This Week in South Sudan - Week 21

Monday 21 May

• The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) considers a referendum on the configuration of states in the country.

Tuesday 22 May

• Members of the Former Political Detainees deny having withdrawn their membership of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance. This comes after the Addis Ababa peace talk where the group reportedly required separate representation from the opposition alliance.

Wednesday 23 May

• The AU will hold a meeting 30 May between Sudan and South Sudan on the disputed border area Abyei.
• GoSS proposed to IGAD the creation of a third vice president, with the stated aim of increasing the government size.

Thursday 24 May

• IGAD peace talks: IGAD proposed a power sharing proposal at the Addis Ababa talks, but the opposition factions rejected the proposal. IGAD calls on the parties to re-consider this.
• According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, over 20 000 South Sudanese have fled to Ethiopia since January.

Friday 25 May

• Nine South Sudan refugees were arrested in northwest Uganda, reportedly for rioting and damaging humanitarian agencies’ equipment over alleged delay of food ration supply.
• An unknown number of military officers of the SPLM-IO led by Riek Machar have shifted allegiance and joined the opposition group led by Costello Garang in the Northern Bahr el Ghazal region.
• Relief Web: “South Sudan – Emergency Livelihood Response Programme 2018”
• The Guardian: “A Safe Haven on the Nile: Life in South Sudan’s Old Fangak – in Pictures”.
• VIA News: “Leading rights groups reveal how a South Sudan oil company plays a key role in prolonging conflict”.

Sunday 27 May

• The US urges the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on six South Sudanese ministers and officials due to obstruction of peace efforts and blocking of humanitarian assistance.
• Over 700 civilians fled Soka village in Central Equatoria after clashes between armed groups in the area.