Author: The South Sudan Herald

South Sudan’s Calculated UN Abstention South Sudan surprised many observers by joining twelve other states in abstaining during last Friday’s United Nations General Assembly vote on Palestinian statehood, a session dominated by 142 affirmative ballots and ten negatives. What the New York Declaration Demands The adopted New York Declaration sets out a broad roadmap: immediate Gaza ceasefire, hostage releases, disarmament of Hamas, and eventual mutual recognition between Israel and a sovereign Palestinian state, backed by regional security guarantees. Tel Aviv to Juba: Growing Bilateral Interests Since 2011, Juba and Tel Aviv have expanded cooperation in agriculture, water technology and security.…

Commissioner’s Direct Appeal to Fighters Speaking at the close of a two-day consultation in Mundri, Commissioner Zelipha Justin Dawa urged armed youth to quit the bush and ‘share a message of peace’ with relatives in Western Equatoria State (The Dawn). Dawa reminded them that South Sudan ‘belongs to all of us’ and insisted their return would accelerate local rebuilding efforts and restore confidence among villages recently scarred by sporadic clashes. Governor’s Security Commitments Governor James Al Taib Berapai echoed the appeal, pledging to exercise his constitutional powers to guarantee security and promote social harmony across Western Equatoria’s counties. ‘We have…

Leadership Overhaul Signals Fresh Vision The National Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture has reorganised its top team, an administrative order by Chairperson Losidik Lukak Legge confirms. Observers say the shake-up aims to inject renewed energy into an institution that brokers vital deals for the private sector. Women Break Glass Ceiling in Executive Suite Salwa Bakony Monytuil becomes the first woman promoted to First Deputy Chairperson, moving from the second slot. Another newcomer, Wieu Wieu Mou, steps into the Second Deputy Chairperson post, broadening professional diversity at the summit. Strategic Shifts in Advisory Roles Former First Deputy Chairperson John Lual…

Violent Turn at a Neighborhood Birthday A cheerful birthday gathering in Salam, a suburb of Wau, ended in bloodshed on Thursday night, according to Western Bahr el Ghazal police. Witnesses recall music fading into panic as an armed group arrived around 9:30 p.m. Armed Gang From Khamsin Implicated Major Santino Udol Mayen said the intruders came from nearby Khamsin and clashed with local youth. Stones were thrown and improvised weapons brandished before officers could intervene, he told Eye Radio. Casualties and Medical Updates Twenty-two-year-old Moatasem Mohamed Adam died at the scene. Hospital staff treat 19-year-old Musa Saber, who lost teeth…

Surging Call for Faith-Backed HIV Prevention South Sudan’s HIV/AIDS Commission believes a decisive cultural shift could cement recent gains against the virus. Deputy Chairperson Achol Ayom says encouraging condom acceptance across churches, mosques and chiefdoms would safeguard citizens who struggle with abstinence and fidelity pledges. Conversations in Pulpits and Palaces “No parent’s advice reaches every ear,” Ayom recalled telling a skeptical chief. Her message to clergy and elders is pragmatic: condoms protect the minority who will not heed moral guidance, preventing infections that ripple through entire families. Religious teachings on chastity remain intact, she notes, yet acknowledging human behavior can…

Cabinet Kick-off in Yambio Western Equatoria State’s newly appointed cabinet met for the first time in Yambio, chaired by Governor James Al Taib Berapai. Six ministers, sworn in hours earlier, used the sitting to outline an agenda intended to shape the administration’s first 100 days. Security Restoration Tops Priorities Minister of Cabinet Affairs John Bariyona Furula said the team placed security at the centre, vowing joint action with security agencies and local leaders to curb recurring violence. A senior official, requesting anonymity, branded the approach ‘results-driven’ and predicted tangible impact on stability across rural counties by year’s end. Governance and…

Continental Climate Ambition African leaders convened in Ethiopia from 8 to 10 September, charting a common roadmap for climate resilience and economic renewal. The dialogue, held under the banner of the Second Africa Climate Summit, blended scientific urgency with political negotiation. Leaders Outline Massive Climate Financing Gap At the Second Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, heads of state calculated that the continent requires about US$3 trillion to meet 2030 climate commitments, yet only US$30 billion reached African projects between 2021 and 2022 (Eye Radio). That’s just one dollar delivered out of every hundred promised. Financing Gap and Debt Concerns…

Cuei-Adukan Payam: New Axis of Local Governance On Wednesday, jubilant drumming and ululation echoed across Rumbek Central County as leaders cut the ribbon on Cuei-Adukan Payam, a fresh administrative node carved from the vast openness of Lakes State. Officials stressed that the payam’s birth answers years of appeals from residents who argued that the 90-mile trek to Amongpiny left them last in line for public services. Policy of Bringing Town to the People Cabinet Affairs Minister Stephen Mathiang Deng framed the move as a textbook application of the SPLM vision that public offices travel toward citizens, not the other way…

South Sudan’s Justice Question in the Spotlight A contested charge sheet has placed South Sudan’s Ministry of Justice at the centre of a debate over legal rigour and public trust. Observers say the episode tests how a decade-old state balances political urgency with textbook accuracy. Charge Sheet Errors Under Microscope Critics highlight that only one of six offences cited against opposition leader Riek Machar matched statutory provisions. Sections referenced for terrorism, conspiracy, and property damage allegedly misaligned with the Penal Code and Anti-Money Laundering Act, prompting fears of courtroom collapse. Institutional Stakes for a Young Nation Legal analyst Akot Makur…

Tokyo Arrival Sets the Tone Touching down at Narita International Airport, South Sudanese marathoner Atalena Napule began her World Athletics Championships Tokyo25 journey amid camera flashes and cheers. The 28-year-old immediately stepped into global spotlight, embodying her nation’s hopes for a breakthrough performance in Sunday’s women’s marathon. Diplomatic Welcome Highlights Stakes Ambassador Gabriel Deng, flanked by Tokyo25 organisers, greeted her with a ceremonial sash, praising her resolve. “Atalena carries the hopes and pride of our nation,” he noted, underscoring South Sudan’s growing confidence on elite tracks despite its brief history in organised sport. Elite Field Awaits Sunday Showdown Napule will…