Category: CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

South Sudan ambassador to Kuwait dies

South Sudan ambassador to Kuwait Parmena Makuet Manar Riak [Photo via al-Jarida]

South Sudan ambassador to Kuwait Parmena Makuet Manar Riak [Photo via al-Jarida]

KUWAIT – South Sudan’s ambassador to Kuwait, Parmena Makuet Manar Riak, has passed away today at dawn after short illness, according to a foreign ministry official.

The foreign ministry official who spoke to Sudans Post on condition of anonymity said Manar died in Kuwait following short illness caused by high-blood pressure and diabetes.

The official although hinted at COVID-19, the official ruled out the possibility.

“This is to confirm that Ambassador Parmena Makuet Manar Riak, our country’s representative to the state of Kuwait has died,” the official said. “We cannot rule out COVID-19, but what I have as of now is that he has been sick with high blood pressure and diabetes.”

Manar was the first South Sudan ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt.

He was appointed the head the country’s diplomatic mission in the North African country following the independence of South Sudan in 2011.

Before he was moved to Kuwait, he was South Sudan’s ambassador to Nigeria.

He was later on recalled and then redeployed to Kuwait.     

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Kiir vows to ‘address’ challenges facing South Sudanese students abroad – minister

Minister of higher education Gabriel Changson Lew Chang meeting President Salva Kiir Mayardit in J1 [Photo courtesy of the presidency]

Minister of higher education Gabriel Changson Lew Chang meeting President Salva Kiir Mayardit in J1 [Photo courtesy of the presidency]

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has vowed to address challenges facing South Sudanese students studying under government scholarship abroad, according to higher education minister Changson Gabriel Lew Chang.

This come during a meeting between Kiir and the minister at J1 this afternoon. The meeting according to Changson, the meeting between him and President Kiir discussed the many challenges facing students abroad.

“I met H.E the President of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit and raised to him the challenges facing our students abroad,”  Changson told the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation.

“The president has pledged to resolve and address some of the most complicated issues for our student because the COVID-19 has complicated many things including the source of income for the students’ families here back home,” he added.

In March, South Sudan’s high-level task-force released $3 million for South Sudanese students studying in most coronavirus-affected countries including Zimbabwe, Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, India, and China.

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Vice-president Hussein Abdelbaggi flown to Nairobi over high-blood pressure, heart disease

South Sudan’s Vice President, and chairman of the National Committee on Covid-19, Hussein Abdelbaggi [Photo by Sudans Post]

South Sudan’s Vice President, and chairman of the National Committee on Covid-19, Hussein Abdelbaggi [Photo by Sudans Post]

JUBA – South Sudan vice-president Hussein Abdelbaggi has been flown to the Kenyan capital Nairobi after suffering from a heart diseases complicated by high blood pressure, according to a media official at the presidency.

“General Hussein Abdelbaggi has surprisingly became sick. He has now been taken to Nairobi, Kenya because of that sickness and he is receiving medication and every will hopefully be OK,” the official said.

The media official who spoke to Sudans Post on condition of anonymity this morning however did not mention what Abdelbaggi was suffering from, and only referred to his sickness as short.

“It is a short illness that will go away in the next few days. He also chose to go to Nairobi because he has relative and family members that he would like to see as well. So, I can said it is a short illness,” he said.

Another source in Juba said the vice-president was flown to Kenya because he has a heart disease that has been with him for a long time. He said in 2020, Abdelbaggi traveled to Kenya three times in secret trips.

Hussein has previously been infected by COVID-19, the sickness that is associated with the novel coronavirus which has killed dozens of senior government and military officials in the world’s youngest country.

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Government reopens schools, orders return to work

South Sudan Information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth [Photo via SSNA]

South Sudan Information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth [Photo via SSNA]

JUBA – South Sudan government has ordered the immediate reopening of schools, Universities and other higher institutes of learning, according to the information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei.

In March, the government ordered the closure of all schools and the reduction of employee in different sectors after the outbreak of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which has killed several senior government officials.

Speaking to reporters on Friday following a weekly cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir, Makuei said the government has resolved to reopen schools and also directed for the resumption of work in all sectors in the country.

“The cabinet has decided that all the higher institutes of learning should resume and should be reopened. As to went, this will be determined by the ministers of higher education and general education but schools should be reopened,” Makuei told reporters.

“The work should resume as usual from now onward, that is from next Monday because it is already Friday. We work should resume from on Monday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. This is very important because there is need for us to work because if we don’t work out economy will continue going down and collapse,” the senior government official said.

Makuei further warned against absence from work saying:  “So work will resume next week for all of us and there is nothing for someone to say that ‘I am sick’ if you are sick, come to the office with a medical report.”

