Author: The South Sudan Herald

Cabinet Endorses Continued Transitional Constitution Juba’s Council of Ministers has approved amendments allowing South Sudan to rely on the 2011 Transitional Constitution, as revised, during preparations for the 2026 general elections. The resolution separates the constitution-making process, national census and housing data from the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement, a move officials say prevents fresh delays. Political Motivation and Administrative Continuity Minister of Cabinet Affairs Dr Martin Elia Lomuro called the adjustment “a necessary political and administrative step” designed to keep government machinery running smoothly toward the polls. According to Lomuro, tying census and constitution tasks to the peace deal had…

Rising insecurity grips Yambio streets With Christmas lights still shimmering across Yambio, a sudden blaze in Duduma neighborhood underscored a broader worry: violent crime is edging upward. Residents whisper of thefts, sporadic gunfire and late-night break-ins, turning festive anticipation into unease across Western Equatoria’s capital. Police files record at least five house incursions this month alone, a pattern Commissioner Michael Ismail Medi calls “unacceptable” and “disturbing”. He warns that unchecked petty theft could morph into organized violence if early deterrent measures fail. Night of the fire detailed by witnesses Shortly before midnight on Monday, unknown assailants allegedly doused the woman’s…

Cabinet moves to fill leadership gap Juba’s cabinet has temporarily tapped Vice-President Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior to steer the strategic governance cluster while First Vice-President Riek Machar defends himself in court. The decision, endorsed at an extraordinary meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir, aims to avoid a leadership vacuum without infringing on the delicate power-sharing formula signed in 2018. Power-sharing deal under microscope Chapter I of the Revitalized Agreement assigns the First Vice-President slot to the SPLM-IO, linking the seat to the party rather than the individual. Analysts say any permanent shift would require either a fresh SPLM-IO nomination or…

Flight from West Kordofan The advance of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces across West Kordofan this month has set off another wave of displacement across the border into South Sudan. Local officials in Aweil East County confirm 2,745 nationals from 841 households have already crossed after the capture of Babanusa, Muglad and the strategic Heglig oilfield. Numbers and Registration in Aweil East Relief and Rehabilitation Commission director Akot Mawec reports 1,844 people registered in Warawar and 901 in Gok Deng, highlighting a rapidly evolving headcount (Radio Tamazuj). He warns that many families are still unrecorded, arriving by foot or motorbike along…

Central Equatoria’s Leadership Continuity Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony began his renewed term with a courtesy visit from Gen. Alfred Ladu Gore on 23 December in Juba. The encounter symbolised institutional continuity after Adil’s re-appointment and underscored the value of dialogue between current office-holders and respected elders. Veteran Counsel Shapes Governance Agenda Gen. Gore, long regarded as a pillar of South Sudanese politics, congratulated Adil yet swiftly steered the conversation to deeper themes of governance. Aides described his reflections as “wise counsel” aimed at anchoring the administration on tested principles rather than short-term tactics. Focus on Stability and Transparency According to…

Juba Cracks Down on Waste Overflowing bins and makeshift dumps have long scarred Juba’s streets. This week, the City Legislative Council adopted a Waste Management Bylaw it says will pivot the capital toward systematic collection, monitored disposal and meaningful penalties for offenders. Chairperson Dina Keji John hailed the vote as “a significant step toward a cleaner and healthier city,” stressing that the ordinance clarifies duties for residents, traders and institutions while empowering the mayor’s office to act decisively against illegal dumping. Fines and Enforcement Measures Under the new framework, fines accompany every infraction, though exact rates will be detailed in…

Norwegian Funding Boosts Emergency Supplies The World Food Programme has secured 128.6 million Norwegian kroner, equal to about US$12.5 million, from Oslo. WFP officials say the cash injection arrives at a critical juncture, with warehouses rapidly depleting as the lean season approaches. “Food security underpins peace and recovery,” reminded Mary-Ellen McGroarty, WFP country director, praising Norway for “standing with South Sudan’s most vulnerable” amid escalating costs and access constraints. Ambassador Roar Haugsdal echoed the pledge, describing the gift as an investment in stability. Alarming Outlook for 2026 Lean Season The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification foresees 7.56 million South…

State handed vital machinery for mechanized shift Western Equatoria State officials confirmed the arrival of two tractors supplied by South Sudan’s national Ministry of Agriculture. Delivered in 2024, the machines form part of a wider four-tractor allocation designed to kick-start large-scale cultivation across the fertile region. Minister Gbafu outlines ambitious cultivation drive “Next year, we will embark seriously on agriculture to boost farming in Western Equatoria, produce more food and reduce suffering,” State Agriculture Minister Letecia Gbafu told reporters in Yambio. She said the tractors will be accessible to individual growers and groups handling extensive acreage. Rental model and training…

Presidential Call Extends Agenda President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Monday instructed both chambers of South Sudan’s parliament to prolong their current sitting, citing what his office called “urgent national matters” that must be concluded before lawmakers disperse. The directive emerged from a closed-door consultation with National Assembly Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba and Council of States Speaker Mary Ayen Mijok, according to officials briefed on the meeting. Budget Delay Poses Fiscal Questions Finance technocrats warn that postponing adoption of the 2025-2026 budget could slow salary disbursements, development projects and donor negotiations, but the executive maintains that an extended session will expedite…

Historic Surrender of Arms On 22 December 2025, SSOA chairman and Agriculture Minister Hussein Abdelbagi Akol stunned Juba’s press corps by announcing that every soldier and rifle under the South Sudan Opposition Alliance had been surrendered to President Salva Kiir. “The future of South Sudan must be settled by ballots, not bullets,” he said, positioning the move as a milestone toward ending what he called “militarized politics.” Why Chapter Two of R-ARCSS Matters Citing Chapter Two of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, Abdelbagi argued that integrating former rebels into a unified, professional defence…