Africa

November 4, 2016 (JUBA)- South Sudanese armed opposition leader and the former First Vice President Riek Machar has regretted a decision taken by the Kenyan government Kenya to deport his spokesperson James Gadet Dak.

A Kenyan official for the first time admitted that Dak was deported over a Facebook posting where he applauded a decision by United Nations chief firing a Kenyan general commanding the UN peacekeeping forces in South Sudan.

" (Dak) became an inadmissible person, so we cancelled his visa and he was taken to his country of origin," Kenyan government spokesman Eric Kiraithe told The Associated Press.

Machar, according to several armed opposition figures, who spoke to Sudan tribune on Friday, called the Deputy Kenyan President William Ruto by phone on Thursday to plead with him not to deport his spokesperson to Juba, “due to profound fear for his life.”

“This was unfortunate decision. All attempts were made at the highest level. Our chairman, Dr. Riek Machar himself reached out personally to top authorities in the Kenyan government. He spoke to officials at the ministry of foreign affairs. He spoke to Kenya ambassador in South Africa. He also spoke to Deputy President William Ruto appealing to him in person that Gatdet not be deported to Juba. Unfortunately all these efforts and appeals were ignored. It appears that the Kenyan government decided to take side and abandon their role in the peace process”, a high ranking armed opposition figure told Sudan Tribune when reached on Friday to comment on the matter.

He expressed fear that decision of the Kenyan government to deport SPLM-IO official from Nairobi could have an impact on the peace agreement, given that Kenya was one of the countries which played a key role in the negotiation of the peace agreement which Machar and President Salva Kiir signed last year.

While government supporters were jubilant and appears in celebratory mood, supporters and sympathizers of armed opposition reacted with fury to the news of Gatdet's arrest and deportation.

SPLM-IO Youth League leader Puot Kang wrote, “The illegal kidnapping of James Gatdet will never and ever silence any SPLM-IO supporter instead it shall radicalize them”. He added Gatdet's deportation “shall always define the relation between the two nations for the next century.”

Machar, reacting from South Africa, described Kenya as a guarantor to the peace agreement signed in August 2015 and “we do not expect that it would put in danger the life of an innocent person.”

James Dak, who studied in the United States of America returned to South Sudan after the 2005 peace agreement where he joined the office of Riek Machar as spokesperson of the Vice President of the semi-autonomous Southern Sudan.

After the eruption of South Sudanese crisis, he moved to Nairobi from where continued to exercise his duties as Machar spokesperson. After Machar return to Juba in April 2016 , he remained in Nairobi and didn't return to Juba.

Kenya was seen as safe and secure country for opponents from different east African countries who reside there.

However, human rights activists and workers say Kenya has violated international law when it deported Dak who is a UN registered refugee.

By deporting Dak "Kenya has exposed him to a serious risk of persecution," said Gerry Simpson, senior refugee researcher at Human Rights Watch.

"Kenya is steadily shredding any of respect for its fundamental refugee protection obligations," Simpson further told The Associated Press..

South Sudan researcher at Amnesty International Elizabeth Deng pointed in a statement to The Associated Press. that "(Dak) is now at risk of arbitrary detention and torture" by the South Sudanese authorities

(ST)

November 4, 2016 (JUBA) - The head of the Department of Peacekeeping Operation (DPKO) of the United Nations said the world body respects the sovereign position of the Kenyan government to pull its peacekeeping troops from South Sudan.

The head of the UN peacekeeping mission, Herve Ladsous speaking in Juba (UNMISS photo)

"It is their sovereign decision but I respect that but of course I regret it and we are assessing what consequences this will have on the regional protection force that was recently decided upon by the UN Security Council that we are trying into existence as soon as possible,” said Hervé Ladsous,

Ladsous was speaking to the media at a press conference on Thursday evening at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. He was reacting to Kenya's rejection of the UN Secretary General's decision in which he recommended the sacking of the force commander, who hails from Kenya, from the UN mission in South Sudan.

Kenya argued that failure of the mission was systemic to the individual commander.

The UN chief, Ban Ki-moon asked for the sacking of General Johnson Ondieki, after an internal investigation found that the mission failed to protect civilians in Juba in July.

The UN, Ladsous said, has established a task force to carry out the recommendations of the report, which include ensuring greater accountability of the mission's leadership.

