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President Kiir assents two more bills into law

JUBA, 23rd DECEMBER 2022-President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday signed two more bills into law and accede one International Convention.The Bills and Treaty had been passed by the National Parliament and were forwarded to the President for endorsement into law as required by the Transitional Constitution.
The following Bills are;
1.National Prisons Service Act, 2011 (Amendment) Act, 2022
2. The National Civil Defence Service Act, 2022.

Speaking to the Press, the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin said the President also acceded International Conventions on Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons on their Destruction

Dr. Marial further explained that President Kiir had also assented to the following Bills:
The Sudan People’s Liberation Army Act, 2009(Amendment) Act, 2022 on the 29th of June 2022 and the Political Parties Act, 2022(Amendment) Act, 2022 on the 24th of June 2022.

South Sudan had also ratified the United Nations Paris Climate Agreement, (the Paris Agreement) in April 2016 and deposited her Instrument of Ratification as Country Number 147 on the list out of 193 countries. The Paris Agreement is an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on the Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation and adaption.

AMERICA’S HISTORIC CONNECTION TO AFRICA IN A SHIFTING GLOBAL ORDER

By Hon. Mayiik Ayii Deng, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan.

The US-Africa Summit raises three threads that, when considered together, indicate an inflection point in world history and a choice point for American policy on Africa. The first two threads are the current crossroads in the American and African stories respectively; and the third is the prophetic relationship between these two components of World history. After discussing these threads in this paper, I'll conclude by sharing thoughts on how the representatives at the US-Africa Summit, and the countries they represent, can leverage this moment to benefit Africa, America, and the world.

Since World War II (WWII), America has been the dominant global power. Spurred by finance, industry, democracy, media, and culture, America has defined modernity for many people worldwide. The American dream has spread to all corners of the earth, with millions of people aspiring to migrate to America in the hopes of gaining citizenship. Failing to make it to the United States physically, many people try to recreate the image of America in their countries of origin. On top of this soft power, America's overwhelming military strength and access to much of the world's natural resources complete this cocktail of endowments. These advantages largely explain why America has been the world's greatest nation.

As we close out the year 2022, various factors challenge America’s distinguished position and call for a rethink of her geopolitical strategy. Among these factors, three bear highlighting at the Africa-America summit:
1. The economic ascent of China and other Asian countries as the world's manufacturing center completes its migration from America to countries with more attractive labor markets;
2. The economic decline of Europe, including various forms of instability and supply chain disruptions, not least due to the Russian confrontation with NATO in Ukraine;
3. And the implications of climate change, including the policy pivot away from petrochemicals and towards renewable energies.
American policymakers are familiar with these geopolitical realities, and are seeking ways to safeguard America's distinguished position as the new world emerges.

Africa, too, is at a historical crossroads. Since WWII, we have decolonized politically with the establishment of sovereign African governments. Africans naturally embrace democracy as a reflection of our values. However, liberal democracy in Africa has failed to provide the economic freedom we need. Increasingly, Africans perceive the Western world as neo-colonial and have reconsidered whether neoliberal policies serve our interests. Many believe the playing field slants away from us and toward the interests of Europe and America. Specifically, we question the legitimacy of a development model that neglects African infrastructure and industry. We also question the motives of foreign experts who tell us our only economic option is to export our natural resources to service unsustainable US dollar debts. The aid we receive pales compared to the capital that flows out of the Continent. We cannot continue to bleed value through unequal business arrangements. And now, some of these experts are suggesting we limit the development of these resources altogether.

Despite the obstacles to our development posed by our colonial inheritance, Africa will still be the engine of the world's economic future because of three demographic factors. Our population growth is rapid, our population is young, and our urban areas are exploding. According to researchers at the Global Cities Institute, 17 of the 20 largest cities will be in Africa by the end of this century, with Lagos and Kinshasa surpassing 80 million people. While Africa has some of the world's highest economic growth rates, we also have an enormous proportion of the earth’s remaining arable lands, forests, fresh water, and recoverable resources. Despite these endowments, we are on the frontline of climate change and will only provide our people with food security and economic opportunity if we build climate-adaptive renewable industries. We must add value to our natural resources while creating goods and services that our billion-plus-person continental markets need and want. Only then should we export value-added products in areas of comparative advantage to the rest of the world. All our efforts must center on providing the infrastructure and technical capacity for this to happen.

