The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) strongly condemns an attack on a humanitarian convoy that was being escorted by peacekeepers in Aniydi Payam of Bor South County of Jonglei State.
As the convoy passed through Macdit, 60 kilometres from Bor town, a group of armed men emerged from the bushes and one opened fire on the UN vehicles. An UNMISS vehicle was damaged, but fortunately there were no casualties. UNMISS peacekeepers returned fire and repelled the attackers.
"This attack threatened the lives of humanitarians delivering vital assistance to communities in need as well as peacekeepers providing protection. It is utterly unacceptable," said Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary General's Special Representative to South Sudan and Head of UNMISS.
"We appreciate the response of the Government of Jonglei State who rapidly dispatched a joint protection team of local forces to the location to provide support. It is important that a thorough investigation takes place and that the perpetrators are held accountable," he said. - United Nations
JUBA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Ma Qiang said Thursday that China will host six capacity-building training courses for South Sudanese officials in 2024 on human resource development.
"This year, the Chinese government will continue to deepen cooperation in human resources development with South Sudan. We will hold six training courses in China for South Sudan, covering agriculture, education, commerce, transportation, and petroleum among other fields," Ma said during a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, to welcome the Chinese New Year and reunion of South Sudanese participants who attended the 2023 Chinese government training programs.
Ma said that China has always upheld the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, adding that China has implemented and completed many key projects, such as China-aided broadcasting facilities, Jur River Bridge in Wau, and Air Traffic Management System, achieving fruitful outcomes in bilateral pragmatic cooperation.
In 2023, more than 300 South Sudanese government officials and professional and technical personnel participated in short-term training programs in China, covering fields such as economy, trade, agriculture, education, medical care, and technology.
Mary Nawai Martin, the South Sudan minister of parliamentary affairs and also one of the beneficiaries of the capacity-building training courses in China, said that the South Sudan government is grateful for the technical skills transfer provided by the Chinese government.
"We have learned a lot and those who have been to China, we are urging you to bring that knowledge and implement it here. Let us not leave the knowledge there in that beautiful country. Let us try our best to make sure that the knowledge or the skills that we have gained from China is implemented in our beautiful country," Nawai said.
She also noted that South Sudan is eager to receive more Chinese investors to help develop the country as it transitions from years of conflict toward peace and stability. - Xinhua
Nearly 13,000 people have registered for the Rwanda Day event scheduled for February 2-3 in the United States capital, Washington D.C., according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Preparations are in advanced stages for the event in which thousands of members of the Rwandan community abroad and friends of the country can engage directly with President Paul Kagame.
Discussions centre on the Rwandan diaspora’s contribution to the country’s development, a celebration of its cultural values, and ways to foster relationships with people from all over the world.
The 11th edition of Rwanda Day will take place as the country prepares for the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, presidential and parliamentary elections in July, 30th liberation anniversary among other key national events.
“We are well prepared for the event, the embassy and the senior leadership of our country are working together to ensure that it goes well,” said Arthur Asiimwe, Deputy Head of Mission in the Rwandan embassy in the US, during a live-streamed conversation with North Dakota-based media personality Ally Soudy.
The two-day event, which will take place at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, will be opened by a business forum attended by 400-500 people on Friday and the main part of it will be on Saturday.
Asiimwe said the forum will bring together Rwandan businesspeople from the country and in the diaspora as well as American investors for trade-centred engagements.
“We are prepared to host Rwandans and friends of Rwanda,” he said, adding that more people were still registering for places in the event.
On Saturday’s agenda are panel discussions about Rwanda’s security and its position in the global scene, and available opportunities for the youth.
Then there will be the President’s speech, followed by his interactions with the delegates.
The first Rwanda Day event since the Covid-19 pandemic will take place less than 10 days after the 19th National Umushyikirano Council, held in Kigali where Rwandans discussed the country’s development, national unity, and the role of the youth leadership in all sectors.
The last event was held in October 2019 in Bonn, Germany.
The event comes at a time when remittance from the Rwandan diaspora reached a record high of $470 million in 2023 – exceeding foreign direct investment inflows, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. The remittances rose from $65 million in 2010.
On the sidelines of the Rwanda Day event, more activities are planned, including entertainment and exhibitions by government institutions as well as private sector actors.
There is also the Rwanda Day Career Corner, which will support recent graduates and seasoned professionals looking for job opportunities. - Moise M. Bahati, The New Times
Informer East Africa is a UK based diaspora Newspaper. It is a unique platform connecting East Africans at home and abroad through news dissemination. It is a forum to learn together, grow together and get entertained at the same time.
To advertise events or products, get in touch by info [at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447957636854. If you have an issue or a story, get in touch with the editor through editor[at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447886544135.
We also accept donations from our supporters. Please click on "donate". Your donations will go along way in supporting the newspaper.
