Author: The South Sudan Herald

Rumor Sparks Parliamentary Debate Reports by CNN and Al Jazeera suggested discreet talks between Juba and Tel Aviv on transferring displaced Gazans to South Sudan. The story reached the Transitional National Legislative Assembly before any official briefing, setting off a tense Monday session. Lawmaker Luka Matanta Akuei argued the possibility breached South Sudan’s non-alignment stance and cited past deportations from the United States as precedent for sidelining Parliament. He asked the Foreign Affairs Minister to appear and give an unvarnished account. Government Denial and Party Line Acting SPLM chief whip Ahamed Muhammed Musa reminded colleagues that the foreign ministry had…

Sudden Cabinet Shake-Up in Juba President Salva Kiir announced the decree on national television on 13 August, replacing Anyak with economist Yien Chan Ruei after ten months in the post. The order also relieved several MPs allied to First Vice-President Dr Riek Machar, sparking swift protests from the SPLM-IO wing that labelled it a breach of the Revitalised Peace Agreement. Anyak’s Ten-Month Track Record During his brief tenure, the ministry piloted a cash-management dashboard, trimmed arrears and launched weekly revenue disclosures that civil-society observers called an “important stride toward transparency” (CEPO report, July 2025). Anyak argued that stricter payroll audits…

UN Floor Spotlight on Patience On Monday in New York, China’s deputy envoy Sun Lei reminded the UN Security Council that South Sudan’s transition, barely a decade old, requires time and steady guidance. His message echoed through a chamber often impatient for quick metrics on peace. Backing African-Led Mediation Sun welcomed President Salva Kiir’s renewed pledge to shun war and embraced the African Union’s recent field visit as proof that continental mechanisms are active. “African issues need African solutions,” he stressed, urging outsiders to avoid heavy-handed pressure while respecting Juba’s sovereignty. Election Preparations Under Scrutiny The revitalized peace agreement sets…

House Arrest Raises Legal Questions First Vice President Riek Machar has not left his Juba residence since 26 March, following government accusations linking him to recent clashes in Nasir County, Upper Nile. No formal charge has been filed, prompting lawyers to question adherence to South Sudanese provisions on pre-trial detention. Government Clarifies Investigation Senior presidential adviser Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk insists the confinement is criminal, not political. “If evidence confirms wrongdoing, he can be relieved and tried; until then he remains First Vice President,” he told Radio Tamazuj, declining to specify a timeline for the investigation’s completion. Peace Deal Still…

Mounting Pressure Before the 2026 Ballot With national elections slated for December 2026, South Sudan’s political temperature is climbing. Recent detentions, armed skirmishes, and logistical hurdles threaten to unravel the 2018 Revitalised Agreement, diplomats caution. AU Mission Calls for Inclusive Leadership Dialogue After a fact-finding visit to Juba, the African Union Peace and Security Council urged all signatories to convene a high-level dialogue. Its communiqué on 15 August 2025 cited “deep concern” over detentions and escalating rhetoric. Civil Society Voices Appeal to the UNSC “Our citizens need a safe space for leaders to negotiate unresolved tasks,” argued Edmund Yakani, head…

Background to the Dispute More than 30 hotels in Juba accepted government guests during the 2018 peace implementation phase, extending credit in the expectation that invoices would be settled swiftly. By 2020 outstanding bills had reportedly climbed above 60 million dollars, prompting the Hotel and Catering Association of South Sudan to instruct Pan African Law Chambers to file suit at the East African Court of Justice. Inside the Settlement Process Documents signed in Juba last month confirm the Justice Ministry and 32 hotel operators reached a binding settlement, ending years of cross-border litigation without admitting liability or revealing final figures.…

Rumor Sparks Community Alarm Morning radio shows in Bor City spent Monday dissecting a leaked memo hinting at the dismissal of Commissioner James Gai Makor. The document, addressed to Governor Dr Riek Gai Kok, proposes Ateny Pech Arik as successor, reigniting old tensions. Dr Angok Kuol Tiir, chairing the powerful Bor Community Association, told reporters the rumor ‘has caused deep anxiety,’ reminding residents of last year’s volatile protests when Pech’s proposed appointment was frozen by President Salva Kiir. Historical Flashback of 2023 Stand-off In April 2023, Pech lost the mayoral seat amid criticism over revenue collection and urban planning. Governor…

Torit Mutiny Anniversary Rekindles Old Wounds At Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Torit, crowds marked the 70th anniversary of the 1955 Torit Mutiny, the spark of Sudan’s first civil war, with a 70-day prayer that has morphed into a mirror for present-day frustrations. Religious leaders asked speakers to reflect on stability and national unity, but the microphone quickly amplified a pointed exchange between civil society figure Edmond Yakani and Eastern Equatoria Governor Louis Lobong. Activist Labels Political Class a Curse With terse diction, Yakani labeled the political elite “a curse”, accusing party rivals of fuelling conflicts whenever power appears…

Seventieth Liberation Anniversary Reflections A drizzle cooled the crowd outside St. Theresa Cathedral in Juba as bells marked the 70th anniversary of South Sudan’s liberation struggle. Leading the liturgy, Cardinal Stephen Ameyu lifted a prayer that blended scripture with modern diplomacy, asking God to plant “seeds of disarmament” in the nation’s politics. Religious Leadership Reinforces Non-Violence Agenda He quoted Pope Francis, reminding worshippers that genuine development flourishes only where weapons fall silent, a message echoing through pews packed with veterans and schoolchildren. “Those who once carried rifles may now carry textbooks,” the prelate said, urging political factions to swap grievances…

Historic stride in Gulf outreach Touching down in Juba after a three-day mission to the United Arab Emirates, Vice-President for the Economic Cluster Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel portrayed the trip as a watershed for South Sudan’s young economy, bridging capital-hungry sectors with Gulf liquidity. Diplomacy fuels economic cluster growth Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba told reporters the mission followed up on President Salva Kiir’s June engagement with Abu Dhabi and “aimed to deepen cooperation in oil, agriculture, banking, trade and infrastructure,” echoing Kiir’s directive to accelerate economic diversification. VP Bol Mel also handed a personal letter from President Kiir to…