Author: The South Sudan Herald

Pastoral Education Milestone Saturday’s graduation at Bishop Yeremiah Theological Institute marked its 30th cohort, seeing 18 candidates ordained after three years of study. Applause rippled through Yambio’s cathedral grounds as families celebrated fresh pastors charged with guiding congregations across Western Equatoria. Challenges Facing the Institute The principal reminded guests that the campus still relies on diesel lamps and handwritten records. “Computers, clean water and a reliable grid remain urgent priorities,” he said, inviting partners to close the digital and infrastructure gap that hampers research and student life. Government Support and Donations State Minister of Cabinet Affairs John Bariona answered the…

Growing Demand for Data Skills Brazaville’s statistical agency has unveiled a nationwide traineeship in demography, health, and gender metrics. Officials say the programme will shape a cadre of analysts able to translate raw numbers into policies aligned with President Denis Sassou Nguesso’s development agenda. Inside the National Statistics Enhancement Programme The six-month course, hosted by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, blends classroom theory with field surveys in rural districts. Trainees learn coding, data cleaning, and visualisation before deploying tablets to collect household information during the 2024 socio-economic census. Director General Armand Mombéri called the initiative “a strategic…

Background to Payam Reshuffle Jonglei State began carving nearly twenty new payams and bomas in July to streamline service delivery and political representation. The redrawing absorbed Goi Boma into the freshly minted Chueikeer Payam, a move that split opinion among local leaders, residents and provincial administrators. Commissioner’s Decision and Legal Basis On 12 August, Bor County Commissioner James Gai Makor relieved Chiefs Mariar Maluil, Aguto Chol and Angeth Noon after they signed a letter rejecting the transfer. His office cited provisions of the Local Government Act that permit removal for misconduct, incompetence or incapacity. Civil Society Critique Intrepid South Sudan…

Fan-Led Healthcare Drive in Juba Arsenal supporters in the South Sudanese capital have launched a fresh fundraiser to buy oxygen cylinders for Al Shabab Children’s Hospital and Juba Teaching Hospital, merging football passion with lifesaving needs. Football Rivalry Fuels Charity Spirit The initiative peaks during a friendly match pitting Arsenal against Liverpool devotees at Buluk Playground. Organisers say tomorrow’s encounter channels competitive energy into generosity, inviting every resident to contribute, regardless of club loyalty. “This match is more than sport; it is a rally for oxygen,” organiser Sarah Kiko explained, noting previous drives that supplied six cylinders and fifteen beds.…

Dismissal Sparks Debate over Local Governance Reports from Bor County indicate that three respected chiefs were relieved of duty after questioning the merger of Goi Boma into the freshly created ChueiKeer Payam. County Commissioner James Gai Makor signed the dismissal order, citing administrative coherence, yet the move immediately stirred controversy across Jonglei State. Civil Society Voices Concerns Intrepid South Sudan, a prominent local NGO, condemned the decision as “unlawful and unjustifiable” while urging the Ministry of Local Government to reverse it. “Chiefs anchor our customary system; sidelining them risks widening rifts,” ISS coordinator Nyathon Deng told regional press on Saturday.…

A Celebration of Shared Progress Juba’s Chinese Embassy turned into a gallery of colour and sound as 22 young South Sudanese collected prizes for essays, photos and short videos themed “Chinese Modernization in My Eyes” during an August ceremony attended by diplomats and artists. Ambassador Ma Qiang applauded the winners, noting that Beijing’s development journey, built on scale and inclusivity, offers “valuable reference points” for nations such as South Sudan that seek growth without abandoning cultural heritage. Inside the Competition The three-month contest invited students, journalists and entrepreneurs to depict how modern railways, fintech and eco-cities they observed in China…

Yambio Shooting Sends Shockwaves The fatal shooting of Peter Michael Mbia, Director-General in Western Equatoria’s Ministry of General Education, jolted the quiet Napere suburb of Yambio on 3 August, igniting grief and calls for justice across South Sudan. His death unfolded barely a week after sweeping political reshuffles in the state, stoking speculation about motives and underscoring the fragile balance between governance, security, and community trust. Swift Arrests Signal Resolve Western Equatoria Police Commissioner Phillip Madut Tong confirmed that five suspects are now in custody, adding that case files are ready for court as investigators tighten the net around remaining…

Momentum toward 2026 General Elections After a closed-door meeting in Juba, President Salva Kiir authorised SPLM Secretary-General Paul Lugale Jumi to begin full electoral mobilisation for December 2026. Party insiders say the instruction signals the official start of campaign preparations despite lingering political uncertainties. Resource Mobilisation and Membership Drive Jumi told reporters the Secretariat will map funding sources and reopen registration centres from county level upwards. He stressed that reliable voter data will guide messaging and ensure every constituency feels represented, a point analysts view as crucial for turnout legitimacy. Youth and Women Inclusion Strategy Kiir urged the party to…

Swift Border Clampdown at Nimule Nimule’s busy customs yard fell silent this week as inspectors ordered three cargo trucks back across the frontier. Laboratory results showed aflatoxin in maize and live insects in beans, triggering the most forceful rejection yet under South Sudan’s updated standards code. Science Behind the Screens Portable chromatographs identified aflatoxin levels far above the 10-parts-per-billion ceiling endorsed by the World Health Organization. “We no longer rely on paperwork; every batch faces a field test,” explained Dr. Irene Laku, chief chemist at the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS press briefing, 2025). Regional Trade Ripples The…

Debate Over Return Priorities South Sudan’s Patriotic People’s Party, speaking through spokesperson Biar Akol Cham, has urged the transitional government to fast-track the repatriation of citizens displaced across East and Central Africa before entertaining any plan to welcome foreigners. Opposition Cites Camp Hardships Cham painted a bleak picture of camps in Chad, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda, citing food shortages, overcrowded clinics and recurrent discrimination that, he argues, erode dignity and hope for an eventual homecoming. Rumours of Palestinian Relocation Speculation that Palestinian migrants could be resettled in South Sudan has circulated on social media for weeks, despite consistent denials…