This Week in South Sudan – Week 1

Tuesday 5 January

  • BBC Radio “Saving South Sudan’s Lost Girls”

Wednesday 6 January

  • The South Sudan Armed Forces/South Sudan Federal Democratic Party (SSAF/SSFDP) dismissed allegations that they are connected to Gabriel Changson or General Peter Gatdet Yak group.
  • The newly appointed governor of Wau State, Elias Waya Nyipuoc, criticized his predecessor’s administration for failing to prosecute police officers suspected of killing eight protesters in Wau town in 2012.

Thursday 7 January

  • President Salva Kiir apologized to the people of South Sudan for their suffering during the civil war.
  • Salva Kiir agrees with SPLM (IO) and SPLM- Former Detainees on cabinet reshuffle President Salva Kiir appointed 50 members from the SPLM (IO) to the transitional parliament.
  • SPLA forces attacked several villages outside Wau town , killing at least one civilian and burning down homes and schools.
  • UNMISS reported heavy shooting at the Pibor airstrip, but it was unclear who was involved in the fighting. Around 260 civilians sought protection at the UNMISS compund until the fighting died down a few hours later.
  • Unknown gunmen killed at least six people, including women and children, and two others wounded in an attack by at Garwal area in Twic East County, Jonglei State.
  • Operations resumed at Juba International Airport following a one-day strike. Some 700 airport staff have reportedly not received their salaries for over four months.

Friday 8 January

  • International reporting on agreement on cabinet reshuffle:
    • Bloomberg:South Sudanese Government, Rebels Agree on Cabinet Post Sharing”
    • VOA: “South Sudan Rebels Hail New Power-Sharing Deal”
    • Deutsche Welle interview “South Sudan: Peace Deal Is a ‘Result of External Pressure’”
  • A family member the ousted Western Equatoria governor Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro said that the National Security Services agents have yet to take any statement from Bakosoro despite arresting him more than two weeks ago.

 Saturday 9 January

  • South Sudan People’s Patriotic Front (SSPPF) allegedly attacked Soura village, seven miles from Yambio. Authorities say hundreds have fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo and to Uganda.
  • The SPLM (IO) called on the SPLM faction in government and SPLM-Former Detainees, to resume the Arusha process on reunification.

Sunday 10 January

  • President Salva Kiir dismissed several top police generals, including the inspector general of police, in accordance to the new power sharing arrangement, which left the SPLM (IO) in charge of the ministry of interior.
  • SPLM (IO) did not participate in the convention or the ratifying of any decisions during the 7-9 January SPLM Extraordinary National Convention organised by the SPLM faction in government. But chief negotiator Taban Deng Gai attended the opening and closing sessions.

Monday 11 January

  • During the Extraordinary National Convention Kiir announced reunification of the SPLM, but the two other SPLM factions remain hesitant.

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