He said the recommendation of the internal report has already been approved for implementation and the world's body will just continue with the implementation.

“The Secretary-General has approved these recommendations, so we will try to move things forward as quickly as possible,” he said, further stressing that the world body was also assessing what consequences the Kenyan government decision will have on the regional protection force its 15-member Security Council approved in September.

“That of course is something we are the first to regret very much because Kenya has been a solid contributor of troops and police to the peace keeping operations,” he added.

(ST)

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Armed security officials watch as protesters stage a protest against government during the Irreechaa cultural festival in Bishoftu, Ethiopia on October 02, 2016.

© 2016 Getty Images

November 4, 2016

Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
P.O. Box 393
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

Re: Human Rights Watch Reporting on Ethiopia

Dear Minister,

Human Rights Watch notes the October 22, 2016 blog post of Dr. Tedros Adhanom, then minister of foreign affairs, on the Ministry’s website about our recent presentation to the European Parliament’s subcommittee on human rights and committee on development and concerns for our research into security force abuses.

Human Rights Watch’s research and recommendations are grounded in international human rights law, including regional human rights treaties. This applies to our research on Ethiopia and the other 90 countries where we work globally. As with all countries, we welcome engaging with Ethiopian government officials regarding our research and recommendations prior to and after we publish findings. Before any major report on Ethiopia is published, we provide a summary of our findings to the government for comment and seek to meet to discuss our findings and recommendations. Our letters and responses received are included in the report or on our website. To date there has rarely been a direct response from the Ethiopian government to our communications.

Because we have not received a response to our research queries or requests for meetings, we cannot exchange information that may illuminate our conclusions, or explain to government officials how we reached our conclusions.

We go to great lengths to corroborate victim accounts and other research findings. As a general practice we make corrections to our reporting when clear and corroborated information contravening our findings comes to light. For your information, our corrections page is at: https://www.hrw.org/corrections.

In most of the contexts in which Human Rights Watch works, we do not make our sources public or reveal identifying details, because those interviewed have genuine fear of reprisals or other security concerns. The safety of those we interview is a primary consideration in everything we do.

In Ethiopia, the government’s harassment and arbitrary detention of individuals providing information to civil society has effectively been codified in the state of emergency directive, underscoring the need for those sources to remain confidential. Detention of individuals providing information to journalists, both domestic and international, has also been previously documented by Human Rights Watch and others.

The decreasing space available for independent voices to express a range of views and to have those voices be heard by the government has contributed to the current human rights crisis in Ethiopia. Recent statements directed toward international organizations who conduct independent, corroborated research is illustrative of this growing intolerance for divergent opinions and perspectives. Nevertheless, Human Rights Watch will continue to encourage the government’s feedback on the substance of our research.

Need for an independent investigation

Recent calls for an international investigation reflect the gravity of human rights violations that we and others have documented, but also the lack of a credible, transparent, and impartial national investigation into the abuses that have occurred since November 2015. The June 2016 Human Rights Commission oral report to parliament that largely exonerated the state security forces did not meet basic international standards. No one, including several parliamentarians who have spoken to Human Rights Watch, has seen a written version of the report, which reaches conclusions very different from those of all other organizations who have documented abuses. If a written version of this report exists we urge you to publicly release it. We remain concerned that an impartial international investigation is needed and those implicated in serious abuses be held to account. We have called for such investigations in other contexts, most recently Burundi, South Sudan, and Eritrea - some of which your government was quick to support. The thousands of victims of human rights violations deserve justice and accountability.

The inquiry board set up by parliament to monitor abuses under the state of emergency provides another opportunity to demonstrate impartiality. While the lack of opposition voices on that board raises concerns, it still presents an opportunity to willfully monitor abuses and show that those responsible for serious abuses will be held to account.

We reiterate our desire to meet with representatives of the government in Ethiopia or elsewhere to discuss our research findings, and welcome specific information on your efforts to meaningfully investigate allegations of abuses, hold perpetrators to account, and provide redress for victims.

Sincerely,

Lotte Leicht
EU Director
Human Rights Watch

A team of United Nations human rights experts are calling on authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to lift a ban on public political meetings in the capital, Kinshasa.

The “unjustified” ban is a sign that “democratic space is rapidly dissipating in the DRC, with human rights organizations and opposition parties bearing the brunt of the repression,” the experts said in statement today.

