Author: The South Sudan Herald

Bright Stars vs Togo Match Report The Bright Stars of South Sudan signed off their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying journey with a tense 0-0 draw away to Togo on Tuesday night. Both teams stressed defensive order, producing a contest rich in structure yet short on clear chances, to the frustration of supporters in Lomé. Coach Simon James’ Tactical Blueprint Head coach Simon James kept faith with a compressed back line and modified his midfield trio, recalling Mario and Mandela to flank Chan Peter for extra control. Chan and Mandela often dropped toward their centre-backs to start moves, while Mario…

Sudan Returnees Reach Majok-Yith-Thiou At least 300 people fleeing Sudan’s conflict reached Majok-Yith-Thiou last week, according to municipal mayor Andrea Akok Lual. He described the scene as “catastrophic” as exhausted families entered South Sudan through the Merram road carrying almost nothing. Registration and Relocation Efforts Local officials, working with ACTED and the International Organization for Migration, record each arrival and connect them with welcoming households. Sudanese nationals identified during screening are transported to Wedwiel Refugee Settlement for shelter, food and further documentation. Environmental Strains on Host Farmers Majok-Yith-Thiou’s generosity faces hard limits. Drought and an unusual millipede invasion have wrecked…

Comboni Day Fuses Faith and Learning On Friday, Tambura-Yambio Diocese gathered at St. Mary Primary School to mark St. Daniel Comboni Day through an inter-school talent contest. The colourful celebration blended faith, education and culture, drawing pupils, clergy, parents and officials into a single, vibrant audience. Ten Schools Bring Culture to the Stage Ten Catholic institutions, from Abangite Nursery to Bishop Abangite Science and Technology School, took turns presenting traditional dances, poems and songs that underscored themes of health, unity and learning. Security concerns kept a few schools away, yet the mood remained upbeat and hopeful. Voices of Unity and…

Historic Bonds Between Nile Neighbours South Sudanese links to Egypt stretch back to Turco-Egyptian rule and the joint Anglo-Egyptian administration, when students, traders and soldiers routinely crossed the Nile corridor. Post-independence instability in Khartoum and Juba later turned that corridor into an escape route for civilians fleeing war. Defining Refugee Status Under International Law Until the mid-1990s, Cairo viewed most South Sudanese as ordinary residents under the 1974 takamul integration accord, not as people in need of protection. The United Nations office therefore invoked the 1951 Convention to refuse their claims, leaving thousands stranded without a recognised legal identity. International…

Early-Morning Attack on Funeral Travelers Residents of Tambura County woke to tragedy on 12 October as gunfire erupted along the Tambura-Rii-Yubu road at 7:30 a.m. Three civilians en route to a burial in Sinawiri village were fatally ambushed by unidentified shooters. Witnesses say the assailants confiscated the victims’ motorcycle and phones before disappearing into nearby bush, leaving the three, aged 19 to 30, lifeless on the dirt track. Local Authorities Point to SPLA-IO Fighters Acting County Commissioner Moses Merci Sere blamed the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition for what he called “ongoing killings, gunfire, and looting” across Tambura. Sere urged all…

Juba Paediatric Lifeline Under Strain Al Sabah Children’s Hospital in Juba stands as South Sudan’s sole dedicated paediatric facility, caring for thousands of infants each year. Recent visits reported by Eye Radio revealed shortages of drugs, overcrowded wards and failing ventilation systems, heightening concern for newborn safety. The hospital’s medical director reports an average of 200 daily consultations, far exceeding the design capacity. Broken air conditioners leave rooms stifling in the 40-degree midday heat, complicating infection control and exhausting staff resilience. Women Leaders Sound the Alarm “What we have seen is heartbreaking,” stated Arab Juma Suleiman, secretary of the state…

Reinstatement of Bentiu Headteachers Twenty-four headteachers in Bentiu returned to their posts on Friday after the Unity State Ministry of General Education lifted a two-week suspension. Director General Stephen Mayiel Gatkoi told Radio Tamazuj that officials acted swiftly once investigations were concluded. Ministry Investigation Findings The ministry had cited failure to report for duty during protests demanding the release of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar as the basis for the disciplinary measure. Investigators found that a community high committee had ordered school closures in Bentiu’s IDP camp, yet administrators had ignored instructions to keep classrooms open and inform authorities.…

Bright Stars Suffer 5-0 Setback in Juba A packed Juba National Stadium fell silent on Friday as Senegal cruised to a 5-0 victory over South Sudan in a World Cup qualifier, recording the heaviest home defeat in the Bright Stars’ brief international history. Public Outcry Echoes Across South Sudan Within hours, social media feeds filled with frustration as supporters demanded answers, blaming tactical naivety and lapses in discipline for the collapse. Veteran fan Stephen Wani wrote that the team “looked overwhelmed from kickoff”, capturing the prevailing mood. SSFF Apology and Accountability Measures On Saturday the South Sudan Football Federation issued…

Escalating Conflict Alarms Observers The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warns that renewed clashes are reaching levels unseen since the 2017 cease-fire, threatening fragile stability across the Horn of Africa. Civilian communities, according to the Commission’s latest communiqué, face mounting violations and forced displacement as rival forces test the limits of the Revitalised Peace Agreement. Human Toll and Displacement Figures In 2025 alone, the watchdog estimates 300,000 South Sudanese fled, mostly to Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya, underscoring the crisis’s widening humanitarian footprint. Justice Mechanisms Await Activation Commissioners told African Union officials…

Marathon Turns Streets Into Solidarity More than 300 runners surged through Juba at dawn last Saturday, transforming a routine 5K and 10K race into a public pledge of support for Watoto Church’s Neighbourhood Mother Program (Eye Radio). Event chairperson Narani Glory told participants they were ‘running for a vulnerable mother in our community,’ framing fitness as a gateway to collective responsibility. Two-Phase Pathway to Self-Reliance Launched in 2021, the program guides mothers and widows through a year of structured support built on faith, dignity, and skills rather than one-off donations. During the first six months women receive emotional counseling, basic…