Author: The South Sudan Herald

Independence Milestone and Early Hope When South Sudan raised its flag in July 2011, President Salva Kiir embodied liberation optimism. Oil wealth, international goodwill, and a unifying narrative promised rapid institution-building and inclusive growth across the Nile-fed grasslands. Conflict Years and Peace Efforts The 2013 political rift between Kiir and former vice-president Riek Machar quickly spiralled into national conflict, exposing fragile institutions and ethnic tensions that had simmered since wartime alliances. Mediated talks in Addis Ababa produced the 2018 Revitalised Agreement. Cease-fire violations persist, yet the unified command structure and formation of a transitional parliament are notable steps credited to…

International Youth Day Spotlight Markaz Al Salam, a youth-led NGO backed by Norwegian People’s Aid, used International Youth Day to commend South Sudanese youths for confronting modern challenges with courage, creativity and conviction. Theme Aligns with SDG Ambitions This year’s global theme, “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” mirrors the aspirations of young South Sudanese who increasingly see themselves as architects of their country’s stability and prosperity. Grass-Roots Impact Across States From Juba’s tech hubs to cattle camps in Lakes State, youths are mediating local disputes, launching agri-start-ups and mentoring classmates displaced by conflict, testimony to what MAS…

Dawn Battle Stuns Yei River County At first light Saturday, fighters from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition stormed South Sudan People’s Defense Forces positions in Lasu and Libogo, two farming villages southwest of Yei, unleashing the loudest firefight local residents recall since 2016. SPLA-IO spokesperson Colonel Lam Paul Gabriel said the operation began around 5 a.m., a time chosen, he noted, to “minimise civilian movement.” The army has not commented, but traders travelling the Yei–Lasu road confirmed plumes of smoke rising for hours afterward. Casualty Claims and Seized Weaponry Colonel Gabriel reported twelve government soldiers killed and five opposition fighters…

Key Lifeline Under Fire For residents of Western Equatoria, the 400-kilometre Juba-Yambio highway is more than asphalt; it is the spine that feeds markets, clinics and refugee camps across South Sudan. Yet recurring ambushes have turned its forested bends into a gauntlet no traveller forgets. On Monday at about 10 a.m., gunmen showered a UN-marked truck with bullets between Lainyi and Buagyi, wounding the driver in the leg but failing to halt the vehicle, County Commissioner John Henry Ngalamu confirmed by phone (The City Review). Eyewitness Accounts of Fear An eyewitness riding a battered minibus said the attack unfurled in…

Fresh Fighting Rocks Yei River County Gunfire echoed across Lasu and Libogo before dawn as South Sudan People’s Defence Forces exchanged fire with Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In-Opposition units, county commissioner Emmanuel Taban told regional media during a crackling phone call. Authorities Describe Ongoing Engagements “We are still on the frontline,” Taban stated, adding that confrontations were active past 10 a.m. He declined to disclose troop numbers or tactics, citing operational security while confirming government control of Yei town. Civilians Cite Looting Concerns Residents report commercial trucks ambushed on the Yei–Lasu road and shops emptied during the chaos. Taban blamed opposition…

Border Incursions Spark Diplomatic Push Central Equatoria’s Council of Ministers, chaired by Governor Rabi Mujung Emmanuel, has urged Juba and Kampala to open immediate dialogue after Ugandan forces reportedly crossed into Keji Kajo County, raising fears for South Sudan’s sovereignty, officials told reporters Thursday. Acting Information Minister Jacob Aligo Lo-Lado warned that any prolonged foreign military presence could inflame local sentiment, but stressed the government’s preference for “peaceful, swift, non-confrontational diplomacy” to settle the frontier line, echoing previous bilateral communiqués issued in 2022 and 2023. Council Calls for Calm Over Cattle Market Attack The cabinet condemned last week’s armed raid…

Fresh Mandate for Women’s Voice South Sudan Women’s Union passed the torch to Nyalang Dhal Dhal after Abak Yel Madoot moved to the Warrap State health docket. The vote signals continuity for a movement that has pressed for peace, inclusion and economic empowerment since independence. Government Voices Back New Chair Culture Minister Nadia Arop told delegates that leadership demands service, vision and courage. She promised, “We give you not only our trust but also our support,” framing the endorsement as a partnership meant to lift women’s concerns into national decision-making circles. Policy Priorities on the Table Acting parliamentary chair for…

Historic Upset in Juba Ballot Businessman Francis Amin reclaimed the presidency of the South Sudan Football Federation on Friday, defeating incumbent General Augustino Maduot in a closely watched vote in Juba. Official tallies published after a tense midday ballot showed Amin with 26 votes against Maduot’s 12, giving the challenger a decisive mandate that runs to 2029. Social Media Victory Cry Moments later, Amin posted a terse message on Facebook: “We have won the race. Thank you,” signaling both gratitude and confidence to a football community eager for stability. A Leader With Unfinished Business Amin previously led the federation from…

Juba Swearing-In Signals Fresh Start Under the chandeliers of Juba’s State House, President Salva Kiir placed his faith in Western Equatoria’s freshly appointed officials, urging them to fly home and “work diligently to restore stability, social harmony, and peace” as the crowd of dignitaries applauded. Governor James Altaib Berapai and Deputy Governor Justin Joseph Marona took their oaths beside Water Resources Minister James Mawich Makuach and Deputy Finance Minister Yien Chan Ruei, signalling an administrative reshuffle designed to tighten coordination between Juba and the troubled state. Escalating Ambushes Undermine Daily Life Roads to Yambio now echo with gunfire more than…

Shock in Yuai Town When internet café owner John Anei was fatally shot inside his shop in Yuai Town on 3 August, residents were jolted by yet another flash of violence that often ignites Jonglei’s fragile peace. Local officials say the gunmen acted in retaliation for relatives killed during a May highway ambush in neighbouring Twic East County, underscoring how private vendettas still shape communal security dynamics despite government patrols. Negotiating Blood Compensation After a week of tense dialogue, Uror and Bor County leaders agreed that Anei’s family will receive 51 cows, the customary ‘dia,’ while security agents continue to…