Since early 2015, Congolese authorities have systematically repressed the growing coalition calling for a peaceful transition of power. The Kinshasa ban was announced just after security forces responded to protests in Kinshasa with lethal force, killing at least 56 people during the week of September 19, the day presidential elections were meant to be announced. Since then, at least four planned protests have been canceled after authorities said they were prohibited. Similar bans have been announced in Kalemie and Lubumbashi as well, cities home to several leading opposition figures.

The experts said peaceful protest can only be restricted in “very specific and narrowly defined circumstances” – conditions that have not been met in Congo. “Given that the country is in a hotly disputed election period people should be given more space, not less, to express their democratic freedoms.”

The experts expressed concern over the recently concluded “national dialogue” agreement.

“The protest ban and the restrictive tone of the National Dialogue agreement are both disturbing signs that democratic space is rapidly dissipating in the DRC with human rights organizations and opposition parties bearing the brunt of the repression.”

The experts’ statement comes two days before the opposition coalition known as the “Rassemblement” is due to hold a public meeting in Kinshasa. “In view of forthcoming demonstrations, in particular those planned for 5 November we urge the Congolese authorities to revoke its decision to ban demonstrations,” the experts said.

Their call echoes statements made by a number of Congolese human rights organizations, including the African Association for the Defense of Human Rights (ASADHO), the Voice of the Voiceless (VSV), and a coalition of civil society organizations and political parties that have all denounced the ban on political meetings as an illegal measure in violation of the country’s own laws and constitution.

 

November 3, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Head of the African Union United Nations Mission In Darfur (UNAMID) Thursday welcomed the extension of unilateral cession of hostilities by armed groups in Darfur and called for the signing of a comprehensive truce.

The Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM), Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) extended on 31 October an unilateral truce to 30 April 2017.

"UNAMID's Joint Special Representative, Martin Uhomoibhi, commended the declaration and used the opportunity to, once again, call upon Abdel Wahid al Nur, leader of the Sudan Liberation Army- Abdul Wahid (SLA-AW), “to make a similar declaration to signal a genuine intent that peace is a strategic choice for him and his movement,” reads a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

“Each other party to the conflict has made gestures to indicate willingness to engage in peace; now is the time for Mr. al-Nur to make such a gesture,” emphasised Uhomoibhi who is also the joint chief mediator for peace in Darfur.

The SLM-MM and JEM, two groups of Darfur region, are part of a peace process brokered by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP). They also signed a Roadmap Agreement with the government in order to end the conflict and participate in an inclusive constitutional conference.

The SLM-AW refuses to join the negotiating table before to disarm the government militias, return of displaced population to their home villages and to end land grabbing. Also clashes between the rebel fighters and the government forces displaced thousands of people from Jebel Marra area.

Earlier this year, Uhomoibhi and U.S. Special Envoy, Donald Booth met with Abdel Wahid in Paris in a bid to persuade him to join the AUHIP process.

International officials say his refusal hampers the negotiations with the other armed groups, as his attitude encourages them to adopt a tough stance in the discussions with the government.

(ST)

Tanzania's president John Magufuli marks one year in office today. What has he achieved? The BBC's Dickens Olewe reports on the highs and lows.

November 3, 2016 (JUBA) – 11 Kenyan lawmakers visited the South Sudan capital, with assurance on Thursday that opposition politicians will be ejected from Kenya.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir waits for the arrival of his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta, in Juba on May 23, 2013. (Photo Reuters)

The MPs, led by security committee chairperson, Asman Kamama, met First Vice President Taban Deng Gai and the leadership of the South Sudanese Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Wednesday and Thursday.

Kamama told reporters at Juba International Airport that Nairobi has decided to disengage from South Sudan's political game.

“We will discourage any one body trying to use any of our country as a launching pad for war. We are very categorical,” said Kamama at the end the visit.

As to whether Kenya reacted by arresting James Gatdet Dak, the spokesman for South Sudan rebel leader, Riek Machar, Kamama said no single individual was being targeted.

“We did not target a specific person but any leader from this region who is bent on trying to exert and trying to encourage people to go war; our country must not be used a laughing pad,” he said.

Kamama added that Kenya will seek support in the Eastern African region to halt hosting South Sudanese politicians promoting “violent politics.”

