Author: The South Sudan Herald

Custody Death Raises Family Doubts Capt. Luka Gathok Nyuon, aged in his forties, was buried at Jebel Cemetery after authorities released his body to relatives. Military doctors attributed the September 18 death to a stomach complication, yet the family questions the impartiality of the in-house autopsy. Competing Narratives From Ex-Detainees Former cellmates who gained release attended the funeral and told mourners that Nyuon collapsed after weeks of untreated illness and scant food at Jamus detention centre. One ex-detainee said, ‘He grew weaker daily; we often shared our rations with him,’ adding that medical requests were ignored. Legal Options and Search…

Journalists Face New Barriers in Juba Courtroom Independent reporters were again refused full access to the special court hearing for suspended First Vice-President Riek Machar in Juba on Wednesday. Security demanded all recording gear be surrendered, shrinking coverage to note-taking only inside a session declared public by the bench. Judge’s Directives and Security Tactics Sources inside the courtroom said presiding Judge James Alala asked journalists to avoid audio, video or still images. Security officers then filtered entrants, allowing some reporters to sit as ordinary citizens after depositing phones and cameras outside the hall. Activists Warn of Eroding Public Trust South…

A ticking clock in Juba Inside Juba’s presidential compound, whispers thicken over succession as President Salva Kiir, 72, nears two decades in power. Diplomats speak of a “ticking clock” that could redefine South Sudan’s fate. Few doubt his eventual departure; mortality is an equalizer. The real concern, officials concede, is the political vacuum that might follow hours after any sudden exit. Fragile political architecture South Sudan’s 2018 revitalised peace deal sketches a succession chain, naming the First Vice President as immediate caretaker. Yet the agreement remains paper-thin amid overlapping loyalties and stalled constitutional reforms. Dr. Remember Miamingi, a governance analyst,…

FDs Raise Alarm at R-JMEC Session During the fourth extraordinary session of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) in Juba on 7 October, Former Political Detainees representative Maj Gen Bior Leek Kuareng voiced “deep disappointment” over alleged breaches of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan. Dismissal of Deng Alor Questioned Kuareng pointed to the presidential decree that relieved Deng Alor of his ministerial post, calling the unilateral decision a direct deviation from the accord’s power-sharing spirit. The FDs argue that signatory blocs should be consulted before any reshuffle affecting their allotted…

Historic Election of Ahou Abit Ruth Twic East County, Jonglei State, witnessed a milestone as community delegates elected and swore in Ahou Abit Ruth Muka to chair Nyiir Cit Arialbek, a women-led association. Observers framed the peaceful vote as a turning point for inclusive leadership. In her first address, Muka said she accepted the post ‘not as a privilege but as a calling to serve with integrity’ (local media). Her phrasing underlined a generational shift, yet she acknowledged continuity by saluting outgoing chair Hon. Adut Mamer Ayach. Four-Pillar Agenda for Empowerment Muka outlined a four-pillar roadmap: expand scholarships and mentorship,…

Juba-Bor Highway Attack Leaves Two Wounded Gunmen opened fire on a passenger vehicle between Bilyaang and Mogiri on South Sudan’s busy Juba-Bor highway, injuring two travellers and halting traffic on the crucial link between Jonglei’s capital Bor and Juba, officials said Tuesday. Witness accounts collected by Drivers Union chair Deng Jool describe attackers emerging from roadside scrub, seizing cash and luggage before passengers scattered into nearby woodland, where most remained hidden until security forces arrived. Jool confirmed the wounded suffered head and shoulder injuries yet were in stable condition after evacuation to Juba Teaching Hospital, adding that all other occupants…

Intensified Clashes in Disputed Abyei Gunfire erupted Monday between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition units assigned to the Unified VIP Protection Force near Abyei town. Both spokespersons confirmed the exchange and promised details once mop-up operations end. Officials Trade Statements as Firefight Continues SSPDF spokesman Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang described the incident as an “armed confrontation” outside the Abyei Box, while SPLA-IO’s Col. Lam Paul Gabriel noted that shooting persisted at the moment of his briefing. Violence Spreads to Western Equatoria On the same day, clashes in Nagero County, Western Equatoria State,…

Fresh Diplomatic Momentum Between Khartoum and Juba After a three-day visit to Port Sudan, South Sudanese Foreign Affairs Minister Monday Semaya Kumba landed in Juba citing “renewed resolve” with Sudanese counterparts to tackle shared threats. Officials framed the talks as a reboot of 2012 mechanisms that had fallen dormant during successive crises. Joint Committees Re-Activated for Security and Politics Spokesperson Apuk Mayen confirmed that both ministries will co-chair revived committees on political dialogue and border security. The bodies are expected to meet regularly, exchange intelligence and draft coordinated responses to militia activity that has disrupted commerce and community movement along…

R-ARCSS at a crossroads Addressing the fourth extraordinary R-JMEC plenary in Juba on 7 October, UN Deputy Special Representative Anita Kiki Gbeho affirmed that the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, signed in 2018, remains the single recognised roadmap toward durable stability. Escalating security concerns UN human-rights monitors recorded a 59 percent rise in conflict-related civilian casualties between January and September compared with 2024. Reports of aerial bombardments and clashes among signatory forces underline the fragility of the ceasefire and magnify fears of a renewed nationwide war. Political tensions deepen Since March 2025, First Vice-President…

Türkiye Scholarship Surge for South Sudan Youth Forty-five South Sudanese students received Turkish government scholarships on Friday, tripling last year’s intake and signalling Ankara’s growing commitment to human-capital cooperation with Africa’s youngest nation. Diplomatic Momentum Behind the Class of 2024 Ambassador Metin Ergin credited stronger bilateral ties for the expanded quota, noting that more than 200 South Sudanese have already graduated from Turkish universities since independence, with fresh language-study slots planned to deepen cultural fluency. Student Voices: Engineering, Pharmacy, Ambition Alek Elijah Manyok, 21, could not hide her excitement: “I will finally study pharmacy at Suleyman Demirel University, a lifelong…