Author: The South Sudan Herald

New York Week Ahead From 22 to 27 September 2025, the United Nations will hold its 80th General Assembly in New York, themed ‘Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights’. South Sudan intends to seize the moment. President Salva Kiir has selected Vice President Josephine Lagu Yanga to lead the delegation, signalling both confidence in her stature and an emphasis on continuity. Historic Delegation Choice Lagu Yanga becomes the highest-ranking South Sudanese woman ever to address the Assembly, a milestone that appeals to domestic audiences pushing for broader gender representation. Her presence also maintains continuity…

Voluntary Disarmament Wave in Nimule A rare scene unfolded in the border town of Nimule as 418 self-identified gang members handed over machetes, spears and hammers to security forces. Officials stress that no decree forced the act; the youths simply announced they were weary of violence and sought a fresh start. Church-Led Talks Inspire Surrender The Jerusalem Episcopal Council convened a two-day dialogue that mixed scripture, personal testimony and mediation methods. According to Mayor Caesar Longa Fuli, the sessions convinced rival groups that community safety outweighed street reputation, sparking the collective decision to disarm without external pressure. Resource Gap Threatens…

Main Terminal Closure Spurs Upgrade On 17 September, Juba International Airport management shut its primary arrival terminal, launching a renovation drive designed to modernise South Sudan’s sole international gateway. Service, Efficiency and Passenger Comfort Airport Manager Mosety Kat Monyjok explained that the facelift targets smoother passenger flow, enhanced efficiency and a refreshed travel experience, aligning with June’s broader upgrade roadmap. Traffic Diverted to Terminal 2 All arrivals now funnel through the recently built Terminal 2. Check-in counters, security screening and baggage belts were reconfigured overnight to keep traffic moving with minimal disruption. Nighttime Flights Expand Capacity Last month saw airlines…

Ambush on Vital Aid Lifeline On Tuesday morning, armed assailants waylaid a convoy of humanitarian vehicles on the Torit-Magwi road in Eastern Equatoria, local authorities confirmed. The attackers stopped a car operated by Caritas Torit, seizing phones, cash and laptops before turning their weapons on following vehicles, including one owned by Save the Children, Torit County Commissioner Christopher Andrew reported. Victims Speak and Denials Issued Andrew said ten gunmen, “believed to hail from the Greater Pibor Administrative Area,” blocked the route between 11 a.m. and noon. However, Greater Pibor spokesperson Jacob Werchum Juk rejected the allegation, insisting no Murle youth…

Strategic Workshop Targets Gender-Based Violence Justice On Wednesday, a three-day workshop opened in Juba, gathering 30 High Court judges and magistrates to sharpen responses to gender-based violence cases. The event marks a fresh push to translate South Sudan’s transitional justice commitments into courtroom practice. Center for Inclusive Governance Leads Capacity Drive The Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice, led by Executive Director Jackline Nasiwa, organised the training after years of consulting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence. Nasiwa said most victims “want to access justice and legal remedies” and expect courts to act swiftly. Previous sessions for clerks addressed confidentiality…

A Landmark Ceremony in Bor Cheers rose across Bor as Dr John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology conferred postgraduate diplomas on 42 pioneers, 37 men and five women, marking the institution’s maiden graduate-level milestone (Eye Radio, 17 September 2025). Partnerships Fuel Academic Growth The postgraduate program emerged from a tripartite collaboration linking the university, the International Organization for Migration and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, whose grant covered every tuition franc and research cost. Leaders Highlight Research Priorities Vice-Chancellor Professor Abraham Matoch told Eye Radio the achievement shows the campus is “improving to the standard level required universally”…

Seized Headquarters Sparks Fresh Tensions The office of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition in Malakal was taken over on Monday after state security adviser El Tayib Ajak instructed Maj. Gen Paromi Angui to hand the premises to Agwelek forces, party secretary-general Michael John Jock confirmed. The building, owned by the party since July 2023, sits in Hai El-Rai El-Masery beside Upper Nile University hostels and an orphanage. Who Are the Agwelek Forces? Agwelek fighters, once rebel allies, realigned with the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces after Gen. Johnson Olony returned to Juba in May 2023. Maj. Gen Paromi Angui,…

Community-Led Climate Response in Bentiu Bentiu’s dusty outskirts lit up with colour as community leaders, civil society and state officials planted the first of thousands of seedlings. The event, steered by the Civil Society Coalition on Natural Resource, signals fresh grassroots resolve against intensifying climate threats. State Ministerial teams from agriculture, education and environment joined internally displaced families who have endured recurrent floods and crop losses. Their presence framed the campaign as both civic duty and official priority. Unity State’s Six-Year Shock Timeline Unity State has suffered six straight years of climate shocks, according to CSCNR programme officer Gizam Moses.…

Security Stabilises in Warrap State Months of relative calm in South Sudan’s Warrap State are reshaping the governor’s priorities. Bol Wek Agoth, appointed in June after intercommunal clashes, now flags infrastructure as the centrepiece of his administration. High-Level Talks in Juba After conferring in Juba with National Transport Minister Dr. Lam Akol, the governor announced a coordinated push on roads and aviation facilities. His press unit framed the meeting as groundwork for “vital transportation infrastructures” needed to connect the state. Kuajok Airstrip Prioritised Top of the agenda is finishing the Kuajok airstrip, regarded as a logistical spine for humanitarian and…

Regional Trade Boost at Nimule At a workshop in Juba, the European Union joined UNOPS and TradeMark Africa to unveil a four-year, $10.8 million plan to modernise the Nimule crossing on the Ugandan border. Dubbed the Nimule One-Stop Border Post, the initiative seeks to streamline customs and immigration procedures while fostering confidence between South Sudan and its neighbours. Empowering Women and Youth Traders Trade and Industry Minister Atong Kuol Manyang said the effort will create ‘conditions for smoother trade, job opportunities and long-term economic growth for our people’. Organisers pledged targeted support for women and youth who dominate informal commerce…