Author: The South Sudan Herald

Silent Costs of Reporting in South Sudan Across Juba’s streets, reporters barter phone credit for transport as news tips pile up unanswered. Hunger, not censorship, is muzzling voices. “Our notebooks are full, but our wallets are empty,” sighs veteran editor Joseph Lagu during an evening briefing. Economic Pressures on Newsrooms Post-2013 conflict shrinkage stripped advertising and donor grants, leaving many outlets operating below subsistence. Freelancers often earn under five dollars per story, barely covering a meal, compelling self-censorship to protect irregular patrons or politically connected sponsors. Social Media’s Glittering Mirage Livestreams and dance challenges flood timelines, giving the illusion of…

Border Tensions Rekindle in Magwi County Residents of Pajok Payam in Eastern Equatoria say Ugandan troops entered the Otwilo area on 19 August, detaining two young men and dismantling several homes. The youths were released, yet household goods reportedly vanished, deepening concern among returnees. Uganda People’s Defence Forces officials in Lamwo District were unreachable for comment, but Kampala has previously justified cross-border patrols as anti-smuggling measures. Juba, however, regards any unilateral deployment beyond agreed markers as a violation of sovereignty. Community Testimonies Stress Urgency Pajok community chairperson Ojok Francis Laboke described the incursion as “malicious” and warned that relentless patrols…

Ambitious 33kV Expansion Explained The Juba Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO) has started upgrading its 33-kilovolt substation and distribution lines, calling the move a critical leap toward a smarter, more resilient grid. Engineers are installing new transformers, breakers and automatic reclosers designed to carry heavier loads as household and business demand climbs across the capital. Why Stability Matters for Juba Daily power interruptions have long hampered refrigeration, study hours and small-scale manufacturing in South Sudan’s commercial hub. JEDCO says the reinforced network will limit voltage swings, cut outage duration and unlock nighttime economic activity, supporting the government’s post-conflict recovery agenda. Temporary…

Finance Ministry’s pivotal mandate Few portfolios carry the weight of South Sudan’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. From drafting the national budget to steering tax and monetary policy, the office shapes livelihoods and investor sentiment in equal measure, making its leadership choice a matter of near-existential importance. Seven ministers in five years: what it means President Salva Kiir has changed finance chiefs seven times since 2020, the latest dismissal occurring last Thursday. Analysts view the rapid turnover as an unmistakable signal that the presidency is in search of technical answers, not cosmetic reshuffles. Economist Dr Abraham Maliet calls the…

Civil society assumes the mediator’s mantle South Sudan’s civic actors have unveiled an ambitious homegrown dialogue aimed at unlocking the nation’s long-running political stalemate and restoring public confidence. Thirteen witnesses to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement, led by Community Empowerment for Progress Organization chief Edmond Yakani, say citizens must now mediate between rival leaders. Why earlier frameworks stalled Successive efforts—the Tumaini Initiative, the Rome talks, and local cease-fires—have stumbled on mistrust, financing gaps, and disagreements over security arrangements. Observers note that external facilitation often lost momentum once deadlines slipped, leaving communities exposed to renewed clashes despite formal signatures. Blueprint of National…

Tense Political Landscape in Juba South Sudan’s fragile transition faces another hurdle after retired security general Khamis Abdel-Latif urged President Salva Kiir to replace First Vice President Riek Machar with Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuol. The appeal arrives as Machar, co-signatory of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement, remains under house arrest amid a criminal probe that officials insist is apolitical. Kiir Faces Choice Amid SPLM-IO Split Machar’s SPLM-IO fractured in April, producing a Juba-based wing led by Stephen Par and a field faction rallying behind deputy Oyet Nathaniel. State ministers say recognition of Par would keep the 2018 deal alive, yet…

Viral Video From El Fasher Raises Alarms A short, shaky clip uploaded on 18 August shows a Rapid Support Forces officer questioning then shooting a trader nicknamed Uncle Ahmed on a dusty street in El Fasher. The victim’s last words plead for mercy and identify him as Borgo, a non-Arab community member. Within hours, the footage moved from WhatsApp groups to X, triggering local and international condemnation and renewing scrutiny of RSF conduct in Darfur. Geolocation Validates the Crime Scene Independent analysts linked the video to Hai al-Nasr, two kilometres north of Sudanese Armed Forces’ 6th Infantry Division headquarters and…

Digital ticketing revolution hits Juba National Stadium The rebuilt Juba National Stadium will abandon cash windows in favor of a fully mobile money platform covering tickets, hospitality rentals and merchandising, officials confirmed on Monday. Management argues that digital payments slash printing costs, tighten revenue tracking and speed up entry, critical for high-profile fixtures where every second at the turnstiles matters, according to Stadium Director Jalal Abdullah Doka. World Cup qualifier spotlight: South Sudan vs Congo First on the calendar is the 5 September FIFA World Cup qualifier pitting South Sudan’s Bright Stars against Congo’s Red Devils, a match expected to…

Private Schools Lead 2024 Results The 2024 national exams in South Sudan placed private institutions firmly at the summit, with the ten highest scores all linked to fee-paying schools in Juba and Bor. Education officials concede that the pattern has hardened over the past decade, signalling both the energy of entrepreneurs and the resource gap affecting government classrooms. Calls for Stronger Public Funding National MP Majour Babour told Eye Radio that “general education is a government responsibility; there is no way out,” urging a decisive budget shift toward public infrastructure and teacher training. Analysts say the Education Ministry’s share of…

Unity State Finalises Property Handover After years of legal limbo, Unity State officials formally handed administrative offices, schools and commercial plots back to the South Sudan Islamic Council last week. Governor Justice Riek Bim Top instructed the Ministry of Engineering Affairs and Public Utilities to complete the hand-over, citing President Salva Kiir’s 2018 directive protecting Muslim-owned property. Presidential Directive Spurs Compliance The 2018 order emerged from the annual Ramadan Iftar, where Kiir promised faith leaders equal treatment under the law. Implementation stalled amid conflict and frequent administrative reshuffles, turning Unity State into a litmus test for interfaith property rights. By…