Author: The South Sudan Herald

2026 Qualifier Showdown in Juba Senegal underlined its World Cup ambitions with a resounding 5-0 away victory over South Sudan in Juba on Friday evening, a result that tightened the Lions of Teranga’s grip on Group B and showcased the depth of coach Aliou Cissé’s attacking resources. South Sudan, still in the developmental phase of its football project, resisted bravely for 45 minutes before conceding four goals after the interval. The contrasting trajectories of the two sides offered a vivid snapshot of the competitive gap within Africa’s expanding qualification landscape. Senegal’s Early Control in Juba From the opening whistle at…

Juba Mission Signals Renewed Momentum South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile spent 48 hours in South Sudan this week, gauging the health of a five-year-old peace accord and offering Pretoria’s backing to its fragile implementation. His visit comes amid cautious optimism in Juba yet persistent fears that slow reforms could reopen old fault lines. High-Level Meetings in Juba A two-day mission by South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile ended in Juba on Thursday, after direct talks with President Salva Kiir and Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel. The visit, his first to South Sudan since assuming office, sought to test the…

Youth Demographics and Rising Pressure With over seventy percent of South Sudanese under thirty, demographic momentum outpaces opportunity. Chronic unemployment, interrupted schooling and conflict have created a generation hungry for change yet anxious about stalled prospects, civil-society leaders noted during a packed Juba forum. National Youth Policy Awaits Parliamentary Nod Markaz Al Salam executive director Florence Agiba reminded officials that drafted texts alone cannot employ youths. She urged parliament to move the National Youth Development Policy to a decisive vote and convert it from “mere words” into funded programmes that deliver skills and stability. Stalled Bills Under Justice Review Alongside…

Immediate Displacement After Shoot-out Nearly one hundred households in Athony Village, Abyei Special Administrative Area, are spending nights under plastic sheets after a sudden shoot-out between Unified VIP protection units last week. Local authorities report that 99 families hurried to the UNMISS base in neighbouring Kadhian on 6 October 2025, hours after gunfire left fourteen soldiers dead. Commissioner’s Field Mission Alal County Commissioner Nyang Doldol Nyang led an inspection mission on Wednesday, sitting with displaced parents and elders beneath a canvas awning. “Some want to return, others prefer relocation to Amit-Market or Abyei Town,” he told journalists, stressing that any…

Rising Civilian Toll Fresh skirmishes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces have shaken several counties this week, leaving homes burnt and markets deserted as frightened families flee into the bush or across rivers in search of shelter. Local clinics report running out of basic supplies, while school calendars are again disrupted. Community elders warn that the cyclical nature of violence is widening food insecurity and deepening trauma among youths who have known little but war. Activist Voices Alarm Human-rights advocate Edmund Yakani, head of Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation, condemned renewed…

Historic First General Election Planned The National Elections Commission in Juba has confirmed its readiness to steer South Sudan toward its first national ballot, slated for December 2026. Officials say the poll will translate the 2018 peace accord into a tangible democratic milestone. Civil Society Steps Up for Transparency Launching the Civil Society Organisations Alliance on Electoral Processes, NEC envoy Manuel Makum invited NGOs, faith leaders and youth networks to monitor every phase. “A credible vote depends on public trust,” he stated, urging peaceful engagement before, during and after polling day. Preparing Voters for the Ballot South Sudan Peace and…

Impeachment of Joseph Opio Wilson Okullo On Wednesday, Eastern Equatoria’s authorities reiterated that former parliamentary affairs minister Joseph Opio Wilson Okullo was removed from office in December 2022 after legislators impeached him over an alleged unauthorized vehicle sale. Government Warns of ‘Ghost Minister’ Claims Information minister Elia John Ahaji told reporters that Okullo’s continued use of the ministerial title while meeting diplomats and journalists constitutes a criminal offense, adding that any institution dealing with him does so at its own risk. Ahaji insisted the government will seek legal redress to curb what he called “illegal engagement” and to protect the…

Call for Legal Compliance Standing before diplomats and civil-society leaders in Juba, Maj. Gen. Elia Kosta Faustino urged every foreign resident to ‘respect the laws of this country to avoid conflicts with the authorities’ (Faustino said). The appeal framed migration as a shared civic responsibility. A Country of Transit and Haven Programme Manager Anisha Alinda observed that policy discussions often ignore South Sudan’s growing role as host and transit point for Kenyans, Burundians, Congolese, Somalis, Eritreans, and others, even while two million South Sudanese seek safety abroad. Dialogue Across Agencies Thursday’s one-day inter-agency forum, backed by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and…

Calm Returns After Dawn Violence Local officials in Duk County say the atmosphere is steady again following Saturday’s armed raid in Poktap that rattled herders at first light. The incident reignited long-running friction between pastoralists from Duk and neighbouring Twic East, both chasing scarce pasture at the tail end of the dry season. South Sudan Cattle Raid Details Witnesses report that raiders struck at dawn, driving livestock belonging to Twic East herders who had trekked to Poktap for grass and water. Twic East Commissioner Juach Arok initially warned that more than 300 cattle vanished, fuelling alarm across Jonglei State. Conflicting…

Brief Detention and Swift Release Alfred Gatmai Koang walked free on Tuesday afternoon, about 24 hours after National Security Service agents had led him away from Juba’s Freedom Hall. His arrest had stunned colleagues gathered for a closely watched court session. Youth League Criticises ‘Unlawful’ Detention Speaking for the SPLM-IO Youth League, spokesperson Gattiek Wichar labelled the episode “unlawful” and “intimidating”. “Our comrade is fine and back with us,” he told reporters, thanking unnamed interlocutors who pressed for the release within hours. Security’s Search Order Dispute NSS officers had reportedly faulted Gatmai for refusing a security search at the courthouse…