The Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) in partnership with the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) is set to visit the flood-affected people in parts of Unity State.

For nearly two weeks the two institutions were mobilizing journalists and well-wishers to contribute clothes and shoes to help both those affected by floods and violence in the country. They will transport nearly 10 journalists to cover the general flood situation in parts of the country.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, the President of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan Mr. Patrick Oyet Charles said: “As a Union of Journalists for South Sudan together with Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, we came with this initiative to make sure that journalists and any well-wishers contribute clothes, shoes, whatever they can contribute so that we take theses donations to the people affected by the floods." 

The two institutions said their partnership mission in solidarity with the victims of the floods in Bentiu begins this month followed by another visit to Tambura-Yambio.

“Our first point of contact is to take these donations to Unity State and that does not mean we are stopping there, we are also planning to go to other areas like Tambura where people are affected by violence. We believe that it is us as South Sudanese people to help one another first then we can go out and ask other people to help us,” Oyet added.

He also urged other partners to extend their help to assist the victims of floods and violence in the country.

“We also call upon all groups that can help in any way to do so because these are our people and it is our duty to help in whatever way we can help. Today it is those people who are affected by floods, and tomorrow it might be you and we also will need to lobby for help,” he said.

UJOSS President Patrick Oyet Charles said, it is time for all South Sudanese to begin thinking of helping one another in all situations in the country.

Okech Francis, a journalist working for Bloomberg is among those who will cover the flood situation and he says he would use his story for creating awareness on the risks of the environmental population due to spills of oil in the oil-rich Bentiu.

"We want to look at how the floods have aggravated the environment pollution problem, and then the story will try to create awareness on how huge this problem is, and what its effects will be on the community in the oil-producing areas and South Sudan at large," Francis said.

Both UJOSS and CEPO believe the solidarity mission is a call to all stakeholders and will help attract more responses to the humanitarian situation created by floods and violence in the country. - Radio Tamazuj

The African Union said on Friday it was suspending Guinea after a coup in the West African country that saw its president Alpha Conde arrested.

The pan-African body said on Twitter that it "decides to suspend the Republic of Guinea from all AU activities and decision-making bodies".

The move came after Guinean special forces seized power on Sunday and arrested Conde, who had come under increasing fire for perceived authoritarianism.

The AU had on Sunday condemned the military takeover and called for the release of Conde, who became the country's first democratically elected president in 2010.

Its move came a day after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also suspended Guinea and said it was sending a mission to the country to evaluate the situation there.

The AU's Political Affairs, Peace and Security Council said it called on AU Commission chief Moussa Faki to "engage with stakeholders in the region" on the crisis. VOA/The Observer