This Week in South Sudan – Week 2

Tuesday 6 January   

• South Sudan’s minority leader in parliament, Onyoti Adigo Nyikwak spoke out against the planned elections in June, saying it would enflame tensions and further divide the country.
• China pledged $33 million to improve South Sudan health care, the majority of the funds will be used to modernize the Juba Teaching Hospital.
• Government forces tested their newly acquired weapons, including a number of APCs (Armored Personnel Carriers/tanks), in Warkok, Jonglei.

Wednesday 7 January

• SPLM-Juba launched a crackdown on perceived political dissidents in Northern Bahr al Ghazal State, amid reports of tensions between the caretaker governor and the former governor.
• President Salva Kiir agreed to attend IGAD summit on 18 January, SPLA-IO leader Riek Machar is also invited.

Thursday 8 January

• The leadership of South Sudanese civil society alliance wants June elections to be postponed, asthe [current] environment is not conducive for the conduct of elections”.
• Analysis by the secretary general of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North. Yasir Arman, “National constitutional dialogue is the best solution for Sudan.” The paper was presented at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Norway on 8th January 2015.

Friday 9 January

• A new U.N. report says no one has been held accountable in South Sudan massacre in Bentiu (Unity state) and Bor (Jonglei state) last April, and the report’s findings could form the basis for war crimes charges.
• South Sudan’s constitution provision a census before national elections June elections, but National Statistics Bureau says it will be unable to carry it out in time. .
• Fresh clashes erupted again in Nasir County of Upper Nile state between SPLA-Juba and the SPLA-IO.
• SPLA-Juba and the SPLA-IO clashed in Jamam area of Maban County in Upper Nile State, according to multiple sources. SPLA-Juba later claimed the attack had been repulsed.

Monday 12 January

• The caretaker governor of Lakes state, Maj. Gen. Matur Chut Dhuol, survived an ambush after gunmen attacked his convoy.