Author: The South Sudan Herald

Journalist Training Boosts Field Readiness Thirty-five Warrap State reporters gathered in Kuajok on Friday for an intensive workshop on conflict-zone coverage, hosted by local NGO Bridge for Social Service and financed by the Korea International Cooperation Agency. The one-day session carried the theme “Peace and Community Cohesion” and promised practical tips on gathering facts, verifying sources and filing balanced copy under pressure. Neutrality in Conflict Reporting Santino Manut Walgot, director-general at the state information ministry, reminded attendees that neutrality is both an ethic and a shield, noting that single-sided stories can expose journalists to community retaliation. “Present accurate, fair and…

Election Night Upset Francis Amin Michael reclaimed the presidency of the South Sudan Football Federation after an emphatic 26–12 delegate vote over incumbent Augustino Maduot Parek, a result that startled many analysts who had predicted continuity. Thirty-eight delegates, representing regional associations, referees, coaches and women’s football committees, cast their ballots under the supervision of officials from FIFA, CAF and the national sports ministry, ensuring broad legitimacy, according to observers present in Juba. Underdog Script Rewritten Amin previously led the federation from 2017 to 2021 before losing to Maduot. His camp framed the new victory as vindication of his earlier agenda,…

Key Arrests in Yambio Shooting Western Equatoria police confirmed the detention of five suspects linked to the 3 August killing of Director-General Peter Michael Mbia at his Napere residence in Yambio. Commissioner Phillip Madut Tong said dossiers are complete and the accused will soon appear before a competent court. Commissioner stressed community vigilance helped identify the alleged gunmen, though he withheld their identities pending arraignment. Who Was Peter Michael Mbia? Mbia served as director general in the State Ministry of General Education and Instruction, steering curriculum reforms and teacher-training drives since 2020. Colleagues recall him as a pragmatic technocrat who…

Early Warning Signals Intensify Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, a respected Juba-based civil society group, says its conflict tracker has logged a sharp rise in armed incidents since April. The curve, according to Executive Director Edmund Yakani, mirrors patterns recorded shortly before the 2016 clashes. He warns that if decision-makers keep trading blame instead of breakthroughs, scattered confrontations could quickly coalesce into a nationwide war spiral, erasing the relative calm many citizens started to rebuild their lives upon. Stalled Peace Deal Under Scrutiny The Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, signed in 2018 after years…

Youth Day call in Juba A festive International Youth Day in Juba turned reflective when Youth and Sports Minister Joseph Geng Akech challenged South Sudanese youth to shape the nation’s image and their own futures. Positive social media for national branding Akech urged influencers to spotlight folklore dances, tech hacks and local startups instead of viral feuds, arguing that each responsible post strengthens South Sudan’s cultural diplomacy. Drug abuse threat to demographic dividend The minister painted a stark picture of narcotics eroding productivity, lamenting that illicit pills and cannabis ‘steal classrooms, job sites and talent’, and pledging tighter market surveillance…

A Symbolic Election in Juba The South Sudan Scout Association elected a new executive board in Juba this week, reaffirming Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth as Board Chair and choosing Ladu Saeed as Commissioner General and Jacqueline Ago as his deputy, observers said (Eye Radio, Oct. 2022). Minister Makuei’s Call for Unity Addressing the gathering, Makuei urged the fresh leadership to shun tribal loyalties and bolster the government’s campaign for national cohesion, warning that “political tribalism” continues to undermine state-building efforts. Support Pledged Across State Structures He pledged logistical and policy support from both state and national authorities, describing…

Narrow Loss Ends Perfect Run South Sudan’s Bright Stars slipped 66-64 to Angola in Luanda, surrendering top spot in Afrobasket Group C but retaining widespread respect for their organised defence and late rally. Despite ranking first in FIBA Africa standings, the squad now sits third in the pool behind Guinea, forcing a longer qualification route to the quarter-finals. Deng Issues Rallying Cry Forward Majok Deng saluted Angola’s intensity yet promised a response, stating, “We must match their energy; we will bounce back next game.” His calm assertion echoed in the locker-room minutes after the buzzer. Coach Royal Ivey backed the…

Poetry as a Mirror of Conflict The poem “The enemy stands at the gate” distills a decade of turmoil into haunting images of brothers at war. Its voice resonates beyond literature, spotlighting a nation where mistrust now wounds deeper than any foreign rifle. Artistic testimonies routinely emerge from conflict zones, yet this piece stands out for framing betrayal as an internal moral crisis, compelling readers to confront the intangible front lines within communities. Roots of Fratricidal Violence in South Sudan South Sudan won independence in 2011 amid global applause. By 2013, political rivalry between Salva Kiir and Riek Machar ignited…

Open Letter Sparks Debate An unexpected open letter from Ateny Wek Ateny, once the presidential press secretary, has placed President Salva Kiir in the spotlight, inviting a nationwide conversation about recent high-profile arrests in the capital, Juba. Dated 13 August 2025, Ateny’s nine-page appeal circulates on social media and local newspapers. In it, he respectfully urges the head of state to order the immediate release of businessman Akol Emmanuel Ayii and Major General Akot Lual, both held without formal charges. Profiles of Akol Ayii and Akot Lual Akol, chair of Trinity Energy, oversees interests in fuel distribution, mobile money and…

Historical Parallels Fuel Debate Quiet diplomatic leaks suggest that some Western capitals have floated the idea of relocating a portion of Gaza’s civilian population to South Sudan, a proposal that has landed in Juba’s corridors of power with startling speed. For many South Sudanese, the news evokes memories of their own displacement during decades of civil war, while policymakers weigh regional responsibilities against national fragility. International Law and Self-Determination Law scholars quickly note that the 1970 UN Declaration on Friendly Relations and Resolution 194 enshrine Palestinian rights to self-determination and return, making any forced transfer legally contentious and diplomatically risky.…