This Week in South Sudan – Week 7

Monday 15 February

  • A least five people were killed and several houses burned in Wau County, Western Bahr al Ghazal State, during clashes between government forces and armed men at Bisselia area.
  • The SPLA allegedly closed the supply route between the Malakal Protection of Civilian (PoC) site and Wau Shilluk on the opposite bank of the river, amid rising prices of consumer goods inside the site.
  • According to the former Greater Pibor Area Administrator, David Yau Yau, Lou Nuer raiders carried out attacks in the greater Pibor area from 8-13 February, explaining that it may be retaliation for an earlier attack in the Akobo area.

Tuesday 16 February

  • More than 300 employees of Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) across South Sudan have been on strike this week, demanding a six-fold pay increase to cover the soaring cost of living. 

Thursday 18 February

  • Government forces and SPLA (IO) troops clashed in the Atali and Tadu area, south of Busari in Wau County, Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
  • The SPLA withdrew more of its forces from Juba in accordance with the August 2015 peace deal.
  • SPLM (IO) leader and South Sudan’s First Vice President designate, Riek Machar met with South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma to discuss the implementation of the peace deal. 

Friday 19 February

Saturday 20 February

  • According to the UN, South Sudan is on the verge of fragmenting as the warring government and opposition continue to kill, abduct and displace civilians and destroying property despite conciliatory rhetoric by both sides.
  • The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon will visit South Sudan on February 25 to meet with President Salva Kiir and visit a UN PoC site.
  • UNMISS plans to dispatch peace keeping troops to the west bank of the Nile in Upper Nile State to maintain a “regular troop presence” for the first time since the civil war started in December 2013.

Sunday 21 February

  • The government has proposed to hold a referendum in order to determine the number of states through which the country should be governed. The SPLM (IO) said in response that the proposal was not necessary and had no legal backing.

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