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Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration deported Asian immigrants to South Sudan in ‘blatant defiance' of court order, attorneys say
Donald Trump's administration has deported at least two Asian nationals to war-torn South Sudan in defiance of a court order blocking their removal, according to court documents. On Monday night, two immigrants from Myanmar and Vietnam held in federal custody were abruptly notified that they would be deported to the African nation, which the State Department reports is plagued by slavery, kidnapping, sexual abuse, torture and extrajudicial killings. By Tuesday morning, the men were already on a plane with at least 10 other immigrants, according to their lawyers. Attorneys have filed an emergency request to a federal judge in Boston to order their 'immediate' return to the United States. District Judge Brian Murphy previously blocked the government from deporting people to so-called 'third-party countries,' and he has already intervened to stop the administration from deporting people to Libya, another African nation in the grips of a humanitarian crisis. Earlier this month, Murphy ruled that any removals to Libya would 'clearly violate' his court order. The Burmese man identified in court documents as N.M. was initially scheduled to board one of those flights to Libya, according to his attorney. Their removal to South Sudan 'blatantly defies' the judge's order, attorneys wrote. A hearing in the case is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 21. The removal of immigrants from the United States to another foreign country would mark a significant escalation of the administration's aggressive anti-immigration platform, which already has sent several planes to Latin American countries, including El Salvador, where dozens of deportees are imprisoned in a notorious jail condemned by human rights groups. South Sudan, the world's youngest country, has experienced waves of violence and political instability since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. Civil war broke out in December 2013, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. A peace agreement in 2018 ended the war and established a unity government, but the arrest of a vice president and opposition leader — compounded by military clashes with civilians — has created a rapidly deteriorating crisis, according to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Current conditions are 'darkly reminiscent' of the civil wars that killed more than 400,000 people, he said in March. Last month, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan warned that a standoff between forces loyal to the president and vice president have 'degenerated into direct military confrontation and escalated tensions across the country.' 'Another war is a risk South Sudan simply cannot afford, and nor can the wider region,' Nicholas Haysom told the U.N.'s security council.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘They came for us, to take our shelters and kill us': how violence returned to a shattered South Sudan
Night had already fallen on Juba, the capital of South Sudan, at about 7pm on 24 March, when an orange glow lit up the sky. It didn't take long before news spread that the government had carried out an airstrike. For weeks, clashes had taken place in remote parts of the country between the army of the president, Salva Kiir, and opposition forces, but never that close to the capital. The target – an opposition base in Wunaliet, 15km west of the city – was consumed in flames. Just hours before the airstrike, Nicholas Haysom, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (Unmiss), had warned that the political and security situation in the country had deteriorated. 'We are left with no other conclusion but to assess that South Sudan is teetering on the edge of a relapse into civil war,' he told a press briefing. Tensions have been particularly high in the north-eastern state of Upper Nile. On 4 March, the White Army, a youth militia from the Nuer ethnic group loosely associated with the movement of the opposition leader and first vice-president, Riek Machar, overran a government army base in the town of Nasir, near the Ethiopian border. The base commander, general David Majur Dak, was killed three days later during an evacuation attempt by the UN, alongside a UN worker and dozens of soldiers. The government responded by arresting dozens of opposition figures in Juba, including the minister of petroleum, Puot Kang Chol. They were accused of being 'in conflict with the law' by the government spokesperson Michael Makuei Lueth, who blamed them for inciting those in Nasir. An aerial bombardment campaign was also launched in Upper Nile, involving the 'use of improvised air-dropped incendiary weapons [that] killed and horrifically burned dozens of people, including children, and destroyed civilian infrastructure', according to Human Rights Watch. To counter rising instability, the South Sudanese government asked the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) for help, based on a pre-existing military cooperation agreement. But Machar denounced the UPDF deployment as a violation of the 2018 arms embargo and the peace treaty, which ended five years of fighting that killed about 400,000 people. On 23 March, he said in a letter to the UN that the Ugandan intervention may lead to the collapse of the agreement. It was the last time Machar communicated publicly. Three days later, he was placed under house arrest. Amnesty International has also decried the involvement of Ugandan soldiers and called on the UN security council to renew the arms embargo when it expires at the end of this month. The government