Tuesday 28 August

• The IGAD mediation team proposed a referendum to decide on the number of states in South Sudan.

Wednesday 29 August

• President Kiir promoted more than 120 army officers to major generals.
• President Kiir arrived in Beijing for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation taking place on 3-4 September.
  • At the forum, China pledged continued economic support to South Sudan.

Friday 31 August

• Riek Machar approved the most recent peace deal with the government of South Sudan.
• The National Salvation Front, the Former Political Detainees, and the People’s Democratic Movement rejected the signing of the most recent document of the revitalised peace agreement.
• After arresting several South Sudanese nationals due to lack of appropriate immigration papers, the government of Kenya announced it will release the detainees.

Saturday 1 September

• The foreign minister of Sudan and chief mediator El-Dirdeiry said Sudan will supervise the formation of a united army in South Sudan.
• The SPLM-IO blamed the SPLA for violent clashes in Yei River.
• IGAD will hold a summit in Nairobi mid-September to address contested issues in the peace process.

Sunday 2 September

• Ethiopia and South Sudan agreed to form a joint security force for border security between the two countries.

Monday 20 August

• According to Sentry, a US-based watchdog, General Jok Riak did not receive an official waiver from the UN when he visited China, thereby revealing a gap in sanctions enforcement.

Tuesday 21 August

• The Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, Festus G. Mogae, resigned from his position. Mogae was criticized for not being neutral in his position.
• Jon Temin in Foreign Affairs: “What the United States Got Wrong in South Sudan”

Wednesday 22 August

• More than 300 officers and soldiers from the South Sudan United Front Army said they will rejoin the South Sudanese army because of the recent peace deal.

Friday 24 August

• The South Sudanese army accused the SPLM-IO for violent clashes in Unity.
• Former diplomat Telar Deng returned to Juba after eight months of self-induced exile in Nairobi.

Saturday 25 August

• The rival parties resumed the peace talks after the Eid al-Adha holiday, first addressing the issue of numbers and borders of states.

Sunday 26 August

• South Sudan resumed oil production at the Toma South oil field.
• President Salva Kiir fired the Minister of Labour, General Gathoth Gatkouth Hothnyang, and appointed James Hoth Mai in the position.

Tuesday 14 August

• The next phase of IGAD’s peace talks started in Khartoum.

Wednesday 15 August

• President Salva Kiir proposed that 14 of the 32 states should be governed by the opposition as part of the peace deal.

Thursday 16 August

• Military chief General Jok Riak returned unimpeded from a visit to China, despite the UN imposed sanctions against him.
• News 24: “South Sudan’s Child Soldiers Hope for Life after War.”

Saturday 18 August

• The South Sudanese People’s Democratic Movement returns to the peace negotiation process.
• Roger Alfred Yoron Modi in Gurtong: “South Sudan Peace Agreement Should Provide for Removal of Post Holders”

Sunday 19 Augus

• The Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki spoke in favour of the peace process in South Sudan, and pointed at the need for enhanced relations with the Horn of Africa countries.

Monday 6 August

• The National Salvation front (NAS) distanced itself from the agreement on outstanding issues of governance. The leader of NAS, Thomas Cirillo Swaka, fired six leading members of the party, accusing them of plotting to overthrow him.

Tuesday 7 August

• The Troika (US, UK, Norway) and the European Union called on the government of South Sudan (GoSS) to release Peter Biar Ajak.
• President Salva Kiir said the GoSS will not review the 32 states situation.
• In Yambio, Western Equatoria, more than 100 children were released by two armed groups.

Thursday 9 August

• President Kiir officially pardoned SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar after nearly five years of fighting. The SPLM-IO said it considers the pardon an insult and argued the president should focus his attention on controlling his military according to the ceasefire.

Saturday 11 August

• IGAD decided that the Khartoum talks will continue until the 19 August.

Sunday 12 August

• The EU government decided to impose an arms embargo on South Sudan and added two persons to the restrictive measures list.
• According to a UN report, the SPLA killed 232 civilians in southern Unity region from 16 April to 24 May 2018. The report also mentions violations by the SPLA-IO.

Tuesday 31 July

• The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North led by Malik Agar praised progress towards a negotiated settlement in South Sudan.

Wednesday 1 August

• The People’s Liberal Party urged Sudanese mediators to intervene for the release of activist Peter Bier Ajak in South Sudan.

