Author: The South Sudan Herald

Annual Review Highlights 2025 Gains In Juba, the Civic Engagement and Peacebuilding Initiative Consortium gathered scores of civil-society leaders, partners and officials to reflect on 2025 achievements and agree on priorities that could steady South Sudan’s fragile journey toward stability. The single-day forum carried the theme Unity in Diversity: Empowering Communities for Lasting Peace, a deliberate nod to the country’s mosaic of ethnicities and the urgent need for inclusive governance after years of unrest. Grassroots Clubs and Committees Grow Operations Manager Daniel Matiop Ngang reported that 15 peace clubs now operate in Jonglei and Central Equatoria, exposing more than 800…

Juba courtroom hears chilling survivor account Inside a packed special tribunal, Regimental Sergeant Major Ater Bol Piol recalled the March 6, 2025 assault on Nasir garrison. His words, delivered during the court’s 33rd sitting, painted a vivid picture of panic as the base fell to White Army fighters aligned with SPLA-IO. Chaos under night fire Bol said hunger and disorientation forced roughly thirty soldiers to abandon an armored vehicle at 9 p.m. Gunfire erupted instantly. The fleeing squad reached Wicyuel, met a wide river, then hesitated, fearing non-swimmers would drown. They bivouacked near the shattered camp, hoping dawn might offer…

Policy Reversal Grabs Headlines On 19 December 2025, Deputy Interior Minister Gen. Mangar Buong Aluenge signed Order 03/2025, scrapping fresh traffic fees on tinted windows and right-hand drive conversions. The directive took effect instantly, nullifying regulations circulated days earlier by Traffic Police chief Maj. Gen. Kon John Akot. Separate Logbook and Insurance Mandate The order restores stand-alone insurance certificates, ending a recent merger that had paired policies with vehicle logbooks. Officials argue the separation will simplify renewals and curb congestion at licensing offices. Temporary Freeze on Tinted Charges All roadside charges on factory-fitted tints are suspended pending review by the…

Seasonal Gloom Overshadows Christmas In Upper Nile’s historic town of Malakal, December lights flicker against a backdrop of emptied pockets and uneasy calm. Local women say the usual carols are drowned out by memories of fighting and the rising cost of everything from maize flour to children’s shoes. “There is little to celebrate,” admits market vendor Merry William, adjusting a faded Santa hat that no one is buying. Her remark sums up a sentiment echoed along the muddy alleys leading to the White Nile. Mothers Bear the Conflict’s Scars Many mothers describe a cycle of birth and bereavement. “Sometimes it…

Renewed Push for Reconciliation In Malakal, Deputy Governor Deng Joh Angok says years of violence splintered Upper Nile’s social fabric, yet residents still share a yearning for stability. He argues that only collective forgiveness can unlock the state’s dormant potential and restore its reputation as a regional breadbasket. Preparing the Peace Conference The state administration is laying logistical groundwork for a wide-ranging peace and reconciliation forum expected to convene politicians, scholars, professionals and chiefs under one roof. Officials indicate security forces will secure travel corridors and meeting halls, signalling government resolve to let every voice be heard without intimidation. Voices…

Force Unification at the Core Speaking after a meeting with Cabinet Affairs Minister Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro in Juba, Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission chief of staff Ambassador Berhanu Kebede reiterated that merging rival military formations remains “the backbone of a credible electoral process” (Eye Radio). RJMEC believes the 2026 roadmap only becomes realistic once the Necessary Unified Forces are fully trained, deployed and salaried under a single command, extinguishing parallel chains that triggered past clashes and displaced thousands. Constitutional Tweaks Under Review Beyond barracks, negotiators are rewriting the National Transitional Constitution to align it with timelines endorsed by…

Sanitation Push Gains Momentum Authorities kicked off a sweeping sanitation campaign at Yambio Airstrip on Friday, rallying civil servants, uniformed forces and residents under the slogan “Keep Yambio Town Clean.” The symbolic starting point sits at the gateway for visitors arriving by air. Mayor Fozia Abbas Barnaba Bangasu told journalists the effort targets cleaner streets, healthier families and a more welcoming townscape. “We want every newcomer to feel our hospitality the moment they land,” she said, praising early volunteer turnout. Community Mobilisation at Work Youth groups brandished rakes beside elders in traditional dress, illustrating broad ownership of the initiative. Local…

Community Ballot in Abinajok Over two days of calm balloting, residents of Abinajok payam in Rumbek Central County selected their new paramount chief, marking the first vote since the payam’s creation earlier this year. Sultan Malok Malual Malok secured 1,433 of 2,265 ballots, translating to 63.3 percent, unseating long-time chief Sultan Lueth Marial Buoc, who obtained 832 votes, or 36.7 percent. Legal Framework and Oversight The Lakes State electoral committee supervised the poll under the Local Government Act 2009, with judges on site to ensure compliance. Chairperson Akec Machek emphasised that statutory guidance underpins every chieftaincy contest. Governor Rin Tueny…

Presidential Assent Signals Fiscal Reform President Salva Kiir Mayardit inked the Fiscal, Financial Allocation and Monitoring Commission Act 2025 at Juba’s State House on Thursday, turning a long-discussed reform clause into enforceable law. Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba handed the document to the president, a ceremony observers say underscores legislative-executive cooperation amid South Sudan’s transition. Scope of the Fiscal Monitoring Act 2025 The Act constitutes an autonomous Commission empowered to review every budget line, track collections and verify that spending matches the annual Appropriation Act. Its mandate also includes guiding the fair transfer of revenue from national coffers to states, counties…

US Travel Ban Widens to 39 Nations President Donald J. Trump on Monday signed a proclamation adding twenty new countries, including South Sudan, to America’s entry-restriction roster. The measure, described by the White House as a security safeguard, becomes operational on 1 January 2026. The expanded list lifts the total number of affected states to 39, with Africa emerging as the most impacted continent under what US officials call a calibrated response to documentation gaps and information-sharing weaknesses. Screening Concerns and Overstay Data Washington’s decision followed a months-long interagency review involving Homeland Security, State, Justice and intelligence branches, which highlighted…