Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Actually, when you came for that visit, I shook your hand. We had that cocktail party at the embassy. We have met before. Governance in South Sudan is one of those areas that requires total transformation. When the SPLM came from the bush, they continued with the mentality that

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  If I may, I would add that what started on December 15, 2013 was a tribal conflict where the Nuer were massacred in Juba. The Nuer then took retaliatory action to commit atrocities in Bor, Malakal, and Bentiu. This part of the conflict was initially tribal. Now, a good number of

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Just before I come to that, let me also add to what Sophia has just given. What she talked about is short-term solutions, but for South Sudan to really come to the fold of what is internationally accepted, I think possibly Canada, through the UN and other sources, should pressure

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I think the AU was looking in the right direction when they constituted the committee led by General Obasanjo. They have terms of reference to look into the causes of the current conflict. This goes way back, even before the Addis Ababa Agreement of 1972. After that, when the SPL

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  We are very grateful to Canada on a personal level and at the national level in South Sudan. I know people who are from Canada, especially with Plan Canada—formerly we had CIDA, which I think is a different name now—who came to build capacity, say for example with the ministry o

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I think it will hasten the government to negotiate in good faith because apparently, it has the backing of Uganda. As of the end of January, 7,000 Ugandans entered near Juba at a place called Nesitu. There are about 16,000 Ugandan troops now in South Sudan. With that muscle powe

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Not all of South Sudan is not being farmed. The centre of the country is mainly a flat plain, and it's affected by flood waters, but near the borders of Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, these are mainly highlands, with an altitude of maybe 800 metres and above, and this is where most of

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  My reference to the withdrawal of foreign troops was specifically for the Ugandans, for the Rwandese, other than those who are serving in the UN, and for the M23. This is a guerrilla movement that is fighting in eastern Congo against the government in Kinshasa. These people have

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and the committee, for having me here today. I first came to Canada in 1984 as a landed immigrant, and the destination was Winnipeg, Manitoba. People were so surprised, even shocked, as to why I chose to go to Winnipeg. I did not know why, but