Latest news with #SPLM-IO
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US deportations cast spotlight on South Sudan's deepening political crisis
An attempt by the US to deport South Asian migrants to South Sudan has cast a spotlight on the world's youngest country, which is experiencing a renewed outbreak of the political tensions that have plagued it over the years. On Wednesday, a US federal judge said the deportation of migrants from the US to South Sudan 'unquestionably' violated a court order requiring that any people being deported to a third country should receive due process. Related: Judge rules Trump administration violated court order by attempting to deport migrants to South Sudan US immigration authorities later confirmed that eight migrants from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam and South Sudan were on the deportation flight and claimed that they had been convicted of offences including murder, armed robbery and other serious crimes. South Sudan's police spokesperson, Maj Gen James Enoka, told the AP on Wednesday that no migrants had arrived and if they did, they'd be investigated and those found not to be from South Sudan 're-deported to their correct country'. If they do make it to South Sudan, they will find a country in the midst of political uncertainty and renewed fighting between rival factions. South Sudan became the world's youngest country when it gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after a referendum. The country of 11 million people is rich in oil reserves and its economy is heavily reliant on exports of the product. But the sector is marred by mismanagement and corruption and despite its vast resources, the country is underdeveloped, with most places lacking electricity, paved roads and other infrastructure. About two thirds of its population live in extreme poverty. South Sudan also experiences some of the world's most punishing climate phenomena, including extreme flooding, which displaced 380,000 people last year. In March, authorities put Riek Machar, the country's first vice-president and main opposition leader, under house arrest, accusing him of agitating his supporters to cause a rebellion. Earlier that month, the White Army, a community militia loyal to Machar, had launched attacks against the country's military in Nasir county and overran an army base. The militia said it had acted in self-defence. The government responded by bombarding areas where the group was based and arrested opposition figures. Related: 'They came for us, to take our shelters and kill us': how violence returned to a shattered South Sudan Machar's party, SPLM-IO, said his arrest had in effect collapsed the peace deal that ended the 2013-2018 civil war in which an estimated 400,000 people were killed in fighting between Nuer fighters loyal to Machar and Dinka forces backing Salva Kiir, the current president. This year's renewed tensions have put the deal to the test and shaken a fragile peace, with the United Nations warning that South Sudan was on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict. Machar remains under house arrest and government offensives have continued in many parts of the north-east, where Nasir is located. On Tuesday, Kiir promoted second vice-president Benjamin Bol Mel as the deputy chairperson of his SPLM party. In his new role, Bol Mel, who is widely viewed as Kiir's chosen successor, would become acting president if Kiir stepped down. The news about deportations of South Asians to South Sudan comes weeks after a standoff between South Sudan and the US after the US sent a Congolese man to South Sudan, claiming he was South Sudanese.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
End conflict to honour Pope, Vatican diplomat tells South Sudan
South Sudanese leaders should "honour" Pope Francis' legacy by ending the country's conflict, the nation's diplomatic representative for the Vatican stated. "We must try to make concrete in the daily life of South Sudan his ardent wish to see a true, durable peace, to see dialogue as the condition of that peace and to see the silencing of the weapons of war," Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan said. During the late pontiff's historic 2023 trip to South Sudan, he urged leaders to end the fighting. Recent violence has threatened to end a fragile peace agreement struck in 2018 between factions in the east African nation's civil war. Why fears are growing of a return of civil war to South Sudan 'We walked for nine days to see the Pope' The mother and children trapped between two conflicts Tensions rose at the start of March, when a militia group allied to Vice-President Riek Machar during South Sudan's civil war clashed with the army. The head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Nicolas Haysom, recently warned that the country was "on the brink of a return to full-scale civil war". Archbishop Horgan said Pope Francis "spoke firmly" during his 2023 visit, calling for "no more bloodshed, no more conflict, no more violence", adding that the late pontiff's message was still "relevant". The Archbishop, who spoke to congregants attending Mass at St Theresa's Cathedral in the capital, Juba, on Friday, said it was "disheartening" to see continuing reports of violence. The same day, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (Unmiss) called for an end to the clashes in the country after reports of fighting between the Sudan People's Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLM-IO) and South Sudan People's Defence Forces. Meanwhile, Machar, who leads the SPLM-IO, remains under house arrest, facing accusations of trying to spark a rebellion. Shortly after South Sudan's birth in 2011, the country descended into civil war between supporters of Machar and President Salva Kiir. Archbishop Horgan reminded congregants that South