WHY DO WE AVOID THE SEX TALK?

Up until a few years ago, a woman had to get her husband’s consent to buy contraceptives over the counter.

Today, one can languidly stroll into a chemist after a hot and heavy night, simply pay Sh150 and get the morning-after pill.

Despite the campaign against using these pills as contraceptives (because of dire effects such as acquired immunity and eventual resistance), ladies still pop them like candy.

But in all fairness, it is commendable that society no longer views buying a condom or a pill in public as embarrassing (even though, apparently, condom advertisements are still a No-No).

The fact that we have evolved this far is a good and a bad thing. It is a good thing because we can take control of our reproductive organs (and who, really, does not want that?)

It is a bad thing because people then proceed to abuse that power, because they know the consequences can be stymied with a quick downtown abortion.

By avoiding the debate on pertinent issues (yes, I am still talking about sex), we risk taking our country to extremes.

Not talking about Female Genital Mutilation does not make it right - even if it 'apparently' reduces a woman's libido. (READ: Agony for girls as culture of silence fuels outdated ‘cut’)

A great hue and cry over the Weka Condom Mpangoni commercial claiming that it promotes immorality also won't stop men and women from having sex.

On the other hand, a completely ‘permissive’ society - where abortions are legal and women who have many sexual partners are not considered sluts - is something every outwardly conservative Kenyan is against. Heaven forbid, right?

But we must talk about sex. The mystery that surrounds it needs to be unravelled because our current attitude promotes a culture of ignorance and deplorable actions.

People are doing it and they are doing it without protection, passing on all kinds of things. People are thinking about it. They have questions about it especially those that are clueless about it.

Our children are going into a hyper-sexed world with absolutely no information except for rumours from friends and the internet.

What kind of foundation and conscious thought are we giving them?

Sex is not a taboo. It is a fact of life, and the more we shroud it in mystery, the more accidents are likely to happen.

People need to talk about it so that when do it, they do it right.

Nation 

KIIR BANS AMUM FROM TRAVELLING ABROAD DURING INVESTIGATION

South Sudan president Salva Kiir Mayardit has issued an executive order preventing Pagan Amum Okiech, the secretary-general of the governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) from travelling outside the country during an investigation into his conduct, according to a report broadcast on state-owned South Sudan Television (SSTV) on Thursday.

Kiir quoted article 25 (K) of the 2008 constitution, read together with article 23 (2) of the 2006 basic rules and regulations guiding the functions and conduct of the former rebel movement turned ruling party, as the basis for the order.

Under the conditions of the order, Amum is barred from holding press conferences or making statements to the media.

The president has also directed him to strictly observe the basic rules and regulations of the party throughout the period of the investigation.

However, Kiir, who is also the chairperson of the governing party, did not say what he intends to do should Amum challenge the decision under constitutional provisions which permits freedom of expression.

The South Sudanese president on 23 July issued an order in his capacity as leader of the SPLM suspending the secretary general of the ruling party and formed a committee to probe charges against him.

COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS

The five-member committee, headed by the leader of the national legislative assembly speaker, James Wani Igga, has been tasked with investigating allegations Amum mismanaged the affairs of the SPLM, both administratively and politically. Amum is also accused of insubordination for using the public media to discredit the party and its leadership.

According to the terms of reference obtained by Sudan Tribune, the committee will investigate comments made by Amum allegedly inciting tribal sentiments in the country after he criticised a presidential order that lifted the immunity of cabinet affairs minister Deng Alor Kuol and finance and economic planning minister Kosti Manibe Ngai, both of whom were implicated in a questionable $8 million transfer for the purchase of fire safety equipment without the president’s knowledge or authorisation.

The secretary-general will also answer allegations of deliberately creating divisions aimed at undermining party unity, showing disrespect to the leadership and impeding the proper functioning of party structures.

Amum has not yet reacted to his suspension, although a brief, thinly-veiled comment published on his Facebook page on Tuesday read simply: “dictatorship in the making”.

ST 

JUBA DEPLOYS ARMED SECURITY FORCES AFTER CABINET DISSOLUTION

South Sudanese government on Wednesday deployed heavily armed security forces, comprising of police and regular soldiers, to guard key government institutions in the capital, Juba, following president Salva Kiir’s decision to dissolve the government.

Public and privately-owned radio stations, as well as daily newspapers have reported on calls from senior government officials and high ranking military officers, appealing for calm as the president forms a new cabinet.

International organisations and foreign diplomats have also received a briefing, stressing the normality of the situation, as well as an assurance that adequate security will be maintained throughout the country.

However, the deployment of heavily armed government troops, assisted by plainclothes security personnel and police forces has created uncertainty and anxiety in the city.

Security checks are also being conducted along roads leading to key institutions, while others have been blocked due to the heavy deployment of security personnel particularly around government ministries and the national parliament.

In a statement, army spokesman Colonel Philip Aguer denied the deployment was linked to the president’s decision, saying the military build-up was part of routine work to protect key government institutions in the city.

“There have been rumours spreading around after the presidential decrees were announced that there is insecurity in Juba and some parts of the country. This is not true. There is no insecurity. Everything is okay. The security situation is normal and fine. There is no security situation anywhere as a result of the decrees issued by the president”, Aguer said on Wednesday.

Charles Manyang, an under-secretary at the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, also told journalists at the news conference that the dissolution of the cabinet and removal of vice-president Riek Machar was part of “normal changes that happens anywhere in the world”.

Barnaba Marial Benjamin, who was removed as minister of information and broadcasting services on Tuesday, also urged citizens to continue their routines as normal while they wait for the president to form a new cabinet.

