Author: The South Sudan Herald

From Balfour to Juba: Historical Echoes When the Balfour Declaration was typed in 1917, few foresaw a century of upheaval. Policy crafted for distant interests reshaped borders, identities, and memories. Juba’s leaders now face choices that could echo that history, stretching consequences far beyond the signatures they ink today. Diplomatic Whispers and Public Silence Reports in Israeli and regional newspapers suggest exploratory talks about relocating thousands of Palestinian refugees to South Sudan. The foreign ministry issued a brief denial, yet offered no transcript, no timetable, and no parliamentary briefing. Transparency, argue legal scholars in Juba, is national insurance. Longest Border,…

Seasoned Journalist Takes Charge John Madol Panther officially assumed the Managing Director’s chair at South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation on Monday, sealing a presidential decree issued last week. The former news editor has spent two decades at the national broadcaster, earning a reputation for calm leadership and newsroom innovation. Election Preparation and Public Trust South Sudan plans its first general elections in December 2026, a milestone in the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict. Panther told reporters that SSBC will ‘serve every party equally and keep citizens informed at all stages,’ a pledge welcomed by civil society monitors. Technological…

Historic Torit Prayer Season Seventy days of nationwide prayer concluded in Torit, commemorating the 1955 mutiny that ignited South Sudan’s first civil war. The South Sudan Council of Churches gathered worshippers under the theme “Fulfil Your Good Promises, Oh Lord,” blending historical remembrance with hopes for stability. Governor Lobong’s Call for Quiet Counsel Governor Louis Lobong praised the campaign as a sacred space for unity and forgiveness, yet cautioned church leaders against pulpit rebukes. He argued that confidential meetings in offices or homes encourage officials to listen, while public sermons risk hardening ears and deepening political trenches. Church Response and…

Israel Activates Emergency Airlift to Juba Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has activated MASHAV for an emergency shipment to Juba. The decision, announced Monday, underscores Jerusalem’s intent to deepen practical ties with African partners during health and refugee emergencies. South Sudan Faces Cholera and Refugee Pressure South Sudanese clinics are battling a fresh cholera wave, with suspected cases rising along the Nile corridor, health officials confirm. Simultaneously, an influx of people fleeing Sudan’s war has stretched food and fuel stocks in several states. The combined pressure, experts warn, could disrupt fragile peace dividends secured since the 2018 revitalised agreement, making…

Rapid Arrests After Aluakluak Outrage Police spokesman Major General James Monday Enoka confirmed that eight suspects were detained hours after a 10-year-old girl was assaulted in Aluakluak payam on 13 August (South Sudan National Police Service). Enoka credited joint patrols for the swift operation, calling the arrests “proof that coordinated security action is working.” Investigations Move Toward Courtroom Detectives are compiling witness statements and forensic evidence. Once the file is complete, prosecutors will bring the accused before a specialised court, a procedure designed to avoid delays common in past sexual-offence cases. Laws Designed to Shield Children South Sudan’s 2008 Penal…

Historic Gathering in Aweil Aweil’s first Commissioners Forum convened at dawn, launched by Governor Simon Ober Mawut before a packed civic hall. The five-day meeting, mandated by Governors’ Forum Resolution 26, signals a rare opportunity for coordinated planning across Northern Bahr el Ghazal. Service Delivery High on Agenda Governor Mawut urged commissioners to halt unchecked creation of chieftainships and resolve land disputes, insisting resources must reach citizens swiftly. “Our priority is tangible services, not administrative clutter,” he told participants, reflecting growing public demand for clinics, roads and schools. Border Trade with Sudan Under Scrutiny Delegates are dissecting customs bottlenecks, market…

Rumbek Skills Drive Empowers 60 Graduates More than 60 young South Sudanese finished a three-month vocational course in tailoring, hairdressing, catering and information technology in Rumbek, Lakes State. On Saturday each graduate walked away with a customised startup kit designed to turn new skills into immediate income. Women’s Economic Resilience Takes Center Stage Women represented the majority, with 51 participants. Facilitators say the gender balance reflects rising female demand for marketable skills amid economic pressures. Hairdressing graduate Martha Lela Galu called the course “empowering,” noting that earnings will help her keep children in school and cover clinic bills. Tailoring trainee…

Rumbek Central Map Redrawn A Thursday radio decree from Lakes State Governor Rin Tueny Mabor lifted Cuei-adukan and Abien-ajok from boma to payam rank, expanding Rumbek Central County’s administrative units from five to seven. In South Sudan, a payam functions as the frontline of service delivery, bridging state ministries and remote households. Promotion often promises closer schools, clinics, courts and police posts, but also raises expectations on revenue, land use and inter-clan balance. Decentralisation Trend in Lakes State Governor Rin has framed the move within Juba’s broader push for decentralisation, telling state media that empowered payams can ‘heal grievances through…

Disputed Dismissal of Goi Chiefs A surprise decree on 12 August dismissed three traditional chiefs from Goi Boma, stirring a rare outcry in Jonglei’s Bor County. Commissioner James Gai Makor Leek argued the change aligned with administrative reforms, yet community members branded it humiliating and baseless. Roots of the Payam Boundary Debate The dispute sits at the heart of plans to carve a new Chueikeer Payam, intended to streamline local governance across Jonglei. Goi elders say they were never opposed to reform but wish to remain under historic Kolnyang Payam, emphasising cultural continuity. Community Voices and Legal Framework Chairman Chuti…

Dawn Skirmish Rocks Lasu Payam At 4:30am on Saturday, gunfire ripped through Lasu Payam, jolting residents awake as rival combatants clashed near two South Sudan People’s Defense Forces outposts, according to Bishop Alex Lodiong. For many, morning devotion turned instantly into a scramble for survival. Civilians Flee Into Bush and Church Terrified families streamed toward the Catholic mission while others vanished into dense vegetation, shepherding toddlers barely five years old, the bishop recalled. The crackle of automatic rifles echoed for four hours, leaving children disoriented and parents counting missing heads when silence finally returned. Army Enters Sanctuary, No Casualties Soldiers…