South Sudan President Kiir orders Uganda army to withdraw
By James Gatdet Dak
July 4, 2008 (JUBA) – The Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Dr. Riek Machar Teny said President Salva Kiir had already ordered for withdrawal of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) from Southern Sudan territory.
In his briefing to the Council of Ministers meeting which he chaired on Friday, Machar said Kiir had already instructed the SPLA Chief of Staff, Lt. General Oyai Deng Ajak to communicate the order to his Uganda army counter-part in Kampala.
He said the decision was reached since June 7, 2008 in the Southern Sudan Security Committee meeting chaired by His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit himself.
Machar said he was misquoted by Uganda press that wrongly connected his statement in the Southern Sudan parliament on Monday with the decision of the government to expel the Ugandan army from the territory of Southern Sudan.
He explained that he was just informing the Parliament about the government’s decision to expel the UPDF and not him in particular ordering the UPDF to withdraw on that day.
Machar further explained that the decision to expel the UPDF was even reached in his absence while he was still in Khartoum on official mission.
He described the government of Uganda as the “best friend” of Southern Sudan in the region.
Machar however pointed out that there was no any operational protocol to keep the UPDF in Southern Sudan, saying they came to Sudan through their agreement with the Khartoum government which expired since 2006.
Machar added that the SPLA is now an organized army that should take charge of security in the territory of Southern Sudan.
UGANDAN OFFICIAL CONFIRMS MATERIAL EVIDENCES
Reacting to the material evidences found near the dead person by the CHMT verification team that implicated the UPDF of the killing in Pageri Payam on June 14, Machar said the Uganda Consul General in Juba, Busho Ndinyenka, confirmed that the materials found belong to UPDF.
Machar said Busho explained to him that the materials just got lost from the UPDF in pursuit of the LRA in the area.
The Vice President further explained that when the UPDF members of the Cessation of Hostilities Monitoring Team (CHMT) reportedly tried to deny the material evidences during the verification exercise the other members from five African countries including the SPLA members confronted the UPDF members with the evidences.
The CHMT membership comprises of military officers from a number of African countries that include Republic of South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Southern Sudan and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
He said the verification exercise was purely an African exercise.
The CHMT was established in accordance with the agreement signed by the Uganda government and the LRA to monitor any violations of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed by the two parties in Juba two years ago on August 26, 2006.
The Team is led by a SPLA senior military officer, Major General Wilson Deng Kuoirot.
The CHMT earlier carried out investigations into the deadly attack on Nabanga Payam in Western Equatoria state in which the report submitted to the Chief Mediator accused the LRA of that incident.
In the verification report submitted to office of the Chief Mediator, the CHMT observed that evidences of materials found at the scene where the body of the killed person was found implicate the UPDF masquerading as LRA.
A document was also found near the dead person with names of suspected UPDF soldiers indicating “Section II, Platoon I, ‘A’ Coy”, with full names and military ranks including army numbers.
The document’s source seems to have been obtained from a health center where the soldiers might have conducted a medical checkup, probably in Uganda.
The CHMT Leader recommends that a further investigation be carried out to identify the culprits and apprehend them.
The Government of Southern Sudan’s Council of Ministers on Friday expressed the necessity to enlighten the press on the decision of the government to expel the UPDF from Southern Sudan, saying it was unfortunate that the press criticized the Vice President as if the decision was reached by him alone.
(ST)
Gatwech
South Sudan President Kiir orders Uganda army to withdraw
Bravo President Salva Kiir,
It is a good news that the Government of Southern Sudan has ordered these foreign forces to leave. This will not affect our relationship with Uganda as described by Dr. Riek Machar that Uganda remains the best friend of Southern Sudan only that there is no operational protocol to keep UPDF in Southern Sudan when SPLA can take charge of security in Southern Sudan. We can only trust SPLA not to kill our people like LRA and UPDF.
My question is: if the decision was reached since June 7, 2008 and the SPLA Commander-in-Chief, Salva Kiir Mayardit instructed the SPLA Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Oyai Deng Ajak to communicate the order to his counter-part in Kampala, what happened in between? It seems from the irresponsible statement from a Ugandan state Minister, Oryem, that the authority in Kampala did not receive the message.