“Some of the people have exploited the issue of COVID-19 and have gone silence for long and go for self-quarantine. There is no self-quarantine anymore.”

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Egypt extends aid to four African countries including South Sudan

South Sudan ambassador to Egypt, Joseph Moum Majak (left) inspect the departure of the aid to South Sudan at Cairo international Airport [Photo by S. Sudan Embassy in Cairo]

South Sudan ambassador to Egypt, Joseph Moum Majak (left) inspect the departure of the aid to South Sudan at Cairo international Airport [Photo by S. Sudan Embassy in Cairo]

CAIRO – The Egyptian government has extended medical and humanitarian aid to at least four African countries including South Sudan, the continent’s youngest country, a statement from South Sudan embassy in Cairo said.

The all the four countries have been affected by flood with Sudan’s capital being the most affected.

Below is the full statement by the South Sudan embassy in Cairo.

“H. E. Ambassador Joseph Moum Majak Ambassador of South Sudan to Egypt and other three African Ambassadors, Sudan, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar and Camorous attended the ceremony of the shipment of the first batch of Medical aids to the African countries.

Ambassador Soha Gendi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Director of the Department of African Organizations and Communities told Ambassadors at Cairo International Airport that this is a part of arrangements for The first batch of aids deliveries to the African countries.

Ambassador Soha Gendi Said, the first batch of aids has already been directed to 10 African countries. The procedures for shipping the second batch to 20 other countries are being completed during the upcoming period.

H. E. Ambassador Joseph Moum Majak Ambassador of South Sudan to Egypt and other three African Ambassadors, Sudan, Kenya,…

Posted by South Sudan Embassy – Cairo on Tuesday, 8 September 2020

 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has ordered the delivery of $4 million worth of medical aid to 30 African countries to help them combat coronavirus.

In other hands, Ambassador Joseph Moum Majak express that the donation Aid by Egypt has demonstrated the brotherhood between Egypt and the South Sudan, and also reflected the Egyptian vision toward Africa.

His Excellency extend his gratitude and appreciation to the Arab Republic of Egypt, leadership and people, for their Support to the people of South Sudan to help the country in its fight against the virus.

People and Government of South Sudan has praised Egypt for sending medical supplies to help the country combat the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.”

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Gov’t accuses UN mission of illegally issuing COVID-19-free test certificates

South Sudan Information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth [Photo via SSNA]

South Sudan Information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth [Photo via SSNA]

JUBA – South Sudan government has accused the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) of illegally issuing fake COVID-19-free test certificates after the government said last week that some individuals were issuing unauthorized certificates at Juba airport.

The National High-level Taskforce on COVID-19 said in a communication dated August 26, but released this afternoon that it has evidence to support “allegation that UNMISS was issuing COVID-19 free test certificates to their staff parallel to the Public Health Laboratory.”

The communication seen by Sudans Post said the UN mission’s action contradicts the agreement between the government’s ministry of health and the peace mission on the issuance of COVID-19 certificates and ordered for the  withdrawal of COVID-19 certificates issuance authority from UNMISS.

“This act contravenes the agreement between UNMISS and the Ministry of Health. Henceforth, the Public Health Laboratory is urged to withdraw the authority from UNMISS with immediate effect,” it said.

The communication however said it still permits staffs of the “UN and all humanitarian organizations to move freely without any restrictions once already in the country with the view that they have undergone mandatory fourteen days self-isolation to allow them respond to emergencies.”

It further directed the Secretary of the Taskforce to “equally respond to UNMISS concerning their request but should be mindful of COVID-19 free test certificate and fourteen days quarantine to that effect.”

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WHO says COVID-19 could be over in two years

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) speaks at a press conference at the UN Office in Geneva [Photo by WHO]

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) speaks at a press conference at the UN Office in Geneva [Photo by WHO]

GENEVA – The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that he hopes the coronavirus pandemic will be over in under two years’ time.

Tedros who was speaking in Geneva said the Spanish flu of 1918 had taken two years to overcome.

But he added that current advances in technology could enable the world to halt the virus “in a shorter time”.

“Of course with more connectiveness, the virus has a better chance of spreading,” he said.

“But at the same time, we have also the technology to stop it, and the knowledge to stop it,” he noted, stressing the importance of “national unity, global solidarity”.

The flu of 1918 killed at least 50 million people.

Coronavirus has so far killed almost 800,000 people and infected nearly 23 million.

Dr Tedros also responded to a question about corruption relating to personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic, which he described as “criminal”.

“Any type of corruption is unacceptable,” he answered.

“However, corruption related to PPE… for me it’s actually murder. Because if health workers work without PPE, we’re risking their lives. And that also risks the lives of the people they serve.”

