Author: The South Sudan Herald

Fans Unite for Healthcare Support Buluk playground buzzed on Saturday as Arsenal and Liverpool supporter clubs from Juba met for a friendly yet purposeful fixture. The event was designed to gather donations of medicines, equipment and cash for Al Shabab Children’s Hospital and Juba Teaching Hospital, institutions often stretched by rising demand. Match Highlights Captivate Juba Arsenal fans struck first through striker Lado Abdallah after 18 minutes, unleashing cheers across the stands. Liverpool equalised before half-time via Deng Garang’s deft finish. The decider arrived late, midfielder Emmanuel Wani curling home a free-kick that sealed a 2–1 triumph for the Gunners…

Surprise Upset in Nyakuron Ballot Delegates gathered inside Nyakuron Cultural Centre on Saturday delivered a shock result, handing 191 votes to Dada Isaac Lemi and only 102 to veteran MP Jacob Aligo Lo-Ladu, long considered the favourite for the Kakwa community chair. Quiet applause replaced campaign drums as officials of the electoral board declared the outcome within minutes, underscoring the peaceful tone that has usually characterised community polls even as national elections remain pending in South Sudan. Campaign Messages over Money Observers said Lemi’s manifesto, centred on transparent finances and youth mentorship, resonated more than the logistical muscle of his…

Viral Assault Sparks National Outrage A disturbing video showing intoxicated youths raping a 16-year-old rival in Juba’s Sherikat district circulated online in June, jolting a war-weary nation. The clip ignited public fury and renewed scrutiny of South Sudan’s expanding street gangs. Police Crackdown and Conscription Claims Authorities responded with mass arrests, detaining more than 600 young people; over half were later released without charge, fuelling allegations of a heavy-handed approach. Lawmakers and activists claim some detainees were forcibly conscripted into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and transported north to frontline bases, accusations officials deny. Conflict’s Legacy Fuels Youth Violence…

Fresh Tensions in Yei County Gunfire rattled Yei River County shortly after dawn on Saturday, resuming a conflict many hoped was buried (The Dawn). By nightfall, officials confirmed at least 17 uniformed personnel were killed during battles between rival signatories to South Sudan’s peace deal. Inside the 17-Fatality Confrontation Army spokespersons give conflicting versions, yet witnesses agree the first shots came from a joint SPLA-IO and NAS-TC column targeting SSPDF posts in Lasu and Libogo. Col. Lam Paul Gabriel later said his forces overran both camps, capturing a mortar, rifles and a military pickup. SSPDF officers declined to confirm losses,…

Grassroots Drive to Finish County HQ Commissioner Zacharia Malual Anyuon has appealed to citizens, businesses and the diaspora to raise the remaining 54 million South Sudanese Pounds needed to roof and finish Rumbek East’s county headquarters, after spending 9 million SSP on a reinforced concrete foundation. Why the Office Matters for Rumbek East The planned double-storey office is designed to outlast generations; only cosmetic features such as paint, doors and windows will change, Anyuon told The Dawn, framing the building as a century-long asset and a rallying point for collective responsibility. Community Contributions and Land Incentives Contributors are being offered…

Elections and Sustainable Development Research by African Development Bank suggests that nations holding regular, trusted polls enjoy faster GDP growth, partly because investors read ballots as stability signals (AfDB, 2023). UNDP data show that access to electricity and paved roads often doubles within a decade after the first competitive vote, highlighting how political legitimacy can unlock both domestic revenues and concessional finance. Student Voices on the Ground In Juba, master’s candidate John Arop told The Dawn that elections prompt leaders to ‘keep their promises on hospitals, schools, and roads,’ because failure risks defeat at the next ballot. He recalled how…

Moçâmedes Thriller Caps Perfect Group Stage Angola thrilled a packed Welwitschia Mirabilis Arena, edging South Sudan 66-64 to close Group C of AfroBasket 2025 with a flawless 3-0 record. The visitors, who stunned Angola at last year’s FIBA World Cup, launched a 22-11 final-quarter surge, but Both Tut Gach’s last-second three rattled out, sparking euphoric scenes among home fans. Angola Defense Smothers Top-Ranked Rivals Coach Pepe Claros demanded pressure from tip-off. After conceding a 7-0 burst, Angola replied with a 12-0 run, then held the continent’s top-ranked side to 27 first-half points, their lowest of the tournament. Point guard Childe…

Embargo Debate Reignites The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has renewed its plea for the United Nations Security Council to start lifting the arms embargo on South Sudan, arguing that the restriction slows the unification of national forces pledged in the 2018 peace deal. Council members said in their 15 August communiqué that a phased relaxation, monitored jointly by AU, IGAD and UN experts, would “enable the transitional government to equip integrated units responsibly and deter spoilers”. Security and Humanitarian Stakes Officials warned that persistent arms gaps leave unified battalions vulnerable to heavily-armed militias, compounding local clashes that killed…

Health Spending and Stability African policymakers increasingly frame hospitals as frontline security assets. Public health failures stir unrest, while reliable clinics calm tensions and revive local economies. Experts argue that budgeting for vaccines, staff and power is as strategic as policing borders (WHO regional brief). South Sudan’s Emerging Blueprint Relative calm since 2022 allowed Juba to refocus on care. Parliament’s health committee insists that “medicine is our first peace accord,” chair Benjamin Malek Alier declared. His words preceded the roll-out of a measles catch-up campaign reaching remote counties within weeks. The ministry then unveiled a National Nutrition Policy and an…

Record Malnutrition Numbers UNICEF now projects 2.3 million children under five and 1.2 million pregnant or breastfeeding women will need therapeutic feeding in 2025, the worst figures recorded since independence. Analysts warn these numbers rival the 2017 famine alerts. Conflict and Displacement Surge Fighting in Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity escalated after February, forcing 300,000 people to flee within the country while 125,000 crossed borders. “Every new skirmish empties another village,” an aid worker in Malakal told this magazine. Cholera and Health Strains As of June, 79,746 suspected cholera cases and 1,431 deaths were logged, with children under five forming…