South Sudan denies buying weapons at time of famine
Elisabeth Janaina
South Sudan denies buying weapons at time of famine
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March 18, 2017 (JUBA)- The South Sudanese government has protested to a confidential report by a panel of experts who were appointed by the United Nations on findings accusing the government of buying weapons while the country was experiencing a devastating famine.
- Arms and light weapons have been used by both warring parties in South Sudan to commit abuses (Photo courtesy of SSANSA)
The U.N. panel of experts recommended the government to consider an arms embargo.
South Sudan’s information minister, Michael Makuei Lueth told reporters after Friday’s weekly briefing that “we have not bought arms for the last two to three years."
The Minister went on to say that the government had the right to acquire weapons for self-defence. "We have rights to buy arms for self-protection or self-defence. So this idea of the UN saying the government of South Sudan doesn’t care about its people and they are fan of buying arms all the time is not correct," said Lueth.
The minister also dismissed the accuracy of the report, claiming it was biased.
Lueth strongly denied buying weapons, however multiple military sources have told the Sudan Tribune on Saturday that weapons were acquired and the information was leaked by officers at the procurement and logistics department.
The leaking of this information has resulted in the arrest of many military officers, while others left the country. Other military officers formed a rebellion.
“It is true there has been a plan to acquire weapons and this information was leaked to the UN by some of our officers in the directorate for logistics. Some of these officers have now left the country. Others like Thomas Cirilo Swaka have rebelled. So it was the work of rebels from within,” a high ranking military officer told Sudan Tribune Saturday.
Famine was recently declared in Mayendit, a village in South Sudan’s Unity state, the latest crisis in the country’s three-year civil war. About 100 000 people are said to be at risk, and aid groups are pleading for access. At least 5 million people or more than 40% of the nation’s population are need urgent assistance, aid agencies say.
Years of civil war, a refugee crisis and a collapsing economy have taken a toll on South Sudan since it gained independence in 2011. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced in the country’s worst ever violence since it seceded from North Sudan in 2011.
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18 March 19:15, by anyanya1
This stupid morons are nasty as shit they are useless for s.sudanese people all what they know is to keep their money flowing to their accounts nothing else.
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19 March 02:23, by john akeen
Well; United Nations now are speaking nonsense. So what is wrong with that if south Sudan buys weapons to defiance their land territory and their resources? Or because they are Africans and are black humans at sometime that don’t have right to define themselves? United Nations are the main problem in Africans lands, they create war among Africans peoples and then they load Africans resources>>
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19 March 05:16, by Paul Ongee
Who in this world believe that South Sudan should/must ask for permission to buy weapons for its self-defense? Under what condition should a country be permitted to buy weapons anyway? Does a country have to buy weapons during war and famine or during peace and famine? Can any UN, UN Agency or somebody answer me rightly? If not, please keep your mouth shut.
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19 March 05:17, by Paul Ongee
Who will come for defense of South Sudan territorial integrity? Who is ready to defend South Sudan besides its own government? In this particular planet (Earth), which country or countries are permitted to manufacture weapons and sell them, and to who? What does UN charter say about defense of individual country? Do we really need permission from UN, USA, Russia, and China to buy weapons? No.
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19 March 05:31, by jur_likang_a_ likan’g
Ongee,
Defense against who? If political oppression and military slaughter of citizens is defense for tribalism, corruption, rape, then I would agree to what you say by believing you are a lunatic that lacks an atom of patriotism. Why should a request for federalism, liberal democracy and justice by citizens gear up war against citizens by your tribal masters?
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19 March 06:43, by jur_likang_a_ likan’g
These reports are credible because they come from a reliable source. Juba should not deny it is starving citizens for reasons they are non dinka. All we know about J1 is misinformation, lies, rape and murder of citizens nothing else.
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19 March 06:58, by Kush Natives
U.N.? What’s your concern here? First and foremost, let those who make the weapons stop immediately! That’s whereby any governments in the globe stop shopping. Otherwise, your nonsense case is bearing none fruits. Are in South Sudan helping rebels or needy people? If that’s case, then get the hell out of there! Africa is not under you. Get it right!
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19 March 07:38, by Kush Natives
What will really be the beneficiary of the so called U.N, if reckless and absent brain call RIEK MACHAR rule this country??? One wonder! If it’s same U.N. who tried and indeed succeeded supplied the rebels in early 2013-2014 through RUMBEK-BENTIU route, then there’s a question here folks. Did we liberated this country for the U.N to own it? If U.N have got none to do, let them go back to Geneva__