“What I will urge the people of South Sudan is that they should not listen to anyone inciting or trying to encourage them to take up arms or fight among each other. I think this country has high potential and if you maintain this peace, this country will prosper and it will even be one of the best countries in term of development in this part of the region,” he said.

According to family sources, Dak was deported to Juba on Thursday, a claim backed by Machar's office. There is no confirmation in Juba on Dak's arrival or his whereabouts.

(ST)

November 3, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Sudanese government on Thursday scrapped fuel subsidies and increased electricity price in a bid to stop the surge in inflation and control the fall of Sudanese pound in the black market.

The move, which takes effect at midnight local time on Thursday, comes as part of a series of austerity measures to reduce the trade deficit following the collapse of oil prices and as the economy of east African country is already affected by the U.S. economic sanctions.

In a press conference held on Thursday evening, Finance and Economic Planning Minister Badr al-Din Mahmoud announced the liberalization of fuel prices removing a subsidy that will allow his government to reduce its expenditures and save hard currency reserves.

Accordingly, the price of gasoline will rise to 6.17 pounds per litre, (27.5 per gallon) while the litre of diesel will rise to 4.11 pounds (18.8 pounds per gallon).

The government also, increased electricity tariff for consumers of more than 400 kilowatts, it order to not affect low-income households who are classified as low energy users.

In September 2013 following the government's decision to lift fuel subsidies, demonstrations broke out in several Sudanese states. Rights groups said that at least 200 people were killed but the government put the death toll at 85.

The full drop of fuel subsidies was announced after a recent briefing by President Omer al-Bashir to the Shura Council of the ruling National Congress Party where he said the government has no choice but take these tough economic measures.

The new austerity plan was endorsed by the government in a meeting of the cabinet chaired by President al-Bashir earlier during the day.

In its weekly meeting, the Council of Ministers also decided to increase salaries by 20%, as part of the government measures to support low-income families and reduce poverty.

In press statements after the cabinet meeting, Mahmoud said salaries and per diems will be increased by 20%, increase the spending on social security, employees will receive one-month salary bonus to cover the needs of Eid al-Fitr and a two-month salary bonus for Eid al-Adha.

Additional allowances are decided in favour of public employees to cover fees of wearing and meals. Also retreat pensions will be increased.

(ST)

Nov 04, 2016 (YAMBIO) – Authorities in South Sudan's newly-created Gbudue state have reiterated the need to end amnesty granted to all armed groups by 10 November.

The map of Western Equatoria in red

These groups declared to fight government, saying it was their right.

The mayor of Yambio town, Daniel Badagbu said, state authorities gave lengthy time for armed groups to abandon their weapons and come home to benefit from the amnesty issued by the national government and state government to all armed groups, but some continued to commit crimes and worsen the security situation in the state.

“Amnesty should have a limit and we the Government gave a humble time to armed groups to come home and benefit from the amnesty but some continue to commit crimes and worsen the security situation we shall not entertain that", said Badangbu.

According to the mayor, it is over one and half years now since the government issued amnesty to all the youth who took arms and entered the bush to fight the Government of which hundreds of civilians have been killed, many displaced, continue looting in homes and on roads, women are raped and properties destroyed.

This new development came after the renewed attacks on Police Headquarters in Yambio, and kidnaped of five policemen in Makpandu refugee camp in Yambio county.

The government continues to blame the armed group under Alfred Futuyo who showed allegiance to the armed opposition and is based in the northern part of Yambio county.

Over 500 armed groups, under the command of Futuyo, sundered to the government ever since amnesty to all those who are fighting was issued. But there are reports that most of the former armed groups who surrendered have returned to the bush to join their commander after he returned from the border of South Sudan and neighbouring Congo.

Although the mayor did not mention what steps would be taken after the expiry of the amnesty, he urged citizens in Yambio and in the state to remain calm and stay in their homes even if there are threats from the armed groups to attack and continues road blocks around Yambio town and other roads connecting to the state headquarters.

Meanwhile, a spiritual leader has urged government to leave open the amnesty period.

"And if the amnesty expires on 10th the community are in fear and some who did not flee their homes have started preparing to leave to Congo where they think in a bit safe and the situation is going to be worse in the state if the government react to the act of the armed group", he told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

“I think as a spiritual man, the government should leave the amnesty open until those youth come to their sense and come home this will promote peace and forgiveness because it has no end," he added.

