Author: The South Sudan Herald

Rising Fees Under Scrutiny A row over traffic charges has dominated South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly this week. Lawmakers argue fresh directives from Traffic Police headquarters breach statutes the house approved in 2022. Drivers Face New Certificates The orders introduce a semi-annual driving test certificate, compulsory even for motorists already holding valid licences. Fees linked to the certificate, alongside altered timelines for licences and logbooks, sparked immediate concern among legislators and civil society. Human rights lawyer Reech Malual warns the policy risks pricing low-income drivers off the road. Legal Framework Sparks Debate MP Giel Thou, representing Mayom County, told…

Rising Humanitarian Pressures in South Sudan More than a decade after independence, conflict, economic instability and climate shocks still drive displacement across South Sudan. The recent arrival of over 2.8 million people fleeing violence in Sudan has sharply increased demands on already fragile health and protection systems. Integrated SRH and GBV Services Highlighted At the KOICA–UNFPA 2025 Annual Learning Event, officials noted that mobile clinics, community outreach and psychosocial care reached 53,792 people last year. Implementing partners said linking health, protection and dignity “goes beyond medical care” by restoring trust for women and adolescents during crises. Grassroots Voices Take Center…

Legislative Momentum Parliament passed the Cybercrime and Computer Misuse Bill in November 2025 after months of hearings. The text now awaits President Salva Kiir’s assent, a procedural step officials predict will happen shortly (Eye Radio, 2025). Empowering Regulators Dr. Labanya Mathya, Director for Corporate Affairs at the National Communication Authority, says the legislation will give regulators firmer legal ground to request timely takedowns from mobile operators and internet providers. She argues that faster collaboration among platforms, underpinned by court orders, could stem misinformation before it corrodes public trust, especially in the build-up to elections. Election Context and Online Speech South…

Eight-Year Silence Ends in Wau The airwaves above Wau crackled back to life on Monday as the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation station transmitted its first test signal in eight years. The broadcaster had fallen silent in 2017 after the civil war forced staff to abandon damaged studios. Civil War Damage Still Visible Years of vandalism stripped the facility of cables, mixers and protective fencing, leaving rusted transmitters and broken antennas exposed. Technicians say only a fraction of the original inventory survived, underscoring the scale of rehabilitation still required. Local Lawyer Sparks Revival Unexpected assistance arrived from Wau-born lawyer Jacob Wol,…

Tambura Violence Drives Mass Flight Western Equatoria State is once again absorbing a surge of civilians after fresh clashes in neighboring Tambura forced roughly 52,000 residents to trek south-west into Ezo County over the past month, local officials confirm. Four Camps Strain Ezo’s Resources Commissioner Abel Sudan reports that the arrivals have been split across four improvised camps in Ezo’s sub-payams, a decision meant to ease pressure on host communities already coping with limited water, health services and schooling. Makeshift shelters spread quickly across farmland and church yards, turning quiet villages into dense settlements where tarpaulin, bamboo and red soil…

Community Water Mechanics Training in Lakes State Fourteen days of intensive drills in Rumek turned twenty volunteers from all seven counties into certified hand-pump technicians. The workshop, driven by Women Empowerment Solution Initiative, mixed classroom sessions with muddy field practice around nearby boreholes. Hygiene Education Complements Technical Skills Trainers paired wrench work with lessons on safe water handling, latrine care and disease prevention. Executive Director Simon Buud Gai argued that fixing pipes means little unless communities also understand germs, adding that trauma healing sessions helped participants stay focused on service. Women Lead the Repair Revolution Ten women, many traditional caretakers…

High-Level Meeting Signals Fresh Start Sudan’s Prime Minister Dr. Kamil Idris met a visiting team led by South Sudan’s presidential adviser Tut Galuak to reassess relations forged since the 2011 split, signalling a diplomatic thaw despite the conflict still shaking Khartoum. Oil Transit Tops Priority List Both sides agreed that unimpeded oil transit remains urgent for Juba’s revenue and Khartoum’s fees; recent pipeline damages linked to the army-RSF clashes have squeezed daily exports, according to officials familiar with the briefings. Technical Committees Reactivated Dr. Idris instructed dormant joint technical committees on energy, borders and trade to reconvene immediately, saying their…

Targeted attack shocks Juba political class Luka Mathen Toukpiny Luk, a Council of States member, was shot inside his Gudele compound around 22:00 on Sunday. Eyewitnesses say armed men slipped through the gate minutes after the lawmaker returned from evening prayers, firing several rounds before fleeing into the narrow lanes. The National Democratic Movement described the attack as “barbaric,” urging security agencies to, in its words, “close the chapter on unknown gunmen.” Spokesperson Kai Tap Gatchang said the capital must not become a place where public servants fear walking into their own homes. Widow confirms arrests amid ongoing manhunt Speaking…

Grounding Order Sparks Security Review Authorities in South Sudan have temporarily grounded four planes contracted to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan after intelligence services reported undisclosed surveillance devices on board and suspected cross-border sandalwood smuggling activities. Foreign Minister Monday Semaya told journalists that an independent committee was formed to verify the intelligence brief and schedule follow-up measures aimed at safeguarding national airspace. Unreported Surveillance Equipment Investigators say two chartered helicopters carried intelligence recorders and missile countermeasure systems that had not been declared to civil aviation regulators, potentially breaching host-nation notification rules. A senior security officer described the finding…

Bor County vows decisive action The administration of Bor County has issued its toughest notice yet to Red Belt commander Leek Mamer, demanding his voluntary surrender as security sweeps spread across Jonglei State. Commissioner Samuel Ateny Pech signalled a readiness to launch a full manhunt if talks fail. Determined to dismantle groups acting outside state control, county leaders gathered lawmakers, women, youth and chiefs in Bor town. Their consensus: insecurity must end and government authority must be visibly re-established in every payam. Security operation objectives Commissioner Pech stressed the campaign targets lawbreakers, not communities. “We stand with the Government of…