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 was given to the replacements.

Tuesday 22 January

• The National Salvation Front reported clashes with the South Sudanese government forces in Central Equatoria.

Wednesday 23 January

• Due to the budget constraints mentioned in last week’s post, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring, Verification Mechanism has not yet deployed any national monitors.

Thursday 24 January

• Oil production in Unity has resumed, and so far in 2019, Sudan has received $24 million in fees from the export of South Sudan oil.
• The Join Monitoring and Evaluation Commission urged partners of the peace agreement to implement the security arrangements of a unification of armed forces.

Friday 25 January

• President Kiir accused military leaders for being corrupt and for stealing food from their troops.

Sunday 27 January

• Media reports that South Sudanese fear leaving UN protected camps despite the revitalized peace agreement.

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 encourage regional and international donors to contribute to funding the peace implementation.

Friday 18 January

• The Committee to Protect Journalists urged the South Sudan state media regulator to lift the ban on media outlets in covering the Sudan protests (See also TWISS Week 2, 2019).
• DW: “South Sudanese Refugees Face Uncertain Future in Ethiopia”

Saturday 19 January

• The National Democratic Movement (NDM) warned IGAD that the delay in forming the Independent Boundaries Commission might impact the implementation of the peace agreement.
• Nigeria and South Sudan signed a cooperation agreement on trade, oil and gas, education and health, amongst other areas.
• Relief Web: “World Food Programme South Sudan Situation Report, January 2019”

Sunday 20 January

• The air control authorities in Sudan allowed for the first time an Israeli plane to fly over South Sudan as Sudan still retains air control authority over South Sudan.
• Two civilian contractors were shot by UN peacekeepers in Juba and later died from the injuries. The case is being investigated by team comprised of representatives from UNMISS force, police and security services.
• Relief Web: “UNMISS Protection of Civilians Update, January 2019”

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 two communities of Rup and Pakam in Lakes signed a peace deal to end decades of intercommunal violence of cattle raids and revenge violence.
• Close to 50 people have been reported killed with close to 80 people wounded during a cattle raid in Akobo, east in Jonglei State.
• Institute for Security Studies: “South Sudan: Whose Power are they Sharing Anyway?”

Thursday 10 January

• The governor of Jonglei region, Philip Aguer Payang, announced that the joint police patrol along the region’s borders will intensify in order to contain cattle rustling and abduction of children.

Friday 11 January

• More than 300 UK peacekeepers have been deployed in South Sudan with the mission to protect civilians, particularly women, against violence in Malakal and Bentiu, in Unity.
• Africa Center for Strategic Studies: “Taking Stock of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan”.

Sunday 13 January

• The parties of the peace agreement decided to launch a pilot project for a unified national army in Central Equatoria.
• Media reports that South Sudanese refugees are too scared to return, despite the revitalized peace agreement.

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 at school meals and general food rations.
• Mayo News: “Working With MSF in South Sudan”
• Relief Web: “South Sudan: Force Protection Map as of January 2019”

Friday 4 January

• President Kiir reiterated his support of Sudan’s President Hassan Omar al-Bashir and suggested ways to improve the bilateral relations between the two Sudans.
  • The same day, hundreds of protesters in Khartoum called for an end to President Bashir’s regime.
  • Media reports that South Sudanese were killed during the protests.
• Although Kalonzo Musyoka was selected to head the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, the IGAD member states have yet to ratify his appointment. The delay is allegedly due to complaints from South Sudanese actors on Kalonzo’s relation to the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sunday 6 January

• A South Sudanese minister was detained in Kampala, alongside 16 other people, for violation of the Tobacco Control Act concerning smoking in public places.
• Government forces and the National Salvation Front accused each other for killing civilians in Central Equatoria.
• UNMISS: “Protection of Civilians Update, 7 January 2019”.

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 took place between government forces and members of the National Salvation Front (NSF) in Central and Western Equatoria.

Wednesday 19 December

• Companies from South Africa, Malaysia and Nigeria have invested around $2 billion in South Sudan oil production and the GoSS expects further investment agreements with companies from Russia, Spain and the Emirates.
• South Sudan security personnel detained and assaulted international monitors of the peace agreement near Juba.
  • IGAD referred to the assault as a violation of the peace agreement.

Friday 21 December

• Dan Sullivan in Council on Foreign Relations: “Despite Peace Deal, Too Dangerous for South Sudanese IDPs to Return Home”.

Sunday 23 December

• As a part of a government investigation into allegations of sexual assaults in Bentiu, mentioned in TWiSS week 49, the GoSS hindered members of the Medecins Sans Frontieres from leaving South Sudan. The members had provided medical treatment to the victims of sexual abuse.

Tuesday 25 December

• President Kiir met with a delegation of the Former Political Detainees led by Rebecca Garang to discuss implementation of the peace agreement.
  • Garang’s return to Juba came after one year in exile in Nairobi.

Wednesday 26 December

• Representatives from the national armed forces and the SPLA-IO partook in a peace celebration in Bentiu, northern Unity.
• The African Export-Import Bank provided $15 million to Securiport Senegal SUARL, which is tasked with developing a security system for the Juba airport.

Friday 28 December

• The NSF denied the accusations of violent attacks in Yei, Central Equatoria.
• The UN Security Council Committee urged all parties to the armed conflict to end the use of child soldiers.