This scenario puts us at a crossroad. We may prosper or stagger into the future depending on how we Africans respond. Suppose we encode an economic model that continues the neoliberal trajectory into our future growth. In that case, we will produce an unstable overpopulated continent of haves and have-nots with sprawling urban slums, poor infrastructure, and a lack of industry. The resource course will corrupt our institutions as Africa's billionaires fly over countries they'd prefer to leave behind. They will be like the poor migrants underneath them who find every illicit means to invade Europe. In this scenario, Africa’s rich and poor will be united in the common pursuit of someone else's dream.

As the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Africa's youngest government of the Republic of South Sudan, I know the general sentiment of Africa's political elite. Based on that knowledge, I want to frame the situation as accurately as possible because of how critical the U.S.-Africa summit will be in determining which roads we choose.

Africa looks East towards countries like China, which still desire natural resources but are willing to invest in our infrastructure and industry. Given our predicament, this model is attractive to many Africans.

A true friend remains honest even when their message is unpopular. As a friend, I advise America that your engagement model with Africa should adapt in response to the changing world. Africa wants to do business with America based on mutual respect, without coercion, condescension or feeling that you are lecturing us. We have reached a political maturity where we see our shortcomings and those of other countries, including the most politically and economically endowed. Merely pointing out our problems appears counterproductive when all countries face precarious conditions and political fractures.

I call America a special friend to Africa because Africans genuinely believe in the democratic principles of freedom, equality, and justice at the heart of the American story. Those principles echo our indigenous beliefs of human dignity and solidarity expressed in the Bantu concept of Ubuntu. In my Nilotic language, we call the same concept Cieng. All tribes have their variants of this philosophical construct. No one has to teach an African about democracy, and we only require the opportunities to practice political and economic democracy freely, including owning and participating in our industries. The fact that America, too, was colonized and broke free from imperialist domination anchors our friendship. Indeed, children of African descent have participated in every American war, starting with the American Revolutionary War and including the Civil War.

Our deep African connection with America is prophetic. America built its greatness on the back of enslaved Africans who instilled into the DNA of the country the concept of human rights. They partnered on their long march to freedom with the other races, cultures, and religions who joined forces in their revolutionary struggle. That historic cooperation for emancipation makes America a shining example for the world. Through that history, America has a unique connection to Africa that no other nation can claim.

Today, the 40-plus million African Americans serve at every level and in every capacity across all industries, government agencies, and the military. However, the American government has never leveraged this connection to strengthen its economic and political cooperation with Africa.

The prodigious Senegalese scholar, Cheikh Anta Diop, foresaw that an African Renaissance would soon come, and Nelson Mandella later proclaimed that it was upon us. That re-awakening of the African spirit includes the world connecting to Africa as the cradle of civilization. In doing so, it puts into perspective the accomplishments and contributions that we have made, from the high technologies, philosophies, and engineering accomplishments of the Kush*te civilization and many other African empires to the participation of Africans in building America. The descendants of Africans in America are poised to partner with American finance and businesses to build enterprises through investments and joint ventures in Africa. Our role as African governments is to welcome you and make your work easier. Your role in American government, finance, and industry are to bring the capacities we need to succeed locally and compete globally. Through our success, we will use revenues from our abundant natural resources to fuel renewable industries on the Continent.

I have just come from Khartoum, where the Governments of the two Sudans are working to create conditions for a new partnership phase with America. Under the leadership of President Salva Kiir, South Sudan has consolidated its internal peace through the Transitional Government of National Unity. We have gone beyond that to support the process of democratization underway in Sudan through our active mediation. This investment has now paid off, as Sudan's political actors have agreed upon a framework for their military and civilian components to unite in a unified government. Throughout these peace processes, we, the people of the two Sudans, have been guided by a sense of culture, rooted in our common African heritage and a vision of the future based on our shared economic interests. We are now focusing on the border area, including the contested Abyei area between South Sudan and Sudan, to build a cooperation model. I am pleased on behalf of South Sudan, and with the blessing of Sudan, to invite you to come and work with us as we consolidate our regional stability and build prosperity, which is the dividend of peace.

(The ideas in this paper reflect the personal thoughts of the author, Honorable Mayiik Ayii Deng, Member of Parliament and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan. Therefore, nothing contained in this thought piece should be construed as the official position of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan.)

President Kiir opens the 8th SSPDF Command Council

JUBA, 8th December 2022 (Office of the President) - President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Thursday presided over the opening of the 8th Command Council Conference of the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) to deliberate on a number of strategic objectives, including reviewing the progress in the implementation of the security arrangements as well as recommending the SSPDF transition into a professional and conventional defense institution.

