source found here

Sudan

picture source here

South Sudanese girls face more educational obstacles than boys do 

Only 35 percent of students in the country are girls, and even before

the civil war, education was out of reach for most children. In Sudan, less than 10 percent of children will finish primary school.  Attempting for parents to enroll their girls seems to still be an obstacle. Deputy Head Master Okot Santos said, “They look at girls as bread price. Bread price is money. So, it is more useless, meaningless, to educate girls. They only focus on the boys. Educating the girls is like educating the nation.”

I believe that girls should have equal rights to go school and be given a chance. There are families that are willing to send their daughters to school but there are also a lot of them that don't. In my opinion, a female can do anything that a male can. I find it intolerable that they find it meaningless to educate girls. I hope that in the near future there will be more children in Sudan attending school. There are probably tons of kids whom are so bright but they just haven’t gotten an education. I hope Sudan can put aside the differences between genders and become united.

  source found here

Sudan

 

picture source found here

Scores killed in South Sudan fuel truck explosion 

 

In South Sudan, approximately 85 people were killed after a ruptured down fuel truck exploded as a crowd gathered around it to siphon petroleum from its tank, officials stated.

This event occurred in the town of Maridi, in the state of Western Equatoria, after the fuel truck angled off the road, said presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny. Specifying local authorities, he said the tanker was "full of petrol" that started to leak and residents were siphoning off fuel when suddenly someone lit a cigarette, which led to sparking the blast.

Officials gave varying estimates of the death toll. It was hard to determine. According to Atney, at least 85 people were killed in the explosion. However, Gov. Patrick Raphael Zamoi said the number was closer to 176.

"People are still dying; they have not assessed the exact number in the hospital," Zamoi said.

Charles Kisagna, minister of information for the state, said about 50 others were also seriously injured in the blast.

Ateny said the injured were taken to local hospitals, which were overwhelmed with people. Some victims were burned so bad you couldn’t even recognize them, he said.

Layal Horanieh, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross in nearby Juba, said the aid group sent about two burn kits to Maridi, each with enough equipment to treat at least 50 patients.

Fuel tank explosions are common in East Africa at death point. The poor residents whom live near highways often come together around vehicles involved in accidents/collisions to embezzle the gas and then sell it. In June 2013, 29 people were killed and a number injured in an explosion after a collision between a fuel truck and a passenger van in the Ugandan capital of Kampala. 

South Sudan is in the clamp of a critical economic crisis kindled by nearly two years of civil war, which has caused excessive inflation and lofty prices of basic goods, including fuel. The ferocity has left tens of thousands of people mortified and the impoverished country split along ethnic lines.

In my opinion, I can't seem to understand why you would light a cigarette if you are near a truck that is leaking petroleum from its tank? Various fuel tank explosions have occurred in East Africa, and they most likely happen due to the fuel coming in contact with fire. So, knowing that these type of explosions happen often, then why would you light a cigarette when you're collecting petroleum? I understand that they do need the money, but knowing you're working with something so hazardous, why light a cigarette? I am wondering if they thought about the consequences. 

   Source found here
  
  September 29, 2015

                   
                                                                Sudan

South Sudan opposition leader welcomes hybrid war crimes court

 South Sudan’s leader of armed opposition, Reek Machar, said he takes responsibility for the eruption of violence that has been occurring in his country and welcomed the formation of a hybrid court to try those responsible for human rights abuses and war crimes during the 21-month civil war, and bring justice to those affected.

Riek Machar said in an interview with Al Jazeera that the establishment of a hybrid court and a truth and reconciliation commission are “important aspects of the peace agreement” and would administer to his forces in the event of any investigation. “We don’t protect perpetrators. They must face the law,” he said.

Verbally after a meeting of world leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, Machar said took all responsibility for the recent eruption of violence but that he had “no choice.”

“We made a decision to fight, to resist the onslaught of government on us, and therefore I have responsibility,” he said.

“It takes two to tango, you know? It takes two people to fight, to go to war. Since we made the initial decision that there is no other way — to resist the government by force of arms — we take the responsibility that there will be displacement, there will be death and all that,” he said.

I feel that Riek Machar did well by taking responsibility for the corruptions that have been occurring in his country. I believe that maybe they should've found an alternative to their decision to fight to resist the onslaught of government amongst them. Also, it is a great thing that he is taking action and saying, "We don’t protect perpetrators. They must face the law."  In my opinion, that is a great thing because it shows us what kind of a leaders he is. Additionally, he is saying that the people whom have committed these crimes will be punished, as they should be.