This Week in South Sudan – Week 31

Tuesday 31 July

• The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North led by Malik Agar praised progress towards a negotiated settlement in South Sudan.

Wednesday 1 August

• The People’s Liberal Party urged Sudanese mediators to intervene for the release of activist Peter Bier Ajak in South Sudan.

Friday 3 August

• President Salva Kiir promoted his wife Mary Ayen and two other women to major general in the army.

Saturday 4 August

• In a joint statement, the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) said they would reject a referendum on the disputed 32 states.
• Relief Web: “WFP South Sudan Situation Report August 2018”

Sunday 5 August

• A power sharing agreement was signed by: President Salva Kiir on behalf of TGoNU; Riek Machar for SPLM-IO; Gabriel Changson Chang, SSOA chairman; Joseph Okello, Other Political Parties; Deng Alor for the SPLM-FDs.
  • Presidents al-Bashir of Sudan, Museveni of Uganda, Kenyatta of Kenya, Guelleh of Djibouti, Khayre of Somalia and Mekonen of Ethiopia attended the signing ceremony of the agreement.
  • The parties agreed on five vice presidents and 35 ministries during the transitional period, as well as 550 members of parliament.
  • The opposition People’s Democratic Movement rejected the agreement.
  • Media reports celebrations in Juba.
• Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir said that oil production from the Wahda region will commence 1 September.
• Radio Tamazuj: “Transcript: Kiir’s Speech at Juba Airport”