Author: The South Sudan Herald

Activist renews call for inclusive dialogue Civil society leader Edmund Yakani has returned to the spotlight with an appeal for accelerated work on South Sudan’s peace deal before citizens head to the polls in December 2026. “The country needs an all-party dialogue under President Salva Kiir’s patronage to unlock a nine-month deadlock,” Yakani stated in Juba (CEPO statement). Stalled provisions of the 2018 peace accord Key security reforms, permanent constitution drafting and electoral laws remain unfinished, more than five years after the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict was signed. Observers caution that each missed deadline erodes public…

South Sudan police security assessment Speaking in Juba, police spokesperson Maj Gen James Monday Enoka insisted security across South Sudan is “generally calm”, noting a fall in crime reports compared with previous weeks. He nonetheless acknowledged isolated deadly events still surface and said investigators are pursuing each case diligently (Radio Tamazuj). Child suffocation tragedy in Lemon Gaba At sunset in Lemon Gaba on Monday, three children climbed into an unattended vehicle. Two suffocated before help arrived; the third survived and is hospitalised. Police have opened a negligence file and vowed to hold the owner accountable. Evening gun attack kills three…

ICGLR Kinshasa Summit Highlights Heads of state gathered in Kinshasa on 9 November for the 9th International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, where South Sudan asked partners to help end the sanctions curbing its post-war recovery. President Félix Tshisekedi, the new ICGLR chair, echoed calls for concrete follow-up, tasking the Bujumbura secretariat with rallying the broader international community. Envoy Pitia Morgan’s Intensive Lobbying South Sudan’s envoy Dr. Pitia Morgan said he held back-to-back meetings with delegations from Congo-Brazzaville, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, stressing that sanctions ‘hamper disarmament and investment’. He reported that heads of state unanimously inserted a clause…

Late-Night Blaze Rocks Wedwiel Camp Flames tore through Wedwiel settlement in South Sudan shortly before midnight on Friday, killing a Sudanese refugee and levelling 88 small shops that served both displaced families and the host community. Police Inspector Philip Agany Deng said officers reached the scene at 11:40 p.m. with the county commissioner but found the market already engulfed. Victim’s Final Attempt to Save Goods The victim, Adam Musa, reportedly dashed back into his kiosk hoping to salvage merchandise yet became trapped by collapsing, grass-thatched walls, Deng confirmed. Unclear Origin Fuels Concern Initial stories circulate about cooking fires used to…

President Salva Kiir has appointed Dr. James Wani Igga as the new Vice President in charge of the Economic Cluster, replacing Benjamin Bol Mel. The announcement, issued on Monday via presidential decree, marks a significant reconfiguration within South Sudan’s top leadership at a time of deep economic uncertainty. The reshuffle comes at a critical moment, underscoring the administration’s growing focus on restoring credibility and reassessing the direction of the country’s top economic portfolio. Whether the change will bring the stability and reform momentum South Sudan urgently needs remains to be seen.

Igga’s Return to Vice Presidency President Salva Kiir surprised many observers by reinstating veteran politician James Wani Igga as vice-president, replacing Benjamin Bol Mel after only seven days. The announcement aired on state television, reviving a political partnership first forged during the turbulent months of 2013. Analysts in Juba read the move as a quest for continuity. “Igga offers institutional memory and loyalty the president values,” said political scientist Sarah Achol. Her view echoes party insiders who describe the appointment as stabilising amid factional strains. Strategic Cabinet Rotations Kiir shifted portfolios affecting information, justice, environment, and infrastructure. Long-serving spokesman Michael…

Groundbreaking Signals Fresh Commerce In Torit, Eastern Equatoria State, cheers rose as shovels touched the red earth for a new main market that traders say could revive the town’s commercial heartbeat. Female Vendors Voice Expectations For years, vegetable seller Mary Luka arranged tomatoes on bare ground, fearing dirt could drive disease and customers away. Colleague Martha Peter said the new stalls will cushion families amid delayed public salaries, adding that organized space will ‘make us stand strong during the crisis’. WPDI and Swiss Partners Fund Vision WPDI Country Program Manager David Daku called the groundbreaking a milestone in the NGO’s…

Safe Spaces Foster Leadership In Malakal, Upper Nile State, a small classroom doubles as a sanctuary where forty adolescents practice public speaking and project planning under the Girls Leadership Club created by the National Press Club South Sudan. Weekly mentoring sessions blend debate, entrepreneurship tips and psychosocial support, nurturing confidence in a town still healing from years of conflict. Voices of Determination Nineteen-year-old shopkeeper Susan Daniel says the initiative reignited her childhood ambition of practicing medicine while financing her siblings’ tuition through trade. “This engagement reminded me that setbacks are temporary,” she remarks, tallying sales outside Malakal market at dusk.…

Witnesses Set to Take Stand The special court in Juba directed state prosecutors to line up sixteen witnesses for testimony on Friday, a schedule that could accelerate proceedings against suspended First Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-accused after months of preliminary argument. Court clerk opened the 22nd session with a roll call confirming all defendants present before Judge James Alala adjourned to finalize logistics. Security Measures for Key Witnesses Prosecution spokesperson told reporters that eight witnesses requested protective measures, citing fear of retaliation, while the remaining eight agreed to testify openly with translation support when required. The bench instructed…

Surge of Violence in Upper Nile On 14 November 2025, armed groups struck Adong Payam, Upper Nile State, leaving residents reeling. Médecins Sans Frontières confirmed 50 wounded reaching Malakal Teaching Hospital, several in critical condition. Rising Human Cost of the Attack Humanitarian partners report over 60 deaths and 66 injuries. Thirty patients need urgent surgery and specialized care, underlining the intensity of the assault. Strain on Limited Health Infrastructure The spike in casualties compounds the already fragile health and humanitarian systems in Upper Nile, where insecurity routinely hampers service delivery. Voices from the Frontline “As many are reported missing, we…