Although the question related to allegations of corruption in South Africa, a number of countries have faced similar issues.

On Friday, protests were held in the Kenyan capital Nairobi over alleged graft during the pandemic, while doctors from a number of the city’s public hospitals went on strike over unpaid wages and a lack of protective equipment.

The same day, the head of the WHO’s health emergencies programme warned the scale of the coronavirus outbreak in Mexico was “clearly under-recognised”.

Dr Mike Ryan said the equivalent of around three people per 100,000 were being tested in Mexico, compared with about 150 per 100,000 people in the US.

Mexico has the third highest number of deaths in the world, with almost 60,000 fatalities recorded since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins University.

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Dr. Riek Machar, wife recovers from COVID-19 – James Gatdet Dak

Photo: South Sudan's First Vice president Dr. Riek Machar, right, and his wife Angelina Teny while taking oath of office in February

Photo: South Sudan’s First Vice president Dr. Riek Machar, right, and his wife Angelina Teny while taking oath of office in February

JUBA – South Sudan First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar Teny and his wife Angelina Teny, the minister of defense, have recovered from the coronavirus and are due to return to their offices next week, a spokesman for the first vice president said this morning.

Machar and Teny tested positive for the COVID-19, the disease that is associated with the novel coronavirus, in May and said they were going into self-quarantine as recommended by the world health organization.

In a statement this morning, Machar’s office announced that the two have recovered after a second test for the virus – since the first positive test – returned positive.

“The second COVID-19 testing has returned NEGATIVE for both the First Vice President, H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, and the Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, H.E. Madam Angelina Teny,” it said.

The statement signed by James Gatdet Dak, the spokesman for Dr. Riek Machar Teny, said the second test was conducted on June 1 and returned yesterday.

He said the two senior government officials will take another five-day before eventually returning to work on June 11 next week.

“This second test was conducted on Monday, 1 June, 2020, and the result came out on Thursday, 4 June, 2020. The two leaders are in good health and ready to resume their public duties,” it said.

“In accordance with the new general criteria from the Ministry of Health, the two officials are required to remain in their residence for 10 more days from 1 June 2020 up to 10 June, 2020. They are therefore expected to resume their normal official duties by Thursday, 11 June, 2020,” the statement added.

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Minister John Luk Jok dies of COVID-19 in Juba – aide

Photo: South Sudan East African Affairs Minister John Luk Jok speaks at a joint press conference by seven of South Sudan's former political prisoners on February 13, 2014 in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. [Getty Images]

Photo: South Sudan East African Affairs Minister John Luk Jok speaks at a joint press conference by seven of South Sudan’s former political prisoners on February 13, 2014 in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. [Getty Images]

JUBA – South Sudan minister of East African Affairs and former Justice minister John Luk Jok, has died this morning of the deadly coronavirus disease also known as COVID-19, his aides said from Juba this morning.

“This is to inform you that the minister for East African Affairs John Luk jok has died of COVID-19,” one aide told Sudans Post from Juba.

“He refused to be taken to the hospital. He was given medicins about two weeks ago and he said he will be taking the medicines from home,” the aided added.

John Luk Jok has served as South Sudan minister of justice right following the independence in July 2011.

He served under that capacity until Kiir sacked his entire cabinet in July 2013 leading up to the outbreak of war in December that year.

He was detained and then released in April 2014 and fled to exile in Kenya and returned to the country in 2016 as a part of a 2015 peace agreement to serve as the transport minister on thew ticket of the SPLM former detainees.

John Luk Jok served under that capacity until the dissolution of the government in February 2020 and was appointed as the minister of East African Affairs.

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South Sudan vice-president James Wani Igga flown to Egypt over COVID-19 symptoms

Photo: South Sudan Vice-president James Wani Igga meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisis in Cairo

Photo: South Sudan Vice-president James Wani Igga meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisis in Cairo

JUBA – South Sudan vice-president James Wani Igga has been flown to the Egyptian capital Cairo for “intensive” medical care over COVID-19 symptoms, a office staffer for him said this evening.

Igga said last week that he had been tested positive for COVID-19.

“The vice president James Wani Igga has been flown to Egypt this afternoon, Monday, June 1, 2020. He has been suffering from coronavirus since he was diagnosed for the  virus one last week,” the office staffer who refused to be named told Sudans Post from Juba.

There are speculations that many other senior South Sudan government officials – rather than the already known – are suffering from the deadly virus.

Beside James Wani Igga, other senior government officials including First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar, vice-president Hussein Abdelbaggi as well as ministers of information and defense have tested positive for coronavirus.

COVID-19 is the respiratory sickness caused by the novel coronavirus.

South Sudan cases jumped last week to 994. Eight (8) people have recovered while ten (10) have died.

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