Friday 3 August

• President Salva Kiir promoted his wife Mary Ayen and two other women to major general in the army.

Saturday 4 August

• In a joint statement, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) said they would reject a referendum on the disputed 32 states.
• Relief Web: “WFP South Sudan Situation Report August 2018”

Sunday 5 August

• A power sharing agreement was signed by: President Salva Kiir on behalf of TGoNU; Riek Machar for SPLM-IO; Gabriel Changson Chang, SSOA chairman; Joseph Okello, Other Political Parties; Deng Alor for the SPLM-FDs.
  • Presidents al-Bashir of Sudan, Museveni of Uganda, Kenyatta of Kenya, Guelleh of Djibouti, Khayre of Somalia and Mekonen of Ethiopia attended the signing ceremony of the agreement.
  • The parties agreed on five vice presidents and 35 ministries during the transitional period, as well as 550 members of parliament.
  • The opposition People’s Democratic Movement rejected the agreement.
  • Media reports celebrations in Juba.
• Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir said that oil production from the Wahda region will commence 1 September.
• Radio Tamazuj: “Transcript: Kiir’s Speech at Juba Airport”

Monday 16 July

• Ugandan President Museveni called for European countries to ease sanctions on South Sudan.
• Daily Monitor: “South Sudan Talks: A Lasting Peace or Marriage of Convenience?”

Wednesday 18 July

• President Salva Kiir sacked the foreign affairs minister Deng Alor Kuol and appointed Nhial Deng Nhial to the position.
• The UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan.

Friday 20 July

• Following the warring parties’ initial rejection of the revised Entebbe Proposal on outstanding issues of government, the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) said they will sign a preliminary power-sharing agreement.
• The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi vowed to back South Sudan peace agreement.
• The SPLA-IO and the government army accuse each other of starting violent clashes in Western Bahr el Ghazal.
• Al Jazeera: “South Sudan’s Internally Displaces Create Own System of Justice”.

Tuesday 24 July

• Hundreds of youths in Maban (northern Upper Nile) stormed offices of aid organisations as they demanded employment. The following day, Medecins Sans Frontieres suspended all activities in the area.

Wednesday 25 July

• The GoSS and the SPLM-IO signed a preliminary power-sharing agreement. The opposition parties refused to sign it, arguing it did not accommodate their demands. The GoSS said this will not stop implementation of the agreement.
• The GoSS terminated talks with the French petroleum company Total concerning development of oil concession.

Friday 27 July

• The GoSS gives parliamentarians loans of $40 000 each to buy cars. Media report that people are critical to this arrangements.
• The commissioner of Bieh State, James Gai Gatluak, joined the SPLM-IO.
• President Salva Kiir replaced deputy finance minister Athian Diing Athian. Former chairperson of the parliamentary committee for finance, Goc Makuach Mayol, will take over.

Saturday 28 July

• The security services detained Peter Biar Ajak, an activist critical to the IGAD-led peace process. Civil society groups, the International Youth for Africa and the Centre for Peace and Justice, urged the authorities to release him.

Sunday 29 July

• South Sudan and Sudan have agreed to resume oil production 2 September at the El Toor and Toma South fields.

There will be no This Week in South Sudan for week 29 and instead a combined newsletter for week 29 and 30.

Tuesday 10 July

• Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition, rejected Entebbe’s power sharing proposal.

Wednesday 11 July

• SPLM-IO blamed the government forces for clashes in River Yei and for abducting civilians in the southern Unity region.
• The UN human rights office accused the Government of South Sudan of attacking civilians.

Thursday 12 July

• The parliament voted to extend President Salva Kiir’s term in office until 2021. Opposition groups and the Troika (US, UK, Norway) condemn the decision.

Friday 13 July

• The UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan.
  • Ugandan President Museveni urged the United Kingdom to end sanctions.

Sunday 15 July

• The mediators presented a new power sharing proposal calling for five vice presidents in government, instead of the four suggested in the previous, rejected proposal.

Tuesday 3 July

• The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) proposed a bill to extent President Kiir’s term for three years. The oppositions rejected the proposal.

