Author: The South Sudan Herald

A fragile state still healing Western Equatoria has wrestled with recurring clashes since 2021. Tombura county, once a breadbasket, became an arena of displacement and fear. Local markets emptied, harvests shrank, and thousands fled. Observers say the humanitarian cost remains visible in crowded shelters and untended fields. Arrival of top officials raises hope Governor Alfred Futuyo and Deputy Governor Kennedy Ganiko returned to Yambio this week. Their joint appearance, celebrated by residents, signals a willingness to engage communities directly. “Leadership must be seen, not only heard,” notes analyst Grace Mario, pointing to previous absences that fuelled uncertainty. Civil society’s message…

Fresh Violence Uproots Communities Recent clashes between the SPLA-IO and the SSPDF in Marju sub-Boma drove more than 1,000 residents from their homes, county officials report. Families fled east toward Pokula, a farming hub 22 miles from Yei town, seeking safety in schools, churches and open fields. Immediate Needs: Food, Shelter, Schools Commissioner Emmanuel Taban Seme observed children, pregnant women and older people sleeping without mats or mosquito nets, lacking food, medicine and classrooms. He appealed to local households and aid groups for tarpaulins and cereals, warning that rains could deepen suffering if assistance stalls. Local Voices Call for Swift…

Tool Distribution Boosts Western Equatoria Farmers Ninety smallholders from Ezo, Yangiri and Ringasi launched their second planting season with new equipment on Thursday, marking a practical step toward stronger food security across South Sudan’s fertile yet under-resourced Western Equatoria State. Scottish Partnership Funds Sustainable Agriculture The Catholic Organisation for Development and Peace distributed hoes, pangas, pickaxes and protective gear under its Sustainable Agriculture Project, financed by the Glasgow-based Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund. The kit mix was designed to cut labour time while boosting soil preparation and crop diversity. CODEP coordinator Charles Rangabia reminded recipients that inputs, not hand-outs, secure…

Historic Vote in Juba Delegates from across South Sudanese sporting federations gathered in Juba on Saturday, electing Chuol Laam to steer the National Olympic Committee until 2029. Observers described the atmosphere as disciplined, with electronic counting replacing the paper ballots of previous years. Securing 38 of 41 ballots, Laam termed the result “humbling”. He outlined priorities of athlete welfare, transparent budgeting and early preparations for Los Angeles 2028 and the 2027 African Games. Fresh Executive Team Joining Laam is entrepreneur Majok Ayii as First Vice-President, engineer Anna Nyakuet Taker as Second Vice-President, veteran sprinter Chol Ani as Secretary-General and accountant…

Leak Sparks Political Ripples An earlier cabinet proposal, sent on 5 August, surfaced online within hours, revealing plans to replace seven ministers and Bor County Commissioner James Gai Makoor with Ateny Pech, igniting debate across Bor and beyond. Local activists criticised the breach, saying it exposed sensitive negotiations and could heighten inter-communal tensions already strained by floods, insecurity and competition for administrative posts. Governor’s Rationale and Commitments Press Secretary Manath Gany Lual called the leak “unfortunate”, attributing it to unidentified individuals at the Office of the President who, he suggested, were displeased with the omission of their preferred candidates. He…

South Sudanese Countdown to 2026 Elections A decade after independence, South Sudan still awaits its first competitive poll. The revised date, 22 December 2026, serves as both deadline and test for a fragile nation seeking democratic legitimacy. Adjusted Election Timetable After two postponements, South Sudan now eyes 22 December 2026 for its first general election since independence. The National Elections Commission, citing logistical setbacks, says the extra time secures essential steps like a permanent constitution and census. Government spokesperson Michael Makuei Lueth maintains the date is realistic, arguing the timetable reflects ‘lessons learned’ from earlier delays and signals commitment to…

Unexpected stopover in Juba When seven third-country nationals landed in Juba after a July 5, 2025 deportation flight from the United States, South Sudan suddenly found itself custodian of travellers whose final destinations lay elsewhere. On 6 September, cameras captured Mexican citizen Jesus Munoz Gutierrez boarding a return flight, closing a chapter that tested Juba’s still-young diplomatic playbook. Coordinated diplomacy in action Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ambassador Apuk Ayuel Mayan told reporters the ministry “worked around the clock” to process travel documents, underscoring the institution’s growing administrative muscle. His counterpart, Ambassador-designate Alejandro Estevil Castro, praised the “very close cooperation” that allowed…

Historic first visit to Torit Presidential Envoy for Special Programs Adut Salva Kiir chose Torit for her maiden tour on 5 September, underscoring Eastern Equatoria’s historic role in South Sudan’s nation-building narrative. Crowds lined the streets as she called the stop a “big step” in her new mandate. Direct pipeline to the President Addressing residents, Adut stressed that the trip was more than protocol; it aimed to capture community grievances firsthand and funnel them to Juba without delay. She vowed to present a detailed dossier to President Salva Kiir and return with feedback, saying priorities would be “listed, labeled and…

Opening Signal for Youth Leadership In Juba, a high-level roundtable on the Youth, Peace and Security agenda opened by urging South Sudan’s young citizens to spearhead reconciliation, echoing UN Security Council Resolution 2250 and setting an assertive tone for the two-day forum. South Sudan’s Youth Majority as a Peace Asset Ministry of Youth and Sports official Diang Bichok Goah reminded delegates that more than seventy percent of the population is under thirty, framing the demographic surge as a strategic resource rather than a challenge. Young Voices Demand Skills and Protection Thess Marial Rong, representing the National Youth Union, argued that…

Rising Crime Challenges in Juba Central Equatoria has witnessed a worrying uptick in suicide cases, petty theft, gang-related skirmishes, and armed robberies over recent months, according to state security briefs. Residents say nightlife in certain suburbs now ends earlier because of fear. Police sources credit porous neighbourhood patrols and lingering economic pressures for the spike. However, officials insist the trend can be reversed through coordinated civil-authority action. Governor Mujung’s Security Blueprint “We should join hands as citizens and government because security requires collective efforts,” Governor Mujung told worshippers at Hai Malakia Mosque on 5 September. The governor framed safety as…