Monday 5 October

• The repartition of South Sudan into 28 new states:
  • In a joint statement, the Troika urged Salva Kiir to delay the repartition of South Sudan until the Transitional Government of National Unity is formed.
  • South Sudan opposition politicians and legal experts questioned the legality of the repartition order issued last week by President Salva Kiir.
  • The SPLM/A (IO) says the repartition violates the August peace deal and indicates President Salva Kiir’s lack of commitment to the peace process.
  • The national alliance of major South Sudanese political parties accused President Salva Kiir of violating the constitution by unilaterally creating 28 new states.
  • The South Sudanese think tank, The Sudd institute, issued a policy review in which it voices concerns over the creation of 28 states.
• Three SPLA soldiers were killed by unknown gunmen in Mankaro area in Central Equatoria State.

Tuesday 6 October

• SPLM/A (IO) leader Riek Machar accused U.S. officials of “not supporting peace” and criticized the White House of lack of support in implementing the August peace deal.

Wednesday 7 October

• The White House cancelled a meeting with Vice President James Wani Igga, SPLM (IO) leader Riek Machar, and former detainee Pagan Amum due to the factions’ lack of commitment to the August peace deal.
  • U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Special Envoy Don Booth later met with the three representatives.

Thursday 8 October

• According IGAD monitors, South Sudan’s warring sides have violated the cessation of hostilities agreement over 50 times in the last 20 months.
• South Sudan to export coffee for the first time.
• The UN accused the SPLA of assaulting UNMISS peacekeepers and urged President Salva Kiir’s government to stop “hostile attitude.”
• Authorities from Mayom county in Unity state accused SPLA (IO) forces of killing 10 civilians, including three women and two children in Wangkei West. The SPLA (IO) later denied the claims.

Friday 9 October

• UN Security Council extended UNMISS’ mission in South Sudan for another two months and suggested amongst other efforts to prioritize the use of surveillance drones.
  • Russia and Venezuela voiced their concerns about the threat of UN sanctions and the use of drones.
• Authorities in Western Equatoria state accused SPLA forces in Mundri West county of killing civilians and burning down the whole town.

Saturday 10 October

• The UPDF failed to meet the 10 October deadline for its withdrawal in accordance with Uganda’s commitment to the August peace deal.
• The Economist: “South Sudan: That Elusive Peace”
• Radio Tamazuj: “Explaining the South Sudan peace agreement”
  • Part 5: What are the roles of the President and 1st VP?
  • Part 6: What will happen to Wani Igga?
  • Part 7: How many cabinet ministers for each party?
  • Part 8: Which party will take which ministries?
  • Part 9: Will ousted MPs be reinstated?

Sunday 11 October

• President Salva Kiir said the internationally backed August peace deal undermines the sovereignty of South Sudan.

Monday 28 September

• The UK will send 250 to 300 troops to help the UN peacekeeping forces in South Sudan. The troops are supposed to take an advisory role and assist with engineering work and combat training.
• According to a South Sudanese foreign affairs spokesman the government is against the increased deployment of UN peacekeeping troops without the government’s approval.
• BBC ‘South Sudan’s men of dishonor.’

Tuesday 29 September

• South Sudanese President Salva Kiir told a high-level U.N. meeting on South Sudan over video he is unwaveringly committed to the recent peace deal.
• The AU announced in a statement it will release the long-awaited AU Commission of Inquiry report on South Sudan’s civil war and establish hybrid courts to try war-crimes suspects.
• SPLM/A (IO) leader Riek Machar takes responsibility for the eruption of violence in South Sudan and welcomed the formation of a hybrid war crimes court.
• Government forces accused of stealing women and girls for sex slavery in ‘rape camps’. New reports claim as many as 1300 women and girls have been raped in southern Unity state since April.
• The AU Peace and Security Council criticized SPLM/A (IO) leader Riek Machar for refusing to sign the minutes of the ceasefire workshop held earlier in September.
• During the same ceasefire workshop, the SPLA (IO) demanded withdrawal of SPLA troops and other regular forces including National Security Service to 25 kilometers outside Juba.

Wednesday 30 September

• The U.S. and the IMF are discussing a rescue package for South Sudan to help rebuild the conflict-ridden economy, a U.S. envoy said.
• Small Arms Survey: ‘A Fractious Rebellion: Inside the SPLM-IO‘ describing the establishment, evolution, and internal dynamics of the SPLM/A (IO).
• SPLA forces prevented dozens of displaced people from reaching the UN’s ‘Protection of Civilians’ site in Malakal town of Upper Nile state.
• South Sudan’s Minister of Defence, Kuol Manyang Juuk in Cairo to discuss ways to enhance military strategic cooperation with Egypt.

