South Sudan’s Kiir accuses Khartoum of stopping cross-border trade
By Ngor Arol Garang
September 8, 2011 (JUBA) – The president of newly independent South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday accused the Sudanese government of stopping cross-border trade with his country, resulting in increased prices of basic commodities.
The meeting deliberated on the launching of a long-term regional project to end drought emergencies, as over 13 million of citizens predominantly Somalis as well as citizens from northern part of Kenya are starving due to drought.
South Sudan joined the international community after becoming an independent nation on July 9, following a referendum vote that came out in favour of separation from the Arab-Muslim dominated north.
The South Sudanese president said today marked two months since the since his country’s independence which is facing many challenges including high food prices.
“As a new nation, we are also affected by the current food prices because there is stoppage of cross- border trade by the government of Sudan. This has affected four of our states”, Kiir told the high level regional summit.
Earlier this year prices of food in South Sudan skyrocketed after the North stopped flow of cargo through river and road transport. It came at the height of tensions between North and South Sudan.
Kiir informed the summit that the new country continues to face alot of challenges including integration of returnees who fled their ancestral lands during 21 years of civil war with north Sudan, in which more than 2 million people were reported to have died and more than 4 million displaced.
“We continue to face challenges in integrating the returnees who have returned to their ancestral villages in the south from the north. These challenges are compounded by the eruption of recent fighting in Blue Nile and South Kordofan States. Refugees have fled to into South Sudan. These people are now fully dependent on food assistance”, a copy of his speech obtained by Sudan Tribune said.
EAST AFRICAN DROUGHT
Many observers say majority of people affected by the East African drought are pastoralists who cross arid lands with their livestock, looking for pasture and water. Other says issues of livestock health and marketing, the sharing of water resources and migration had to be addressed regionally and would take time to bear fruits.
Experts say pastoralists should be given support to reduce their vulnerability to the increasingly frequent droughts associated with climate change, for example by taking prompt action to reduce livestock numbers when drought is forecast.
The leader of the former rebel movement turned ruling political party, however, said despite a lot competing challenges, his government remains committed to creating alternative reliable sources for importation of food and other basic commodities rather than depending on north Sudan and will devote adequate resources for rehabilitation of agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors in order to bridge the food shortage and enhance food security.
Horn of Africa countries are facing one of the worst natural disasters for the last three years and this has caused a major food crisis that has escalated into a famine in some parts of the region.
“This crisis is not about loss of crops and livestock alone. It is about more than that. It is about the loss of lives. It is about the loss of habitat and ecology. It is about the loss of serenity and culture. And most of all, it is about the impact of this crisis on the security which is deeply alarming. I mean security in the larges of the term, that to say, food security, physical security, national security and health security”, explained president Kiir.
He thanked President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya for organising the regional summit and affirmed South Sudan’s pledge to contribute $1 million to the cause, which he said was “an important symbolic gesture that underscore our commitment to the region”.
The United Nations say Somalia is at the epicenter of the hunger crisis, with the UN saying 750,000 people face death due to starvation. The October rains are predicted to be good in southern Somalia, but drought conditions don’t look set to improve until the main harvest in August 2012.
“Recovery will require more than one good rainy season,” said Catherine Bragg, the United Nations assistant secretary general for humanitarian affairs.
Bragg said the UN has raised $1.5 billion to provide lifesaving assistance this year, with $500 million raised in the last two months, but that more money is urgently needed.
“We still need almost $1 billion more this year alone as populations in need continue to grow and as we race against time to prevent further deaths,” said Bragg.
(ST)
Mathet Muonyayang Mayen Igai
South Sudan’s Kiir accuses of Khartoum of stopping cross-border trade
Thank you so my much my President Salva Kiir Mayardit, you’re an angel. You’re our blessed leader! a Messiah!!.
mohammed ali
South Sudan’s Kiir accuses Khartoum of stopping cross-border trade
Blame the jalabba, Arabs, Mandikorrow, NCP, NIF…bla…bla.. and all your problems will be solved!
Prices are skyrocketing in Khartoum and Kiir is demanding that we export foo to his country! That is illogical!
Complaining about war in the B.N and South Kordufan while the SPLA in both states is still in the payroll of the South. New , brand new vehicle , amunition, petrol are still supplied to the rebels in our country from your government!
Mr. President please listen to you mind and not Garangists , they will destroy both you and the RoSS!
Acinitos
South Sudan’s Kiir accuses of Khartoum of stopping cross-border trade
This word messiah it does not sound well.We know president have good part of his life and bad one too,it is not right to compare with messiah. It is good thank him of good things he did but please leave to compare to messiah life with his.
Ahmed Chol
South Sudan’s Kiir accuses of Khartoum of stopping cross-border trade
Charity should begin at home. People are dying in Bhar el gazal, why not give them this money. If South Sudanese are better off, then give the money to Nubian IDPs and Blue Nile IDPs. Are the Somalis better than these people? We are still asking for international aid. It is not wise for a beggar to give away all that he begs while he is still begging.
Deng Alor talked about sending troops to Somalia. Now we are sending money. All these don’t make sense. It can be seen that the government is seeking pride and wider recognition. why? We have already been recognized by AU, UN and prominent countries in the world. what more do we want? All this is an attempt to remove a speck in someone’s eyes while leaving a log in our eyes. Africa has 53 other countries, they can help. The world is there too with the UN. Who are we to pretend on the stage?
We need our troops and money more than any body else. We need clean our home before we go and pride ourselves in the public and good doers.
Ahmed Chol, whatever begins in anger, ends in shame
SSLA supporter
South Sudan’s Kiir accuses of Khartoum of stopping cross-border trade
Mr Kiir and your SPLM syndicate must stop behaving innocently! What do you expect to be the direct consequences of your choices to resolve disputes between North and South through hostility rather than diplomacy?
What make you behave the way you have been behaving if you know your economic depends on North!!What do you think make all those third world countries behave submissively when dealing with USA and western or industrial world!!
Logically, it is impossible to run the country in the same reckless manner as Garang and SPLA used to run SPLA in the bush!!you are now a country and thus you need to behave like one!!
Now, by reemploying those corrupt and looters of public money of the past GoSS as the minsters of this new born country what type of changes do you think those thieves will make to help the situation on the ground especially the worsening relationship between the republic of Sudan and ROSS given that those thieves were the part of the problem rather than the solution!! speak the language of peace and diplomacy to resolve differences and disputes!! stop nonsese arrogance when you have nothing as that adds nothing but embarrassment, humiliation and hardship!!
By the way, where are those of Al Hilu and Malalik Agar? if they are in southern Sudan then what are they doing there as they are supposed to be in the frontlines to coordinate the war and protect their civilians who are victims of their nonsese wars!!
Acinitos
South Sudan’s Kiir accuses of Khartoum of stopping cross-border trade
Yes You are right as individual it work that way,but as goverment it is different.I real not expect president to walk away quitely without contributed to the world need of help like Somalia,It is not only 1 million he has given to that help but many more to come may be million x million times still to come.Are we going to angue them all.The poors are there with us all the time,I did think he did not know that,Incourage your minister of Agriculture should started to produce more food in Republic of SOuth Sudan.So that we can enjoy the best life in our new country,and contribute constructively rather than distructvely.If you think there is any things you can do better let him know may be you will be given the opprotunity to serve us better.if you qualify for it.
[email protected]
South Sudan’s Kiir accuses of Khartoum of stopping cross-border trade
Yes,in fact is beyond President Kiir description.The son of God can’t be compare with human kind.