has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to the peace process. But calls for an end to the violence and Machar's release have been ignored, and the bombardment of opposition strongholds has continued in several parts of the country. A Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital in the town of Old Fangak, a safe haven for thousands of flood-displaced Nuer people in northern Jonglei state, was bombed on 3 May. Seven died and many were wounded in an attack that MSF denounced as a 'deliberate bombing' of the facility. *** Progress since the 2018 peace agreement has been slow. As part of the deal, and under pressure from the international community, Kiir agreed to share power with Machar, his longtime opponent. A unity government was formed in 2020, whose task was to unify the rival armed forces, reform the country and organise its first elections since independence in 2011. But an election initially envisioned for December 2022 has been postponed twice, and is now scheduled for December 2026. Seeing the peace process in tatters is particularly daunting for those who depend on it to rebuild their lives. John (not his real name), 55, lived in an overcrowded camp for internally displaced people (IDP) next to the Unmiss base on the outskirts of Juba for 11 years. Like tens of thousands of Nuer, he had run to the UN for protection at the beginning of the civil war in December 2013 (the camp was under UN peacekeepers' protection until 2020). But in October last year, he left 'because there are no humanitarian services and no food here', and moved into a friend's mud house in nearby Khor Ramla. There, he was trying to survive by working in agriculture and artisanal gold mining. When clashes erupted at several nearby military camps after 24 March, John says he became a target. 'After the army bombed Wunaliet, they attacked the opposition at other training centres and dispersed the soldiers [loyal to Riek Machar]' he says. 'Then they came for us, the Nuer staying in Khor Ramla, to take our shelters, and to kill us.' When the government soldiers started shooting, he escaped, barefoot, at night. More than a month later, injuries on his feet have still not healed. He says one of his colleagues was killed. John returned to the camp next to Unmiss on 28 March. According to humanitarian agencies, 4,000 people moved to IDP camps in March, 'as a precaution while tensions and fears of intercommunal violence are high'. But he does not feel safe. Five young men have been shot dead near the camp since the Nasir crisis, according to multiple sources, but 'the families do not want to open cases because they are afraid', John says. The people of South Sudan cannot heal in an environment of unending violence and political uncertainty Jackline Nasiwa Several others have disappeared. John gives the names of a woman who went to collect firewood and never came back, and of a man who went to his usual place to make charcoal, but never returned. 'We live in fear, we can't go out for our subsistence, and we have no idea what will happen next,' he says. 'What we need is protection from the peacekeepers until every chapter of the peace agreement is implemented.' Priyanka Chowdhury, a spokesperson for Unmiss, says: 'We have strengthened our countrywide protection efforts, including intensifying patrols and engagement with community leaders at internal displacement sites.' She emphasises, however, that 'the government of South Sudan is primarily responsible for protecting civilians'. Related: Young, old, refugees and returnees: thousands fleeing violence cross border into South Sudan On 7 March, when Kiir announced the death of Dak, the base commander in Nasir, he asked citizens 'not to take the law into their hands' and repeated his promise: 'I will never take this country back to war.' He also regretted that a 'normal routine with the armed forces became politicised', referring to the rotation of military personnel in Nasir, which had triggered local hostility. Questions have been raised over why the government didn't deploy the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF), the national army envisioned by the peace agreement, to quell tensions in the north. The government blamed the arms embargo, saying the NUF could not be deployed to conflict areas without proper weapons. In the meantime, South Sudan's tired and traumatised population is left wondering 'who will bring peace', says Jackline Nasiwa, executive director of the Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice. 'The people of South Sudan cannot heal in an environment of unending violence and political uncertainty,' Nasiwa told the UN security council on 16 April. Despite its flaws, she believes the 2018 peace agreement remains 'the only viable option for the people of South Sudan to transition to democracy', stressing that 'the immediate needs on the ground are for civilian protection and unobstructed aid delivery'. *** On 8 April, students are waiting for the start of classes at a newly built secondary school next to Gorom refugee camp, 20km to the south-west of Juba. Mawichnyun Gatduong, 19, from the northern city of Bentiu, sits in the bright white classroom with a mix of students from nearby villages and Sudanese refugees staying in the camp. 'We have all heard the gunshots, and we didn't come to school for several days,' Gatduong says, referring to fighting around military camps south of Juba. 'I'm so worried about the situation because we don't know if they will end the war or not. 'It can affect young people like us, because someone can catch you and force you to be a soldier,' he says, advising other youths 'to be patient, stay in one place and not to move around apart from going to school'. His dream is to become a doctor. 'It is the only thing I am struggling for.'
