Author: The South Sudan Herald

Presidential Backing for Grassroots Strategy President Salva Kiir has reportedly instructed Upper Nile Governor Jacob Dollar to treat peace in Eastern Jikany as a national priority, linking calm in the state to stability across South Sudan. The directive set the tone for a hands-on mission that departs from traditional office governance. Relocating the State Headquarters Dollar told worshippers in Juba that he will “pitch camps” in Ulang and Nasir. By living among displaced families, he aims to accelerate dialogue, monitor security incidents in real time, and reassure civilians who view government authority as distant or transient. Youth and Faith Leaders…

Training sparks new awareness in Aweil Thirty residents of Northern Bahr el Ghazal gathered in Aweil last Saturday for an intensive workshop on disability inclusion, organised by the international NGO Humanity and Inclusion. The session sought to tackle lingering social barriers, reminding participants that equality requires daily, tangible action in classrooms, markets and government offices. Humanity and Inclusion at the helm “We are bringing diverse people together so their rights are acknowledged,” humanitarian action officer Maria Alual told the closing ceremony, underscoring the need for ramps, signage and teacher training across the state. Alual emphasised that visually and hearing-impaired citizens…

Alleged Attempted Filicide in Aweil West Police in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State are searching for 30-year-old Akon Tong Akol, accused of trying to hang her five-year-old son on Friday in Maduany payam. A neighbor intervened and rescued the boy, who is now treated at Aweil Civil Hospital, while the suspect fled the scene and remains at large, authorities confirmed. Eyewitness Account and Ongoing Shock “What happened is surprising,” said the child’s uncle, John Garang Mou. “She tried to hang the child, and neighbors saved him.” The unprecedented incident has stunned Maduany’s residents. Garang added that the motive remains unclear,…

Persistent ID Document Gaps Queues at Juba’s immigration offices lengthen whenever passport booklets run out, a problem that has recurred for years. Officials attribute interruptions to funding delays and high operating costs, leaving citizens stranded when planning travel, studies or medical care abroad. Major General Elia Costa, head of the Directorate of Civil Registry, told Eye Radio that periodic shortages damage public trust but can be solved with predictable financing. “Availability of materials is purely financial,” he stressed in last Friday’s broadcast (Eye Radio interview). Inside the Proposed 50-50 Split Costa outlined a revenue-sharing concept now before the Ministry of…

CRISS officially launched in Juba On Saturday in Juba, the Green-Niche Conservational Institute and young agronomists unveiled the Climate Resilience Initiative for South Sudan, known as CRISS. The gathering attracted community leaders and environment officials, signalling broad endorsement for the programme. Executive Director Dut Deng Achuil told the audience that “people and nature are inherently connected,” stressing the urgency of climate-resilient actions that safeguard livelihoods while restoring ecosystems. Achuil appealed for cross-sector collaboration, observing that tangible progress “cannot be achieved alone.” Key pillars for sustainable adaptation CRISS intends to equip villages with climate-smart agriculture techniques, launch structured waste management, expand…

Swearing-In Ceremony in Bor Under a humid Bor sky, Jonglei State witnessed the formal swearing-in of David Anyang as the new SPLM State Secretary, an event staged at the party’s secretariat and attended by senior officials, youth representatives and cultural troupes. Governor Kok’s Call for Grassroots Unity Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok urged the appointee to travel to every boma, payam and county, arguing that only face-to-face dialogue can heal long-standing communal rifts, particularly between Jonglei and the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. “We want a new SPLM,” Kok declared, promising logistical backing from the state leadership to help Anyang mobilise…

A Silent Gesture, Loud Symbolism When Vice-President Rebecca Nyandeng de Mabior sat among mourners at Raila Odinga’s state funeral, cameras sought a political explanation. Her team clarified she came as family friend, not envoy, yet the moment carried diplomatic weight for both Juba and Nairobi. Roots in a 1960s Prison Meeting John Garang first met Kenyan trade-union firebrand Arthur Aggrey Ochwada inside Kamiti Prison in 1963. Ochwada’s appeal to Minister Jaramogi Oginga Odinga secured Garang’s release, forging a bond that would shape two liberation struggles across borders. Garang Family’s Kenyan Second Home Exile turned opportunity: Garang studied, farmed and raised…

New Release Signals Policy Shift The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces have formally released a fresh group of minors, marking a visible step in Juba’s pledge to end child recruitment. According to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, registration and verification were completed in Yambio before the handover witnessed by civil and military officials. Military Vows Zero Tolerance Brigade 16 Commander, Brigadier Akech Maker, told reporters, “No child will again wear this uniform. Any youngster interested in the forces will first finish school.” His statement aligns with the national Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programme, which seeks to remove the…

SSPDF and Journalists Seek Common Ground In Juba, senior officers and leading reporters sat around one table on 16 October 2025, exploring ways to replace mutual suspicion with practical cooperation. The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and the media debated ethics, patriotism and misinformation in a candid, three-hour exchange. Ethics Under Scrutiny Colonel Peter Garang asked bluntly whether some online writers still honour professional oaths. He argued that unverified posts, often shared by anonymous accounts, tarnish the nation’s image and risk troop safety. Garang differentiated trained journalists from citizen bloggers, admitting most accredited reporters respect codes but urging closer coordination…

A Crisis Quietly Boiling In Juba, Health Minister Sarah Cleto Rial delivered a stark message: nearly every South Sudanese carries invisible scars of war and exile, making mental wellness a matter of national survival (Eye Radio, 2025). Decades of conflict, inter-communal clashes and economic strain have woven trauma into daily life, from urban centres to remote cattle camps. Inside the 2025–2029 Plan The five-year Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Strategic Plan aims to embed counselling, diagnosis and referral services inside every primary care unit countrywide. It advocates routine screening at outpatient desks, mobile outreach for nomadic communities, and new diploma…