that contributions from you, our supporters, nurture AFRECS in expanding our impact. You make a difference in the essential peacebuilding work of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan. We hope you will consider continuing your generosity with an additional gift of whatever you can afford, You can contribute online at https://afrecs.org or send a check made out to AFRECS to P.O. Box 3327, Alexandria, VA 22302
Please Note: AFRECS’ former address c/o Virginia Theological Seminary is no longer valid.
This issue of the AFRECS E-Blast was compiled by AFRECS Board Member Caroline Klam.