Author: The South Sudan Herald

Diplomatic Milestone Signed in Juba In a swift ceremony at Juba’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, South Sudan and Israel sealed a Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Consultations on Wednesday, signaling renewed momentum in a relationship established shortly after Africa’s newest nation declared independence. Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba and Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel chaired compact delegations that applauded the accord, which builds a formal channel for regular dialogue on security, trade, technology, and multilateral coordination, according to an official post on the ministry’s social platforms. Gaza Resettlement Rumours Quashed The signing followed a flurry of headlines alleging that Juba…

Government Statement on Gaza Resettlement Claims Reports of a secret plan to relocate Palestinians from war-torn Gaza to South Sudan sent social media into overdrive this week. Juba swiftly pushed back, releasing a written statement asserting that no negotiations with Israel have ever been opened on the matter. “The Government of the Republic of South Sudan is not engaged in any discussions on the resettlement of Palestinian nationals,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry declared. How the AP Story Emerged The Associated Press cited six unnamed sources who alleged discreet talks were advancing toward a relocation deal. Details sketched by the wire…

Historic Diplomatic Visit to Juba Sharren Haskel, Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister, landed in Juba on 13 August, marking the highest-level Israeli delegation to South Sudan since independence. Officials framed the visit as proof of growing ties, with both governments emphasising mutual respect and shared post-conflict reconstruction goals. One-Million Shekel Relief Package In a live interview, Haskel pledged up to one million Israeli shekels—roughly 296,000 dollars—in food and medical supplies for vulnerable communities. She said the consignment would prioritise malnutrition hotspots and remote clinics, complementing existing UN and African Union efforts without duplicating them. Medical Collaboration Beyond Relief The deputy minister…

Justice on Wheels in Greater Pibor As dawn broke over the dusty airstrip of Pibor, a convoy of judges, clerks and police officers unfolded a makeshift courtroom under a canvas roof. The mobile court, backed by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, promised something rare in the region: swift, impartial justice. From Cattle Raids to Court Records For decades, cattle raiding, child abduction and retaliatory attacks have punctuated life in Greater Pibor, entwining violence with identity rituals. Absence of formal justice left communities reliant on revenge cycles, deepening grievances and widening inter-ethnic fault lines. During its latest four-week session,…

Historic Diplomatic Stop in South Sudan Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel arrived in Juba on 13 August, marking the first high-level Israeli visit to South Sudan since 2016. Officials in Juba described the stopover as ‘a statement of friendship’ after years of quiet security coordination. Clarifying the Gaza Question Speaking to Eye Radio, Haskel dismissed media speculation that Jerusalem sought to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to South Sudan. ‘This was never on our agenda,’ she stressed, adding that no formal approach had been made to President Salva Kiir or any cabinet ministry. New Bilateral Agreements Instead, the visit produced…

Student Dreams Meet Harsh Realities in Kigali For thousands of South Sudanese youths, a Rwandan degree represents both escape from conflict and ticket to professional respect. Yet veteran campus organiser Ruot Mawich Yak Deng says not all dreams survive the lecture hall. His recent open letter warns that some compatriots have turned foreign campuses into costly theatres of deception, mastering social media poses while skipping coursework entirely. Inside the Elaborate Degree Forgery Scheme Deng recounts the 2024 case of a finance student who failed first-year exams, vanished from registers, yet staged a full mock graduation with tailored gown, hired photographer…

Contested Claims of a Virtual Meeting The online portal Sixty-Four Tribes Press alleged that SSPM leader Dr. Costello Garang Riiny, former governor Tong Akeen Ngor and army chief Gen. Santino Deng Wol held a Google Meet endorsing Vice-President Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel Kuol as President Kiir’s successor. The report warned the Aweil community might rebel if their demand was ignored, intensifying chatter inside cafes and WhatsApp groups across Juba. SSPM’s Firm Denial SSPM spokesperson David Lawrence Lual described the story as baseless propaganda designed to stain the party’s credibility, insisting no physical or virtual meeting ever occurred with the personalities…

Training Timeline Gains Clarity The National Transitional Committee chair, Gen. Kuol Manyang Juk, confirmed in Juba that phase two training of South Sudan’s Necessary Unified Forces will begin before month-end, compressing drills into a three-month window. Revitalized Peace Deal Timeline The accelerated schedule answers provisions of the 2018 revitalized peace accord, which mandates integration of rival forces into one national army to end years of factionalism. Logistics and Arms Debate Only 4,000 of the 53,000 troops trained in phase one have deployed, largely unarmed, as an international arms embargo remains in force, according to President Salva Kiir’s office. Western partners…

Escalating Insecurity in Western Equatoria Western Equatoria sits on fertile ground and strategic roads linking Juba with the Congo border. Yet months of ambushes have emptied markets and stalled trade, shrinking household incomes and disrupting humanitarian cargo according to humanitarian monitors stationed in Maridi. Acting Governor Rimbasa Issues Homecoming Appeal Acting Governor Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa stepped before reporters in Yambio on Monday, voice steady but urgent. He invited fighters loyal to former governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba to ‘come back home, rebuild with us, and allow children to walk to school without fear’. New Leadership Signals Policy Shift The plea follows…

Disability Rights Landscape in South Sudan South Sudan ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2015, pledging to end discrimination and improve access. Eight years on, activists say progress is visible in public rhetoric but patchy in everyday life, where jobs for qualified graduates with disabilities remain scarce. Employment Gap Numbers Tell a Story A 2023 Ministry of Labour survey found only 2 percent of formal positions in Juba filled by persons with disabilities, despite World Bank estimates that they form at least 7 percent of the labour force. Advocates argue the mismatch signals untapped…