Author: The South Sudan Herald

IMF Ranking Signals Fiscal Pressure New IMF statistics place South Sudan 50th among 86 heavy borrowers, with Special Drawing Rights valued at US$246 million already disbursed. The tally equals the young nation’s entire quota and underscores a growing dependence on multilateral funding amid domestic revenue shortfalls. Oil and Currency Headwinds Amplify Risk The World Bank recently named the South Sudan Pound one of Africa’s weakest, sliding 10 percent this year after pipeline damage in neighbouring Sudan curbed oil exports. Lower foreign earnings tighten dollar supply, making debt service costlier and inflation harder to tame. Reform Conditions and Social Priorities High…

Shock Across East Africa News of Raila Odinga’s passing in India on Wednesday rippled quickly through East Africa, prompting officials in Juba to call an extraordinary sitting the following day. Many citizens followed updates online, underscoring the veteran Kenyan leader’s broad continental resonance. Extraordinary Session in Juba Convened primarily to approve the National Youth Development Policy, the assembly opened with protocol statements. Hon. Bol Joseph Agau, speaking for the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, formally announced Odinga’s death and requested recognition of what he termed “an iconic Pan-African journey”. Deputy Speaker Leads Silent Tribute Deputy Speaker Parmena Awerial Aluong accepted the…

Roundtable on Media and Rights Information Minister Michael Makuei gathered officers of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and leading reporters in Juba to discuss simmering frictions. The closed-door roundtable, organised by the ICT and Postal Services ministry, aimed to reset relations after several high-profile flashpoints. Legal Framework Challenges Makuei praised what he called “the best media laws in the region” yet acknowledged a persistent gap between statute and street practice. He reminded soldiers that their conduct remains governed by military codes, while warning editors that enforcement powers lie firmly with regular forces. Navigating Confidentiality The minister drew a sharp…

Calls for Renewed Dialogue The call for peace overshadowed World Food Day discussions in Juba this week, as civil society leader Grace John Kenyi argued that guns, not drought, keep South Sudanese fields idle (Eye Radio). She urged political rivals to revive the 2018 peace accord, insisting dialogue is “the only path” to safe cultivation and market access, a sentiment echoing through radio waves across the capital. Hunger by the Numbers United Nations assessments place 7.7 million South Sudanese in IPC Phase 3 or worse, meaning more than half the population struggles daily to secure a meal. Upper Nile counties…

Governor’s Security Brief to Presidency Governor Rabi Mujung Emmanuel met President Salva Kiir in Juba to present an update on Central Equatoria State. He told the Head of State that despite sporadic incidents, the overall security landscape remains “largely stable and manageable”, according to a statement from the Presidency. Localised Clashes in Greater Yei Recent confrontations between governmental troops and opposition elements in Morobo and Yei River counties displaced families and disrupted farming cycles. Road ambushes on the Yei–Juba and Morobo–Kaya corridors highlighted residual risks, yet patrols have been intensified to reassure traders and commuters. Border Management Efforts in Kajokeji…

SSPDF Voices Commitment Maj. Gen. Chaplain Khamis Edward, head of the SSPDF Child Protection Unit, told a Juba symposium the army will partner with all human-rights groups to apply domestic and international standards. He cited his briefings to the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, noting that child-rights protocols are already woven into operational guidelines. “Without respect for rights we cannot function,” Edward said, adding that the army’s legal department monitors compliance with both the constitution and treaties. Lawmakers Demand Wider Protection Parliamentary Human Rights Committee chair James Othwon Awer urged partners to shield activists, journalists, and defenders, warning that tribal…

Media Authority stresses balanced court coverage Addressing a breakfast panel in Juba, Director General Sapana Abuyi reminded reporters that free speech in South Sudan remains protected, yet must align with courtroom procedures. He clarified that recent restrictions targeted only outlets under investigation, insisting no blanket ban exists and urging fairness during the ongoing high-profile trial. “Freedom is not licence,” Abuyi cautions Abuyi noted that sensational or inaccurate narratives risk eroding public trust. “Freedom of expression does not mean freedom to defame,” he said, inviting editors to review contested stories and correct errors swiftly to avoid fuelling division. Legal experts outline…

Justice Stakeholders Plan National Conference Juba’s legal community is preparing for a nationwide Criminal Justice Conference designed to refresh South Sudan’s justice architecture and build consensus on overdue procedural reforms. The Bar Association will co-organise the dialogue with the judiciary, placing the Criminal Procedure Act at the centre of deliberations. High-Level Meeting Sets Reform Agenda Details emerged after Justice Minister Dr. Joseph Geng Akech met Bar Association President Arop Maliuth and council members in Juba, signalling government backing for a structured review of court processes. Officials say the conference will gather judges, prosecutors, defenders and civil society to examine bottlenecks…

Crackdown Highlights Northern Route Tensions South Sudan has intensified checks along its northern frontier amid fears that the country is becoming a key conduit for irregular migration out of the Horn of Africa. The latest arrests of 17 Eritreans illustrate both the scale of the flow and Juba’s evolving response. Border Vigilance in Aweil Authorities in Aweil intercepted 14 Eritreans, 13 men and a woman, as they tried to reach Sudan without papers, Director General Elia Costa Faustino confirmed. The group, now in Juba, faces charges under the Immigration Act. Second Arrest near Paloch Days later, security personnel detained two…

UN Delegation Touches Down in Juba Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix landed in South Sudan’s capital Wednesday, leading a senior UN team assessing peacekeeping needs amid an unprecedented funding crunch (Eye Radio). He was welcomed by Ambassador Kureng Akuei of the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Deputy Special Representative Anita Kiki Gbeho, underscoring collaboration between Juba and the United Nations. Budget Shortfall Forces Global Troop Cuts A $1.3 billion gap has compelled the UN to order a 25 percent reduction in uniformed personnel across nine of its eleven active missions, the steepest retrenchment in recent memory (Eye Radio). Washington has indicated it will…