(ST)

November 3, 2016 (JUBA) -At least 290 civilians have been forcefully recruited by government forces in a four days exercise carried out in South Sudan's Mayom county multiple sources and eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune in series of interviews.

South Sudan government soldiers in the town of Koch, Unity state, South Sudan, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015. (Photo AP/Jason Patinkin)

Those who carried out the recruitment reportedly targetted the youth.

Peter Magai, one of the new recruits said he was forcefully taken from his home in Mankien on Wednesday and ended up in a cargo plane to Juba for training.

He claimed the armed oppositoon members who have joined President Salva Kiir's camp ochestrated the recruitments in the oil-rich region.

"It was on Wednesday morning when uniformed soldiers came and rounded us in Mankien in our rooms and ordered us to immediately closedown shops,” said Magai.

Another youth, only identified as Simon, said he was recruited while teaching children in class and taken to Mayom county headquarters.

Currently, there are hundreds of new recruits at Buluk waiting to be transferred to Rajaf training centre, located in the suburbs located south of the heart of the capital.

Majority of the recruits are believed to be under aged children from Unity state's Mayom, Rubkotna, Guit, Koch, Leer and Mayiandit counties.

Weigoah Ruop, a formerly chairman of Mayom universities and colleges, condemned the recruitment of child soldiers, and accused the government of using a wrongful approach.

“I strongly condemn in the strongest term possible the continued recruitments of civilians especially in Mayom county by the government. It is sad to see that children are taken to be used in the conflict for individual gain,” he said.

Unconfirmed reports say South Sudan's First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai personally engineered the forcefully recruitment of the youth from Unity state.

Gai's alleged involvement could not be independently verified by Sudan Tribune.

(ST)

November 3, 2016 (KHARTOUM) - Four former rebel commanders of the Justice and Equality Movement - Dabajo (JEM-Dabajo) returned to Khartoum on Thursday after their release by JEM main stream led by Gibril Ibrahim.

The splinter commanders had been detained after clashes with their former comrades on the border between Chad and Sudan in May 2013. The faction leader Mohamed Bashar and his deputy Arko Suleiman Dahia were killed during the fighting.

"The four prisoners arrived into the country from Aweil in South Sudan by road after an arduous journey, before being transported to Khartoum by plane," JEM-Dabajo Political Adviser Nahar Osman Nahar told Sudan Tribune.

He added that the released prisoners are: al-Tayeb Khamis, Ibrahim Zaribah, Salah Adam al-Wali and Mohamed Ali Mohamadain.

JEM-Dabajo signed a peace agreement with the Sudanese government in Doha, in April 2013. Bashar convoy was in rout to their troops on the ground after the signing ceremony ahead of their return to Khartoum when they clashed with JEM fighters on the border.

Nahar said their release is a step in the right direction to repair the mistake committed three years and a half ago near the border with Chad.

The political official called to release five others prisoners saying they are still held in South Sudan. He said the remaining prisoners are: Ali Wafi Bashar, Ali Galo, Adel Mahjoub Hussein Yassin Abdallah Zakaria, Mohamed Abakar Idris.

Last October, JEM leader Gibril Ibrahim said they released all detainees and Prisoners of War (POWs) from the government army and breakaway factions, adding they are waiting for the International Red Cross to transfer them to their families.

He earlier announced that their decision to release of all detainees and POWs was in response to appeals from religious leaders, civil society organizations and national figures.

(ST)

November 3, 2016 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has halted a decision to create more new states in the country, underscoring the level of limited involvement of the community in the decision making processes.

The South Sudanese government under the leadership of president Salva Kiir has been battling to contain an armed rebellion in the country since December 2013 (Photo: Reuters/Tiksa Negeri)

According to a presidential order in late October, President Kiir formed a committee under the chairmanship of his controversially appointed First Vice President Taban Deng Gai to quickly carry out consultations with communities and prominent figures in the newly created two states of Lol and Eastern Nile to find their views and come out with recommendations to managing disputes.

Presidential sources told Sudan Tribune in a series of interviews on Thursday that the president was initially intending to make Raja a separate state from the two counties of Aweil West and North and an additional state out of Eastern Nile. However, this idea has been met with difficulties, according to several of the highly placed official at the presidency.

Many community members have expressed different viewpoints against the proposal.

In Lol, according to a committee member, Raja communities are advocating for a return to Wau or remain with the two counties in Aweil on the condition that the headquarters of the new state is removed in the area.

