This Week in South Sudan – Week 35

Monday 24 August

• The South Sudanese government admitted that the SPLA (IO) unexpectedly overran the strategic town Lainya, in central Equatoria state on Monday morning.
• According to a county official, four people were killed and five others seriously wounded following a revenge attack at Ayen cattle camp in Rumbek North county, Lakes state.
  

Tuesday 25 August                                                                          

• The SPLA (IO) accused government forces of attacking its positions in Ayod county, Jonglei state and in Leer county, Unity state.
• According to UNICEF and WHO, new South Sudan cholera cases more than triple in a week, increasing from 23 new cases two weeks ago to 88 last week.
• South Sudan’s government has been unsuccessfully seeking $200 million in loans from Asian oil companies since June 2014, according to government officials.

Wednesday 26 August

• South Sudanese rebels claimed they had captured Magwi town, the headquarters of Magwi county in Eastern Equatoria state after a repulsing government attack. The government later denied the claim.
• John Prendergast, Founding Director of the Enough Project: ‘Saving South Sudan from Kleptocracy.’
• Al Jazeera ‘Inside Story’ episode with International Crisis group analyst, Casie Copeland and South Sudan Operation Advisor, Michael White MSF: ‘Is peace really possible in South Sudan?’
• Foreign Policy analysis: ‘South Sudan’s peace deal may not be worth the paper it’s written on’
• BBC: ‘Will South Sudan peace deal be worth the wait?’

Thursday 27 August

• News stories covering the signing of the new IGAD+ peace deal in South Sudan.
• The US warned South Sudan’s leaders not to violate the peace deal threatening to “hold to account” leaders who breached the deal and support sanctions against them.
• The Washington Post: ‘South Sudan’s leaders just signed a peace deal. Will it work?’
• South Sudanese rebels claimed they thwarted attempts by government troops to recapture Taiyar port in Payinjiar county, south of Unity state.

Friday 28 August

• NTV Uganda: ‘Will the South Sudan peace deal hold?’
• The UN Security Council warned the two factions in South Sudan of arms embargo and other sanctions if they do not implement the new peace deal.
• South Sudanese rebels and government forces accused each other for attacking each other’s positions.
• NTV Uganda: Uganda is optimistic about the possibility of reinstated trade volumes with South Sudan following the signing of the peace deal.

Saturday 29 August

• The New York Times: ‘A peace plea for South Sudan.’

Sunday 30 August

• SPLA and SPLA (IO) have issued statements continuing to counter-accusing each other of further violations of the permanent ceasefire hours after it came into effect on Saturday midnight.
• President Museveni of Uganda held an unexpected high profile meeting with a SPLM/A (IO) delegation in Kampala.