Author: The South Sudan Herald

Arrest Without Warrant Bodyguards assigned to Unity State governor Riek Bim Top seized long-serving Bentiu Radio 99.0 FM reporter Taker Kuony on Friday in Bentiu town, according to media officials. Witnesses say the security detail acted without a warrant and transferred Kuony to a military facility rather than civilian police custody, a step journalists’ unions describe as unlawful. Official Reactions in Bentiu Union of Journalists secretary-general Majak Kuany Alier confirmed the detention and called it “unacceptable, unconstitutional and unlawful,” insisting that due process be observed. State Information Minister Nyakenya Keah Ruai, returning from Juba on the day of the arrest,…

Penalty Drama Seals Title A goalless stalemate made way for nerve-shredding penalties as Kator Blind Football Club edged Atlabara 2–0 in Juba to lift the 2025 South Sudan Blind Football Championship trophy (Standard Zone News, 2025). Players, coaches and a packed Buluk playground erupted, a scene that confirmed how far inclusive sport has travelled in a nation once unfamiliar with blind football. Rising Talent Shines At just sixteen, winger Joseph Oya was voted Best Player, the youngest ever recipient. In scoring honours, Martin Lado and Yona Sabri shared the golden boot, while goalkeeper Khamis shut out every shot he faced…

Fisherman Killed in Predawn Assault Police in Gogrial East County say suspected youths from neighbouring Unity State opened fire on fishermen checking nets near Malual-Adoor on 16 December, killing one man and wounding two others. Police Voice Alarm Over Rising Violence Lieutenant Colonel Thiik Agoth called the incident “alarming”, adding that the sudden gunfire left residents in shock and underscored lingering tensions between cattle-keeping communities. Wounded Evacuated, Suspects Pursued Survivors were transported to Wau Teaching Hospital for treatment, while local forces tracked the assailants toward Mayom, an area dominated by swamps that often provide cover for armed groups. Residents Urged…

Funding Agreement Signed Juba’s Ministry of General Education and Instruction has sealed a three-year memorandum of understanding with the World Food Programme, unlocking more than US$1.6 million for classrooms and canteens nationwide. Bridging Education Gaps Under-Secretary Kachuol Mabil Piok acknowledged on state television that economic headwinds have strained the education budget, warning that unskilled youth could slow national development. He urged partners to translate signatures into action, stressing that timely disbursement and transparent management will determine the pact’s impact. Homegrown Meals Strategy WFP Country Director Mary Ellen McGrette said the grant stems from the Global Programme for Education and will…

Mounting Statistics Raise Alarm Officials in Western Equatoria State have logged 22 gender-based violence survivors this month, including seven rape cases from Ibba County, according to the state Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare. Survivor Support Hurdles Gender Minister Cecelia Anigunde said the seven rape survivors were moved to a child transit center in Yambio for medical care, counseling and legal guidance, but transport and food shortages hamper a comprehensive response. John Zebruna Gasi of the ministry added that examinations were conducted with support from local NGO EVE Organization, yet operational funds remain thin across conflict-affected counties. Calls for…

A Century of Faith and Service In the lush plains of Magwi County, Holy Family Catholic Parish has reached its centenary, marking one hundred years of worship, schooling and community solidarity that began in 1926 and will culminate in a grand celebration on 11 January 2026. Pioneering missionaries Rev. Fr. Cereda and Rev. Fr. Cardani trekked from Kitgum, Uganda, settling first on the chilly heights of Lerwa before relocating to Palotaka with Chief Rwot Aburi’s consent, where they laid bricks, planted faith and endured malaria and loneliness. Education and Agriculture Empowered Generations From the 1930s, teacher-training colleges, catechist schools and…

Swift Arrest Highlights Official Response The foreign ministry of South Sudan announced that soldiers from the Fifth Division of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces have detained a suspect linked to the 15 December death of UNMISS language assistant Bol Rhoch Mayol Kuol in Wau. Sequence of Events in Wau Detention According to officials, Kuol, a South Sudanese national, had been supporting a routine UN patrol near Masna Talib when he was taken into custody by SSPDF personnel. Sources in Wau relate that he was moved to a nearby military base amid operations against opposition elements in Maleng, and died…

UNMISS-Funded Training Boosts Bentiu Policing Bentiu’s skyline now features a purpose-built academy where South Sudanese officers will sharpen investigative skills under UN supervision. The $50,000 complex, funded by UNMISS and built by Action for Conflict Resolution, was inaugurated Friday, marking a tangible investment in Unity State’s fragile security architecture. Human Rights and Gender Take Centre Stage Mission representative Denis Fuh Chenwi told attendees the centre aligns with UNMISS’s mandate to reinforce justice, rule of law, and civilian protection. Training modules will integrate human rights, gender sensitivity, and community policing, areas where international observers have previously urged improvement across South Sudan’s…

White House Proclamation Alters Travel Landscape A presidential proclamation slated for 1 January 2026 bars entry from South Sudan and several other states. The White House cites “severe deficiencies in screening, vetting, and information-sharing” as posing unacceptable risks to U.S. national security and public safety. Embassy Issues Stark Warning to Scholars In Washington, the South Sudanese mission urged students not to cross any border, noting that “departure may lead to permanent exclusion regardless of visa validity” (Embassy statement). Officials stressed that scholarships or fresh admissions no longer guarantee consular approval under the tightened rules. Numbers Behind the Decision U.S. Homeland…

State House Gathering Draws Wide Audience President Salva Kiir opened a national prayer breakfast at Juba’s State House on Monday, inviting political, religious and civic figures to seek “renewed commitment to unity and peace,” according to the presidency. Delegates from opposition parties sat alongside senior clergy, echoing similar interdenominational meetings in 2017 and 2018 that preceded the Revitalised Peace Agreement. Historical Context of National Prayers South Sudan has turned to collective worship at pivotal moments of its short history. National prayers in 2020 and 2023 sought to cool tempers after flare-ups between armed factions, and observers say today’s breakfast follows…