Author: The South Sudan Herald

Assembly Fast-Tracks Four Accords The Transitional National Legislative Assembly endorsed four bilateral memoranda covering visa exemptions, aviation links, investment promotion and double-taxation relief during an extraordinary sitting last week. Leaders framing the vote said the pacts with the United Arab Emirates could unlock capital, tourists and badly needed non-oil revenue. Veteran MP Voices Alarm SPLM parliamentarian Atem Garang de Kuek dissented, warning that the agreements, some drafted a decade ago, no longer match South Sudan’s fragile security and economic realities. “They are against our interest as a nation,” he told colleagues, describing the documents as “elite illusions” lacking tangible dividends…

Fresh Mandate in Yambio Cheers echoed across Yambio airstrip as Deputy Governor Justin Joseph Marona touched down, launching a tenure he vows will heal Western Equatoria State beyond party lines. The former lawmaker thanked President Salva Kiir for the confidence shown, promising to translate the national call for reconciliation into practical programmes reaching the most remote villages. Community Voices on Unity Traditional drummers and dancers from Zande, Balanda and other ethnic groups escorted his convoy, a sight observers read as grassroots approval for unity after years of sporadic violence. Marona told the crowd, “Without citizens no leader survives,” urging rivals…

Parliamentary Warning to Finance Sector South Sudan’s Standing Specialized Committee on Finance and Economic Planning has ordered commercial banks to stop deducting sales tax and excise duties from customer accounts, calling the practice illegal under the current Financial Act. Customers Cry Foul Over Deductions Lawmakers summoned bank chief executives in Juba after citizens complained that lenders were shifting an 18 percent sales tax onto clients instead of absorbing it themselves, a move that many account holders described as unfair and financially draining. Banks Cite Communication Gaps Bank Association chair Bruno Sirisio conceded that several institutions breached earlier directives, attributing the…

Funding Gaps Threaten Classroom Doors Primary schools in Pigi County, Jonglei State, are edging toward closure as financial support evaporates, local education officials warn. Director Machok Duot Deng says 7,107 pupils lack basics—exercise books, pens and even chalk—after budgets stalled and partner donations slowed (Radio Tamazuj). Volunteer Teachers Shoulder the Load Only 45 teachers remain, all unpaid volunteers striving to keep lessons alive despite personal hardship. “We teach because we are part of this community,” explains Santo Monyluak, noting months without salaries have dimmed morale and instructional quality. Floods and Insecurity Intensify Strain Annual flooding has isolated villages, cutting supply…

Sudden Passing of Prof. Job Dharuai Former Minister of Education, Science and Technology Prof. Job Dharuai Malou Deng died in Juba at 7:11 a.m. Sunday after a brief illness. He was 71, according to family sources. The respected educator had spent two months in Gudele Hospital’s intensive care unit, recovering from abdominal surgery that ultimately proved unsuccessful, his son Achuil confirmed in an interview. Architect of South Sudan’s “Go to School” Drive Appointed under the then semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan, Dharuai championed access to basic education, reshaping teacher training colleges and instilling strict professional ethics. His flagship “Go to…

A fragile state still healing Western Equatoria has wrestled with recurring clashes since 2021. Tombura county, once a breadbasket, became an arena of displacement and fear. Local markets emptied, harvests shrank, and thousands fled. Observers say the humanitarian cost remains visible in crowded shelters and untended fields. Arrival of top officials raises hope Governor Alfred Futuyo and Deputy Governor Kennedy Ganiko returned to Yambio this week. Their joint appearance, celebrated by residents, signals a willingness to engage communities directly. “Leadership must be seen, not only heard,” notes analyst Grace Mario, pointing to previous absences that fuelled uncertainty. Civil society’s message…

Fresh Violence Uproots Communities Recent clashes between the SPLA-IO and the SSPDF in Marju sub-Boma drove more than 1,000 residents from their homes, county officials report. Families fled east toward Pokula, a farming hub 22 miles from Yei town, seeking safety in schools, churches and open fields. Immediate Needs: Food, Shelter, Schools Commissioner Emmanuel Taban Seme observed children, pregnant women and older people sleeping without mats or mosquito nets, lacking food, medicine and classrooms. He appealed to local households and aid groups for tarpaulins and cereals, warning that rains could deepen suffering if assistance stalls. Local Voices Call for Swift…

Tool Distribution Boosts Western Equatoria Farmers Ninety smallholders from Ezo, Yangiri and Ringasi launched their second planting season with new equipment on Thursday, marking a practical step toward stronger food security across South Sudan’s fertile yet under-resourced Western Equatoria State. Scottish Partnership Funds Sustainable Agriculture The Catholic Organisation for Development and Peace distributed hoes, pangas, pickaxes and protective gear under its Sustainable Agriculture Project, financed by the Glasgow-based Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund. The kit mix was designed to cut labour time while boosting soil preparation and crop diversity. CODEP coordinator Charles Rangabia reminded recipients that inputs, not hand-outs, secure…

Historic Vote in Juba Delegates from across South Sudanese sporting federations gathered in Juba on Saturday, electing Chuol Laam to steer the National Olympic Committee until 2029. Observers described the atmosphere as disciplined, with electronic counting replacing the paper ballots of previous years. Securing 38 of 41 ballots, Laam termed the result “humbling”. He outlined priorities of athlete welfare, transparent budgeting and early preparations for Los Angeles 2028 and the 2027 African Games. Fresh Executive Team Joining Laam is entrepreneur Majok Ayii as First Vice-President, engineer Anna Nyakuet Taker as Second Vice-President, veteran sprinter Chol Ani as Secretary-General and accountant…

Leak Sparks Political Ripples An earlier cabinet proposal, sent on 5 August, surfaced online within hours, revealing plans to replace seven ministers and Bor County Commissioner James Gai Makoor with Ateny Pech, igniting debate across Bor and beyond. Local activists criticised the breach, saying it exposed sensitive negotiations and could heighten inter-communal tensions already strained by floods, insecurity and competition for administrative posts. Governor’s Rationale and Commitments Press Secretary Manath Gany Lual called the leak “unfortunate”, attributing it to unidentified individuals at the Office of the President who, he suggested, were displeased with the omission of their preferred candidates. He…