Sudan held a special place in the Pope's heart, outlining his "extraordinary relationship" with the country and "affection" for the people. The Mass was also attended by Kiir and Vice-President Taban Deng Gai – two of the four South Sudanese leaders – whose feet were kissed by Pope Francis in the Vatican in 2019. Speaking at the end of the Mass, Kiir said: "As an icon of peace, tolerance, forgiveness, reconciliation, harmony and inclusivity, Pope Francis' message resonated with the people of all faiths all over the world." However, Christian faithful who attended the Mass said they were disappointed that the president did not use the opportunity to re-commit to peace, reconciliation and dialogue. Justin Badi Arama, the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) and the Anglican Primate, who took part in the prayer service, said: "It is sad that Pope Francis has passed on when the Revitalised Peace Agreement is seriously sick. "As we celebrate his passing on today, we call upon the transitional government of national unity to make every effort to make sure that the revitalised agreement, which is seriously sick, does not die." The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Santo Loku Pio, said the leaders of South Sudan chose to ignore Pope Francis' iconic "simplicity and gesture" in Rome in 2019, when he knelt down and kissed their feet in a humble plea for peace, unity and reconciliation. He said the gesture by the Pope remained "deeply moving". Bishop Loku added that Pope Francis wanted to make South Sudan a nation that understood the urgency for peace, unity and reconciliation, but that the leaders of the country ignored had his efforts. Ambassadors, religious leaders from other Christian denominations, and representatives of Muslim community also attended the prayer service. Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
End conflict to honour Pope, Vatican diplomat tells South Sudan
South Sudanese leaders should "honour" Pope Francis' legacy by ending the country's conflict, the nation's diplomatic representative for the Vatican stated. "We must try to make concrete in the daily life of South Sudan his ardent wish to see a true, durable peace, to see dialogue as the condition of that peace and to see the silencing of the weapons of war," Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan said. During the late pontiff's historic 2023 trip to South Sudan, he urged leaders to end the fighting. Recent violence has threatened to end a fragile peace agreement struck in 2018 between factions in the east African nation's civil war. Why fears are growing of a return of civil war to South Sudan 'We walked for nine days to see the Pope' The mother and children trapped between two conflicts Tensions rose at the start of March, when a militia group allied to Vice-President Riek Machar during South Sudan's civil war clashed with the army. The head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Nicolas Haysom, recently warned that the country was "on the brink of a return to full-scale civil war". Archbishop Horgan said Pope Francis "spoke firmly" during his 2023 visit, calling for "no more bloodshed, no more conflict, no more violence", adding that the late pontiff's message was still "relevant". The Archbishop, who spoke to congregants attending Mass at St Theresa's Cathedral in the capital, Juba, on Friday, said it was "disheartening" to see continuing reports of violence. The same day, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (Unmiss) called for an end to the clashes in the country after reports of fighting between the Sudan People's Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLM-IO) and South Sudan People's Defence Forces. Meanwhile, Machar, who leads the SPLM-IO, remains under house arrest, facing accusations of trying to spark a rebellion. Shortly after South Sudan's birth in 2011, the country descended into civil war between supporters of Machar and President Salva Kiir. Archbishop Horgan reminded congregants that South Sudan held a special place in the Pope's heart, outlining his "extraordinary relationship" with the country and "affection" for the people. The Mass was also attended by Kiir and Vice-President Taban Deng Gai – two of the four South Sudanese leaders – whose feet were kissed by Pope Francis in the Vatican in 2019. Speaking at the end of the Mass, Kiir said: "As an icon of peace, tolerance, forgiveness, reconciliation, harmony and inclusivity, Pope Francis' message resonated with the people of all faiths all over the world." However, Christian faithful who attended the Mass said they were disappointed that the president did not use the opportunity to re-commit to peace, reconciliation and dialogue. Justin Badi Arama, the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) and the Anglican Primate, who took part in the prayer service, said: "It is sad that Pope Francis has passed on when the Revitalised Peace Agreement is seriously sick. "As we celebrate his passing on today, we call upon the transitional government of national unity to make every effort to make sure that the revitalised agreement, which is seriously sick, does not die." The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Santo Loku Pio, said the leaders of South Sudan chose to ignore Pope Francis' iconic "simplicity and gesture" in Rome in 2019, when he knelt down and kissed their feet in a humble plea for peace, unity and reconciliation. He said the gesture by the Pope remained "deeply moving". Bishop Loku added that Pope Francis wanted to make South Sudan a nation that understood the urgency for peace, unity and reconciliation, but that the leaders of the country ignored had his efforts. Ambassadors, religious leaders from other Christian denominations, and representatives of Muslim community also attended the prayer service. Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
