South Sudan: Watching a fragile nation

[M-A Lagrange]

SPLA chief calls on General Nyuol to bury election differences
In a meeting he had on Thursday in Khartoum with General Dau and Sultan Abdalbagi Ayii Akol, among other political leaders from Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, Kiir called for forgiveness saying the South had a lot of issues to resolve as a people with one identity.
“We have a lot to resolve together with one identity as South Sudanese people in order to create conducive political ground for conduct of the referendum and other post referendum arrangements,” he told Dau.
“I would prefer [that] you come to Juba to once again meet and discuss with you some other issues and how to forge new understanding,” Kiir said, adding that elections are now over.
Gen. Dau was just among other several independent candidates who contested for gubernatorial positions and lost in their respective states. Another General, George Athor Deng, has rebelled against the government after losing the race to his main rival, Kuol Manyang Juuk, in Jonglei state.

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article35447

General Athor says none of his soldiers were captured by SPLA
June 18, 2010, (AKON) – A former senior army general in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has said none of his soldiers has been captured by the government forces in Southern Sudan.
“Before our forces clashed with the SPLA forces at the reconnaissance on Wednesday, we had information that SPLA forces were in the area three hours walk from our location gathering military information about us. They were beating and threatening to kill local people who refused to cooperate with [them] in lying about us,” he further explained.
“Others did [cooperate with the SPLA] and those who did not want to do so were accused, and I am told they were the ones arrested and reported to have been our forces. Nobody has been captured from our forces. I repeat nobody has been captured or surrendered,” he said.
He also denied killing of any one of his soldiers after the recent clashes with the SPLA forces. “Our forces met and just exchanged fire with SPLA forces and did not kill anybody on our side. Those who went for reconnaissance on Wednesday returned with slight injuries. Some of them are not gunshot [wounds],” he said.
He earlier claimed to have coordinated the rebellion with the former Police Colonel Gatluak Gai in Unity state and David Yauyau in Pibor County of Jonglei state, adding that he has also been coordinating with some other army senior officers across the region.

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article35430

Wait and see...
But it is clear that SPLA has difficulties to do the shift from military driven political organisation to national army in the service of a civil political power...

[JMA]

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article35447

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article35430

Wait and see...
But it is clear that SPLA has difficulties to do the shift from military driven political organisation to national army in the service of a civil political power...

And if we learn anything from history the SPLA will not be able to make this shift...

[M-A Lagrange]

And if we learn anything from history the SPLA will not be able to make this shift...

Yes, there is some kind of curse on the rebel movements trying to become a political party.
But I believe it also partly ecause the international community always tries to make some kind of inclusive agreement to sign one general peace agreement with everyone not trying to find out who is really what.

[jmm99]

such as Mustafa Kemal, who can take a chaotic army in a chaotic nation, and turn that army into that nation's constitutional protector. Of course, today, his methods would be regarded as "unsound".

Regards

Mike

[JMA]

such as Mustafa Kemal, who can take a chaotic army in a chaotic nation, and turn that army into that nation's constitutional protector. Of course, today, his methods would be regarded as "unsound".

Regards

Mike

History tells us that rather than become the "nation's constitutional protector" it is likely that these same people will believe that through their efforts the country "owes them big" and even in some cases to the extent that they "own the country" what will happen here will be a balance somewhere in between.

[M-A Lagrange]

History tells us that rather than become the "nation's constitutional protector" it is likely that these same people will believe that through their efforts the country "owes them big" and even in some cases to the extent that they "own the country" what will happen here will be a balance somewhere in between.

Actually they already made the choice: they own the country...
That's why Gen Akhol is so upset about the people's choice.

[M-A Lagrange]

Extension of the Dispatch of Japanese Self-Defense Forces Personnel to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)


TOKYO, Japan, June 23, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On June 22 , the Cabinet made a decision to extend the dispatch of the two personnel of the Self-Defense Forces to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) for another year.
Under the International Peace Cooperation Law, Japan has dispatched two Self-Defense Forces personnel to UNMIS as staff officers since October 2008. In response to the UN Security Council’s decision in April 2010 to extend the mandate of UNMIS for another year, the Government of Japan decided to extend the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces personnel.
As a responsible member of the international community, Japan will contribute to the Sudan peace process and to further strengthening of bilateral relations by this deployment of Self-Defense Forces personnel to UNMIS. In addition, the Mission is expected to make an important contribution to the peace and stability of Africa as a whole and is thus considered significant.
(Reference 1) Overview of the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
On January 9, 2005, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed, ending the civil conflict between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army. In response, in March 2005 the UNMIS was established with the main purpose of supporting the implementation of the CPA (consisting of up to 10,000 military personnel, United Nations Security Council resolution 1590). In order to deal with the significant challenges pertaining to implementation of the CPA (demarcation of a North/South border, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), conducting referenda, etc.) the continued involvement of the international community is required in addition to the efforts by the directly involved parties.
(1) Date of establishment: March 24, 2005 (United Nations Security Council resolution 1590)
(2) Expiry date of mandate: April 30, 2011 (United Nations Security Council resolution 1919)
(3) Mandate
(a) Supporting the implementation of the CPA;
(b)Facilitation and coordination for the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons;
(c) Humanitarian demining assistance, technical advice and coordination;
(d) Contribution to and coordination of international efforts to protect promote human rights and to protect civilians; and others
(4) Troop and Police Contributors (as of the end of May 2010) 67 countries (including the G8 (except France and Italy*), China, and Republic of Korea) Approximately 10,600 troops (*France and Italy have contributed troops in the past)


(Reference 2) The posts of the Japanese staff officers with UNMIS.
(1) Staff officer in the Logistics Planning Office, Force Headquarters.
(2) Staff officer/Data Base Manager in the Joint Mission Analysis Cell under the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General.

SOURCE
Japan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

http://appablog.wordpress.com/2010/0...n-sudan-unmis/

Well, Japan has interresting investments on the Red Sea State...
The new threat for China in Africa: Japan and Korea.