This Week in South Sudan – Week 35

Monday 24 August The South Sudanese government admitted that the SPLA (IO) unexpectedly overran the strategic town Lainya, in central Equatoria state on Monday morning. According to a county official, four people were killed and five others seriously wounded following a revenge attack at Ayen cattle camp in Rumbek North county, Lakes state. Tuesday 25… Read more »

Small and Far Between: Peacekeeping Economies in South Sudan

New open access article by Øystein H. Rolandsen in Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding. This work was supported by the Research Council of Norway (RCN) under the NORGLOBAL programme. Abstract The massive expenditure on UN peacekeeping missions combined with a significant commitment of personnel and infrastructure creates ‘peacekeeping economies’ within host societies. We need to understand… Read more »

NEWS UPDATE: IGAD+ Peace Agreement – 27.08.15

President Salva Kiir signed the IGAD+ peace agreement 26 August 2015. For further information see a collection of news articles below from various media outlets commenting on the event: International Media: Al Jazeera: ‘South Sudan president signs peace deal with rebels.’ New York Times: ‘South Sudan’s President Signs Peace Deal With Rebels.’ The Guardian: ‘South Sudan’s President… Read more »

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… Read more »

This Week in South Sudan – Week 33

Monday 10 August South Sudanese rival forces traded accusations over who initiated recent clashes in Pariang county, Unity state over the weekend. Ethiopia’s prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn travelled to Uganda to attend the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development summit on South Sudan. Riek Machar downplayed the rumoured possibility of disintegration within the SPLM/A (IO)’s leadership. Sudan’s… Read more »

PRIO Global Fellow, Luka Biong Deng: ‘Will IGAD Plus deadline have the same fate of IGAD deadlines?’

The IGAD Plus agreed in its first meeting on a document titled “Proposed Compromise Peace Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan” and resolved to share it with the warring parties and other stakeholders as the basis for the next round of peace talks. Besides this document, IGAD Plus… Read more »

This Week in South Sudan – Week 32

Monday 3 August The SPLA claimed it has contained the inter-ethnic fighting in Western Equatoria state, creating a buffer zone between youth from Zande communities and armed Dinka cattle herders. The South Sudanese government presented a new diplomatic push towards strengthening its’ bilateral relationship with the government of neighbouring Sudan. In Yambio town, Western Equatoria, hundreds… Read more »