Author: The South Sudan Herald

Diplomatic Denial in Juba South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has flatly rejected claims of quiet negotiations with Israel to host Palestinians from Gaza, calling the rumor “baseless” and not reflective of government policy (Ministry statement). The Story Behind the Leak The Associated Press quoted six unnamed sources who said exploratory talks were under way, sparking headlines across East Africa and abroad last week (Associated Press). Civil Society Questions Edmund Yakani of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization urged transparency, warning that South Sudan must not become “a dumping ground” or a bargaining chip in wider geopolitics (Eye Radio interview). Humanitarian…

Machar Detention Sparks Legal Debate Dr Riek Machar’s brief detention in Juba, though resolved, reopened old wounds about how South Sudan handles controversy around its senior leaders. Government officials insisted security considerations compelled the move, but critics warned it risked violating the 2018 Revitalised Agreement. Historical Shadows Shape Public Perception Memories of the 1991 Bor massacre and later rebellions cast a long shadow, shaping public opinion of Machar as either reformer or repeat offender. “Our past bleeds into every present decision,” noted civil society activist Abuk Deng in Juba, urging caution against blanket condemnation or blanket amnesty. Balancing Rule of…

Rallying Around Dialogue The African Union Peace and Security Council’s August field mission to Juba reignited calls for a broad political conversation in South Sudan. Civil society groups, faith leaders and foreign partners say the moment may finally be right for structured, time-bound talks. AU PSC Mission Revives Diplomatic Energy In its communiqué, the Council urged an ‘inclusive high-level political dialogue’ to ease rising tensions before the transitional timeline expires. Observers note that the language echoes President Salva Kiir’s July appeal to opposition holdouts to ’embrace reconciliation’ for the sake of citizens. Diplomats from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the…

Arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar Dr. Riek Machar was placed in custody on 28 March 2025 after Upper Nile’s White Army overran a government barracks, leaving Major General Majur Dak and 27 soldiers dead. Juba’s security agencies quickly linked the SPLM-IO leader to the incident. Government’s Criminal Case Narrative Information Minister Michael Makuei told reporters that intelligence showed Machar directing loyal bases throughout March, sparking violent clusters in Nasir and other hotspots. He stressed the detention stemmed from suspected crimes, not politics, a line later amplified by presidential adviser Kuol Manyang. Kuol Manyang’s Comments to AU Envoys Speaking…

Debate Stalls in Juba South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislature broke for the day after noting an almost empty ministerial bench. The session had been slated to examine President Salva Kiir’s policy address delivered last week during the budget opening. Lawmakers Demand Executive Presence MP Elizabeth Adut told colleagues the house “cannot interrogate government plans in a vacuum.” Her view was echoed by Gatkouth Wat, who reminded members that a presidential speech represents binding policy requiring cabinet clarification. Wide Support for Adjournment SPLM-IO chief whip Faruk Gatkouth signalled cross-party agreement, saying the postponement protects parliamentary integrity. With only five ministers present—covering…

AfroBasket 2025 Group C high stakes When the Arena do Kilamba lights come up on Tuesday night, South Sudan and Libya will meet knowing that defeat would almost certainly send them to the tournament’s margins, while victory keeps a quarter-final dream flickering in this unpredictable AfroBasket 2025 campaign. Both sides dropped their openers, South Sudan falling 88–80 to a revitalised Guinea, Libya suffering an 85–53 lesson from hosts Angola. With only three preliminary games, Group C offers little room for early mistakes, and coaches are preaching urgency as loudly as any tactic. The format sends group winners straight to the…

A Milestone for Western Equatoria Youth On a bright Yambio morning, the steady clang of hammers mixed with church hymns as St. John Catholic University was officially launched, marking the first institution of its kind in Western Equatoria State and promising to reshape the province’s educational landscape. The ceremony gathered Bishop Barani Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala, acting governor Daniel Badagbu Rimbasa, senior officials, and curious residents who filled plastic chairs under canvas tents, illustrating a rare alignment of ecclesiastical vision and public authority in pursuit of a single goal: equipping young people with future-proof skills. Bishop Hiiboro, his white cassock catching…

A Kidnapping Near the Ugandan Border Richard Matiangi thought the dusty border road from Morobo to Uganda held only potholes, not death. On 30 July the Kenyan civil engineer saw his colleague James Kariuki cut down by gunfire, their pickup torched, and his own life placed in the hands of unknown gunmen. He would spend three tense days marching through tangled undergrowth, guarded by rebels who offered few answers. The nightmare ended just as abruptly: a lone captor murmured a whispered instruction to flee, and the five hostages slipped into the night toward the steeple of Holy Trinity. Hostages’ Grueling…

Tumaini, the Common Thread of a Regional Mediation Launched in Nairobi in 2023, the Tumaini process aims to bring together movements excluded from the 2018 revitalized agreement and to strengthen South Sudan’s transition. The Swahili word “tumaini” – hope – reflects the ambition to fill the gaps left by previous negotiations. A Pause that Raises Questions for Negotiators Since February 7, talks have been adjourned for the third time. Officially, Juba says it wants to finalize two roadmaps intended to clarify the end of the transitional period. In the absence of a resumption date, concern is growing among civil society…