Author: The South Sudan Herald

Grassroots Momentum Builds Over a fortnight, residents of Mankien and surrounding payams handed over more than one hundred rifles, pistols and AK-47s, responding to a call from local chiefs and administrators who cited resolutions of last month’s county-level peace forum. Governor Riek Bim Top presided at the collection ceremony, praising volunteers while urging officials to widen the campaign beyond main roads before seasonal floods cut access. Security Context in Greater Upper Nile Unity State, in the oil-rich Greater Upper Nile, has long battled cattle raids, revenge killings, and an influx of small arms dating back to the 2013-18 civil war,…

Regional Context in Northern Bahr el Ghazal Northern Bahr el Ghazal, bordering Sudan, has long relied on informal trade and seasonal cattle movement. Yet persistent customs bottlenecks and sporadic insecurity have slowed growth across the five counties. Forum Logistics and Representation On 18 August, the state capital Aweil will host sixty delegates drawn equally from every county, including paramount chiefs, women leaders, planners and commissioners. Information Minister Gabriel Deng Yel says the gathering offers ‘a single table for reviewing performance and harmonising plans with national policy.’ Cross-Border Trade and Security Much of the agenda targets the busy frontier with Sudan,…

Heavy Rains Swell the Nile in Jonglei Unrelenting downpours since early September have left Twic East County submerged. Commissioner Juach Arok Juach reports more than 10,000 households in the county seat and nearby payams battling floodwater as the White Nile and surrounding swamps steadily rise. Families Displaced to Highland Pockets Many families have retreated to slender strips of highland around the Jonglei Canal, sharing space with 3,000 internally displaced households who arrived after earlier clashes in northern Jonglei, according to the commissioner. Mounting Health Concerns for Children Health workers warn of a spike in malaria, water-borne illnesses and mosquito infestations…

New Governor Takes Oath in Juba Governor James Altaib Berapai and Deputy Governor Justin Joseph Marona were sworn in at State House, Juba, ending a six-month vacancy in Western Equatoria’s top office. President Salva Kiir officiated the brief but closely watched ceremony attended by cabinet, clergy and foreign observers. Political Backdrop to the Appointment Berapai, aligned with the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, replaces Alfred Futuyo, an SPLM-IO figure removed in February. Observers note the pick diverges from the peace agreement’s power-sharing formula, yet Juba argues the choice ensures prompt governance amid persistent instability. Presidential Mandate for Stability Kiir urged…

Border Attacks Alarm Northern Bahr el Ghazal Persistent ambushes and cattle raids along the Sudanese frontier have jolted Northern Bahr el Ghazal’s tranquil reputation. In early August, a businessman was fatally shot on the Majok-Wanyjok road, underscoring a crime wave that lawmakers say can no longer be ignored. Assembly Summons Security Leadership The state transitional legislature has ordered county commissioners, Aweil town’s mayor, the police commissioner and the minister of local government to appear before the house next week. Speaker Simon Kuol said the officials must clarify the factors fueling cross-border violence and outline swift remedies. Trade Disrupted, Markets Nervous…

New Leadership Takes Oath Inside the crowded presidential hall in Juba, James Altaib Berapai and his deputy, Justin Joseph Marona, raised their right hands and pledged service before President Salva Kiir. Kiir reminded them that stability, not ceremony, would define their tenure, stressing that citizens in Yambio, Tambura and Ibba crave safety more than speeches. Escalating Violence in Western Equatoria The state has recorded a spike in targeted killings and road ambushes since February, following the dismissal of the previous governor, according to a statement from the Office of the President. Local activists report that commercial trucks now travel in…

Sudan-Pakistan Deal Reaches US$1.5 Billion Khartoum confirmed that its Military Industry Corporation signed what insiders describe as a US$1.5 billion procurement package in Islamabad, sealed after meetings between Lieutenant General Pilot Al-Tahir Mohamed Al-Awad Al-Amin and Pakistan’s defense leadership (ProPakistani). Jets, Drones and Air-Defense Assets The order reportedly covers ten K-8 trainer-attack aircraft, several classes of unmanned aerial vehicles including Shahpar-2 and Ababeel-5, new engines for ageing MiG-21s, Mohafiz armored vehicles, and HQ-series surface-to-air missiles. Pakistani officials have not publicly disclosed delivery schedules. Financing Puzzle Spurs Speculation Regional analysts argue the cash-strapped Sudanese army is unlikely to self-fund such a…

Rampant Looting Alarms Authorities Drivers hauling sorghum, fuel and cement along the 210-kilometre Wau-Tonj corridor say ambushes have intensified since early May, with armed groups stripping trucks and passengers within minutes, sometimes in daylight. Local trading unions recorded at least seven incidents last month alone, pushing transport premiums up by 30 percent and forcing small traders to suspend deliveries to remote cattle camps. Governor Okello’s Security Directive Addressing farmers in Nyiwara during the handover of an FAO-built centre, Governor Emmanuel Primo Okello pledged ‘swift, coordinated action’ to restore confidence on the road. “This road carries our lifeline,” he told the…

Sudan Opposition Transfers Youths to UN Mission On Monday, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition handed seventeen youths to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan in Malakal, ending weeks of uncertainty for families in the capital, Juba. SPLM-IO commanders say the group, some as young as fifteen, escaped forced enlistment into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces after a June security sweep in the city’s Shirkat suburb (Standard Zone News). Escape from Forced Conscription Eyewitnesses recount that security personnel chartered a military aircraft that ferried the detainees north, where they allegedly underwent hurried basic training at Gel-achel camp in Baliet…

Border Alert in Kajo-Keji County Reports of Uganda People’s Defence Force units crossing into Kajo-Keji County last week jolted officials in Central Equatoria, reviving memories of prior border frictions. The state cabinet convened urgently, branding the move a sovereignty breach demanding swift, calibrated action. Kampala–Juba Diplomacy in Focus Juba has historically balanced firm rhetoric with pragmatic outreach to Kampala. Officials signal they favour a diplomatic corridor, citing the 2019 bilateral commission that resolved a similar standoff without escalating troop deployments or disrupting vital trade along the Yei-Moyo road. Voices from Central Equatoria Government “Peaceful dialogue should be expedited,” Acting Information…