Thursday 1 October

• Vice President James Wani Igga’s speech to the United Nations General Assembly, reaffirming the government’s resolve to uphold the peace deal.
• Clashes between SPLA (IO) and government forces in Leer county Unity state and in Lelo area in Upper Nile state.

Friday 2 October

• President Salva Kiir has unilaterally decreed expansion of the current 10 states to 28 federal states in South Sudan. SPLM/A (IO) leader Riek Machar claims the new decree breaches the August peace deal.
• Radio Tamazuj: ‘Explaining the South Sudan peace agreement’
  • Part 1: The Prologue
  • Part 2: When will the new government be formed?
  • Part 3: What is the mandate of the new government?
  • Part 4: Who will join the new government?

Saturday 3 October

• President Salva Kiir claims he has the power to appoint all governors of 28 new states that he created by decree in place of the 10 constitutionally established states.

Monday 21 September

• SPLM/A (IO) leader Riek Machar says he will return to Juba to assume his position as First-Vice President in December.
• According to a recent fact-finding mission, SPLA troops killed civilians, burnt homes, looted shops and local government institutions in Central Equatoria State. Five more civilians were allegedly killed by SPLA troops following the fact-finding team’s departure.
• South Sudan rival forces concluded a ceasefire workshop without reaching a security arrangement deal or agreeing on the formation of a joint command.

Tuesday 22 September

• Pagan Amum claims he has been threatened by high-ranking government officials for signing the recent IGAD+ peace deal on behalf of the former political detainees.

Wednesday 23 September

• Malaria deaths have increased significantly in South Sudan’s overcrowded IDP camps according to Medecins Sans Frontieres. Malaria cases in Bentiu were 43 times higher in August and September than at the start of the year.
• President Salva Kiir wrote to his Ugandan counterpart, President Yoweri Museveni on the necessity to start the withdrawal of UPDF forces in South Sudan.

Thursday 24 September

• Human rights groups urged the AU to create hybrid courts to try war crimes committed in South Sudan.

Friday 25 September

• The SPLA is allegedly moving its forces out of Juba in accordance with the latest peace agreement, according to an army commander.
• The U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth, said South Sudan’s leaders must ensure that the peace agreement signed last month is put into action.
• According to SPLA Lt. General Ruben Malek, UPDF forces will allegedly complete their withdrawal from Jonglei and Central Equatoria by 10 October.
• SPLM/A (IO) leader, Riek Machar along with his SPLM counterpart, Vice-President James Wani Igga travelled to New York to participate in the UN high profile summit of world’s heads of state and government.
• At least four SPLA soldiers were killed in clashes between government soldiers and a group of pastoralists in Rumbek East county of Lakes state.

Monday 14 September

• According to the NGO Forum, a consortium of NGOs, aid workers in South Sudan are being attacked with greater frequency.
• President Salva Kiir will not lead the government’s delegation to the summit of heads of state and government at the UN General Assembly in New York.
• According to local officials, thousands of people have fled from the Wunduruba area toward Lainya in Central Equatoria, due to clashes between government and rebel forces.

Tuesday 15 September

• The SPLA (IO) dismissed pro-government claims that they were repulsed from Guit county in Unity, saying their forces withdrew voluntarily.
• Presidents Omer Hassan al-Bashir and Yoweri Museveni met in Khartoum to discuss bilateral relations and peace in South Sudan. SPLM/A (IO) leader Riek Machar also met with the two to discuss the implementation of the peace agreement.
• President Salva Kiir held a speech in Juba on the implementation of the peace agreement.
  

Wednesday 16 September

• There are speculations that the UK will devote troops and personnel to enforce the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. However, UK ambassador in South Sudan, Tim Morris, said the decision has not yet been made.
• Russia and Angola allegedly blocked a UN Security Council proposal to impose sanctions on army chief Paul Malong and rebel general Johnson Olony.

Thursday 17 September

• According to IGAD mediators, SPLA carried out a helicopter gunship attack on rebel positions only days after committing to the latest IGAD peace deal.
• The SPLM/A (IO) condemned the ongoing offensive by president Salva Kiir’s forces targeting civilians and SPLA (IO) bases in Wunduruba payam in Central Equatoria state. The SPLA denied carrying out the attacks.
  

