Τη νύχτα πριν «γεννηθεί» η νεότερη χώρα του κόσμου, το Νότιο Σουδάν, ο γλύπτης Νταβίντ Μόρμπε,
εργάστηκε μέχρι τις 11 το βράδυ προκειμένου να τελειώσει το άγαλμα του
πατέρα του έθνους και της χώρας, Τζον Γκάρανγκ. Όταν το ρολόι χτύπησε 12
και άρχισε να κυλά η 9η Ιουλίου 2011, ο Μόρμπε γιόρταζε μαζί με τους
συμπολίτες στους δρόμους την ανεξαρτησία του Νότιου Σουδάν.
«Τότε ο κόσμος έκλαιγε από χαρά και είχα κι εγώ χαρά στην καρδιά μου» λέει
σήμερα στη βρετανική εφημερίδα Guardian, ο 36χρονος γλύπτης. Ομως η
πραγματικότητα γρήγορα γκρεμισε τις ελπίδες. Δυόμισι χρόνια μετά την
ανακήρυξη της ανεξαρτησίας του Νότιου Σουδάν, το κράτος-όνειρο έχει ήδη
γίνει εφιάλτης.
Μία μάχη πολιτικών «εγώ» εξελίχθηκε σε εθνοτική σύγκρουση, που έχει
στοιχίσει τη ζωή σε χιλιάδες ανθρώπους. Δεκάδες χιλιάδες ξεριζωμένοι
βρίσκονται στριμωγμένοι σε καταυλισμούς, φοβούμενοι για την ασφάλειά
τους. Σύμφωνα με τα Ηνωμένα Έθνη, ένα μήνας συγκρούσεων έχει πάει την
χώρα μία δεκαετία πίσω. «Η εθνική σημαία ακόμη κυματίζει και το
τεσσάρων μέτρων άγαλμα του Γκάρανγκ ακόμη υψώνεται σε ένα σκονισμένο
οικόπεδο γεμάτο σκουπίδια, αλλά όπως ανακάλυψε ο Guardian, το να
πλησιάσεις απλά μπορεί να καταλήξει σε σύντομη κράτηση και την απειλή
200 χτυπημάτων με ραβδί» αναφέρει το ρεπορτάζ της βρετανικής εφημερίδας.
Όπως είπε ο Μόρμπε, το 2011, οι άνθρωποι στο Νότιο Σουδάν ήλπιζαν σε μία καλύτερη ζωή. «Αισθάνομαι ότι πήραμε λάθος δρόμο σαν χώρα. Τώρα αυτές οι εθνοτικές συγκρούσεις απειλούν να μας κάνουν ένα αποτυχημένο κράτος» σχολίασε.
Η δημιουργία του κράτους του Νοτίου Σουδάν, αναφέρει το δημοσίευμα,
αποτελεί αποτέλεσμα πολλών παραγόντων αλλά υπήρξε ένας βασικός παίκτης
που κίνησε τις διεργασίες για το δημοψήφισμα για ανεξαρτησία και αυτός
ήταν οι Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες. Το πετρέλαιο της περιοχής μπορεί να
αποτέλεσε για την Ουάσινγκτον ισχυρό κίνητρο. Όμως τώρα είναι η Κίνα
και όχι οι ΗΠΑ, που ελέγχει τον πετρελαϊκό τομέα.
- Επίσης επικριτές κατηγορούν τις ΗΠΑ ότι η πολιτική της οικοδόμησης κρατών που ακολούθησε σε μία σειρά περιπτώσεων, όπως στο Ιράκ και στο Αφγανιστάν, χαρακτηρίστηκε από αποτυχία και στο Νότιο Σουδάν. Συγκεκριμένα υποστηρίζουν ότι έδωσαν περισσότερη σημασία στα τεχνικά προβλήματα, όπως οι υποδομές και οι υπηρεσίες, και λιγότερη σε παράγοντες όπως η διαφθορά, η καλή διακυβέρνηση, η ομοιόμορφη κατανομή των πόρων και η εθνική συμφιλίωση σε αυτό που η μή κυβερνητική οργάνωση International Crisis Group αποκαλεί «ένα δίκτυο βαθιά ριζωμένων εθνοτικών εντάσεων».
«Ταξιδέψαμε στη Νέα Υόρκη και μιλήσαμε με πρεσβευτές στα Ηνωμένα Έθνη, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της Αμερικανίδας Σούζαν Ράις.
Τους είπαμε: «Σας παρακαλούμε αντιμετωπίστε τη διχόνια που υπέβοσκε στο
σκοτάδι εξαιτίας του πολέμου της ανεξαρτησίας. Αλλά σκέφτηκαν μόνο την
ανάπτυξη και την οικονομία και είπαν: "Ας δώσουμε χρήματα"» λέει στον Guardian ο Έντμουντ Γιακάνι, ακτιβιστής και διευθυντής της οργάνωσης Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO) στην πρωτεύουσα Τζούμπα.
