Monday 21 January Inter-communal fighting in a South Sudanese refugee camp in Ethiopia. An unknown number of people were killed or injured, and thousands were displaced. President Kiir replaced the governor of Tonj state Anthony Bol Madut with Mathew Mathiang Magordit, and governor of Western Lakes state Matur Chut with John Deng Mamer. No reason… Read more »

Thursday 17 January The Technical Committee of Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism has not been able to secure a 2019 budget. Major General Desta Abiche Ageno explained that they had received insufficient international donations. President Kiir travelled to Egypt to discuss bilateral cooperation, and he urged the Egyptian president al-Sisi to… Read more »

Tuesday 8 January President Salva Kiir pardoned 48 detainees in prisons in Wau, Juba, Torit, Turalei and Kuacjok. So far, media has reported on releases from Wau, Gogrial in Warrap State and Mayendit in Unity State. South Sudan media regulator ordered national media outlets to ignore ongoing anti-government protests in Khartoum. Wednesday 9 January The… Read more »

Wednesday 2 January The African Union Peace and Security Council backed the deployment of an IGAD force within the UN mission in South Sudan despite UN’s reservations of the force’s role in the peace process. Thursday 3 January China donated $7 million to the UN World Food Programme in South Sudan. The money is targeted… Read more »

Monday 17 December The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) protested the US sanctions mentioned in TWiSS week 50, and specifically denied buying weapons from IDF General Israel Ziv. Reportedly, six former members of the SPLM-IO joined the Federal Democratic Party/South Sudan Armed Forces, which is led by Garbiel Changson Chang. Tuesday 18 December Violent clashes… Read more »

Please note that there will be no news update next week. We will be back on Monday 31 December with a two-week TWISS update for week 51 and 52. Wednesday 12 December President Kiir went to South Africa to discuss bilateral relations with his counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa. After the second outbreak of Ebola hit the… Read more »

Tuesday 4 December The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) launched a mobile payment platform to reduce the reliance on cash. The SPLMA-IO accused government forces of instigating violent clashes in Unity. Wednesday 5 December The South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) suspended the election of Peter Gatdet Yaka as a new leader, reportedly due to the… Read more »

Tuesday 27 November In a leadership conference, the National Salvation Front reaffirmed the rejection of the revitalized peace agreement. Government authorities and opposition forces met in Eastern Equatoria and Upper Nile, and decided to cooperate in the implementation of the peace agreement and facilitate free movement. Former SPLM official Dr. Matur Gorjok Gak formed a… Read more »

Tuesday 20 November The National Salvation Front accused the SPLM-IO for starting violent clashes in Central Equatoria. The SPLM-IO denied the accusations. Wednesday 21 November Russian oil firm Gazprom Neft signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with South Sudan to explore four oil blocks. Turkey and President Salva Kiir signed an MOU on education. The… Read more »

Tuesday 13 November A UN report found violations of the arms embargo on South Sudan, an embargo which also bans military assistance and military training. Thijs Van Laer and Omar Mahmood in Irin News: “South Sudan Peace Deal: Whose Power are they Sharing Anyway?” Wednesday 14 November The National Pre-Transitional Committee set up four committees… Read more »