This Week in South Sudan – Week 49

Tuesday 5 December

• South Sudan still owes Sudan USD $1.3 billion to settle an oil agreement from 2012 according to former deputy finance minister Mou Ambrose Riiny Thiik. Thiik was removed from his position after he stated that GoSS is unable to pay its civil servants due to empty state coffers. GoSS later promised to pay civil servants’ salaries before Christmas.

Wednesday 6 December

• GoSS reaffirmed its commitment the proposed IGAD revitalization forum, which is set to begin this month in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Saturday 9 December

• More than 100 people reported killed in inter-communal clashes between youth from the Pakam and Rup clans in the Chueichok area, Lakes State. Fighting broke out on Wednesday and continued with revenge attacks on Friday. Some sources claim the death toll is as high as 173 Kiir declared a three-month state of emergency in Gok, Eastern Lakes and Western lakes states in response to the heightened inter-communal tensions.

Sunday 10 December

• Hundred of women marched the streets of Juba with their mouths taped shut, carrying posters demanding an end to the on-going civil war.
• Al Jazeera: “South Sudan: Widows of war turn to beauty salon for survival”