This Week in South Sudan – Week 38

Monday 19 September

• A SPLA spokesperson openly accused UNMISS of “making South Sudan very conducive for rebellion”
• Foreign Policy Journal: “South Sudan’s American-Made Robber Barons”

Tuesday 20 September

• The SPLM (IO) criticized the United States government and the UN for receiving Taban Deng Gai in the US. Taban Deng attended the 71^st sessions of the United Nations General Assembly in New York over the weekend, and is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with top US officials between 28 September and 4 October.
• The Wall Street Journal: “South Sudanese Violence Engulfs Aid Workers, Pushes Nation Closer to the Brink”

Wednesday 21 September

• President Salva Kiir approved the establishment of up to four cantonment sites for SPLA (IO) soldiers in the Equatoria region. He also accepted the creation of cantonment sites in his home region of Bahr el Ghazal.
• At least 30 SPLM (IO) members in Egypt declared their allegiance the country’s First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai.

Friday 23 September

• UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous said the exiled SPLA (IO) leader Riek Machar “is not dead politically”
• The US pledged nearly USD $133 million in additional humanitarian assistance to South Sudanese refugees and IDPs, while the UK increased its humanitarian aid to the country with an additional GBP £100 million.
• A South Sudanese military court sentenced 77 soldiers for the July atrocities committed in Juba. One soldier was sentenced to death, while others were given jail-terms ranging from three months to 14 years.
• According to the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, SPLM (IO) leader, Riek Machar, will not be welcomed to Ethiopia if he wishes to continue with the rebellion.
• Luka Biong Deng and Jok Madut provided their testimonies during a US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing “South Sudan: Options in Crisis”. 

Saturday 24 September

• SPLM (IO) issued a statement saying their forces would reorganize to “wage a popular armed resistance” against President Salva Kiir’s regime.

Sunday 25 September

• Former Minister of Agriculture, Lam Akol, has formed a new rebel faction, the National Democratic Movement (NDM), following weeks of consultations with various unarmed and armed opposition parties.
• Heavy fighting broke out between government troops and the SPLA (IO) in Rubkona county, Unity State.