Author: The South Sudan Herald

Legal Protections for South Sudanese Women Addressing the Derik Cultural Festival in Juba on 23 November, Dr Barnaba Korina, Deputy Dean of Law at the University of Juba, labeled claims that South Sudan offers no legal safeguards for women as baseless. Customary Law vs Formal Law in South Sudan Korina acknowledged that some communities still treat women as inheritable property, but he stressed that such customs directly conflict with the Constitution and cannot prevail. He reminded the audience, “The law states that this is an invalid custom that cannot be relied upon,” underscoring the hierarchy that places enacted statutes above…

Campaign launch signals urgency South Sudan’s Acting Minister of Gender, Sarah Cleto Rial, opened the 2025 edition of the 16 Days of Activism, underscoring a growing call to end gender-based violence across the nation. Her televised address framed the campaign as a collective mission, aligning domestic efforts with the global initiative observed from 25 November to 10 December. Digital violence in South Sudan rises Rial warned that smartphones and social platforms have opened new fronts of abuse, exposing teenagers, especially girls, to cyberbullying, exploitation and the unauthorised sharing of intimate images. She called digital violence “a growing threat to women…

Leadership under Pressure State hospitals often operate on tight budgets, making leadership the decisive variable between attentive care and silent suffering. At Bor State Hospital in Jonglei, the administrative response to evolving medical standards has become a litmus test for that truth. Roots of Resistance Psychologists describe the status-quo bias, a pull toward familiar routines even when data suggest better options. Managers fearing workload spikes, loss of authority or exposure of skills gaps may quietly stall new protocols under the banner of stability. Staffing Choices and Competence Change-averse leaders sometimes equate affordability with suitability, hiring compliant workers over highly qualified…

Special Court Resumes for 24th Session On Monday, the special court in Juba opened its twenty-fourth session in the case against suspended First Vice-President Dr Riek Machar and seven colleagues. Attendance was recorded, with Judge Pal Ruai noting the continued medical absence of the sixth defendant, General Gatmai Kamilio. Military Testimony Identifies Commanders A senior South Sudan People’s Defence Forces officer, testifying for the prosecution, said an official committee blamed White Army commander Kong Makana for the death of Brigadier General Majur after leadership passed to him when Tor Gile died early in the Nasir assault. He told the bench…

GIS Training Marks New Era for Conservation A five-day bootcamp in Juba, run by African Parks with the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism and the University of Juba, gave 33 officials, students and community partners their first deep dive into Geographic Information Systems. Held from 10–14 November, the sessions blended theory with hands-on QGIS practice, allowing participants to interpret satellite imagery, trace wildlife corridors and overlay human activity around protected areas. Officials Embrace Data-Driven Patrol Planning Acting director Paul Peter Awol Alejok called the course a ‘game-changer’, noting that many rangers had relied on intuition. ‘Now we will deploy…

Historic Turnout Marks Latest CPE Exams More than 84,000 South Sudanese pupils began the Certificate of Primary Education examinations on Monday, an unprecedented turnout that national leaders hail as proof of widening classroom doors. Launching the tests at Juba One Boys Primary School, Vice-President Josephine Lagu Yanga stated, “A total of 84,815 candidates from 1,953 schools are writing in 551 centres nationwide.” South Sudan Education Drive Officials argue the surge reflects stronger parental confidence, growing teacher ranks and community resolve to keep children in class despite economic headwinds. Observers also link the rise to sustained school-building since 2019 and to…

First Cries in Total Darkness In Bentiu’s Yoangang clinic, 26-year-old Nyakal Juai delivered her son by the glow of a single torch, its beam juggled between the midwife’s hands. The safe cry of the newborn masked urgent realities: no electricity, no water, and no delivery bed in the brand-new ward supported by the UN Population Fund. Essential Services Still Elusive Health workers scramble nightly, guiding births through phone flashlights or small torches, then borrowing buckets from neighbours to scrub blood-stained floors. Juan Roye of Health Link South Sudan says such shortages ‘directly contribute to maternal deaths in Bentiu’, a warning…

Violence Erupts in Kediba and Beyond The current crisis traces back to 24 September, when a joint force of NAS and SPLA-IO briefly overran the SSPDF garrison in Kediba before losing it again in early October. Armed manoeuvres have continued, unsettling daily life across Mundri East County. Witnesses report fresh gunfire near Kasiko on 10 November, leaving four teenage boys dead and two missing. Community elders say soldiers have restricted access to the scene, preventing families from recovering the bodies. Human Toll and Displacement Patterns Health services collapsed when clashes shut Kediba Payam clinics, causing three preventable deaths, including two…

Digitel South Sudan 10-Year Athletics Sponsorship On Friday, domestic mobile operator Digitel Holdings Limited unveiled a decade-long agreement worth 10,000 dollars a year with the South Sudan Athletics Federation, signalling a sustained corporate entry into national sport. Annual Funding to Train Emerging Runners Executive Vice President De Chan Awuol said the yearly sum is earmarked for athlete training, including overseas camps where necessary, and is intended to reach boys and girls who demonstrate promise. “Athletics is a sport that can be nurtured on a football pitch,” Awuol noted, stressing the low-infrastructure appeal and the company’s wish that “no one should…

War’s Visible Wounds in Malakal Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala returned from Malakal with sobering impressions. He asked “anyone who longs for fighting to walk the streets there first,” arguing that shattered homes and grieving families speak louder than any speech (The Dawn Newspaper, 24 Nov 2025). In the Protection of Civilians site, he met parents sharing tents with strangers, surviving on rations and hope. The city, once a trading hub rich in fertile cropland and oil transit links, now bears broken clinics, empty schools and stalled markets. Clergy Call for Renewed Peace Efforts Addressing the recent Bishops’ Conference, South…