This Week in South Sudan – Week 9

Tuesday 1 March

• 16 South Sudanese, including 10 aides to President Salva Kiir, have been charged with forgery and the theft of US$15 million from the presidential office.
• The SPLA has left a limited force in Juba in accordance with the August 2015 peace deal until a joint force with the SPLA (IO) is deployed.
• General Tom Al Nur Daldum, commander of the National Forces for Peace (NFP) militia, announced that his force will join the SPLA.

Wednesday 2 March

• At least 50,000 people have been killed in South Sudan’s two-year civil war according to a senior UN official.
• The East African Community (EAC) admitted South Sudan as the sixth member state.
• The National Congress Party (NCP) and the SPLM, the ruling parties of respectively Sudan and South Sudan, announced they would sign a declaration of principles to develop joint political cooperation between the two forces.

Thursday 3 March

• The UN Security Council extended the period of sanctions against South Sudan until 15 April 2016. Under the sanctions six generals, three from each side of the conflict are banned from travel and have their asset frozen. The UNSC maintain that these generals block South Sudan’s peace process.
• IDPs residing in Malakal accused Rwandan peace keepers deployed in the area of complicity in attacks on the IDPs inside the UN camp on 17 February. These attacks left at least 25 killed and some 120 wounded.
• Frontline documentary: “On the brink of famine 360°”

Friday 4 March

• Time photo series: “Eyewitness to Hope and Hell in South Sudan”

Saturday 5 March

• According to South Sudan’s Minister of Petroleum and Mining, Stephen Dhieu Dau, the government is preparing to resume oil production in Unity State.
• President Salva Kiir issued an order removing South Sudan’s deputy chief justice, Madol Arol Kachuol from office, replacing him with John Gatwich Lul.

Sunday 6 March

• The deadline for the arrival of SPLM (IO) forces in Juba was passed on 1 March and no new date has been set.
• Human Rights Watch: “South Sudan: Army abuses spread west”