This Week in South Sudan – Week 6 – Monitoring South Sudan

President Salva Kiir dismissed the chief administrator of Abyei, Chol Deng Alak, and replaced him with Kuol Alor Kuol Arop, better known as Kuol Alor Jok.
A delegation of Sudanese lawmakers visited Juba for talks with their South Sudanese counterparts on bilateral cooperation.
According to an official state report, at least 46 children were abducted in Jonglei State in 2016.
Al Jazeera Op-ed: “South Sudan not facing ‘genocide’, but violence is constant”
The Enough Project: “Missing the Point on South Sudan”

Salva Kiir, in an attempt to quell increased local and international outrage, said soldiers who rape civilians should be shot during a speech in Yei. He also announced that the national dialogue will commence in early March.
- The UN Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, claim the national dialogue could be undermined by the ongoing violence.
South Sudan’s former military attaché in Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda, Gai Chatiem has defected and joined the SPLA (IO) led by Riek Machar.
The SPLM (IO) dismissed allegations that the group is preparing to replace its leader, Riek Machar.

The Government of South Sudan has increased security at oil installations and will source electricity from neighbouring Sudan, in an attempt to resume output at two fields and restore production levels.
Salva Kiir has threatened major offensives should the armed opposition continue to reject his calls for national dialogue.

South Sudan is seeking financial support from the donor community to help close a USD$ 200 million budget deficit.

The number of refugees who have fled South Sudan has crossed the 1.5 million mark according to UNHCR, making it the world’s third largest refugee crisis.
- At least 52,000 South Sudanese have fled into neighbouring Uganda in January alone.
Salva Kiir issued an executive order dismissing the governor of the newly created Imatong State in Eastern Equatoria region. The announcement led to fighting between government soldiers and Imatong state bodyguards, killing two people and injuring three others.

The SPLA Deputy Chief of General Staff of Logistics, Lt. Gen. Thomas Cirillo Swaka, has resigned, citing SPLA abuse against civilians and the military leaderships’ pursuit of a tribal agenda. Salva Kiir and SPLA dismissed the allegations, claiming Cirillo resigned to avoid corruption investigation.

South Sudanese internally displaced persons (IDPs) petitioned the UN against the re-deployment of Kenyan peacekeepers, accusing them of being involved in fuelling the July 2015 clashes in Juba.
Reported clashes between government and SPLA (IO) forces in various areas on the west bank of the River Nile, Upper Nile State.

This Week in South Sudan – Week 6