This Week in South Sudan – Week 34

Monday 17 August

• President Salva Kiir did not sign the Proposed IGAD+ peace deal in Addis Ababa, requesting a further 15 days for ‘consultations.’
• President Salva Kiir made indirect death threats towards journalists ‘working against the country.’
• A large force of military police was deployed around the residence of Clement Wani Konga, the recently dismissed governor of Central Equatoria.

Tuesday 18 August                                                                          

• IGAD+ statement on the proposed peace agreement.
• Forces led By Martin Kenyi and loyal to SPLA (IO) attacked a government garrison in Pageri (Eastern Equatoria), the day after Riek Machar on behalf of the SPLM (IO) signed the IGAD+ peace agreement.
• US National Security Advisor Susan Rice proposes UN sanctions if a peace deal is not signed within 15 days.
• Uganda urged the warring parties to put their personal egos aside and sign the peace deal.
• K24 TV news report from the IGAD + negotiations in Addis Ababa.
• Radio Tamazuj: ‘Six questions about South Sudan’s peace talks: A guide for confused observers.’

Wednesday 19 August

• SPLA announced that it has deployed more soldiers to Eastern Equatoria state in response the recent attack by SPLA(IO) loyal forces in Pageri area.
• New alleged clashes between the SPLA and SPLA (IO) in Manyo county, Upper Nile state.

Thursday 20 August

• A journalist working for the New Nation newspaper and the Corporate Newspaper, Peter Moi Julius, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Jebel area of Juba.
• Al Jazeera: ‘What’s in the deal? Agreeing to peace in South Sudan’.
• President Salva Kiir told US Secretary of State John Kerry that he intends to sign the IGAD+ peace agreement.

Friday 21 August

• South Sudanese journalists initiated a 24 hours ‘media blackout’ across the country to protest the killing of reporter Peter Moi Julius.
• Politician Peter Abdulrahman Sule has been reported missing in Uganda since 24 July.
• IDPs residing within the UN Protection Camp in Juba demonstrated against the ongoing civil war.
• According to a rebel spokesperson, at least 10 civilians were killed during clashes in Leer area, Unity State between the SPLA (IO) and government forces.
• At least seven people were killed in Lakes state’s capital, Rumbek after clashes over cattle raiding between rival communities.

Saturday 22 August

• The speaker of the Western Equatoria State Legislative Assembly was killed outside Yambio by unknown gunmen in what an official described as an “assassination”.

Sunday 23 August

• President Salva Kiir met with his security council to consult on the IGAD+ peace proposal.