Author: The South Sudan Herald

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…

Mounting Concerns Over R-ARCSS Progress A senior analyst at International Crisis Group, Daniel Akech Thiong, says only about ten percent of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan has been carried out, five years after its signing. The political atmosphere has tightened as deadlines slip; parliament remains partially reconstituted, the unified army is stalled, and election preparation budgets face repeated delays, raising fears of renewed violence among citizens and observers alike. Unilateral Decisions Fuel Political Strain President Salva Kiir’s recent decrees dismissing several Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition legislators have deepened mistrust inside the coalition government,…

South Sudan-UAE financial cooperation strengthens In Abu Dhabi, the Bank of South Sudan and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates sealed a Memorandum of Understanding, framing collaboration in secure currency printing, national payment cards and professional training. The signing, witnessed by UAE Minister of State Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan and Vice-President Benjamin Bol Mel, signals a growing economic partnership that both capitals describe as strategic and mutually reinforcing. Secure currency printing via Omlat Through Omlat, a UAE Central Bank subsidiary, Juba intends to modernise banknote production using state-of-the-art security features that deter counterfeiting and align the…

New Peacekeeping Ambitions Take Shape South Sudan has opened a fresh chapter by selecting a 1,057-strong unit for anticipated UN operations, signalling Juba’s drive to project professionalism beyond its borders. Defence officials underline that the move fits the government’s post-conflict roadmap and could generate valuable remittances for soldiers’ families. Historic Female Presence in SSPDF Cohort At Wun-Aliet Training Centre, northwest of Juba, more than 1,000 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces volunteers began induction this week, confirmed spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang. Eighty women passed the selective intake, marking one of the largest female contingents in the army’s peacekeeping history,…

Ambush Near Mogiri Leaves One Critical A vehicle transporting Bor Community secretary-general Mayom Ateny Wai came under fire Wednesday afternoon close to Mogiri, Central Equatoria. Witnesses say gunmen opened fire without warning as the group travelled from Bor to Juba, forcing the driver to accelerate through the hail of bullets. Madit Ateny Wai, the secretary-general’s brother, was hit three times, sustaining head and shoulder wounds. Hospital staff in Juba describe his condition as serious but stable after emergency surgery, while other passengers escaped with minor injuries. Deadly Pattern on Juba-Bor Corridor Eight Murle traders were reportedly killed in the same…

Rising Call for Civic Education on Federalism Minister of Federal Affairs Lasuba Ludoru Wongo has launched a fresh media drive to explain federalism to South Sudanese. In an Eye Radio interview, he argued that only sustained civic education can counter myths that have clouded the reform since independence. Some critics, he said, intentionally distort the model for political mileage. Yet nationwide consultations show a clear popular preference for shared power between Juba and the states, mirroring structures in Ethiopia and Nigeria. Historical Shadows Fuel Doubts Misconceptions often revive the memory of Kokora, the 1980s decentralisation drive that triggered ethnic unease.…

Federal Debate Reaches New Milestone Juba’s Ministry of Federal Affairs has confirmed a nationwide conference designed to deepen understanding of federalism in South Sudan. Minister Losuba Loduro Wongo told reporters the event seeks consensus on a governance model that balances autonomy with cohesion after years of heated public debates. Voices Across Society to Be Heard Organisers promise dedicated sessions for youth, women, and community leaders, recognising their pivotal role in shaping any future federal arrangement. “This platform should let every citizen see their reflection in the new structure,” Wongo stated, highlighting the inclusion strategy. Global Lessons, Local Adaptation Panels will…