The Command Council also discussed the operationalization and progress in the SPLA/SSPDF legal framework while evaluating the SSPDF implementation of the resolutions and recommendations of its previous Command Council conferences.

In his keynote address, President Kiir instructed the military leadership to streamline deployment of the necessary Unified Forces from the training centres.

“The parties to the Agreement signed the Roadmap 2022 in September this year. This document was negotiated by the parties themselves without external direction. That alone was itself an achievement. Along with this political process, we expect the military leadership to complement it by working on, streamlining deployment of the necessary unified forces, commencing phase II of the training of the remaining unified forces and building on the success already made in the process of the unification” the President explained.

In his closing remarks during the Conference, President Kiir called on the organized forces to defend the country from internal and external aggression, noting that the country is being derailed by inter and intra communal violence.

“While your key mandate is the defence of South Sudan’s territory, its people and their properties, we are today faced by security threats of different forms. We have inter and intra communal violence, cattle rustling, road ambushes and urban violence. All these pose serious security threats to our people. And they require you in military leadership to be on state of operational readiness to assist other organized forces tackled this when called upon”
The President reiterated.

The President also touched on administrative challenges and health issues facing SSPDF, pledging to support soldiers who are facing health and medical conditions.

South Sudan and Kenya have renewed trade policy for a stronger region.

In brief:
-Kenya will facilitate cost effective movement of goods from the port of Mombasa to South Sudan.

-President William Ruto said South Sudan traders can choose to clear their goods from the port of Mombasa, Nairobi or Naivasha.

-The President was speaking in Juba after a bilateral meeting with President Salva Kiir at his office on Saturday.

-Traders from South Sudan can choose the most convenient point to pick their goods with no restrictions.

-Kenya would provide land to South Sudan in Mombasa to build a dry port to ease the cost of doing business between citizens of the two nations.

-President Kiir thanked Dr Ruto for removing restrictions that made it difficult for traders from South Sudan to clear their goods.

"On behalf of the people of South Sudan we are grateful to Kenya for allowing our traders to choose where to clear their goods without any restrictions," said President Kiir.

-President Ruto was on a one-day official visit to South Sudan. He was accompanied by Roads and infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen among others.

-The First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar was present at the press briefing.

South Sudan to expand bilateral relations and diplomatic ties with Kenya

JUBA, 3rd December 2022(Office of the President)- His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Saturday received His Excellency Dr. William Samoei Ruto, the President of the Republic of Kenya upon arrival at Juba International Airport.

The two leaders are expected to hold bilateral talks on ways to deepen bilateral ties between the two Countries.

Speaking upon arrival at Juba International Airport, President Ruto stated that he came to hold bilateral talks with his counterpart President Kiir on Trade, Economy and Investment as well as deepening diplomatic relations between Kenya and South Sudan.
This is the first offical visit made by President Ruto to South Sudan since he became the President of Kenya.

JUBA, 22nd November 2022- His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Tuesday presided over the opening ceremony of the 6th Governor’s Forum that brought all the levels of Government and Peace Stakeholders together for a Four day presentations. The forum will focus on discussions and draw out resolutions on the matters of national concern.

The forum is organised by the Office of the President in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme under the theme, “Accelerating the Implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement in Accordance with the Roadmap 2022.”

In his keynote address, President Kiir stated that positive steps have been achieved towards the implementation of the Revitalised Peace Agreement but require collective efforts to accomplish the outstanding tasks.

“Since we signed the Revitalized Peace Agreement in Khartoum in 2018, we have put concerted efforts to its implementation. These efforts have brought us this far. Despite what we have achieved as parties to the agreement in the last four years, we are also aware of frustrations from our partners over the pace of the Revitalized Peace Agreement implementation. What was missing in this collective desire to see the agreement implemented to the letter spirit was and still is genuine partnership.” President Kiir said.

The President urged the parties to the agreement and peace monitoring bodies to jointly support the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“The Roadmap which will be the subject of your discussions in the coming days was solely developed by the parties to the agreement, and it is encouraging to see the United Nations system and other partners joining hands with us in this forum to explore ways of fast-tracking its implementation. The task of reconciling the people, rebuilding destroyed communities and transitioning our people out of conflict cycle need resources. We cannot do these things alone. We need our partners to support us.” He added.

The President further appealed to the leaders to use the forum to explore ways for the Country to achieve sustainable peace and development.

“The discussions you will be holding in the next few days will certainly touch on the difficult topic on how to fast-track the implementation of the Roadmap 2022. My hope is that your deliberations will be beneficial to the process of putting our country permanently to the path of peace” The President reiterated.