End conflict to honour Pope, Vatican diplomat tells South Sudan
South Sudanese leaders should "honour" Pope Francis' legacy by ending the country's conflict, the nation's diplomatic representative for the Vatican stated."We must try to make concrete in the daily life of South Sudan his ardent wish to see a true, durable peace, to see dialogue as the condition of that peace and to see the silencing of the weapons of war," Archbishop Séamus Patrick Horgan the late pontiff's historic 2023 trip to South Sudan, he urged leaders to end the violence has threatened to end a fragile peace agreement struck in 2018 between factions in the east African nation's civil war. Why fears are growing of a return of civil war to South Sudan'We walked for nine days to see the Pope'The mother and children trapped between two conflicts Tensions rose at the start of March, when a militia group allied to Vice-President Riek Machar during South Sudan's civil war clashed with the head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Nicolas Haysom, recently warned that the country was "on the brink of a return to full-scale civil war".Archbishop Horgan said Pope Francis "spoke firmly" during his 2023 visit, calling for "no more bloodshed, no more conflict, no more violence", adding that the late pontiff's message was still "relevant".The Archbishop, who spoke to congregants attending Mass at St Theresa's Cathedral in the capital, Juba, on Friday, said it was "disheartening" to see continuing reports of same day, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (Unmiss) called for an end to the clashes in the country after reports of fighting between the Sudan People's Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLM-IO) and South Sudan People's Defence Machar, who leads the SPLM-IO, remains under house arrest, facing accusations of trying to spark a after South Sudan's birth in 2011, the country descended into civil war between supporters of Machar and President Salva Horgan reminded congregants that South Sudan held a special place in the Pope's heart, outlining his "extraordinary relationship" with the country and "affection" for the people. The Mass was also attended by Kiir and Vice-President Taban Deng Gai – two of the four South Sudanese leaders – whose feet were kissed by Pope Francis in the Vatican in at the end of the Mass, Kiir said: "As an icon of peace, tolerance, forgiveness, reconciliation, harmony and inclusivity, Pope Francis' message resonated with the people of all faiths all over the world."However, Christian faithful who attended the Mass said they were disappointed that the president did not use the opportunity to re-commit to peace, reconciliation and Badi Arama, the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) and the Anglican Primate, who took part in the prayer service, said: "It is sad that Pope Francis has passed on when the Revitalised Peace Agreement is seriously sick."As we celebrate his passing on today, we call upon the transitional government of national unity to make every effort to make sure that the revitalised agreement, which is seriously sick, does not die."The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Santo Loku Pio, said the leaders of South Sudan chose to ignore Pope Francis' iconic "simplicity and gesture" in Rome in 2019, when he knelt down and kissed their feet in a humble plea for peace, unity and said the gesture by the Pope remained "deeply moving".Bishop Loku added that Pope Francis wanted to make South Sudan a nation that understood the urgency for peace, unity and reconciliation, but that the leaders of the country ignored had his religious leaders from other Christian denominations, and representatives of Muslim community also attended the prayer service. Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Reuters
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
South Sudan's military recaptures key town from White Army militia
April 21 (Reuters) - South Sudan's army said it had recaptured a key town in Upper Nile state that it lost to an ethnic Nuer militia in March in clashes which led to the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar and a spiralling political crisis. President Salva Kiir has served in an uneasy power-sharing government with Machar since a 2018 peace deal ended a civil war between fighters loyal to the two men which killed hundreds of thousands of people. Machar's detention under house arrest, for trying to stir up a rebellion through his supposed support for the White Army militia in Upper Nile, has ignited international fears of renewed conflict along ethnic lines. Spokespeople for the military and White Army, which Machar's party denies backing, said Nasir town was re-captured on Sunday without a fight. "We were just taking a tactical withdrawal," said Honson Chuol James, White Army spokesperson, adding that 17 people were killed during heavy bombardment of the nearby village of Thuluc. Army spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang said the military were able to avoid an ambush in Thuluc thanks to close air support. "They were spotted when they were grouping, and they were fired on, and then they dispersed," Koang said. Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni visited Kiir earlier this month after deploying his army to help secure South Sudan's capital Juba amid the heightened political tensions. Uganda's military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also Museveni's son, claims his troops have since killed 1,500 fighters from the White Army, which fought alongside Machar's forces in the civil war. Earlier this month Machar's SPLM-IO party appeared to be starting to splinter. One faction declared it had temporarily replaced Machar as party chairman, while the armed wing said it remained loyal to their detained leader.
