This Week in South Sudan – Week 26

Monday 27 June

  • A blackout at Juba International Airport resulted in cancelled flights.

Tuesday 28 June

  • At least 43 people were killed and more than 120,000 people are reportedly displaced following last week’s clashes in Wau town. A newly formed Islamist militant group led by politician Ali Tamim Fartak is allegedly behind the attacks. The group is said to include former government troops and fighters from the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) and the Sudanese Janjawiid militia.
  • An SPLA (IO) commander admitted that fighters under his command had clashed with government forces south of Wau town last Saturday.
  • Sudan announced it had completed the redeployment of its forces outside the safe demilitarized zone along the border between Sudan and South Sudan. This is in accordance with the joint security political committee’s resolutions.

Wednesday 29 June

  • According to the UN, almost half of South Sudan’s population face severe food shortages, resulting in the country’s worst hunger since the civil war began in late 2013.
  • The SPLA (IO) and government forces traded accusations over clashes in Unity State on last Sunday.

Friday 1 July

  • The international Crisis Group warns that the formerly warring parties are flouting the August peace agreement while increasingly preparing for widespread conflict.
  • Tensions remain high in Kajokeji, Central Equatoria State, following fighting between “armed actors” in June according to the UN.
  • An inquiry committee formed by president Salva Kiir arrived in Wau town to investigate last week’s violence.
  • The SPLA accused the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring Mechanism (CTSAMM) of poor performance in identifying which of the parties have violated the peace agreement.
  • Uganda announced it plans to withdraw its 2,500 troops from the AU Regional Task Force (AU-RTF) in Central African Republic. This will deprive the task force of its largest and most effective contingent in the fight against the LRA.

Saturday 2 July

  • Academic staff at five South Sudanes universities ended their strike after receiving assurances from the government that their demands over unpaid salaries would be met in due course.

 

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