This Week in South Sudan – Week 31

Monday 1 August

  • The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) warned that further deterioration of the security situation in South Sudan could lead to the cessation of oil production, practically the only source of government revenue.

Tuesday 2 August

  • Lam Akol, agriculture minister and the leader of SPLM-Democratic Change resigned, stating the August 2015 peace deal is dead.
  • Government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth threatened to deny JMECs entry into South Sudan, and to expel the entity altogether unless they reopen their office in Juba.
  • Over one hundred UN workers were reportedly denied entry or deported at the Juba International Airport due to new regulations issued by the Directorate of Immigration. The ministry of foreign affairs later denied these claims.
  • SPLM’s former secretary-general, Pagan Amum has formed an advocacy group seeking to bring South Sudan under the administration of the UN.

Wednesday 3 August

  • President Salva Kiir dismissed six ministers allied to Riek Machar. These were the ministers of the interior, petroleum, higher education, labour, water, as well as lands and housing. New ministers have been appointed all linked to Vice President Taban Deng Gai. James Gatdet Dak, Riek Machar’s spokesperson, stated that President Kiir’s decision is illegal. 
  • South Sudan’s warring factions traded accusations over recent attacks in Leer county, Unity State.
  • Sudan’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Obaidallah Mohamed Obaidallah, said the appointment of Taban Deng Gai as South Sudan’s First Vice President is inconsistent with the 2015 August peace deal.

Thursday 4 August

Friday 5 August

  • UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, accused South Sudanese forces of ethnically targeted atrocities, including extrajudicial executions and rapes, during the renewed fighting this past month.
  • A UN board of inquiry has found that UNMISS failed to properly manage the attack on the Malakal protection site in February, resulting in the death of 30 people and 123 injured.

Sunday 7 August

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