Author: The South Sudan Herald

Legal Storm Over Bor Assaults A civil case filed this week in Jonglei State High Court puts regional tensions under legal spotlight. Northern Bahr el Ghazal youths accuse state officials of failing to arrest men who allegedly hacked and robbed Bahr el Ghazal traders in Bor’s Panliet suburb. Injured Traders Evacuated to Juba Witnesses say machete-wielding assailants struck at dusk, inflicting deep wounds before disappearing with cash and goods. Six victims were airlifted to Juba Teaching Hospital, where doctors report stable but serious conditions, according to medical staff briefings. Youth Union Demands Swift Justice Union chair George Atem calls the…

High-Profile Arraignment in Juba Riek Machar entered a steel-barred dock in Juba’s Special Court on Monday, sharing the space with seven allies. The appearance, his first since house arrest in March, instantly drew diplomats, media and victims’ families eager to hear how South Sudan’s judiciary will handle its biggest case. Defense Questions Court’s Authority Lead counsel Dr. Geri Raimondo Legge immediately lodged a preliminary objection, casting doubt on the court’s jurisdiction, its composition and even its legality. He cited Articles 103, 104 and 126(g) of the Transitional Constitution and the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement as protective shields for his client.…

Decision to Resume Lectures A joint sitting of the Deans’ Board, Senate, Students’ Union and the University Representatives Council agreed to reopen Dr. John Garang Memorial University even after the suspension of its once-popular cafeteria service. Participants argued that prolonged closure risked academic drift. A Students’ Union release stated that the majority saw “continuing without meals as the lesser delay,” a line echoed by several undergraduates contacted by phone by regional press outlets (Sudans Post). Students Brace for Self-Catering The Union urged learners to ‘realign their plans’ and arrange personal cooking as they await an updated timetable. Many students in…

Youth-led peace initiative in Pibor The Greater Pibor Administrative Area this week hosts a cross-county retreat that gathers youth leaders from Twic, Bor, Duk and Lou Nuer. The meeting answers years of recurring cattle raids and revenge attacks that have strained relations across Jonglei. Convened under Chief Administrator Gola Boyoi Gola, the summit adopts the banner ‘Break Barriers and Build Bridges for Peace and Development’. Organisers timed the opening with the UN-backed International Day of Peace, seeking both symbolism and momentum. International Peace Day significance in South Sudan Speaking to local media, Gola Boyoi argued that the Day’s eight pillars…

South Sudan inheritance crisis A fresh OLENT survey released in Yambio finds 92 percent of citizens leave no written will, thrusting countless households into unpredictable legal battles once a breadwinner passes away. Researchers warn that property loss, exploitation and sudden impoverishment often follow, especially in rural communities where customary practices collide with modern banking rules. Documentation gap harms widows Nine in ten respondents lacking wills also hold no formal ownership papers, making land titles, bank accounts and livestock difficult to claim. “Our goal is to pass this information to communities and reduce disputes,” lawyer Samuel Agustin told participants at the…

Floodwaters Engulf Upper Nile State Relentless rainfall has pushed the White Nile above seasonal levels, spilling across Makal County and neighbouring payams. Local riverbanks gave way last week, turning farmlands into lakes within hours. Displacement Statistics and Urgent Needs County officials estimate over 7,000 residents have fled flooded villages. Temporary shelters are overcrowded, and stocks of sorghum, beans, and clean water are dwindling fast. Local Leaders Voice SOS “Almost the entire county is affected,” commissioner Michael Othow Bol told local media. “Waters are advancing from the bushes and the river; safer ground is disappearing.” “Schools are closed. Lelo, Obwoo, Warjwok,…

A Surprising Sighting in Boma Forest Hidden cameras in Boma National Park recently caught an unexpected visitor: Boutourline’s blue monkey, a subspecies never before recorded in South Sudan (Eye Radio, 2025). The footage, analysed by scientists and published in the peer-reviewed African Primates journal (2025), has pushed Boma onto the global conservation radar overnight. From Ethiopian Exclusive to Regional Resident Until the find, experts believed this blue monkey lived only in Ethiopia, making the South Sudan groups a game-changing extension of the species’ range. Researchers counted nearly sixty individuals across eight troops during a ground survey in December 2024, confirming…

Pibor Floods Intensify in South Sudan Torrential downpours have pounded Pibor town for a week, pushing the overflow of the Gumuruk and Kengen rivers into streets and compounds. Local authorities confirm 204 households affected, along with 47 shops, as ankle-deep water snakes through the administrative heart of Greater Pibor Administrative Area. Economic Lifeline Disrupted The once vibrant central market now operates only in scattered dry corners, with traders abandoning submerged stalls and salvaging stock by canoe or wheelbarrow. “Forty-seven shops are not operational because they’re under water,” information minister Jacob Werchum Jouk stated, noting dwindling supplies and rising prices. Human…

Survival governance in South Sudan President Salva Kiir’s style is often described by analysts as governance by fragmentation rather than institution-building. Through selective patronage and calculated mistrust, he maintains authority while preventing any faction from coalescing into an organised opposition. Parliament, army and bureaucracy remain deliberately weak; none can generate an autonomous leader. External rents—from oil, donors and neighbours—cushion the state, allowing endurance to trump reform even during economic stress. Elite balancing tactics around Kiir Business magnate Bol Mel and first daughter Adut Salva illustrate Kiir’s balancing. Bol channels public anger over shortages, protecting the presidency, while Adut reinforces dynastic…

Leadership Rift Widens in Jonglei Senior Sudan People’s Liberation Movement figures in Jonglei have asked President Salva Kiir to dismiss Governor Riek Gai Kok, arguing his style has deepened local tensions (Radio Tamazuj). The request, dated 3 September, underscores an internal party debate about governance standards ahead of South Sudan’s anticipated elections. Signatories Cite Governance Concerns Former ministers Tuong Majok Deng, Gabriel Deng Ajak and others accuse the governor of unilateral decisions, including redrawing payams and relocating county headquarters without legislative backing. They argue that declaring Keer Payam part of Ayod County reignited a long-running border dispute with Duk and…