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 and Taban Deng have been reported in Nhialdiu, Unity State. The government claimed the SPLA (IO) kidnapped 20 humanitarian workers during the fighting, an accusation the SPLA (IO) later refuted.
The Government of South Sudan (GOSS) and the Government of Uganda has signed an agreement to create one-stop border crossings in order to simplify and expedite border controls.
IRIN Analysis: “Who can stop the threat of genocide in South Sudan?”
Tuesday 15 November
Civil servants have gone unpaid for more than two months in several areas across the country.
The Wall Street Journal: “China Discovers the Price of Global Power: Soldiers Returning in Caskets”
New UN Panel of Experts interim report on South Sudan.
Wednesday 16 November
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned of a “very real risk of mass atrocities” in South Sudan. In his report to the Security Council he also stated that UNMISS would not be capable of preventing mass killings.
President Salva Kiir has reportedly granted amnesty to the 750 SPLA (IO) troops currently residing in refugee camps in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Friday 18 November
Clashes between government forces and SPLA (IO) reported in several places; Adaab el Bahr and Kaljak, Unity State and Tore payam, Morobo and Bazi in Central Equatoria.
The US circulated a draft resolution to the UN Security Council proposing an arms embargo on South Sudan, marking a shift in its position on the matter. Amid the heightened alarm over escalation of ethnic violence the US further proposed targeted sanctions against SPLM (IO) leader Riek Machar, South Sudan’s Chief of Staff Paul Malong and Minister of Information Michael Makuei.
Sunday 20 November
The governor of Gbudue, one of South Sudan’s new states, has placed a SSP 1 million reward for anyone who kills Alfred Futuyo, a militia leader associated with the ‘Arrow Boys’.
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.
Several people have been killed and wounded during renewed fighting in several places across the country between government and opposition forces, including in Zaket Upper Nile State, as well as Yambio and Ezo county in Western Equatoria State.
Friday 11 November
According to a Deutsche Welle interview with the UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, South Sudan is at a “strong risk of violence escalating along ethnic lines, with the potential for genocide”.
Security officials closed Eye Radio in Juba, a popular South Sudanese radio station set up with USAID backing.
Saturday 12 November
At least 22 people were reported killed and 41 others wounded in inter-clan clashes between two sections of the Pakam community in Rumbek North County, Lakes State.
The newly emerged rebel group, the South Sudan Democratic Front (SSDF) called for the removal of the “failed and illegitimate regime of the SPLM/SPLA Party through peaceful means, armed struggle or both”.
The Minister of Petroleum, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, has directed the Joint Operating Companies (JOCs) to reinstate all former employees who abandoned their job in the oil sector due to the civil war.
Foreign Policy: “N. Chief Fires His Top Peacekeeping Commander in South Sudan”
Reuters: “U.N. peacekeepers failed to respond to South Sudan hotel attack: inquiry”
Reuters: “Russia says U.N. South Sudan mission ‘in ruins’ after firing”
The New York Times: “As South Sudan Troops Killed and Raped, U.N. Forces Didn’t Stop Them”
The New York Times: “Kenya Pulling U.N. Peacekeepers From South Sudan in Protest”
BBC: “UN sacks South Sudan peacekeeping chief over damning report”
Sudan Tribune: “Government, rebels welcome dismissal of UNMISS force commander”
SPLA soldiers and police officers reportedly killed ten civilians including women and children in a “house to house” massacre in Kalipapa village, Kwerijik Bungu Payam, west of Juba.
Reportedly, government forces in Unity State have forcefully recruited at least 290 civilians. The majority of the recruits are believed to be underage children from Mayom, Rubkotna, Guit, Koch, Leer and Mayiandit counties.
Friday 4 November
Kenyan authorities deported SPLM (IO) spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, back to South Sudan after he spoke favourably of the firing of the Kenyan UNMISS commander, Lieutenant General Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki (see above). Gadet is a registered refugee. Human rights groups and the UN called the forced removal a violation of international law.
