This Week in South Sudan – Week 35 & 36

South Sudan’s parliament passed the 2017/2018 budget of 46.5 billion South Sudanese pounds (USD $300M); more than a 30 per cent spending increase from 2016/2017. The Ministry of Finance has previously stated that more than a third of the proposed budget must be funded by external donors. Meanwhile, Kiir has vowed to undertake radical reforms to end the current economic crisis.
The Minister of Defence, Kuol Manyang Juuk has given the opposition a 30-day ultimatum to declare a cease-fire and join the national dialogue, or face government offensives.
Voice of America: “Child Marriage Increasing in Civil War-Torn South Sudan”

The SPLA (IO) claim government soldiers pass through neighbouring Uganda in order to launch assaults, raising the risk of spill-over effects and regional instability. SPLA and Uganda both deny the claims.
The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) will not investigate the death of US journalist Christopher Allen as they claim he entered the country illegally to work alongside rebel forces.
Reported clashes in Aweil East between government troops and an opposition group calling itself the South Sudan Patriotic Army.

Foreign Policy photo feature on South Sudan rebel life: “No Country for Civilians”

The only foreign victim to come forward and provide evidence against the twelve SPLA soldiers accused after the Terrain Hotel attack trial, testified in court. The Italian woman urged other survivors to speak up.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) warned GoSS it will undertake a comprehensive review of its aid policy toward South Sudan, amid concerns over the treatment of aid agencies, atrocities and growing instability.

Reuters ’The Wider Image’ photo feature on opposition forces in South Sudan “Short on supplies, South Sudan rebels fight on”

The US. Department of the Treasury placed economic sanctions on three South Sudanese officials for their alleged roles in destabilising the country and “enriching” themselves through corruption: Gen. Malek Reuben Riak Rengu, the army’s deputy chief of staff in charge of military procurement; Minister of Information and Broadcasting Michael Makuei Lueth; and former SPLA chief of general staff Paul Malong Awan. Three South Sudan-based companies owned or controlled by Malek Reuben Riak Rengu were also sanctioned. GoSS called on the US to rethink the “unfortunate” sanctions.
GoSS says it will not allow an automatic renewal of UNMISS’ mandate when the current mandate expires in December 2017.

Salva Kiir dismissed the head of the state-owned Nile Petroleum Company, James Thelweng and replaced him with a new managing director, Chol Deng Thon.
At least seven people were killed and eight others wounded when a group of armed youth attacked a police post in Rumbek, Lakes State.
Salva Kiir rejected Paul Malong Awan permission to travel to Kenya to identify his daughter’s body who was killed in an arson fire last week. Malong is currently under house arrest in Juba.
The new in-depth report by the International Crisis Group; “Double-edged Sword: Vigilantes in African Counter-insurgencies” includes a case study of the Zande Arrow Boys in South Sudan and how the group has impacted both the security and stability in the country.

According to a confidential UN Sanctions Monitoring Panel report seen by Reuters, competing efforts to end South Sudan’s civil war allow GoSS to exploit divisions among international brokers, and prolongs the conflict.

The UN warns South Sudan against the planned general election in July 2018, saying it will risk “deepening and extending” an already devastating civil war.
In Western Equatoria, an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) staff member was killed by unknown gunmen during an ambush on an ICRC aid convoy.
Associated Press: “South Sudan’s Civil War Without End Leaves All Sides Weary”

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