“We are asking our citizens, please do your duty and go to work. Give the president a chance to form his government. He has already empowered the technocrats to see the day-to-day running of the administration”, Marial said in a broadcast by the widely heard UN-sponsored Radio Miraya on Wednesday.

Rumours have been circulating on the street about who may return to the new cabinet.

There are suggestions that Marial might either return to the information docket or be moved to the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation.

Marial, who is widely admired for his role in the conduct of the referendum and the brief conflict with Sudan over ownership of Panthou in April 2012, enjoys a relatively good working relationship with the president and his aides.

CABINET SHAKE-UP

As part of a major cabinet shake-up, Kiir dissolved the entire council comprising of 29 national ministers and their deputies. He also removed 17 brigadier generals from active service in the police force and placing them non-active service, which seen as a polite way of retiring armed officers in a country where pension commission has not yet been established.

As well as removing Machar, Kiir also suspended Pagan Amum, the secretary-general of the ruling the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).

The order relieving Machar and suspending Amum cited article 104 (2) in the Transitional Constitution of the new state for the vice-president and article 25 (1) (g) and (K) of the 2008 Constitution of the ruling party, as the basis for removal from their functions for the case of the secretary-general.

Read together with article 23 (2) of the 2006 interim basic rules and regulations, the order formed a five member committee under the leader of the national legislative assembly speaker, James Wani Igga.

Other members of the investigation committee include deputy national legislative assembly speaker Daniel Awet Akot as its deputy.

Jonglei state governor Kuol Manyang Juuk and chairperson of the members’ affairs committee in the national assembly, Mark Nyipuoc Obang, have been appointed as members, while Peter Bashir Gbandi has been named as secretary of the committee.

According to the terms of reference, copies of which were obtained by Sudan Tribune, the committee is tasked with investigating Amum for allegedly mismanaging the affairs of the SPLM, both administratively and politically. It will also investigate Amum for exhibiting insubordination to the leadership of the ruling party by using the public media to discredit the party and its leadership.

Amum will also stand before the committee for utterances seen as inciting tribal sentiments in the country over his criticisms of a presidential order that lifted the immunity of cabinet affairs minister Deng Alor Kuol and finance and economic planning minister Kosti Manibe Ngai, both of whom were accused of making financial requests and approving about $8 million for the purchase fire safety equipment without the president’s knowledge.

The secretary-general will also answer allegations of deliberately creating divisions aimed at undermining party unity, showing disrespect to the leadership and impeding the proper functioning of party structures.

Amum has not yet reacted to his suspension, although yesterday evening a short comment was published in his Facebook page saying “dictatorship in the making”.

ST 

SOUTH SUDAN’S KIIR MOVES TO TAKE DOWN MACHAR & AMUM, KHARTOUM SAYS ACCORDS UNAFFECTED

South Sudan’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit sent shock waves throughout the two-year old nation and issued a presidential decree on Tuesday firing his longtime Vice President Riek Machar and dissolving the entire cabinet.

The decision broadcasted by South Sudan official TV removed all the ministers and deputy ministers of the government and directed the undersecretaries to run their respective ministries until further notice.

Kiir, who also the chairman of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), also issued an order calling for investigation of the party’s Secretary General, Pagan Amum accusing him of inciting violence and criticising his actions.

A committee chaired by the speaker of the parliament and SPLM deputy chairman James Wani Igga will be responsible for probing Amum.

The move by the South Sudanese leader against Machar and Amum sets a new chapter in the power struggle within the SPLM which has mounted over the last year as several key figures moved to challenge Kiir’s candidacy in the 2015 elections.

Earlier this month, Kiir removed his former ally, the governor of Unity state Taban Deng, after reports saying he campaigned in Washington to support Machar’s candidature for the presidency.

Not long before that, he suspended cabinet affairs minister Deng Alor and finance minister Kosti Manibe over corruption allegations.

Machar and Amum both made public statements criticising Kiir’s actions against Governor Deng and the two ministers, calling it a political decision and abuse of power by South Sudan’s president.

Nhial Bol, editor in chief of the independent Citizen newspaper, told Reuters that Kiir wanted to end the paralysis of his government.

"Things have not been moving in the government because of this internal fighting over who is going to control the SPLM" he said.

However, western circles which were expecting Machar’s removal believe that this move may deepen internal divisions within the SPLM and impact negatively on the fragile stability of South Sudan.

They also fear that this will derail the already faltering talks with Khartoum over a wide array of post-secession issues. Machar and Amum were the two leading negotiators.

In Khartoum, a Sudanese diplomat emphasised that any deals with Juba should not be impacted by the political crisis in Juba.

Badr al-Deen Abdullah Mohamed Ahmed, the head of the South Sudan department at the Sudanese foreign ministry, said that the pacts were signed between two nations and that changes in governments will not annul them.

In September of last year, both Sudan and South Sudan signed a series of cooperation agreements, which covered oil, citizenship rights, security issues, banking, border trade among others.

Last March, the two countries signed an implementation matrix for these cooperation agreements.

But last June, the Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir ordered the closure of all pipelines carrying oil from South Sudan. He said that the move was in response to South Sudan’s funding of rebels fighting his government.

Khartoum said that they will proceed with the shutdown on August 7 if Juba continues, in their view, to support Sudanese rebels.

But last June, the Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir ordered the closure of all pipelines carrying oil from South Sudan. He said that the move was in response to South Sudan’s funding of rebels fighting his government.

ST