RENK – A South Sudan activist is being held by the National Security Service (NSS) in Upper Nile state after criticizing the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) under President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Yan Simon Gony wrote in an article, now deleted, on November 16 that SPLM politicians “exemplify outlaw behavior and moral decay” and that the group’s members “operate outside the law, perpetuating corruption and moral deterioration that stands in stark contrast to those who uphold ethics, legality, and social order.” 

The outspoken activist accused the SPLM leaders of resorting “to violence against their opponents, as their emblem suggests, although the emblem itself does not define them.”

“At the heart of the red emblem lies the notion of moral superiority, a principle that demands preservation and upholding,” he added in the Facebook post. 

Speaking to Sudans Post on Sunday, friends of the detained activist said their colleague was arrested on November 17 in Renk, Upper Nile, a day after the article termed hostile on social media.

“He was arrested on Friday, in the morning on November 17. And I think the reason is what he wrote on social media against the SPLM party,” said Gai’ one of Gony’s friend. 

“But he was expressing his opinion and he shouldn’t have been arrested. That’s what it takes to say something in this country,” he added.

Another friend of the detained activist who prefers anonymity said Yien recently returned from Khartoum and were settling in Renk because their hometown of Nasir was flooded.

He said that they went to the police station and were told that their colleague was not there, but later learned that he was being held at the NSS office. By Sudans Post

ODM leader Raila Odinga has renewed his attacks on President William Ruto’s administration accusing it of failing to address the challenges faced by Kenyans.

He said the government has failed to address many economic and social challenges that have put many Kenyans on the edge, including floods that are ravaging several parts of the country.

This came as the ODM leader toured Migori County to drum up support for his party and preside over the listing of new members as part of his efforts to reverse the gains Ruto’s UDA party has made in the region during the numerous visits by the president and his allies.

Raila will also visit Kisumu and Busia counties next week as he steps up efforts to build grassroots support in his traditional strongholds.

As he continued with his quest to strengthen ODM, Raila poked holes in the handling of the floods by the government claiming it had not done enough to help the affected families. 

The Azimio leader told the Kenya Kwanza government to stop blaming the former Jubilee administration for its failure.

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• Raila's fresh political dilemma as allies front pushback against Ruto
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“Right now there is hunger and other Kenyans are dying due to floods. These people are sleeping on the job,” Raila said.

Raila added: “The president had announced that El Niño rains would not be there and now that the rains have come, counties are not getting support from the government.” 

He slammed Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for claiming the government had disbursed funds to counties to help mitigate the effects of the heavy rains.

“The Deputy President is trying to blame the governors and lying that they were given money,” Raila said. 

The former PM who proceeded to Nyatike constituency for an ODM new members registration drive asked youths in Kuria to join ODM and remain united.

While at Macalder in Nyatike where he conducted a member registration drive, Raila pointed out that it was too early for people to start campaigning for the next elections. “I am advising ODM leaders to start campaigning in 2026.

Raila dismissed UDA’s visits to the region. He also dismissed claims the ruling party had registered over 100, 000 in Nyanza. He called on residents to remain in ODM. 

Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko, Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, Senator Eddy Oketch, Nyatike MP Tom Odege, Awendo MP Walter Owino, Suna West MP Peter Masara, and Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohammed, who accompanied Raila said Kenyans are suffering under the Ruto regime.

“Raila loves everyone. He is ever ready to stand with Kenyans no matter the situation,” Ayacko said.

Minority Leader in the National Assembly Junet asked the president to respect Raila.

Junet who has stayed out of the limelight after the 2022 elections said he has a major assignment that has been given to him by Raila.

“I was on the bench, resting. Now I have come back to the field. Raila, as the coach, has told us to come back to the field and play,” Junet said.

He downplayed calls for them to jump ship saying; “Those who think they can change my direction will wait until Jesus comes back.”

Junet held that Raila would not retire from politics despite pressure from some people.

“As ODM and Azimio, our leader is Raila Odinga. Let those people do what they want but we will remain in ODM and Raila will remain to be our leader,” he said.  By Anne Atieno, The Standard

A Ugandan woman who has a physical disability is learning how to fight for her and other women’s rights after suffering a life “full of pain”, thanks to a UN-supported programme.

In the first of a two-part series, Angela Muhindo spoke to UN WomenOpens in new window ahead of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based ViolenceOpens in new window, marked annually from 25 November to 10 December, Human Rights DayOpens in new window.

“My life has been full of pain,” she said, surveying the green landscape where she spent her childhood in Kasese, in Uganda’s western region. “In my community, women have less power, but if you are disabled, you are even more vulnerable to exploitation.”

Ms. Muhindo, who has had a physical disability since childhood, said she has faced violence and exclusion throughout her life. Such treatment is the norm for many women and girls with disabilities, she said, noting that they also face challenges accessing education, employment and health care. 

Globally, women and girls with disabilities are at least two to three times more likelyOpens in new window than other women to experience violence.

People think that “a person with disabilities cannot get married and have children” and that “you are going to stay in your father’s home [forever] because no one is going to take care of you”, Ms. Muhindo said. 

Inheritance dispute

When her parents died, a dispute over the inheritance of their property set into motion events that changed how she lived as a person with a disability.

She said she was threatened and intimidated by her male relatives over the inheritance and felt powerless to advocate for herself.

Land disputes can be a catalyst for gender-based violence in Uganda, where it’s not uncommon for widows and children to be evicted from their home after the death of a husband or father, or in the event of a separation.

The effect of this is two-fold – violence may be used to evict women from property by force, and without a place to live or land to farm, they become more vulnerable to violence in the future.

Seeking to better understand her rights, she attended a Spotlight InitiativeOpens in new window-supported training course implemented by the National Union of Women with Disabilities Uganda through UN WomenOpens in new window.

At the course, she learned about inheritance rights and realized that she was the sole legal heir to the property, and she gained the confidence to stand up to her relatives.

“I realized that as a person living with disabilities, I can do whatever other people can do,” she said. “I can speak up just like any other person. I can buy land, have a job.”

WFP/Marco Frattini Disputes over land ownership can lead to violence.

Advocating for others

It took over a year, but Ms. Muhindo successfully put the land in her name. She now has a safe place to live, food to eat and earns a living from the crops she grows. She also advocates for other women in her community, including those with disabilities, and speaks about gender-based violence on a local radio station.

“I do not want other women to go through what I went through,” she said.

The Spotlight Initiative aims to eliminate violence against women and girls through comprehensive programming that addresses all the key drivers.

This includes improving laws and policies that prevent violence, strengthening institutions, promoting gender-equitable social norms and strengthening women’s movements and essential services to survivors of violence.

United Nations SDG 5

SDG 5: EMPOWER ALL WOMEN AND GIRLSOpens in new window

 

• End all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls
• Eliminate such harmful practices as early and forced marriages and female genital mutilation
• Adapt and strengthen legislation to promote gender equality and empower women and girls
• Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in political, economic and public life
• Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health care

 

Globally, almost half of all married women currently lack decision-making power over their sexual and reproductive health and rights. 

'I felt empowered'

Spotlight and UN Women work with local organizations to help to change discriminatory attitudes and support those at risk of, or experiencing, violence. Since 2019, almost 300,000 people in Uganda have attended community programming on women’s rights with Spotlight Initiative support.

UN Women has also supported advocacy to change legislation that advantaged male children in inheritance and land issues. In March 2021, Uganda’s Parliament passed the Succession (Amendment) Bill, formally recognizing the equal rights of women to own land.

“I used to feel uncomfortable speaking up, but after the training I felt empowered,” Ms. Muhindo says. UN Press Centre