Author: The South Sudan Herald

Election Timeline Sparks Debate On 17 December 2025, South Sudan’s presidency fixed national elections for December 2026 under the 2011 Transitional Constitution. The move decoupled voting from the adoption of a permanent charter, a choice officials say safeguards continuity while logistical work on a new constitution proceeds. Opposition figures argue the decision compresses crucial preparatory steps, such as census taking and electoral law revisions, potentially narrowing space for oversight. Government spokespeople counter that tight schedules reflect public impatience for an elected mandate after years of transition. Constitutional Questions Unanswered Under the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict, a…

Historic maps guide 2026 ballot South Sudan’s National Elections Commission confirmed it will recycle the 2010 geographic map for the December 2026 general vote, citing incomplete census data and an unfinished constitution-making exercise. The decision fixes 102 constituencies across ten states and three administrative areas, easing doubts about timelines while respecting legal provisions amended in 2023. Legal Anchors and Peace Deal Context Chairperson Professor Abednego Akok Kacuol reminded reporters that Section 41 of the National Elections Act obliges the commission to revert to 2010 boundaries whenever a fresh census is delayed. Signatories to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of…

Seasonal Call Resounds On Christmas Eve in Juba, Archbishop Justin Badi Arama stood before microphones and delivered a sober message. The chair of the South Sudan Council of Churches urged national leaders to silence guns and let citizens celebrate in safety. Eroding Public Trust He acknowledged that repeated delays in executing the 2018 peace deal have bruised confidence. “People struggle for daily bread while violence persists,” he said, warning that the social contract weakens each time promises slip. The archbishop reminded believers that Christmas signals hope beyond politics, yet stressed that hope needs credible action from what he termed “the…

A Call for Intellectual Liberation At the swearing-in of the SPLM National Women’s League in Juba, Secretary-General Dr. Akol Paul Kordit invited cadres to embrace “intellectual liberation,” arguing that yesterday’s military victory must be matched by victory over poverty, tribalism and injustice (Eye Radio). He framed these social ills as the final frontline of the liberation struggle, insisting that a party cleansed of narrow loyalties will gain the moral capital to steer South Sudan toward inclusive growth. Women’s League at the Frontline Addressing newly elected chairperson Nyandeng Malek and her team, Dr. Kordit said women are “the pulse of our…

Shock Waves Through Wau and UNMISS News of language assistant Bol Rhoch Mayol Koul’s death on 15 December 2025 spread quickly through Wau, jolting colleagues at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the wider humanitarian community. Government Denounces the Crime The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the killing as a heinous crime and, speaking for the Transitional Government, offered condolences to the family and to UNMISS while pledging that South Sudanese law would be applied without hesitation. Officials commended Division Five of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces for arresting a suspect, signalling what spokespeople called ‘decisive steps…

Mounting Complaints Over Road Charges Across Juba and regional hubs, drivers report paying up to 500,000 South Sudanese pounds for routine licensing, far above the 46,000 pounds ceiling spelled out in the Financial Act 2024-2025. Some vehicle inspections have allegedly approached the one-million-pound mark, fueling public outrage. Legal Provisions Under Spotlight Parliamentary Security Committee chair Samuel Loti told Eye Radio’s Around South Sudan podcast that the law is unambiguous. Private, public, commercial and investment vehicles all attract a single 70,000-pound registration and licensing fee, he stressed. For a standard driving licence, the statute pegs the payment at 46,000 pounds. Loti…

Solar Streetlights Light Up Juba Airport Road Motorists approaching Juba International Airport now drive under a fresh ribbon of light. Airport Director Engineer Kat Mosety confirms that 22 solar-powered streetlamps, each 60 watts on a 24-volt circuit, were switched on this week along the corridor stretching from Crown Hotel to the aviation authority headquarters. Security and Accident Reduction Goals The installation continues to the main airport gate, covering one of the capital’s busiest arteries. Authorities say poor illumination had encouraged petty crime and minor collisions. “We expect a measurable drop in incidents as visibility improves,” Mosety stated, citing routine police…

Humility as Modern Leadership Asset In a continent where vocal politics often fills airwaves, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has built influence through near-silence. Observers argue that his measured manner, more pause than proclamation, has reshaped definitions of authority without dazzling ceremonies. Humility is rarely the feature headline of modern governance, yet Kiir treats it as essential capital. He speaks sparingly, allowing institutions to occupy the spotlight and letting decisions mature before microphones appear. Liberation Legacy Without Personal Myth As a commander in the liberation struggle, Kiir could have claimed history’s stage. Instead, official narratives cast independence as a…

Rising Momentum in Western Equatoria Standing on the dusty tarmac of Yambio Airstrip, Western Equatoria Speaker Ann Tunna Richard framed the approaching 2026 general elections as a watershed for South Sudanese women. Fresh from a Juba conference on women’s equal participation, she told reporters the constitutional 35 percent quota must become practice, not promise, or parties risk exclusion from the ballot. Women Eye 35 Percent Constitutional Quota Tunna’s proposal echoes provisions already embedded in the 2018 peace deal, yet implementation remains uneven across states. She argued that guaranteeing female candidates one in every three slots would enrich debate and improve…

Fragile Peace Under Strain in Juba South Sudan’s 2018 Revitalised Agreement still anchors hopes of stability, but its pillars are wobbling. Delayed security reforms, contested timelines and growing economic hardship have seeded doubt among citizens and officials alike about the accord’s durability. Civil Society Rings Alarm Bells Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, told reporters that “the deal was signed to stop bloodshed, not to polish reputations.” He believes selective engagement and parallel negotiations erode collective ownership and sharpen divisions among former foes. Calls for Inclusive Mechanisms Yakani argues that genuine dialogue means sitting as…