Και καταλήγει: «Τα μέσα ενημέρωσης εστίασαν στην ανάπτυξη και
στις υπηρεσίες. Η κυβέρνηση όμως είναι η πρόκληση για το Νότιο Σουδάν.
Μετά την ανεξαρτησία δεν δώσαμε στους εαυτούς μας τον χρόνο να ψάξουμε
πώς θα ζήσουμε ειρηνικά όλοι μαζί. Δεν μάθαμε από τα λάθη του Σουδάν».
tovima.gr
22/1/14
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UNICEF airlifts urgent supplies to strife-torn South Sudan...
ReplyDelete21 January 2014 – Responding to vital humanitarian needs in South Sudan, the first of two planes chartered by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) arrived in the capital, Juba, today, loaded with supplies for women and children across the crisis-stricken country.
“These essential and life-saving supplies will help thousands of children and women in desperate need across South Sudan,” said Dermot Carty, UNICEF Deputy Director of Emergency Programmes.
Mr. Carty, usually based in Geneva, will be in South Sudan for a month, supporting UNICEF’s work to assist communities affected by the current crisis, which has taken a heavy toll on civilians since it began in mid-December.
Fighting between pro- and anti-Government forces have uprooted well over half a million people across the world’s youngest nation, with some of them having sought refuge in neighbouring countries. Nearly 70,000 of those displaced within the country are sheltering at the bases of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Almost 80 per cent of those at the UN protection sites are women and children.
The plane that arrived today brought treatments for malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea and malnutrition, as well as nutrients, vitamins, antibiotics and painkillers for children. The supplies also include midwifery and obstetric surgery kits, equipment that will help to deliver clean water and sanitation, and tents, tarpaulins and blankets.
The next plane is expected to arrive on Thursday, bringing in more medical supplies and water and sanitation equipment.
“Children are dying from malnutrition and diseases that can be prevented in times of peace – such as measles and malaria,” said Mr. Carty. “Our most urgent plea now is for all parties in the conflict to allow these humanitarian supplies to be transported and distributed safely to the children who have no part in this conflict.
“Each day we lose, we fail the children of South Sudan,” he added.
UNICEF said that over 200,000 have been reached with some form of assistance. However, in areas where fighting has been heavy, humanitarian assistance is sporadic as access is limited.
“The biggest challenge at the moment is to be able to get access to those who are in need for security reasons,” Mr. Carty stated. “To adapt to that, we are trying to be nimble and flexible. We are ready to jump through windows of opportunity when they appear.”...............http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=46974&Cr=south+sudan&Cr1=#.Ut-YSPv8Kt8
21/1/14
S. Sudan accuses rebels of killing 127 people in Bor hospital...
ReplyDeleteThe South Sudanese government on Wednesday accused rebel forces loyal to sacked vice-president Riek Machar of killing scores of civilians, including a number of hospital patients.
"On December 19, when renegade general Peter Gadet switched sides in Riek's favor, Bor town was looted and many civilians were killed," presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek Ateny told reporters in Juba.
"However, in Bor Hospital, there were 127 patients being hospitalized before the rebellion. Unfortunately, they were all killed by renegade general Peter Gadet's forces," Ateny said.
More than 10,000 people have reportedly been killed and 400,000 others displaced by the fighting.
Bor, capital of Jonglei State, has been the most affected by fighting since violence broke out in the country in mid-December.
Ateny accused rebels of killing civilians near the compound of the UN Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), where a number of people had taken refuge.
"It was reported that more than 20 civilians were killed by rebel [forces] some few meters from the UNMISS compound," he said.
Other reports have suggested that a number of women were also killed in a church.
-No condemnation-
The presidential spokesman accused the rebels of wreaking havoc on the towns that had fallen under their control.
"We have seen how towns such as Malakal, Bor and Bentiu have been reduced to rubble," he said. "There's nothing to salvage from these towns."
Since the crisis broke out, Bor has changed hands between rebel and government forces four times.
The town has been ravaged by the war, with shops, public offices, banks and hospitals being looted and vandalized.
Reports from the area suggest that both the rebels and government soldiers have exploited the situation to wreak havoc on the local population.
Incidents of rape and summary executions have also been reported in Bor.
The spokesman also criticized the lack of international condemnation of the rebels' actions.
"The atrocities committed by the rebels are countless, yet the international community has paid less attention to the crimes committed by the forces inspired by the myth and illusions," he said.
"UN trucks and military tanks that were commandeered by the rebels in the Unity and Jonglei states are still in rebel possession, yet no single strong condemnation was ever released by UNMISS," he added.
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/277768--s-sudan-accuses-rebels-of-killing-127-people-in-bor-hospital
22/1/14
South Sudan Rebels Ready to Sign Cease-Fire Accord ...
ReplyDeleteSouth Sudanese rebels are prepared to sign a cease-fire accord today that includes an agreement that Ugandan troops withdraw from the country, rebel spokesman Mabior Garang said.
