This Week in South Sudan - Week 29 and 30

Monday 16 July

• Ugandan President Museveni called for European countries to ease sanctions on South Sudan.
• Daily Monitor: “South Sudan Talks: A Lasting Peace or Marriage of Convenience?”

Wednesday 18 July

• President Salva Kiir sacked the foreign affairs minister Deng Alor Kuol and appointed Nhial Deng Nhial to the position.
• The UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan.

Friday 20 July

• Following the warring parties’ initial rejection of the revised Entebbe Proposal on outstanding issues of government, the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) said they will sign a preliminary power-sharing agreement.
• The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi vowed to back South Sudan peace agreement.
• The SPLA-IO and the government army accuse each other of starting violent clashes in Western Bahr el Ghazal.
• Al Jazeera: “South Sudan’s Internally Displaces Create Own System of Justice”.

Tuesday 24 July

• Hundreds of youths in Maban (northern Upper Nile) stormed offices of aid organisations as they demanded employment. The following day, Medecins Sans Frontieres suspended all activities in the area.

Wednesday 25 July

• The GoSS and the SPLM-IO signed a preliminary power-sharing agreement. The opposition parties refused to sign it, arguing it did not accommodate their demands. The GoSS said this will not stop implementation of the agreement.
• The GoSS terminated talks with the French petroleum company Total concerning development of oil concession.

Friday 27 July

• The GoSS gives parliamentarians loans of $40 000 each to buy cars. Media report that people are critical to this arrangements.
• The commissioner of Bieh State, James Gai Gatluak, joined the SPLM-IO.
• President Salva Kiir replaced deputy finance minister Athian Diing Athian. Former chairperson of the parliamentary committee for finance, Goc Makuach Mayol, will take over.

Saturday 28 July

• The security services detained Peter Biar Ajak, an activist critical to the IGAD-led peace process. Civil society groups, the International Youth for Africa and the Centre for Peace and Justice, urged the authorities to release him.

Sunday 29 July

• South Sudan and Sudan have agreed to resume oil production 2 September at the El Toor and Toma South fields.