Monday 16 January The UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) vowed to find a solution to the issue of armed SPLA (IO) soldiers in eastern DRC. Salva Kiir has formed a committee to visit Maban area and… Read more »

Monday 9 January The SPLA (IO) claim their forces are still controlling up to 90 per cent of Nasir area in Upper Nile State. Both government forces and the SPLA (IO) claim they are in control over Morobo town, Central Equatoria. Tuesday 10 January The Government of South Sudan (GOSS) banned travel on the two… Read more »

Monday 2 January The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting: “South Sudan: The Revenge of Salva Kiir” International Crisis Group Report: “South Sudan: Rearranging the Chessboard” Tuesday 3 January The Tanzanian pilot detained by the SPLA (IO) has been released. The security agencies in Juba arrested a group of 26 people from Somalia and Uganda suspected… Read more »

Wednesday 28 December At least 15 people, including four government soldiers, have allegedly been killed in separate incidents in Torit town and surrounding villages in Eastern Equatoria over the past two weeks. SPLA (IO) detained a government official and his Tanzanian pilot after their plane landed in Ganyiel area, a rebel-held territory in Unity State. Thursday… Read more »

Monday 19 December Meeting with representatives of the Transitional Government of National Unity and other peace partners, The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) decried the missed opportunities in 2016 to end the war. At least six people are confirmed dead after a fuel tanker exploded at Sherikaat, a suburb of Juba. Tuesday 20 December… Read more »

Monday 12 December The South Sudan President’s office issued a statement denying reports in which several officials and presidential guards claimed over USD 280 million was stolen. HSBA Issue Brief: “Legitimacy, exclusion, and power: Taban Deng Gai and the South Sudan peace process” Tuesday 13 December Riek Machar held as ‘guest’ in Pretoria, South Africa…. Read more »

Tuesday 29 November President Salva Kiir said numerous assurances of support and cooperation from the UN and regional leaders encouraged his acceptance of the Regional Protection Force (RPF). The Government of South Sudan (GOSS) presents strategic measures to improve non-oil revenues. Salva Kiir visited South Africa for bilateral talks with President Jacob Zuma. Al Jazeera:… Read more »

Dear Readers, please note that there will be no news update next week. We will be back on Sunday December 11 with a two-week TWISS update for week 48 and 49.   Monday 21 November A contingent of 350 Japanese peacekeepers, with a mandated to use force to protect UN staff and aid workers, arrived… Read more »

Monday 14 November Japan approved a plan to deploy a new contingent of Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force troops, authorized to conduct rescue missions in South Sudan. Critics claim the move risks pulling Japanese soldiers into overseas fighting for the first time since World War Two. Clashes between SPLA (IO) forces loyal to, respectively, Riek Machar… Read more »

Monday 7 November Kenyan aid workers who allegedly were arrested in Akobo, Jonglei State, by SPLM (IO) field commanders and governors have been released. The reported number of released aid workers varies between 25-75. Ten civilians were wounded in an attack by unknown gunmen, assumedly attempting to target SPLA soldiers in Bentiu, Unity State. Tuesday… Read more »