Either Oyai did not talk to the Defense Minister or army Chief of Staff in Kampala about President Kiir’s order, or he did his part, but the Kampala military Command did not inform their political leadership. What a mess!!!!
Again, I was surprised why Oyai Deng Ajak just kept queit when the matter was being confused by the Uganda press even some irresponsible comments from our own citizens, which he should have explained to clear the confusion.
Again, Salva Kiir also kept queit and could not remind his military command about what was going on. Or he himself should have informed President Museveni of Uganda about his decision to expel the UPDF!
It is a shame sometimes when a leadership looks like it doesn’t understand how a system operates or fails to execute a decision it has already made. That is a shame!
So, UPDF forces, that is very clear now, you are ordered to leave by the President and Commander-in-Chief, Salva Kiir, even before you killed that man called Jino while masquerading as LRA. So pack your bags and peacefully hit the road. SPLA is capable of securing our territories. They will cooperate with you in other aspects. You will remain our best friend as said by our Vice President, Dr. Machar. But leave please, you have proved yourself to be a danger to our citizens.
I believe that if the SPLA is in Uganda territory and resort to killing Ugandan citizens for whatever reasons, you would similarly ask them to leave.
Pack your bags and leave, NOW!
Bior-Makech
South Sudan President Kiir orders Uganda army to withdraw
I do’t believe that until I see president Salva addressing people himself.Never run from your decission Machar, you decided and LRA will play around you.This is international issue, he should have discussed with Ugandan’s President if it was true.But I don’t deny the reality if he does,Salva is a visionary man he knows what is behind.
Wene_mangeth
South Sudan President Kiir orders Uganda army to withdraw
What a good thought have been to accept the request made by the Dr. Riek poor worst vision ? the move to let UPDF out of South Sudan will now give the chance to LRA to conquer the greater Equatoria since its their ever hiding cub. The cooperation which was given by the Ugandan President Museveni will diminished and the cunning visionless Riek will bow shapeless to his dam LRA kony as they were doing with the Sudan Government of Omar Bashir.
If you President can’t realized the importance of UPDF then it will hit to realized the important of your buttocks of where good site to import your income materials.
Don’t rely on poorless visionless Leaders like Riek
Moses Kuocgoor
South Sudan President Kiir orders Uganda army to withdraw
My thank goes to the president of government of Southern Sudan and his vice president for their serious move they have signed to let the UPDF pull out their troops from Southern Sudan’s territory. The UPDF has been accused for several incidents in the South.
The death of civilians is not fair and it would result into conflict between the two governments. The Ugandans government or UPDF must make sure that staying inside Southern Sudan without proper responsibility toward the civilians is an offense and will not make the government of Southern Sudan happy. The need to make a peaceful compromise before anything happens.
I have advised our the Southern Sudan officials to follow up the UPDF withdrawal before the end of this month. I would agree with their decision and them the best to keep our civilians safe in Southern Sudan.
Uthura'ng Ngorok
South Sudan President Kiir orders Uganda army to withdraw
I think it is a good idea and move by the Southern Sudan Government to order UPDF out of Southern Sudan.There is no need to host a foreign government forces to come and hunt its enemy inside our country and as deep as less than 50 kms to the capital.I have a feeling that they are the ones causing a lot of insecurity and killings to the Southern Sudanese.The LRA comes in to hunt the UPDF inside Southern Sudan and the UPDF comes in to hunt the LRA inside Southern Sudan.In the process,Southern Sudanese suffer,get killed and die.
If the LRA wants to fight Southern Sudanese,then we shall see how they will come in to start fighting.I appriciate the order by the president of Southern Sudan and first vice president of the Sudan to let the UPDF leave Southern Sudan and the order should also extend and warn the LRA to stay outside Southern Sudan.They should remember that Southern Sudan is not a football gound.
Deng John Ajang
South Sudan President Kiir orders Uganda army to withdraw
It is time for the UPDF to leave the Southern Sudan terrirory.It has been finalised and nobody should doubt about the statement of the Southern Sudan president and his vice.
