This Week in South Sudan – Week 1 – Monitoring South Sudan

The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting: “South Sudan: The Revenge of Salva Kiir”
International Crisis Group Report: “South Sudan: Rearranging the Chessboard”

The Tanzanian pilot detained by the SPLA (IO) has been released.
The security agencies in Juba arrested a group of 26 people from Somalia and Uganda suspected of involvement in robberies on New Year’s Eve.

President Salva Kiir sacked two governors from the two newly-created states, Twic and Gogrial. General Gregory Deng Kuac was later appointed Governor of Gogrial and Brig. Gen. Kon Manyiel Kuol Governor of Twic State.
Hundreds of citizens, mostly women and children, have reportedly fled their homes due to killings and burning of houses along the Rimenze-Yambio road.
A new armed opposition movement, the National Resistance Front/Army, have been formed. The group is allied to former commissioner of Yei River County, Cosmas Bidali Wori-Kojo.
The Guardian: “Bookseller of Malakal brings words of comfort to war-torn South Sudan”

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deng Alor Kuol contested remarks that the disputed Abyei area is part of the Sudanese territory until a referendum is conducted.
Two rebel commanders allied to Lam Akol, Gen. Gabriel Tanginye and Yohannes Okech

were killed in separate clashes with the SPLA (IO).

South Sudan will resume oil production from the Unity oil fields within two-months.
Foreign Policy: “10 Conflicts to Watch in 2017 – South Sudan”
BBC: “The UN’s peacekeeping nightmare in Africa”

At least 10 people were killed and 10 wounded in separate attacks against vehicles at Khor Langa area and Jebel Kenyi areas along the Juba-Yei road.

Former Governor of Western Equatoria, Baghazi Joseph Bakosoro, announced the formation of a new political party, the ’National Movement for Change (NMC)’.
The South Sudanese Pound weakened further against the U.S. dollar, as 1 USD sold for 105 SSP, a significant change from 1 USD at 90 SSP in December 2016.

The Government of South Sudan and SPLA (IO) have issued separate statements in which both claim to have captured areas initially controlled by the opposing faction.
An estimated 12,000 cattle have been found in Likuangole village, Boma State. The cattle was confiscated by the government since it supposedly came from two different attacks in Jonglei State where Murle raiders were suspected of being the culprits.
The New York Times: “Can the African Union Save South Sudan from Genocide?”

This Week in South Sudan – Week 1