This Week in South Sudan – Week 50

Dear Readers, please note that there will be no news update next week. We will be back on Tuesday 2 January with a two-week TWISS update for week 51 and 52.

Tuesday 12 December

• Reuters on the situation in Ganyiel, Unity State: “In war-torn South Sudan, one town nurtures a small-scale peace”

Wednesday 13 December

• Residents in the Kapoeta area, Eastern Equatoria State, say they have turned to illegal gold mining in order to ensure their own survival.
• According to the UN, a total of nine aid workers were killed in South Sudan in November

Thursday 14 December

• South Sudan has resumed issuing passports following a temporary shut down by the German tech provider Muhlbauer, over unpaid bills.
• The U.N. Secretary General’s Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng is defending the performance of UNMISS, saying it is not an intervention force.
• UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to extend UNMISS’ mandate until 15 March 2018.
• Riek Machar has nominated a three-member delegation to represent SPLM/A (IO) at the High-Level Revitalization Forum scheduled to take place from 17-22 December in Addis Ababa.

Friday 15 December

• International media reports on South Sudan as the country’s civil war enters its fifth year.
  • France 24, in depth video news reporting: “South Sudan, a cursed land”
  • The Guardian, op-ed by 31 British parliamentarian calling for action: “UK government must step up its support for South Sudan”
  • Al Jazeera op-ed: “One last push to end South Sudan’s deadly civil war”
• President Salva Kiir promoted three generals facing U.N. sanctions over alleged human rights violations in army reshuffle. The move confirms the criticism against GoSS’ high level of impunity.
• Bloomberg on the new oil deal between Sudan and South Sudan: “Oil Deal May Win Back Sudan Some Influence Over Former Enemy”
• UNICEF estimates in a new report that more than 19,000 South Sudanese children have been forcibly recruited into fighting, and over 2,300 have been killed or injured since the conflict began in December 2013.

Sunday 17 December

• South Sudan’s Council of Ministers and the AU have allegedly agreed on how the roles of the awaited hybrid court will be defined.
• At least 18 people were killed in reported clashes between government and SPLA (IO) forces in Latjor, Upper Nile State.

Monday 18 December

• Reported clashes in Lasu, Central Equatoria, and in Raja, Western Bahr el Ghazal State between government and SPLA (IO) forces. Seven aid workers were reportedly abducted following the clashes in Raja.
• At least 30 people died in inter-communal clashes in Marial Lou village, Warrap State.