Author: The South Sudan Herald

China–South Sudan Cultural Diplomacy On Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in Juba rewarded 22 budding writers with cash and certificates after a regional contest themed “Chinese Modernization in My Eyes”. The initiative, launched by Chinese missions worldwide, seeks personal stories that connect Beijing’s development journey with local African realities. Contest Highlights Shared Development Vision The competition forms part of a global initiative encouraging non-Chinese citizens to narrate how technological, economic and social gains in China resonate within their own societies. Ambassador Ma Qiang told the ceremony that Beijing’s cooperation with Africa aims at a “just, inclusive and eco-friendly modernization” aligned with…

Sudden Shake-Up at SSBC Juba awoke to fresh headlines early Thursday as President Salva Kiir, in a late-night decree, removed managing director James Magok Chilim from the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation and named seasoned journalist John Madol Panther as successor. State television interrupted programming to read the order, which cited a Council of Ministers recommendation yet omitted timing details. The cabinet itself has not convened publicly for months, fueling speculation over how and where the decision crystallised. Legal Framework Governing Appointments The 2013 Broadcasting Corporation Act assigns the board the power to nominate a managing director by two-thirds vote, followed…

Record-Breaking Night in Moçâmedes South Sudan restored their title hopes in electrifying style on Thursday, overwhelming Libya 115-52 in Moçâmedes, Angola. The 63-point gap is the widest seen at the 2025 AfroBasket, reaffirming the Bright Stars’ growing stature after Tuesday’s surprise defeat to Guinea (Eye Radio). Relentless Press Sets Early Tone Coach Royal Ivey ordered a full-court press from the opening tip, and Libya unraveled. Within three minutes South Sudan led 9-2; by the first timeout it was 18-2. The Bright Stars never relinquished control, finishing the quarter ahead 31-12 and silencing Libyan supporters (FIBA). Captain Omot Sparks Balanced Offense…

Abyei Borderland at the Heart of Two Nations From Khartoum to Juba, few names stir debate like Abyei. The fertile, oil-rich enclave straddles the 1956 north-south frontier and still awaits the promised referendum agreed in 2005. For many locals, the stand-off is a daily reality, not a diplomatic footnote. Successive peace talks have postponed a final ruling, leaving Ngok Dinka pastoralists and Misseriya nomads in administrative limbo. Each side believes history and grazing rights favor its claim, heightening the value of every new identity card issued. Citizenship Offer Shifts the Chessboard Port Sudan authorities now offer Sudanese passports to thousands…

Historic high-level contact When Israeli deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel landed in Juba, observers quickly labelled the stopover the most senior bilateral engagement yet between both states, a symbolic milestone for South Sudan’s decade-old diplomacy seeking diversified partners. Haskel held back-to-back meetings with Foreign Affairs Minister Ramadan Mohamed Goc and President Salva Kiir, discussing shared interests and reaffirming Israel’s 2011 pledge to assist the world’s youngest nation, according to the South Sudanese presidency. Economic stakes in oil, water, agritech Officials quietly note that Juba’s oil revenue has fallen amid volatile global prices; Israeli firms specialising in enhanced recovery, drip irrigation…

Parliament Voices Concern Over Domestic Displacement In a letter circulated in Bor, MP Wany Bum Makhor urged President Salva Kiir to centre scarce resources on nearly two million internally displaced citizens before opening the borders to Palestinians fleeing the Gaza war. Makhor praised Juba’s humanitarian tradition, noting South Sudan’s vote in March supporting a ceasefire in Gaza, yet urged a “realistic evaluation of bandwidth” before offering territory and services to new arrivals. Financial and Security Realities on the Ground UN OCHA estimates that 9.4 million South Sudanese will need assistance this year, while oil revenues have dipped amid global price…

State Commitment Strengthens Relief Pathways In Juba, Governor Riek Gai Kok vowed to “make our position clear: food must reach the people who need it most.” His remarks set a cooperative tone, framing the state as an active facilitator rather than a gatekeeper of aid. UNOCHA’s Logistical Edge David Carden praised Jonglei’s stance, noting that “open dialogue is critical in overcoming barriers.” UNOCHA crews plan to widen riverine routes and pre-position stocks before roads become impassable, shaving days off delivery timetables. Reaching the Cut-Off Communities Persistent floodwaters have marooned villages deep in the Sudd wetlands. Aid groups will pair boats…

UN Security Council Draws Red Line on Parallel Rule Meeting in New York, ambassadors unanimously dismissed the RSF proclamation of an interim authority in the areas it controls. The Council’s press note said the move threatens Sudan’s sovereignty and risks splintering a nation already weakened by fourteen months of brutal urban and rural combat. Potential Repercussions for Sudanese Civilians Diplomats fear the creation of rival administrations could deepen violence against civilians, who already face famine conditions in Darfur and Kordofan. Aid agencies report displacement has topped nine million people, the highest worldwide this year, edging the country toward an unprecedented…

International Youth Day Spark in Juba International Youth Day 2025 finds South Sudan’s streets buzzing with workshops, hackathons and art shows. The energy is palpable, and officials see in it a window to convert demographic weight into economic muscle. Seventy-two percent of citizens are aged 18–35, yet more than half remain jobless, a mismatch that experts warn can either spur innovation or fuel unrest depending on policy choices. UNDP Catalyzes Skills and Enterprise UNDP’s vocational drive has upskilled over 30,000 young people in 22 trades, from solar installation to tailoring. Almost 24,000 report steady income, shifting the narrative from aid…

Fresh Bout of Intercommunal Violence Nine people were killed and three wounded after rival cattle keepers from Rumbek Central and Cueibet clashed early Tuesday in Lakes State, local officials confirmed, underscoring a persistent pattern of pastoral violence across South Sudan. Police Commissioner Major General Enock Machar Majok said the gunfight erupted following a predawn cattle raid. Security units of police and army rushed in to quell the confrontation and, by midday, had “restored calm”, he told reporters in Rumbek. Casualty Figures and Medical Response Rumbek State Hospital surgeon Dr. Terran Madit Terran said three gunshot patients arrived in stable condition…