JUBE DAILY NEWS

At least 81 reporters were killed doing their jobs in 2017, as harassment and attacks on journalists have been on the rise, according to the International Federation of Journalists. Although the number of deaths is slightly down from last year's total of 93, the IFJ cautioned that an unprecedented number of journalists were jailed in 2017, with more than 250 still in prison. "Self-censorship was widespread and ... impunity for the killings, harassment, attacks and threats against independent journalism was running at epidemic levels," the Belgium-based organization said in its annual report, released on Sunday. Reporters lost their lives in targeted killings, car bombings and crossfire incidents around the world, the IFJ said, although the loss of ground by armed groups reduced journalists' exposure to the front lines in some combat zones. For example, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group ( ISIL , also known as ISIS) steadily lost ground throu...

A South Sudanese rebel general allied to former First Vice President Riek Machar has been killed in fighting with government troops in the town of Bangalo in Amadi state over the weekend. Rebel spokesman Paul Lam Gabriel confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that the deputy commander of the SPLA-IO’s division in the area, Brig. Gen. Joseph Yallo and his two bodyguards were killed in clashes on Saturday. “The government attacked our positions in the town of Bangalo and killed General Yallo. The area was under our control, but the government forces came and captured it,” Lam said. Lul Ruai Koang, SPLA's military spokesperson, said in a statement that they had killed two rebel generals, including chief of intelligence in Bangalo. He accused the rebels of attacking their convoy. “Rebels ambushed an SPLA convoy which was delivering food and salaries to soldiers deployed at Galia of Bangalo County. The convoy broke through and succeeded in delivering essential food rations and salaries...

The Minister of National Security has told officers of the sector to treat civilians with respect while executing their duties. Obote Mamur said the relations between the National Security and the civil population must be improved He also said a soldier must draw his strength from “support of the civil population.” Addressing newly recruited officers at a training center on the outskirt of Juba, General Mamur said “one joins the security sector in order to protect and serve the population with efficiency and professionalism.” “The relations between a soldier and a civilian known as civil – military relations must be improved. It is the collar of your work; it is what makes you strong. You must respect a civilian,” he said. For his part, the Director General of Internal Security, Akol Khor said in the past the civil population used to respect and cooperate with the army. “Civilians in Wau used to take out their bed sheets and placed on the road so that our soldier...

The Trump administration on Thursday announced sanctions against 52 people and entities from around the world over alleged human rights abuses and corruption, including Benjamin Bol Mel of South Sudan. “Today, the United States is taking a strong stand against human rights abuse and corruption globally by shutting these bad actors out of the U.S. financial system.  Treasury is freezing their assets and publicly denouncing the egregious acts they’ve committed, sending a message that there is a steep price to pay for their misdeeds,” said Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin. “At the direction of President Trump, Treasury and our interagency partners will continue to take decisive and impactful actions to hold accountable those who abuse human rights, perpetrate corruption, and undermine American ideals.” Benjamin Bol Mel is the President of ABMC Thai-South Sudan Construction Company Limited (ABMC), and has served as the Chairman of the S...

South Sudan’s government and rebel groups signed a ceasefire on Thursday in the latest attempt to end a four-year civil war and allow humanitarian groups access to civilians caught in the fighting. The ceasefire aims to revive a 2015 peace deal that collapsed last year after heavy fighting broke out in South Sudan’s capital Juba. It was agreed after talks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa convened by regional bloc  IGAD . A decision by President Salva Kiir to sack his deputy Riek Machar triggered the war in the world’s youngest country. The war has been fought largely along ethnic lines between forces loyal to Kiir, who is Dinka, and Machar, who is Nuer. There is no longer any excuse for the violations of human rights. All parties are obliged to observe cessation of hostilities agreement. Tens of thousands have died and a third of the population of 12 million have fled their homes. The conflict has since mutated from a two-way fight into one involving multiple parti...

Rebecca Garang de Mabior, widow of the founding leader of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) said the conflict in the country would never be resolved unless President Salva Kiir steps down. Speaking at the IGAD-brokered forum to revitalize the implementation of a peace deal signed in 2015, Rebecca described the government of President Kiir as “ineffective and should be replaced”. “If you are afraid to say it, I am saying it, because there is nothing they are delivering. Three weeks ago, hundreds of people died. How many people do we need to die in order for us to see this government is not delivering and should be replaced?” The former presidential adviser on gender and human rights before falling out with President Kiir, leading to her sacking, quoted her late husband to describe the inability of the government to deliver. “The way forward for the government in Juba is to go because there is nothing that they can deliver. Dr John (G...

Seven youths from Jonglei State who were arrested in Juba by national security officials have finally been released, a community leader said. Deng Dau Deng, deputy chairperson of the greater Bor community, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that seven youth were released on Sunday. “All the arrested youth from Bor have been released without charge because they were arrested for administrative issues. Three people were released last month and seven others were released two days ago,” Dau said. Dau, who is also a lawmaker in Juba, said the youth were released to give the national dialogue process a chance. Multiple sources said earlier that the arrested youths were deemed critical of Kiir’s administration.