This Week in South Sudan – Week 21 – Monitoring South Sudan

The Guardian op-ed by Payton Knopf, former coordinator of the UN Panel of Experts on South Sudan: “If Trump does nothing, 50% of South Sudan’s population could soon be gone”
President Salva Kiir declared a unilateral ceasefire and promised to release political prisoners. However, such a ceasefire is unlikely to hold without a new political peace agreement, and the UN, USA and Britain were critical to the initiative and noted that fighting continued in Yei.

Clashes reported in Ayaci county, Eastern Equatoria state, and in Yei, Central Equatoria State, despite the Government of South Sudan’s declared ceasefire the previous day.

Similar to the KCB Group, Kenya’s Equity Bank Group has closed seven of its 12 branches in South Sudan because of hyperinflation, a weakened local currency and a general economic downturn.
Salva Kiir dismissed the governor of Aweil, Ronald Ruay Deng. Deng is a close ally of the recently replaced SPLA chief of staff, Paul Malong Awan.

In an attempt to end the inter-communal tensions and violence, Bor and Murle communities from Jonglei and Boma states signed a cessation of hostilities agreement in Juba.

Following a funding crisis, the UN cut food rations from 12 to 6 kg maize a month in refugee camps in northern Uganda. Subsequently hunger stricken South Sudanese refugees stole food from people living in the area. Camp authorities fear clashes and violence if the reduced food rationing continues.
South Sudanese authorities released a UN-Miraya FM journalist, George Livio after him being detained without charge since August 2014.
Uganda conveyed a SPLM factions meeting in Kampala between the SPLM (in government), the SPLM (IO) faction led by Taban Deng Gai and the SPLM-Former Political Detainees (FD). Machar’s SPLM (IO) faction was not included. The meeting was unsuccessful in fostering a SPLM-reunification. The SPLM (FD) stated that proposed agreement was not inclusive and declined to sign.

The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force contingent deployed as part of UNMISS have all returned to Japan, ending Japan’s five-year mission in South Sudan.

The Court of Appeal in South Sudan has ruled as “unconstitutional” a controversial South Sudan National Security Service (NSS) wiretapping system.

This Week in South Sudan – Week 21