Author: The South Sudan Herald

Growing Health Workforce Paradox South Sudan has invested in pediatric training, yet hospital wards still struggle with shortages, a paradox highlighted this week at El Sabah Children’s Hospital in Juba. Alarm Over Idle Pediatric Talent Standing beside neonatal incubators in Juba, Executive Director Justin Bruno voiced concern that nearly fifty trained pediatricians are still awaiting placement across South Sudan, a country where childhood mortality remains high (Eye Radio). Heart Screening Drive Links Juba and Jerusalem His comments came during a joint visit by Health Minister Sarah Cleto Rial, Israeli Ambassador Gershon Kedar, and Save Our Children’s Heart doctors, who began…

Community-Led Peacebuilding in Bor Fifteen newly appointed Peace Ambassadors in Bor County hope to transform how Jonglei State addresses local disputes. After two days of intensive coaching, the cohort emerged ready to champion dialogue over violence. Skills Bootcamp Backed by Norway The sessions, organized by INTREPID South Sudan and funded by Norwegian People’s Aid, blended lectures with role-plays on mediation, early-warning systems and restorative justice. Facilitators stressed practical skills tailored to the county’s cattle-raiding, land and youth rivalry flashpoints. Representation From Every Payam Every payam—Makuach, Kolnyang, Anyidi, Baidit and Jalle—sent a chief, a youth leader and a women’s voice, giving…

Fresh Leadership Sets the Tone Governor James Al Taib Berapai closed a two-day retreat with county commissioners in Yambio, marking his first major act since taking office. The forum sought to align state and local agendas after months of political flux in Western Equatoria. Commissioners Outline Local Priorities Eight of the ten commissioners attended; one was in Juba for treatment, another reportedly defected. Their briefings covered roads, revenue, and cross-border trade, but security dominated every report, according to officials inside the closed-door sessions. “We reviewed reports and discussed ways to work together for the good of our people,” Al Taib…

Gender Equality at the Heart of Development In Juba, Counsel General Sarah Peter Nyot told the Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare that roads alone cannot measure progress. She argued success hinges on a society that “has to respect women,” urging legal frameworks to reflect that principle. Beijing Convention Commitments Renewed The ministry urged advocates to accelerate comprehensive adoption of the Beijing Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, aligning national statutes with its standards. Gender 2030 Agenda Gains Momentum Officials highlighted synergy between the convention and South Sudan’s Gender 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,…

Evening Stroll Turns Deadly Tong Gong, a fourth-year South Sudanese medical student in Cairo, set out for a routine evening walk in the Maadi district on Tuesday. Hours later, he was found unconscious and bleeding, the latest victim in a series of attacks targeting migrants. Medical Aid Delay Under Scrutiny Eyewitnesses say Egyptian police cordoned off the scene yet withheld immediate medical help, citing investigative protocol. The six-hour delay proved fatal; Gong died en route to hospital after family members finally secured his release. Community Grief and Police Probe Ngong Atem Akol, who heads the South Sudan Medical Students Association…

Presidential Decree Jolts Power-Sharing A Thursday evening broadcast announced that President Kiir has relieved First Vice President Riek Machar and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang of their duties, pending judicial review (South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation). Both leaders belong to the SPLM-IO, a signatory to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement, making the suspension politically sensitive. Legal Basis for the Suspension The Ministry of Justice confirmed that Machar and seven senior SPLM-IO figures will face trial over the March 2025 Nasir incident, though the charge sheet has not been released publicly. Government lawyers argue that procedural fairness requires temporary suspension to prevent influence on…

Nairobi symposium presses for peace in Sudan In Nairobi, senior African and international envoys gathered under the Kofi Annan Foundation, Amina Life and the Maghreb-African Center to renew diplomatic momentum toward ending Sudan’s 30-month conflict. Delegations from Kenya, the United States, Canada and others heard consistent claims that Khartoum’s regular army prioritises battlefield gains over negotiation, having skipped forums in Jeddah, Manama and Geneva. Military-first stance sparks global concern Speakers argued that arms deals reportedly struck with Iran, Turkey and Pakistan underline a strategy centred on force, not compromise. “The war has created catastrophic humanitarian conditions,” warned former Kenyan Foreign…

Government Puts Schools at Heart of Recovery South Sudan’s education ministry says new classrooms, safe latrines and learning materials top its 2024 budget, reflecting a drive to rebuild schools scarred by conflict. Undersecretary Kachuol Mabil Piok told reporters the pledge keeps education at the heart of national recovery and offers a tangible dividend of peace. Rising Enrollment and Literacy Data Officials say enrollment has climbed in Upper Nile and Jonglei states after temporary classrooms opened with donor support, nudging nationwide literacy rates upward for the first time in five years. Piok credited community-led school management committees for protecting girls from…

Diplomatic Channels With Addis Ababa South Sudan’s foreign ministry says it is finalising paperwork for the return of 27 young cattle herders detained at Muzan Prison in Addis Ababa. The group crossed from Eastern Equatoria into Ethiopian grazing land, reportedly armed, before being arrested by local security units. Ministry spokesperson Ambassador Apuk Ayuel Mayen told journalists that the embassy in Addis Ababa is “negotiating modalities for their release and safe passage”. No timeline was provided, yet officials insist discussions follow established bilateral and regional legal frameworks that govern border incidents involving civilians. Border Pastoralism and Arrests Informal trans-boundary grazing is…

Land Act Awareness Initiative A two-day workshop in Abyei Administrative Area introduced villagers to key articles of South Sudan’s 2009 Land Act. Officials say understanding the text is essential as survey teams prepare maps that will shape housing, roads and health facilities. Community Ownership Clarified Article 7 affirms that land belongs to communities, yet must be managed in the public interest. Information Minister Yuohna Akol noted that some residents equated ownership with total autonomy, fuelling boundary disputes and unplanned construction across several counties. Government’s Planning Mandate Akol stressed that orderly layouts allow authorities to deliver clinics, schools and markets. “People…