Author: The South Sudan Herald

Youth Surrender Signals Shift More than 400 self-styled gang members walked into Nimule town hall last week, handed over pangas and knives, and publicly pledged peace, a gesture Governor Louis Lobong Lojore described as “a turning point for our youth.” Government Reintegration Plan Lobong’s office has tasked state police, army and wildlife officers with screening volunteers interested in uniformed careers, aiming to channel their energy into lawful service rather than street influence. Vocational Training Backed by UNMISS For those preferring civilian paths, a joint programme with UNMISS will deliver short courses in carpentry, mechanics, tailoring and agribusiness, coupled with micro-grants…

Swift Rescue in Lakes State Eight traders abducted along the Lakes–Jonglei border are home after a coordinated rescue that recovered 62 cattle and a goat. The handover occurred in Awerial, where Commissioner Philip Mawut Deng said he acted on ‘clear directives from the state governor’ to return the traders to their relatives. Survivors’ Ordeal and Relief Witnesses said armed youth intercepted the traders’ boat on 14 September, forcing them into the forest for four tense days. One captive delivered a baby during detention, a detail that heightened public concern and underscored the group’s vulnerability. ‘All eight people were released and…

Parliamentary Realignment in Juba South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislature approved George Mabior Mayom as acting chief whip for the SPLM-IO on Thursday, replacing Farouk Gatkuoth Kam. The move occurred during a business committee meeting chaired by newly appointed First Deputy Speaker Ambrose Lomin Pitia. Members set the agenda for the next session, which is expected to debate budget allocations and security legislation linked to the revitalised peace agreement. Observers described the atmosphere as business-like, with neither applause nor dissent voiced in the chamber. Profile of George Mabior Mayom Mayom belongs to the SPLM-IO breakaway group led by Peacebuilding Minister Stephen…

Veteran Economist Passes in Cairo Othom Rago Ajak, former governor of South Sudan’s central bank, died on Wednesday in Cairo after a brief illness, his family said. He was 70. His daughter, Buchay Ajak, disclosed that preparations are underway to fly his remains to Juba for burial next week. Architect of Post-Independence Monetary System Appointed governor in January 2017, Ajak guided policy during a volatile period marked by currency shortages and inflation, championing measures that calmed markets and reinforced public confidence. The Bank of South Sudan hailed him as “a dedicated public servant and economist whose contributions were instrumental in…

Judicial Capacity Building in Juba At a three-day workshop in Juba, Justice Stephen Simon, Director of Land and Registration at the Supreme Court, reminded judges and magistrates that continuous learning is essential to keep pace with sophisticated, technology-driven offences. New Crimes Require New Expertise Simon observed that financial fraud, cyber threats, and other evolving crimes demand fresh analytical tools. He argued that only updated jurisprudence can safeguard public confidence, urging participants to embrace training “until they die.” Lifelong Education Becomes Formal Policy According to the official, the judiciary’s new leadership has embedded compulsory, career-long courses into its policy framework. Every…

South Sudan Suicide Surge 2025 A new survey by Community Empowerment for Progress Organization reports 507 suicides nationwide from January to August 2025, a figure observers call unprecedented. Civil society leaders say the data, drawn from police logs and community monitors, likely understates the reality, yet still signals a mental-health emergency. Economic Stress Fuels Despair Central Equatoria recorded 301 suicides—almost 60 percent of the total—amid rising prices, wage stagnation and widespread displacement. In Upper Nile, cases climbed to 15 percent of the national share. Analysts link the uptick to shrinking farm yields and disrupted trade routes. Women and Youth Bear…

Night Clash Leaves Two Dead in Mayom County Gunfire erupted during a late-night social gathering in Mankien Payam on Tuesday, killing two young men and wounding another, authorities in Mayom County reported on Wednesday. Witnesses said the dispute began between two individuals but quickly drew in rival youth factions from Mankien’s Chiengbolkang and neighbouring Kueyiel’s Chiengkuring communities. Commissioner Confirms Details and Arrests Commissioner James Lily Kuol told Radio Tamzaju that each side lost one life; a second Chiengbolkang youth survived gunshot wounds and is receiving treatment. Kuol confirmed several arrests but withheld numbers while investigators review statements and recover spent…

Crops Trampled, Tempers Ignite in Aweil West Riang-Angon village in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr El Ghazal felt the crackle of flames this week, after farmer Bol Ngor Bak allegedly torched two huts when roaming cattle trampled his sorghum and groundnuts. Swift Police Detention of Suspect Police inspector Atak Wol Kiir said officers captured Bak moments after villagers chased him across dusty lanes; the 50-year-old, now held in Aweil town for his own safety, reportedly offered no clear explanation during questioning. Villagers Scramble to Rescue Livestock Witnesses described chaotic scenes as neighbors rushed into the burning byre, pushing cows and goats…

Presidential Decree Reshapes Jonglei Cabinet President Salva Kiir issued a Wednesday evening decree reshuffling Jonglei State’s cabinet, bringing eight new faces into key portfolios and naming a fresh Bor County commissioner. The move marks the first adjustment since Governor Riek Gai Kok took office in March 2025. Those relieved include ministers for cabinet affairs, finance, education, animal resources, housing, health and labour, alongside Bor’s commissioner. Justice Kuony Yien Nyuon, Donge Gai Donge and six other SPLM figures step into the vacated posts. Leaked Document Aligns with Final Line-Up A leaked list dated 5 August circulated on social media before the…

Rumors Ripple Across Social Media Social platforms lit up this week with claims that South Sudan’s Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and Deputy Army Chief Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam had been freed. The speculation traveled fast, feeding political intrigue in Juba and among the diaspora. Activist Clarifies the Custody Situation Edmund Yakani, head of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation, moved quickly to correct the narrative. He told reporters the two officials were merely relocated from National Security Service cells to a guarded apartment as a procedural measure. “They remain in legal custody awaiting court proceedings,” Yakani stressed, adding that…