Friday 18 September

• The death toll from a fuel tanker explosion in Maridi County, Western Equatoria reached 183 on Friday according to a regional official. 60 more people are still unaccounted for.
• Following their talks in Khartoum, Riek Machar says President Yoweri Museveni agreed to pull UPDF out from South Sudan, but he did not disclose the timeframe for the withdrawal.

Saturday 19 September

• Authorities in Magwi County of Eastern Equatoria State have initiated dialogue with officials in Uganda’s Lamwo district over cross border relations, following high tensions last month.

Monday 24 August

• The South Sudanese government admitted that the SPLA (IO) unexpectedly overran the strategic town Lainya, in central Equatoria state on Monday morning.
• According to a county official, four people were killed and five others seriously wounded following a revenge attack at Ayen cattle camp in Rumbek North county, Lakes state.
  

Tuesday 25 August                                                                          

• The SPLA (IO) accused government forces of attacking its positions in Ayod county, Jonglei state and in Leer county, Unity state.
• According to UNICEF and WHO, new South Sudan cholera cases more than triple in a week, increasing from 23 new cases two weeks ago to 88 last week.
• South Sudan’s government has been unsuccessfully seeking $200 million in loans from Asian oil companies since June 2014, according to government officials.

Wednesday 26 August

• South Sudanese rebels claimed they had captured Magwi town, the headquarters of Magwi county in Eastern Equatoria state after a repulsing government attack. The government later denied the claim.
• John Prendergast, Founding Director of the Enough Project: ‘Saving South Sudan from Kleptocracy.’
• Al Jazeera ‘Inside Story’ episode with International Crisis group analyst, Casie Copeland and South Sudan Operation Advisor, Michael White MSF: ‘Is peace really possible in South Sudan?’
• Foreign Policy analysis: ‘South Sudan’s peace deal may not be worth the paper it’s written on’
• BBC: ‘Will South Sudan peace deal be worth the wait?’

Thursday 27 August

• News stories covering the signing of the new IGAD+ peace deal in South Sudan.
• The US warned South Sudan’s leaders not to violate the peace deal threatening to “hold to account” leaders who breached the deal and support sanctions against them.
• The Washington Post: ‘South Sudan’s leaders just signed a peace deal. Will it work?’
• South Sudanese rebels claimed they thwarted attempts by government troops to recapture Taiyar port in Payinjiar county, south of Unity state.

Friday 28 August

• NTV Uganda: ‘Will the South Sudan peace deal hold?’
• The UN Security Council warned the two factions in South Sudan of arms embargo and other sanctions if they do not implement the new peace deal.
• South Sudanese rebels and government forces accused each other for attacking each other’s positions.
• NTV Uganda: Uganda is optimistic about the possibility of reinstated trade volumes with South Sudan following the signing of the peace deal.

Saturday 29 August

• The New York Times: ‘A peace plea for South Sudan.’

Sunday 30 August

• SPLA and SPLA (IO) have issued statements continuing to counter-accusing each other of further violations of the permanent ceasefire hours after it came into effect on Saturday midnight.
• President Museveni of Uganda held an unexpected high profile meeting with a SPLM/A (IO) delegation in Kampala.

President Salva Kiir signed the IGAD+ peace agreement 26 August 2015. For further information see a collection of news articles below from various media outlets commenting on the event:

International Media:

• Al Jazeera: ‘South Sudan president signs peace deal with rebels.’
• New York Times: ‘South Sudan’s President Signs Peace Deal With Rebels.’
• The Guardian: ‘South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir signs peace deal despite ‘serious reservations.’’
• The Wall Street Journal: ‘South Sudan’s President Signs Long-Awaited peace Accord.’
• The White House: ‘Statement by the National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice on the South Sudan Peace Agreement.’

East African Media:

• Sudan Tribune: ‘World leaders react to peace deal in South Sudan.’
• New Vision: ‘South Sudan president signs peace deal.’
• Radio Tamazuj: ‘AU welcomes Kiir’s decision to sign peace deal.’
• Radio Tamazuj: ‘South Sudan’s new peace deal in brief.’

Monday 17 August

• President Salva Kiir did not sign the Proposed IGAD+ peace deal in Addis Ababa, requesting a further 15 days for ‘consultations.’
• President Salva Kiir made indirect death threats towards journalists ‘working against the country.’
• A large force of military police was deployed around the residence of Clement Wani Konga, the recently dismissed governor of Central Equatoria.

