Author: The South Sudan Herald

Shifting Battle Lines in Central Equatoria Joint operations by NAS and SPLA-IO against SSPDF this month signal a rare convergence of battlefield interests. Field commanders in Central Equatoria report improved coordination, a contrast to previous years of mistrust. Analysts in Juba consider the move a potential turning point. Citizens Longing for Cohesion From displaced camps in Wau to tea stalls in Nimule, civilians voice the same plea: unite. Student activist Mary Ayor states, “Fragmentation keeps war alive.” Observers note that, while social media amplifies rival rhetoric, grassroots fatigue with conflict could pressure leaders toward compromise. Military Synergy and Political Momentum…

Heavy Rainfall Triggers Overnight Flood Panyijiar County woke on Tuesday to ankle-deep water after a fierce cloudburst the previous night swamped Ganyliel’s lone primary health care centre and its adjoining airstrip. Local staff described the downpour as the heaviest in recent memory, surpassing seasonal norms tracked by county meteorological observers. Patients Relocated to Safer Ground County health director Peter Yoak said 24 patients—13 men and 11 women—were carried to an elevated veranda minutes before water reached bed level. “The compound turned into a shallow lake,” he reported, adding that no serious injuries occurred during the hasty relocation. Facility and Airstrip…

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…