MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO

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‘Let children be children.’ This is the one of the messages that resonated most with participants during the many meetings preceding and informing the reform of customary law, also known as Naath law. Today, they are. At least by law.

Updating this customary law was not easy. And it hadn’t been done since 1942.

Following many failed attempts over past decades, in an inception workshop in Juba last October where paramount chiefs, government officials and community leaders came together to initiate the process; these discussions were subsequently trickled down to various counties across Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states.

These discussions exposed major disconnects between formal law and current customary practices, gaps that not only keep women disadvantaged but also propagated harmful cultural practices such as exorbitant dowries. But the power of community collaboration when it came to providing justice for all cannot be overstated in South Sudan.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), therefore, facilitated and provided legal advice during the meetings headed by the Naath Law Review Committee

“As women, we traditionally sit together and discuss which laws are good for us. We also go to payams to raise awareness on revenge killings, visit prisoners and advise incarcerated women. Therefore, we were very happy to participate in reviewing and passing the Naath law,” revealed Mary Nyathum Kher, Chair of the Akobo Women’s Association during a local reform meeting.

Across these states, Committee members critically evaluated and revised a complex system of customary law that had been developed over centuries, coming up with a version that is fit for purpose today. For example, the updated Naath law has placed a cap on dowry, recognized child rights and abolished forced marriages.

Although reforms like this do not eliminate inherent challenges in navigating customary law, they are expected to ease them.

“What makes this reform such a groundbreaking initiative is that it is one of the few examples where it was possible to create pathways for a harmonious balancing between customary and statutory law,” explains Anees Ahmed, Chief of UNMISS Rule of Law section.

The creation of such commonly agreed upon justice infrastructures are an important step towards a better future for all South Sudanese.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: APO

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In Yambio, a message from a disability rights advocate captured the spirit of a new push to ensure every South Sudanese voice is heard in the country’s first elections, currently scheduled for December 2026.

“As persons with disabilities, we must be included in planning for elections. It is our constitutional right,” said Moses Louis, Chairperson of the Association of People Living with Disabilities, Western Equatoria.

As Moses spoke to a crowded hall, his words carried the weight of millions of South Sudanese who rarely have a seat at the table. Around him sat police officers, journalists, civil society activists, and election officials, all confronting the same question: How can this young nation ensure that its first election truly includes everyone?

Across the country, people living with disabilities face barriers that make participating in civic life difficult.

For Moses, the answer lies in inclusion: “We are happy to be invited to this workshop,” he says. “This enables us to reach people with disabilities across the state and help them understand their rights, roles and responsibilities.”

Across South Sudan, preparations for elections continue as part of the country’s broader peace process following years of conflict and political instability. But peaceful and inclusive elections depend on more than ballot boxes.

Security will be one critical piece of the puzzle.

“For us as national police, we play a major role in providing security for citizens and safeguarding electoral materials. With this training, we are better prepared for our responsibilities,” explained Major Martin Joseph Nyodu, a public relations officer with the South Sudan National Police Service in Yambio.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that citizens are safe before, during and after elections,” added Major Nyodu.

Another challenge is helping communities understand how elections work and why their participation matters.

“This training is timely, it will enable us to take a key role in actioning civic education so that people at the grassroots understand their responsibilities and rights as we approach elections,” said Joseph Dani, a civil society representative.

Baraka John, a journalist, said the training changed how he views election coverage.

“Today’s session helped me understand that as journalists, we can help inform the public and report factually accurate information across the country.”

For electoral officials, the workshop strengthened coordination among the many actors responsible for delivering credible elections. Simon Serowasi, an electoral official in Western Equatoria State stated: “This is an opportunity for different actors to understand their responsibilities and collaborate effectively.”

Opubo Good Head, a Human Rights Officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), reinforced UN’s ongoing support.

“The UN remains committed to supporting all stakeholders as the country prepares to hold its first elections,” he stated.

