This Week in South Sudan – Week 31

Monday 28 July

• The South Sudanese government rejected demands for suspension of new oil contracts.
• Critical food shortage was reported in Jonglei.
• The South Sudanese government announced that it is ready to resume peace talks with the opposition.
• The SPLM/A-in-Opposition launched a new membership form to organise its members.

Tuesday 29 July

• The SPLA declared 10 politicians ‘illegal’ and said that these politicians’ attendance at the IGAD peace talks will not be accepted.
• Political parties in South Sudan proposed the creation of a prime minister position.
• South Sudanese Civil Society Organisations in exile selected their representatives to the IGAD peace talks.
• A South Sudanese human rights body condemned the arrest of South Sudanese youths in Bahr el Ghazal.
• The African Union announced that an investigation of children in South Sudan’s situation will take place next week.

Wednesday 30 July

• SPLA-in-Opposition officials requested that the base for the Monitoring and Verification Team (MVT) is hosted on neutral ground outside South Sudan.
• The new round of peace talks was delayed and is expected to resume Monday 4 August.

Thursday 31 July

• The UK Africa minister called for immediate ceasefire in South Sudan.
• 19 Cholera deaths in Upper Nile over the last three weeks were reported.
• Desmond Tutu urged the world not to forget South Sudan.
• David Yau Yau was appointed as chief administrator of Greater Pibor.
• The South Sudanese government announced that the planned gold mining will be delayed by a year due to the conflict.
• Salva Kiir left for the US-Africa summit.
• Salva Kiir renewed his call for peace with the opposition.

Friday 1 August

• Human Rights Watch urged South Sudan’s security service to stop restricting the media.
• Riek Machar appointed representatives to the UN and the US.
• South Sudanese youth organisations declared their support to the SPLM/A-in-Opposition.
• A South Sudanese civil society organisation leader was shot in Juba.

Saturday 2 August

• Leaders of the SPLM’s branch in the US announced that they are changing allegiance to the SPLM/A-in-Opposition.
• A senior SPLM official joined the opposition.
• The UN announced that more than 200,000 displaced people in Jonglei and Western Equatoria have returned to their homes.
• The South Sudanese government denied that it is harassing the media.
• Dinka and Nuer women met for peace in Bor.

Sunday 3 August

• Flooding in Unity State displaced more than 40,000 people.
• Salva Kiir urged the government delegation to the IGAD peace talks to prioritise peace.
• Former SPLA general claimed that 5,000 new recruits have joined the SPLA-in-Opposition.
• The Upper Nile Governor appointed new ministers and commissioners.
• Fighting erupted in Maban County, Upper Nile State.