This Week in South Sudan – Week 51 and 52

Monday 17 December

• The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) protested the US sanctions mentioned in TWiSS week 50, and specifically denied buying weapons from IDF General Israel Ziv.
• Reportedly, six former members of the SPLM-IO joined the Federal Democratic Party/South Sudan Armed Forces, which is led by Garbiel Changson Chang.

Tuesday 18 December

• Violent clashes took place between government forces and members of the National Salvation Front (NSF) in Central and Western Equatoria.

Wednesday 19 December

• Companies from South Africa, Malaysia and Nigeria have invested around $2 billion in South Sudan oil production and the GoSS expects further investment agreements with companies from Russia, Spain and the Emirates.
• South Sudan security personnel detained and assaulted international monitors of the peace agreement near Juba.
  • IGAD referred to the assault as a violation of the peace agreement.

Friday 21 December

• Dan Sullivan in Council on Foreign Relations: “Despite Peace Deal, Too Dangerous for South Sudanese IDPs to Return Home”.

Sunday 23 December

• As a part of a government investigation into allegations of sexual assaults in Bentiu, mentioned in TWiSS week 49, the GoSS hindered members of the Medecins Sans Frontieres from leaving South Sudan. The members had provided medical treatment to the victims of sexual abuse.

Tuesday 25 December

• President Kiir met with a delegation of the Former Political Detainees led by Rebecca Garang to discuss implementation of the peace agreement.
  • Garang’s return to Juba came after one year in exile in Nairobi.

Wednesday 26 December

• Representatives from the national armed forces and the SPLA-IO partook in a peace celebration in Bentiu, northern Unity.
• The African Export-Import Bank provided $15 million to Securiport Senegal SUARL, which is tasked with developing a security system for the Juba airport.

Friday 28 December

• The NSF denied the accusations of violent attacks in Yei, Central Equatoria.
• The UN Security Council Committee urged all parties to the armed conflict to end the use of child soldiers.

Sunday 30 December

• The SPLM-IO expressed concerns over the slow progress of the peace deal implementation and the lack of funding.
• The Chief of Defense Forces Gabriel Jok Riak announced that a new opposition group has emerged in Yei, Central Equatoria, which, according to Riak, is led by a woman.
• Xinhua Net: “2018, a Year of Turnarounds in South Sudan”