Author: The South Sudan Herald

Survival governance in South Sudan President Salva Kiir’s style is often described by analysts as governance by fragmentation rather than institution-building. Through selective patronage and calculated mistrust, he maintains authority while preventing any faction from coalescing into an organised opposition. Parliament, army and bureaucracy remain deliberately weak; none can generate an autonomous leader. External rents—from oil, donors and neighbours—cushion the state, allowing endurance to trump reform even during economic stress. Elite balancing tactics around Kiir Business magnate Bol Mel and first daughter Adut Salva illustrate Kiir’s balancing. Bol channels public anger over shortages, protecting the presidency, while Adut reinforces dynastic…

Leadership Rift Widens in Jonglei Senior Sudan People’s Liberation Movement figures in Jonglei have asked President Salva Kiir to dismiss Governor Riek Gai Kok, arguing his style has deepened local tensions (Radio Tamazuj). The request, dated 3 September, underscores an internal party debate about governance standards ahead of South Sudan’s anticipated elections. Signatories Cite Governance Concerns Former ministers Tuong Majok Deng, Gabriel Deng Ajak and others accuse the governor of unilateral decisions, including redrawing payams and relocating county headquarters without legislative backing. They argue that declaring Keer Payam part of Ayod County reignited a long-running border dispute with Duk and…

South Sudan Steps onto Continental Stage With the 4th African Youth Games approaching, Juba has entered full preparation mode. Anna Nyakuet Taker, second vice-president of the South Sudan National Olympic Committee, heads the mission charged with turning raw enthusiasm into organised performance, signalling the nation’s growing confidence on the continental sporting map. Mission Leadership in Luanda In Luanda, Nyakuet assumed her Chief de Mission duties on 18 September, joining counterparts from 54 African nations for three days of logistical negotiations. Housing, safe transport, athlete accreditation and security protocols dominated the agenda, laying the framework for a smooth December 2025 showcase…

Police Detain Five Worshipers in Juba Sunday morning worship turned tense in Nyakuron Deanery after Reverend Gibson Ali Oba reportedly locked St. Paul Church and asked police to detain five signatories of a letter seeking his removal (Eye Radio, 21 September 2025). Congregation Challenges Leadership at St. Paul Parish Lay leader Joseph January Godwill said the congregation arrived to find chains on the doors, forcing them to hold prayers under the open sky while officers held their fellow believers at Mauna Police Station for questioning. Pastor’s Silence Fuels Community Concern Godwill added that multiple petitions to the Anglican Primate requesting…

Burebiey Border Clash: Key Facts Residents of Burebiey in Nasir County awoke today to relative quiet after a fierce firefight on Saturday left at least 48 dead and more than 140 wounded, according to Upper Nile State Governor James Koang (Eye Radio). The clash pitted forces of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, SSPDF, against troops loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition, SPLA-IO, near the porous frontier with Ethiopia. Governor’s Account of the Fighting Speaking from Malakal, Governor Koang said SPLA-IO fighters, backed by local White Army youths, attacked an SSPDF outpost around 11 a.m. Saturday, prompting…

Home Defeat Sparks Apology A tense afternoon at Juba National Stadium ended 2–0 in favour of Tanzania’s Azam FC, prompting El Merriekh Bentiu head coach Ibrahim Hussein to walk toward the red-clad terraces and offer a heartfelt apology. Controversial Disallowed Goal Supporters had erupted minutes earlier when striker Peter Chol bundled the ball over the line, only for the assistant’s flag to rise. “That decision changed the flow of the game,” Hussein later insisted, declining to pin the entire loss on the officials. CAF Registration Confusion Adding to the frustration, two midfielders registered for the tournament were omitted from the…

High-Level Meeting at UN Headquarters Vice President Josephine Joseph Lagu arrived at the iconic UN complex on Saturday, leading South Sudan’s delegation to the 2025 General Assembly. Her closed-door conversation with Secretary-General António Guterres stretched beyond the scheduled slot, signalling the weight both sides placed on the agenda. Key Themes of South Sudan’s Message Speaking afterward, Lagu told reporters that Juba is prioritising the permanent cantonment of armed groups, accelerated humanitarian corridors and credible elections. “Our people deserve a dividend of peace, and we are determined to deliver,” she said, referencing the Revitalised Agreement. The Foreign Affairs ministry later described…

Renewed Pledge for Stability At the swearing-in of Yambio’s new commissioner, Western Equatoria’s Minister of Local Government and Law Enforcement, Alison Barnaba, declared that citizen protection sits “above every other agenda” for the state government (SSBC broadcast). He urged residents to join a collective effort to “stop fighting and silence the guns,” promising tangible proof of action rather than long speeches. Community as Cornerstone of Security Commissioner Michael Ismail answered the call, prioritising unity and safety as twin goals for Yambio County. He said collaboration will span the Azande Kingdom, municipal authorities, chiefs, youth, women, police and other security organs,…

Civil-Military Dialogue Gains Ground in Torit On the outskirts of Torit town, soldiers of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and residents of Enyeb Payam recently shared an unprecedented roundtable, seeking to replace months of tension with conversation supported by SPIDO, UNDP, KOICA and UNMISS. Shared Concerns Over Security Incidents Community leader Amanya Jackson Savarino said the talks narrowed “understanding gaps”, noting past complaints of looting and sporadic gunfire that frayed trust. He confirmed a joint pledge to “work together for peace” so night shots no longer define daily life. Lieutenant Colonel William Anei Akol, tasked with unified forces deployed…

Justice on Wheels Arrives A senior Supreme Court judge announced a mobile court will sit inside Juba National Prison, targeting the backlog of gender-based violence cases and expediting hearings for survivors and defendants equally, according to remarks collected in the capital this week (Eye Radio). Overcrowding Drives Reform Juba Prison, built for far fewer inmates, now houses thousands, stressing sanitation and security. Officials say the mobile bench should ease congestion by moving stalled files faster and reducing pre-trial detention for low-risk suspects implicated in GBV allegations. Capacity Building Workshop Outcomes Justice Stephen Simon spoke after a three-day judicial training organised…