Author: The South Sudan Herald

Anxious Nation Watches High-Profile Case Three sisters from Rumbek were discovered lifeless in room 8 of Freedom Hotel on 28 March, shocking the capital and the Lakes community. The Rumbek Youth Union, now headquartered in Juba, argues that the tragedy exposes lingering gaps in South Sudan’s protective systems for young women. The Minister’s Contested Ruling Justice Minister Joseph Geng Akech recently ordered the hotel reopened and granted conditional bail to its owner and staff, citing expired detention limits in the penal code. He defended the move as a matter of constitutional rights, writing that “no legal reason” justified further closure…

South Sudan at a Crossroads More than twelve years after independence, South Sudan still wrestles with a legacy of community defence groups that frequently morph into well-armed tribal militias. Their ascendancy, observers say, reflects structural weaknesses that deep reforms must finally confront. Roots of Armed Community Movements Researchers cite political patronage, ethnic polarisation, unequal resource access and porous armouries among the sparks. When government weapons flow into civilian hands, rival youth feel compelled to organise, says Juba-based analyst Deng Kuol, ‘or risk standing unprotected in a competitive landscape.’ Others point to impunity. Past disarmament sweeps were selective, leaving some clans…

JUBA — South Sudan has been thrust into a new phase of political upheaval after President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued sweeping presidential decrees on Monday night, removing and replacing several senior government officials, security chiefs, and key figures inside the Office of the President. The shake-up, broadcast live on SSBC News and shared widely across social media, comes amid mounting public pressure, ongoing corruption scandals, and growing concerns over mismanagement of state resources, particularly in the petroleum and finance sectors. The decrees announced the dismissal or reassignment of high-level figures across strategic institutions: No official explanation has been provided for…

Aid Cuts Ripple Across Palabek When Washington halted a US$15 million grant earlier this year, hope dimmed in Palabek Refugee Settlement in northern Uganda. Nearly 100,000 South Sudanese exiles and thousands of local Ugandans had counted on the injection to start tiny enterprises. The Graduation to Resilience scheme, managed by AVSI Foundation, offered US$205 and three years of coaching to each participant, an amount modest by global standards yet transformational in a district where average earnings hover below US$800 annually. Inside the Graduation Approach Pioneered across several continents, the Graduation model blends seed capital with mentorship, savings groups and psychosocial…

El-Fasher’s Fall Spurs Online Outrage On 26 October 2023, El-Fasher fell to General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo’s Rapid Support Forces. The United Nations estimates at least 36,000 residents fled within days. Sudanese users and their diaspora shifted immediate anger online, launching a sweeping call to shun Emirati airlines, malls and investment platforms. Within 72 hours, the Arabic hashtag translating to ‘Boycott Emirates’ amassed tens of millions of views on TikTok, X and Instagram. Clips spliced Dubai’s gilded skylines with footage of charred villages, turning smartphones into a new battleground far removed from Darfur’s deserts. Tracing Gold and Guns Between Darfur and…

High-Stakes Trial Grips Juba A special tribunal in Juba has again drawn continental attention as it weighs treason and crimes-against-humanity charges against suspended First Vice-President Riek Machar and seven allies. During Monday’s 17th hearing, presiding Judge James Alala Deng warned the defense: ‘This is a high-profile case, and bringing inexperienced advocates is concerning,’ urging lawyers to avoid questions that imperil witnesses. Court Urges Measured Cross-Examination Judge Deng’s admonition followed a query from defense counsel Anis Tombe Augustino, who sought names of a payam and a chief said to have refused funds meant to mobilise the White Army. The bench ruled…

Seeds of Hope in Itang Refugee Camp At Ethiopia’s Itang camp, young Paul Ruot Bayoch fixed his eyes on grain sacks stamped “From the American People.” The inscription, he says, felt like a personal promise that war had not erased compassion. Born amid Sudan’s 1988 turmoil, his parents escaped southward violence and famine, joining thousands in Gambella. Entirely reliant on humanitarian deliveries, families navigated daily uncertainty yet clung to the possibility of return. Education Amid Hardship Makeshift mud-and-thatch classrooms provided more than literacy; they became incubators of resilience. There, Bayoch first articulated ambitions of peace, civic service and eventual homecoming.…

Juba Conference Highlights Unity Last week’s National Conference on Women, Peace and Security in Juba turned into an unexpected rallying point for solidarity. Trade and Industry Minister Atong Kuol Manyang took the podium to urge women to close ranks for the country’s long-term growth. Minister Atong’s Candid Reflections Her message was disarmingly frank. “As women, we are enemies of our own,” she confessed, stressing that whispered criticism of female leaders corrodes collective ambition. The minister asked delegates to replace rivalry with mentorship and public cheer-leading. Recognising High-Level Appointments Atong applauded President Salva Kiir’s decision to place women in prominent offices,…

Regional Training Milestone in Nairobi The East African School of Aviation in Nairobi recently conferred certifications on twelve South Sudanese recruits, marking the country’s biggest single cohort of new air traffic controllers to date. Graduates from seven other African nations shared the stage, underscoring cross-border cooperation. Curriculum Aligned with ICAO Standards Over nine months, trainees mastered Approach, Aerodrome and Area Control using a syllabus mirroring International Civil Aviation Organization guidelines. Instructors integrated Kenya’s national requirements, giving students exposure to busy regional air corridors and simulation labs that mirror real-time radar and voice communication challenges. Gender Inclusion Gains Momentum Four women…

Feast Day Sets a Hopeful Stage All Saints Parish in Rajaf burst into hymns as hundreds gathered for the Jubilee of Hope. The moment offered a rare pause from daily uncertainties, framing faith as a springboard for broader social renewal across Central Equatoria. Governor Emmanuel’s Message of Resilience Governor Lt. Gen. Rabi Mujung Emmanuel reminded congregants that hope fuelled South Sudan’s liberation and must now guide its peace agenda. “It sustained us through struggle and will steer us toward stability and development,” he told reporters (local press briefing). Church Cast as a Moral Compass Mujung praised churches for nurturing moral…