Mijocque
South Sudan President Kiir orders Uganda army to withdraw
THE END OF THE UPDF IN SOUTH
Guys even if you won’t admit your are
SHALLOW MINDED with LOW REASONING CAPACITY and of course SOCIETY OF NO APPRECIATION MEMBERS.
A couple of days ago I asked you to remain calm untill the invesgitations are completed then comments later but disagree with me and by this time you won’t forget that you are against a man with NATIONAL LEADERSHIP QUALITIES (DR.RIEK MACHAR TENY DHURGON) That explained you are LOSERS with your tribal campaign against Dr.Machar.
Now President has ordered the UPDF out of the South.
HOW ARE GONNA SUSTAIN THEM? NO WAY!!! IT’S TOO LATE and from today YOU MUST DISAGREE WITH YOUR EMPTY SKULL on issues like these.
YOU ARE SO EMBARRASSED
D'kuol
South Sudan President Kiir orders Uganda army to withdraw
It is good that a right decision is made in the best interest of southerners,as it is in this case that ugandan army should quit hunting for LRA in the south,in fact they should have done this during the war when LRA was fighting SPLA along side Khartoum forces.
Well this is a step in the right direction,however,GOSS must keep the naughty Museveni UPDF under micoscope to constantly monitor their dirty scheme of dragging the SPLA into fighting a proxy war.
Mr.Machar you are a legitament member of the decision making body in the presidency and you should not appologised to the Ugandan government for your role in the recent decision by GOSS,which see the UPDF expelled from South.
Long live GOSS.
James Okuk Solomon
South Sudan President Kiir orders Uganda army to withdraw
Yes, the UPDF should leave South Sudan but Uganda peace process must be given a deadline so that the LRA leaves Southern Sudan very soon too. We have enough troubles of our own and we do not need to accommodate more troubles from our neighboring Uganda. We need our money to be used for the establishment of SPLA Air Force and for development projects, and not to be wasted on long peace mediation without limits. Though Dr. Riek is trying his best to tame the LRA with peace, he should also draw red lines by the end of this year and not beyond.
TrueAfrican
South Sudan President Kiir orders Uganda army to withdraw
Kim,
people like you are doing great disservice to Riak machar, the man is trying his best right now to build relations with the people he has betray in the pass, and the movement he had badly stabbed in the back, but people like you are creating new enemies for the man and at the same time, pulling away those who are ready to forgive the man for the sack of South Sudan. Riak himself will not appreciate what you guys are doing in his name. Garang has done his part; Southerners respect him for what has done for them, and honor his name. No one is immune with death, but what is importance is how people honor you when you finally leave them. When Garang died, it was not only Southerners who moan for him, it was the continent of Africa. Why don’t you guys allow Riak Machar to show himself to the Southern people how much he has change since his betrayal, and gain some trust from his people. I think Riek Machar is capable of selling his deed to the Southern people without help from triblis like Gatkueth, and Kim. You guys seem to be responding to those who are praising the late leader, but you have to know that the late leader is not coming back to run for any office in the south, so it does not really matter whether people create enemies for him or not, but Riak Machar will run sooner or later. Give Riak Machar a chance to be honor by all Southerners, and not only his mom moaning for him when his day finally arrives.
Southerners trust Salva Kiir, they know him as the one who never weaver in the face of evil. Unlike those who choose to not only leaved southern people behind, but putted the movement in a venerable position by fighting against her. Kiir Mayardit is the man Southerners can leave with the keys to their rooms when they are going on vacation. One thing is clear about Salva, he will go down with his people comes hell or high water. His determination and the strong attitude of “staying the course” were crystal clear during the war.
TrueAfri
The Wiseman
South Sudan President Kiir orders Uganda army to withdraw
James Gadret
Please write good news instead of stories about Riek Machar and making promotion. Where are the words of Kiir as you have written that he has ordered UPDF soldiers to leave? Why don’t you be neutral instead of takinbg side in the news? I am reeally tired of how you always write.
What is needded is update but not stories. Are you restricted to only getting news from Riek? Why are you filkled with what i can not imagine that has made you to tell how and why Kiir ordered UPDF out of South Sudan?
Sudan Tribune editor, why don’t you advice your reporter to write the expected news headline instead of joking around with the headline that does not suit the body of the news?
Fiorst reason!