Author: The South Sudan Herald

Intensified Clashes in Disputed Abyei Gunfire erupted Monday between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition units assigned to the Unified VIP Protection Force near Abyei town. Both spokespersons confirmed the exchange and promised details once mop-up operations end. Officials Trade Statements as Firefight Continues SSPDF spokesman Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang described the incident as an “armed confrontation” outside the Abyei Box, while SPLA-IO’s Col. Lam Paul Gabriel noted that shooting persisted at the moment of his briefing. Violence Spreads to Western Equatoria On the same day, clashes in Nagero County, Western Equatoria State,…

Fresh Diplomatic Momentum Between Khartoum and Juba After a three-day visit to Port Sudan, South Sudanese Foreign Affairs Minister Monday Semaya Kumba landed in Juba citing “renewed resolve” with Sudanese counterparts to tackle shared threats. Officials framed the talks as a reboot of 2012 mechanisms that had fallen dormant during successive crises. Joint Committees Re-Activated for Security and Politics Spokesperson Apuk Mayen confirmed that both ministries will co-chair revived committees on political dialogue and border security. The bodies are expected to meet regularly, exchange intelligence and draft coordinated responses to militia activity that has disrupted commerce and community movement along…

R-ARCSS at a crossroads Addressing the fourth extraordinary R-JMEC plenary in Juba on 7 October, UN Deputy Special Representative Anita Kiki Gbeho affirmed that the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, signed in 2018, remains the single recognised roadmap toward durable stability. Escalating security concerns UN human-rights monitors recorded a 59 percent rise in conflict-related civilian casualties between January and September compared with 2024. Reports of aerial bombardments and clashes among signatory forces underline the fragility of the ceasefire and magnify fears of a renewed nationwide war. Political tensions deepen Since March 2025, First Vice-President…

Türkiye Scholarship Surge for South Sudan Youth Forty-five South Sudanese students received Turkish government scholarships on Friday, tripling last year’s intake and signalling Ankara’s growing commitment to human-capital cooperation with Africa’s youngest nation. Diplomatic Momentum Behind the Class of 2024 Ambassador Metin Ergin credited stronger bilateral ties for the expanded quota, noting that more than 200 South Sudanese have already graduated from Turkish universities since independence, with fresh language-study slots planned to deepen cultural fluency. Student Voices: Engineering, Pharmacy, Ambition Alek Elijah Manyok, 21, could not hide her excitement: “I will finally study pharmacy at Suleyman Demirel University, a lifelong…

Rising Waters Overwhelm Fangak County Fangak County now lies beneath a vast sheet of water, its farms erased and villages isolated. Families paddle between tree tops while livestock cling to narrow ridges, officials report. Information Minister Nyamar Lony Thichiot Ngundeng described the scene as “particularly dire,” stressing that many households have no shelter, food or dry ground available. Spillover to Pigi and Twic East The current flood wave has also inundated Pigi and Twic East counties, sweeping through cropland and cutting road links. Local leaders say displacement figures rise daily as new villages succumb to the waters. Government Evaluates Relocation…

Targeted Operation Nets Key Suspects On 4 October 2025, Sector Four of the Joint Operations Force swept into Tonping–Juba Nabari at 2:00 p.m., arresting two men alleged to have orchestrated a wave of motorbike and rickshaw thefts across Juba City and its outskirts. Stolen Motorbikes and Rickshaw Recovered Investigators say the duo was caught with 20 stolen motorbikes, 22 number plates and a single rickshaw, all kept as exhibits. Police believe the haul links the pair to multiple unsolved robberies reported over recent months. Public Tip-Off Proves Crucial Major General James Monday Enoka credited residents of Northern Bari for alerting…

Launch Day Draws Diverse Voices Yambio’s main hall filled with youth leaders, clergy, and officials on Sunday as the Action for Peace and Development Organisation, APDO, announced its return to public life. The gathering highlighted a shared desire to rebuild trust after years of intermittent conflict. Mandate Centered on Community Dialogue Executive Director Odetta Miwai James told the audience that APDO will pair faith-based outreach with data-driven advocacy. “Citizens deserve a seat at every table where decisions are taken,” she insisted, framing inclusion as the surest path for peace and economic recovery. Civil Society Network Applauds Milestone Wanga Emmanuel, who…

Rapid leadership changes in Juba President Salva Kiir Mayardit has moved swiftly to fill three high-profile seats, naming Gen. James Koang Chuol deputy defence minister, promoting Maj. Gen. Valentino Baak Makuei to command the Presidential Guard, and replacing veteran politician Deng Alor Kuol at the East African Community Affairs ministry. Koang’s return to cabinet spotlight Koang, a senior SPLM figure relieved of the Upper Nile governorship last week, steps into a post left vacant since March 2023. His elevation preserves Kiir’s control of the defence docket, which the 2018 peace deal originally earmarked for the SPLM-IO of First Vice President…

Nationwide Security Snapshot Major General James Monday Enoka briefed journalists on a trio of incidents that stretched police resources last week, underscoring lingering security challenges despite recent stabilisation efforts in South Sudan (Eye Radio). Juba Checkpoint Shooting At 2:00 PM on 4 October, unknown assailants in a private vehicle opened fire on a Tiger Division patrol near Seventh Day Roundabout. One soldier was killed, another wounded. Suspects were arrested minutes later and held at Malakia Police Station pending motive verification. Market Brokers Confrontation Four hours before the shooting, rival brokers clashed inside the bustling Konyo-Konyo commercial hub. Swift deployment of…

Digital Destiny for a Young Nation Each tap on a smartphone screen in South Sudan hints at a broader conversation: are online freedoms keeping pace with the nation’s aspirations? Citizens and jurists say access to the Internet now shapes education, business and speech as decisively as roads or classrooms. Rights Defined in the Digital Age Bida Emmanuel calls digital rights an online extension of traditional liberties, embracing expression, privacy, information and protection from abuse. Lawyer Peter Ajak Ayom adds the power to create and share content without censorship, while Bol Yaach Kuany points to Chapter Two of the 2011 Constitution…