A roundup of five key stories from last week on political issues in Sudan and South Sudan.
Equatorian soldiers ‘disarmed’, troops sent to Terekeka (Radio Tamazuj, 4 July 2014) — Central Equatoria Governor Clement Wani Konga appeared publically for the first time after reports of tensions between him and the president. In remarks to the press, he denied mobilizing his own militia while also questioning ongoing disarmament of Equatorians in the armed forces, which he claimed was ongoing.
Sudan opposition party says authorities stormed HQ in W. Kordofan (Sudan Tribune, 4 July 2014) — The Sudanese Congress party announced that security forces stormed their headquarters in the town of al-Nuhood in West Kordofan state and blocked plans for a mass rally in which several opposition figures were scheduled to address.
Tensions rise in Juba; governor denies threat (Radio Tamazuj, 1 July 2014) — The capital of South Sudan has witnessed rising tensions after reports of a deepening rift between the president and the governors of the three Equatoria states.
Former S. Sudan ambassador to US to join armed opposition (Radio Tamazuj, 30 June 2014) — The SPLM-G11 member and former South Sudanese ambassador to the United States Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth is expected to join the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement/Army in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) today.
Konga: ‘We will continue to talk about federalism’ (Radio Tamazuj, 4 July 2014) — The governors of Central and Western Equatoria have vowed to continue advocating for federalism, after efforts to silence debate on the issue in the Juba media. They have described federalism as a ‘demand’ of the Equatorian people.
Photo: Governor Clement Wani Konga speaks to press on Thursday, 3 July 2014 (Radio Tamazuj)