Author: The South Sudan Herald

Elections and Sustainable Development Research by African Development Bank suggests that nations holding regular, trusted polls enjoy faster GDP growth, partly because investors read ballots as stability signals (AfDB, 2023). UNDP data show that access to electricity and paved roads often doubles within a decade after the first competitive vote, highlighting how political legitimacy can unlock both domestic revenues and concessional finance. Student Voices on the Ground In Juba, master’s candidate John Arop told The Dawn that elections prompt leaders to ‘keep their promises on hospitals, schools, and roads,’ because failure risks defeat at the next ballot. He recalled how…

Moçâmedes Thriller Caps Perfect Group Stage Angola thrilled a packed Welwitschia Mirabilis Arena, edging South Sudan 66-64 to close Group C of AfroBasket 2025 with a flawless 3-0 record. The visitors, who stunned Angola at last year’s FIBA World Cup, launched a 22-11 final-quarter surge, but Both Tut Gach’s last-second three rattled out, sparking euphoric scenes among home fans. Angola Defense Smothers Top-Ranked Rivals Coach Pepe Claros demanded pressure from tip-off. After conceding a 7-0 burst, Angola replied with a 12-0 run, then held the continent’s top-ranked side to 27 first-half points, their lowest of the tournament. Point guard Childe…

Embargo Debate Reignites The African Union’s Peace and Security Council has renewed its plea for the United Nations Security Council to start lifting the arms embargo on South Sudan, arguing that the restriction slows the unification of national forces pledged in the 2018 peace deal. Council members said in their 15 August communiqué that a phased relaxation, monitored jointly by AU, IGAD and UN experts, would “enable the transitional government to equip integrated units responsibly and deter spoilers”. Security and Humanitarian Stakes Officials warned that persistent arms gaps leave unified battalions vulnerable to heavily-armed militias, compounding local clashes that killed…

Health Spending and Stability African policymakers increasingly frame hospitals as frontline security assets. Public health failures stir unrest, while reliable clinics calm tensions and revive local economies. Experts argue that budgeting for vaccines, staff and power is as strategic as policing borders (WHO regional brief). South Sudan’s Emerging Blueprint Relative calm since 2022 allowed Juba to refocus on care. Parliament’s health committee insists that “medicine is our first peace accord,” chair Benjamin Malek Alier declared. His words preceded the roll-out of a measles catch-up campaign reaching remote counties within weeks. The ministry then unveiled a National Nutrition Policy and an…

Record Malnutrition Numbers UNICEF now projects 2.3 million children under five and 1.2 million pregnant or breastfeeding women will need therapeutic feeding in 2025, the worst figures recorded since independence. Analysts warn these numbers rival the 2017 famine alerts. Conflict and Displacement Surge Fighting in Upper Nile, Jonglei and Unity escalated after February, forcing 300,000 people to flee within the country while 125,000 crossed borders. “Every new skirmish empties another village,” an aid worker in Malakal told this magazine. Cholera and Health Strains As of June, 79,746 suspected cholera cases and 1,431 deaths were logged, with children under five forming…

Pastoral Education Milestone Saturday’s graduation at Bishop Yeremiah Theological Institute marked its 30th cohort, seeing 18 candidates ordained after three years of study. Applause rippled through Yambio’s cathedral grounds as families celebrated fresh pastors charged with guiding congregations across Western Equatoria. Challenges Facing the Institute The principal reminded guests that the campus still relies on diesel lamps and handwritten records. “Computers, clean water and a reliable grid remain urgent priorities,” he said, inviting partners to close the digital and infrastructure gap that hampers research and student life. Government Support and Donations State Minister of Cabinet Affairs John Bariona answered the…

Growing Demand for Data Skills Brazaville’s statistical agency has unveiled a nationwide traineeship in demography, health, and gender metrics. Officials say the programme will shape a cadre of analysts able to translate raw numbers into policies aligned with President Denis Sassou Nguesso’s development agenda. Inside the National Statistics Enhancement Programme The six-month course, hosted by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies, blends classroom theory with field surveys in rural districts. Trainees learn coding, data cleaning, and visualisation before deploying tablets to collect household information during the 2024 socio-economic census. Director General Armand Mombéri called the initiative “a strategic…

Background to Payam Reshuffle Jonglei State began carving nearly twenty new payams and bomas in July to streamline service delivery and political representation. The redrawing absorbed Goi Boma into the freshly minted Chueikeer Payam, a move that split opinion among local leaders, residents and provincial administrators. Commissioner’s Decision and Legal Basis On 12 August, Bor County Commissioner James Gai Makor relieved Chiefs Mariar Maluil, Aguto Chol and Angeth Noon after they signed a letter rejecting the transfer. His office cited provisions of the Local Government Act that permit removal for misconduct, incompetence or incapacity. Civil Society Critique Intrepid South Sudan…

Fan-Led Healthcare Drive in Juba Arsenal supporters in the South Sudanese capital have launched a fresh fundraiser to buy oxygen cylinders for Al Shabab Children’s Hospital and Juba Teaching Hospital, merging football passion with lifesaving needs. Football Rivalry Fuels Charity Spirit The initiative peaks during a friendly match pitting Arsenal against Liverpool devotees at Buluk Playground. Organisers say tomorrow’s encounter channels competitive energy into generosity, inviting every resident to contribute, regardless of club loyalty. “This match is more than sport; it is a rally for oxygen,” organiser Sarah Kiko explained, noting previous drives that supplied six cylinders and fifteen beds.…

Dismissal Sparks Debate over Local Governance Reports from Bor County indicate that three respected chiefs were relieved of duty after questioning the merger of Goi Boma into the freshly created ChueiKeer Payam. County Commissioner James Gai Makor signed the dismissal order, citing administrative coherence, yet the move immediately stirred controversy across Jonglei State. Civil Society Voices Concerns Intrepid South Sudan, a prominent local NGO, condemned the decision as “unlawful and unjustifiable” while urging the Ministry of Local Government to reverse it. “Chiefs anchor our customary system; sidelining them risks widening rifts,” ISS coordinator Nyathon Deng told regional press on Saturday.…