Civilians Drown While Fleeing New Eruption of Violence in South Sudan
The United Nations reported attacks by the White Army on a displaced person camp in the town of Adidiang in Upper Nile state killed three hundred civilians; many attempted to flee the violence via canoe and boat, causing several people to drown in the Nile River (Associated Press)
UN Denounces Civilian Deaths in South Sudan Clashes
Clashes between government forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition led to the deaths of 173 civilians between February and May, a new UN report said (UN)
United States Withdraws from Peace Monitoring Mechanisms in South Sudan
The United States withdrew from two peacekeeping mechanisms responsible for monitoring the progress of the South Sudanese transitional government, citing a lack of political will demonstrated by inconsistent progress towards the government’s objectives (Voice of America)
At Least Twenty-Seven Killed in Clash Between Cattle Rushers and Security Forces in South Sudan
At least twenty-seven people, including senior military officers, were killed in clashes between the army and armed cattle rushers in Warrap State, South Sudan; eighteen senior and junior officers died attempting to recover the more than one hundred cows stolen (Sudan Tribune)
The United Nations Cuts Food Assistance to 1.7 Million South Sudanese People
The United Nations World Food Program has suspended food assistance to at least 1.7 million people in South Sudan, citing funding shortages as South Sudan faces heavy inflation amid the war in Ukraine and economic recovery from the civil war (Associated Press)
UN Condemns Violence in South Sudan, Deploys Additional Peacekeepers
Following a recent surge in “horrific” violence, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) issued a condemnation and announced it had deployed additional peacekeepers (UN News)
Opposing South Sudanese Leaders Strike Military Deal
Rival leaders President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar agreed to a joint military command, resolving one of the issues blocking a peace deal to end the country’s civil war (Agence France Presse)
Deputy Vice President of South Sudan Urges International Mediation
South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar accused President Salva Kiir of violating a 2018 truce and requested an intervention from the eight-nation regional mediator—the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)—to protect the country’s fragile peace deal (Associated Press)
Fighting Breaks Out in South Sudan, Threatening Peace Agreement
New fighting broke out in South Sudan between rival soldiers in Upper Nile state, threatening the country’s fragile peace agreement (Associated Press)
UN: $1 Billion Needed to Address South Sudan Refugee Crisis
The UN Refugee Agency and more than one hundred humanitarian and development organizations appealed for $1.2 billion in assistance to help South Sudanese refugees (Voice of America)
UN Extends Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan
The UN Security Council voted to extend its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan for another year. The mission is one of the United Nations’ most expensive, costing more than $1 billion annually (Agence France-Presse)
WFP: More than 70 Percent of South Sudan Will Face Extreme Hunger This Year
According to a new report from the World Food Programme (WFP), more than 70 percent of South Sudan’s population will face extreme hunger this year due to conflict and climate-related disasters (Agence France-Presse)
UN: Hundreds Killed in South Sudan Over Four Months in 2021
The UN Mission in South Sudan and UN Human Rights Office said that members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces were among those responsible for murdering at least 440 civilians from June to September 2021. At least 64 civilians were subjected to conflict-related sexual violence (United Nations)
UN Envoy Warns of Threats to South Sudan Peace Deal
UN Special Representative in South Sudan Nicholas Haysom told the UN Security Council that a “renewed sense of political will” is needed to keep the deal from falling apart due to obstacles including restrictions on civic space and challenges to the process of forming a national army (UN News)
UN Issues Condemnation of South Sudan’s Crackdown on Civil Society
The United Nations Commission of Human Rights in South Sudan condemned the South Sudanese government for its erosion of civic space and its harassment of journalists, activists, and their families (Voice of America)
South Sudan Dismisses UN Corruption Allegations
Following last week’s release of a UN report accusing South Sudanese government officials of diverting wealth from public coffers, South Sudan’s government claimed the report is part of “an international campaign” against them (Al Jazeera)
UN: Plundering of South Sudan’s Public Accounts Undermines Human Rights
A UN report found that more than $73 million has been diverted from South Sudan’s public coffers and resources since 2018 (United Nations)
South Sudan Holds First Parliamentary Session Since 2018 Peace Deal
A session of South Sudan’s parliament began, with members of a former rebel party serving as representatives. Forming an inclusive legislature was required by the country’s 2018 peace deal (BBC)
Internet Outages Reported in South Sudan Following Calls for Protests
After activists in South Sudan called for a protest against President Salva Kiir, internet outages were reported today, and security forces began patrolling the streets (Reuters)
Sudan’s Prime Minister Visits South Sudan Amid Political Crisis
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is in the South Sudanese capital of Juba today for talks aimed at shoring up a coalition government in South Sudan (Voice of America)
A rift in one faction of the unity government has led to deadly clashes in recent weeks (New York Times)
South Sudan’s Vice President Ousted by Party
South Sudanese Vice President Riek Machar’s party removed him as head of the party. It named First Lieutenant General Simon Gatwech Dual as his interim replacement. The party’s military wing said Machar weakened the party’s position in the coalition government formed in 2020 (Al Jazeera)
South Sudan’s President Dissolves Parliament
In accordance with a 2018 peace deal, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir dissolved parliament, paving the way for the appointment of new lawmakers. The announcement came ahead of U.S. Special Envoy Donald E. Booth’s visit to the country (Agence France-Presse)
UN Warns of ‘Large-Scale Conflict’ in South Sudan
South Sudan is at risk of falling back into “large-scale conflict,” a UN report warns, due to the slow implementation of a 2018 peace agreement and tensions that have emerged within the government because of a 2020 cease-fire (Al Jazeera)
EU Sanctions South Sudanese General
The EU imposed sanctions on a South Sudan People’s Defense Forces general for his alleged involvement in human rights violations. Major General Gabriel Moses Lokujo allegedly directed the abduction and execution of armed opposition officers last year (Sudan Tribune)
UN Warns of South Sudan Humanitarian Crisis, Continued Conflict
The director-general of the International Committee of the Red Cross warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. 60 percent of the population is hungry as smaller parties are continuing to fight and cause displacement (Associated Press)