The workshop was organized by the State High Election Committee (SHEC) with support from the UN Integrated Electoral Assistance Team (IEAT).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Source: APO

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Four more men removed by the United States arrived in Eswatini on 11 March and are being detained in the Matsapha Correctional Complex, a maximum-security prison located some 2 kms from the country’s international airport. 

According to information received by Amnesty International, the men – two Somali nationals, one Tanzanian national and one Sudanese national – arrived at around 11PM on a flight originating from Phoenix, Arizona. 

“This latest unlawful transfer makes clear that the United States is continuing to send people to Eswatini under a secretive third-country removal arrangement, and that Eswatini is continuing to hold them in unlawful detention without transparency or adequate legal safeguards,” Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Vongai Chikwanda, said. 

“People with no known ties to Eswatini are transferred there and arbitrarily detained while their fate is decided behind closed doors. The authorities in Eswatini must immediately disclose the legal basis for these detentions, guarantee regular and confidential access to lawyers and families, and guarantee due process to ensure that no one is held arbitrarily.” 

In July 2025, the US removed a first group of five people to Eswatini where they were kept in arbitrary detention. This was followed by the removal of a further 10 individuals from the US to the Southern African country in October 2025. None were known to have ties with Eswatini, where human rights under the absolute monarchy continues to be curtailed. 

“No one should be removed to a country where they face a real risk of unlawful detention, onward refoulement or other serious human rights violations. Both Eswatini and the United States must end this deeply abusive practice,” Vongai Chikwanda said. 

Background

Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 14 May 2025 and published in the United States following a Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) request, the government of Eswatini agreed to accept up to 160 third country national removed from the United States, in exchange for $5.1 million USD “to build its border and migration management capacity”.  

According to media reports, three men previously deported from the United States to Eswatini have filed a complaint before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, alleging that their prolonged detention is unlawful.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

Source: APO

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The Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025 has drawn mixed reactions among legislators, particularly over a proposal to grant additional pay to producers and performers when their sound recordings or audio-visual works are commercially used in broadcasting and public performances.

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Norbert Mao, who moved the Bill for its second reading, said that the proposal responds to demands by the creative industry for more protection of their literary, scientific and artistic intellectual works.

“Musicians are frustrated that their works are exploited, copied and played without any earnings from them. This Bill ensures that the intellectual property that is inherent in the creatives gets rewarded appropriately,” Mao said during the House sitting on Thursday, 12 March 2026.

Hon. Stephen Baka, the Chairperson of the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, said the provision creates systems for equitable sharing of revenue generated from the use of creative works, particularly in the digital realm.

“This Bill enhances remuneration mechanisms for the creative industry such as benefits from call back ringtones and provides for better compensation beyond the model of one-off payments,” Baka said.

Hon. David Kabanda (NRM, Kasambya County) raised concern over making legal provisions that cause radio or television stations which play an artist’s music, to pay the artist.

“The radio or television may benefit in playing these songs, but so do the artistes because they are being popularised?” Kabanda said.

Hon. Rachel Magoola (NRM, Bugweri District Woman Representative) who is also a performing artiste, noted that the purpose of the Bill would be defeated if broadcasting entities were to use creative works without remunerating their originators.

“It is internationally recognised that creators are compensated for their work. The radio stations that play any work, have the burden to compensate the creators of that work,” she said.

The Attorney General, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, clarified that the proposed law allows broadcasting stations to make arrangements with musicians to play their music.

“If an artiste has made music and has not requested for it to be promoted, the least you can do is to tell them that you would like to promote their work. Unless an artiste requests you to promote their music for commercial purposes, you will have to pay for it if you play it,” he said.

Hon. Michael Lulume (DP, Buikwe County South) urged the Committee to inform the House whether a cost-benefit analysis on the proposed clause was done, while interacting with the creatives.

“We need to know what the creatives benefit out of this and what they will could lose. We also want to know what the consumers of their creativity will benefit out of playing their music and what they may lose if they do not play it,” Lulume noted.

The Speaker, Anita Among halted debate on the Bill while reiterating the need for a cost-benefit analysis.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.