Author: The South Sudan Herald

Fatal New Year’s Eve in Abyei Abyei Town woke on January 1 to news that two Aweil traders, Arou Acak Arou and Dut Deng Bol, had been gunned down the previous night. Authorities say the men, both in their early twenties, were conducting routine sales rounds when unknown assailants opened fire. Young Entrepreneurs Targeted in Busy Market Community spokesman Tong Kuot Tong reports that the shooting happened at close range in Athok-Giet, a bustling trading quarter. He believes robbery was the primary motive, noting eyewitness claims that the attackers watched the pair count cash moments before pulling the trigger. Eyewitness…

Akile’s Final Journey in Gurei Veteran broadcaster Emmanuel Joseph Akile, 36, was buried Saturday at his family home in Gurei after succumbing to a brief illness on 30 December 2025. A packed requiem mass at St. Theresa Cathedral in Juba reflected his national reach, drawing mourners from government, opposition, civil society and the diplomatic corps. National Figures Pay Tribute in Juba Former minister Dr. Lam Akol, Deputy Governor Paulino Lukudu, U.S. Ambassador Michael Adler and state spokesperson Nyarsuk Patrick joined Eye Radio colleagues to honor what one speaker called “a voice that carried responsibility”. Auxiliary Bishop Santo Lukudu Pio led…

Ghana FPU delivers festive medical supplies On 3 January, Ghana Formed Police Unit Rotation Nine drove six UN-marked vehicles north of Bentiu to Bieh Community Hospital, carrying boxes of antibiotics, gauze, and staple food. The deployment of six women and seventeen men showed a deliberate gender-balanced approach. UNMISS coordination strengthens local trust Deputy Field Office Police Coordinator Anke Lute led the mission, briefing Lt. Col. Abraham Dhiesl and community elder Gabriel Majang Deng before the convoy unloaded. She stressed that health and security are intertwined, urging residents to collaborate with law enforcement for collective safety (GNA). Christmas spirit drives Ghanaian…

Cueibet County Death Toll Rises At least five people were killed and dozens wounded during clashes on Wednesday and Thursday in Cueibet County, Lakes State. The confrontation pitted Panyar cattle owners against Ruotruot youths after a disputed livestock raid, according to national lawmaker Manyot Magar (Radio Tamazuj). Sequence of the Cattle Raid Magar said Ruotruot youths allegedly drove away Panyar herds before dawn. Panyar owners pursued the raiders, and gunfire erupted along grazing corridors, leaving four Panyar herders and one Ruotruot raider dead. The toll remains provisional as several wounded avoided clinics. Delegation Presence During Skirmish The fighting unfolded while…

Aweil Rally Captures National Attention Early January saw thousands gather in Aweil wearing red SPLM shirts, their chants rising above the dusty stadium. Spectacle aside, analysts are now asking whether the rally signals genuine confidence in the party or simply reflects the mechanics of long-standing power. Peace versus Prosperity in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal Northern Bahr el-Ghazal enjoys a reputation for calm, yet that calm masks stubborn hardship. The 2022 National Bureau of Statistics survey put poverty at 76 percent, the highest in South Sudan, while food insecurity remains entrenched and youth unemployment erodes hope. Citizens often ask why years of…

Coordinated Police Operation in Leer County Authorities in Unity State confirm they detained a Sudanese national after a cross-county pursuit that ended on Wednesday. Investigators accuse him of absconding with 5 million South Sudanese Pounds entrusted by local merchants. Leer County Police Director General Samuel Machul told reporters the arrest was made possible through real-time phone coordination with Koch counterparts. Alleged Breach of Trust over Commodity Sales Community leaders had pooled sorghum, sugar and cooking oil, asking the trader to sell, deduct a small commission, and return the balance. Police say the money never came back, turning a routine arrangement…

A Nairobi Trip Sparks Controversy Leek Mamer Leek, widely known as “90 Bullet”, heads the Jonglei-based Red Belt community militia in South Sudan. His recent video testimony outlines how a 2025 visit to Nairobi turned from de-escalation mission into accusations of rebellion. The government later declared his group an insurgent movement; Mamer insists the designation rests on misunderstanding rather than intent. From Mogiri Violence to Voluntary Exile Mamer links the saga to clashes following alleged Murle cattle raids near Bor. After Bor youth retaliated at Mogiri market, media personality Mading Ngor warned that arrest warrants loomed. Accepting advice to let…

A 4 AM Tradition of Service When most of Juba still slept, Emmanuel Joseph Akile was already awake. From 2015 to 2025 he rose at 4 AM, crafted scripts, and entered Eye Radio’s studio before dawn, anchoring The Dawn Show at 5 AM with unflagging precision and warmth. Building Trust Across the Airwaves Listeners describe him as a calm guide in crisis, a firm voice against wrongdoing, and a hopeful companion during peace talks. He treated the microphone as a bridge, not a weapon, ensuring every interview or bulletin expanded civic understanding rather than inflaming tension. Sacrifice Behind the Celebrity…

SPLA-IO seizure of Yuai and Nadapal Early reports from rebel spokesperson Col. Lam Paul Gabriel suggest SPLA-IO fighters overran South Sudan People’s Defence Forces positions in Yuai, Jonglei, and Nadapal, Eastern Equatoria. He described the dual advance as “successful”, promising fuller briefings once commanders consolidate the newly taken ground. Strategic Value of Yuai Town Yuai sits astride seasonal trade routes linking cattle camps to Bor and Malakal. Control grants leverage over local taxation, recruitment, and food flows, making the town a recurrent flashpoint since the 2013 civil war according to Juba-based analyst Nyabor Deng. Border Tensions in Nadapal Corridor Nadapal…

South Sudan 2026 Elections and Peace Message Addressing reporters in Nakasongola, central Uganda, Bishop William said the vote’s outcome, whether favoring President Salva Kiir or a challenger, should never divide communities. He warned that the memory of conflict is still raw and could be triggered by reckless rhetoric. He reminded politicians that legitimacy grows when losers accept results and winners embrace inclusivity. Anything less, he argued, risks undoing gains made since the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, which halted most front-line fighting but left mistrust lingering. Clergy Champions Unity over Rivalry “The church and government are one,” he noted, distancing himself…