Author: The South Sudan Herald

Rumbek East Tensions Rise over Grazing Rights Weekend violence in Awan village exposed long-standing friction between cultivators and pastoralists across Rumbek East County. Police records show one farmer now in custody after several cows were slashed with a panga, allegedly to punish the herd for trampling maize plots. Residents say the incident, though isolated, reminds communities of past cycles of retaliation that once spiralled into deadly clashes, threatening harvests and cattle wealth alike. Inside the Weekend Altercation Commissioner Malual Anyuon told reporters police documented eight wounded animals before arresting the suspect at the scene after sunrise on Saturday. Herd owner…

Confidence in the Revitalised Peace Accord Deputy President Paul Mashatile left Juba convinced that South Sudan’s revitalised 2018 peace agreement remains the cornerstone for a peaceful transition. He described the accord as ‘the only existing instrument to promote stability and prosperity’. Mashatile said all signatories acknowledged the need for joint action to nurture conditions suitable for credible elections and a durable economy. Election Roadmap Toward December 2026 The timetable points to a national vote in December 2026, preceded by a new constitution, unified security forces and transitional justice mechanisms. Election experts in Juba argue that meeting these benchmarks will require…

Fiery Press Room Fallout South Sudan’s football narrative took an unexpected twist after a 5–0 World Cup-qualifying loss to Senegal, when head coach Nicolas Dupuis delivered an unfiltered press-conference answer that ricocheted across social media (Standard Zone News). Within twenty-four hours, the South Sudan Football Federation suspended the Frenchman for fifteen days, citing breach of contract and ‘unsatisfactory results’ in a communiqué signed by spokesperson Adau Leek Mawut (SSFF statement). Unpaid Salaries and Legal Fine Print Dupuis reminded reporters that his October 2023 contract guarantees an 11,000-dollar monthly salary and bonuses up to 100,000 dollars for World Cup qualification, yet…

Brilliant Pharmaceutical Company Debuts in Juba On a sunny Saturday in Juba, dignitaries watched the ribbon fall on Brilliant Pharmaceutical Company, a firm registered on 4 January 2024. The launch signals fresh momentum in a health system often described as underfunded after years of conflict. Gismalla Patrick, speaking for the CEO, told attendees the startup “puts the health of South Sudanese first,” and pledged constant outreach to hospitals, clinics and pharmacies nationwide to distribute reliable medicines. Youth Leadership Driving Medical Innovation The core team comprises young doctors who, according to Patrick, “worked hard day and night” to design a supply…

Community backlash over cattle request A request for fifty oxen to feed National Security Service officers has stirred anger in Bor County, Jonglei State. Many residents label the demand “garbage,” arguing that tax-funded institutions, not villagers, should cater for troops. State rationale and voluntary framing County Commissioner Samuel Ateny Pech says contributions are goodwill gestures, echoing local customs of feeding guests. He reports that ten oxen and assorted food staples have already been handed over, largely via the Chamber of Commerce. Security gains cited by authorities According to Pech, the NSS deployment has calmed tensions; crime complaints have fallen and…

EU-backed print drive boosts legal access 40,000 printed copies of two pivotal transitional justice laws have arrived at the Ministry of Justice in Juba, reinforcing South Sudan’s path toward national healing. Funded by the European Union, the shipment was formally handed to Justice Minister Dr. Joseph Geng Akech by Ambassador Pelle Enarsson during a brief ceremony. Officials say hard copies will reach remote counties where internet penetration remains low, ensuring citizens can read, discuss and reference the new statutes without barriers. Truth, Reconciliation and Healing Act in focus The Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing is mandated to examine conflict…

Clashes Test Unified VIP Protection Unit Five days of skirmishes between SSPDF and SPLA-IO elements inside the Unified VIP Protection Unit rattled the Abyei Administrative Area, established to shield South Sudan’s leaders under the 2018 peace deal. Authorities report no further violence, yet the episode exposed lingering fault lines inside the still-forming national army. Women and Children Shelter at UN Base Information Minister Yohana Akol told Eye Radio that 79 relatives of the withdrawing soldiers, mostly women and children, took refuge inside the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei compound after gunfire echoed near their homes. Local Administration Coordinates…

Two Decades of Growth The Episcopal Church of South Sudan’s Education and Training Department marked its twentieth anniversary in Juba, drawing clergy, officials, development partners and students to celebrate two decades of schools, health posts and community projects that survived war, economic shocks and displacement. Inclusive Education Milestones Managing Director Dr Lubari Stephen Elioba recalled a one-table office in 2005 that has expanded into 200 primary schools teaching nearly 69,000 learners, including 25 specialised centres where more than 5,000 children with disabilities study alongside peers through community-based rehabilitation. Strategic Investments for Self-Reliance Archbishop Justin Badi Arama told the gathering the…

Interbank Platform Debuts in Juba Juba’s banking halls echoed with cautious optimism as South Sudan rolled out its first Interbank Payment and Settlement System on Thursday, a platform designed to move cash and securities in real time and curb unchecked capital flight. Minister Condemns Biased Lending Policies Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr Martin Elia Lomuro used the inauguration to accuse certain commercial banks of sidelining local clients while extending generous credit to foreign-owned hotels and office towers, a practice he labeled both unjust and economically self-defeating (Eye Radio, Oct 2025). “This must end; we are a free country,” he warned, noting…

Five-Year Journey to Justice and Peace In Juba, Cordaid and its partners drew the curtain on the five-year Just Future Project, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Operating in Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei and Western Bahr El Ghazal, the consortium sought to widen access to justice, nurture social cohesion and advance inclusive governance. Friday’s closing event carried the theme “Stories of Impact: Building a Just Future Together”, underlining a commitment to keep the momentum alive. Ordinary Citizens, Extraordinary Roles Country Director Tom Otieno hailed “ordinary citizens stepping into extraordinary roles”, noting women mediators, youth advocates and neighbours…