The agreement excludes the rebels’ earlier demand for the “immediate release” of detainees held after violence erupted in the country on Dec. 15, Garang said in a phone interview today from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
“There’s going to be a signing ceremony” at 3 p.m. of an accord on ending hostilities, he said. “The detainees issue is more complicated because they will not be released immediately; it doesn’t say anything about their immediate release.”
Government and rebel negotiators have been holding peace talks in Addis Ababa since Jan. 13. Fighting broke out in South Sudan last month after President Salva Kiir accused former Vice President Riek Machar of trying to stage a coup, a charge Machar denies. The dispute escalated into clashes between members of Kiir’s ethnic Dinka community and Machar’s Nuer group. The death toll in the conflict is approaching 10,000, according to the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, while the United Nations says half a million people have fled their homes.
Read more: http://indian.ruvr.ru/news/2014_01_23/South-Sudan-Rebels-Ready-to-Sign-Cease-Fire-Accord-0217/
23/1/14
South Sudan government and rebels sign ceasefire deal...
ReplyDelete(Reuters) - South Sudan's government and rebel troops loyal to sacked Vice President Riek Machar signed a deal on Thursday to end fighting that has lasted more than a month and killed thousands.
The leader of President Salva Kiir's delegation to talks that have lasted weeks, Nhial Deng Nhial, and the leader of Machar's delegation, Taban Deng Gai, signed the pact in the Ethiopian capital, a Reuters reporter who was present said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/23/us-southsudan-unrest-idUSBREA0M1GX20140123?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
23/1/14
UN: Mass Looting of Food Aid in South Sudan...
ReplyDeleteLooters in South Sudan have stolen UN food aid that would have fed over 220,000 people for a month, the World Food Program said Friday.
"Humanitarian access and looting of food stocks are major concerns," the UN agency's spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs told reporters.
"As a result of looting reported at WFP facilities around the country, WFP currently estimates that we may have lost more than 3,700 metric tons of food enough to feed more than 220,000 people for a month."
Among the hardest-hit locations was northern town Malakal, the capital of oil-producing Upper Nile state.
Aid agencies have been scrambling to deal with a ballooning humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, already one of the world's poorest nations, after fighting erupted in December.
The country, which won independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of warfare, has been gripped by clashes between government loyalists and a loose coalition of army defectors and ethnic militia.
Byrs said that the UN hoped the ceasefire would hold, enabling aid agencies to provide urgently-needed relief to the population.
Adrian Edwards, spokesman for the UN high commissioner for refugees, said Friday that more than 100,000 South Sudanese have sought refuge in neighboring Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan.
South Sudan is also host to 230,000 refugees, mostly from Sudan, the bulk of whom relied on aid to survive even before the fighting began.
http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?eid=132141&cid=56&fromval=1
24/1/14
Remarks at Live@State: U.S. Africa Policy. -Remarks John Kerry, Secretary of State.-Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs.....
ReplyDeleteMS. JENSEN: Hi. Welcome to LiveAtState, the State Department’s interactive web-chat platform for engaging international media. I’m your host, Holly Jensen, and I would like to welcome all of you joining us today. I would like to send a special shout-out to those of you joining us at our 20 watch parties in 18 countries hosted by our embassies and posts around the continent.
As you know, Assistant Secretary Linda Thomas-Greenfield is here today. She will be discussing U.S. policy in Sub-Saharan Africa. But what you don’t know is she is joined by Secretary of State John Kerry, who has come by to say a few words about our U.S. policy and the importance of our relationship with Africa. He’s also graciously agreed to take one question before he departs. As you know, he’s a very, very busy man.
So Mr. Secretary, thank you for being the first ever Secretary of State to join us on LiveAtState.
SECRETARY KERRY: Wow. I didn’t realize that. I’m very excited by that. Thank you.
MS. JENSEN: Great.
SECRETARY KERRY: Thanks, Holly. I’m very – I’m really happy to be here. And I’m very happy to be joining all of you. Thanks for being part of this incredible network of watch parties. And it’s my privilege to be here with our terrific Assistant Secretary of State Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who is firefighting in lots of different places. She’s doing an incredible job of reaching out and trying to help us to end some conflicts where they exist and prevent them where they might be starting. And there are huge challenges.
But what is happening in Africa is so exciting overall. And we are really deeply engaged. And the President has instructed us to really try to light our fire under our efforts in – throughout the continent. When you look at it, and you think that over the course of the next 20, 30 years half the workforce or a quarter of the workforce of the world, I guess it is, is going to wind up coming from Africa, being in Africa. And 60 percent of the population under the age of 30 presents us not just with an enormous challenge, because we need to provide education, we need to provide opportunity, but it also provides us with the chance to really define the future. And that’s what we’re trying to do with our programs like Trade Africa, with our Power Africa initiative, with the Young African Leaders Initiative. All of these things are exciting. The President is very committed to trying to build on this through the African Summit that’s coming down the road...................http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/02/221552.htm
11/2/14