Sunday 6 November
At least nine people were killed and 11 wounded in Gure, a suburb of Juba, when a unknown gunman opened fire on a crowd watching a televised English Premier League football match.
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir has given the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) a two-month deadline to force Sudanese rebels in South Sudan to leave the country.
According to the SPLA (IO), 11 government soldiers were killed during a road ambush along the Kola-Wedakona road in northern Upper Nile State.
A SPLA (IO)-allied rebel group has allegedly demanded ransom for Ugandan nationals captured in ambushes along the Nimule-Juba road. The SPLA (IO) denied these allegations and considers the reporting of the episode a “negative campaign” against the movement.
UNICEF reports that two rebel groups, the Cobra Faction and the SPLA (IO), have demobilised some 145 child soldiers.
There are reports of several clashes between government forces and SPLA (IO) close to Torit, Eastern Equatoria State, as well as in Kadibe and in Yambio in the Greater Mundri area in Western Equatoria region.
President Salva Kiir appealed to the Troika countries to provide financial assistance for his government to implement the August 2015 peace agreement. The appeal came during Norway’s foreign minister, Børge Brende’s visit to Juba.
Thursday 27 October
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has asked the Security Council for help to broker an agreement between MONUSCO peacekeepers, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and GOSS on the repatriation or relocation of the 755 SPLA (IO) soldiers in DRC.
Yei River County Commissioner, Bidali Cosmas Wori-Kojo, and three other local officials have defected to the SPLM (IO).
Friday 28 October
Salva Kiir dismissed reports that he has sent a military convoy to Yei to relocate members of the ethnic Dinka group.
President Salva Kiir and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on bilateral trade, borders and military cooperation.
Riek Machar claims that following the July clashes in Juba, the SPLA used seven different planes to locate and attempt to kill him as they pursued him for 37 days from Juba to the Congolese border.
The Guardian: “Attack on aid workers in South Sudan: ‘There was incredible naivety’”
Tuesday 18 October
Deutsche Welle: “South Sudan’s protracted refugees in Uganda
In an interview with BBC, Riek Machar vows to return back to South Sudan and insists he is still a legitimate leader.
Wednesday 19 October
The Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) insist the 2015 peace deal is still “alive,” although it has been “compromised” and “derailed’ by the July violence.
The Government of South Sudan (GOSS) reiterated its rejection of political initiatives aimed at brokering a new peace deal with SPLM (IO), claiming the current deal is “not dead.”
Friday 21 October
Four members of South Sudan’s National Legislative Assembly have defected to the SPLM (IO) led by Riek Machar.
Saturday 22 October
At least 600 civilians have fled into the UN camps in Leer county, Unity State, due to renewed clashes in the area.
Sunday 23 October
Officials in the so-called Yei State have switched allegiance to the SPLM (IO), claiming government forces in the area were no longer protecting people.
A former Deputy Defence Minister, Majak Agot, warned that the country could disintegrate into ethnic enclaves if Salva Kiir and Riek Machar do not step aside.
The Shilluk militia, the Aguelek force who is allied to Riek Machar, admitted they lost control of Warjok and Lelo areas, Upper Nile State, over the past two weeks’ clashes with the SPLA.
China’s defence ministry rejected allegations by The Center For Civilians in Conflict that Chinese peacekeepers had in July this year abandoned their posts in Juba instead of protecting civilians.
Unrest increased throughout the country as GOSS disproved rumours of President Silva Kiir’s death. In response to these rumours GOSS said it would be forced to disconnect social media and other online mainstream media for circulating “false information” on the president’s health status.
IRIN Analysis: “South Sudan’s never ending war: Briefing on a failed peace process, and where to next”
GOSS is reportedly engaging with foreign powers to find a country where Riek Machar can stay in exile without getting involved in South Sudan’s political activities and affairs. Earlier in the week, President Salva Kiir said Machar should denounce violence and return as a normal citizen or remain in exile during the period of transitional national unity government.
