Author: Associate Editor
South Sudan Faces Economic Crisis as Payments to Government Agencies Suspended The Ministry of Finance and Planning in South Sudan has announced the suspension of payments to government spending agencies as the fiscal year 2023/2024 came to a close, leaving civil servants unpaid for months. This decision has worsened the economic crisis in the country, which is already struggling with severe inflation and a weak national currency. In addition to these challenges, a major oil pipeline breakdown in February 2024 has further impacted the economy, leading to sharp price increases and financial difficulties for families. The government’s decision to suspend…
Communist Party of South Sudan Raises Concerns Over Nairobi Peace Talks The Communist Party of South Sudan has voiced its concerns regarding the participation of political parties in the Nairobi Peace Talks known as the Tumaini Initiative between the South Sudan government and holdout groups. Joseph Wol Modesto, the Secretary General of the Communist Party, commended the talks but emphasized the need for proper representation of the people. Modesto highlighted the importance of involving all South Sudanese political parties, including those who cannot physically attend the negotiations in Juba. He emphasized that for meaningful progress to be made, all parties…
Charles Undeland has been appointed as the World Bank Group Country Manager for South Sudan, effective 1 July 2024. This new role aims to consolidate country-level leadership within the institution to collaborate with South Sudan’s public and private sectors in achieving development goals. Undeland, with extensive experience in international development, expressed his excitement in leading the World Bank Group’s efforts in South Sudan. His focus for the next three years includes fostering resilience to climate change, creating job opportunities in the private sector, improving human capital outcomes, and enhancing governance and macroeconomic stability. The World Bank Group is actively engaged…
South Sudan’s Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Justice Ruben Madol Arol, presented the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) for ratification. The Convention, adopted in 2000, aims to combat transnational organized crime by fostering international cooperation. The Convention is accompanied by three protocols targeting specific areas of organized crime, including human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, and illicit trafficking in firearms. Once ratified, South Sudan will be required to implement measures to fight these crimes, such as creating domestic criminal offenses and enhancing law enforcement cooperation. Minister Madol emphasized the…
The South Sudan National Security Service (NSS) has made a commitment to safeguard journalists and ensure access to information and freedom of expression in preparation for the upcoming December 2024 elections. The NSS spokesperson, Denis John Kumuri, assured this during a gathering arranged by the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJoSS) at Juba Crown Hotel. This meeting brought together journalists, the NSS spokesperson, the chairperson of the Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services Committee in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), and the Director General for Information and Media Compliance at the Media Authority. Their goal was to strengthen…
An economist and member of the Political Bureau of the Sudanese Communist Party, Sidqi Kaballo, emphasized the need for decisive action in the ongoing war in Sudan. He stated that the international community must either support the continuation of the war or come together to end it through a popular decision and strong international efforts to enforce a ceasefire. Kaballo highlighted the importance of preventing the arming of warring factions, suggesting that the United States could play a crucial role in this by enforcing strict restrictions on arms exports. He also proposed international surveillance to monitor borders and prevent arms…
The Sudan/South Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference (SSSCBC) expressed disappointment in the Government of South Sudan’s lack of readiness for the upcoming General Elections in December, the first since independence in 2011. In a message, the bishops criticized the government for not fulfilling key elements of election preparation, such as establishing an electoral commission and providing voter education. They highlighted concerns about insecurity, floods, and unmet requirements from the 2018 peace agreement, which included drafting a permanent constitution and transitional justice. Despite the challenges, Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro stated the Church’s commitment to assisting with voter education and promoting peaceful elections. The…
The Pajok Community Takes Initiative to Improve Road Networks in South Sudan The Eastern Equatoria State Government has joined hands with the Pajok Community to launch a road rehabilitation project in Pajok, Magwi County. The community raised USD 35,000 to improve the 35-kilometer Ayaci-Limur Road, showcasing a collaborative effort between locals, intellectuals, and the government. Jildo Abala Remy, the State Minister of Transport, emphasized the significance of rehabilitating roads in enhancing transportation of goods and service delivery to grassroots populations. The initiative, driven by the sons and daughters of the area, highlights a community-driven approach to development. With construction set…
The Urgency of Implementing the 2018 Peace Agreement in South Sudan The chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) highlighted the concerning lack of clarity among the signatories to the 2018 peace agreement regarding the upcoming elections in December 2024. Amb. Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai provided a detailed update on the status of the agreement’s implementation during the Commission’s 36th monthly plenary in Juba. Amb. Gituai emphasized the critical need for the Revitalized Transitional Government and Parties to address outstanding election-related tasks promptly to meet the scheduled deadline. He also stressed the importance of the constitution-making…
Recently, a tragic incident occurred in Eastern Equatoria State’s Kapoeta North County, where suspected Murle cattle rustlers attacked two kraals in Kachimakori and Lomeyeng payams. This resulted in the loss of three herders’ lives and left another injured, with over 2,000 cattle stolen. In response, local youth tracked down the raiders, leading to a deadly clash that resulted in the recovery of the stolen cattle. According to Elliaz Ikoo Lotede, a youth leader in the area, the clashes took place on Wednesday morning following previous warnings from Murle youths. The attackers, believed to be armed Murle youth, were identified as…