This Week in South Sudan – Week 53

Tuesday 29 December

• President Salva Kiir swore in new governors for South Sudan’s restructured 28 states.
• Members of the SPLM (IO) advance team and the SPLM held a joint meeting in Juba.

Wednesday 30 December

• The leader of the Federal Democratic Party (FDP), a splinter group of the SPLM (IO), clarified that it has not yet signed a final peace deal with the Juba government.

Thursday 31 December

• The situation in Pibor town between the SPLA and the SSDM Cobra Faction, led by former Greater Pibor chief administrator, David Yau Yau, were reportedly very tense in response to the creation of Boma State and the appointment of a new governor. Yau Yau later denied that tensions had increased.
• The second group of the SPLM (IO) advance team arrived in Juba.
• The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) and the SPLM (IO) advance team held a joint meeting to discussed the implementation of the peace agreement.  

Friday 1 January

• Vice President James Wani Igga said the government is willing to give the governorships of six of the 28 new states to the SPLM (IO).
• The South Sudanese and Ugandan governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to delimit borders through a technical committee.
• The formation of the 28 new states and appointment of governors remain controversial:
  • SPLM-Former Detainees. 
  • Eastern Equatoria State.
  • Unity State.

Saturday 2 January

• The SPLM (IO) denied circulating a rumour of a potential leadership split in the SPLM.
• The SPLA admitted to have recently acquired shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles. The source of supply is unclear.

Sunday 3 January

• The former Greater Pibor Area Administrator, David Yau Yau, meet with President Salva Kiir in Juba, and is expected to be appointed to a position at the national level.