Government forces reportedly clashed with SPLA (IO) around Malakal town, Upper Nile State. GOSS claim 56 SPLA (IO) soldiers were killed during the clash, but the casualties have not been independently verified.
The White House: “Readout of National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice’s Meeting with First Vice President Taban Deng”
Wednesday 5 October
Authorities from the Democratic Republic of Congo have issued an ultimatum demanding the U.N. peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, to deport the SPLA (IO) soldiers they rescued in August.
Thursday 6 October
The SPLA (IO) claim the Sudanese rebel groups Justice for Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLM-N) fight alongside government forces in Unity State. JEM later denied these allegations.
UNMISS denied claims in the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) report that UN peacekeepers failed to protect civilians during the July violence in Juba.
A roadside attack at Ganyi, along the Yei-Juba road, left at least 30 people dead. The passengers from a convoy of commercial vehicles were reportedly separated according to their ethnicity, and passengers from the Dinka people were subsequently killed.
The SPLA (IO) claimed to have captured Kediba, the headquarters of Mundri East county, in Western Equatoria State.
Nearly 40 aid workers, the majority from UN agencies, have been evacuated from Jazeera and Nhialdu in Unity State due to deteriorating security.
Tuesday 27 September
A faction of the South Sudan Democratic Movement/Cobra Faction has again vowed to wage war against the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) citing failure to implement key provisions of the 2014 peace agreement. More than 5,000 Murle soldiers under Gen. John Welarum’s command has defected from the SPLA and joined the SSDM-Cobra Faction led by Khalid Boutros, who also defected.
Wednesday 28 September
The US State Department, strongly condemned Riek Machar’s call for a return to war against President Salva Kiir’s government, saying it was ‘inexcusable’.
GOSS has presented an official complaint to the Sudanese government over Machar’s political activities in Khartoum.
The African Union stressed the necessity of reaching an enhanced coordination between its Peace and Security Council, IGAD and the UN Security Council and its African non-permanent members, in order to agree on the Regional Protection Forces’ (RPF) deployment details and measures.
GOSS has, in a shift from its previous position, eventually accepted the deployment of the RPF authorized by the UN Security Council to protect Juba airport and other vital installations.
The SPLM (IO) criticized the United States government and the UN for receiving Taban Deng Gai in the US. Taban Deng attended the 71st sessions of the United Nations General Assembly in New York over the weekend, and is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with top US officials between 28 September and 4 October.
The Wall Street Journal: “South Sudanese Violence Engulfs Aid Workers, Pushes Nation Closer to the Brink”
Wednesday 21 September
President Salva Kiir approved the establishment of up to four cantonment sites for SPLA (IO) soldiers in the Equatoria region. He also accepted the creation of cantonment sites in his home region of Bahr el Ghazal.
At least 30 SPLM (IO) members in Egypt declared their allegiance the country’s First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai.
Friday 23 September
UN peacekeeping chief Hervé Ladsous said the exiled SPLA (IO) leader Riek Machar “is not dead politically”
The US pledged nearly USD $133 million in additional humanitarian assistance to South Sudanese refugees and IDPs, while the UK increased its humanitarian aid to the country with an additional GBP £100 million.
A South Sudanese military court sentenced 77 soldiers for the July atrocities committed in Juba. One soldier was sentenced to death, while others were given jail-terms ranging from three months to 14 years.
According to the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, SPLM (IO) leader, Riek Machar, will not be welcomed to Ethiopia if he wishes to continue with the rebellion.
SPLM (IO) issued a statement saying their forces would reorganize to “wage a popular armed resistance” against President Salva Kiir’s regime.
Sunday 25 September
Former Minister of Agriculture, Lam Akol, has formed a new rebel faction, the National Democratic Movement (NDM), following weeks of consultations with various unarmed and armed opposition parties.
Heavy fighting broke out between government troops and the SPLA (IO) in Rubkona county, Unity State.
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.
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.