This Week in South Sudan – Week 3

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”