Author: The South Sudan Herald

Mounting Security Concerns in South Sudan The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission reported a marked slide in stability from July to September 2025. Ambassador Berhanu Kebede told lawmakers that fresh violence has threatened the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement. He identified the Nasir incident as a ‘major violation of the permanent ceasefire’, noting subsequent arrests and detentions had frayed inter-party trust (RJMEC Quarterly Report, Sept 2025). Governance Progress Offers Hope Despite the setbacks, the Transitional National Legislative Assembly reconvened after a six-month recess and passed several priority bills. Kebede praised the gesture, calling parliamentary continuity a ‘welcome development’ for the…

Canadian Funding Fuels Agricultural Turnaround A three-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada and delivered by Catholic Relief Services is transforming food production and social cohesion in South Sudan’s Lakes State, officials observed during a recent field visit to Rumbek East and Yirol West counties. From Subsistence to Surplus On the sandy fields of Akot Payam, 26-year-old farmer Amuong Maker showed how collective support expanded cultivation from 60 to 100 hectares, yielding abundant sorghum, millet, beans and groundnuts that now cover household meals and children’s school costs. A women-run roadside restaurant in Aluakluak Payam, financed through a micro-grant, has become…

Sweeping Local Orders Spark Debate Residents of South Sudan’s Magwi County woke up to two forceful local orders this month, one halting tramadol sales and another blocking charcoal exports, each signed on 8 December by Commissioner Pole-pole Benjamin Olum. Order No. 03/2025 strictly bans pharmacies, clinics and informal stalls from dispensing tramadol or similar controlled substances, while Order No. 04/2025 prohibits any charcoal harvested in Magwi from crossing county borders, echoing recent directives from Juba and Eastern Equatoria authorities. Tramadol Misuse Fuels Security Fears Local health workers report that the opioid, meant only for prescription, has become a cheap stimulant…

Unregistered bikes raise alarm in Yambio Traffic authorities in Yambio say motorcycles without plates now dominate busy junctions, complicating accident probes and crime tracing. Officers argue anonymous bikes give thieves an easy escape and leave victims without recourse. Police tighten enforcement measures Senior officer Santo Arkangelo Ginana told riders that every impounded motorcycle will stay in custody until the real owner is verified. He insisted no soldier or influential figure will override the process. The department plans a fresh registry of all motorcycles and their operators across Yambio County, aiming to pair each frame number with a traceable owner. Youth…

Presidential Decree Announces New Private Secretary On Monday evening, a state broadcast announced President Salva Kiir’s decree relieving Private Secretary Moses Rou Ayii. The same order promoted Akol Santo Arech to the sensitive post, marking another adjustment at Juba’s highest desk. One-Month Turnaround Highlights Volatility Ayii had himself replaced Deng Bona Bang Dhel less than a month earlier, illustrating a rapid rotation pattern in the Office of the President. Observers note that senior aides often appear and disappear without public explanation, feeding speculation about evolving loyalties. Revenue Authority Also Affected A separate decree removed John Mading Bol as Deputy Commissioner…

From Construction Deals to Political Clout Benjamin Bol Mel first appeared on Juba’s radar in the mid-2000s, presenting ABMC Thai-South Sudan Construction as a solution for long neglected roads. Contracts flowed quickly, and the businessman’s access to President Salva Kiir grew alongside the nation’s infrastructure ambitions. At the South Sudan Chamber of Commerce he fashioned himself as a champion of local entrepreneurs, yet insiders recall that cabinet ministers routinely endorsed ABMC bids, sidestepping competitive tenders in a country still writing its procurement rules. The Magnitsky Spotlight Washington’s December 2017 designation under the Global Magnitsky Act thrust Bol Mel onto a…

Community Gathering Signals Fresh Direction More than 500 residents of Maluil-Akong converged in Ajuendit over the weekend to reboot local governance. Chiefs, women, youth and officials filled the meeting ground, underscoring a broad demand for home-grown solutions amid limited public funding. Attendees agreed the moment felt historic, noting previous committees dissolved once politics intruded. Transparent Ballots Bring Diverse Leaders After open nominations, three committees emerged: chiefs, women and youth, each with seventeen elected members. Organisers say the process relied on voice votes and visible tallies, reducing suspicion and boosting legitimacy. Mou Aleu, now chairing the youth wing, stressed that the…

High-Level Return to Malakal Airport Governor Jacob Dollar Ruot touched down in Malakal on Monday, ending a focused three-day outreach to Nasir County. Deputy Governor Deng Joh Angok greeted the convoy amid measured optimism from residents who see mobility of senior officials as a barometer of stability. Community Consultations Drive Upper Nile Security In village courtyards and county offices, Ruot engaged elders, youth leaders, and women’s associations. According to his office, dialogues centred on preventing localized violence, opening corridors for aid agencies, and reinforcing a shared narrative of statehood that transcends traditional fault lines. Governor’s Peace Message Resonates Locally “Every…

Generational shift reshapes Juba politics South Sudan’s political landscape is welcoming a cadre of youthful officials whose ascent signals a quiet but notable transformation. Figures such as Senior Presidential Envoy Adut Salva Kiir and Information Minister Ateny Wek Ateny are at the centre of this emerging narrative. While their appointments have energised many citizens, vocal critics question whether rapid promotion can translate into sustained reform, underscoring the high expectations attached to this new generation of leaders. Early wins in telecom and climate policy In the first weeks on the job, Minister Ateny opened talks with telecom operators about tariff reductions,…

Sudden Directive Sparks Confusion On 17 November 2025 a memo from the South Sudan Revenue Authority set a new container levy of US$3,580 and removed the US$5,000 empty container deposit. The message reached Kenyan clearing agents without forewarning, freezing activity on the Mombasa–Juba corridor (Dawan Africa). A Blow to the Mombasa–Juba Corridor Kenya’s Port of Mombasa handles most of landlocked South Sudan’s seaborne imports. Truckers, freight stations, insurers and exporters rely on the route. The added charge now threatens margins, forcing some operators to park trucks and suspend bookings to Juba. Kenyan Stakeholders Voice Alarm Former KIFWA chair Roy Mwanthi…