Author: The South Sudan Herald

Command Claims Trigger Fresh Accusations A fresh quarrel inside the South Sudan Patriotic Army erupted this week after agriculture minister Hussein Abdelbagi Akol was accused of recruiting fighters and presenting them to President Salva Kiir as his own troops, despite an earlier dismissal from the movement. Deputy commander Maj. Gen. Deng Mayar Barjok, loyal to founder Dr Costello Garang, asserted that “Hussein has nothing to do with the SSPM/A and commands no army,” alleging that the minister misled the presidency with lists of civilians rebranded as soldiers. He said formal letters had removed Abdelbagi from the party months ago, yet…

A Fatal Shot Across a Porous Line On 29 December, an SSPDF military intelligence officer was shot dead near Tururu Ajo village, Kajo-Keji County, minutes from the Ugandan frontier, authorities confirmed. Commissioner Wani Jackson Mule calls it “a preplanned incursion” by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces. The slain officer had been tasked with monitoring suspected movements of the National Salvation Front, an armed opposition group that intermittently drifts across the disputed border, according to county officials. Conflicting Narratives Cloud the Facts Commissioner Mule alleges UPDF troops crossed into South Sudan, “attacked him, killed him, and took his body,” before releasing…

Police Promotions Reveal Strategic Shift A document dated 23 December shows Major Kon John Akot, head of the traffic police, elevated to Lieutenant General alongside Luis Gatkuot Luak, Edward Dimitri Lokak, Garang Akuei Diing Deng and Andrea Martin Hassan. Eleven brigadiers also moved up to major general while five colonels reached brigadier general, deepening a reshuffle aimed at tightening command structures within the young national police service. Traffic Directives That Sparked Debate General Akot drew headlines in November by ordering owners of right-hand-drive vehicles to convert within seven days or stay off the road, citing accident statistics and compatibility with…

Workers Voice Months-Long Hardship Civil servants across Western Equatoria State describe months without pay, saying the latest single-month disbursement reached banks only this week. Many queued for hours, some leaving empty-handed as cash supplies ran dry, deepening household strain. Lawmakers Press for Direct Disbursement Assembly Peace and Security Committee chairperson pledged to table the matter, arguing that routing salaries through ministries rather than commercial banks would shorten queues and restore morale. He criticised what he called ‘poor handling’ that forces professionals to beg for their entitlements. Timely Pay Linked to Peace and Order Minister of Cabinet Affairs John Bariyona told…

Heightened Patrols Deliver Calm State Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. Philip Madut Tong told reporters in Yambio that no killings, thefts or attacks were recorded between 24 and 26 December. Officers had been deployed along highways, markets and remote villages after weeks of planning ordered by state leadership, according to the commissioner. Communities Embrace Security Forces Madut credited the calm to closer cooperation between police, traditional chiefs and youth groups who shared information and discouraged retaliatory violence. “The people showed restraint and unity,” he said, arguing that public trust has grown after routine joint patrols and open-door meetings in parish halls.…

Disturbing Facebook Plea Sparks Alarm On 21 December 2025, South Sudanese resident Mawien Deng Kuol vanished in central Cairo after posting a startling Facebook message claiming kidnapping and a USD 2,000 ransom demand. Family’s Frantic Search in Cairo Alarmed relatives filed a missing-person report at Ain Shams Police Station within hours, prompting officers to trace locations mentioned in Mawien’s post while South Sudanese social media groups coordinated informal searches across the capital. From Hope to Tragedy on the Nile Six days later, on 27 December, Egyptian divers recovered his body from the Nile near Zamalek, extinguishing hopes that ransom discussions…

Election Preparations Under Scrutiny A proposal to excise Articles 8.2 and 8.3 from the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan has ignited fresh debate on the country’s delicate transition, with activists questioning the timing and intent behind the move. Government proponents frame the deletion as technical housekeeping that will speed up the December polls, while civil society figures insist the clauses are the backbone of the accord’s enforcement architecture. Why Articles 8.2 and 8.3 Matter Both provisions empower the peace deal’s oversight bodies to sanction parties that stall reforms. Observers note that these bodies have…

Juba’s National Breakfast Prayer raises hopes On 20 December 2025, the office of presidential envoy Adut Salva Kiir hosted a National Breakfast Prayers for Peace and Reconciliation in Juba. Citizens arrived with cautious optimism, trusting an open dialogue might signal a firmer route toward national stability. Public expectations and unresolved concerns The ceremony concluded without specific assurances from President Salva Kiir regarding security, economic recovery, or the policy roadmap for 2026. Many attendees left worried about cash shortages in banks and continuing violence across communities. Focus on Dr. Riek Machar’s detention Critics argue that any reconciliation effort remains incomplete while…

Festive Mission to Al Sabah On 24 December, graduates of Mahad Juba Al-Elmi walked through the pastel corridors of Al Sabah Children’s Hospital, carrying boxes of rice, bottled water and bright sweets. Their Christmas outreach, first of its kind for the young association founded in July 2025, targeted families unable to leave the wards during the holiday. Life Inside the Pediatric Ward Head nurse Catherine Manas said the hospital supplies only therapeutic milk; parents must find the rest. Some share plates, others skip meals, she noted, adding that any outside kindness ‘makes mothers feel someone remembers them’. Emotional Support Over…

Fresh Violence Looms Over Northern Jonglei Fresh clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have reignited fears in Northern Jonglei. The opposition group has issued rare public safety alerts aimed at shielding civilians and aid workers from spiralling violence. Opposition Outlines Safety Measures A 27 December 2025 statement by SPLM-IO spokesperson Pal Mai Deng framed current operations as “genocide stoppage, self-defence and R-ARCSS peacekeeping”. He urged inhabitants near SSPDF barracks or artillery zones to leave immediately, or, failing that, to remain indoors and avoid clothing resembling government uniforms. The opposition…