Author: The South Sudan Herald

Historic Bilateral Milestone South Sudan and The Gambia have formalised diplomatic relations, sealing the first bilateral tie between the young East-African republic and the West African state. UN General Assembly Backdrop The joint communiqué was signed in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, a venue often used by governments for swift bilateral engagement. Signatories and Ministry Statement Foreign Minister Monday Semaya K. Kumba represented Juba, while his Gambian counterpart Sering Modou signed for Banjul, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reported. The ministry underlined that the accord will strengthen collaboration “for the benefit…

Diplomats seek fiscal openness in Juba South Sudan’s Finance Minister, Athiang Diing Athian, invited the British and Norwegian ambassadors to his Juba office on Thursday. The diplomats used the encounter to reiterate calls for clearer reporting on oil proceeds, wage payments and lingering arrears. An economy tied to oil barrels Crude accounts for more than 90 percent of state income, leaving public finances vulnerable to price swings and pipeline disruptions. Watchdogs regularly rank South Sudan among the most opaque fiscal environments, despite estimates that it also exports up to 40 tons of gold each year. Oversight committee in spotlight Outgoing…

Background: Age and Justice In South Sudan courtrooms, proving a victim’s age often decides rape verdicts, yet medical certificates now substitute for a missing nationwide registry. The Medical Commission’s documents carry decisive weight, turning alleged forgeries or honest mistakes into potential acquittals for statutory offences. Medical Gatekeepers under Pressure Chief Medical Commissioner Dr. Lopuk Lopuk Lokole reports constant attempts by families and security personnel to tweak ages for courtroom advantage. He insists on fingerprinting and physical presence, employing dental exams and X-rays, yet admits certificates issued post-crime are frequently disputed by judges. Forensic dentist Dr. Joyce Scopes adopts closed-door protocols…

Full IPC Membership Explained South Sudan entered the International Paralympic Committee’s family during the General Assembly in Seoul, gaining full membership and voting rights. The decision elevates the world’s youngest nation to the same platform as 200 other sporting delegations. Undersecretary of Youth and Sports Dr. Monica Agum Awet Akot called the vote “a milestone of inclusion and pride,” adding that government support for para-sports “mirrors our vision of equal opportunity for every citizen.” Impact on South Sudanese Athletes Full IPC status clears the path for South Sudanese para-athletes to enter sanctioned qualifiers, receive universal classification, and seek solidarity scholarships.…

Landmark Fistula Repair Camp in Juba Thirty-three South Sudanese mothers left Juba Teaching Hospital with renewed dignity after a two-week fistula repair camp led by AMREF Health Africa, the UN Population Fund and the hospital’s surgical team. It was the third camp of its kind at the facility, drawing patients from remote counties after community mobilisers spread the word that free, specialised surgery was finally within reach. Personal Journeys of Recovery Some women left the ward only days after surgery, walking steadily for the first time in years without the shame of constant leakage, hospital staff said. “My baby died,…

Aid Exit Sparks Urgent Budget Calls The international partnership “We ARE ABLE” closed operations this month, ending four years of technical and financial support for disability inclusion across South Sudan. Its exit has jolted local advocates who fear a funding vacuum. Organisations such as ZOA, Light for the World and The Hague Academy had supplied training, small grants and policy advice. Their combined footprint reached seven states, according to project briefings. Parliament Faces Inclusion Test Union chairperson Augustino Wudu Elario urged lawmakers to earmark resources in the upcoming fiscal plan, arguing that oil revenue can underwrite assistive devices, ramps and…

Rights Report Sparks Debate A new 40-page study by the South Sudan Human Rights Defenders Network (SSHRDN) documents 114 verified civic-space violations between June 2022 and June 2025, highlighting arrests, closures of media outlets, and disrupted gatherings across Juba, Rumbek, Bor, and Wau. NSS Rejects Allegations, Seeks Proof NSS spokesperson David John Kumuri dismissed the report’s claim of systematic repression, insisting individual misconduct, not institutional policy, may explain isolated abuses. He challenged advocates to submit case-by-case evidence, noting a presidentially mandated tribunal has already tried nearly twenty officers for overreach. Civil Society Maintains Findings Presenting the findings, advocate Omara Joseph…

Petroleum Riches, Natural Treasures From the Sudd wetlands to the savannah of Boma, South Sudan holds some of Africa’s least disturbed ecosystems alongside its richest crude deposits. Harnessing that paradox—fuel financing fauna—may define the young nation’s path to stability, diversification and global ecological relevance. Oil Wealth at a Crossroads Since independence in 2011, South Sudan has relied on petroleum for most public income, leaving the wider economy fragile. Volatile prices and infrastructure gaps now press Juba to rethink how oil dollars can seed longer-term, sustainable growth. Conservation Funding Imperatives South Sudan hosts vast migrations and endangered cheetahs, yet poaching and…

Resignation Reverberates in Lakes State Lakes State was jolted this week when Majok Maluong, chair of the Employees Justice Chamber, delivered an unexpected resignation letter to Governor Rin Tueny Mabor. Maluong said he could no longer function under what he described as systematic political targeting of officials loyal to First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, currently under house arrest in Juba and suspended pending special-court proceedings. Factional Split within SPLM-IO In April a group of SPLM-IO officials announced an interim leadership under Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuol, pledging cooperation with President Salva Kiir’s administration while affirming support for the 2018…

Flooding Threatens Everyday Movement in Panyagor A 70-something woman drowned after slipping into stagnant floodwater in Panyagor on Tuesday evening, local officials confirmed in Bor. Her body, retrieved the following morning, underscores the routine dangers faced by residents crossing inundated streets after successive seasons of heavy rain. Vulnerable Groups at Highest Risk Twic East County Commissioner Juach Arok Juach called the death ‘a serious reminder of the risks’, urging children and older people to avoid deep pools (Sudans Post). Humanitarian agencies add that prolonged standing water also fuels cholera and other waterborne illnesses, compounding the vulnerability of displaced families. County…