This Week in South Sudan – Week 8  

Monday 20 February

• Further international reporting on the declared famine in parts of Unity State, South Sudan:
  • Al Jazeera, Inside Story: “Who is to blame for famine in South Sudan?”
  • Al Jazeera: “UN: $4.4bn needed to prevent ‘catastrophe’ of famine”
  • New York Times: “Millions in South Sudan in Urgent Need of Food, U.N. Warns”
  • The Guardian: “Famine declared in South Sudan”
  • Foreign Policy: “‘Our Worst Fears Have Been Realized’: The Famine We Could Have Stopped in South Sudan”
  • Reuters: “South Sudan’s Kiir promises safe access to starving civilians as famine bites”
  • Voice of America: “South Sudan Accused of Blocking Aid, Despite Famine”
  • BBC: “South Sudan declares famine in Unity State
  • Time: “By the Time We Declare a Famine, It’s Already Too Late

Tuesday 21 February

• President Salva Kiir dismissed Machar Achiek Ader, the head of the state-owned oil company Nilepet, two years after he was appointed.

Wednesday 22 February

• The President of Sudan, Omer al-Bashir ruled out direct involvement of the Egyptian army in South Sudan, but said Egypt has provided the SPLA with arms and ammunition. The SPLA deny receiving any form of military support from Egypt.
• The former governor of Warrap State, Lewis Anei Madut, has formed a new party named the Republican Party of South Sudan.

Friday 24 February

• Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, and Salva Kiir signed eight cooperation agreements during their bilateral talks in Addis Ababa; including an agreement to build a road for oil import, linking the Paloch oilfields in Upper Nile State with Malakal and western Ethiopia.

Sunday 26 February

• The SPLA (IO) accused government forces of allegedly looting and burning down villages around Yuai, Jonglei State.
• BBC: “South Sudan: People queue for food cards and vaccination”