Author: The South Sudan Herald

IGAD Special Envoy’s Juba Visit Draws Attention Ambassador Moussa Djama Ali, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s Special Envoy to the Republic of South Sudan, is in Juba for official engagements. He is expected to hold high-level meetings with government counterparts, according to the information shared by local reporting (Eye Radio). Arrival in Juba and Diplomatic Reception The envoy arrived in Juba yesterday and was received by Ambassador Kureng Akuei Pac Garang. Ambassador Kureng Akuei Pac Garang serves as Director General of Multilateral Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the same reporting noted (Eye Radio). Security Context…

Government device to identify online hate speech South Sudan’s Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, Ateny Wek Ateny, says the government has acquired a device that can identify people using social media to spread hate speech and incite violence. The announcement was made at a public gathering in Juba. Ateny links social media misuse to security pressures Speaking on Saturday, January 24, Ateny argued that online misuse has, in his words, gone beyond acceptable limits of press freedom. He said the government is particularly concerned given South Sudan’s current political tension and insecurity, framing the measure as a…

South Sudan conflict: SPLA-IO signals a new phase The Sudan People’s Liberation Army–in Opposition (SPLA-IO) says its armed struggle against the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) has entered what it calls a decisive phase. At the same time, it instructed commanders and fighters to show strict restraint toward civilians and comply with international humanitarian law. January 25, 2026 statement from SPLA-IO operations chief In a statement dated January 25, 2026, SPLA-IO Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Lt. Gen. Wesley Welebe Samson commended opposition forces for what he described as courage and determination in fighting government troops. He asserted…

SSPDF evacuation directive in Jonglei State In Juba, the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) issued broad directives telling civilians, humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel to leave opposition-controlled areas of Jonglei State ahead of a planned military offensive labelled “Operation Enduring Peace”. In a press statement released on Saturday, SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said the measures focus on counties described as being under Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) control, notably Nyirol, Uror and Akobo. Operation Enduring Peace: orders for civilians and armed groups The statement said civilians in SPLA-IO-controlled parts of Nyirol, Uror and Akobo…

High-Level Sudan–South Sudan Diplomatic Visit in Juba Sudan’s Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Malik Agar Eyre, arrived in Juba on Sunday for a high-level bilateral visit, South Sudanese officials said. The trip is presented as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen relations between South Sudan and Sudan. Juba Airport Reception Signals Official Engagement At Juba International Airport, Agar was received by Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs Tut Gatlauk Manime and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Monday Sumaya Kumba, alongside other senior government officials, according to the official account of the visit. Written Message From Al-Burhan…

Tanzania Ports Chosen for South Sudan Imports The South Sudan Revenue Authority says it has secured designated land at Tanzania’s ports of Dar es Salaam and Tanga. The sites are intended to function as primary terminals for handling cargo destined for South Sudan, according to the administrations involved. Joint Communiqué Signed After Bilateral Talks The arrangement follows a joint communiqué signed after a bilateral meeting held in Tanzania on Wednesday, January 22, 2026. The talks focused on deepening cooperation between the two revenue administrations and improving cross-border trade facilitation. (Eye Radio) Revenue Chiefs Outline Operational Plans The communiqué was signed…

South Sudan Peace Deal Meets Harsh Claims South Sudan continues to face the challenge of turning signed peace commitments into daily security and governance. An opinion investigation argues that, away from public scrutiny, preparations for renewed conflict are taking shape through recruitment practices and regional security coordination, especially in Bahr el Ghazal and Central Equatoria. Allegations of Coercive Recruitment into NSS and Units The article alleges that men, and in some cases women, are absorbed into the National Security Service (NSS) and affiliated units through coercion rather than voluntary enlistment. It describes arrests without charge and detention in “legal grey…

A Social Media Post Sparks Political Controversy Juba has been drawn into an unusual dispute after a social media post alleged misconduct involving a senior diplomat and the First Lady. The matter has circulated widely online, prompting an official response from the office of Ambassador Monica Achol Aguek. Envoy’s Office Rejects Allegations as Defamatory Ambassador Monica Achol Aguek, South Sudan’s presidential envoy to the Middle East and Gulf States, has threatened legal action against a Facebook user. Her office described the accusations as false and defamatory, and framed the issue as a potential case of reputational harm. In a weekend…

Akobo County insecurity prompts MSF evacuation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has evacuated critical staff members from its healthcare facility in Akobo County, Jonglei State, after what it described as a sharp deterioration in local security. The evacuation took place on 24 January, following a clear instruction from relevant authorities and MSF’s own security assessment amid escalating tensions, according to the organisation. Healthcare services scaled down in Jonglei State MSF said the move has reduced its medical activities in Akobo to a minimum, raising concerns about access to lifesaving care for the thousands of people…

Juba dignity kits distribution targets urgent needs Hundreds of vulnerable women and girls in Juba received dignity kits on Friday, a move officials said supports personal hygiene, safety and wellbeing amid ongoing humanitarian challenges in South Sudan. The initiative focuses on practical essentials often missing in displacement and crisis settings. South Sudan officials and China Embassy launch ceremony The distribution was launched during a public ceremony attended by senior government officials and development partners. The Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Nuna Rhoda, presided alongside Ma Qiang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to South Sudan. First handover…