This Week in South Sudan – Week 18

Monday 2 May

  • Rebel general Peter Gadet said he would continue to fight because the August 2015 peace agreement between President Salva Kiir and First Vice-President Riek Machar does not address the root cause of the conflict.
  • At least three SPLA soldiers were killed and a general wounded after a group of soldiers opened fire in in Raja county, Western Bahr el Ghazal over an apparent pay dispute.
  • Authorities in South Sudan said they have recovered 32 of the over 100 Ethiopian children who were kidnapped in a cross-border raid in April by armed men from the Murle group.

 Tuesday 3 May

  • South Sudanese journalists continue to face severe challenges and dangers while attempting to carry out their job. South Sudan is ranked 140 out of 180 on the 2016 World Press Freedom Index.
  • According to a leaked cable from the Kenyan Embassy in South Sudan, Juba is “more dangerous than any time since the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement.”

Wednesday 4 May

  • South Sudanese refugees refuse to leave the unofficial Yida camp in Sudan, despite demands to close the camp by the Government of South Sudan.
  • The Government of South Sudan reportedly refuses to recognize the presence of SPLA (IO) forces in the Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal region.
  • JMEC and UNMISS said that the 28 states created by President Salva Kiir are not in line with the August 2015 peace agreement and are not recognized by them as legitimate.

Thursday 5 May

  • President Salva Kiir issued a decree appointing a ten member presidential advisory team.

Friday 6 May

  • The newly formed Transitional Government of National Unity held its first cabinet meeting. Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Mabior Garang de Mabior, was forced by President Salva Kiir to leave the meeting for being inappropriately dressed.
  • According to the Minister of Petroleum and Mining, Dak Duop Bischok, damage to South Sudan’s oil fields after more than two years of civil war will hinder plans to boost output.
  • First Vice-President Riek Machar was reportedly forced to work from home due to tension between the bodyguards of the two top leaders. The SPLM (IO) later downplayed the security tension.
  • Dozens of people have fled to Aweil Centre in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State after armed clashes erupted recently in Western Bahr el Ghazal State.
  • Gunmen have reportedly killed over a dozen people in Yei and Kajo Keji counties in Central Equatoria State over the last week.
  • National security officials in Yei River County stormed Radio Easter after the station aired a report accusing government soldiers of torturing and killing eight people recently.

 

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