This Week in South Sudan – Week 40

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 statesin 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.