Sunday 30 December

• The SPLM-IO expressed concerns over the slow progress of the peace deal implementation and the lack of funding.
• The Chief of Defense Forces Gabriel Jok Riak announced that a new opposition group has emerged in Yei, Central Equatoria, which, according to Riak, is led by a woman.
• Xinhua Net: “2018, a Year of Turnarounds in South Sudan”

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 Democratic Republic of Congo, the South Sudan ministry of health decided to start vaccinating people in high risk areas and positions.
• David Loa Eperit for Irin News: “Rebuilding Lives while Awaiting Peace in South Sudan”

Friday 14 December

• The UN secretary-general urged IGAD to emphasise its political efforts to ensure security in South Sudan, and not limits its focus to the deployment of more troops.
• According to UNICEF, 15 000 children remain either missing or separated from families, five years after the civil war broke out.
• A non-signatories group of the peace deal, the South Sudan National Democratic Alliance, agreed to meet with the IGAD special envoy.
  • The group’s leader Thomas Cirillo said they do not agree with the revitalised agreement and demand a federal system for the country.

Sunday 16 December

• News agencies reported that Israeli weapons and surveillance equipment has been used in the South Sudan civil war.
  • The US has imposed sanctions on three individuals for their involvement in this.

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 fear of splitting the group.
  • Gabriel Changson is one of the people who has claimed the leadership of the group.
  • GoSS stated it has distanced itself from the SSOA situation.
• Djibouti announced it will start to provide port services to South Sudan again following the restoration of peace. The services were shut down after the civil war started.
• Amir Idris in The Hill: “Why the US must not Ignore Struggle for South Sudan’s Soul”.

Thursday 6 December

• The Legal Action Worldwide, a group of human rights lawyers, sued the GoSS over alleged sexual assault on women and girls by government soldiers between June 2016-September 2017.
• Relief Web: “USAID: South Sudan Crisis, Fact Sheet #2, Fiscal Year 2019”

Saturday 8 December

• The United Nations claimed that all parties to the South Sudan conflict continue to recruit fighters despite the peace agreement.
• Modern Diplomacy: “South Sudan-India: Diplomatic Relations and Economic Partnership Potential”.

Sunday 9 December

• Amnesty released a report concerning an increase in the use of executions in Juba. The South Sudan presidency rejected the report.

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 new political party, the National People’s Movement.
• Chatham House: “Will South Sudan’s New Peace Deal Stick?”

Thursday 29 November

• The UN announced it will send extra peacekeepers to South Sudan who will facilitate the return of refugees.
• Weapons monitoring group Conflict Armament Research said Uganda provided South Sudan with European arms and ammunition during its civil war, thereby breaking the arms embargo.

Friday 30 November

• UNMISS held a workshop for SPLA-IO soldiers on how to end child solider recruitment.

Saturday 1 December

• Peter Gatdet Yaka was elected chairman of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance.

Sunday 2 December

• Doctors Without Borders reported that over a period of ten days in the past month, at least 125 women and girls were sexually abused and violated when seeking food aid in Unity. The UNMISS and SPLM-IO condemned the attacks and abuses.

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 MOU covers training, printing of books and building schools in South Sudan.
• The GoSS and SPLM-IO opened up the route between Malakal and Tonga in southern Unity State for free movement.
• The head of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel Thabo Mbeki and President Salva Kiir agreed to collaborate to achieve peace in Sudan.

Thursday 22 November

• The Netherlands donated US$9 million, for rehabilitation and maintenance of roads in South Sudan, to the United Nations World Food Program.

Friday 23 November

• IGAD chiefs of staff decided to deploy over 1600 troops to the Regional Protection Force in South Sudan. The distribution of contributions: Somalia and Djibouti with 99 soldiers each, and Kenya, Sudan and Uganda with 499 soldiers each.
• Reach Resource Centre: “Situation Overview: Awerial, Yirol East and Yirol West Counties, Lakes, South Sudan. July-September 2018” ; “Nyal Port Monitoring, October 2018”

Sunday 25 November

• South Africa declared it will invest US$1 billion in South Sudan’s oil sector.
• PaanLuel Wël Media: “Kokora vs. Decentralisation: What do South Sudanese Confuse Federalism with?»

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 for the pre-transitional period: administration and finance, security, governance, and advocacy.
• The South Sudan National Dialogue body proposed to re-establish the three-province system.

Thursday 15 November

• Minister of Information Michael Makuei said the government of South Sudan plans to revitalise the plans for relocating the capital to Ramciel in Lakes State.
• The South Sudan Humanitarian Fund received $77,5 million from donors. The donors include the Netherlands, the UK, Norway, Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, Canada, and Germany among others.
• Bloomberg: “South Sudan Says Inflation Slowing as War-Town Economy Improves”

Friday 16 November

• SPLM-IO and the government forces cancelled a planned joint military operation in Yei river state against the National Salvation Front.
• The UN Security Council extends the UNISFA mandate in Abyei until 15 May 2019.
• Radio Tamazuj: “Sudan’s Economic Crisis Caused by Massive Corruption: Report”

Saturday 17 November

• The IGAD Ministerial Council met to review the implementation process of the peace agreement.
  • The Troika (US, UK, Norway) urged IGAD to work with South Sudan over three particular issues: 1) to demilitarize Juba and allow UNMISS to execute its mandate, 2) for IGAD member states to deploy troops under UNMISS command, and 3) for IGAD to observe the implementation of the weapons embargo on South Sudan.
• The People’s Democratic Movement called to review the peace agreement by arguing that it needs to be more representative for the population in Equatoria, Upper Nile and Bahr el-Ghazal.