This Week in South Sudan – Week 51 & 52 

Tuesday 19 December

• Clashes reported in Lasu area, Central Equatoria State as diplomats began another round of IGAD-led peace talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Wednesday 20 December

• Volunteers from the “Remembering the Ones We Lost” project continue to gather the names of South Sudan’s uncounted war victims, as the conflict’s official death toll remains unknown.
• The six aid workers who were kidnapped by SPLA (IO) in Raja, Western Bahr el Ghazal earlier this week have been released.

Thursday 21 December

• Associated Press: “Civil war pushing South Sudan closer to starvation”

Sunday 24 December

• Various stakeholders, including the SPLM and SPLM (IO) signed a new Agreement on Cessation of Hostility, Protection of Civilians, and Humanitarian Access on 21 December in Addis Ababa. The IGAD-brokered agreement was violated only hours after it came into effect on December 24, as clashes were reported in Koch area, Unity State.
  • Voice of America: “South Sudanese Refugees React Warily to Signing of Cease-fire”

Tuesday 26 December

• Reported clashes between SPLA (IO) and government forces in Kajo-Keji county and in areas east of Torit town.

Wednesday 27 December

• The Minister of Information Michael Makuei says he will continue to speak on behalf of President Salva Kiir’s government despite being the target of U.S. sanctions.

Thursday 28 December

• Hundreds of South Sudanese refugees fled to Democratic Republic of Congo following the clashes in Lasu. The Congolese army, wary of negative spill-over effects, were arresting individuals among the refugees suspected of being rebel fighters.

Friday 29 December

• In the town of Malualkon in Greater Aweil, witnesses report that SPLA soldiers and National Security agents raided the home of Paul Malong, the exiled and former SPLA chief of staff.

Sunday 31 December

• At least 22 people were killed in inter-clan clashes between Nyara, Manyayiel, Biong and Nyichak clans over grazing land in Bor-South county, Jonglei State.
• SPLM (IO)-appointed governor of Kapoeta State, Marko Lokidor Lochapio, was allegedly abducted from his home in neighbouring Kenya, and later handed over to South Sudan National Security Service. The incident sparks concerns about the security and the safety of key opposition figures in Kenya.
• President Kiir claimed the on-going civil war has continued to keep him in power against his and his family’s will.