This Week in South Sudan – Week 37

Tuesday 13 September

• In response to a recent UN report, the SPLA denied responsibility for the July fighting in Juba, saying it was ‘outraged’ by the report and ‘UN’s continuation of negative smear campaign against top leadership of the military’.
• Taban Deng Gai vowed to shortly integrate SPLA (IO) forces in Equatoria into the SPLA faction led by President Salva Kiir. The SPLA (IO) faction loyal to Riek Machar, shortly after dismissed the announcement, claiming there are no SPLA (IO) forces in Central Equatoria under Taban Deng’s control.

Wednesday 14 September

• According to the U.N. peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous, the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) has not enacted upon the recent UN Security Council agreement to cooperate on the deployment of additional UN peacekeeping troops.
• Al Jazeera: “South Sudan: Surviving on goat bones and water lilies”
• Al Jazeera, Inside Story: “Are South Sudan’s leaders benefiting from conflict?”

Thursday 15 September

• South Sudanese authorities shut down the daily newspaper The Nation Mirror, a day after it published a detailed, front-page story on the Sentry report alleging misuse of funding and corruption by the country’s elite.
• The Central Bank of South Sudan auctioned up to USD $10 million to various commercial banks in a bid to bolster the country’s crippled currency.
• Chatham House: “Britain’s UN Peacekeeping Role Must Go Beyond Troop”

Friday 16 September

• GOSS denounced the recent Sentry report, calling into question the authors’ motivations. GOSS further stated it will take legal action against the US-based Sentry group.
• Riek Machar and other senior officials of the SPLM (IO) will meet in Khartoum to review the situation following the July fighting in Juba.
• The UNCHR reports that the number of South Sudanese refugees has reached 1 million, with more than 185 000 fleeing the country following the July fighting in Juba.

Sunday 18 September

• Sudan threatens to close its border with South Sudan unless GOSS implements the agreement to expel Sudanese rebels.
• Taban Deng Gai left for New York to represent Salva Kiir at the 71st sessions of the United Nations General Assembly.