This Week in South Sudan – Week 5

Wednesday 31 January

• SPLM/A (IO) leader, Riek Machar unveiled a position paper for the second round of the High-Level Revitalization Forum, demanding a transitional unity government for 27 months. GoSS, on the other hand, declined to announce their position prior to the negotiations.
• The Government of South Africa and GoSS signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation, including joint military exercises, training and capacity building.

Friday 2 February

• The United States has banned the export of weapons and defense services to South Sudan. It is largely a symbolic move since the US does not sell weapons to the South Sudan. The US urges other states to follow suit.
• Clashes reported south of Bentiu, Unity State, and in Nyirol East County, Jonglei State.
• The EU has imposed sanctions against three former and current South Sudanese officials, including Paul Malong.
• Al Jazeera: “South Sudan: war deprives children of education”

Monday 5 February

• GoSS recalled its ambassador to the United States in response to the imposition of the arms embargo.
• A second round of the High-Level Revitalization Forum started in Addis Ababa as the international diplomatic pressure on the conflict parties increases.
• Former SPLA chief of staff, Paul Malong, refuse to return from Kenya to South Sudan. He also accused members of the National Security Services and Military Intelligence of being the “unknown gunmen” often referred to in the media, who commits crimes against civilians.