This Week in South Sudan – Week 10 – Monitoring South Sudan

The Government of South Sudan (GOSS) has granted Oranto Petroleum International Ltd. a license to explore for oil in block B3. The Nigerian company will be the technical operator and 90% shareholder of the block, with the GOSS-owned oil company Nile Petroleum Co. holding a 10% stake.
According to the UN, GOSS is blocking food aid and restricting UNMISS peacekeeper through direct hostility, access denials and bureaucratic impediments.
General Thomas Cirillo Swaka, former SPLA Deputy Chief of General Staff of Logistics, declared himself chairman and commander-in-chief of the new rebel group, the National Salvation Front.

According to Sudan Tribune, a financial scandal threatens to undermine the work of South Sudan’s Crisis Management Committee (CMC) involving at least six GOSS ministers.

Luka Biong Deng, PRIO Global Fellow and former Director of Centre for Peace Studies at the University of Juba, urged for the National Dialogue to take place outside South Sudan to ensure inclusivity in the process.

Aid agencies condemn GOSS and the labour ministry for introducing a hundredfold increase in cost of work permits for foreign aid workers from US $100 up to US $10,000. International media reports:
- Al Jazeera: “Aid groups criticise South Sudan for $10,000 visa fees”
- Financial Times: “South Sudan fees rise imperils life-saving aid, agencies warn”
- Foreign Policy: “Famine-Wracked South Sudan Now Wants to Charge Aid Workers For Help”
- The Guardian: “Famine-hit South Sudan rebuked over move to raise fees for aid workers”
President Salva Kiir issued a decree removing the inspector general of police, General Makur Marol, from his position, replacing him with Syed Chawul Lom, former police commissioner of Jubek State.
According to GOOS, members of the SPLM (IO) who have not laid down arms, will be excluded from the national dialogue initiative. President Kiir further stated that Riek Machar Riek Machar can only participate in the national dialogue once he denounces violence.
BBC: “South Sudan conflict: ‘Soldiers will kill you for no reason in Yei’”
BBC: “’Dragged, chained and shot’: South Sudan’s growing conflict”
Bloomberg: “Famine Final Straw as War-Weary South Sudanese Flood Capital”
The Washington Post: “South Sudan’s government-made famine”

Japan’s Self Defense Force, a 350-strong military contingent, will withdraw from South Sudan and UNMISS around the end of May.
President Salva Kiir announced he has pardoned two jailed senior government officials, former governor of Wau State, Gen. Elias Waya, and his deputy, Gen. Andrea Dominic.
SPLA (IO) has allegedly captured two Indian oil workers, at Guelguok north in the Adar oilfield, Upper Nile State.

This Week in South Sudan – Week 10