Zawya
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) condemns air strikes in Fangak, calls for an immediate ceasefire
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) condemns continuing air strikes in Fangak, Jonglei state, which have led to civilian deaths, injuries and displacement as well as the destruction of humanitarian property. On 3 May, aerial bombardments in Old Fangak led to seven civilians being killed while some 27 others were injured and a Médecins Sans Frontières pharmacy was destroyed. This morning, an air strike near a World Food Programme warehouse in New Fangak has damaged a dyke protecting people in this remote location from floods. 'Such violence against civilians and clearly marked humanitarian facilities is unacceptable,' said Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative, UNMISS. 'These attacks constitute a grave violation of international human rights and humanitarian law. Vitally, they contravene the Revitalized Peace Agreement and severely undermine ongoing efforts to establish durable peace in South Sudan,' he stated. 'We call on involved parties to prioritize civilian protection by recommitting to the Peace Agreement and the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and actioning an immediate ceasefire. We also urge South Sudanese authorities to investigate these incidents and hold those responsible to account,' added DSRSG Cong. UNMISS continues to engage with all stakeholders, including national and state authorities, security actors, uniformed personnel, community leaders, civil society organisations as well as international and regional partners to reduce tensions. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Zawya
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
South Sudan: Eastern Equatoria creates taskforce dedicated to addressing gender-based violence
While gender-based violence, including aggressions of a sexual nature, impacts women and girls across the globe, those living in societies that are more male-dominated than others run a significantly higher risk of being subjected to such violations. In South Sudan and other countries experiencing a conflict or post-conflict context, they are particularly vulnerable. Recognizing the devastating effects of this plague, Eastern Equatoria State has taken decisive action by establishing a taskforce dedicated to addressing and coordinating efforts to combat both gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual violence. 'We all have a moral obligation to stop all forms of violence against women and girls,' asserts Mikelina Emilio, a Gender Affairs Officer serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), whose support has been instrumental to the creation of the new and inclusive body. Comprising 50 members, the taskforce includes representatives from government institutions, UN agencies, women-led networks, faith-based groups, youth unions, civil society and international organizations. It is committed to using their collective and complementary experiences and skills strength to develop strategies to tackle harmful cultural practices contributing to putting women and girls at risk of sexual and other forms of violence. A propensity to deny girls the right to education, not least by condoning their early and often forced marriages and thus keeping them at home, is one such negative, gender-biased practice. So called blood compensation, where the family of an informally convicted murderer offers a girl or woman as a kind of 'payment' to the relatives of the victim, is another. Both phenomena reflect and reinforce a view of women and girls as objects, assets and property rather than individuals with the same rights and entitlements as men and boys. 'It is our collective role and responsibility as stakeholders to work together to put an end to all forms of gender-based violence, and that is why we are here,' said Jennifer Nabongorika, the state's Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, who added that making efforts to hold perpetrators of violations accountable and providing adequate support to survivors will be important aspects of the work of the taskforce. The origin of the Eastern Equatorian initiative can be traced back to 2023, when the peacekeeping mission and the national Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare hosted a forum to discuss methods to address sexual and other forms of gender-based violence. A thorough analysis of trends and challenges related to the issue concluded with the forum recommending all states to improve coordination by establishing inclusive, dedicated taskforces. Protecting women and girls against violence and other violations, not least by supporting initiatives to this end, is an integral part of the UN peacekeeping mission's mandate in South Sudan. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
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