They prefer the administrative headquarters of the state to be away from them. The reason is to reduce exodus movement of ethnic Dinka into the area in pursuit of better living conditions and employment as a means to extending their influence to the area as well as source of grabbing land.

In Eastern Nile, members of the Padang community have threatened to take up arms if the state is again divided, saying they were comfortable with the current status and do not need a new state to be carved out of the new state.

To overcome the existing challenges President Kiir thinks it would be wise to give amply time to the people to consult among themselves so that they come up with a solution in which they will play a role in the implementation, the source told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

"The outcome should be a people led decision. It should not be seen as if it was a decision of the President," he stressed.

However, Presidential Advisor on Decentralization and Intergovernmental Linkage, Tor Deng Mawien watered down the significance of the delay, adding that a decision would be taken soon.

"Consultations are still continuing with the communities before a decision could be made," he told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

(ST)

November 3, 2016 (JUBA) - The Kenyan government in collaboration with South Sudanese authorities has deported the spokesperson of armed opposition leader, Riek Machar to the capital Juba, in a new shift in relations between the two countries.

James Gatdet Dak, Riek Machar's spokesperson 'Reuters photo)

Relatives told Sudan Tribune on Thursday that James Gatdet Dak,l was picked on Wednesday afternoon in what a appears to have been a coordinated operation organised by the special service of Kenya and South Sudan and taken to the airport where he was allowed to speak to some of his family members and relatives.

The motive behind Dak's kidnapping remains unclear and speculative.

Some people attribute the cause to the statement in which he welcomed the sacking of the force commander of United Nations mission in South Sudan who hails from Kenya.

Others, some of whom are high ranking members of the government, however, blamed the South Sudanese government for allegedly engineering Dak's deportation.

“This is a coordinated operation. The office of the president and the first vice president paid the money to the Kenyan government to execute this operation. They wanted James Gadet to be deported to South Sudan so that Riek Machar is denied an opportunity to speak to the outside world through his spokesman. This is the strategy employed by Taban Deng Gai. Now James Gadet is here. They brought this afternoon. I saw at him at the blue house”, a highly placed source told Sudan Tribune.

A relative separately said “it appears my brother has been brought to Juba”.

No official statements from either the government of Kenya or South Sudan was made. Officials at the ministry of foreign affairs and office of the president declined comment.

SPLM-IO OFFICIALS SPEAK OUT

SPLM-IO opposition officials in Addis Ababa today told Sudan Tribune that Gatdet was flown to the capital Juba Thursday afternoon.

Since yesterday Gatdet was held at Jomo Kenyatta Airport waiting deportation to Juba

The deportation comes hours after SPLM-IO leader, Riek Machar on earlier on the day establishes contacts with authorities in Kenya to set free his spokes person who was arrested on Wednesday.

Earlier today an official in the office of the opposition chairman told Sudan Tribune that Machar, who is currently in South Africa for medical treatment, has started negotiations with Kenyan authorities for his spokesperson's release.

Dak was reportedly picked from his residence in Nairobi by uniformed and non-uniformed wearing officers claiming to be Kenyan authorities.

Earlier Machar had also contacted UNHCR officials as Nairobi prepared to deport Dak, who also is a United States citizen.

According to opposition officials Asman Kamama, a Kenyan MP believes that Juba government has paid $ 1 million for the arrest and deportation of the opposition spokesperson.

The payment is also to track down other opposition members residing in Kenya.

An investigation has revealed that UNMISS has failed to protect civilians and foreign aid workers in South Sudan's Juba and Malakal cities.

UN has admitted the failure saying the malfunction of the mission was mostly due to poor command.

UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon has called for the replacement of UNMISS force Commander Lt. Gen. Johnson Mogoa Kimani who himself is a Kenyan citizen.

The decision was welcomed by Dak on behalf on the SPLM-IO on his Facebook page.

It is believed that Dak's post angered some politicians in Kenyatta's government.

Opposition officials say Dak could be killed, prosecuted or subjected to different forms of abuses while in the hands of the Juba government.

(ST)

After an independent inquiry found that the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) failed to protect civilians as deadly violence broke out in and around its premises in the capital, Juba, in July, the top UN peacekeeping official today announced that he has established a task force to carry out the probe’s recommendations, which include ensuring greater accountability of the mission’s leadership.