Author: The South Sudan Herald

Sudan-Pakistan Deal Reaches US$1.5 Billion Khartoum confirmed that its Military Industry Corporation signed what insiders describe as a US$1.5 billion procurement package in Islamabad, sealed after meetings between Lieutenant General Pilot Al-Tahir Mohamed Al-Awad Al-Amin and Pakistan’s defense leadership (ProPakistani). Jets, Drones and Air-Defense Assets The order reportedly covers ten K-8 trainer-attack aircraft, several classes of unmanned aerial vehicles including Shahpar-2 and Ababeel-5, new engines for ageing MiG-21s, Mohafiz armored vehicles, and HQ-series surface-to-air missiles. Pakistani officials have not publicly disclosed delivery schedules. Financing Puzzle Spurs Speculation Regional analysts argue the cash-strapped Sudanese army is unlikely to self-fund such a…

Rampant Looting Alarms Authorities Drivers hauling sorghum, fuel and cement along the 210-kilometre Wau-Tonj corridor say ambushes have intensified since early May, with armed groups stripping trucks and passengers within minutes, sometimes in daylight. Local trading unions recorded at least seven incidents last month alone, pushing transport premiums up by 30 percent and forcing small traders to suspend deliveries to remote cattle camps. Governor Okello’s Security Directive Addressing farmers in Nyiwara during the handover of an FAO-built centre, Governor Emmanuel Primo Okello pledged ‘swift, coordinated action’ to restore confidence on the road. “This road carries our lifeline,” he told the…

Sudan Opposition Transfers Youths to UN Mission On Monday, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition handed seventeen youths to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in Malakal, ending weeks of uncertainty for families in the capital, Juba. SPLM-IO commanders say the group, some as young as fifteen, escaped forced enlistment into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces after a June security sweep in the city’s Shirkat suburb (Standard Zone News). Escape from Forced Conscription Eyewitnesses recount that security personnel chartered a military aircraft that ferried the detainees north, where they allegedly underwent hurried basic training at Gel-achel camp in Baliet…

Border Alert in Kajo-Keji County Reports of Uganda People’s Defence Force units crossing into Kajo-Keji County last week jolted officials in Central Equatoria, reviving memories of prior border frictions. The state cabinet convened urgently, branding the move a sovereignty breach demanding swift, calibrated action. Kampala–Juba Diplomacy in Focus Juba has historically balanced firm rhetoric with pragmatic outreach to Kampala. Officials signal they favour a diplomatic corridor, citing the 2019 bilateral commission that resolved a similar standoff without escalating troop deployments or disrupting vital trade along the Yei-Moyo road. Voices from Central Equatoria Government “Peaceful dialogue should be expedited,” Acting Information…

Youth Ministry Sets Ambitious Sports Agenda Standing before delegates in Juba, Youth and Sports Minister Dr Joseph Geng Akech pledged a sweeping policy to transform South Sudan’s vibrant but fragmented community tournaments into stepping-stones for professional leagues. He told the South Sudan Football Federation’s extraordinary congress that new guidelines will anchor grassroots rivalry within state-run academies and registered clubs, opening predictable career paths for young athletes. Value of Grassroots Rivalry Neighbourhood tournaments attract thousands, nurture raw talent and often double as peace dialogues in a country still healing from conflict. Local chiefs cite the events’ ability to unite clans under…

Exclusive Breastfeeding: Still the Gold Standard Health authorities in Juba continue to label exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months as the safest nutrition strategy for infants, strengthening immunity and reducing household medical costs. Dr. Mary Lado of the Ministry of Health notes that breast milk adapts to a baby’s changing needs, calling it “dynamic living tissue unmatched by substitutes” (Ministry of Health). Safe Expression and Storage Techniques Nutrition officer Elizabeth Athanasius advises mothers to wash hands, use sterile transparent containers, and express milk before leaving home so caregivers can feed the infant through the day (World Vision). Jackline Phanuel,…

Solar Energy Lights Up Health HQ The Ministry of Health in Brazzaville switched on a 100-kilowatt solar array this week, marking the first time its headquarters can operate entirely off-grid during power cuts. The system, supplied by the United Nations Development Programme, dovetails with Congo’s climate targets. Health officials say refrigeration for vaccines, electronic medical records and disease surveillance servers will now run without interruptions, a chronic challenge in a city that still experiences load shedding. Strategic Health Governance Boost “Reliable electricity translates into reliable data,” noted Minister of Health Gilbert Mokoki during the commissioning ceremony. He argued that uninterrupted…

Rising Star of Juba Tracks At Bulluk Playground’s red-dirt oval, 18-year-old Umnia Emmanuel Moses streaks down lane three, her worn sneakers biting the clay. The South Sudanese sprinter already owns two trophies and a growing medal haul. Yet she insists numbers on a stopwatch matter less than what they unlock. “Each split second proves refugees can achieve,” she tells me, sweat still shining on her brow after a dusk workout that outlasted the generator’s floodlights. Challenges Facing Refugee Athletes Like many urban refugees in Juba, Umnia juggles school fees, rent, and training costs without steady sponsorship. Tracks are often pitted,…

South Sudan Embraces the CRPD President Salva Kiir’s February 2023 signature on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities placed South Sudan among 190 nations legally bound to protect citizens with impairments. Officials say the treaty is now the benchmark for domestic policy, guiding ministries toward accessible infrastructure, inclusive education and equitable employment. Workshop Puts Faith in Action From 14–15 August 2025 the Juba Grand Hotel hosted clerics, imams and disability advocates under the banner Faith in Action: Advancing the Implementation of the CRPD for Inclusive Communities. Funded by the Dutch Foreign Ministry and seven NGOs, the…

Historic Handovers Mark Fresh Start Thursday’s handover of one hundred civilian firearms in Mankien signalled a new chapter for Unity State’s security project. Governor Justice Riek Bim Top, flanked by chiefs and legislators, applauded the symbolic transfer, framing it as evidence that home-grown solutions can outpace coercive crackdowns. Community Leaders Drive Voluntary Disarmament Information Minister Engineer Gatwich Bipal Both told reporters that chiefs from all eleven payams collected the weapons after last month’s peace conference endorsed dialogue-led disarmament. Traditional authorities, he noted, are translating resolutions into action, persuading youth that turning in rifles today safeguards their herds and families tomorrow.…