Author: The South Sudan Herald

Heglig Oil Heartland Seized by RSF Workers fled across the border on Monday after Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces advanced into the Heglig oil field, the country’s largest hydrocarbon hub, according to an engineer who witnessed the takeover. The site handles most of South Sudan’s crude before it reaches Port Sudan. Production Halt and Worker Exodus Production and processing stopped within hours, crippling a facility that channels nearly all of Juba’s budget revenue. Evacuees said pumps were shut, electricity cut and storage tanks left under skeleton security provided by RSF fighters who promised ‘full protection’ to remaining technicians. Paramilitary’s Justification and…

Assault Inside Police Station Reports from Juba indicate that defense lawyer Josephine Ahel Deng was beaten by eight men at the Northern Division Police Station after giving a statement in a contentious forced-marriage case (Standard Zone News). The assailants allegedly cited orders from former Warrap governor Gen. Manhiem Bol Malek, though this claim remains unverified, and police officers present reportedly failed to intervene. The Girl at the Center The dispute dates back to 2022, when a 14-year-old girl fled an arranged marriage and sought refuge to continue schooling under Deng’s guardianship. Family members allegedly renewed dowry negotiations in 2025, offering…

Journeys from War to Dual Citizenship From 1955 to 2005, successive liberation wars scattered South Sudanese families across Africa, North America, Europe, and Australia. In safe cities, they rebuilt lives, secured dual passports, and formed a far-flung community that still keeps an eye on Juba. Remittances: A Lifeline in Crisis Dollar transfers remain the diaspora’s most visible gift. During the 2013–2016 conflict, fundraising drives in Australia paid for food, school fees, medical bills, and dowries. A Dahabshiil manager recalls “up to 500 transfers a day at the height of need,” underscoring the scale. Beyond money, exiled professionals lent skills to…

Commissioner’s Health Struggle Ends in Juba Michael Othow Bol, 62, died on Sunday at Juba Teaching Hospital after a sudden drop in blood sugar, press secretary Angelina Sabit confirmed. The Makal County commissioner had battled diabetes since 2008, losing a leg to the disease yet remaining active in public service. Legacy of Unity and Reconciliation Appointed in June by former Upper Nile governor Gen. James Koang Chuol, Bol swiftly prioritised dialogue among Makal’s communities, launching outreach programmes that addressed long-standing tensions. Sabit recalled that he viewed peacebuilding as “a daily duty, not a slogan”, citing early mediation forums that brought…

Sudden Shots Disrupt Marol Market Calm Sunday commerce in Bor ended abruptly when crackles of gunfire rippled across Marol Market. Security forces scrambled after tip-offs that Red Belt Movement fighters were sighted among shoppers. Witnesses ducked behind stalls as troops released warning shots skyward, a tactic officials say prevented confrontation without harming civilians. Official Account from Jonglei Government Minister of Local Government Simon Hoth Duol confirmed deployment, noting suspects were recognised community members. He labelled the episode isolated and urged residents to resume daily routines. The minister, however, withheld casualty figures pending verification, saying any injuries would be investigated in…

New Hiring Wave Across Key Transport Modes The Ministry of Transport confirmed it will hire 231 new employees for the Railways and River Transport Departments within two weeks, marking one of the sector’s most significant workforce expansions in recent years. Technical Committee Defines Recruitment Blueprint After a joint session, specialists from the Transport and Public Service ministries began aligning technical needs, regulatory standards and funding streams to ensure the upcoming vacancies meet both operational demands and civil-service guidelines. Positions Span Engineering to Navigation Under-Secretary César Oliha noted that positions span engineering, navigation, safety auditing and maintenance, each requiring calibrated qualifications…

Juba iron-sheet ban aims at safer markets Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony has decreed an immediate halt to building shops with corrugated iron sheets across Central Equatoria. The directive follows the inferno that destroyed hundreds of stalls in Custom Market, spotlighting the flammability of the popular, inexpensive roofing material. Clean-up campaign links hygiene and security Launching the citywide Clean-up Campaign at Juba’s Freedom Square, the governor linked urban hygiene to disaster prevention. He urged residents to curb littering, plant trees and support safer construction, saying cleaner streets and sturdier buildings ‘go hand in hand for a secure capital.’ Traders weigh cost…

Grassroots Rise of Alfred Futuyo Lieutenant General Alfred Futuyo Karaba vaulted from Yambio’s market stalls to the helm of Western Equatoria through community mobilisation rather than formal ranks, embodying how local loyalty can upend conventional hierarchies in South Sudan’s still-fragile political order. Born in Nadiangere Payam to mixed Balanda-Azande heritage, Futuyo drew his deepest backing from Balanda villages. His leadership of the Arrow Boys, a self-defence network battling roving herders and bandits, cemented his image as a home-grown protector. Governorship Tested by Power Sharing Appointed governor in June 2020 under the revitalised peace deal, Futuyo’s assertive style energised supporters yet…

Growing Safety Fears for Women In Torit this week, delegates of the Eastern Equatoria Women’s Union voiced alarm over what they describe as a surge in intimidation, sexual violence and harassment targeting women across South Sudan. Deputy chair Flora Anyoo Charles argued that daily mobility has become “a calculated risk” for many women, urging authorities to treat security concerns as a constitutional priority rather than an isolated crime problem. Calls for Constitutional Guarantees Activists told the workshop that clear, enforceable clauses on gender-based violence would offer women stronger legal footing and signal that the state will prosecute offenders without exception.…

Sharp Relocation Ultimatum in Upper Nile Upper Nile State’s political landscape shifted sharply on 6 December as Governor Jacob Dollar Ruot told residents of Asir Town that every aid agency must move its field base to Nasir Town within days, or cease activities. Governor Ruot’s Accusations and Threats Speaking from a makeshift podium, Ruot labeled the organizations “blood suckers”, alleging they prosper by extending local hardship to secure donor funding, a charge aid workers have frequently disputed. He warned: ‘Any NGO that does not want to come here to operate in Nasir Town, starting Monday, will have its operation certificate…