Author: The South Sudan Herald

Legislative Oversight Intensifies in Aweil Legislators in Northern Bahr el Ghazal have opened dual inquiries into the state’s Civil Defence Directorate and Ministry of Education, signalling a renewed appetite for accountability in Aweil. Committee spokesperson Garang Kuol Mabior told reporters the assembly acted after “an unusual volume of staff petitions reached the Peace, Security and Good Governance Committee” earlier this month. Dismissal Claims Rock Civil Defence Director William Liol stands accused of removing employees without due process, a charge he denies. Lawmakers want testimony from the dismissed officers before recommending remedies or reinstatements. Unapproved Tax Drives Spark Alarm Separately, Liol…

Swift Visit Marks Dam Inauguration President Salva Kiir Mayardit returned to Juba on Wednesday afternoon after a brisk visit to Addis Ababa, where he joined fellow African leaders for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam inauguration. Vice-President Benjamin Bol Mel, ministers and diplomats welcomed him at Juba International Airport, underscoring the trip’s domestic significance. High-Level Talks Reinforce Bilateral Agenda Before departure, Kiir met Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for a closed-door discussion on trade, security, infrastructure and energy cooperation. Presidential press secretary Ateny Wek Ateny said both leaders “reaffirmed commitment to practical projects that bind our peoples.” Electricity Deal Could Transform Juba…

Transparency Debate in Northern Bahr el Ghazal Governor Simon Uber Mawut suspended State Minister of Roads and Bridges Carolina Achok Akot on 25 August 2025, citing corruption and insubordination. The move jolted Aweil, where delayed infrastructure budgets remain a sensitive topic. Opposition Alliance Presses Legal Framework The South Sudan Opposition Alliance swiftly demanded a transparent probe. ‘Justice requires facts, not whispers,’ chairperson Edward Nyuol Arop told reporters, urging an investigative committee or immediate court action to satisfy citizens and the peace agreement. Arop argued that Article 87 of the state constitution obliges officials to disclose findings publicly. Without asset tracing,…

Confusion on Gumbo Shirkat Road Early on Thursday, motorists along the dusty entrance to Gumbo Shirkat heard a volley of shots. Within minutes, police sirens converged on the scene, revealing an unplanned clash between two arms of South Sudan’s security apparatus. Deputy Police Spokesperson Major Lith Winston Simon later told reporters the gunfire stemmed from “a pure miscommunication that lasted only moments”. Inside the CID Manhunt Plainclothes Criminal Investigations Department officers had been tracking a suspect linked to a 4 September motorcycle-theft homicide in Hai Prisons. Intelligence from a first arrest earlier this week led detectives to the second suspect’s…

Tumaini Initiative Faces Another Delay Launched in 2023 under Kenya’s facilitation, the Tumaini Initiative aims to integrate opposition factions that remained outside South Sudan’s 2018 Revitalised Agreement. Three adjournments have tested public confidence, making the recent pause the most scrutinised so far. Government Delegate Explains Suspension Addressing parliament in Juba on 9 September, Hon. Rebecca Joshua Okwaci said the hold-out United People’s Alliance tabled a “purely military” hierarchy during Nairobi talks, pledging to intensify the struggle even as negotiators searched for compromise. She argued the unexpected stance created “a major challenge” that forced facilitators to suspend the round indefinitely, marking…

World Bank-Backed Resilience Drive South Sudan has reached a new milestone in its battle against recurrent flooding after signing a $9.98 million agreement with the United Nations Office for Project Services. The deal, financed by the World Bank’s Regional Climate Resilience Program, focuses on water security and flood defenses across vulnerable communities. Targeted Investments Across States The one-year plan channels funds into five states, tailoring each intervention to specific local pressures. From dyke repairs in refugee-hosting Maban County to hand-pump rehabilitation in Eastern Equatoria, the blueprint prioritises quick, visible gains that can reduce displacement and disease before next year’s rains…

Release Ends Lengthy Detention After 134 days behind bars, Lakes State authorities quietly released MPs Kaman Makuei and Ater Akolde alongside youth leader Mandela Machiek, signaling a cautious easing of tensions inside South Sudan’s political arena. The trio, all senior members of the opposition SPLM-IO, had been held since March under accusations of online incitement after criticizing air-strikes and clashes in Upper Nile’s Nasir County. Government’s Position on Public Order Acting Information Minister William Koji Kerjok said on Eye Radio, “The Lakes State government does not tolerate political or social crises that threaten stability.” He added that those freed should…

Bridging Lecture Halls and Newsrooms Silence fell as seventy-two stairs led the class from lecture hall to live studio. Deputy dean Delpina Roba explained that the university’s dormant FM facility leaves learning half-finished. “Theory is vital, but the microphone tests character,” she told the eager group. Inside The Radio Community Network The Radio Community runs nine stations broadcasting in multiple local tongues. Program grids prioritise peace messages, maternal health tips and market prices. CEO Chris Marol described the model as “journalism that meets villagers before rumours do”, stressing simplicity, credibility and proximity. Students Confront Real-World Challenges Rose Kaku left the…

Stadium Vision Gains Fresh Momentum The South Sudan Football Federation has revived its decade-old plan for a national stadium after meeting Molobur Development Association leaders in Juba this week, sources inside the federation confirmed. Negotiators focused on a city-edge plot allocated in 2013 but never fully transferred, agreeing to accelerate paperwork and protect the land from speculative encroachment. Community And Federation Find Common Ground SSFF Secretary General Lawrence said the talks produced ‘a clear path forward’ with both parties pledging prompt compliance with legal requirements to secure title documentation and break ground on modern facilities. Molobur chair Stephen Swoka Mario…

South Sudan Police Report Highlights Weekly Deaths Between 1 and 8 September, South Sudan’s National Police Service logged nine violent deaths and three suicides, Deputy Police Spokesperson Major Lith Wilson Simon confirmed. The incidents spanned several states, underlining persistent micro-level security hotspots despite an otherwise calm national picture. Foreign Nationals Among Victims Two of the deceased were foreign nationals. One Syrian was found dead from unexplained causes, while another expatriate reportedly took their own life. Police declined to speculate on motive, pending laboratory and forensic reports expected later this month. Robberies and Shootings Across States Separate robberies in Khor Gana,…