Tuesday 18 August                                                                          

• IGAD+ statement on the proposed peace agreement.
• Forces led By Martin Kenyi and loyal to SPLA (IO) attacked a government garrison in Pageri (Eastern Equatoria), the day after Riek Machar on behalf of the SPLM (IO) signed the IGAD+ peace agreement.
• US National Security Advisor Susan Rice proposes UN sanctions if a peace deal is not signed within 15 days.
• Uganda urged the warring parties to put their personal egos aside and sign the peace deal.
• K24 TV news report from the IGAD + negotiations in Addis Ababa.
• Radio Tamazuj: ‘Six questions about South Sudan’s peace talks: A guide for confused observers.’

Wednesday 19 August

• SPLA announced that it has deployed more soldiers to Eastern Equatoria state in response the recent attack by SPLA(IO) loyal forces in Pageri area.
• New alleged clashes between the SPLA and SPLA (IO) in Manyo county, Upper Nile state.

Thursday 20 August

• A journalist working for the New Nation newspaper and the Corporate Newspaper, Peter Moi Julius, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Jebel area of Juba.
• Al Jazeera: ‘What’s in the deal? Agreeing to peace in South Sudan’.
• President Salva Kiir told US Secretary of State John Kerry that he intends to sign the IGAD+ peace agreement.

Friday 21 August

• South Sudanese journalists initiated a 24 hours ‘media blackout’ across the country to protest the killing of reporter Peter Moi Julius.
• Politician Peter Abdulrahman Sule has been reported missing in Uganda since 24 July.
• IDPs residing within the UN Protection Camp in Juba demonstrated against the ongoing civil war.
• According to a rebel spokesperson, at least 10 civilians were killed during clashes in Leer area, Unity State between the SPLA (IO) and government forces.
• At least seven people were killed in Lakes state’s capital, Rumbek after clashes over cattle raiding between rival communities.

Saturday 22 August

• The speaker of the Western Equatoria State Legislative Assembly was killed outside Yambio by unknown gunmen in what an official described as an “assassination”.

Sunday 23 August

• President Salva Kiir met with his security council to consult on the IGAD+ peace proposal.

Monday 10 August

• South Sudanese rival forces traded accusations over who initiated recent clashes in Pariang county, Unity state over the weekend.
• Ethiopia’s prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn travelled to Uganda to attend the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development summit on South Sudan.
• Riek Machar downplayed the rumoured possibility of disintegration within the SPLM/A (IO)’s leadership.
• Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour met with visiting Norwegian envoy to the Sudans, Jens-Peter Kjemprud to discuss South Sudan peace efforts.

Tuesday 11 August                                                                          

• A group of high ranking rebel commanders including Peter Gatdet Yaka and Gathoth Gatkuoth, who were relieved from their positions within the SPLM/A (IO), denounced and disowned Riek Machar as leader of the rebel movement.
  • A SPLM/A (IO) press officer later announced that Riek Machar were in negotiations with his former colleagues.
  • Sections of the Nuer community in South Sudan have criticised the recent decision by the two former rebel generals to form another armed opposition group and urged them to re-join Machar.
• The SPLA (IO) accused SPLA forces and their Bul-Nuer and Dinka Warrap allied militias of killing over 200 civilians last month in Leer and Mayendit county, Unity state.

Wednesday 12 August

• IGAD+ negotiations waver as the two factions fail to compromise on outstanding issues.
• SPLA and SPLA (IO) forces clashed in Magwi county in Eastern Equatoria.

Thursday 13 August

• According to a report by the Enough Project, President Obama’s ‘aggressive’ plan B strategy could resolve the South Sudan crisis.
• Salva Kiir did not show up in Addis Ababa, where he was expected to join the ongoing IGAD+ negotiations with SPLM (IO) leader Riek Machar.

Friday 14 August

• Khartoum accused South Sudan of continued support to armed groups in Darfur and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) in the Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions.
• Magwi County administration claims that 160 families have displaced due to the fear of UPDF forces at Pagei Area in Eastern Equatoria state.

Saturday 15 August

• BBC analyst James Copnall on five of the main obstacles to a lasting peace in South Sudan.

Sunday 16 August

• President Salva Kiir did an about-face and travelled to Addis Ababa to attend the final hours of the IGAD+-led peace negotiations.
• The South Sudanese government criticised IGAD+ mediators as ‘dictators’ that seeks to pressure a premature peace agreement into signing by the 17 August deadline.
• President Salva Kiir issued a presidential decree dismissing the state governors of Warrap, Upper Nile, Central Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria state.