Wednesday 4 July

• The GoSS and the Government of Sudan finally agreed to open four crossing corridors: Kosti-Renk road and river, Meriam-Aweil road and rail (not in operation), Heglig-Bentiu and Al Sumayyah.
• Local traders reported that security situation along Raja-Wau road has significantly improved.

Thursday 5 July

• Luka Biong Deng said that President Kiir and Riek Machar do not have full control over their forces and that providing security is not solely up to them.
• Amnesty International: “South Sudan: UN Security Council must Impose Arms Embargo to Help end Atrocities”.

Friday 6 July

• The GoSS and the opposition groups signed an accord on security arrangements, as a result of the Khartoum Agreement. Read the accord here. Key points:
  • Permanent ceasefire, including the immediate release of all prisoners of war and detainees.
  • Pre-transitional period, including demilitarization of civilian areas.
  • Transitional period of 36 months.
  • Mechanisms of security arrangements, wherein which half of the part members of the Joint Transitional Security Committee shall be drawn from the opposition groups.

Sunday 8 July

• Reportedly, Riek Machar is to be reinstated as the First Vice President.
• Initially planned to end today 9 July, South Sudanese peace talks have been extended to 12 July.

The Khartoum Peace Agreement

• On Wednesday 27 June, Salva Kiir and Riek Machar signed a peace deal alongside representatives from the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, the Former Detainees, other political parties, Sudan’s President Omer al-Bashir, and witnesses from IGAD and the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States).
• President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar declared a permanent ceasefire to take effect within 72 hours of the signing of the agreement.
• Read the Declaration of Agreement here. It consists of five main components:
  • “A permanent ceasefire based on the agreement signed 21 December 2017”.
  • “Building a national army, police and other security organs of an all-inclusive character that shall be free from tribalism and ethnic affiliations”.
  • “An agreement on the ‘Revised Bridging Proposal’ shall be concluded”.
  • “Efforts for improving the infrastructure and basic services […] shall be intensified”.
  • The oil fields in Unity State: “The government of South Sudan in collaboration with the Government of Sudan shall immediately rehabilitate the oil fields”.

Monday 25 June

• SPLA-IO accused government troops of attacks in Wau.

Tuesday 26 June

• About seven Aweil politicians, who were arrested and detained in April for alleged links with Paul Malong, have now been released and have returned to Aweil.
• According to Major General Chol Atem, at least 53 police officers have been dismissed in Jonglei for neglecting duties.

Wednesday 27 June

• Sudan’s President Omer al-Bashir reopened the border with South Sudan.

Saturday 30 June

• Sudan’s Ministry of Oil and Gas said that oil production in Unity and Northern Jonglei will resume within the next two months.

Sunday 1 July

• Due to the signed Khartoum peace agreement, IGAD delayed its previous decision to impose sanctions on South Sudanese violators of the cessation of hostilities agreement.
• In violation of the recent ceasefire agreement SPLA and SPLA-IO clashed in Mboro, Northern Upper Nile and Central Equatoria.
• The African Union head signaled the possibility of sanctions on South Sudan due to the outbreak of violence after the signed peace agreement.

Tuesday 19 June

• The EU donates 68 million euro in humanitarian assistance for vulnerable communities in Sudan and South Sudan.

Wednesday 20 June

• A delegation from the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) will arrive in Khartoum at the end of June to discuss and initiate the oil production and cooperation between the two Sudans.
• The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) rejected the IGAD revised bridging proposal, arguing that it did not consider fundamental issues.
• BBC: “Inside South Sudan’s Civil War”

Thursday 21 June

• Riek Machar and Salva Kiir peace talk:
  • The GoSS is open to having an opposition filling the vice president’s role. Yet, state official Michael Makuei Lueth said that the President Kiir refuses to work with Machar in the next Transitional Government of National Unity.
  • Machar rejected the current handling of peace negotiations by IGAD and called for a new and more comprehensive approach.
  • GoSS says that Machar is to be maintained in confinement in South Africa.
  • Machar and Kiir will continue the peace talks in Khartoum on Monday 25 June, also attended by Sudan’s President Omer al-Bashir and the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
  • The Centre for Peace and Justice in South Sudan urged regional leaders to exclude both Kiir and Machar from the coalition government.

Friday 22 June

• Violence broke out between individuals from the Dinka and Nuer peoples in a refugee settlement in Uganda, which left four people dead and 19 others injured. The Ugandan police is detaining ten refugees.