Author: The South Sudan Herald

CSE Setback in Western Bahr el Ghazal At least twelve senior four candidates in Western Bahr el Ghazal state were absent during South Sudan’s Certificate of Secondary Education papers, an official confirmed. Examination director Donato Ugali Zambe reported that 3,394 students had registered, yet logistical glitches eliminated opportunities for the dozen stranded learners. Paper Shortages and Travel Barriers Zambe cited insufficient English, Geography and History papers at certain centres and unexpected transport delays while moving documents to satellite towns. He explained that supervisors improvised schedules, but some candidates could not wait, especially in remote communities bordering former front lines. Post-Conflict…

Diplomatic Friction Over UNMISS Rotation Last week’s exchange between Juba and Washington exposed simmering mistrust surrounding the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, known as UNMISS. Accusations of obstruction met swift denials, underscoring how sensitive peacekeeper rotations remain four years after the Revitalised Agreement. Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba insisted that a list of seventeen points was never meant as a barricade. “They reflect our concerns, not conditions,” he told reporters in Juba, signalling that the government wants procedure, not paralysis. Technical Talks Keep Troop Movements on Track According to the Foreign Ministry’s ledger, 1,143 peacekeepers from Ghana, Nepal, Bangladesh,…

Kenya’s Visa-Free Magnet for Capital Kenya has rolled out a continent-wide visa-free entry, inviting African entrepreneurs to invest in sectors from tech to agribusiness. Ambassador Emmy Ndola told guests in Juba that Nairobi’s ‘open door’ would accelerate growth and knit tighter economic ties across borders (Eye Radio, 12 Dec 2025). Central African Perspectives on Opportunity The policy arrives as capital from Brazzaville to Bangui searches for predictable markets. Congolese start-ups, buoyed by government programmes encouraging diversification, see Kenya’s larger consumer base and financial infrastructure as a logical springboard for scaling regional brands without heavy administrative barriers. Linking Peace and Prosperity…

Tonj East Visit Signals Warrap State Peace Drive A senior Warrap State delegation travelled across dusty tracks to Tonj East last Saturday, signaling a renewed governmental push to anchor peace, security and tangible development in this historically restive corner of South Sudan. Led by Security Advisor John Mayiik Bath, Cabinet Affairs Minister Safarino Phillip Bazia and Lieutenant General Garang Mabil Deng, the mission blended political heft and military credibility to reassure citizens of steadfast support from Kuajok. Wunlit Accord’s Legacy Resonates in Tonj East In Wunlit Payam the visitors paused at the monument to the groundbreaking 1999 Wunlit Peace Conference,…

Forum Highlights in Yambio The three-day Commissioners’ Forum convened at the Women Empowerment Center in Yambio offered Western Equatoria State a rare moment of collective stock-taking. County chiefs from all ten counties reviewed governance priorities, traded field lessons, and searched for a common language on development planning. Acting governor Justin Joseph Marona closed the forum by framing commissioners as “front-line drivers” of Vision 2040, a roadmap he said draws inspiration from Agenda 2063 and South Sudan’s National Development Plan. Linking Counties to National Vision Marona reminded delegates that Vision 2040 seeks a peaceful, democratic, and inclusive South Sudan grounded in…

Twenty Years On: Charter Under Sharp Review During a packed lecture in Juba, Dr. Barnaba Korina labelled South Sudan’s 2005 constitution “outdated and sterile”, arguing it cannot steer a modern state. The Vision Centre for Legal Studies organised the talk to mark two decades of the transitional charter. Delayed Gazette Releases Fuel Legal Uncertainty The lawyer reminded listeners that no citizen can plead ignorance of laws that were never published. He said some acts remain un-gazetted for more than two years, handing defendants an easy escape and weakening confidence in the justice system. Push for a Dedicated Constitutional Court Citing…

Disputed Extended Presidency Meeting On 10 December 2025, President Salva Kiir convened an extended Presidency session with coalition leaders to decide the fate of South Sudan’s long-delayed transition. The gathering endorsed a roadmap allowing elections by 22 December 2026, even if some reforms remain unfinished, a move officials described as “the only realistic path to a popular mandate” (Africano Mande Gedima). Machar Allies Cite Exclusion Hours later, the SPLM-IO faction led by interim chairman Oyet Nathaniel released a communiqué rejecting every resolution. They argued that neither suspended First Vice-President Dr Riek Machar, currently in confinement, nor any of his representatives…

Escalating Tensions in Jonglei State For months, the self-styled Red Belt vigilantes have patrolled Bor County, arguing they shield villages from cattle raids and sporadic militia strikes. Their profile rose sharply in September when government troops came under fire outside Bor town, prompting the national army to label the group a rebel outfit. Local Leaders Opt for Negotiated Path County Commissioner Ateny Pech convened lawmakers, chiefs and Division Eight generals, emerging with a united front that denounces the raids and endorses dialogue as the preferred exit from the security stalemate. Integration Plan under Division Eight Delegates offered Red Belt fighters…

Fresh Wave of Returnees Lands in Abyei The quiet of Abyei’s Youth Center broke on Thursday as 125 households—roughly 625 people—stepped off buses from Wau airport. Mayor William Ajang Kuol Dau called the scene “another testament to community resilience.” City officials say this marks the third and fourth chartered flights since fighting flared in Sudan last April, pushing families southward toward relatives in the contested administrative area. Route from Renk to Safety Most travellers began in Renk, Upper Nile State, where river transport stalled amid insecurity. They were airlifted by government-coordinated flights to Wau, then moved by road to Abyei,…

German Funding Boosts WFP Lifeline The United Nations World Food Programme confirmed a €28.5 million infusion from Germany to scale up food and nutrition assistance across South Sudan, describing the timing as critical (WFP). “This funding will significantly enhance ongoing efforts to assist those in need at a very critical time,” noted Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP Country Director. Lean Season Threatens Millions Projections show 7.56 million South Sudanese—over half the population—could face acute food insecurity between April and July 2026 as conflict, displacement and erratic weather curb harvests. In areas where calm has held and access improved, analysts report modest gains,…